What do the VA's want?

[VNAF ONE]

Okay, I know this is pretty much a given, BUT, I want to know what you guys would like.

I want to make a map for VA's that offers regional, mid-range, and at least 1 or two "long-haul" or 2+ hour routes (2 hours in YS is quite long enough). Here are the issues I come to:

- It would take a lot of time to produce such a thing
- It could be laggy simply by the size of the map which is frustrating
- I am a detail kind of guy so it will be hard for me to trade beauty for lag
- I mainly don't know what you guys want to use
- Real life maps are difficult because of research and time before I begin
- I don't feel that fictional maps will be put to use

The questions I have for you all are:

- Would you like me to create and release a large scale map of a real world location or create a fictional one (more freedom)?
- What type of detail would you guys like to see in it?
- - - - detailed airport, basic but not empty surroundings
- - - - nice airport, nice surroundings (not as much as Vuelo Beach)
- - - - basic airport, basic surroundings, something to look at along the way

Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of making a map that has detail in the airports and nothing else. For me, there needs to be some detail at least but I want to know how much. I know not to create something on the level at or above Vuelo Beach on something like this, but I want to make something that you pilots and VA owners will want to assign routes and operations on.

[Gunny]

I wonder VNAF ONE if you understand what a can of worms you just opened up But seriously guy my respects for tackling this difficult project and I hope it works out for everyone.Your questions are pretty much the same as I had to deal with.Balancing my perceived idea of detail with the effects of lag particularly in a server environment.I like you have an affinity for detail such is our curse with scenery editor and the ever present lag factor.The vary best of luck.

[flyingfisch]

Just my 2 cents, not an expert or anything.

A map as detailed as Hawaiitosocal is way to laggy for me at least, but I think the cvw-171 hawaii is probably just fine as far as beauty vs. speed.

That said, I have a horrible GFX card, so maybe that's just me. However, the canary islands map is absolutely fine for me, no lag.

[decaff_42]

Perhaps you might look into making a low-lag version of the caribbean!


The first few "drafts" of it really don't need to be all that spectacular. Just get the base island outlines done, and then you can add details in as you work your way up the lag-o-meter.

Start with perhaps 5-10 islands and 1 or 2 airports per map depending on their size. have a few closer together, and a couple far/midway out.


The nice thing about the Caribbean is that long haul 2 hours would get you pretty much across the islands.

[VNAF ONE]

@decaff_42 - I actually like the idea of the Caribbean map and totally support that. I may chip in on it. My main reason for asking is because as you all know, I'm working on a map right now that's decently detailed and is an expansion of my Vuelo Beach map. What I was going to do is maybe have several versions of it, but then that defeats the purpose of creating a detailed version if everyone's going to fly the lite one anyways. I might just do the Caribbean, I might even find another real world location. However, if the VA's don't care that it's fictional, I might try something else.

@flyingfisch - my only problems are mainly that the CVW-171 version of Hawaii was not designed for the use of airlines and it should not be treated as such. It's like turning Area 51 into JFK. It's a military map. Also, Hawaii is one state, in one country. If a VA wants to go international, it's highly impractical to do so there. Lastly, the only kind of flights that should be taking place in Hawaii are really short range regional flights. Basically that's up to a CRJ-200. I was hoping there would be interest in making up a map of a place (talking about a fictional option) that has good distance, detail, and is pretty much laid out for VA's to operate on. That means legit destinations that are different from one another, a HUB of some kind, smaller airports, the works.

[Dan]

I must say VNAF ONE I really do like your idea of the fictional maps as it would be a good creative challenge for map makers and it would be something I would love to do.

[bernholm]

Ain't the Philippines enough? It's pretty damn big

[Drachenfire]

HawaiitoSoCal works like a charm for me. Best VA map I have seen since....ever. I get to fly from my home airport (Long Beach) to the well known Hawaii map while doing homework. I keep the Ganja Gang alive with shipments back to SoCal from Maui. I love it this map with wind as it gives good navigation practice calculations to keep your trig sharp. Fuel calculations, best cruise climb speed, etc etc.

Better flight logging if possible. Actual time and fuel spent should matter in the 'weight' of the flight. Flights that take too long or burn too much fuel shouldn't do as well. I.E. A flight from Honolulu to Lihue should take longer than say 25 minutes, 30 minutes, and XX% fuel for certain aircraft. Gate to Gate. Would it be possible to measure actual time from spawn in at location A to the time of a safe stop at location B? I know code wise I am only asking the world.

[Gunny]

In the original HawaiitoSoCal the trip from Honolulu to LAX was 3,500.34 nautical miles and took about 6 1/2 hours.so I really had to make sure the plane I picked had good fuel stats or it was into the drink with me.But CHF 777 always got me there with about 15 % to spare.

[Drachenfire]

Google shows the flight as being about 2500 miles. That's still pretty easy at the right alt and speed. I know the stock 747 will clear 12,000 NM!

[Gunny]

HawaiitoSocal is based on the tri-angle which is my Kodiak-Griffins Hawaii and Pats Socal but just to darn big for servers to use and on lower end computers it shook them like a automated paint shaker.But I never really intended to release it when I made it but somebody talked me into it.But works ok for my purposes.

[Shiny Rice]

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I get shaking in the Hawaii-Socal map while in the HAVA server. If a VA map is going to be made, it has to be smaller than that one.