Amazing PAULO, Amazing RIO : our review

FSX. I have touched the grace of... Rio de Janeiro. Despite a heavy installation, the scenery is purely amazing... And those who flied around the place already know how good is the defaut FSX scenery. But this one!

PAULO RICARDO's RIO DE JANEIRO

 

REVIEW

 

 

Version tested : FSX V1.0
File size : 6,5 to 7 GB
Installation : Several files (1 - 2 GB) to install manually in Megascenery\scenery and \texture folders.
Manual : Not in the version tested.
Utility : No.
Framerate :
Propellers : 15 - 30 FPS, depending on the areas.
Liners (PMDG) : 10 - 20 FPS.
Aerosoft Airbus eXtended : 15-30 FPS.

Our usual configuration : Processor I5 3,4 Ghz / 6 MB / ATI HD6570 /
FSX settings : traffic at 100 % (with propeller),
traffic at 50 % and autogen to Dense (liner).

 

Another test runned with the Aerosoft Airbus eXtended. Much better framerate : taking-off from Santos Dumont and circling over the cithy center (above), we have maintained 15-30 FPS.

 

A word on the developer :

Paulo has not designed as many airports as Roberto Zanolli but he is a specialist of "Mega" Cities like Sao Paulo.


How to buy this scenery ?

Paulo is selling it via his blog. You apparently need to contact him via email.
The prices are 35 US Dollars for the Mega RIO pack (there is also a Sao Paulo pack for the same price). With both products, you have all the routes from Sao Paulo -  Rio bridge covered with a photoreal carpet. Customers who live outside of Brazil can buy via Paypal.

http://www.pauloricardofs.blogspot.com.br/2012/10/pacote5-disponivel-fsx-only.html
hotmaster@ig.com.br

* * * * *

The bad :

* An area between the center of Rio and the international Airport is not covered (only photoreal).

* You can only buy it via Paulo Ricardo's website.

* Framerate performances lower in a few very dense areas.


The good :

* The incredible size of the scenery.

* The quality of Santos Dumont, which equals paywares.

* The ratio between autogen density and framerate...

* The seamless integration of Tropical Sim Rio Galeo SBGL.




 

 

That was a shock. MegaRio is not only a very good scenery but it also includes Santos Dumont airport SBRJ with many high definition textures and details around the airport ( open hangars, transparencies, static aircrafts, jetways etc).

 

 

 

 

Another screenshot from Santos Dumont. Many effects on ground textures and aprons. And take a look at these hangars and their custom textures.

 

 

 

It looks like buildings have different kind of resolutions. The left building on this picture has a much better texture definition than the right one. There are also some very detailed buildings (the most famous one in Rio).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

An extremely large area...

 

This screenshot below gives a good idea of the size of MegaRio. The grey parts are designed with very dense autogen. The right part of Rio (Niteroi) is mainly composed of a high resolution photoreal layer.

 

Areas not covered by autogen have a high resolution photoreal ground layer, like here.

 

 

 

 Several buildings and hotel have landable pads. Another one here on this offshore platform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* * * * *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The combination of photoreal textures, trees, and custom buildings is highly realistic. One regret though (but it's common difficulty in FSX), roads have still cars shadow textures. One solution : push the cars traffic to 80 - 100 % to mask it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copacabana at night. A very effective combination of lights along the beach, on buildings. Thanks to very good texturing, lights are diffused on the beach.

 

 

 

 I have set the traffic at 100 % here. Despite the high density of autogen, the buildings have pretty good textures.

 

 

 

 

 

 * * * * *

 

 

 

Performance and framerates tests here, conducted on a Carenado B200 and the PMDG NGX.

Despite high quality settings (on my graphic card), i have got some 15-20 fps on the Beechcraft 200, except over some parts like Botafogo.

 

 

The PMDG NGX has encountered more problems. I reduced the autogen to Dense, and i lower the cars animation to 20 % for better performances. But i am still not happy. If you stay to long over very dense autogen, the textures get more and more blurred.

 

 

Over Barra da Tijuca, another area in the eastern part of  Rio.

 

 

 

Conclusion :

 

Mixed performances were rather expected in this scenery, considering the large amount - and quality - of buildings autogen. But you will not be disappointed if you fly a liner to take-off or land at Rio Galeo SBGL. The internation airport is pretty far from Paulo Ricardo's scenery, so don't expect an important loss of framerate. Landing in Santos Dumont will probably be much disappointing... But there are many possible tweaks here (not to mention that my I5 processor has becomen an antique...).

 

Now, you will be impressed by the size of this area. And a lot of "shadow textures " on mountains and buildings are enhancing the overall impression.

Let's just hope that Paulo Ricardo will simplify his work and sell it someday on a major simshop...

 

 

 

 

How to buy this scenery ?

Paulo is selling it via his blog. You apparently need to contact me via email.
The prices are 35 US Dollars for the Mega RIO pack (there is also a Sao Paulo pack for the same price). With both products, you have all the routes from Sao Paulo - Rio bridge covered with a photoreal carpet. Customers who live outside of Brazil can buy via Paypal.

http://www.pauloricardofs.blogspot.com.br/2012/10/pacote5-disponivel-fsx-only.html
hotmaster@ig.com.br

 

 

 

Thanks !

 

Airdailyx January 2013

DM