answered Orbx Sydney - Graphical anomalies

[NikNargon]

Hi,

 

I was hoping someone could help with an issue I'm having with the Sydney Cityscape addon (which was purchased through the in-game marketplace).

 

I've attached a couple of examples where I'm seeing inconsistencies with the road graphics. It seems like there are patches of the updated road textures missing in places:

 

 

In others there seems to be just a random tile of updated texture like in the below example:

 

 

 I've tried the following:

 

• Uninstalled and reinstalled the add-on from MSFS content manager
• Confirmed that online functionality is enabled (ie. Bing and photogrammetry)
• Deleted and disabled the rolling cache
• Deleted my Content.xml file and SceneryIndexes folder

 

One thing I've noticed is that on the product page on the Orbx site it states "The download size of this product is 7.48 GB. It uses 8.79 GB when installed". However when I look at the add-on within the MSFS content manager is says the installed size is 4.86GB?

 

Does anyone have any idea why it's not working correctly?

 

Thanks

 

Edited November 6, 2021 by NikNargon

[Nick Cooper]

Hello,

you seem to be highlighting the extrusion bridges, is that the case?

[NikNargon]

Hi Nick,

 

Yes, and in looking back at those resized screenshots I provided it doesn't seem to look too bad - Although with full res in sim, the contrast between the 2 road textures is more pronounced. Sorry, they probably weren't the best examples to use.

 

I've tried to provide a better example below, as you can see it just looks like there are missing textures in sections:

 

 

Is the large difference in content size between the MSFS marketplace and Orbx Central versions expected - Ie. 4.86GB vs 8.79GB?

 

Thanks

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by NikNargon

[Nick Cooper]

Hello,

what you are seeing is just the way that the simulator works I think.

I can't comment on the file sizes because I don't know the naswer.

 

[NikNargon]

Ok thanks Nick.

 

Would appreciate if the dev could comment on the size difference as that seems strange to me. I thought the 2 products were meant to be the same?

 

[Nick Cooper]

Hello,

let's ask @Ed Correia

[Ed Correia]

The MS Marketplace place has a single file size limitation of 4GB for the PC and 1GB for the Xbox. 
For Sydney the CGL file was compiled to fit that limitation. 

[NikNargon]

Thanks Ed, so does that mean the marketplace version has less content or lower res textures or something?

[Ed Correia]

A combination of the 2, removed aerial imagery from the deep water areas (as it does not display) and compiled at the next zoom level.

[NikNargon]

Thanks

[NikNargon]

Hi Ed, given these limitations on the marketplace, I wish I’d known so I could have purchased from Orbx directly.

 

If I switch over to Orbx Central for future purchases is there any way I could receive some credit for the Sydney Cityscape add-on so I can add it there? I realise MS takes a cut from marketplace purchases so would be happy to pay the difference. Would you be able to provide a discount or something to achieve that?

[John Dow]

Pretty sure you'll be seeing exactly the same thing as you are now. Those road anomalies are part of the way the scenery is displayed, bridges that sit on roads have textures that don't match the underlying photo base. It's a limitation of the sim. And often two adjacent photo tiles will have different contrast and colour and even different apparent resolution. Depends entirely on the source imagery as supplied, either through the Bing maps or some commercial imagery supplier for many of the Orbx sceneries. 

 

Anyway if you want any comparison shots taken, post your screenshots here with exact gps coordinates and we can post the full Orbx product screenshot for comparison. My guess is, for the urban areas as you've shown, there won't be any discernible difference. 

[NikNargon]

Thanks John, no that's ok, appreciate the offer of providing comparison shots though.

 

It was just that when I first noticed it flying low and slow, I thought something might have been wrong with my cache or installation,  and then when I saw the difference in size between the MSFS marketplace version and the Orbx direct one, thought maybe my marketplace one was not downloading the full package for some reason.

 

I love the add-on, think it looks great, and I'm sure there wouldn't be much difference between the quality of the 2 packages. My last query was more related to wanting to use Orbx Central to make my future purchases, and I would like to have the Sydney one in there as well so everything Orbx is managed in the one place.

 

[NikNargon]

Hi, this topic has been marked as answered, but have not received a reply to:

 

”My last query was more related to wanting to use Orbx Central to make my future purchases, and I would like to have the Sydney one in there as well so everything Orbx is managed in the one place.”

“I realise MS takes a cut from marketplace purchases so would be happy to pay the difference. Would you be able to provide a discount or something to achieve that?”

 

 

[Ed Correia]

6 hours ago, NikNargon said:

Hi, this topic has been marked as answered, but have not received a reply to:

 

”My last query was more related to wanting to use Orbx Central to make my future purchases, and I would like to have the Sydney one in there as well so everything Orbx is managed in the one place.”

“I realise MS takes a cut from marketplace purchases so would be happy to pay the difference. Would you be able to provide a discount or something to achieve that?”

 

 

Hi, please open a ticket on our support page https://support.orbxdirect.com/hc/en-us/requests/new referring this thread and have your proof of purchase. Ask for it to be referred to me and I’ll organise a copy of Sydney to be assigned to your account. 

[NikNargon]

Hi Ed, thanks very much for that, appreciate the help.

[craigeaglefire]

On 11/8/2021 at 6:53 AM, Ed Correia said:

The MS Marketplace place has a single file size limitation of 4GB for the PC and 1GB for the Xbox. 
For Sydney the CGL file was compiled to fit that limitation.

 

is this the reason that Sydney is not available yet for Xbox, Ed?

[NikNargon]

Hi @Ed Correia,

 

Sorry, I should have looked into this more before making my request as I've just realized the way Orbx Central works only allows installation to a single PC - With my current setup I have a high spec PC that I use for VR, but this computer is shared with my partner who sometimes needs it for work. When that PC is in use I fly MSFS flat screen on our second PC (which is lower spec'd and unfortunately can't run VR).

 

If it was only for the odd add-on here and there I wouldn't mind purchasing 2 copies, but I buy way too many of these things! The cost of dual purchases would quickly add up as I like having them available on the 2 PC's. The marketplace accommodates installing on both so I'll need to stick to there for now. Thanks again for your offer of adding the Cityscape add-on to Orbx Central for me though.

 

I've been impressed with the quick responses and support I've received here, so there'll be plenty more Orbx purchases incoming!

 

Cheers
 

[Ed Correia]

No worries