ImagineSim KMSY Armstrong International Airport

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Kenneth Lyons
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Description: Scenery add-on for FS2002/2004 file:///d

1 AVSIM Commercial Scenery Review ImagineSim KMSY Armstrong International Airport Publisher: ImagineSim Rating Guide Description: Scenery add-on for FS2002/2004 file:///d /My%20Documents/Avsim/Reviews/KMSY/KMSY.htm (1 of 7)02/07/2005 5:19:36 AM

2 Download Size: 24.1 Mb Format: Download Executable file Simulation Type: FS2002 / 2004 Reviewed by: Alexis Esguerra AVSIM Staff Reviewer The AVSIM Commercial Rating System: 1 Star to 5 Stars (with 5 stars being exceptional) Please see details of our review rating policy here. Introduction Let s face it when it comes to MSFS fans and our incessant desire for realism, there can never be enough. If it exists in the real world, we want it in the sim, accurately rendered right down to the smallest detail. Scenery is especially important it surrounds us as we soar through the skies, and the closer we get to it, the more realistic we ask it to be. ImagineSim is one of those companies that have answered the call to whet our appetites. Still relatively new to the industry, this group of developers have chosen to concentrate on airports (smart move, since we eventually do have to land sooner or later) designed to replace the default ones found in FS2002 and FS2004. With Denver Int l (KDEN) Airport and Detroit-Wayne County (KDTW) airports already under their belt, ImagineSim has now brought their replacement of The Gateway to Mardi Gras to our PC s Armstrong Int l Airport (KMSY). Installation and Documentation ImagineSim s software is downloaded directly from their website. It consists of two executable files one each for FS2002 and FS plus a readme file. A double-click on the appropriate file starts the installation, which is fairly automatic. The impacted scenery files are backed up, and even tells you what has been done with them (how to recover them in case of removing the software is detailed in the uninstall process). Also located at the website, is the manual for the software in PDF format. One will find that this manual is excellent in its content. It contains a short history on KMSY, the software and how to use it, and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ s) section. As with everything in FS-life, I recommend that you resist the urge to jump right into the fray and take a momentas to read the manual. You will probably end up doing so anyways when faced with that little feature I m dying to see but doesn t seem to be working scenario. Finally, there is a link for optional AFCAD files. This download contains an extra.bgl file that clears all gate positions for users that employ third party AI aircraft software for both FS2002 and FS2004. For those of us who do not utilize such add-ons (such as myself), rest assured that you will not need this link. The Facelift As with any scenery add-on, ImagineSim transforms its target airport from a lackluster, generic airfield to one that comes closer to mimicking the real thing. From the moment you fire things up after installation, Armstrong Int l Airport gets a whole lot more interesting. file:///d /My%20Documents/Avsim/Reviews/KMSY/KMSY.htm (2 of 7)02/07/2005 5:19:36 AM

Before and After: Quite a difference! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the biggest improvements are made to the terminals themselves.

The scenery held up to a couple hours worth of scrutiny against pictures of the real airport, right down to little nuances as the unique ATC tower and NO PARKING signs stenciled on the blast fences

I found US Airways, Northwest, Delta, Frontier, American, and United parked at the gates, appropriately designated for an airport of this size and modeled in current (or transitional) liveries.

You will find FedEx, UPS, and Airborne Express, all of which actually serve this airport.

Terminal A Looking up at the cargo ramp Night at KMSY in all its glory Mind you, it doesn t stop there. ImagineSim really pulled out the stops when they redid this place.

3 Before and After: Quite a difference! Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the biggest improvements are made to the terminals themselves. ImagineSim relied on individuals who actually work at KMSY for the source materials for remodeling the airport, and it truly shows. The scenery held up to a couple hours worth of scrutiny against pictures of the real airport, right down to little nuances as the unique ATC tower and NO PARKING signs stenciled on the blast fences in the B/A B-C Alleyway. Furthermore, the terminal areas are now populated with the big and little things that you d expect to find at an airport hosting some of the major carriers in the US. I found US Airways, Northwest, Delta, Frontier, American, and United parked at the gates, appropriately designated for an airport of this size and modeled in current (or transitional) liveries. For those of you who would rather not deal with the complaints of virtual passengers, the cargo area has also gotten a facelift as well. You will find FedEx, UPS, and Airborne Express, all of which actually serve this airport. And of course, none of this would be complete without the ever-present ramp personnel and their associated equipment tugs, carts, catering trucks, and vans stand for the next arriving flight. Terminal A Looking up at the cargo ramp Night at KMSY in all its glory Mind you, it doesn t stop there. ImagineSim really pulled out the stops when they redid this place. Touching up or flat out creating from scratch the various structures throughout KMSY-proper. Other than improving the textures of the runways and taxiways, other components such as the various buildings, FAA fixtures (PAPIs, ILS/VOR arrays, ALS, taxiway edge lighting, etc), security fence lines, and other things missing from the default airport have been recreated. And such attention to detail extends past the security perimeter. Freeways, ramps, guidance signs, and the like are readily available for viewing by those who enjoy slewing around in a virtual world. file:///d /My%20Documents/Avsim/Reviews/KMSY/KMSY.htm (3 of 7)02/07/2005 5:19:36 AM

Much more convincing For those extremely lost souls: Just follow the signs back to the airport. IDs required beyond this point.

For example, the textures of the static aircraft are a bit on the light side, and seriously degrades as the closer one gets to them.

Also, one will quickly note that the lights for the ALS and PAPI structures sit at the base of those fixtures, a problem inherent to MSFS s design geometry.

Interactive and Animated Details Interactive jetways and docking systems are pretty much standard fair when it comes to scenery airport add-ons and ImagineSim certainly did not miss out

Note that I said selected gates not all of them have these features, and you ll have to hunt for the appropriate ones based on the aircraft you re flying (essentially high or low).

