[jhb] Re: Progress
- From: "Fossil" <fossil@xxxxxxx>
- To: <jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:46:52 -0000
When I designed/converted the Tiger Moth for FSX I thought the job would
just entail a rehash of the bmp textures to dds and that the cfg and .air
files would not need touching. This was definitely not the case and it was
found that MS/Aces had changed the flight dynamics engine significantly.
When the new .air file values were finally unearthed someone posted on Avsim
the steps needed to convert FS2004 files to FSX. It was only then that I
could produce a working model but the surprise was that whole sections of
the .air file for FS2004 were missing in the FSX version. This started the
discussion into the accuracy of the FSX flight performance with many
designers saying that the flight modelling was dumbed down and that FSX
lacked the fidelity of the FS2004 performance engine. Aces said it was
because flight performance used too many CPU cycles and they simply
rationalised the .air file to work better but there was a lingering doubt
that performance was sacrificed for more power to run the visuals.
When I came to rework the Tiger's .air file I had to chop a lot of sections
out of it and I couldn't believe it would not affect handling. For many
pilots this would not be noticed as most rarely go beyond 30 degrees of
bank, hardly ever use full and instant control inputs or fly anywhere near
the edge of the flight envelope. That is probably a high percentage of all
users - especially IFR pilots who spend most of the time on autopilot.
It was this nagging doubt that made me stick with FS2004 plus the
probability that my PC at that time wasn't up to running FSX. The downside
was that FSX offered a few incentives like the use of higher resolution
photo scenery and better environmental effects.
I guess this has still swayed my thoughts which is why I have put FS2004
back on as well as FSX. Once I have both running I'll be able to take an
identical aircraft in each and put them through some tests to see if I can
spot any handling compromises in FSX.
Regarding the tweaks I'm not that interested in the suggestions that would
make FS2004 run faster or boost frame rates but just those (like Phil's
traffic tweak) to make the sim more realistic.
bones
bones@xxxxxxx
http://woodair.net
-----Original Message-----
From: jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jhb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Frank Fisher
Sent: 13 August 2011 20:23
To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [jhb] Re: Progress
AVSim.com and Flightsim.com are still receiving FS9 repaints/scenery etc, at
least 4 to 1 against FSX.
There is a large hardcore of simmers, who is still clinging on, add in the
fact that todays machines are well beyond it's capabilities. The only
letdown is the eyecandy, especially when you have used FSX then go back to
FS9. You can easily run FS9 permanently in VC mode.
Just google FS9 tweaks, for a deluge of help. But with 4 core machines etc,
is it needed? it will still only use the one core anyway.
I have given up on FS9, basically because I cannot get it to recognize my
Saitek Pro yoke system, I have to use a standard joystick with it instead.
I take it you are using the FS9 IVAP, of course you are.
Frank
----- Original Message -----
From: Fossil
To: jhb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2011 7:47 PM
Subject: [jhb] Progress
With running FS2004 it's amazing how things start come back from the
depths of memory.
Sitting on the apron I noticed a fairly reasonable 60fps but then I
remembered that I used to run the sim in windowed mode. Having found the
right key combination for this the transformation was immense and fps jumped
up to 574fps.
Next task was another delve into the past as I noticed all the AI traffic
using US registrations. That brought back memories of Lee Swordy's TTools
and our fiddling with the traffic files. Unfortunately I've lost the traffic
file I created which replaced all registrations with those correct for the
country of the departing flight and which also had a lot more UK flights in
it - correct schedules, Hawks whizzing across the Irish Sea and l0oads of
other additions for Blackpool, Newtownards and the like. Sadly that lot is
lost but I still found Phil's amended traffic file for registrations and a
copy of Ttools had this installed in seconds.
I'm sure I have only just scratched the surface and it makes me realise
that we used FS2004 for such a long time that we applied a huge number of
tweaks and mods to the program. I'm sure I'll find more as time goes on.
bones
bones@xxxxxxx
http://woodair.net
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