This thread is an excellent example and like others it is the potential of the simulators that is the attraction. I had a 21 foot sloop, almost 40 years ago now. moored on the river Alt, then taken up the Ribble into the Douglas. These rivers are in my routes for download. And an area I know. So my area for route making stretches from past Blackpool, around the Wirral then along the Welsh coastline around Lleyn peninsula torwards Harlech castle, etc. Also the Isle of Man and Anglesey (Anglesey included in my latest route).
Also live a few miles from Liverpool docks, with up to 10 metre tides almost. Much of the old docks are still there dating back up to almost 200 years, and so that where I go to get the photos for some of the textures.
Again interested in all true to life routes, that include some coastal content to help the realism along. Modern realism is difficult though with city backdrops, motorways, etc so by concentrating on an era say early 19th century a more realistic setting can be achieved with 3D content. By using 32 bit textures we can though now have backdrops of whatever you make and there are 32 bit textured 2D listed items on my site. Actually photographs without a background so to speak so you can make what you wish as a flat object...only works in motorboat sail simulator at present.
As mentioned on this thread I received an email from Stentec, explaining the position and what is happening. Sailsim 5 will be next and an updated Scenery Designer. As far as I know AI boat traffic will be included which can be put on by placing tracks in the Scenery Designer.
The AI trafiic will be for our own made boats as well.
Tides have been considered. (essential for me as up to almost 10 metres ranging down to 5 along the Welsh coastline. Also bitmap textures placed over scenery. LOD. Level of detail. This is when 2 or more models are made, a basic one then a more detailed version. The simulator sees the basic one in the far distance, which changes to a detailed version when closer, etc. I think thats approx. description. This then gives better frame rates.
Another thing is larger routres. The current Scenery Designer does not allow you to make larger routes realistically. It is the number of height bars x space size. The limit of bars or points is I think 2048 and have ben keeping my 2 larger routes around 2000. All we can then change is the space. Which is like a pixel. I had to go to 60 metres to make the 75 mile route and you will notice the jagged edges to rivers and on the mountains. Min river at 60 metres about 200 feet width, etc
I need about 100 miles to make the 2 routes as one route, which would need about 80 metres. Stentec mention larger routes it could be done with moving the world axis with the view or similar.
My last route has very little content on it at present. Once you make the dem map, and place scenery you cant alter the terrain easily. You alter it in the dem which then has no scenery on it. I had to remove the scenery objects, put in the creek at the side of Conway castle. then start again placing scenery objects.
Finally as new server will be used with perhaps possible space for some routes by third parties.
I think I mentioned most of this is this thread before.
Again I hope Stentec don't mind me mentioning this.
Better get off this thread, and as I say there are any number of things that can be discussed. Now that I can make palm trees still need some decent potos of them.
Hi Texino hope you read this as I think I still have the ones you emailed a while ago but need to be full size trees. Then we can make the more exotic lands.
Perhaps we will see the river Amazon, Suez canal, Panama Canal. Tried a freestyle Egypt which includes the pyramids, in my routes on Texino's site.
I only use my own photos etc because of possible copyright
Barry
