JohnMAXX Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 (edited) Ok folks a very early, early, early look at what we have been up to with SkyMAXX. Keep in mind this isn't even an Alpha.......I just want to share our progress so far.... What you are looking at in this early preview: Lens FlairMore detailed cloud texturesReworked shadersTowering cloud formationsWE still have a lot of work to do, but even this early we are very excited with how things are shaping up..... I hope you enjoy Edited May 2, 2014 by JohnMAXX 11 Quote
slai Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 Looks very promising. Has me curious about a few things: Lens flare is an interesting idea. Would it be possible to reference some sort of views dataref so that the effect only shows from an internal view? What criteria would you use to generate towering clouds (cloud layer thickness or clouds at multiple layers or random)? Are the color variations in the clouds part of the shader tweaks or MAXX FX? Quote
JeremyWM Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 That's really starting to look very nice, John. Your work is one of the key pieces to the X-plane puzzle necessary to push the sim beyond it's tipping point and into mainstream exceptance and success. The haze in the 2nd and 3rd images from the top coupled with the light streaming through is certainly atmospheric. Hopefully with continued refinement, we can start to see more defined shapes within large formations of towering billowy cumulous clouds. That's really the main reason why REX in FSX looks so good, at least from a distance that is. Of course plastering high res picture billboards against the sky is FAR easier than accomplishing realism with true 3D procedual particles. FSX is great for screenshots, but when you're flying through the clouds, the illusion breaks down as the flat 2D images reveal themselves. True 3D clouds are much more interesting. If you can start to pick out even more nicely defined shapes within the formations through light and shadow techniques, the X-plane skies will be truly breathtaking. P.S. Do you think there is a way for you to work on changing the white out look? Or is that something hard-coded that only Laminar can fix. The uninspiring solid grey color that you get when flying through a cloud layer is a well known problem. Seeing your clouds as they pass right outside the window would be SO much more immersive. Quote
FloB Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 P.S. Do you think there is a way for you to work on changing the white out look? Or is that something hard-coded that only Laminar can fix. The uninspiring solid grey color that you get when flying through a cloud layer is a well known problem. Seeing your clouds as they pass right outside the window would be SO much more immersive. The white out never existed in Skymaxx.In XP you can eliminate the white out via art controls/ lua script.I guess that XP10.30 will do that for you by default. Flo Quote
SPAS Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 You get no whiteout with Real terra haze, and it work with any Maxx pro. From Android with Love. And Tapatalk. Quote
JohnMAXX Posted May 2, 2014 Author Report Posted May 2, 2014 Thanks for the kind words and suggestions guys, in brief if you look at the images you can see some more defined cloud textures..... My goal is to bring more contrast to the new textures and I am working on that now......But I am very keen on keeping the spirit of SkMAXX intact, so don't expect a REX clone.... Quote
MercuryMat Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 Very nice work. The tower cumulus are a nice addition to SMP!!! Sent from Mad iPad's Tapatalk Quote
marcc Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 I'm stoked!! If you need some more beta testers at some point....Just sayin' ...But seriously, ... anytime you ask 1 Quote
CaptCWGAllen Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 Looks absolutely fabulous. The clouds in Sky Maxx are to my mind much more real than REX and with all the continuous improvements going on across X plane I really do believe it should become the sim of choice. I have FSX with tons of add ons and also P3D v2 but X plane, which I only came to at the beginning of this year, is the only one I fly now. So disappointed with P3D and it cost $200! Interesting looking at their forum today that one of their developers even agree that the flight model is awful an they will rely on TPs to build decent flight models into the products. X Plane feels so much more real in flight (and I know that a lot of additional work is done by the TPs, but just compare a product available to both sims and there is no doubt which one feels right - IMHO).John love your work - every time I fly up through your clouds them I am grinning from ear to ear. These enhancements will make it even more fun and realistic. Thank you - can't wait. 1 Quote
HarryCYUL Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 So disappointed with P3D and it cost $200! the $59.99 version is the same Quote
CaptCWGAllen Posted May 2, 2014 Report Posted May 2, 2014 Yes I knew that thanks, but I didn't want a watermark stuck in the corner of my screen. Quote
JohnMAXX Posted May 3, 2014 Author Report Posted May 3, 2014 Looks absolutely fabulous. The clouds in Sky Maxx are to my mind much more real than REX and with all the continuous improvements going on across X plane I really do believe it should become the sim of choice.I have FSX with tons of add ons and also P3D v2 but X plane, which I only came to at the beginning of this year, is the only one I fly now. So disappointed with P3D and it cost $200! Interesting looking at their forum today that one of their developers even agree that the flight model is awful an they will rely on TPs to build decent flight models into the products. X Plane feels so much more real in flight (and I know that a lot of additional work is done by the TPs, but just compare a product available to both sims and there is no doubt which one feels right - IMHO).John love your work - every time I fly up through your clouds them I am grinning from ear to ear. These enhancements will make it even more fun and realistic. Thank you - can't wait. Thank for the kind words I am glad you are enjoying our efforts........ Quote
HarryCYUL Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 just read that 10.30 will improve default clouds i wonder what will change. Quote
JohnMAXX Posted May 3, 2014 Author Report Posted May 3, 2014 just read that 10.30 will improve default clouds i wonder what will change. SkyMAXX might become obsolete......Oh no! LOL Quote
Cameron Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 just read that 10.30 will improve default clouds i wonder what will change. Minor changes and bug fixes. Nothing to write home about, but improvements none-the-less. We've been running 10.3 for a while here. 1 Quote
HarryCYUL Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 just got the skymaxx 1.3.3 update email..........Wow! amazing dude love it. 1 Quote
Cameron Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 just got the skymaxx 1.3.3 update email..........Wow! amazing dude love it. Just to be clear, what you see in the above screenshots from John is not a part of the recently released update today. This stuff is slated for a forthcoming update, but enjoy the new stuff anyhow! 1 Quote
strider Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 Those pics look yummy ! Is there anything in 10.30 thats going to help you guys out ? Any news on watermax or urbanmaxx ? Quote
arb65912 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 Hi John, Just got the SkyMaxx Pro update installed. NOW I owe you TWO lunches. Excellent, it is scary to think what you are going to come up next, I might stop flying and just start looking at the clouds. :lol: Seriously, great job and constant improvement, love it. Thank you SkyMaxx Pro Team. Cheers, AJ Quote
HarryCYUL Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 Hi John, Just got the SkyMaxx Pro update installed. NOW I owe you TWO lunches. Excellent, it is scary to think what you are going to come up next, I might stop flying and just start looking at the clouds. :lol: Seriously, great job and constant improvement, love it. Thank you SkyMaxx Pro Team. Cheers, AJ Maybe in 1.3.4 John can release a Cloud with a VC and FMC Quote
captainamerican Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Im still contemplating whether I should buy skymaxx pro or not. I am afraid that if I do, i might get little fps because my hardware may not be good enough, however I think its fine. Im just really unsure how my computer will handle it. Those screenshots looked fantastic though. Want! Edited May 3, 2014 by captainamerican Quote
HarryCYUL Posted May 3, 2014 Report Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Im still contemplating whether I should buy skymaxx pro or not. I am afraid that if I do, i might get little fps because my hardware may not be good enough, however I think its fine. Im just really unsure how my computer will handle it. Those screenshots looked fantastic though. Want! buy it, 1.3.3 really boosted my fps through the roof i'm getting like 500fps jk..........buy it, you'll love it. Edited May 22, 2014 by HarryCYUL 1 Quote
JohnMAXX Posted May 3, 2014 Author Report Posted May 3, 2014 Here are a few more to ponder...... 3 Quote
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