XP12 My First XP12 Screenshots - DA50RG

[ryanbatc]

I've been waiting to post screenshots and allow XP12 to get to "final release."  The beta cycle was a bit rough as they sometimes can be.  When I first got this sim (I've used XP10 and 11 extensively in the past), the fps were awful especially near clouds (and this was on my older 1080 ti - running 1440p monitor).  It was clear I would need a new card.  Obviously since I use MSFS and I wanted frame gen I settled on the 4080.  Oddly enough it didn't change fps that much...  so I think what happened is that Laminar nerfed a lot of the anti aliasing for the final release.  I took these shots in FXAA which is the smoothest I could find - but some images still contain jaggies and it's ugly.  MSAA appears to be totally inoperative.  I'm guessing LR has issues running msaa near and inside of clouds (this is where I had the worst experiences even with the 4080).  So while the fps are now great (about 50-70) - they're only great because I'm in FXAA and not MSAA.  MSAA in XP11 was amazing - very smooth edges but clear images.  I hope LR can work on the AA issues.  Additionally it wasn't so throughout the beta period, but I'm finding the sky and lighting to be very dim.  They upped the contrast so it's a bit more realistic but everything is just dark.  Even in sunlight the HDR lighting seems to overcompensate.  Similar to MSFS where in cockpit everything outside is white washed... or if looking at a bright sky the rest of the plane is darkened.... but the range is too broad here in XP.  IMO It also needs more tuning.

Flight model wise - I feel like LR really improved the sim, especially tail draggers.  They were unflyable in xp11.  I just feel the flight model is smoother and more believable than in msfs (in general - some msfs addons are very good!)  I don't have any science to back this up just my feelings (vs flying small singles irl).

With my thoughts out of the way here is the Aerobask DA50RG in XP12.  I found this paint yesterday and it's exquisite!  It's beautiful and so I wanted to show it off with the really amazing addon that Aerobask has produced.  The sounds are great, flying it by hand is great - it's simply a solid addon.  About 40USD for both xp11 and 12 support.  It uses the default LR G1000 - which is a pretty good representation of the real original G1000.  I will say though, it's not as good as WT's NXi version in msfs (not from a OG vs NXi standpoint but from a more complete standpoint).  LR should again up their game here.  I heard on the WT discord (ironically), that some user is making a payware DA40 with G1000Nxi for XP12 - so perhaps a better XP G1000 will come out!

I'm starting to use XP12 a little more but it's still far less than MSFS.  I'd say I'm split about 80/20 still.

Anyway enough rambling here are my shots - a quick VFR flight from Central Wisconsin KCWA to Green Bay, WI KGRB. The DA50 is pretty quick but also has flight into known icing capabilities - so it's similar to a Cirrus but without the parachute.  The Cirrus may be just a touch faster but I don't have their numbers for FL140 - where Diamond lists the cruise speed of 172 KTAS at 82% power.  About 3 miles a minute.  Lower I think I saw speeds of around 150-160 ktas.

Just lifted off CWA, tower approved an early turnout

Untitled-1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

This is a default airport and LR did a pretty good job with the buildings

Untitled-2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

G1000 systems wise is decent but the look is a little hokey imo

Untitled-3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

This is about the brightest screenshot I could get because I was looking down at dark trees, which brightened up the scene

Untitled-4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Appears to be some interesting patchwork issues - but the general default scenery looks believable

Untitled-5 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Clouds are set to max here and you can see just how blurry and lacking of detial they are.  Similar to msfs (but those look more detailed on ultra) - both sims's clouds look better from further away.  I will say the general atmosphere (less the extra dark skies) looks slightly better than msfs and more natural.

Untitled-7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Look at this livery it's gorgeous!

Untitled-8 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-9 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

This lake is nice and smooth but some have sharp edges and look weird.

Untitled-10 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Aerobask's interior is lovely

Untitled-11 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-12 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-13 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Town of Clintonville WI (airport KCLI)

Untitled-14 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

That sun looks great - I really like it!  They improved it from the nuclear blast in the first betas.

Untitled-15 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Green Bay!

Untitled-18 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Home of the Green Bay Packers (I did not swing my Lambeau Field - I'm a Vikings fan!)

Untitled-19 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Another default airport (I hardly have any addon airports yet)

Untitled-20 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Runway looks realistic to me!

Untitled-22 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Some weird looking oscillations near the end

Untitled-23 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Ok you can get out now people!

Untitled-24 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

[John F]

Very thoughtful discussion. Appreciated!

[ryanbatc]

1 hour ago, John F said:

Very thoughtful discussion. Appreciated!

Yeah - I feel like I'm in a good position to provide personal feedback about both sims.... I've been using both for almost a decade (and Microsoft for over 3 decades) as well as DCS.  They key is to be insightful but be open to what others have to say.  I recognize not everyone here will agree with some of what I wrote above - and that's fine with me.

[Torsen]

7 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

Yeah - I feel like I'm in a good position to provide personal feedback about both sims.... I've been using both for almost a decade (and Microsoft for over 3 decades) as well as DCS.  They key is to be insightful but be open to what others have to say.  I recognize not everyone here will agree with some of what I wrote above - and that's fine with me.

The thing is Ryan if you stay open minded and are not bound to a single sim for whatever reason you will always collide with the single sim praising folks. I'm with you with most things you listed, in the same boat here. Well done. 

Cheers T.

[rka]

I like the third last one, the one prior to touchdown. This one looks great.

@Torsen Spot on IMO.

[Chunk]

Great shots Ryan, and I hope LR fixes the AA, because although I've just taken the dive into XP12, I really like what it has to offer.

[Jack_Sawyer]

Nice shots and update Ryan.

[bernd1151]

Thanks for the interesting update Ryan. Like you I was a longtime fan of XP11, but for now I just stay with MSFS. Still, it's always good to see what LR and others are up to 🙂

 

[Phantom88]

Fantastic post and shots Ryan.

I used to be an Avid XPlane and P3D Simmer…then came Kids/College and The Daily Grind of expenses of a Middle Class Life.

Im a bit older now and decided to give XPlane another try with the new beta…I have really struggled with it in VR and have only used it to test after every beta.

Ive enjoyed previous versions of XPlane going back some 20 yrs…I’m hoping I can rediscover that same magic it once had for Me.

[SP2472]

Excellent screenies Ryan.

Darryl