I just downloaded and installed the new package from FSGenesis that is called American Roads.  It is NOT a small download.... about 550 Meg.  But with my DSL line... it wasn't too bad.  It installs new bgls for the major and minor roads in the USA... along with streams (not major rivers), utility power lines, railroads, and so on.

While they say it does not install major rivers.... the rivers in my home area that it installed really ARE rivers.... not streams.  And it also added some pretty minor rail lines in this area... that are purely small freight only private operations.

My first impression is that it is VERY accurate and greatly improves the look of the landscape.  

I took a look around my own home area first... which Microsoft did not have even CLOSE to correct .......... even with just the single major numbered route that runs 300 yards from my house ........let alone any of the more minor roads.  This addon is a MAJOR improvement at a level that is hard to describe.

First of all... Microsoft missed the major river that runs through this area completely.... which also happens to wrap around two sides of my property.  This addon put it RIGHT where it should have been.  They also missed the placement of the major east/west highway... and this addon got that exactly right too.  And the rail line that runs near my house is now there too.  And the minor roads nearby are so accurate that it is scary.  My road... Riverbend Way ...... which is only about 100 yards long and a dead end...... is now right where it is in the real world.  

Like has been noted with the "USA Roads" program, there are still some issues in some spots with roads crossing bodies of water at the coasts and at major rivers and lakes.  But a companion addon is supposed to be out in December that will take care of that ....fixing coastline and river and lake inaccuracies in the original MS geography.  And when that is out it also will allow you to install bridges in the correct places wherever the roads cross water.

However on a real plus side...... "from altitude" the roads in this addon look more like the real thing from the air... than the weird "grid" that USA Roads seems to put over some areas.  This effect is far more subtle.... and realistic.  But better yet... you ALSO get railroads, the aforementioned streams, and utility lines.

There are numerous options about how you can configure the installation of the addon.... and can customize a number of factors to suit slower machines.  It is very flexible.  There is even a (cheaper) version available for those that already have USA Roads..... that only adds the streams, utility lines, and railroads.

Below is a shot of the area about 2 miles west of where I live.  It shows Route 101 headed west thru the pass between Temple Mountain and Pack Monadnock.  Microsoft had the major rad going in a weird place sort of over the side of the mountain....rather than thru the pass.  And on the right side of the road right in tyhe pass Pack Monadnock mountain has a small park service road full of switchbacks all the way up to the top.  That road is now there.



The image above includes FSGenesis terrain mesh, FSgenesis landclass, and the FSGenesis American Roads addon.

best,

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

Thanks for your thoughts...........

As a non USA resident I won't be D/loading anything of that size, however, it's nice to see where the technology is going.

Here is another example of the American Roads (and streams, and railroads, and utilities) add on from FSGenesis.  The thing I like is that unlike USA Roads...... the roads do not look like that are the most prominent feature of the landscape...... they are subtle.  On the minor roads... you have to search for them.... but they are there.  If you look in the field and building areas in the shot below... there ARE roads there.... but only the main highway is really prominent....... as it should be.

This was shot flying from KMTJ to KDEN today IFR on the WSPilots online server.



best,

..........john

Kevin, See here!!

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=paywareshots;action=displa...

Dave

Good choice there Savas.  I really think this one is better from what I have seen.  But truly I have had to judge USA Roads from OTHERS screenies... since I didn't want to buy it based on the screenshots I saw.  Too "artificial" looking.

best,

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

Quote:


Start selling organs like I am

Quote:


DPR,

Is this a case of "you DON'T snooze, you lose"?   

best,

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

I'm also seeing a lot of roads running across the middle of lakes, up the side of impossibly steep mountains, etc...  It looks bad.