Maybe if JV had explained things like this, this incident might not have escalated the way it did.
 

FTX Global is fair dinkum.  It's MS FSX's land-classes that are  shonky   and cause FSX to thow a wobbly.

 

OpenLC pack will correct this and also  be fair dinkum, and we are working  like a rat up a drainpipe to get it out.

 

There is no need to whinge and be a knocker, or go off like a bucket of prawns in the sun.

 

:australia-flag:

LOL

Agreed. I've know Orbx to be quite receptive and responsive. I can't blame JV for shutting down naysayers who don't have the facts straight. I mean, making it sound as if FTX Global is responsible for green deserts is not fair to Orbx. People read these forums when they need help deciding whether or not to buy the product. When you have people posting baseless uniformed reviews, you really do have to address it head on.

 

OK, let me try to explain how FSX landclass works.

 

The *default* FSX worldlc.bgl calls, primarily, texture 51 Semi Desert Shrubs for most of the U.S. Southwest.  The default semi desert shrubs texture, as well as the GEX semi desert shrubs texture, have the more classic brown-orange-red desert color, which is more accurate for this part of the country.  The FTX Global texture, on the other hand, is more green, which is not generally appropriate for most areas of the Southwest.  How do I know?  I live in the U.S. Southwest.

 

Now, there is another texture, texture 52 semi desert sage, which is also called by the *default* landclass, but further north.  This semi desert texture *should* be more green.

 

So, FTX Global is, indeed, the "culprit" here, if you will.  They didn't color that texture 51 semi desert shrubs correctly.  Both default FSX and GEX have colored that texture more appropriately.  Period. Again, I know because I live in this area, have GEX, and the Southwest with GEX looks generally pretty good and not as green as what I've seen in screenshots of FTX Global so far.

 

I have no doubt that ORBX will remedy this with the openLC North America product, and I'm sure that FTX Global has improved *far* more areas than it made worse.  I'm not saying it's a bad product.  I just hope they correct this, and soon.

Wow.  Is this tread for real?  The product has only been on the market for a day maybe into it's second and there are requests to "fix it soon". Like take a deep breath, relax, go flying somewhere else.

 

JV is correct. 

 

This thread sounds a bit like the ENG crowd who got all upset over their town not being exactly modeled like it is on the ground because I road here should have been there, a small bit of woodland was missing or added, and where is this landmark or that landmark. 

 

Good liven lord!  The point has been made.  Everybody has heard this story, now lets' move on.

Wow.  Is this tread for real?  The product has only been on the market for a day maybe into it's second and there are requests to "fix it soon". Like take a deep breath, relax, go flying somewhere else.

 

JV is correct. 

 

This thread sounds a bit like the ENG crowd who got all upset over their town not being exactly modeled like it is on the ground because I road here should have been there, a small bit of woodland was missing or added, and where is this landmark or that landmark. 

 

Good liven lord!  The point has been made.  Everybody has heard this story, now lets' move on.

 

+1

Even though I own practically every ORBX offering, I have not spent much time at the FTX or ORBX support website until yesterday and today.  I'll give you my impressions as someone who is still "new" to JV's operation and has not been jaded by multitudinous forum readings and rants and raves.

 

ORBX is one hell of an impressive operation.  Not only do they produce state of the sim sceneries, and do so with prolific output, but they have built a web presence and support system that is second to none.  All that is required to receive this world-class support is follow a few simple rules that have been set up to ensure an orderly flow of support response.  If you do this, you will receive accurate and timely help.

 

As I can discern, there are a couple of things that will raise the hackles of Mr. V.  First is if you attempt to degrade his product or operation with uninformed and poorly researched opinion.  Another is if you breach the normal bounds of human civility during your forum discussions.  It's usually very easy to tell when a customer has given no effort to research his/her support problem, and also likely that when called out on this lack of effort, customers tend to become defensive and rude.

 

As someone pointed out earlier, it's his playground and he makes the rules of his games.

