3D Scenery Design Opinions

[greggerm 312]

Greetings - I am toying with the idea of recreating my local airport in detail. I'm comfortable with the airport and land design program I'll probably use, but I am clueless when it comes to the buildings.gMax, FSDS2, Nova - All three can do buildings, but which one to go with?With your collective experience, which is best for a newbie starting 3D scenery design?! My buildings aren't going to be insanely detailed, but I will want to use my own textures.Mainly, I am concerned with the difficulty in getting objects into my scenery. I know with gMax there are a few extra steps involved, making it a little difficult to design 'n drop. Will FSDS2 and/or the forthcoming version of Nova for FS2002 make my life easier in that regard?! Thank you for your thoughts,-Greg Germ

[Guest]

My advise is :go with gMax. I admitt, that learning curve is little steep on the beginning, but I am confident you can manage!Apart from this forum try to visit below link:http://www.gmaxsupport.com/forum/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgiYou will find all and much more to get you started. This is not to diminish any level of achievement or draw any support from programs like FSDS2 or NOVA, just my personal choice and advice. Ted

[arno 1]

I would also say go for GMax. Although it can be a bit hard to learn at first, once you understand it a bit you'll really like all the features it has.Another nice reason to choose it, is the fact that it comes with FS and you don't need to buy it.FSDS2 might be a bit easier to learn (although it is more complex then FSDS1), but in the end I think the extra options of GMax win.Can't comment on NOVA as the last program from Rafael Sanchez I used is VOD :).Arno

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Member Netherlands 2000 Scenery Team[a href=http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen]http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen/banner.jpg[/a]

[Guest sapper42]

Hi Gregref FSDS V-2, Gmax etc , its a personal choice , im trying to learn Gmax and am having some sucess but allso getting favorable results with FSDS V-2.the secret to any is to keep the buildings simple to keep the polygon count low and use textures to give the impression of detail.i find Gmax to be difficult and not user friendly but its not impossible but i allso use both FSDS and Gmax, FSDS my prefrence so far.one thing to remember tho , FSDS is not freeware so that might influence you but still a good program.good luck: Jeff

[wsieffert 0]

GMAX isn't freeware either if you consider having to buy FS2002Pro for the one and only file needed from Pro, the export module for gmax!:-lol

[arno 1]

True, true.But doesn't the Pro version also have more planes included and more cities with detail? Or was that only in Fs2000?I just never consider that there is another version then the Pro :DArno

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Member Netherlands 2000 Scenery Team[a href=http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen]http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen/banner.jpg[/a]

[Guest]

And don't forget they're not charging for GMax.It's a free download from http://www.discreet.com after all.Isn't the BGL compiler included in the (free) SDK/resource kit as well?

[wsieffert 0]

There are 3 or 4 more aircraft with the associated gauges - Turboprops.As for design tools, all the tools are available in the SDK's except the export module.In CFS3, the design tools are all available as SDKs including the export module for gmax.I got fs2002Pro for $70 when it first came out. I saw it last Friday for $40, which was the price for fs2002Std when it first came out. STD is going for $20. I don't know if it is the retailers setting the price or MS.I personally would lobby MS for one version and provide the tools as SDKs.

[arno 1]

No Jeroen, there is one file included in the Pro version that can not be downloaded. Without this file the exporter does not work, so you really need the pro version.Arno

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Member Netherlands 2000 Scenery Team[a href=http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen]http://home.wanadoo.nl/arno.gerretsen/banner.jpg[/a]

[Guest sapper42]

The price of FS2K2 has been reduced by MS not the retailers, however, any retail outlet can cut thier margin by any amount they want regarding as to a choice of selling merchandise by profit or bulk.Most software houses now are reducing the price of items after the initial sales target as they are not blind and can see that software piracey has had a severe impact on sales.in the last 7 years of selling PC's and Software at a retail level ive seen software sales drop upto 95% or higher in the games market.for those who quibble at prices, either jump in at the start and bite the bullet or wait till the price drops.one thing to remember tho, freeware still takes time to develop and piracy hurts more jobs than the software houses.for those that spend the time eg: FS2k2 scenery, good on ya.for those that expect it free, give those of us who make scenery etc support as it takes a lot of long hard hours to learn how to do it and to develop it for everyones enjoyment.rgds Jeff ( newbie scenery maker )

[Guest]

Truer words haven't been spoken.