Cameron Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Hello, all,This will serve as a formal forum announcement that we have released the version 2.1.1 update for SkyMaxx Pro. All customers who have purchased SkyMaxx Pro up till now have been sent an e-mail by X-Aviation with complete instructions on how to obtain your update. We have made this a very simple process! For those that purchase SkyMaxx Pro from today forward, your purchased download will already be updated to version 2.1.1 for you.What if I didn't get the update e-mail?If you did not receive your update e-mail don't fret! X-Aviation has updated our system to allow all customers to update with ease, regardless of whether you received an e-mail for the update! Here's what to do:1. Login to your X-Aviation account here: https://www.x-aviati...talog/login.php2. View your past order history invoice that contains SkyMaxx Pro purchase on it.3. At the bottom of the invoice you will find a blue highlighted link to your update that says: "SkyMaxx Pro".There are some important fixes and requests implemented in this update.The following is a list of additions/fixes included: What's New / Changed:Clouds viewed through transparent surfaces (cockpit glass, rotor blades, etc) will blend properly with terrain, if the model with transparency was properly modeled. Converted FSX aircraft for example may still have issues, but they would have the same problems with default clouds. 2.1.1's clouds should work as well as default clouds in this respect.The "overcast quality" setting will now affect stratus clouds as well.Stratus clouds are now allowed to be at ground levelStratus clouds with medium or high overcast quality will use soft particles for terrain blendingPerformance is improved when the sun is in viewLightning is less frequent, and thinner, in cumulonimbus clouds. As always, thanks for being a customer with X-Aviation. We appreciate your feedback and support!Enjoy these latest updates, and stay tuned to the forum as we continually announce the latest happenings. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundog Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 (edited) This is actually an important update to get for folks who like to practice IFR conditions. If you set the "overcast quality" setting in SkyMaxx Pro's configuration to medium or high, low stratus clouds and ground fog will be represented quite nicely in SkyMaxx Pro 2.1.1. It also gives a noticeable performance boost when the sun is in view. Thanks to our beta testing team for making this a solid release. Edited January 11, 2015 by sundog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thePuffyPuff Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Just finished a few approaches with visibility 1 and stratus to ground. This is a HUGE improvement for simulating low IFR conditions. Many thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X-Plane Australia Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 My FPS definitely improved, I am yet to try IFR conditions yet but this is already a brilliant update! Thanks all 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMAXX Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 My FPS definitely improved, I am yet to try IFR conditions yet but this is already a brilliant update! Thanks all Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 thank you, i will go try it right now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 great work for ifr flights, a lot lot better you just have to fix the rain that is still terrible, but this is a big improvement thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundog Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 you just have to fix the rain that is still terrible SkyMaxx Pro doesn't do anything with rain, and never did. You're just seeing X-Plane's default rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 SkyMaxx Pro doesn't do anything with rain, and never did. You're just seeing X-Plane's default rain.in sky max there is a big difference in rain in default engine rain is all over the window, in skymax the rain can't pass over the cloud, and it seems like the cloud are PAINTED on the glass of the plane the engine cannot draw the rain over the cloud, with skymaxx we can see rain only in the space beetween clouds, with a very bad effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMAXX Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Have you tried 2.1.1 yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 yes, i have 2.1.1 installed there are big improvements, but rain is like before, clouds are drawed upon the rain the only problem for me are the 25 fps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 after several test i noticed other problem if i put stratus from 00000 to 40000 i got clouds only from 00000 to 10, 15k, over 15000 feet the sky is almost free of clouds to fix i have to put 2 stratus level of cloud, but with overcast set to med or high i got only 25 fps, when witout clouds in the same situation i got 60 fps stable this is the only 3 problem i found rain fps stratus don't fill all the sky but only 10, 15k feet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 but with overcast set to med or high i got only 25 fps, when witout clouds in the same situation i got 60 fps stable I don't really consider this a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundog Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 You would never see a stratus cloud 40km thick in real life. Drawing clouds will