Well said Dennis

I really am leaning for JV's side saying this is a landclass issue, but what has got me wondering is why the default ground textures were more accurate than these ones?

Quoted from the FTX website:

A lot of the criticism was based on generally not understanding the way FSX landclass texture products work and not visiting our FTX forums to read the already published information. To hand out harsh comments on a product without first reading about what it does is a bit shortsighted and I would encourage people to read the information we have made available already in detail.

 

We do cop criticism on the chin if it is valid, is posted on our forums in a polite and constructive manner and without resorting to personal attacks, name calling or yelling.

 

From what I have seen, J.V., and the rest of the ORBX team have done quite well with responding to constructive criticism, like John wrote above. It is when the criticism is unwarranted, or not their fault, that ORBX does not respond well. To me it seems fair to not respond well to unwarranted criticism. No one likes being yelled at or complained to for something that is not their fault, or is something that they can do nothing about. Lets give J.V., and the rest of the ORBX team a break after putting out this great release.

OK, let me try to explain how FSX landclass works.

 

The *default* FSX worldlc.bgl calls, primarily, texture 51 Semi Desert Shrubs for most of the U.S. Southwest. The default semi desert shrubs texture, as well as the GEX semi desert shrubs texture, have the more classic brown-orange-red desert color, which is more accurate for this part of the country. The FTX Global texture, on the other hand, is more green, which is not generally appropriate for most areas of the Southwest. How do I know? I live in the U.S. Southwest.

 

Now, there is another texture, texture 52 semi desert sage, which is also called by the *default* landclass, but further north. This semi desert texture *should* be more green.

 

So, FTX Global is, indeed, the "culprit" here, if you will. They didn't color that texture 51 semi desert shrubs correctly. Both default FSX and GEX have colored that texture more appropriately. Period. Again, I know because I live in this area, have GEX, and the Southwest with GEX looks generally pretty good and not as green as what I've seen in screenshots of FTX Global so far.

 

I have no doubt that ORBX will remedy this with the openLC North America product, and I'm sure that FTX Global has improved *far* more areas than it made worse. I'm not saying it's a bad product. I just hope they correct this, and soon.

Yes, yes, we trust your familiarity with the Southwest. I'm more than familiar with the Southwest, as I live in Albuquerque, NM myself. But, then again, that has no bearing on the issue.

 

It's a landclass problem. Period. This explains why the deserts in the Middle East and Africa look good--because FSX didn't try to cover the place with "shrubs."

They are both right ..and wrong

 

The poor OP who judging by his pic is probably a pensioner and possibly saved or sacrificed to get FTXG and probably a good chance it was going to be the highlight of his coming months only to discover an eerie home town scene more resembling a region somewhere in Mars!

 

His complaint opened up early in the piece with this  "the Great American Southwest it is an abomination"  ABOMINATION  , look it up about as highly offensive as possible lol

 

JV was insulted but shouldn't have locked the thread though and at least let the guy respond.

Quote

 

FTX Global is fair dinkum. It's MS FSX's land-classes that are shonky and cause FSX to thow a wobbly.

 

OpenLC pack will correct this and also be fair dinkum, and we are working like a rat up a drainpipe to get it out.

 

There is no need to whinge and be a knocker, or go off like a bucket of prawns in the sun.

 

 

I have absolutely no idea what any of this means!

 

I give up trying to understand and am considering assembling my electric train set and give it another go after 45 years or so. Need fresh 3 in 1 machine oil as it is now as hard than the can it's in.

At this moment I am having more fun reading about FTXG and Orbx than actually using it... But I think I will go for another flight above FTXG now.

Anyone who criticized Microsoft for their landclass definitions, when FSX was still supported by them, the same way some people are criticizing ORBX for FTXG now ?

 

Go to any forum to request an explanation for your issue ... and you'll get your answer.

Ask for trouble instead - on any forum - and you'll get your answer, too ...

 

Again, you can't blame a mere texture product for errors in landclass definitions. I'm sure someone at the ORBX forums would have explained that if a proper question had been asked!