DanKH wrote:I promised Ian some shots of the freeware Kai Tak
Thank you, Dan, very kind of you to remember. You're still not off the hook, though, as I would like to see some close-ups of the approach to the checkerboard and the buildings beneath the final curve. Pretty please! BTW your video worked fine on my system but I think I'm going to wait for the Director's Cut on DVD :sad:
From what you have shown us, I think I prefer the payware version because the individual buildings and roads in the Kai Tak area are modelled on the originals, including the original billboards and even the taxis on the street. Whereas the autogen on the freeware is putting generic apartment blocks all higgledy-piggledy (olde English expression - don't ask). The payware one is stunning at night with all the neon lights in the streets. It just looks and feels so much more like Hong Kong and Kai Tak. But then it should do as it cost money.
Also, I'm an FS pilot of the Dave B school. All my scenery sliders are way to the left for smoothness and I generally have the AI off. I only have the aircraft quality on max, so I'm generally much less judgemental about scenery than most people. I mostly enjoy flying approaches and landings, so I only need the navaids and runway - which makes me a pretty cheap date as far as FS is concerned! Kai Tak is an exception as it's my main FS base :roll: and I do allow myself a nostalgic glance out of the window - so for me it has to look kosher.
So perhaps the payware is for the dreamers, tourists and perfectionists while the freeware is for the all-action, busy airspace, technical pilots?