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I know FSX has broken new ground when it comes to water textures. I was wondering how Microsoft decided to handle water textures for winter/hard winter? Does it look anything like ice? (or is it like FS2004, and still look like water?)

The best way is to set up a flight in winter, over water...

The best way is to set up a flight in winter, over water...

Ask a stupid question I guess.....I should have mentioned that I don't have FSX, that's why I was wondering!

The best way is to set up a flight in winter, over water...

Ask a stupid question I guess.....I should have mentioned that I don't have FSX, that's why I was wondering!

Same here...LOL 8-) 8-)

In FSX, bodies of water, regardless of location, remain ice-free year 'round. As I recall, this is true in all previous editions of FS.

I filed a bug report about it during FSX beta testing and they said it's a good suggestion for a future edition. My *guess* is, it's on the consideration list for inclusion in FX11.

At first glance it might seem a trivial thing but if you stop and think about, it could get pretty complicated to program, depending on the level of realism wanted. For example: frozen lakes would become landable with wheel/ski equipped aircraft but *not* for floatplanes -- just the opposite of what is *now* normal.

FS already includes seasonal affects on scenery (i.e., trees changing color) but freezing lakes depends on how far north or south of the equator you are. At a certain latitude, lakes are ice free year 'round. However, as you go further and further from the equator, the time of year lakes freeze over gets earlier and earlier until you reach the latitude where they're frozen year 'round. Again, the more realism desired, the greater the programming complexity.

Cal
CYXX

Just an FYI

It is my understanding the Flight Environemnt X Xenvision environment control http://www.flightenvironment.com will add cloud shadows, sun spots (different light temps in conjunction with shadows) and ice to water based on conditions being correct along with many other new additions, all dynamic and no need to change anything during a flight.

Unlike MSFS and add-ons of the past, FSX provides the means to dynamically change eveything in real time as you fly.


that will be complemented by Flight Terrain X starting in 2008 http://www.flightterrain.com/index.html

Unlike MSFS and add-ons of the past, FSX provides the means to dynamically change eveything in real time as you fly.

THAT is one of the major sort of "unseen" (so far) "breakthroughs" in FSX.  That ability opens up endless possibilities for add on developers.

best,

.................john

Wow, FTX looks amazing. Can't wait to get a hold of that.