Screenshot Contest rules?

[phil white 274]

At any point in the future will it be permitted to enter screenshots from other simulators and not just Microsoft, for example will P3D and X-Plane ever be permitted.

 

Thanks.

[ddavid 149]

Good question, Phil. You know that our Screen Shot Competition sponsor, JustFlight, retails X-Plane and P3D products, so they may be happy with images taken from all 3 sources. But then, JustFlight retails DCS World products (Warthog, etc) and other stand-alone flight sims, which, up 'til now, have been outwith the SS comp.

This begs the question:"Does the sim 'environment' give the contributor an edge". FSX hasn't changed much since its release in 2006 (?) whereas X-Plane 10 is much more recent, as is P3D V2. I'm not sure but I think cloud and water effects in the latter are a significant improvement on FSX.

GPU's have also made it possible for aircraft developers to extend the level of detail on their products. And then, of course, you have addons like REX, which make the skies 'come alive' as it were. Virtually all the screen shots these days rely heavily on these developments. It could be said that without them, you'd just have boring images of aircraft!

Personally, I think that certain products, be they FS9/FSX or X-Plane or P3D, make or break a screen shot. It's certainly not a level playing field as you really need an up-to-date cpu/mobo + GPU + environment/scenery add-on, together with as detailed a model as you can afford, in order to produce that necessary degree of impact in your image.

Sounds like sour grapes? No, not really because I get my pleasure from flight planning and flying. Difficult situations make my day and so I don't often have the time to take that 'spectacular' screen shot - I'm just happy to get down in one piece!!

I'm sure Joe and the other experienced members will add their own views to this question - Thanks again for raising it.

Cheers- Dai.

[mutley 4,498]

Hello Phil & Dai,

 

Thanks for asking this question, I will re-visit the entry requirements in the New Year but XPX and P3D1&2 will definitely be allowed, so as far as I am concerned you can submit shots from these simulators now.

I will have to draw the line somewhere and it will probably be just MSFS and the two sims above.

 

Cheers,

 

Joe

[ddavid 149]

Aah... That is sooo unfair!

Cheers - Dai.

[phil white 274]

Great news Joe, I just did not want to enter by cheating in any way.

[brett 2,316]

From what I have seen in the past, it is not always what is spectacular, visual wise, that wins but the actual content of the image and whether it communicates the required monthly theme that will win. I don't think it would matter which sim it came from IMO.   

[mutley 4,498]

True enough Brett, it's how close the shot comes to the spirit of the theme.  We do get some very high quality shots entered but sometimes they are just not on theme so get discounted.

 

@Dai, lovely shot mate