AFS2 in the Alps and thereabouts

[emfrat]

Been rebuilding my AFS2 on a new flying machine. I decided to try the GeoffKiwi photoscenery instead of my own on his mesh, and I'm glad I did.
One of my favourite hops is up from NZMC (down the lake first, gaining height) then up and over the Copland Saddle to roar down the Copland river valley.
I like the sharp ridgelines in AFS2 - in that other sim they look very rounded.

[deeknow]

super cool !!! man we are spoilt for choice for this kinda flying across the sims now huh

[emfrat]

Ta, mate we surely are.

ATB, Mike.

[Splitpin]

Great post Mike.

[emfrat]

[MichaelBasler]

I compared the Mesh in the region where I live (small town in Eastern Germany close to EDBJ) in AeroflyFS4 and the Mesh in that "other simulator" is much more sharp than the one in AeroflyFS4 (including both European Extensions installed.)

Plus, my home base EDBJ isn't there at all, not even as a basic strip. And the "m key" VFR map still doesn't work under VR, which was a subject of serveral AeroflyFS2 forum topics already.

On the other hand, VR performance of AeroflyFS4 is still miles ahead of that other sim, and I doubt the latter will ever catch up.

Kind regards, Michael

[Charl]

This is impressive stuff - AFS2 is a wonderful playground for DIY!

... in AeroflyFS4

Ah! Not a typo after all, I see while skimming the interwebs.
So is it pretty much AFS2 as usual with a bit of work under the bonnet?
Any of the many many user complaints addressed in this release?
And importantly: does any of the AFS2 DLC work? I have a fair bit invested there.

[MichaelBasler]

"Any of the many many user complaints addressed in this release?"

Unfortunately not. They added AI planes, but no ATC, no car traffic, no water masks, no VR Map, no Saitek FIP support etc. It's rather a jump to version 2.5 than 4.

While I didn't try it, AeroflyFS2 ground imagery seems to work. AeroflyFS2 cultivation doesn't given they have reworked the Cultivation system, it can include rounded building now etc.

While I understand they're working hard 5 developers (take or give 1) just can't compete with the MS/Asobo behemoth or even Laminar. They had a big chance when 3rd parties like ORBX, Just Flight, or Aerosoft jumped train, but those left soon after learning they l can't make money with AeroflyFS. And they will not return.

It's sad as the base engine is very capable and (IMHO) much suprior to any of the other sims.

Kind regards, Michael

[emfrat]

Charl, I haven't tried AFS4 yet, because I don't want Steam. IPACS have already provided tools for adapting FS2 third-party content to FS4, with more to come including updated SDKs for the community developers.
This announcement will give you a better list of changes than I can
https://www.aerofly.com/community/forum ... /&pageNo=1
ATB, Mike

[Charl]

I was thinking of getting a WIN11 box, which would be configured strictly for VR.
The big draw for me was AFS2's utter smooothness in VR, it is even more important than resolution.

Like what was already mentioned by the developer, you need to lower your graphics settings down a notch or two compared to FS2. I found that this helped a lot with my Vive Pro.
Even with my rtx3090 most Ultra settings resulted in a bit of stutter flying heli's low level in cities like Los Angeles.

(My emphasis) Over my dead body.
A sim that relies on a future computer's power might well be gone before that computer arrives.
RIP AFS4, I will pootle around (infrequently) in the old sim.
Again. *Sigh*

Thanks for the pointers, chaps.