User Guide

10
11
Simulation
Simulation
Options
While it is important to understand
these various options (especially if you are
getting unsatisfactory performance), you can
jump right into the sky with the default
options. We do not, however, recommend it.
Quick starters can simply head for their
plane once they have defined their Graphics,
Sound, and Control options, but all pilots will
benefit from understanding the following
information.
Graphics
These options tell Fly! which graphic
effects to generate, as well as what video
hardware is installed in your machine.
Whether you have 3D hardware installed or
not, you will want to review the options in
this box before you step into the cockpit for
the first time. The performance and frame rates of Fly! can be impact-
ed most significantly by manipulating selections in this dialog.
Video Card
Use this pop-up menu to identify the brand and type of video
card you have installed in your computer. Fly! will automatically
configure visual effects based on the published capabilities of the
video card. If you do not have a 3D accelerator card installed,
select Software Only. If you have a 3D accelerator installed but it
is not listed here, you can select DirectX5 Compatible, DirectX6
Compatible, or 3Dfx Glide Compatible for defaults.
Startup Screen
This pop-up menu allows you to pick what screen you will
see by default when launching Fly! in the future. You may choose
between the Intro, Fly Now, Flight Planner, or Multi-Player Views.
If you always go to one of these areas when launching Fly!, you
will find it convenient to save your favorite as the simulation’s
start-up screen.
Scenery Detail
Increases or decreases the amount of graphic detail in Fly!’s
3D scenery. The levels of detail are: None, Sparse (includes only
major buildings), Normal (shows secondary landmarks, and well
known Points Of Interest), and Complex (displays all of the above
plus generic buildings for added realism). Lower this detail to
increase system performance.
Airport Detail
Increases or decreases the level of graphic detail in Fly!’s air-
port runways. Lower this detail to increase system performance.
Shadows
Specify which objects cast shadows onto the ground
scenery. The available selections are: None, Aircraft Only, and
Aircraft and Buildings. Turning off building shadows by selecting
Aircraft Only can significantly improve frame rates in areas of high
building concentration.
Checkboxes
Detail Tiles: Check this box to experience enhanced ground detail
around major airports. This requires considerable processor power
and video RAM. Turn off this feature to increase system performance.
Lens Flare: Check this box to enable colorful lens flare effects pro-
jected from the sun. Turn off this feature to increase system perform-
ance.
Environment Mapping: This feature maps reflections of the sky,
clouds and ground onto the exterior of your aircraft resulting in a
more life-like look. Turn off this feature to increase system perform-
ance.
Auto Full Screen: If selected, this feature causes the simulation to
open in full-screen mode by default. If unchecked, the simulation
will open in a window. Note that any 3D accelerator hardware you
have installed will
not be used unless you are running in full screen
mode. By activating Auto Full Screen, you ensure your hardware will
always be used by default. Running in software only modes will
result in significantly slower performance.
Terrain Visibility
This slider alters the maximum distance you can see from
your aircraft. Beyond this maximum distance, terrain will be
shrouded by haze. The setting ranges from 10 to 20 miles. Note
that this setting limits the Visibility setting in Environment—no
matter how high you set that slider, you will not be able to see
beyond the distance specified here.
Texture Cache Size
Slider changes the size of the simulation’s Texture Cache.
This cache blocks off a chunk of your available RAM for pre-load-
ing of textures to speed rendering. The larger you set this cache,
the fewer “pauses” you will experience due to disk accesses dur-
ing flight. You are limited in this setting by the amount of available
RAM in your computer. Values range from 8MB to 32MB. You
should be careful not to set this value too high if your machine has
a too little RAM installed.