Hi AllI'm not a newbie to simming per se, but am a newbie with regards to getting the best out of the experience, graphically.About 6 months ago I got a new, modern computer and decided to get back into simming after a few years of absence.In that time I have purchased a few good add-on aircraft and a couple of airport packages, but now want to attack the graphical realism of the sim.Basically I am disappointed with the way the "world" looks in FS. For example, whilst flying at 35,000 feet over Europe, everything just looks flat, and dull, whereas in reality there would be dramatic hills, valleys, etc.I have heard good things about FSGenesis, and understand that "mesh" is what causes these landscape features to be portrayed in the sim. I also understand that this doesn't include textures so for the whole package would also need something like Ultimate Terrain, which (if I'm understanding correctly) supplements the mesh by adding more realistic textures to the improved landscape that the mesh provides.Basically, before I spend a fair bit of money on downloading mesh and buying more add-ons like UT, I was just after a bit of guidance as to what combinations work well, what I can expect if I do install these products, etc.I have searched these forums but there's just so much information...also a lot of it seems to be aimed at the VFR/GA flier whereas I only fly airliners.Thanks for your helpMartin

Get FSGlobal2010, very good for mesh,it covers all the world :smile:Then Ultimate Terrain packages (USA,Europe,Canda..depend on you) And finally..Flight1 Ground Environment Texture :smile:These 3 work together quite well. But if you install FSGlobal or even FS Genesis,some airports will have weird elevation. (Higher than the surrounded land..)

I run FS9.1 with Ultimate Terrain USA, FSGenesis and FScene 2004 USA Canada, the difference is incredible compared with the default. Obviously there are choices of add-ons, but I am quite happy with what I've got as it works well with no appreciable frame hits. Although I live in The U.K. I have toured large areas of the States and used FS9 to plan routes, and can vouch for accuracy. Must have add-ons are airports, some are so good you could be at the real thing, thanks to all the guys for their hard work.

I run FS9.1 with Ultimate Terrain USA, FSGenesis and FScene 2004 USA Canada, the difference is incredible compared with the default. Obviously there are choices of add-ons, but I am quite happy with what I've got as it works well with no appreciable frame hits. Although I live in The U.K. I have toured large areas of the States and used FS9 to plan routes, and can vouch for accuracy. Must have add-ons are airports, some are so good you could be at the real thing, thanks to all the guys for their hard work.

Thanks guys. Looks like a tossup between FSGenesis and FSGlobal for mesh. I like the fact that with FSGlobal it's one installation and I don't have to download tons of files....

Thanks guys. Looks like a tossup between FSGenesis and FSGlobal for mesh. I like the fact that with FSGlobal it's one installation and I don't have to download tons of files....

Also, does anyone know if you can install FSGlobal on more than one PC? As I use FS at my house and my parents house so being able to install it in both locations with the same purchase would be a huge plus.

Thanks guys. Looks like a tossup between FSGenesis and FSGlobal for mesh. I like the fact that with FSGlobal it's one installation and I don't have to download tons of files....Also, does anyone know if you can install FSGlobal on more than one PC? As I use FS at my house and my parents house so being able to install it in both locations with the same purchase would be a huge plus.

Since FSglobal2010 is packed in DVDs, I believe it is possible :(

Thanks guys. Looks like a tossup between FSGenesis and FSGlobal for mesh. I like the fact that with FSGlobal it's one installation and I don't have to download tons of files....Also, does anyone know if you can install FSGlobal on more than one PC? As I use FS at my house and my parents house so being able to install it in both locations with the same purchase would be a huge plus.There are many positives to having a good mesh product but before you leap, you might want to look! :( There are some freeware mesh sceneries available on AVSIM and FS Genesis offer several free mesh addons including Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus. Try them first and see if you like the result. The reason I say "look before you leap" is that there can be a downside. You may find some of your favorite airports suddenly looking awful, roads running up impossible slopes, rivers running uphill etc. Sadly it is rare when improved mesh, object placement, roads, rivers and coastlines and land class files are all coordinated together. When that does happen, the result is spectacular. One such product is the freeware Glacier Bay - a fantastic work. Another is the combination of Red Baron Mesh, land class and roads and rivers for New Zealand. Add Robin Corn's sceneries and you will see how FS9 really comes close to "as real as it gets."I do use the full set of FS Genesis mesh and most of the time am very happy that I do but every now and then, there's something that really spoils the effect... Usual story - costs vs benefits

I couldn't agree with you more. I usually fly American routes and there are quite number of airports that having conflict with FSGlobal and/or Ultimate Terrain. However, without it my fs2004 can look even worse. Still living happily with it until find out an effective solution :D

I've used FS Global some years ago, then bought the FS genesis bundle worldwide pack. FS Genesis is very nice, but you must keep in mind that not all areas are coverded with the same data accuracy. For instance, Hawai, some parts of the US or the european Alps are LOD10 and even LOD11 (very high resolution mesh) give nothing but spectacular results (19m resolution versus the 600m or 300m default).Other parts of the world features a 76m resolution mesh, which is still a major improvememnt over the defaut mesh.In Asia, China and the Imalayas, the 76m mesh is absolutely stunning. And FS Genesis is preparaing the whole China(lots of moutains) with 19m resolution, I cant wait fort that.As it's been written already, the downside of using highly accurate mesh in FS is the 'plateau' airport effects here and there, nothing you can really do about unfortunately.About FS Genesis, which I recommand, I've been recently purchasing all of their latest release, they've started with US coverage of higly detailed mesh(I'm not aware that FS Global has gone into such updates), and I also bought all of the new mesh from eastern Europe to Afghansitan.I looked at the result in FS all over Arabic peninsula, Egypt, Oman, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the result is incredible. Really, breathtaking.An easy way to compare what the mesh gives and reality is to check within Google Earth 3D: I've done that last night and I can tellI could barely believe how accurate the FS Genesis mesh is. To sum this all up, your long haul flights will never look the same again with those mesh, you really get a good feeling of what long range cruise over the globe are.

