Still no variable visibility outside metar coverage areas. Unlimited visibility as in FS2020  

42 minutes ago, cianpars said:

With 2020, my main problem is VRAM usage using addon scenery.  If 10 gb VRAM is not enough for 2020, I'm a bit concerned as to whether it will be for 2024. An RTX4000 series upgrade is pretty expensive at the moment.

In general, I've found performance to be much better in 2024.  I get higher FPS than I was getting in 2020 - and I only have 12GB VRAM. 

I nearly upgraded my PC for this - having upgraded it in 2019 - and i'm so SO glad i didn't!

I honestly think you'll be fine.

You created this thread to get info or to just present your own opinion? You asked us if the clouds were better and when you were told they were, you disagreed as someone who does not own the sim. You said cloud rendering is declining as someone who does not own the sim and you give us an example of a sim that does not have live weather to push your point......What are you actually trying to accomplish?

Anyway, for me, 2024 clouds are one of the reasons I don't open 2020 anymore. There's a night and day difference. For one thing, there's way less transparent cloud nonsense in 2024 (you seem to be saying the opposite above which makes no sense to me).

Clouds finally can have that bright white look in bright sunlight and I haven't seen any volcanic clouds yet.

Edited December 13, 20241 yr by Krakin

@Krakin - I was asking what people thought of the 2024 clouds, as the screenshots and footage I've seen have left me disappointed. I followed up showing what I am currently happy with in 2020 based on not only the base sim, but the various customizations and tweaks (mostly Atmos when it comes to lighting and cloud rendering) that have me very content with 2020.

I then acknowledged that the 2024 users who have written here seem to be happy with the clouds, and also thanked people who provided examples of where the clouds are indeed looking good, and showing improvements over 2020, and also acknowledged this is very subjective.

Live weather has very little to do with my original point - perhaps I could have worded it better - I was talking about the visuals from that preview of the DCS update being the thing that impressed me.

I will be upgrading to 2024 eventually, but am waiting for a few further QoL improvements and hopefully Atmos support as well before I do, but given the feedback here it sounds like I don't need to worry too much about the clouds, which was the whole point of my post in the first place.

Edited December 13, 20241 yr by Redge

14 minutes ago, Redge said:

I don't need to worry too much about the clouds

You don't 🙂  Another couple of examples where ASFS produces excellent skies.  In 2020 I ALWAYS used ASFS or xEnviro2020 (my personal favourite), despite losing the local weather model in doing so. In 2024 I am mostly using default clouds with ASFS in 'passive' mode because default skies are good enough, thus I get to keep the local weather model.

Someone on the official forums was complaining that the new cirrus clouds in 2024 do not appear to be dynamic like the rest of the Live Weather clouds are. I suspect that is correct. Here is the response I posted in the forum with my theory/speculation as to why that is the case:

“It was probably the only way to get textured cirrus into the sky.

All live weather clouds are volumetric, created from data contained in the MeteoBlue weather model. Those clouds dynamically grow or diminish based on model data and move with the wind.

Voxel-based volumetric cloud rendering techniques cannot create thin, yet highly detailed clouds like cirrus typically are. In FSX and early versions of P3D, all clouds were created from “canned” 2D textures. The whole weather system in those older sims was designed to use textures, and they could be morphed in such a way as to grow or diminish and move with the wind.

2D texture clouds have several drawbacks. They look 3D when viewed from the cockpit, but their actual 2D nature was obvious in external views when viewed from above the aircraft - they would be seen as “billboards” that rotated to always face the aircraft as it moved forward.

MSFS 2020 did (and does) have “cirrus” clouds at high altitudes, but their lack of detail was obvious - especially when flying near or through them - because they are created using volumetric techniques based on voxels.

I am assuming that the new “cirrus” in MSFS 2024 are created from canned textures added “on top” of the rest of the volumetric live weather clouds, which is probably why they appear to be fixed in place and do not move”

Just download it and try it. You will never get an answer that satisfies you. I along with many others feel like it looks MUCH better than 2020 and cannot go back, but equally there are people who hate the new look. It’s too subjective. 
 

it’s cheap to try it out, just get game pass for a month. Only then will you know whether you like it or not. 

Low level stratus (especially their tops) are a joy to watch when flying VFR "OTT".