always be slower than not drawing clouds. If you need some extra performance, try reducing the cloud draw distance and cloud detail settings in the Skymaxx Pro configuration screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) I can confirm fps is NOT your faults, lot of clouds = slow fps also with default cloud engine, so we can check out fps from My ListAfter this, i think that if i set up stratus from 0 to 40 i should See clouds until 40k, like default engine does.. don't you think? And The rain... i Will make a video you Will agree with me on rain Edited January 14, 2015 by Viper04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 I can confirm fps is NOT your faults, lot of clouds = slow fps also with default cloud engine, so we can check out fps from My List After this, i think that if i set up stratus from 0 to 40 i should See clouds until 40k, like default engine does.. don't you think? And The rain... i Will make a video you Will agree with me on rain 0 to 40 is not even close to realistic. We aren't going to invest time in something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Russell Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 "How a Book from 1961 Makes Realistic Virtual Reality Skies" http://sundog-soft.com/sds/2014/06/book-1961-makes-realistic-virtual-reality-skies/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundog Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 And The rain... i Will make a video you Will agree with me on rain That's not necessary. I never noticed before and nobody's ever complained about it before either, but you are right that rain particles can't be seen in front of clouds. Unfortunately I don't think it's something we can fix given X-Plane's SDK. 0 to 40 is not even close to realistic. We aren't going to invest time in something like that. Totally agree. I feel no need to simulate fabricated, unrealistic conditions. If we did allow you to set up a 40km-thick volumetric cloud, it would kill performance and probably crash most systems as well due to memory exhaustion. We're not going to change anything there. "How a Book from 1961 Makes Realistic Virtual Reality Skies" Hey thanks for digging that old post up Ben! The research that went into SilverLining (the engine that powers SkyMaxx Pro) was a lot of fun, and it's some pretty hardcore stuff. I even went and got accepted into the American Meteorological Society to get access to more research. But yeah, when I say 40km-high stratus clouds don't exist, I'm not just making that up. Normally they don't even exist above 2km. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 i'm not saying that we need a single block of clouds from 0 to 40k....i'm just saying that if i put clouds from 0 to 40, it's no sense to have cloud only from 0 to 10k... or 15kthere should be different strat of clouds, from 0 to 40, not only from 0 to 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMAXX Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 Viper I think SkyMAXX should make me dinner also and wash my car......... Patience and an understanding of the SDK will provide you with all you need to know right now....... The default weather engine only allows for 3 cloud layers and thats all we have access to......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) Viper I think SkyMAXX should make me dinner also and wash my car......... Patience and an understanding of the SDK will provide you with all you need to know right now....... The default weather engine only allows for 3 cloud layers and thats all we have access to......... my friend, language is a problem, im not talking abaout the 3 block of the option XD as far as, this is not a big issue, it can be bypassed by other option the only big big big big big problem is the rain, i don't want to took off washing cars from you and i don't want an istant fix, i only think that we are here to talk and to write the problems with the plugin, im not attacking anyone and i have patience XD Edited January 14, 2015 by Viper04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) That's not necessary. I never noticed before and nobody's ever complained about it before either, but you are right that rain particles can't be seen in front of clouds. Unfortunately I don't think it's something we can fix given X-Plane's SDK. i cannot believe this, no one and also you don't notice this?? cm on......the rain in xplane is the worst rain in videogame from winning eleven 2 with this bug is also worst... is unplayable in some situation.... Edited January 15, 2015 by Viper04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trevg Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Terrific update, thanks guys for your efforts.I can look at the sun now with no problems, long as I put my glasses onFPS are pretty good and no I don't expect you to fix the rain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMAXX Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper04 Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) i have done other test, i found other 2 issue (i think that is a issue, maybe it's some option to change) * clouds change randomly in the flight, the meteo refresh sometimes and clouds change position without any reason, * the radar on the plane show me the clouds, but the turbolenc and the clouds aren't where the radar show me, but in other place thank you for the answer regards Edited January 15, 2015 by Viper04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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