Author Topic: X-Plane current graphics/features (Read 425 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** December 03, 2004, 04:58:20 PM »

Check out some graphics/features from the current version of X-plane:

http://www.x-plane.com/v8shots.html

The runways that contour to the ground is an overdue feature, I think MSFS has had it for a couple years, but I think I like the implementation in X-Plane a little better. The auto-building generation looks like it'll bypass MSFS in eye-candy department soon. Also, he's finally added 3d cockpits.

eagl · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2004, 05:10:52 PM »

Damn. Those screenshots are nice. My favorite is looking over the terrain at the setting sun. The haze and look/feel matches what I've seen in countless RL flights, including a lake reflecting sky luminance from the middle of a pitch-black valley, so only the lake is visible.

Maybe AH will catch up someday, but they're both works of art with different priorities so it's pretty silly to expect AH to have the good points from every other sim out there.

Kev367th · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2004, 06:06:46 PM »

Ever tried using photoreal scenery in FS2004?
Try using real mesh terrain made from SRTMS and photoreal images from Landsat.
Surpasses any of those screenies.

Mount St Helens photoreal.

Ularu (Ayres Rock) phtoreal

FS2004 just the basis from which to add lots of nice stuff.

Gotta admit the 'autogen' buildings look good, but at what performance hit? Oh yeah on Mac G5 wasn't even managing 1FPS.

Gixer · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2004, 07:03:17 PM »

X-Plane is nice but it dosn't come close to FS9 with it's professional addons. Weather,Scenery,Planes and most of all Vatsim. Takes it to whole new level.

The Swiss Alps.

And best of all you get to fly the incredible RFP742 with all it's steam gauges.panels, different varients and full CIVA INS navigation. Near verticle learning curve especially when you get into INS navigation but great fun everytime, coupled with a Virtual Airline and Vatsim it's pretty awsome experience.

~~...-Gixer~~

Chairboy · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2004, 07:17:43 PM »

I agree, FS9 is still ahead in terms of eye candy, but the two are getting closer.

The demo is still a free download, and it's fully functional for something like 5 minutes of flying.

I like both MSFS and X-Plane, and I want them both to be succesful because only with good competition will they both really keep trying to improve.

Gixer · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2004, 07:57:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
I agree, FS9 is still ahead in terms of eye candy, but the two are getting closer.

The demo is still a free download, and it's fully functional for something like 5 minutes of flying.

I like both MSFS and X-Plane, and I want them both to be succesful because only with good competition will they both really keep trying to improve.

Eye candy is the lesser part of it. FS9 has much more as far as real world weather,airports and locations all over the globe and online flying over Vatsim.

FS9 is just the base, you can build alot more onto it and when you take all of that online it's the best sim experience to be had.

~~...-Gixer~~

Chairboy · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2004, 09:28:56 PM »

Well, technically... X-Plane also has real world weather, VATSIM support, and I think it's possible that it has more airports then MSFS, but I'm not sure.

Something that X-Plane has that MSFS doesn't is an included airplane editor, and there are hundreds of planes available for it, many more then for MSFS.

Don't get me wrong, MSFS is nice, but I feel compelled to correct some misconceptions.

Gixer · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2004, 10:20:02 PM »

Sorry but you really can't compare the two at even close to the same level. If you've spent some time with planes from either PMDG or RFP,Virtual Airlines,Vatsim or Real Traffic and Radar Contact and a few flights across Europe or the US or maybe some Bush flying in Alaska then you'll understand what I mean.

I didn't know X-Plane had Vatsim support probably because I've never heard of anyone using it over Vatsim or if there are any X-Plane registered VA's on Vatsim.

The default planes for MSFS aren't much but it's a great building block for the professional addons that take it to a much higher level. That list of addons freeware and payware is never ending, you only have to look at http://www.avsim.com to see that.

~~...-Gixer~~

Kev367th · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2004, 11:02:45 PM »

Would think with the add ons from flightsim and avsim that FS2004 has way more aircraft. Try aircraft models by Dee Waldron, AIAardvark and FSPainter to name a few.

Does X-Planes feature AI aircraft the same as FS2004?
Can you add real world airline timetables?
Can you implement realistic parking at airport gates?

Results with all the above in FS2004

and this