MSFS 2024 sim update 4 getting close

[toprob]

This update is the best so far, performance-wise. Asobo have done some major work on multi-core threading, which brings the performance almost up to 2020 standards. I haven't had a look at the career mode for months, so I'm not sure whether this is working fully yet -- although not many complaints on the beta forum.

The improvements mean that I'm keen to try some scenery development, although this might not last... I really need to finish NZTI for 2024, but for the moment I'm playing around with a port of the old P3D NZCH. This needs a lot of work, and I'm having problems with the radio frequencies, but most of my previous hold-up issues have been fixed. I have even started looking at building working jetways, but this is trickier than the old SODE jetways.

As I quit my 3DS Max subscription when I retired, I have to figure out how to transfer some techniques to Blender -- I'm just starting to realise how very different the two tools are!

Here's a couple of shots of NZCH as it stands at the moment.

[deeknow]

Great news Rob.. rip into it mate !!! lookin fwd to seeing what you can crank out in Blender.

[Splitpin]

Go you good dude

[toprob]

Another SU4 beta update today, not a lot in the Release Notes, but it did finally fix the issue where I'd choose to start at a random location at an airport, on the ground and ready to fly, rather than have to go through the walk-around phase, but my aircraft would start with the handbrake off, so it would start flying itself:) We must be getting close to the SU4 release.

Today I solved another long-standing issue with my NZCH, in that I didn't have any frequencies, and when I added them the ATIS wouldn't work. Turns out it was something stupid on my part, caused by the conversion from 2020 to 2024. That's probably a dozen issues I've had which are down to user error. As I've said, I'm too old for this....

I've been making some progress getting back into Blender, which is a relief. Still haven't been brave enough to export a 2024-compliant jetway, but that's on the list.

[cowpatz]

Do you have to do all the various LOD models (of your Jetways in this case) manually, or is there a program that can do this for you?

[toprob]

I make my own LODs. There was a tool included in the release SDK, Simplygon, which automatically made LODs suitable for MSFS, but MS pulled the license after a few weeks -- this tool normal costs US$42,000, although an independent developer can get up to 85% discount -- so basically NZ$10,000 a year. Per game. No worries, I'll take a dozen....
As Simplygon is now owned by MS, I've always thought it would be a great idea to reinstate the free license for use in the SDK only. But this probably won't happen.
Most of my NZCH models are just the 2020 versions, so 2020's LOD system works in 2024. But 2024-compliant LODs are probably the way to go. I do notice that when a flight loads at NZCH my 2020-compiled models display instantly, but those exported by the 2024 SDK take a few seconds for the materials to appear. I'll probably need to look at that at some point.

[cowpatz]

Simplygone then at that price
Could the loading time be due to the different texture formats?