I've used FS Global some years ago, then bought the FS genesis bundle worldwide pack. FS Genesis is very nice, but you must keep in mind that not all areas are coverded with the same data accuracy. For instance, Hawai, some parts of the US or the european Alps are LOD10 and even LOD11 (very high resolution mesh) give nothing but spectacular results (19m resolution versus the 600m or 300m default).Other parts of the world features a 76m resolution mesh, which is still a major improvememnt over the defaut mesh.In Asia, China and the Imalayas, the 76m mesh is absolutely stunning. And FS Genesis is preparaing the whole China(lots of moutains) with 19m resolution, I cant wait fort that.As it's been written already, the downside of using highly accurate mesh in FS is the 'plateau' airport effects here and there, nothing you can really do about unfortunately.About FS Genesis, which I recommand, I've been recently purchasing all of their latest release, they've started with US coverage of higly detailed mesh(I'm not aware that FS Global has gone into such updates), and I also bought all of the new mesh from eastern Europe to Afghansitan.I looked at the result in FS all over Arabic peninsula, Egypt, Oman, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the result is incredible. Really, breathtaking.An easy way to compare what the mesh gives and reality is to check within Google Earth 3D: I've done that last night and I can tellI could barely believe how accurate the FS Genesis mesh is. To sum this all up, your long haul flights will never look the same again with those mesh, you really get a good feeling of what long range cruise over the globe are.

Ditto on the new FS Genesis mesh. I recently did a low level helo mission (AlphSim CH53) that I had previously set up using Instant Scenery to place a military patrol needing extraction. With the new mesh it was an astounding experience and my heart truly was pounding when I finished it as I flew it "nap of the earth." The terrain was so complex that I had difficulty finding them and then had to fly a tricky approach to hover so I could "winch them up." As long as it doesn't screw up your favorite airport addon and if you don't mind seeing an occasional uphill river, it adds a lot to the experience

Thank you for all your help guys, much appreciated.In the end I ended up going for FSGlobal 2010 purely as it comes on disc - my internet connection is awful at best so I really wasn't looking forward to the downloading of tens of GB's of data.I am uninstalling my FS stuff soon as there are some problems with my install but my set up will soon have a clean FS9.1 Install, followed by FSGlobal 2010, UT Europe, GE Pro, FSUIPC, Active Sky Evolution, REX and AES...and I can't wait Now to make some coffee for the days of installation required!

Just for the sake of accuracy, FS Genesis is also available via DVD. One does not have to d/l dozens of separate files...I bought a "Lifetime Gold" membership several years ago, and I have to say it was one of the best investments (only second to FS Panel Studio) I've ever made... :(

Thank you for all your help guys, much appreciated.In the end I ended up going for FSGlobal 2010 purely as it comes on disc - my internet connection is awful at best so I really wasn't looking forward to the downloading of tens of GB's of data.I am uninstalling my FS stuff soon as there are some problems with my install but my set up will soon have a clean FS9.1 Install, followed by FSGlobal 2010, UT Europe, GE Pro, FSUIPC, Active Sky Evolution, REX and AES...and I can't wait Now to make some coffee for the days of installation required!

Good luck - you will need lots of coffee but in the end it will all be worthwhile

Just for the sake of accuracy, FS Genesis is also available via DVD. One does not have to d/l dozens of separate files...I bought a "Lifetime Gold" membership several years ago, and I have to say it was one of the best investments (only second to FS Panel Studio) I've ever made... :(

Oops, my bad! Thanks for letting me know!

Good luck - you will need lots of coffee but in the end it will all be worthwhile

Tell me about it...i'm still uninstalling and have been at it for almost 90 mins already! It's gonna be a looooong night! :(

Oops, my bad! Thanks for letting me know!Tell me about it...i'm still uninstalling and have been at it for almost 90 mins already! It's gonna be a looooong night! :(

Well, just remember the old, old saying -- "Good things are worth waiting for!" When you boot up a clean, fast and amazingly enhanced FS9 and it looks like a brand new sim, you will be glad. Of course, you may also be 99 years old! :( Don't worry, it won't take that long, though it may feel like it at times...

Well, just remember the old, old saying -- "Good things are worth waiting for!" When you boot up a clean, fast and amazingly enhanced FS9 and it looks like a brand new sim, you will be glad. Of course, you may also be 99 years old! :( Don't worry, it won't take that long, though it may feel like it at times...

Maybe I'm having that feeling now Uninstalling and reinstalling almost 100GB just because of an issue :(