ANSWERED NZMF Scenery airport AI

[davevh]

Hi

 

I have been flying out of Milford sound add-on for a while now (FSX-SE), and there are two problems that I have in which I would appreciate some clearing up on.

 

First, is there any airtraffic AI coded into this airport? I know the objectflow.dll is a known issue with steam edition, and was wondering if that is why no aircraft are seen flying into or out of the airport? The screenshots on the website seem to show traffic. Seems quite lonely out there.

I have AU FTX AI installed, but that only seems to work out of the larger airports (I assume because the AI can't maneaver among the large "hills" at NZMF).

 

Secondly, when flying along the river SW toward the lodge, the water flashes between two different tones and loses detail. This happens on some of the other water inland, but never on very large bodies or out at sea. I am well aware of fsx.cfg settings that can affect this (BP=0 can cause this), but I have tried every combination to no avail (including using a stock FSX.cfg and an altered one).

I should add that this happens with or without Orbx scenery. No prior install of FSX disc edition.

Does this happen to anyone else? It seems like a conflict between layers or shaders is occuring. Turning down graphical settings (other than water) does not help, so load is not the issue.

 

Thanks for any insights!

 

 

[Adam Banks]

I think this one has been asked/answered in a relatively recent topic. I'm jumping in because NZMF is my favourite place in the FS world!

From what I remember, it's a short-coming of core FSX AI landing/take-off/approach code. It expects to do some sort of a large "racetrack" thing - which simply can't be done in such awkward terrain. At least that's what I think the answer was. It's highly likely Tim, Alex, or some other brilliant ORBX person will put us out of our misery!

If you're interested in AI for the Oceania region, then you simply must check out the ORBX AI freebie - it's *absolutely amazing*.

Adam.

[davevh]

I think this one has been asked/answered in a relatively recent topic. I'm jumping in because NZMF is my favourite place in the FS world!

From what I remember, it's a short-coming of core FSX AI landing/take-off/approach code. It expects to do some sort of a large "racetrack" thing - which simply can't be done in such awkward terrain. At least that's what I think the answer was. It's highly likely Tim, Alex, or some other brilliant ORBX person will put us out of our misery!

If you're interested in AI for the Oceania region, then you simply must check out the ORBX AI freebie - it's *absolutely amazing*.

Adam.

Yep, the free Oceania ORBX AI is the one that I have installed. It works fine at most of the airports, but not NZMF in which there is nothing.

I also love flying out of this airport, and ORBX did an amazing job with it (I compated with Google earth) but it would be great to have some type of activity, whether fixed or rotary wing.

 

Do you get air traffic out of your install with the ORBX AI?

 

Thanks!

[Adam Banks]

Yep, the free Oceania ORBX AI is the one that I have installed. It works fine at most of the airports, but not NZMF in which there is nothing.

I also love flying out of this airport, and ORBX did an amazing job with it (I compated with Google earth) but it would be great to have some type of activity, whether fixed or rotary wing.

 

Do you get air traffic out of your install with the ORBX AI?

 

I think rotary wing aircraft are also a problem for FSX AI (as it doesn't cope very well with hover). I seem to remember somebody did manage to make something work (a long time ago) but it was quite hard.

 

I'm not quite sure what you mean by the last sentence. Yes - I get good ORBX AI all over Oceania but, like you, nothing at NZMF.

 

Adam.

[Alex Goff]

NZMF itself does not include any AI traffic, and I'm not positive if the Oceania AI package includes any. One of the big obstacles, literally, for AI at NZMF is the steep hills surrounding the airport. AI have a bad tendency to fly through hills in their way which can make approaches like Milford Sound a bit difficult.

[davevh]

I think rotary wing aircraft are also a problem for FSX AI (as it doesn't cope very well with hover). I seem to remember somebody did manage to make something work (a long time ago) but it was quite hard.

 

I'm not quite sure what you mean by the last sentence. Yes - I get good ORBX AI all over Oceania but, like you, nothing at NZMF.

 

Adam.

Sorry, that last sentence was non-sensical (I think we would expect some AI out of an AI package 8-)

 

I meant do you get traffic out of NZMF with ORBX AI, which you have now answered.

NZMF itself does not include any AI traffic, and I'm not positive if the Oceania AI package includes any. One of the big obstacles, literally, for AI at NZMF is the steep hills surrounding the airport. AI have a bad tendency to fly through hills in their way which can make approaches like Milford Sound a bit difficult.

