JohnMAXX

It is good to see you here BTW!

Who wants to see this?

Thanks Chris for clearing that up.....

Cruster I agree 100% I like the idea of using only autogen to make a completely scalable world but I dont feel computing power is there yet..... I am sure there is a minimal impact from the normal maps and textures, but I think the difference is nominal . UM works to help save fps by allowing users with lower end hardware dial down the number of objects and still maintain an urban environment. UM along with my freeware add-ons work in OSX/ Linux, SkyMAXX Extreme uses a plugin and that is why Windows is currently the only supported platform. Here is a link to Cloudmaxx: http://maxx-xp.hiking-pa.com/?page_id=147 Freeware SkyMAXX: http://maxx-xp.hiking-pa.com/?page_id=205 -----I have heard people complain that skymaxx hurts fps, I havent seen it or know why it would.... Can try out a free version of UrbanMAXX, it doesnt have global coverage or some of the more advanced features that are in UME: http://maxx-xp.hiking-pa.com/?page_id=6 Ah Im all debated out...lol

thanks Larjeet!

I will have an OSX version of SkyMAXX Extreme out in the near future with more options, some less dramatic.....and many different cloud textures...

I agree and I apologize for coming of snappy........ I usually don't get this passionate about my stuff LOL Off day I guess.......

Thanks John

Actually I dont feel I have strayed from anything.....I do feel my add-ons offer the end users more options with more detail to combat FPS. My MAXX stuff is evolving with X-Plane as I learn more and try different stuff.... This statement: However whilst the Aircraft makers are bending over backwards to reproduce their planes technically perfect & reproducing the visual presentation with a perfection which is approaching 'HD Photo realistic' down to the smallest blemish or screw, it would follow that such aircraft be framed/flown in an equally realistic environment. So are you saying I am intentionally misrepresenting my add-ons to the community? And supplying them with an inferior product? Or are you saying the quality of my add-ons don't match up with the other global enhancements available to the community? Or that I have become lazy and driven by my quest to sell as many add-ons as possible? Why do I even try? Im not good enough for X-plane apparently..... And I disagree with your last statement completely the human mind can debate the real thing....happens all the time....everybody interprets things differently. Generally people who feel their reality is the only option are typically narcissistic and self centered.....

Edwin brought up a good point recently in the "What Did You Fly Today" thread here on X-Pilot. My initial response was I generally do not debate such things, but now that I thought about it that sounds very dismissive and I have a few key points I would like to discuss. I also want to hear from the community and feel we can all benefit from such a topic..... Yes I will admit there is a great deal of abstraction and creative license I use when developing my MAXX stuff. I like to think outside the box and my style of development is unique in that respect. The Very idea of UrbanMAXX goes against Austins plausible concept and brings ortho like textures to towns and cities. The development of UM is a direct result of feedback from the community..... My sky colors and clouds address a few issues ,again, the community touched on. 1.Dull and boring skies 2.Brown water, yes the skycolors affect the water color Sky colors seem to be the most controversial subject that comes up in environmental development of X-Plane. GlacierMAXX was a test to see how normal maps work with terrain textures, it looks pretty good but will be greatly improved upon in the future. BeachMAXX works by adding a tropical look to the coastlines. This is probably my least refined add-on and again will be improved upon in the future. Ok I wanted to outline a few of my add-ons, now lets talk about how the interact with the user. From what I have seen from the community there seems to be two parallels to MAXX... 1. Pleasure sensors in the brain go off and belief is suspended and they enjoy the sim... 2. Wow that looks completely fake and look at those sloppy orthos crazy skycolors so on and so on..... The first group gets my vision, in the case of UM it is a trick of the eye using some advanced texturing and the existing autogen to fill in on a global scale towns and cities. My impression of the second group, these are the guys who like complete ortho photos of a particular area, that isn't the goal of any of my add-ons and on a global scale it would be impossible. So what you have is a very impressionistic approach to urban areas which works well. Is it perfect, not in a million years but I am developing add-on texture packs to hopefully bring more people over to UrbanMAXX. All my add-ons are more vivid then default, this is a core design approach of mine. My impression of this style is it makes X-Plane seem more alive and less flat......Doing this triggers pleasure sensors in my brain during the development process so I pass it off to the end user. Another good point in regard to how I produce a screenshot, I completely manipulate X-Plane to look more like a piece of art. I spend a lot of time tweaking cloud layers, time of day, picking a location so on and so on until I get something that looks nice. This is part of the hobby for me, it is a left over from my MSFS days. This hobby of virtual spotting is not as big in the X-Plane community and may be misunderstood by some. I very rarely take a screenshot with real world weather....by no means are they natural.... Just a few thoughts of mine id like to share with you all....

Edwin, I have always seen two parallels within the X-Plane community both contribute equally to the overall experience. Personally I do not get into debates over realism with the other side since the reality of flight sim is it is art and not real life. With that said there are limitations to X-Plane I try to overcome to bring things like Urban Textures, Vivd Skies and Tropical waters to to users who are looking for such. Additionally the debate is fruitless overall since either side will never agree..... What I do know is many of the people who do use my add-ons are very happy, this is good since I am bringing something to them that they felt as the end user was missing from X-plane. This makes the community, X-plane and development stronger which keeps things moving in a positive direction...... Don't get me wrong , I respect your opinion and strive to achieve a somewhat realistic balance with eye candy and flair...... But just like any kind of art, interpretations are always going to be different....

I have been keeping an eye on this package.......Yeah is not out of the realm of possibility in the near future......I am currently working on texture packs for UM and after that I need to update SkyMAXX....... Once thats done I decided to tackle seasons....

Given enough time I hope to bring that enjoyment to everyone who uses X-Plane There is a mixture of exsisting add-ons and some WIP stuff in that shot....

Testing another Texture pack for UrbanMAXX Extreme

Last one for tonight...

Just one from today....

Using 10.20? They did a great job with the specular highlights....

Freeware.......Hopefully we will have it released 3Q 2015 as you can see there are a lot of things to fix.....

Look what peter has been working on: . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Did a face swap of me and the wifey....man I make an ugly woman....hehe

Chris as usual very well done

Just messing!!! Yes that era had some major advancements in aviation.....

I dunno...both have different qualities, interesting both are essentially polar opposites...Come on folks we don't need another cold war....