I have used GEX for ages now but I was just looking at screenshots at FTX (keeping in mind how deceiving screenshots can be) and couldn't help but notice how much more realistic FTX looks over GEX. Is that the case? Do most people use FTX over GEX? What is the consensus?

Nevermind. It looks like FTX is for Australia only.

Nevermind. It looks like FTX is for Australia only.

Not quite...there's now a wonderful FTX product that covers a portion of the Pacific Northwest in North America. See here:FTX NA product site

I have used GEX for ages now but I was just looking at screenshots at FTX (keeping in mind how deceiving screenshots can be) and couldn't help but notice how much more realistic FTX looks over GEX. Is that the case? Do most people use FTX over GEX? What is the consensus?

GEX replaces your default textures and adds some autogen. FTX does not overwrite those textures. If you're flying outside a non-FTX area, GEX textures will take over. FTX covers FTX areas whereas GEX covers the USA/Canada (and Europe if you buy the Europe product), a much larger area. This is why FTX looks more realistic. It's a much smaller area and the developers spent a lot of time making the FTX areas as realistic as possible. They did a terrific job doing that and they continue their quest of rendering the FS world.Best regards,Jim

I'm not nitpicking but FTX stands fo Full Terrain X.Wolfgang

Does anyone know what the effect of FTX on FPS is as compared to GEX?

Does anyone know what the effect of FTX on FPS is as compared to GEX?

I find that performance is better with GEX in big city areas such as Seattle or Portland for example but performance is equal (locked at 30fps) in areas outside.Bryan.

Hirgab,As Jim already expalined GEX and FTX are two completely different packages and as such comparing them is akin to comparing apples and oranges. Each a great package but a each different approach and end result.

The OP is totally right. As I see it GEX is lightyears behind FTX in terms of realism. Unfortunately - and I know I am not alone with this sentiment - for me GEX (and especially GEX Europe) just made the already very cartoony FSX base textures look even more cartoony. It just does not look like the world outside because of its color balance and the HDR plugin does not help rebalancing as much as it does with the FS9 Gepro textures which is a much better effort IMHO. Do not misunderstand me: it is pretty but more like cartoon pretty. Stil if FTX would cover the whole world it would be difficult to name a price that I would not pay in a heartbeat to have it.Alex

The OP is totally right. As I see it GEX is lightyears behind FTX in terms of realism. Unfortunately - and I know I am not alone with this sentiment - for me GEX (and especially GEX Europe) just made the already very cartoony FSX base textures look even more cartoony. It just does not look like the world outside because of its color balance and the HDR plugin does not help rebalancing as much as it does with the FS9 Gepro textures which is a much better effort IMHO. Do not misunderstand me: it is pretty but more like cartoon pretty. Stil if FTX would cover the whole world it would be difficult to name a price that I would not pay in a heartbeat to have it.Alex

I don't see "cartoony" for the GEX textures ....j

I don't see "cartoony" for the GEX textures ....j

Ditto.... plus FTX PNW only covers a small region - so there's no WAY that GEX would be able to reproduce that quality at the same pricepoint for the VAST areas it currently covers.

I don't see "cartoony" for the GEX textures ....j

Yes I know this is one of the few dogmas around here namely that 'GEX is beautiful' - as I wrote it is a nice piece of work however I still feel that the old GePro for FS2004 was a lot closer to real life look especially from around 5000' up. A little darker, a little less cheerful, alittle more washed out, all in all a little more close to life. For me the screenshots made with FSX (without FTX, GEX or not) all look like a cartoon and I would never for a moment confuse them with real life pictures. On the other hand both FTX and good screenshots made using FS2004 GeProII (eg. the ones by Fengz in the screenshot forum) are sometimes spot on with their colours. Just my opinion of course.Alex

as an owner of both products i will tell the OP that i like GEX for the amount of coverage it gives but FTX does look, in my opinion much more realistic. both still offer good frame rates, and no matter what you are using, at big airports you are going to have some frame loss. but try the free demo of PNW if you are not sold yet. there is no limit on how long you can try it, but it only offers one season but it is both day and night time. i personally loved GEX until i got FTX and now that is my favorite. Plus FTX does give a lot of free extra airports and stuff and i love the way the airports dont stick out like a sore thumb when using FTX over stock or GEX.

I don't see "cartoony" for the GEX textures ....j

Ok .. new religion .. just flew the FTX pacific northwest demo .. these guys are on to something. I will buy all of their N. American scenery :(

Ok .. new religion .. just flew the FTX pacific northwest demo .. these guys are on to something. I will buy all of their N. American scenery :(

Welcome to the church... er... club. :( FTX indeed covers a much smaller area, but I rather fly above a smaller but awesome area than a large but 'at leat it's better than default' area. Ever since I bought PNW (the day it was released) I haven't left the area. There is more than enough to do there for me (I fly low and slow GA only). I own all the addon airports that are released for PNW up to now and specially the valley around Concrete (and WA56) towards Darrington is stunning (the addons add a great photoreal (with autogen and 3D objects, of course!) area around each airport). I've been flying the Ultralight there lately and even this very small part of PNW offers enough to keep me happy for quite some time. And things will only get better in the future when more addons are released!!!Of course, when money is tight, GEX offers more bang for the buck. But if I had to choose between GEX and just PNW (without any addon airports) I'd gp for PNW without thinking about it: it's just too good.