Dominique Reviews Explora I + II sold by Francesco

EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II
Add-on created by Francesco Secci
Reviewed by Dominique Vaccaro

Model can be found here.

Standardized and universal framework reviews for add-ons
Disclaimer: Please notice that this review does not reflect the opinion or evaluation of Sim3D and its
owners.

This review is the opinion and work of a sole person, with his/her expectations, experience, sensibility,
focus on some parts and functions of an add-on. An in-depth review takes time, professionalism and is
done in a fair spirit. It is not meant to be excessively praising or to undermine the work of a creator.
Balance and objectivity are essential.
However, in spite of some fix and accurate frame and some objective criteria, it remains a subjective
view and work since done by a human being. That’s why it is highly recommended to always read as
many different reviews of an add-on as possible to obtain a rather reliable vision of the work and quality
put into an add-on. The more reviews, the better!

 

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-1- Originality – Uniqueness of the add-on: 2 pts

– The type of ship, the ship herself, the scenery or mod uniqueness… (For instance, a cable ship or a raft
or a 18th century schooner would be more unique than a ferry among all the existing VSNG add-ons).
REVIEW:
She’s a cruise ship. A very largely represented category of ships add-ons in VSNG. However, she’s not a
mainstream all-public giant cruise ship but of a luxury cruise niche market and a less known one.
Points: 1/2
Faithful to the original: 8 pts
– Like the title says! Is the real thing really well modeled, represented? Is the add-on “true to reality”?
-Various shapes involved. Are all the elements there and in the “right” number?…
– The score for this category should take into account if the ship is well documented and material easy to
find or not.
– If the add-on is a fictional ship, then the score should not be lowered and should take into account if
the add-on is credible for a ship of her kind.

REVIEW:
Yes, the whole real ship is nicely respected and rendered. You can’t mistake these Explora I and Explora II
add-ons with other real ships.
However, some too harsh simplifications in modeling and textures are lowering the score of this category
(please read further this review).
Points: 6/8

-2- Graphics – 3D model: 12 pts

– The various shapes of the 3D model, such as hull, lifeboats, capstans, pulleys, masts, liferafts..
– Are rounded part “round” or hexagonal, octagonal? Are the various simplifications not too pushed that
would distract the realism feeling? Do mast have a round look or a “square” one?…
– If mesh errors or forgotten or misplaced parts have a significant impact or not.

REVIEW:
Overall, a nicely modeled 3D work and the care put into this one is clearly visible.
However, some parts or objects are too simplified in their modeling and that lessens a bit the experience.
Of course, it’s all a matter of performance/graphic compromise, but nowadays, even a very average
computers can perfectly handle funnel exhaust pipes of more than 6 sides or life rings of more than 10
sides or a rather cubic careen along the underwater sides of the ship or lifeboats, to name a few.
Some parts like aft deck glass windows could have been made with more details instead of plain dark
rectangles cut in the superstructure. All of that would have added more realism and immersion feeling
once aboard or close to the ship.
Points: 7/12

-3- Graphics – textures: 12 pts

– The care, skill and realism put into the textures.
– Are textures becoming blurry and blurry as one comes close to the ship / scenery? Does the resolution
used allow some realism for the eyes once aboard?
– Are unique and custom made textures there in a significant quantity?
– Are textures not too saturated?
– Are they detailed?
– Is the mapping correct (Ex: The wood fibers in the direction of the board or part shown? Are the sheet
metal connections consistent? Do they fit the curvature of the hull?…)
– Use of bump-mapping and reflections involved.

REVIEW:
Texture resolution: Some are good and other ones are average or even rather poor. Texture on rather
small parts or objects are usually good enough and quite readable (writings, charts, small devices on the
bridge, signs, plants, deckchairs canvas…). The ones on mid-sized objects (i.e. board in the wheelhouse)
are correct, although a bit blurry once close to the object. It could be a bit better there to add a bit more
“feeling to be there”. Some textures on larger parts like walls, hull, bridge doors, ceilings, large
instrument consoles, glass roof above navigation bridge, glass doors of cabins balconies, water in Jacuzzis
are of a too low resolution (or the mapping is extended too much) and appear to be blurry, sometimes
even very blurry, bland and rather poorly detailed once close to these parts. Beds on decks and especially
lifeboats are good examples of what could have been better textured. Some other ones, like the ones
used for the pools or top deck covered pool floor area are good and detailed enough though. To me,
blurry textures detract a lot the “feeling to be there in the real ship” and then the immersive experience,
at least as far as graphic immersion is concerned, which is a big part of a simulation (to simulate the real
thing). I value this immersive experience by comparison to the reality, not by comparison to other
add-ons. Simulators are evolved enough and computers are powerful enough to make no graphic
compromises that big, at least not that much when you simulate reality via a computer screen.
Texture quality: Overall, they’re rather good enough for some in some areas, average in other ones and
rather poor in tome other ones. Less saturation, much more details and more weathering would have
been preferred in some areas like wooden imitation decks, some glass roofs, windows, portholes. Overall,
some textures are too generic ones, too simple and not custom made enough.
Mapping of the textures is usually good. However, some parts could really be improved. For example,
frames of bridge windows where bolts are generically places and don’t follow curvature or inclination of
the frame at all, mapping onto the aft pool small tables which is clearly off.
Points: 6/12

