I've just been perusing my Flight 1 product guide and have been looking at upgrading ones scenery, more so since installing REX2. I've seen many people on here and elsewhere suggesting GEX and/or UTX to supplement REX.In the catalogue there is Ground Environment X and there is Ultimate Terrain X. Looking at both products (the info and screenshots) they pretty much look like they do the same thing. Is this the case?And if so, which would be the most recommended over the other product? I'm aware they're both region specific and would probably look at investing in the Europe version though not ruling out the USA and Canada version.I look forward to hearing your thoughts on these two products, which may sway my investment. Kind regards, Adam.P.S. It is an investment isn't it!? I tell my wife it's an investment; it seems to soften the blow somewhat when she asks "what's that plane thing you're downloading now?" :( She doesn't miss a trick, not since I've had to hook up my PC to our 32" LCD HDTV downstairs. She complains she can't watch TV when I'm flying - she just can't grasp and appreciate the fine graphics REX offers. Don't you just love 'em... and the wife as well. :(

To put it simply: GEX gives you new generic groundtextures (not the ones you can see your own house on!) and UTX gives you real life roads and waters (amongst others). So... there isn't a thing they do the same! :( They complement each other! Personally I wouldn't buy either but get FTX instead: that does what UTX and GEX do (and since FTX is made as ONE product, everything fits). Unfortunately FTX only covers Australia (Pacific North West will be released soon) and in 4 parts, so it can become expensive... I couldn't care less about Australia, really, (sorry folks!) but it simply is the best scenery you can get (unless you are into photorealistic scenery) so FTX is the only reason I fly there! (If you buy FTX you can also download OZx, which will give you hundreds of nice looking (mainly little) airfields.) As soon as PNW will be released, I know where my plane will be parked...!It does depend a little on what you fly, though: I fly GA. If you fly big airliners, GEX and UTX might be a tad more interesting. But even then I would prefer FTX (I did fly the MD11 above Australia).

If your interested in UK scenery the VFR Real Scenery series by Just Flight gives photo real textures for the ground - like looking on google earth.I installed it a while back and it is very realistic and stocks things looking so computerised - if you get me.

Thanks for the replies so far and thanks for the clarification on GEX and UTX.At the moment I'm flying my (Flight 1) MD-80 and getting to grips with its procedures etc so doing medium range flights at the moment across Europe. I've never been one for continuous VFR flying, then again, the default scenery in FS has never inspired me to do so.I came across FTX when I was doing a bit of research on REX and was really impressed with how detailed it is. Australia doesn't really do much for me either so probably wouldn't invest in FTX... having said that, I've just been on their website again and looked at the screenshots and it does look tempting, even the Pacfic NW version!I think I'm going to have to weigh up the pros and cons to GEX, UTX and FTX! And see if the bank balance will allow :( Thanks guys.Adam

Thanks for the replies so far and thanks for the clarification on GEX and UTX.At the moment I'm flying my (Flight 1) MD-80 and getting to grips with its procedures etc so doing medium range flights at the moment across Europe. I've never been one for continuous VFR flying, then again, the default scenery in FS has never inspired me to do so.I came across FTX when I was doing a bit of research on REX and was really impressed with how detailed it is. Australia doesn't really do much for me either so probably wouldn't invest in FTX... having said that, I've just been on their website again and looked at the screenshots and it does look tempting, even the Pacfic NW version!I think I'm going to have to weigh up the pros and cons to GEX, UTX and FTX! And see if the bank balance will allow :( Thanks guys.Adam

There is quite a big FTX demo (FTX Blue) (big meaning it covers quite some territory): give it a try! AFAIK It's not limited in any way, so you can use it forever and ever. You can also add OZx to it for free. That way you don't have to spend any money before you really know if it's something you like or not. It will give you some extra time to think about your investment. ;) You certainly won't be the first person who isn't really interested in Australia but ends up flying there all the time... :( I think PNW will appeal to even more people! You could of course also buy GEX and/or UTX and still use that FTX demo. But there is a change you will end up flying in FTX all the time anyway... ;)EDIT:Yes, the demo (which you can find here) contains the entire state of Tasmania (an island the size of Northern Island) and has no limits at all! Those Orbx-guys are nuts. ;) Your wife just GOTTA love that! :(

Jeroen,Thanks for the link - it's downloading it as I type. :( She saw FTX screenshots when I was on their site and she was quite surprised by the realism when compared to default FSX scenery. That's as far as it went really lolCheers.Adam

FTX does make a great product but if you are not going to be doing much flying outside of Europe UTX europe and GEX Europe would make a world of difference from the default. I have both for the USA and i have nothing but praise for them both.

FTX does make a great product but if you are not going to be doing much flying outside of Europe UTX europe and GEX Europe would make a world of difference from the default. I have both for the USA and i have nothing but praise for them both.

True, if you really want to fly in Europe, no matter what, GEX and UTX is the way to go. But for me FTX is so much better that I moved from Europe to down under. I also have to say that the nice thing about flying above a country I don't really know is that to ME it all looks pretty real. When I fly above a country I do know (like the the Netherlands where I live), it NEVER looks good or real simply because I know how it should look like... ;) In that case only photoreal scenery would be satisfying. I own UTX Europe and though it was nice being able to follow the roards I travel on daily, the completely unrealistic textures spoiled it all (and GEX Europe won't change that).

I agree with J van E to some extent. I'm from the Netherlands too, and I always find it a bit silly to takeoff from Schiphol and be surrounded by trees. That's hopelessly unrealistic (95% of forests in the netherlands have been chopped down. They are planting new forests now, but alas, it is not the same...). For FS9 I have NL2000, which is perfect and is extremly realistic (and it's free!). It is not available (yet) for FSX, but to me that doesn't matter much (yet), because I mostly fly with FS9 still. FSX just doesn't run well enough for me to fully enjoy it. When I get a new computer in 1,5 year, I hope to see FSX fly.

Having downloaded the FTX demo I've just spent well over a good hour doing some low VFR flying in the Baron 58 which I pretty much enjoyed. The scenery is spectacular and was impressed with how detailed it is. I started out at Launceston which impressed me straight away, a mechanic waving his arm about, a bloke near the entrance on his mobile phone... that's how detailed it was and I couldn't believe it. I flew out of Launceston and headed north towards the coast, followed the coast to Devenport and Wynyard before heading south to Queenstown. Leaving Queenstown I flew towards Hobart before heading back to Launceston. This round trip allowed me to sample the various aspects of Tasmania; dense woodland, mountainous areas, residential areas and coastal regions. I followed a road from Launceston north and it felt very realistic, especially as I panned above my aircraft and could see the cars below. Whilst I'm really impressed, I'm not sure I can justify it and will probably opt for GEX and UTX for Europe. Though, should FTX bring out a demo for the Pacific Northwest version, I'll give this a go as I sometimes fly in the US, usually around the border of USA and Canada so that could be most interesting. Thanks for all your replies; most appreciated.Happy New Year.Adam

True, if you really want to fly in Europe, no matter what, GEX and UTX is the way to go. But for me FTX is so much better that I moved from Europe to down under.

I know what you mean - I'm a virtual emigrant, too :)

Same here, down under is just awsome!Look at all the free stuff they have:http://fullterrain.com/freeware.htmlGEX USA, CAN, EUR are very nice products, but FTX is in a completely different class, and I hope they have the vision and creative power to make scenery for the whole FSX world, because is looks just fantastic!Cheers and Happy New Year!PS: Tom Risager - den der L-39 ER alts

Use both! I do.