First of all, we’d like to announce that we started to gradually implement all the new cool features that X-Plane 12 has brought with it. Specifically with these updates, we’ve implemented so-called “weather maps” for (almost) all of the materials we’ve developed for the scenery. In less technical terms: Be careful, from now on it will get really wet as soon as it starts to rain (or has rained):
X-Plane 12 also allowed us to implement some ideas that were previously impossible (or only difficult) to implement, such as animated waterfalls and a custom soundscape. On the other hand, newest versions of XP12 also required us to update a few things, such as improving atoll and reef textures, and optimizing the lighting for the overlay scenery i.e. autogen – and, we’re finally able to get rid of an annoying bug related to vegetation, known to some of you as the “glowing effect”:
Speaking of vegetation, yes, it’s still 2d for the large rainforests, and only 3d around POIs like airports and helipads. There are a few reasons for this decision, but to cut a long story short, we didn’t want our ongoing work on full-3d-vegetation to delay these updates. Especially we wanted it to not delay stuff much more important for a pilot, such as e.g. a new and exciting helipad at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui resort (fictional ICAO code XHNTTC, part of Bora Bora & Leeward Islands XP).
As you can see, there is so much to report. And there would be even more to talk about, but today’s blog entry is getting longer and longer. I’d say let’s keep it short now: Here is the full changelog for both scenery packs to give you a quick overview, as well as a selection of a few more snapshots:
changelog for Bora Bora & Leeward Islands XP v1.2
as well as for Tahiti & Windward Islands XP v1.1:
- updated ground textures, added “wet effects”
- updated nav aid/approach lighting of airports
- revised night lighting of the autogen scenery
- added waterfalls feat. custom particle effects
- added custom soundscape (requires LST plugin)
- implemented XP12 default ambient soundscape
- fixed the “glowing effect” of 2d vegetation
- various, minor fixes and updates to Overlays
- adjusted soil textures roughness/specularity
- adjusted reef and border textures for XP12.1+
- minor fixes on terrain and bathymetry model
in addition for Bora Bora & Leeward Islands XP v1.2:
- new “floating” helipad at Conrad Bora Bora Nui
- updated ports and marinas with new art assets
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2437034/XPlane_12_Addon_Aerosoft__Society_Islands_XP__Tahiti__Windward_Islands/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2259163/XPlane_12_Addon_Aerosoft__Society_Islands_XP__Bora_Bora__Leeward_Islands/
