hcornea

Just throwing another theory out there: Could it just be that this is some 'sensationalist news' for a fledgling FS Site and forum, that is trying to increase its' exposure and web-traffic. So far ... no-one can confirm that they cannot validate their FSX install (quite the opposite), and the anti-sense argument has been made quite clearly. Just saying ... if it smells like .... it might just be.

Why not try putting up a support query with the software developer at www.orbxsystems.com You will need to register, post in the validation thread, and provide your purchase details, but you can then get a solution from the horse's mouth (so to speak)

No. Can't say I would either. Can you post your ORBX forum name here, and someone can unlock whatever is blocking your account. There have been some major datacenter (er, problems) in the last 24 hours, so possible you fell victim to those. Scratch that. Found you. Will get the account reset.

Just to add to J van E's post above. You do not need to purchase a product to register on the ORBX forums. You DO need to follow all the validation instructions by posting a single post in the correct forum. Not overly complicated. The extra validation became necessary due to inundation with SPAM accounts. It's a once only process, but needs to be completed or the security scripts will invalidate the account after a preset period. For those interested in the thread on Mike's logging roads issue, it can be viewed here. http://orbxsystems.com/forum/index.php?/topic/19328-PNW-Logging-Roads And yes, you do need a validated logged in account to see the link.

Well spotted.

Would a product advertised at $5 more at one store when compared to another create the same angst. When viewing threads like this, I do wonder if people enjoy confecting outrage more than flightsimming itself. As has been said, the download period is stated, as are the TOU. If you don't agree then don't buy. If a $5 redownload service is not of use then don't pay it! Personally, i have not had issue with having to pay to redownload. It is de-rigeur (check product downloads on Digital River for general software) so railing against it is somewhat like complaining about inflation, income tax and mortgage interest rates. They exist. Exercise your consumer brain, and live with the consequences of your decision. This clncept is neatly encapsulated in the phrase 'Caveat emptor'

This statement defies all logic. The customer IS paying for it, either directly or as a surcharge. So either everyone pays more, and the company puts this toward the cost of those who lose/don't make backups. Alternatively, the company charges nothing to cover contingencies, and user-pays if you have to download again. I guess the former model works great with customers expecting the vendor to be an endless cloud server. The point is, if you don't download again, you are possibly subsidising everyone else who does! Both models are valid. They are just different.

Yep. Got that. Another cross-posting. I've asked one of the admins to unlock the bilworth account. They will need to see my request to act on it. Try again in the next day or so. It does not sound at all like you would have been banned. Haha. Cross post 3 Post in the validation thread if you can see it. If not I'd say you are all good.

Please ensure that you log in. Did you follow the validation instructions and make a single post in that thread? Need to know your ORBX username to be of any help. Ok got that (crossposting) Sounds like you might have missed the validation instructions. Will see if the account can be unlocked.

... Or that you should wear seatbelts in a car in case you crash. Crazy, right? Bicycle helmets are mandated by law in Australia. Sheez, it's not like RAM is that expensive nowadays.

Mitch, Find jon_aus recent thread on rock textures. This will explain how MipMaps work and give you a better understanding of what you see. And yes, a 1024 x 1024 DXT1 texture is approx 16x the size of a 256 x 256, for no benefit and much larger resource consumption (bloat)

Not sure there has been any history of the ATSB sweeping a commercial airliner incident under the rug before. Probably the only issue has been criticism of CASA for either enforcing unduly or not enforcing issues. Perhaps someone could think of an example. And no, I don't think the NTSB, Boeing or FAA will be required, unless equipment failure is somehow implicated. Yes, there are definitely countries and regulatory bodies outside the USA. As to the original question, here is where the 'rug sweeping' will update, as the investigation progresses: http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-100.aspx

No .. the point is to resample them all to 256 x 256, because the 1024 does not show !!! So ... texture upgrade: YES. Better than default. HD textures: sadly NO, they are not! A tool like imagemagick might simplify all this for you, if you like CLI tools.

Google Chrome Version 27.0.1453.110 m W7x64 Professional Edit Post --> Submits Post (can see it after a page reload), but doesn't return to the page. One the 'other' board I use, running current IPB, the edit function apparently works normally.

The colour balance is probably an artefact from the tool used to convert the images. As for resolution, I cant see a difference myself. I think the 1024 textures are maxing out at the second level Mip (256x256) .. so you have probably just discovered a performance boost

John, Have you compared your downsized textures using 256 x 256 against 1024. As I have explained to you (and have many others, it would seem) this is the technical question at hand. Great, if it looks better, but the 'bloat' factor is enormous if you are using textures 16x greater in size than they will display. So .. to prove your point: two screenshots: One with new texture resized 4096 to 1024 One with new texture resized 4096 to 256 Easy! The contention (JimR and others) is that you will see NO difference. If the 1024 textures look better, then your point is proven. PS .. I don't think anyone is disputing that working from a higher resolution master gives a better result(the recording industry has been doing this for many years with sound!). This is a result of sampling itself. But I think it is quite a stretch to say that you'll see a benefit from markedly 'oversized' textures compared with the end product.

