I use the term emulate loosely because I know I'll never quite achieve the quality of it. Anyways I have all the ORBX scenery, so sadly I've become jaded and simply refuse to fly anywhere that isn't within its bounds. I cringe every time I fly on the border of a terrain region and see the default textures. But since I got back into flight sims a couple months ago I've moved up from the C185F to the Caravan, to the Real Air Duke then to the Turbine, and soon about to move up from that I'm going to have to start having to fly outside of the reach of ORBX terrain.

 

So basically what I'm trying to figure out is what is the best combination of payware meshes, textures, and whatever else there is out there to make flying in the rest of the states a bit more palpable.

 

BTW whats the basic consensus on stuff like MegaScenery photoreal stuff?

In my opinion, after Orbx, the next best thing is photoreal http://www.sim-savvy.com/

 

Mesh: FSglobal/genisis something

In my opinion, after Orbx, the next best thing is photoreal http://www.sim-savvy.com/

Wow. I must get this! Awesome. $299 isn't bad.

I use the term emulate loosely because I know I'll never quite achieve the quality of it. Anyways I have all the ORBX scenery, so sadly I've become jaded and simply refuse to fly anywhere that isn't within its bounds. I cringe every time I fly on the border of a terrain region and see the default textures. But since I got back into flight sims a couple months ago I've moved up from the C185F to the Caravan, to the Real Air Duke then to the Turbine, and soon about to move up from that I'm going to have to start having to fly outside of the reach of ORBX terrain.

 

So basically what I'm trying to figure out is what is the best combination of payware meshes, textures, and whatever else there is out there to make flying in the rest of the states a bit more palpable.

 

BTW whats the basic consensus on stuff like MegaScenery photoreal stuff?

Once you have experienced ORBX regions and airports everything else is going to be bellow that. It's going to be a loooooooooooong time before ORBX covers the entire world. As a matter of fact I wish that ORBX would develop textures for the entire world. I doubt that will happen. LOL

 

There is a way to make FSX look amazing in different parts of he world. It's going to cost you, but if you're serious about having the best looking FSX, start here:

 

For the US:

 

GEX/UTX/FsGenesis Mesh. Add some payware FSDT, GSX, and Fly Tampa Airports along with the Citation X V2 or PMDG 737NGX and that should keep you busy for a while.

There is a way to make FSX look amazing in different parts of he world. It's going to cost you, but if you're serious about having the best looking FSX, start here:

 

For the US:

 

GEX/UTX/FsGenesis Mesh. Add some payware FSDT, GSX, and Fly Tampa Airports along with the Citation X V2 or PMDG 737NGX and that should keep you busy for a while.

 

I have to agree. While it's going to cost a dollar (or two, well maybe 8 or 10) this is about as good as you're going to be able to do. And it's really nowhere as good as Orbx.

GEX and UTX do a good job. It's just not nearly as refined as Orbx. Some areas are worse then others as well.

 

Where Orbx leaves them in the dust IMO is their rendition of cities. It's just light years better.

Where Orbx leaves them in the dust IMO is their rendition of cities. It's just light years better.

 

Yeah, but the Orbx airports-even the default ones--are so good as to be worthy eye candy on their own. If you like small airplanes (thing Beech Baron or smaller) you need to try the Orbx payware. You'll simply spend all your time exploring any one airport. Generally works of art IMHO.

I'd like to submit my vote for GEX + Scenery Tech Landclass for NA. ST is much better for rural areas than UTX, in my opinion. If you have enough money, I suppose you could do GEX + ST + UTX (to the get the UTX cities, roads, waterways, and coast lines). I'm sure there are instructions somewhere from using both UTX and ST at the same time.

Back on topic: I use STech too, but have found Cloud 9 X-Class to be superior (all comments, as always, IMHO) to my eyes. STech has too much visible tiling for my eye. I'll have to look it up but yes there is a specific location in the add-on scenery folder in FSX for best placement of the STech (and/or Cloud 9) landclass. Incidentally, both are relatively cheap and you can install both and then simply click on the one you like best for any given area. For my home here in WV, Cloud 9 is surprisingly accurate when used with UTX, GEX and FSGensis mesh.

BTW whats the basic consensus on stuff like MegaScenery photoreal stuff?

 

Pure photoreal with no autogen seems to be a love it or hate it thing and I've found I'm in the latter group. Draping a 2D image on 3D mesh still looks remarkably 2D and wrong to me, especially when near the surface, the colors often seem off - and then there's the whole seasons and night thing.

 

As others have noted, GEX/REX and improved mesh are as close as you're going to get to Orbx. You still don't have the improved airports that come with Orbx regions, but the transitions out of Orbx territory are far less jarring once you put REX and GEX in place, and the rivers, coastlines and roads will mostly be where they're supposed to be. Default FSX airports still are what they are, though, so you might also want to add a few airports into the mix.

 

Scott

Tbe OP asked about Megascenery. I have the SoCal area (came on DVD/CD), and various tiles for areas that I fly often- such as the Denver aera (my home area), and the Chicago area. There are "islands" of MegaScenery in the US that provide covereage to relatively small areas. They also offer the entire state of California.

 

As someone else has said, Megascenery (MS) is different to ORBX stuff. I like both and consider the ORBX stuff to be way better- but MS is a good substitute for me (personal preference), much better than the default. But some people hate it. I do have the Sim Savvy demo (covers areas around KDEN and KCOS), and it's really good- some day I will buy the entire US- unfortunately (as I understand it) you have to order the entire US, you can't get it state by state- I may be wrong though (and if I am I will go buy several states :) ).

 

Thanks, Bruce.

Pure photoreal with no autogen seems to be a love it or hate it thing and I've found I'm in the latter group. Draping a 2D image on 3D mesh still looks remarkably 2D and wrong to me, especially when near the surface, the colors often seem off - and then there's the whole seasons and night thing.

 

 

This is somewhat second hand, but a sim flying buddy has used photoreal to good effect in his Florida and Hawaii flights. While Hawaii is fairly mountainous, FL is obviously quite flat and the screenies of his that have the FL photoreal look good to me. The Hawaian is good too, but the airplane needs to be higher so as to reduce the "should be 3-D but looks 2-D effect". I'd still take the UTX/GEX/landclass of your choice set up. I've only got this second hand, but isn't the photoreal harder on those all important frame rates?? There, I said it and I'm glad (FR's, that is).

...but isn't the photoreal harder on those all important frame rates?? There, I said it and I'm glad (FR's, that is).

 

No, generally the opposite, from my experiences. Rendering autogen takes resources and fps. Rendering texture tiles, which photo work amounts to isn't that intensive. What may occur with photo scenery is that if the demand on the system is heavy you will not get to a point where the photo work is drawn to it's sharpest level.

 

Good photo work, flown at an appropriate level can be a nice experience. Some real world pilots use it for familiarization when going into an area.

Good photo work, flown at an appropriate level can be a nice experience. Some real world pilots use it for familiarization when going into an area.

 

Indeed. I think this is a case of "what do you value more", rather than an absolute case of "what's best". Good as Orbx scenery is, you can't fly over and see your house in Snakesnavel, ID, though the general Snakesnavel area will look the way it should. On the other hand, well, y'know...

 

Of course a well-done mix of photoreal, landclass and autogen can really look great. But now we're back to Orbx again. :-)

 

Scott

I run a (very) small VA based in Lewisburg WV (KLWB) and I gotta tell ya, I keep wondering about closing my local doors and moving the entire operation to Pocatello ID. Or even Snakesnavel for that matter . I am really in love (lust?) with the Orbx stuff.