Big improvements if you ask me.

Edited December 13, 20241 yr by SAS443

6 hours ago, JRBarrett said:

Someone on the official forums was complaining that the new cirrus clouds in 2024 do not appear to be dynamic like the rest of the Live Weather clouds are. I suspect that is correct. Here is the response I posted in the forum with my theory/speculation as to why that is the case:

“It was probably the only way to get textured cirrus into the sky.

All live weather clouds are volumetric, created from data contained in the MeteoBlue weather model. Those clouds dynamically grow or diminish based on model data and move with the wind.

Voxel-based volumetric cloud rendering techniques cannot create thin, yet highly detailed clouds like cirrus typically are. In FSX and early versions of P3D, all clouds were created from “canned” 2D textures. The whole weather system in those older sims was designed to use textures, and they could be morphed in such a way as to grow or diminish and move with the wind.

2D texture clouds have several drawbacks. They look 3D when viewed from the cockpit, but their actual 2D nature was obvious in external views when viewed from above the aircraft - they would be seen as “billboards” that rotated to always face the aircraft as it moved forward.

MSFS 2020 did (and does) have “cirrus” clouds at high altitudes, but their lack of detail was obvious - especially when flying near or through them - because they are created using volumetric techniques based on voxels.

I am assuming that the new “cirrus” in MSFS 2024 are created from canned textures added “on top” of the rest of the volumetric live weather clouds, which is probably why they appear to be fixed in place and do not move”

The most certainly are volumetric and dynamic. They move, morph but you have to watch them for a while to see it happen, just like real cirrus clouds.

4 minutes ago, Krakin said:

The most certainly are volumetric and dynamic. They move, morph but you have to watch them for a while to see it happen, just like real cirrus clouds.

Or use time acceleration. 😉

Clouds are a big step forward for me, at least for GA flying

Edited December 13, 20241 yr by urthgental

9 hours ago, MrBitstFlyer said:

In 2024 I am mostly using default clouds with ASFS in 'passive' mode because default skies are good enough, thus I get to keep the local weather model.

Interesting, I was thinking about doing same if I ever get ASFS. I agree with the others who feel that 2024 is a noticeable (and at times significant) step up weather wise from 2020, especially with the new photometric lighting engine.

But re: ASFS in passive mode, what are the advantages you feel it adds on top of stock 2024?

6 hours ago, Krakin said:

The most certainly are volumetric and dynamic. They move, morph but you have to watch them for a while to see it happen, just like real cirrus clouds.

I haven’t looked closely at the new cirrus at altitude, but several users on the official forums are convinced they are static and fixed in place based on observing them over time.

An easy way to check wouid be to watch them from the ground for several minutes in a location that is known to have high speed upper winds. Right now (in North America) that would be Newfoundland, where the winds are in excess of 150 knots at FL390. If Live Weather is placing any cirrus at that location, and they are indeed dynamic, they should definitely be seen to move over time from southwest to northeast.

If you did the same test (right now) in North Dakota, you would not see any movement because the winds aloft in that location (at this time) are almost zero. Perhaps the forum posters who insist the cirrus are static are simply not viewing them from a geographic location with sufficient high altitude winds. This is not something I have tested myself - just repeating what other 2024 users have reported.

Voxel-based volumetric techniques simply cannot create cloud layers that are very thin but also noticeably textured as Cirrus often (but not always) are. 

I haven’t paid much attention to the new cirrus in 2024 as yet. I will make a point of taking the CJ-4 up to look at them more closely. First I will have to find a location where MSFS is placing cirrus in the cloudscape 

Overall the 2024 clouds are nicer.  During live weather I've found low stratus layers to be more opaque than 20.  I also find myself totally inside of clouds without being able to see down to the ground more than 20.

Cirrus clouds - I've seen alto cirrus and more wispy cirrus clouds - none are in 20.

The skies are vastly more realistic in 24.  Though with REX you can get it pretty close in 2020.

I still see the volcanic ash look in 24 at times however.

21 hours ago, JRBarrett said:

Voxel-based volumetric techniques simply cannot create cloud layers that are very thin but also noticeably textured as Cirrus often (but not always) are. 

Well Asobo cracked the code because their cirrus clouds are indeed volumetric. Instead of using a plane, just use the drone camera to check them out