My most anticipated update is the elevation data / terrain mesh. So I downloaded the update (9GB program update + 4GB from the market), and took several flights to some famous mountain areas. To my biggest disappointment, I can see no change. It’s still the flat, rounded, and smooth mountains everywhere. Have I missed something or done something wrong? Have you notice some elevation data / terrain mesh enhancement after the update? Or is your experience the same as me? I am eagerly looking forward to your opinion. Attached is the pic of KMMH-Mammoth Yosemite airport after the update. The elevation data of the mountains look very low.
I’ve never been there but I might take a look tonight. This is from its Wikipedia page:
I’m not certain that is even looking in the same direction if I’m honest.
I suppose a valid question might be what you are expecting to see?
from the release notes:
Check what detail level the area you’re flying in is here.
If it really is vastly different, then maybe try clearing your manual/rolling cache files.
I think we are looking at the same direction.
I don’t have a “before/after” comparison pics for reference, but I used to have the same area in FSX with FS Global mesh which is 30m resolution for most of USA, and it looked better than this. According the updated elevation map Yosemite is at least 16m so it definitely should look better than FSX with FS Global mesh but it doesn’t.
I also found some very small areas that are 50cm. That is crazily high resolution mesh that has never appeared in flight simulation sceneries. The areas are so small that I can’t make sure where they are. Anyone has some luck with those super high mesh areas?
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I actually believe the terrain mesh and textures are now worse (at least in some places). Only a week ago I flew from Barstow to Vegas and was stunned my some of the jagged bare mountain ranges in the eastern part of the Mojave desert. I repeated that flight today and the hills now look rounded and have tree textures. I wish I’d taken screen shots before. I haven’t changed my settings (LOD at 200) and have the rolling cache disabled. Google Earth shows bare, mostly treeless mountain sides.
I am sad to hear about this. All the new pics of moutains I have seen give me the impression that the elevation data update has not given us the improvement I have been eagerly waiting. I really wish this opinion been debunked with comparison pics to show the improvement.
I’m not saying there’s no improvement, just that at least some areas that I have previously flown in now (to me) look worse.
This thread has a map with the mesh LOD in Update 7. The Mojave is in the orange LOD14 zone, the lowest LOD in the US. I have no proof (screen captures) unfortunately that it was higher before the update, but the repeat flight I just did left me underwhelmed.
I have quite opposite impression. Everything looks stunning BUT I’ve to admit I flew over the US only few times before the patch.
Edit: just landed at Telluride and apart from non working ILS or VOR this area could use some update in the future.
There’s definitely improvements in certain areas. I did the new discovery flight, and for example, the Palisades in the Hudson valley look quite authentic now. But the US already had the best mesh before the update, the reason I mostly flew in the US. The mountainous states unfortunately didn’t get much love as far as mesh resolution is concerned.