New Flight screenshots from Microsoft

Microsoft has just published some new screenshots of Flight, along with a much awaited clarification about the Windows Live tag of the new simulator (which generated some speculation that Flight could only be used online).

The new screenshots can be viewed here .
The general opinion is that Flight looks much like FSX - and I think it is true to some extent. Yes, it looks similar... but if you watch closely the screenshots and the video shown so far, you'll notice some significant improvements - like a much better scenery "creation" and better shadows.
I mean the "syntesized" scenery -textures, rivers, coastline, roads and autogen- look definitely better (e.g. coastlines look more realistic) and less prone to some mistakes in the current FSX system (for example the roads and rivers merge much better with the base textures).
As for the shadows, it seems that the algorythm is much more realistic and shadows are much less "abrupt".

I just hope there will be a way to import some of the work done by many designers in FSX. I think it is OK to drop FS9 code compatibility, but I hope the native .mdls can be imported -or at least Microsoft could provide an .X files converter. Should not be much of a problem, as the .X file should be a "DirectX friendly" file format...and then I see the FSX Orion Maule in the screenshots...

Anyway, what we have seen so far looks like a refined FSX. Which is a good thing IMHO. But we all know what we need most: a modern, efficient code that can benefit from current hardware.

Shoul I write a wish list... well, yes, it would be quite long...but if I could just have an improved FSX that runs at full detail at 60fps with some of the most complex add-ons, then I would be happy.

In the meantime, I am still working on the Goshawk... but no significant progress to report so far - mainly due to lack of time.

Another quick update...and a word about facebook and emails.

Just a quick update with some screenshots, including the first images of the new virtual cockpit. The external model is 95% done - it only needs some minor texturing cleanup and a couple of details. It is much better than the previous one IMHO, although it is not as lightweight as I hoped. The cockpit model, on the other hand, is lagging. What you see in the screenshot is what is ready so far - the main panel is ready and so is the canopy - everything else is void for the moment. Let's say it is roghly 30% done. Good news is that it is closer to the real one and uses less resources than the previous iteration - possibly making room for the instructor's cockpit too.

With the current pace, an Alpha build may be ready by the end of February or mid-March. But that is just an estimation and, as usual, it will depend a lot on the time I will have.

Then, a word about e-mails and facebook. Yes, I am on facebook *BUT* I use it to share stupid stuff with my real-life friends. I do not use it to post anything related to Flight Simulator. That is why, while I've received several frienship requests from simmers all around the world, I've always "ignored" them. My apologies for having ignored them, but please understand that my choice is to use facebook only to communicate with people I know in person - it is the only way in which I think facebook is useful and fun for me.

Also, I'd like to apologize for the delay in replying to your emails - unfortunately I do not have time to reply in detail to each one quickly. I'm doing my best - that is spend an hour or two per week replying to my personal email.

Last thing, please do not email me for generic enquiries about Flight Simulator (like how to install scenery, or how to design a plane etc.). I am sorry but I really do not have the time to reply with sufficient level of detail, and, for such questions, you'd better check Google - there are a lot communities which provide plenty of tutorials to do almost everything FSX can do.

Well, that is it for now. I sincerely appreciate your interest in my works and...well...I just wish I had more time!

New T-45C - two screenshots.

Above are a couple of screenshots I posted few days ago at Sim-outhouse... As you can see the outer model is almost done (let's say 95%). It just needs some minor details (mainly in the cockpit), some texture "clean up" and some minor animation tweaks. I have to confess am really happy about its quality so far.

I started working on the virtual cockpit and the main panel is almost done. It has been modeled directly over the NATOPS cockpit diagrams so it should be significantly closer to the real thing (although the previous one was reasonably close). I will post some pictures once a larger portion of it is complete.

For now, the plan is to keep the stock F/A-18 avionics code (HUD and MFDs), so the display will incorrectly indicate two engines and a radar (although I know that a "virtual radar" for the real T-45 is in development - i.e. a "radar simulator" for training). It would be possible to make 100% accurate avionics... but that will require a lot of time and resources.

On the good side the HUD, features some tricks I learned while making the F-35 so it looks better. I have not decided wether to make also the instructor's cockpit or not. I know it would be cool, but I want to keep the project "small" - that is the only way to deliver something.

First flight of the new T-45C (and first carrier landing of course!)

Finally I've exported the T-45C model into FSX - and needless to say I took it around the boat for some traps. I'm very happy with the quality of the work so far. Most of the external model is done, the main outstanding area being the cockpit and the canopy.

Soon I'll start working on the virtual cockpit. It is not yet clear to me how long it will take, as I cannot say how many parts can be reused from the previous version (which has several inaccuracies). But the external model is just few hours from being done!

Another rendered image of the new T-45C

Another rendered image of the new T-45C showing some progress. The textures are still preliminary and lack some detail - however it should already look better than the previous one IMHO. The external model is approximately 70% done. Fuselage,wings, stabilzers, rudder and the main landing gear are done. I still have to work on the cockpit and the nose gear, as well as several minor details like lights and antennas...
I'm quite happy with the results, however I have no idea when it will be ready for testing - although I plan to make the first flight in FSX soon.

T-45C remake - first look at the 3d model

Just a quick post to show you the status of the T-45C 3D model. The image above is rendered - so the in-game look shall differ. I do not like to post rendered images as they may be misleading, but on the other hand, diffuse and reflection maps are far from being complete so, at the moment the model looks black when in-game.

As you can see the main things are there and working. Some areas still need texturing, but 60% of the work is done. The cockpit area is probably the least detailed for now, while some other areas may need some tweaking. IMHO it is much more accurate than the previous one. The major mistake is the shape of the outer gear doors, which are slightly too "pointy" - unfortunately remaking them requires a lot of work - so I'll probably live with them as they are.

That is it for now. I still have some difficulties in finding the time (and the motivation) to work on FSX these days. Honestly, in these weeks, when I come back home after a whole day designing new products on Pro/Engineer (which is my paying job) the last thing I want to see is the another 3D modeling software...

New simulation platforms: Microsoft Flight and Lockheed Martin Prepar3D

The past few days have been very interesting for flight simulation enthusiasts: from one side Microsoft has released a new video of Microsoft Flight, from the other Lockheed Martin is close to release the Prepar3D simulation platform, which is based on Microsoft ESP technology (that is basically the FSX engine).




Let's start with Flight. The last video released by Microsoft is the first one that shows what appears to be in-game footage (the previous ones were clearly pre-rendered CGI "teasers") and shows a Boeing Stearman taking off. It is very interesting because it seems to use an evolution of the FSX engine, with better shadows and some nice touches like the blending between the runways/taxiways and the sorrounding grass and ground (unless it is a photoreal texture, but I do not think so). Apart from that, it seems very similar to FSX, so it may well be that Flight is an evolution of FSX, with better and more efficient engine and better graphics - and hopefully good chances to have (some) backward compatibility. And, some more missions (with more attentions to beginners) and Live features. That is what I hope, at least.


Microsoft Flight website HERE

Another interesting take is Lockheed Martin's Prepar 3D. This environment is built upon Microsoft ESP simulation technology, which is basically Flight Simulator X. The interesting thing is that Lockheed Martin has added some features, like, apparently, better water modeling -including water depth and the possibility to go underwater e.g. for submarines- sensor modeling and better terrain modeling for continental USA. Priced at $499 it is intended as a semi-professional generic simulation tool, but it is basically an FSX-derivative and the add-ons seem to be cross-compatible.

Prepar 3d website is HERE.