Alain, for the sake of preventing misunderstandings, and since you brought it up, let's clarify a few things. You requested closure of your account at ORBX in protest, after it was decided that a hardware sub forum was closed. Nothing to do with products / support. A number of other members protested with conduct unbecoming, and non-constructive, and had their accounts restricted. As a result of their direct requests, Tom Allensworth opened the forum here, and the result speaks for itself. Self selected interest group, you might say. The fact that you "can't let go" and feel the need to offer the same rhetoric on threads that appear here from time to time makes me feel a little sad. I had no idea that the closure of the forum in question had damaged you so severely, and so for that I am sorry. As for the reason why Mr Allensworth wanted to start the forum, you would have to look at the content and decide whether that was an inspired decision, or otherwise. Let go, Alain, and get on with your life. Take a step outside and breathe the fresh air. There is a whole world out there. Based on past experience, I have little doubt that a flame-war of sorts will ensue as a result of this, with each member pushing their specific agenda. So be it, but I shall exercise some inner Zen, and resist feeding trolls, more than I may have already. Have a nice day, and we'll see Jetsmell over at the support forum when he is ready. Edit: sorry Stephen, missed your post while I was typing my essay. Not snarky or bitter, but on reflection you would have to question the constructiveness of most posts / threads here. I know how I find them. I'll leave it to others to form their own opinions.

Sorry to hear you are having problems using accessing the forum. It is great to see that you started this thread AFTER you managed to complete the validation process and post a support thread at ORBX. Unfortunately part of the support process requires that you add your purchase information to your signature, but as we have just discovered, due to a bug in the IPB forum software, a moderator having to do this for you locks your account! That issue has been taken up with the forum software developer's company. I note from other threads that your method of installing the software was initially quite possibly non-standard, which is the most likely reason we are needing to unravel what's going on. It's great to see the predictable quality advice from the 'usual' contributors on this thread. When you have satisfied yourself here, please feel free to bump your existing support topic in the official support topic and we can get back to the process of constructively trying to solve it. Over and out.

Oh dear. Not impossible; just means that you need to do it all yourself. The scenery design forums are sporadically frequented by start-ups requesting "help", with the intent of coordinating a large number of contributors. To my knowledge, no project has ever progressed this way. Those who have the skills to make scenery and wish to are generally making scenery, and enhancing their skills by doing so. Usually solo, or in small groups. It is an arduous process, so a designer with experience is not inclined to join a small startup where there is no work on show. Pick a small project, and get it under your belt. Much of the scenery you use is made this way, BTW. Once you have made something released, people may be inspired to work with you.

The website always seems to precede the product, nowadays! Good luck with NFFN. I very much enjoyed Bill Melichar's version for FS9.

Thank-you for explaining the style of communication you were expecting, Rick! I would observe that very few product vendors would chase you down the street to help with a procedural problem. Even fewer would accept a verbal lashing about your service levels after having done so! That may just be my experience. I have not found anyone servile enough, perhaps. @Rob, Glad you are sorted.

Rob, Can you explain why you persist with this line of discussion, when it has been explained that you did not follow the validation instructions? Further, I have entered this forum to explain this to you, and brought this to the Admin forum at ORBX, so the problem can be solved for you. Take a very deep breath and think. If people are pursuing this problem over the internet to solve it for you, have you been badly treated to justify this sort of comment? To be perfectly honest, it makes me wonder why on earth I have bothered to make the effort. In future I will not. You post here, you are in the hands of the 'cognoscenti' present. Good luck with that.

Rob ... have you read my post above and tried what I suggested? Your response here seems to suggest not. IE follow the link I posted and make a post in the validation thread. This is what you were instructed to do when you registered, for the reasons we seem to be encountering now.

Rob, When you registered. Did you post in the validation thread as requested? I can't see a post from you in there. That is the most likely thing that has occurred. The security system may well have locked you out. It may be possible to post here: http://www.orbxsyste...idation-thread/ If so, a single post will suffice. If not Jay may have to activate your account, if you have bypassed this step. And no, people don't get banned for requesting support. Trolling, ranting or posting in an inflammatory fashion are different, but there are many forums on the internet that will allow users interested in that to post freely, so such users can frequent those.

Lance explained how to do it. I was a little "surprised" by your tone at a cogent informed reply, by someone who does this stuff a lot. Maybe you scared off any other help with that. Food for thought. Perhaps you could overcome your resistance to vector tools, and re-read his suggestion. Alternatively, perhaps post step by step what you did, and a picture of what the result was? Some kind soul might then be able to help you out.