Posts by Rodeo

  • Trying to understand Aerofly FS2 planes PART 2

    Although this thread seems to be finished,
    may I contribute some more details about aerofly FS 2 aircrafts?
    If you check an aircraft directory you'll find a whole set of files for a single plane.

    There is a .TMB file which contains the graphics representation, this is the 3D mesh and the graphics positions informations. Actually there exist converters from 3D programs like Cinema4D, 3DMax, AC3D to aerofly binary format.

    The different .TTX files represent all the graphics, the livery, the cockpit colors as well as special effects like reflections, transparency, and so on. They are coded into an aerofly specific format.

    The .TMC file shows the aircraft description. You can read the content with a text editor.

    The .TMD file contains mainly the flight physics setup (as well as some more details about the body parts, the sound setup, camera positions...). You can read the content with a text editor.

    The .TSB files are the sound files used in different flight conditions. They are coded into an aerofly specific format.

    The .TMR file contains the name of the actual livery. You can read the file with a text editor.

    This structure is completely differrent from other simulators. So there is no way for a direct conversion.
    Otherwise a developer who has the original 3D and graphics files may convert the files into aerofly formats as I mentioned above.
    Then he still has to setup all the rest. But I see the chance that FSX developers may re-use their models to bring them into aerofly.

    Regards
    Rodeo

  • Some specific questions about the upcoming GeoConvert tool

    Blending is done by alpha channel.

    I open the BMP with GIMP, add an alpha channel to the image and use the eraser to mark the regions which should be faded out.
    Then I save the image as a TIF RGBA without compression.
    Geoconvert works with BMP and TIF.
    A tutorial will be available as soon as the tool becomes public.

    There exist several levels of priority, but I cannot exactly answer this topic. It will be clarified soon.

    Flying over Tubingen in SW Germany and visiting IPACS down there.
    This image is only resolution 2 (2m) and level 13, but this allows a fast conversion.

    Rodeo

  • aerofly FS 2 coffee party

    Only 2 week left!

    It’s no longer a secret: OrbX cooperates with IPACS.
    So OrbX is the first company announcing the support of aerofly FS 2.

    It was an impressive moment for me to meet Jarrad Marshall, who came from down under Australia to Tubingen in southwestern Germany. Unfortunately we had dirty late winter weather with rain all day. Not ideal for some nice sightseeing. So there’s nothing else for it but to work hard in the office at IPACS together with the other team members.

    I took some shots and want to show you the guys behind the scenes.
    See Jarrad Marshall with Marc Borchers (left) and Torsten Hans (right), the heads of IPACS and both doctors in physics.


    Innsbruck, Austria (LOWI) and Meigs Field Chicago will be the start, to be published on June 15, as a birthday present for John Venema, head of OrbX.
    Find all the stunning snapshots in the preview thread:
    http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/13…ight-simulator/



    The LOWI area along the Inn valley nearly connects to the Switzerland DLC of IPACS, only a small strip is left with default texture and may be closed in the future. This image has been published in the OrbX forum thread mentioned above.


    The cooperation led already to advanced or even new features,
    now implemented in the aerofly FS 2 core product.
    I want to mention the new photo-realistic trees. Watching the trunk, the leaves and the shape you may even distinguish the different botanical species of trees.


    With the new Utah DLC the first people animation has been introduced into aerofly FS 2.
    You may discover it, if you find the place… ;)


    Moving objects will be seen first with OrbX sceneries. This will massively change the immersion of aerofly FS2, and we will hopefully leave the lifeless ‘twilight zone’ behind us.

    Likewise new is the ability to add generic buildings. IPACS stated, it’s different from established autogen due to a dissimilar kind of workflow.

    We’re all excited to see this new level of aerofly FS 2 in conjunction with OrbX sceneries.
    My last question was: What’s next OrbX???

    But in the meantime John Venema stated this in the OrbX forum:
    “Some of the large area regional projects we are working on for AeroflyFS2 are going to blow your minds and elevate the sim to a new level.
    We have new tech incoming which will massively streamline production of vast photoreal areas so there's going to be a whole new 200fps world to discover. 2017 is going to be epic! “

    This is nothing else than awesome!
    Rodeo

  • Flying with aerofly fs 2, and ... Google earth ?

    The idea is very impressively, although there are still many technical aspects to discuss.

    But I'm afraid there is also a commercial aspect:
    The best business model for Google would be to charge each user by usage time.
    This model is already widespread in commercial software and is increasing dramatically.

    I'm not sure we want to have this for our flight sim adventure as well.

    Rodeo

  • GeoConvert Tool coming soon

    Hehe,

    as I said: Work in progress. Just wanted to show how hard you had to code! ;))
    And I tried LUKLA already...

    Trespassers:
    You are right.

    Aerial images grabbed with FSET from web services like Google Earth, Virtual Earth, Bing cannot be distributed over the IPACS forum and will not be hosted on the IPACS servers. And of course any commercial use is forbidden.

    But to make this clear:
    IPACS Geoconvert does not grab any web service data. It converts any existing imagery into the aerofly ground textures!

    There exist several sources of free aerial images for private and noncommercial use (especially in North America).
    FSET however is a widespread tool in the flight sim community. Tutorials are published at youtube and in many other places.

    Rodeo

  • GeoConvert Tool coming soon

    Work in progress!
    These screenshots demonstrates what IPACS had to be done for our requests.

    1) The aerial images use the existing elevation model
    2) The images have to be blended into the existing aerofly ground textures
    3) Even the map display had to be reworked
    4) When defining an runway, IPACS uses a polynom of the 5. degrees to smooth the ground and avoid step or peaks.

  • Have a look at the trees!

    Hi,

    a while ago we received a minor update, but suddenly the trees have changed.
    Did you ever look closely at them?
    You'll recognize different trunks, different shapes and even different leafes, which let's you estimate the tree species.
    I love trees.

    Rodeo

  • Slow progress

    Quote from Hartman

    Then I'm waiting in "shocking" excitement. Will this new tool be incorporated into the existing "scenery-tool" (just one tool instead of two tools)?

    No, since FSET or any other earth service is involved, this process has to be separated into different steps. :cool:

  • Runway Lightings Tutorial

    Hi aerofly FS 2 developers,

    you know, that you already can create new runways and even airports with the SDK.
    With the expected new tool for sceneries it will be even easier than now.

    In advance we have to prepare for our tasks to create new runways.
    This is a short tutorial about the currently existing runway lightings.

    Enjoy aerofly FS 2!
    Rodeo

  • Slow progress

    Hartman,

    the tool for aerial images is already in the test phase. I'm electrified by the possibilities of it. If you want to prepare, take a look at FS Earth Tiles. This service is well known in the flight simulator world and will be as well for aerofly FS 2.

    Rodeo

  • Any hope about GA planes...?

    Hi Denny,

    the SDK to create your own airplanes is already available. Just the manual can be improved and certainly will.
    You can use this and some developers like Lionheart and Dino do already work on new aircrafts for aerofly.

    What I see as a problem is the extremely high quality of the aircrafts in our actual sims.
    I remember several years ago one could do a full aircraft from scratch.
    For today's level you need to be a 3D master, a painting artist, a sound specialist and a setup flight engineer.

    Rodeo