In regards to P3D prior to Mondays release this is what I have so far. Please feel free to correct, actually I prefer that you would!

 

1. GEX is slated to be releasing their version for P3D in March of '14.

2. Active Sky Next when it is released will be P3D ready.

3. FSGenesis meshes are compatible with P3D.

4. UT2 can be used with P3D but is not supported by Flight1 to be used as such.

 

Now, the fuzzy points. With the new version coming out of P3D Monday, apparently it isn't just your usual run of the mill update. Perhaps the following questions or points are mute until 2.0 comes out, perhaps not. I haven't used P3D att all so can't say how much different the new version 2.0 will be over the previous version.

 

1. Barring UT2, would the updated Traffic 360 or My Traffic 2013 3D be a better choice. Must say, the models in Traffic 360 look pretty good. How is AI traffic out of the box with P3D - or isn't it?

 

2. Would like to see UTX and GEX being able to be used in P3D as I got excellent results from it in FSX. In particular the coastlines were much improved. FTX Global I have never used and seems to do nothing for coastline changes as the old FSX right angled coasts still appears (since I assume FTX just changes global texturing).

 

So, mesh I'm all set on, will wait for Active Sky Next to come out along with GEX (which in no time UTX will follow hopefully). AI aircraft package is up in the air (no pun).

 

Really confused on points about P3D from third party developers though, if somebody can chime in here. Seems like some developers say they don't (and sounds like they never will) have plans to support P3D because it's not an entertainment based program, but rather a licensed training aid. What difference does that make? If some commercial developers like IRIS, HiFi and Carenado can, why can't others...or is this more of a question of marketability? In other words, if and when the masses shift more towards P3D and away from FSX then we would see a shift in marketing by the "hold out" manufacturers.

 

Thanks for any and all input. Perhaps the info can help others too, particularly since I have not yet flown P3D.

 

 

FTX Global and the upcoming FTX Vector and FTX Open Landclass products will all be avaialble for P3Dv2 effectively eliminating the need for GEX and UTX.

 

OPUS is already confirmed as compatible with P3D v2 so if you need a weather engine thats already out, then there is one. Opus also eliminates the need for EZCA if you are ok with the OPUS head movements. (good IMHO)

 

Dont know about UT2

 

FSGenesis mesh should work just fine.

 

 

2. Would like to see UTX and GEX being able to be used in P3D as I got excellent results from it in FSX. In particular the coastlines were much improved. FTX Global I have never used and seems to do nothing for coastline changes as the old FSX right angled coasts still appears (since I assume FTX just changes global texturing).

 

Not a real answer to your question but the coastlines you see are from UTX and not from GEX. FTX Global is the same kind of addon as GEX. So you could also say that GEX seems to do nothing for coastline changes as with GEX only the old FSX right angled coasts still appears. ^_^

 

Anyway, as Glenn just posted: FTX Global together with Vector and OpenLC will probably replace UTX and GEX on most P3D computers. BTW FTX Vector will give you much improved coastlines.

Hmmm...thanks! Going to check out this FTX Vector right now. Sounds like FTX Vector and Global work harmoniously like GEX and UTX do.

Hmmm...thanks! Going to check out this FTX Vector right now. Sounds like FTX Vector and Global work harmoniously like GEX and UTX do.

and you will get the entire world with better performing night lights than UTX.

 

FTXG + Vectors + FTX LC is the way to go if you plan on upgrading to P3D V2.

Yes, but take note that Vector won't be released until December and OpenLC will be released in 6 packages starting in January with Europe and ending with down under somewhere in 2014 or even 2015. But that's still sooner than GEX for P3D (compared to FTX Global, which will be P3R ready before coming monday) and UTX which might never be updated for P3D.

 

What I also like about the FTX option is that it's simple. Install and enjoy. Global as well as Vector is/will be one installer for the entire globe. OpenLC will be released in 6 parts but when they are done with them all, they will create one big new installer.

Getting slightly off my OP, but just watched a video as someone was flying a C172 in P3D and showed the differences between stock, FTX Global, FTX OpenLC, FTX Vector and FS Global mesh. The differences is what I got flying FSX stock and FSX with GEX and UTX - in other words no comparison.

 

It's on YouTube: Orbx FTX Global Base+OpenLC+Vector+Mesh (P3D)

 

Like mentioned above, if they both pull off the same thing and do it well, why wait?

 

Never having used them before, how is Orbx on updates and all? What about realistic night lighting?

 

I see they have a special running with 10% off Vector if FTX Global is purchased before December 31st.

They heave the best night lighting out there with no FPS loss. Is it realistic? That's subjective but I like it better then UTX.

 

And Orbx constantly updates their products. Australia went through 4 service packs and the final pack was more of a bonus then fixing bugs.

Thanks! Good stuff. I know "realistic" is subjective.

 

Not knocking anyone but the night lighting within UTX regarding the street lights just seemed out of scale to me, otherwise fine.

Yeah, it was. The night lighting in FTX Global is smaller and more dense.

It also doesn't just follow major roads. It provides much more complete coverage over a city area.

Another thing to note about FTX Vector - if it's entirely based on OpenStreetMap data, you may not get the experience you'd expect. OSM data is not as robust as the commercial sources used by UTX and other developers in the past - notably with water bodies and shorelines. Look no further than X-Plane 10's current condition regarding water in North America for a prime example of this. That said, XP10 scenery is based on 2+ year old OSM data and much water has been added to the OSM maps since then... but there are still thousands of square miles of lakes and ponds which are still not in the map data, along with some severely jagged coastlines. FTX Vector might be a VAST improvement to areas of the world which don't have any UTX-style coverage today, but users of UTX might suddenly find areas that were rich with water are now dry and barren due to shortcomings in the source data.

 

Of course, if FTX Vector uses MULTIPLE data sources for water and not just OpenStreetMaps, perhaps they've overcome this issue. (I hope so!)

 

From all I've read so far, from my personal experience with XP10, and from 2 years of OpenStreetMap editing, I'd approach FTX Vector with a bit of caution. Don't write it off of course, but perhaps let others test it out first. OpenStreetMap as an exclusive source of data has its pros and cons. 

 

-Greg

 

(Orbx's forum seems to be down at the moment, I'd have done more immediate research before posting this)

It's not entirely based on OSM per JV months ago.

 

Exactly what that means for the end product, I don't know.

I have yet to hear if my PMDG 737NGX and FS2CREW will work with v2. 

I will be buying as soon as I hear whether or not those will work

 

I hope EZDOK works but not a deal breaker as there is an alternative.

 

 

It's not entirely based on OSM per JV months ago.

 

That'd be good to hear and know - at least from a water/coastline perspective. We'll see how it all works out in the end. Hopefully for the best!