-4- Handling – Nautical behavior: 15 pts

– Work put into the vehicle.cfg and elements.cfg in order to obtain “realistic” nautical behavior. Various
ship trials (max speed, time to reach it, crash stop, turn, roll, pitch, feeling of weight respected, motion…)
in various weather conditions must have been done, by the creator of the add-on, and for fair evaluation
by the reviewer.
– Real world data as closely as possible (propellers diameter and position, main characteristics of the
ship…)
– Size of the bow wave, size of the splash…

REVIEW:
Max speed of 21.2kts when the average speed of the real ship is given to 18 kts and max speed given for
22kts. Looks realistic.
Cruise speed of 18kts is reached in 2min 30sec, max speed of 21.2kts is reached in 5min 03sec, the 18kts
mark is perhaps reached a bit too quickly, but that is a good result for a public simulation. Crash stop
from full speed done in 1min 57sec in full-astern. Here, the work on the elements.cfg is nicely done as far
as dynamic behavior related to engines and hull shape is concerned.
Speed/power chart is even written in the readme file and then visible from the Vehicles tab once in-game,
a good point.
A whole 360° turn is made in 5min 20sec at full speed, that’s rather realistic. The elements.cfg conveys
the inertia and motion of such 248m long and 63,900grt quite well.
The behavior in rough seas is well rendered too, with low motion and not a too nervous behavior, like in
real life for this kind of big ship.
Even if the real ship has stabilizer-fins, the add-on remains a bit too stable when hard turning at full
speed. The list should be a bit more pronounced here, 1° or 2° more would be fine.
Docking: Docking has been a very good and immersive experience, with the right inertia of the ship, the
dock and bump points correctly set. It is always a challenge as far as mind focus and competence are
concerned to dock such a big object and the elements.cfg of this add-on is really well done in that regard.
Bow wave and bow splash: Bow wave is of the right size (not way too big like often seen on some other
add-ons, when it can easily be correctly set in the vehicle.cfg) and bow splash appears when it should, in
rather heavy seas. That nicely contributes to the realism.
Points: 14/15

-5- Instruments and bridge functions: 8 pts

– Are instruments used? Their number (the score should not be lowered if the real ship has very few
instruments).
– Are custom made instruments there in a significant number?
– Are they correctly implemented?

REVIEW:
Instruments are numerous, like on the real ship. You’ll find everything here to correctly and efficiently sail
the ship.
Docking stations are there and complete on the bridge wings.
Instruments are correctly implemented, with no overlapping, no misplacement and coordinates/angle
error. A good job.
The tilt indicators are not functional though, as well as some other dials like the central digital heading
indicator located on the ceiling, but all the needed informations can be read via digital screens like on the
real contemporary ships.
Some more custom made instruments would have been welcome, although that does not really lessen
the simulated sailing experience.
Points: 6/8

-6- Modeling challenge and techniques used: 5 pts

– Complexity and overall difficulty of the shapes involved, curves or area involved (sheer, hull curvature,
complex shape of toboggans/slides, various objects or buildings modeled…

REVIEW:
No real complexity here on these modern cruise ships with a lot of straight and aligned things, so no real
difficulty to model.
Consequently, no real modeling challenge seen in these models, but the real ships didn’t need them, so
it’s not the fault of the creator. However, some mapping challenge have not been treated with success
(please read above sections).
Too bad, bump-mapping and reflection effects are not present when it is the norm in every simulator or
game for many years and the sim does allow them. Visual realism would be improved with them.
Points: 3/5

-7- Lights and look at night: 6 pts

– Lights.cfg, lights.x, self-illuminated parts.
– Degree of realism about the look at night of the ship or scenery.
– Do the illuminated parts impact the look during daytime?

