[R H Steele]

Scott, thanks for starting this discussion, it has provided some thoughtful and illuminating information...perhaps as Dave suggests there may be a way to make some improvements to the OR environments. The software might prove to be of real advantage, considering your remarks about terrain textures.

[scottb613]

steved, on 23 March 2021 - 07:32 AM, said:

Scott,
This sounds way better than what we've been using.
Do you have any examples? How would this work in conjunction with TSRE?

Hi Randy,

Yeah - I think it would be a complete redesign of the terrain system in ORTS which is probably a bit too ambitious.

Here's a quick 5 minute tutorial showing the basics - I just found it interesting.
https://youtu.be/9F9BWcykff0

Genma Saotome, on 23 March 2021 - 10:27 AM, said:

It might not be so hard to improve... it's possible the code produces a sphere of m diameter and n faces where both values are there in plain sight and easily changed. A quick scan for "skydome" in the code should reveal places to look. A possible block would be how Rick applied the texture to the faces

Hi Dave,

Yep - that's what I was hoping but you never know.
:)

Regards,
Scott

[scottb613]

R H Steele, on 23 March 2021 - 10:42 AM, said:

Scott, thanks for starting this discussion, it has provided some thoughtful and illuminating information...perhaps as Dave suggests there may be a way to make some improvements to the OR environments. The software might prove to be of real advantage, considering your remarks about terrain textures.

Hi Gerry,

As I've said from day one - ORTS is an opportunity to build the sim we want - without worrying about profits or deadlines. This doesn't happen all the time and I wish more people would embrace it. I know we're a bit hobbled by the free Monogame engine - as it will never look as good as some of the expensive ones used in payware sims - but in my mind - the better we can make it look - the more we'll entice new people to try ORTS.

Regards,
Scott

[scottb613]

Hi Folks,

If anyone wants to try a new Skydome - you can get it here.

SKYDOME DOWNLOAD:
https://mega.nz/file...EDFen4UMldnSARs

I've toned down the brightness a bit as the white color of the clouds was getting blasted out.

It's quite a large texture at 10,000x10,000 pixels - if anyone has any trouble with performance - I'd appreciate a heads up. It runs fine on my old box which is a Sandy Bridge with a GTX970 video card.

Regards,
Scott

[steved]

Looks like a nice warm summer's day.
https://i.imgur.com/ZIuXjbC.png

[scottb613]

steved, on 24 March 2021 - 06:14 AM, said:

Looks like a nice warm summer's day.

Hi Randy,

That's definitely an intriguing route you're working on.

One thing - it appears you have the default cloud texture in play - with the perpetual haze you can't remove. In my Skydome download in the FL - I have a replacement cloud file to remove the haze layer - if desired. Just an FYI if not aware.

Regards,
Scott

[steved]

I was not aware.
Looks like the sky you get when it's hot and muggy, just a miserable summer day.
I'll play around a little more.
I'd buy you a beer for the effort if you were near by.

Randy

[Icik]

Hi,
very Impressive! But what is also very interesting, is the simulation of the wind and moving clouds. Moving clouds are far better and more real than a static picture. OpenRails this offers.

[scottb613]

steved, on 24 March 2021 - 06:26 AM, said:

I was not aware.
Looks like the sky you get when it's hot and muggy, just a miserable summer day.
I'll play around a little more.
I'd buy you a beer for the effort if you were near by.

Randy

Hi Randy,

Hah - you have a knack for screenshots.

Here's the haze blanking file if anyone wants it.

HAZE BLANKING DOWNLOAD:
https://mega.nz/file...TrmEZDos-keMIZA

Regards,
Scott

[scottb613]

Icik, on 24 March 2021 - 06:47 AM, said:

Hi,
very Impressive! But what is also very interesting, is the simulation of the wind and moving clouds. Moving clouds are far better and more real than a static picture. OpenRails this offers.

Hi Jirca,

I'm a fan of your work - I've seen your shader video.

Yeah - moving clouds would be great but the system in ORTS we have to work with doesn't do a very good job of depicting realistic clouds - IMHO - at least from what I've seen. To me the painted Skydomes look more realistic. In real life you have to look long and hard at clouds - on most days - to detect any real movement.

Can you post a picture of the ORTS cloud system you think looks realistic ? Perhaps you know something I don't. It's certainly worth considering/discussing all options.
;)

Regards,
Scott