That clears that up, thanks! Guess I have to enjoy the peace and quiet out there by myself

 

I do have another question for you Alex concerning the NZMF airport. In the airport control panel there are options for natureflow grasses, creatureflow, dandelions, and peopleflow, all of which I have enabled.

 

However, I am not seeing the natureflow grasses (I believe the grass is supposed to move/animate), I see no butteflies or dogs, no dandelions, and compared with the pictures on the fullterrain website, many people are missing (no people in the control tower, no sweeper on the tarmac, no spectators with dog etc. There is one mechanic next to the cessna in parking, and a few people moving around by the bus terminal but that's it.

 

I do see the dolphins, and occasionaly the Orca's. Ships work too.

 

Are these missing elements due to the objectflow.dll problem with steam edition, or is there something else amiss here?

Lovely airport, I just feel like I am missing out on the full experience. I will add that other airports included in NZ South Island seem to be working fine, with people and airplanes working and looking great. I am amazed at the quality ORBX has put into this island and airports!

 

Thanks for your time!

[John Venema]

Yes the issue is you are running FSX:SE which currently does not support our objectflow.dll - this would supress the display of any grasses, trees, object, people or anything the developers chose to have conditional display on.

 

Objectflow was written by an outside third party contractor and he is hard at work trying to get the DLL to work properly with Dovetail's new fsx.exe code.

 

By the way, this issue was already answered for you in the FSX:SE FAQ which I published over a month ago and specifically in point 3 address how Objectflow does not work and objects may not be displayed: (http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/89484-using-orbx-products-with-fsx-steam-edition-faq/) As per our user guides, we always suggest reading the forums first and using the search function before posting a support issue.

 

I have closed your new topic that you opened regarding this same issue. Please don't open multiple topics for the same issue.

[davevh]

Yes the issue is you are running FSX:SE which currently does not support our objectflow.dll - this would supress the display of any grasses, trees, object, people or anything the developers chose to have conditional display on.

 

Objectflow was written by an outside third party contractor and he is hard at work trying to get the DLL to work properly with Dovetail's new fsx.exe code.

 

By the way, this issue was already answered for you in the FSX:SE FAQ which I published over a month ago and specifically in point 3 address how Objectflow does not work and objects may not be displayed: (http://www.orbxsystems.com/forum/topic/89484-using-orbx-products-with-fsx-steam-edition-faq/) As per our user guides, we always suggest reading the forums first and using the search function before posting a support issue.

 

I have closed your new topic that you opened regarding this same issue. Please don't open multiple topics for the same issue.

I did read the faq, and many other threads. You did NOT address in point 3 that objects will not be displayed, just that "dynamic elements displayed at out airports will not work". Huh? Yes, animations/changes would be dynamic, and some of them do work, such as some people (mechanic at the cessna and pedestrians at the bus terminal) and creatures as I described above (if you actually read it), so not everything is missing. Many other forum members have asked for specifics as to what the objecflow.dll does (and how it influences scenery), and they have also rudely gone unanswered.

 

All I originally and politely asked for was regarding some elements in the specific settings of the airport, and whether they were related to the objectflow problem.

I was ignored by your staff member (via messaging) and the thread was not answered, hence I started a new thread which you now closed and chastised me for opening. Since you have no email technical support, how am I otherwise supposed to get an answer?

 

I have dealt with other add-on developers for FSX-SE issues and they have been very helpful, respectful, and grateful for my assistance (and responsive via email) in testing. I will continue to support them in future for their efforts.

 

I thank you for the excellent Orbx scenery which you as CEO have helped provide to FSX and the community, but this type of customer service is enough to turn me away from ORBX for good.

 

David

[John Venema]

Hi David,

 

We have answered your questions and specifically addressed that scenery elements would not display correctly without objectflow.dll being active. This has been publically shared in a FAQ a month ago and that is the end of the matter. Please don't take offence at the minutiae of your questions not being answered very specifically - all you need to know is that the airport is not going to function as intended without objectflow.dll being active ok?

 

I will amend point 3 of that FAQ to spell it out more clearly, seeing that it seems a bit vague to some folks.

 

With regards to trying to solicit support via PMs and Email, we simply don't do that; never have, never will.

 

No-one has shown you any disrespect, rather it's been you that has been quite demanding and approached this in a table-thumping manner. Your questions have been answered, we're working on the problem and that's the end of the matter.

 

Now I will lock this topic as well.