Update 30-Apr-19 @22:30z – REX Simulation’s Environment Force can now be purchased through the REX Store for $32.95.
REX Simulation has released Environment Force for Prepar3D V4.4 and 4.5. After their commitment to release on April 30th, simMarket and Just Flight are the first of many vendors to release the product. It will also soon be available via the REX Store.
The new software is described as “the first real-time, on the fly dynamic living environment & atmospheric utility”. Whether that be clouds, texturing, shaders and more, it’s all designed to change the atmosphere around you. In the real world, atmosphere, weather and location all change how things look outside, and Environment Force will aim to achieve that – all in real time.
Shader Tweaking
There will be in-sim environment shader tweaking – all in real time. This will change on time of day, location and weather effects. You can use other shader tools without the need of reloading the sim as Environment Force will change them on the fly.
Dynamic Cloud Formation
Clouds will change appearance, colour and shape all in real time based on information taken from the simulator. Clouds will form and dissipate in real time as you fly the virtual skies. Clouds will be created and injected into the simulator in full 3D.
Dynamic Weather
Weather will transition smoothly. Storms will develop and atmospheric conditions will vary depending on where in the world you are. Environment Force will work with all-weather engines including REX Sky Force 3D, Active Sky, OPUS, FSGRW and more.
The Different Modes of Operation
You will be able to choose between Automation Mode or Manual Mode. Automation mode will mean you don’t have to touch any of the settings and Environment Force will take care of everything to provide you with a realistic looking simulator as you fly. It will make all the visual changes, inject the weather and more all in real-time.
Manual Mode will mean you can take full control of everything and shape your sim to your liking. You can do it either via the Environment Force main UI, or the in-sim mini modal window. You can then see the changes on the fly as you make them.
Community-Based Features
All the settings and options can be uploaded to REX’s cloud servers for anyone to then enjoy and share.
User Interface
The user interface is not too dissimilar to other REX Generation 5 products. Plenty of options, customisation and easy to use features. You can see some of the screenshots from it below.
Cloud Life Component (CLC)
The new technology known as Cloud Life component will take real-time weather data to help build more accurate cloud formations. This will inject them into the simulator on the fly with more variety, depth and actual cloud cycles. Storms grow and die depending on the conditions.
The video above is a real-time (but sped up) timelapse of cloud formations. You can watch the clouds form, dissipate and see rolling storms appear. The footage was captured from a storm build-up within the sim all based on real-world parameters. This all happened in sim, with the only editing included is simply speeding the footage up.
API
The API and technology is completely independent of SimConnect. This gives REX full freedom and flexibility to continue development, all without being burdened by the old technology. Furthermore, it helps ensure smooth as possible performance.
Manual
If you would like to get a head start in being prepared, you can also download the user manual right now.
Availability
REX Simulations’ Environment Force is now available to buy for €29.46 on simMarket. It is also available via the Just Flight store for £21.99. It’s not yet available on REX’s store. We will update you when it is.
==
Here’s the full product description:
Manage, Adjust or Automate – Everything!
Real-Time (on-the-fly) Dynamic Living Environment
Real-Time (on-the-fly) Advanced Shader Processor
Compatible with all other add-ons!
Optimised for REX 5 – Sky Force 3D
On The Fly Dynamic Living Environment and Atmospheric Utility
Includes live cloud and sky texture sync technology and our new real-time advanced shader processor and in-sim interface for live tweaking and saving capabilities.
Real-Time Environment Simulation Automation and Tweaking Flexibility
Enjoy instant, on the fly visual feedback, whether you are tweaking the simto your liking or allowing Environment Force to automatically adjust the environment for you… all while the simulator is running.
Live in-sim environment shader tweaking
- A convenient and powerful in-sim shader tweaking utility is also provided with the ability to save your creations
- You can even use your other shader tools without the need to re-open your sim, as Environment Force recompiles shaders on the fly
- User-controlled cloud formation and dissipation control, cloud colouring, visibility and fog control, scene and cloud lighting, terrain shading, water appearance control, water and terrain coloring, 3D clouds / cirrus clouds / sky texture sync
Living dynamic weather and smooth environment changes for all weather engines, including REX Sky Force 3D, Active Sky, Opus, FSGRW, FSXWX and REX Essential Overdrive.
