New-Zealand North Island : hot test

FSX. New-Zealand entire archipelago finally designed. The relief is maybe less impressive compared with the south island but Orbx team has worked carefully on trees and textures. A wide diversity of landscapes.

ORBX NEW-ZEALAND NORTH ISLAND

 HOT TEST

Version tested : FSX V.1.0
File : 3,26 GB
Price : 40 AUS $ (42 US$, 34 €)
Installation : Easy.
Framerate : 18 to 28 fps at main airports gates. More than 25 at taxiways and runways.
These scores are obtained from PMDG NGX virtual cockpit.
(I7 3,4 Ghz + 6 MB RAM + ATI HD6570 sliders on medium + REX + FSX sliders at max).
Manual : yes


The bad :

* The low resolution textures on Auckland airport main terminal.

* Some areas could had desserve a better mesh resolution. But i am not shure here, if developers can make a base mesh and insert some very high resolution mesh ? For instance, the Mount Ruapehu desserved a 1 - 2 m. mesh.

* NZNI is definitely for VFR flights until some designer is ready to develop Wellington or Auckland international airports.


The good :

* Incredible diversity of landscapes, seas and cities. Hundreds of boats. You will also see birds. Custom trees designed from photos.

*  The size of the scenery (the north island is actually the fourteen largest of the world).

Landscapes

 

Like in New-Zealand South Island, the combination of several type of trees.

Birds flying in the country. Note the details with rows of trees and sloped terrains.

A detail of the mount Ruapehu; near the center of the island.

The island of whales

Typical country in april.

Gorgeous views in the Northlan bays

* * * * *

Eye candies

Hundreds of balloons, animated from september to June between 7 and 9 AM.

(screenshot from beta testers)

Wind farms.

(screenshot from beta testers)

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Airports 

As usual in Orbx large sceneries, all airports are enhanced, including the heaviest. The Australian designer is already working on some very detailed airports and airfields for this package.

(screenshot from beta testers)

Low resolution textures in Auckland intl. airport.

A little bit disappointed about this one. Wellington airport is much better.

 

* * * * * *

People Flow are definitely everywhere now. I have seen many of them in the six or seven airports i have explored. Here, a new one with a bike,  spotting the aircrafts.

 

 

 

Cities

 

Several ferry boats can be found in main harbors. You will also find military destroyers, tankers, cargos. This kind of cargo boar here is highly detailed.

 

* * * * *

The next four shots are from Auckland and New Zealand's capital, Wellington. The main buildings are all customly designed. There is a dense road traffic with several bridges. The city and the large harbor have been enhanced by high definition photoreal textures. Wellington is also surrounded by small mountains based on Holger 10 meters mesh. Just one regret here, Orbx could had insert some ferryboats traffics animations like in Antarctica, with connecting routes to Nelson or Christchurch. 

* * * * *

The last shots are showing Napier city and harbor. You can compare Orbx work with the second view, taken from Google Earth.

Points of interests and coverage.

Conclusion

As usual with Orbx, the combinations of custom autogen and textures, of large photoreal areas and many custom airfields will bring you thousands hours of flight and places to discover. There will be new connections to Milford Sound and Queenstown soon (NZ South Island), two projects already announced by the editor. We are just waiting for the first North island airport. There are many interesting choices : Tauranga, Napier, Hamilton. Hoping for a good news soon !

Want to see more high definition textures ? 

http://fullterrain.com/product_nzni.html

(D. Mason)

Airdailyx hot test format copyright 2012