REVIEW:
Lights could have been more worked on.
Running lights are there and conform.
A pity anchor / docking / exterior lighting on decks have not been implemented. That would have been a
big plus.
Except for some balcony windows, no mesh lighting or self-illuminated parts either. For instance, funnel
can’t be enlightened.
Points: 2/6

-8- Sounds: 5 pts

– Engines running.
– Engines start.
– Horn.
– Various sounds if contained in the add-on.

REVIEW:
All the sounds—engine, startup, shutdown, thruster, and horn—are unmatched, particularly the engine’s
powerful roar. Its deep tone reproduces low-frequency vibrations almost akin to those felt in real life
when boarding a large diesel-powered ship. This engine sound is really very very immersive, in my
opinion, it contributes a lot to enjoy this add-on. Well done!
Points: 5/5

-9- Animations: 4 pts

– If animations are used, via Ctrl A, other keys or from the docking panel.
– Any moving parts like radars, propellers, sails, doors, etc… whatever technique used for the sim (for
instance: water level moving with the motion of the ship).

REVIEW:
Port and starboard side passenger ramps are animated separately.
Pool magrodome is retractable.
Those are nice to use and adds a bit of realism to cruise ship operation. Simple and well done!
However, waters on the 3 different pool is fixed and could have been done as compass instruments in
order to allow them to follow the motion of the ship. That would have added even more to the immersive
experience.
Points: 3/4

-10- Add-on optimization: 8 pts

– Fps obtained when compared to another add-on of about the same size and with a similar level of
details as far as 3D mesh and textures are concerned.
– Please notice: Unless an add-on needs more than 1 minute or a really excessive time to load for an
average computer, loading duration should not be considered.
REVIEW:

My hardware specifications have to be told first: Desktop PC, Ryzen 5800, B550 chipset mother board,
32Go DDR4 ram, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 with 10Go video memory, SSDs.
As comparison, SS United States, a very detailed model runs at 130 to 160fps in same graphic settings
and location and needs 18 sec to load on the same computer.
Time to load, about 25 sec on my computer for Explora I and II, it is correct.
FPS about 50 to 65 in open ocean with water set on reflection and high details is fine and the add-on very
usable.
Overall, that is really correct, although a bit more of optimization is possible and would allow the add-on
to run even better on low-end computers, even with more details and refined modeling, or on heavy
sceneries with several ships loaded.
Points: 6/8

-11- Immersion – General ambiance – Realism- “Feeling to be there”: 15 pts

– Feeling to be aboard a real ship, inside the real area.
– Realism provided by the add-on, depending on what is important for the reviewer or less important. Of
course, all of that largely depends on the above categories and what is essential or secondary for the
reviewer.
– Immersive experience.

REVIEW:
Well, dynamic behavior, sounds, instruments and overall rather good performance contribute a lot to the
immersive experience and “feeling to be on a real ship”. Modeling, textures and mapping with less
graphic simplifications would have added a lot in that immersive experience.
At the end of the day, once you wander in all areas of the ship or stand at the helm like if you were
aboard (the true essence of a simulation), it is a rather mixed experience, but overall, a rather good one if
you’re not too demanding as far as visual experience is concerned.
Points: 10/15

TOTAL SCORE: 69/100 pts

General comment:
– All what the reviewer would like to add, his/her feeling, subjective opinion included, if he likes the
add-on or not or if he’s neutral about it. If he recommends it too.
– Unless exaggeratedly unreasonable considering the scope of the work and skill involved in the
add-on, price should not be considered there, neither in all the above categories.

Good points:

– Amazing engine sound.
– Very good and realistic dynamic behavior with a good job done on the elements.cfg.
– Overall quality.
– Instruments, all you need to sail and dock the ship.
– General ambiance into the navigation bridge.

Points that could be improved:

– Some 3D models too simplified.
– Some textures to improve, to detail and to sharpen for adding more visual realism and immersive
feeling.
– No bump-mapping and reflection effects.
– Lights need more work and improvement.

Conclusion:

Overall a nice add-on. A nice one to acquire without a doubt.
Some areas, things and technique could be improved, especially in the visual field. That would add to
the immersive experience.
My top pick and love are the sounds and the dynamic behavior.
It seems the creator has clearly focused on behavior and nautical stuff, which is a very respectable
choice for a maritime simulation after all.

Overall, I recommend this add-on. My congratulations to the creator.