- Witness weather smoothly change over time
- The world changes its atmospheric and terrain properties depending on weather
- Automatic cloud morphing, scene and cloud lighting, environment shading, water control, 3D clouds / cirrus clouds / sky texture sync
New, Non-Destructive API
The API works on the simulator run time layer and does not change any of the core framework of the simulation.
Choose to Control or Automate
With Environment Force, you can now control the key weather and environment features in real-time, such as: Cloud morphing, sky and cloud colouring, sky and cloud texture swapping, visibility, water colouring and shader control, terrain and object coloring, and cloud / water / terrain / object / scene lighting. Or you can simply set it and forget it, with the smoothing controls for all weather parameters AND weather engines.
Breaking the Paradigm
Accomplish a living environment controlled in real-time, on-the-fly giving instant visual feedback.
Different Modes of Operation
You can enjoy tweak-free operation known as Automation Mode. This mode allows Environment Force to automatically control and change key environment visuals on the fly, in real-time as dictated by real-world weather. Or adjust visual settings in real-time within the simulator via the insim mini UI modal window. Manual Mode will allow you to take control of
key environment elements and shape your environment to your liking.
Adjust more visual settings in real-time within the sim via the in-sim mini UI modal window.
Living dynamic weather and environment changes for all weather engines
- Automatic or manual cloud manipulation and morphing
- Automatic or manual cloud morphing
- Automatic or manual cloud colouring
- Automatic fog smoothing
- Automatic or manual scene lighting
- Automatic or manual cloud lighting
- Automatic or manual environment shading control
In-sim mini user interface included for greater control of effects
- Automatic or manual water appearance control
- Automatic or manual environment colouring control
- Automatic or manual water and terrain colouring control
- Automatic or manual 3D cloud texture sync
- Automatic or manual cirrus cloud texture sync
- Automatic or manual sky texture sync
- Community-based cloud server to upload and share presets
Cloud Component
When using a real-time weather engine, this component provides more accurate properties to clouds as they dynamically transition on the fly.
Live Mode Automation
You can enjoy tweak-free operation known as Automation Mode. Customise to your liking.
Live, On The Fly Sky and Cloud Texture Sync
Load cloud and sky textures live on the fly or allow full automation dynamics. Requires Sky Force or Texture Direct. We are currently working on an API for use with other texture add-ons.
Smooth Weather System Transitions
With Environment Force you will be able to experience smooth weather system transitions with ALL weather engines as clouds and weather will smoothly transition in and out over time.
Tight Integration With REX Sky Force 3D
The Environment Force API integrates with REX Sky Force 3D. If you have Sky Force, Environment Force will utilise its weather features for the ultimate in smooth weather and visuals.
Environment and Weather Synchronisation
With the power of two components from the Environment Force API, the environment will transition and respond to weather conditions live, on the fly. If the conditions become stormy, clouds change in structure as well as terrain colouring, sky colors, and water functions change in unison. In short, the flight simulator experience is no longer static… it lives!
Simconnect Independence and the Future
One of the major benefits of our new Environment Force API is that it’s COMPLETELY independent of the often flawed Simconnect platform. Our new Environment Force API not only offers great performance, it also allows us to continually advance and broaden the API for future features.
Friendly and Easy to Use
Enjoy a friendly and easy to use, feature-packed application user interface.
Built-In Community Preset Sharing
On the fly preset sharing allows you to quickly get setup with your favourite tweaks from your friends or content creators. Select a preset while the sim is open, click INJECT and voila!
Environmental Life Technology
Currently the weather and environment remain static, even with real-time weather engines. Environment Force now gives life to a stagnant experience, as the sky and clouds now morph and smoothly transition over time and are always changing in density, size and atmospheric colouring… all in real-time.
Plays Well With Others
Compatible with all weather engines, texture/graphics and shader add-ons out of the box.
Built-In Auto Update
The built-in auto update technology allows REX Simulations to quickly, effectively and effortlessly deliver updates to our customers.