(Some random basic tech info which is probably wrong)
The basic components of the FSX environment are:
1)
3D polygon mesh surface which creates the profile of the earth.
2)
Textures. are laid over this mesh. They can be fake computer-generated
vector surfaces or
raster satellite photographs stitched together. Some photo-scenery is only mesh and is completely smooth in desert environments.
3)
Autogen objects such as buildings, bridges, airports, cars, boats, etc. are placed on the mesh and are a separate thing.
4)
Water effects are created.
5)
Lighting effects are created.
6)
weather effects such as cloud behavior over time are computed. There are actually companies such as REX that keep track of real-time individual cloud formations happening everywhere in the world right now. Yeah. Technology is getting sweet.
As example of the parts, here is a coastline between Nice France and Monaco. The satellite photo tiles are pretty crisp and of high resolution but the mesh is blah. You can see there is only a few buildings ahead but this area would look so good if it was heavily populated with quality autogen objects as in the straight out of a James Bond helicopter chase kind of good. The only thing holding it all up from the very start is the awful mesh quality. But for other high flyover photo-scenery areas they don't need any autogen at all to look good.
It's all a bit of artistic magic I think to balance it out.
