The FSX Sandbox

[AirCoaster]

A sandbox is a place where young children discover that they can create their own worlds from their imaginations. I would like this forum to be that entity for us who enjoy scenery creation, and for those who may have a spark of curiousity for scenery creation. Who knows, you may be the next budding scenery creator.

Don't let the forum description fool you, I want this forum to be a place to share information, and experiences with others. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of scenery, as in any field of interest, no one is an expert. Some are more skilled than others, and not even the people who created the programs know all that can be done with their own creation. So, to share information, and apply that information to the sandbox can only make us better at our trade. We can never know what we can accomplish in scenery design, until we have applied the current knowledge, and experiment with what we know.

Tom has asked me to share my wanderings through the murky world of my experiences with FSX scenery with you folks here at TOH. Let me explain a few things about how this all came about.

First of all, I have been creating scenery for FS since FS98, building many scenery packages for virtual airlines, and personal projects for armchair aviators. In FS2002 I released my first, and only public scenery, Old Ohio Airports, which after some serious thought, I stopped production. FS2004 was upon us, and I was up against some new ideas that I needed to figure out to make Old Ohio Airports work. After spending many hours working on lighting effects for OOA, and FS2004, I had to give up scenery creation, cause of the work loads placed on me at home after finding out my wife had Multiple Sclerosis.

Now FSX is upon us, and I am left in the dust, and need to refine my skills at scenery creation for this new and exciting simulator. So, the idea is to relate to you my thoughts, and discoveries as an experienced scenery creator in regards to the newer technologies involved with FSX. I'm no expert, and I will be the first to admit to it, but I feel that my experiences may help others to experience scenery creation.

NEVER SAY DIE, in this forum, never think that you have nothing to contribute. As long as you have even the smallest spark of curiousity, or the dumbest question you can be a contributor here. Your thoughts, as well as mine, will be totally accepted here.

So, I hope this forum is accepted by those who are curious about scenery creation, and those that have experience in scenery creation. And, I hope everyone gets something from reading here.

Thanks for listening, and I hope to see all your posts in the future.

[AirCoaster]

Let's see, we were talking about the sandbox. What a crazy place the sandbox can be. It has been developing since the early 80s, and has progressed to the multi-layered world we know as FSX.

This next bit is my perception of what the FSX world of scenery is about (The Sandbox). Maybe not totally technically correct, but just how I percieve the information I have found in regards to the FSX sandbox.

From what I have read the FSX sandbox is actually created using real world coordinate data to create a round world (sandbox). This data is east/west longitude, north/south latitude, and altitude above, and below sea level (MSL). Everything used in our sandbox will at one time, or another, use this data to allow placement in the world (sandbox).

Next the world is built from different layers with each layer controling what we see as we fly through, or over our sandbox. Some layers control the shape of the water, and land. Others control how much of the terrain, rivers, lakes, streams, and other terrain entities we see, and when. Still others control how much, and what kinds of textures, trees, bushes, buildings, roads, utility lines, and other related auto generated objects to fill the world with generic objects to make it look as close to real as possible. On top of this is all the airport data, navigation aids, and added scenery objects, whether they be 3D objects, effects, or ground textures.

This is my interpretation of what our FSX sandbox is made from. Again, whether it is technically correct, or not, it works for me to understand how to play in the sandbox. I mean why complicate things with a bunch of acronyms, and technical perceptions.

[scubakobe]

If this forum is meant for sharing information on the subject of scenery design, then I think it will be a good idea.

There's a lot of information the major designers don't share, and as I've learned those small "secrets" I made it a point to myself to share the techniques when possible.

So throw all of your questions at us, and we (being fellow designers) will try to help.

Again, if that's what this sub forum is meant for.

Otherwise, I will help anyway... ;D

[bushpounder]

John ...... a word about sandboxes. Beware of stray cats! LOL!

I'm still trying to figure out how to put water where I want it in FS9. FSX (for me) is probably never going to happen. After an absence of four years as you know, I have some things to catch up on.

Don

[AirCoaster]

Thanks Kobbe, you got it. The idea is to concentrate anything related to FSX scenery creation in this forum, so you aren't searching through all the forums to get hints & tricks. We have many talented scenery artists here at TOH, and you are all invited to contribute. And, anyone can ask even the most insignificant question, and get a repsonse to it. Also, if the question can't be answered, I am certain we will find the answer, if possible.

Hey Don, Stray Cats, what a great musical group. You mean to tell me they visit sandboxes? I wondered what happened to them. VTP line Don, water on the right, land on the left, or was that water on the left, and land on the right? Yah, I know what you mean. Many of us old timers have gone to different paths in the past few years for many different reasons, but I saw that I would have some time on my hands in the future, so I figured, hey, why not try FSX.