Orbx FTX Global

[OldAirmail]

For the most part I have certain areas that I like to fly. But at other times I may want to fly around Mount Vesuvius, or Angkor Wat.

Been to Calcutta recently? No? Lets go. I hear that someone is planning a new "Panama Canal". Lets see what the area looks like.

In other words, at any time I may want to fly outside the areas where I have special scenery.

And I KNOW how bad FSX makes the area where I live look. So I would like to have replacement scenery/textures for anywhere that I might fly.

I bought FScene4X to help, but I just don't feel like it helped enough.


And now we have Orbx FTX Global about to make it's debut.

With an estimated US price of $200 I want to get a second, or third, or fourth, or fifth, or sixth, or etc. opinion.

FTX Global comes with an FSX and Prepar3D installer, so if I shift to Prepar3D later I won't loose anything.


It sounds as if FTX Global is an improvement built upon their previous products. But I've spent half a day searching for definitive answers and have come up dry.

In the end I think that Orbx FTX Global and REX may give me the results that I want.

I've looked at the pictures and watched the videos, but can't decide if FTX Global worth $200.


QUESTIONS -
What has been the experience that you've had with the Orbx products?
Can you recommend something better?
Has anyone been following the Orbx FTX Global story?

[Spindrift]

I'm personally thrilled about FTXG! Been following it for a while, and although the price is steep (actually US$100 for the Base Pack [sans LandClass] / Less than US$20 for each of six OpenLC [continental LandClass] Packs, so a bit over $200 in the end), I still believe it will be worth the purchase! Heck I'm even strongly considering pairing it with PILOT's 'FS Global Ultimate' MeshData series (US$60 for each of three packs a total of $180)... so yeah, my money will be flying... no pun intended! I've been flying over Orbx for years, and been dying for an Around the World flight that will be easy on the eyes! And the fact that its an install and forget about (i.e. NO "switching" of areas) plays to my SIMPLE THINGS DONE WELL motto.

[OldAirmail]

In all probability, I will be getting it.

Why have a flight sim that gives you the world if it can't look it's best.


Have you heard if it is a newer, better, version? Or just a unified collection of what is already out there? Whatever it may be, it sound like something that I want.

Unless someone can make a better suggestion???

[Spindrift]

FTXG isn't a collection of what they've released previously, it's just a new system of replacing textures for the entire globe, instead of just one dedicated area (say, New Zealand or the American Pacific Northwest). They have such an extensive variety of textures already from their previous products, they only had to develop a few more to match (and exceed) the needed variety for masking all continents with much improved, accurate, bolder, more colorful Orbx quality textures. POIs and LandClass (what texture goes where) will be part of the expanding set of "OpenLC" packs released over the next year. The only difference between this product and their normal dedicated areas: no included mesh data (elevation), Airports (which orbx does a great job upgrading), or vector data (roads, rivers n' coastlines). Those will be whatever FSX supplies originally, or whatever other product you have installed underneath (apparently FTXG will be widely compatible with most other 3rd party scenery add-ons too). Hence why i'd like to finally nab FS Global Ultimate's Mesh series and REALLY up the ante for terrain definition... it will be pure sweetness... with a side of awesome sauce!



P.S. don't forget to stay up to date on their forums over at FULLTERRAIN.com!

[Spindrift]

Oh! also forgot to mention FTXG will improve AutoGen! Both their textures and placement!

[OldAirmail]

Thanks for the input, Spindrift.

I'm not an FSX setup expert by any means.

I've got all of the desktop toys that I want. I like to switch on a cold, dark plane. I like to tune the radio and navigation settings. And then I like to take to the skies.



So now I'm on the second part of my acquisitions - the FSX environment.

I bought "REX Essential Plus with Overdrive" as a first step.

Next, as I said, will probably be "Orbx FTX Global".



After that point, I think that I need terrain mesh to give me better vertical definition than what FSX comes with. Correct? That's where "FS Global Ultimate's Mesh" come in?

As I understand it, though, "Orbx FTX Global" doesn't improve the look of the roads, bridges, and railroads does it? What do you use for that?


The end result that I'm looking for isn't so much absolute realism, as it is to have a better environment for anywhere in the world that I may choose to fly to or from.



It might be easy to say look at the pictures online and see what you like. That doesn't really do the trick, though.

This is a screen shot I took from MegaSceneryEarth - Pennsylvania. It looks fine until I start flying low. Luckily it can be switched on or off. And more often than not it'll be off, as I like low & slow flights in GA planes.