The docking system used for properly positioning your plane at the gate is pretty straightforward, and I had no problem getting into the proper spot each and every time.

4 Much more convincing For those extremely lost souls: Just follow the signs back to the airport. IDs required beyond this point. Now there are some shortcomings in the software worth mentioning, although there are explanations for them. For example, the textures of the static aircraft are a bit on the light side, and seriously degrades as the closer one gets to them. ImagineSim recognizes that a good number of users will opt to replace these with AI traffic, as previously discussed. Also, one will quickly note that the lights for the ALS and PAPI structures sit at the base of those fixtures, a problem inherent to MSFS s design geometry. Apparently, it does not allow for precise, pinpoint relocation and the solution was to leave them where they were. Oh well better on the ground than hovering in midair. Interactive and Animated Details Interactive jetways and docking systems are pretty much standard fair when it comes to scenery airport add-ons and ImagineSim certainly did not miss out on them. Selected gate positions are equipped with both, allowing you to saddle up to that stop bar right on the centerline and have the jetway position over for deplaning. Note that I said selected gates not all of them have these features, and you ll have to hunt for the appropriate ones based on the aircraft you re flying (essentially high or low). Which ones are usable are clearly spelled out in the manual. The docking system used for properly positioning your plane at the gate is pretty straightforward, and I had no problem getting into the proper spot each and every time. You re looking for two vertical green lines, indicating that your aircraft s nose wheel is on the lead-in line; a red one means you re drifting off in that general direction and should steer towards the green one. If in doubt, look up a little and a series of arrows spell it out clearly. Slow down to a crawl once the yellow lights illuminate, and stop when the red ones come on. With few exceptions, the nose wheel of every commercial airliner from the 737 up, came to rest more or less on one of the stop bars. A little more to the left... Now slow up a bit... Fairly self explanitory. file:///d /My%20Documents/Avsim/Reviews/KMSY/KMSY.htm (4 of 7)02/07/2005 5:19:36 AM

Now dial in that frequency, and... Voila! Thank you for flying with us. The jetway relies on the use of COM2 to activate. Dial in 111.

It s a nice little bit of glitch-free animation, and virtual airlines pilots especially should get a kick out of it.

It s a hit and miss affair, and while it didn t pose that big of a problem for me, it might for the sticklers for detail. Just a touch off,but not bad. But this could realy hurt.

5 Now dial in that frequency, and... Voila! Thank you for flying with us. The jetway relies on the use of COM2 to activate. Dial in and you are rewarded with watching it swing over and extend to your main cabin door. It s a nice little bit of glitch-free animation, and virtual airlines pilots especially should get a kick out of it. The only glitch, dependant on the aircraft and who developed it, it may mate up nicely or not. It s a hit and miss affair, and while it didn t pose that big of a problem for me, it might for the sticklers for detail. Just a touch off,but not bad. But this could realy hurt. Unfortunately, this is where the animated details stop. No tiny little cars moving around on the roadways or ramp, and no fleet of servicing vehicles that magically appear around your plane once you are parked. ImgineSim confirmed that these features were bypassed for the sake of performance, and relatively speaking, they re small omissions. Still, for scenery junkies like me, they were sorely missed. Performance Test System CPU - P4 (Intel) - 3.2GHz RAM 1.0 GB Video ATI X300SE 128 MB Sound Soundblaster Audigy Flying Time: 12.5 hours Just how hard does ImagineSim s KMSY tax the PC? As with any scenery, in order to get the most out this particular package, one must ramp up the Scenery Complexity to the EXTREMELY DENSE setting. Unfortunately, all but the high end systems are going to take a performance hit as a result. Keep in mind that my X300SE card is lower end - the hit from going from default scenery to the enhanced variety was a sizable drop from 35FPS (my locked setting) to FPS depending on: video settings, amount of scenery items displayed, and aircraft flown (default or add-on). The scenery is scalable, but with each notch down, the details that you would buy this package for in the first place, starts to disappear (the fun parking guide signs are amongst the first things to go). My advice to those operating on the lower end of the PC performance spectrum, is to download ImagineSim s trial version of their KDEN scenery. It gives only a smattering of the total package, but should give you a good idea of whether or not your PC can handle the added load. file:///d /My%20Documents/Avsim/Reviews/KMSY/KMSY.htm (5 of 7)02/07/2005 5:19:36 AM

6 Summary So what s the final verdict? It goes without saying that ImagineSim has done an excellent job of bringing a much more realistic KMSY to our virtual world, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone. Tiny little details notwithstanding, it is a fine piece of work, and would make a great addition to anyone s arsenal of sceneries. What I Like About ImagineSim's KMSY Vastly improved scenery for the airport. Accurate structures and aircraft liveries. Delivers what it promises. Easy and informative installation process. What I Don't Like About ImagineSim's KMSY Selective interactive gate positions. Lack of bonus animations. Printing If you wish to print this review or read it offline at your leisure, right click on the link below, and select "save as" KMSY (adobe acrobat required) Tell A Friend About this Review! Click below to add your comments! Standard Disclaimer The review above is a subjective assessment of the product by the author. There is no connection between the producer and the reviewer, and we feel this review is unbiased and truly reflects the performance of the product in the simming environment. This disclaimer is posted here in order provide you with background information on the reviewer and connections that may exist between him/her and the contributing party AVSIM Online All Rights Reserved file:///d /My%20Documents/Avsim/Reviews/KMSY/KMSY.htm (6 of 7)02/07/2005 5:19:36 AM

7 file:///d /My%20Documents/Avsim/Reviews/KMSY/KMSY.htm (7 of 7)02/07/2005 5:19:36 AM

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