Ok, I know the overwhelming recommendation for new scenery is FTX Global, however, I hear that it makes a lot of areas green that aren't, mainly in the SW.  Grand Canyon for example in their comparison video looks green, whereas we all know it's mostly red from a high altitude.  The majority of the green is above the canyon and out of the ridges.  Regardless, even my hometown looks terrible.  KDVT and most of Phoenix is unrealistic tan color.  A lot of the land here from above is desert but a darker tan, and the mountains are gray.  The mountains in FSX are tan too.  It's frustrating and I don't even like flying here.

 

I am thinking of upgrading scenery, which I've never done before.  Overall the default textures are darn close to what I see others offering, but I know that autogen and tree placement helps.  I also worry about landclass and other enhacements eating up performance.  In some aircraft I don't get the best performance.  Higher traffic areas stutter a times.  Does GEX look better for the SW? 

 

I'm interesting in trying to improve the scenery without a huge performance hit and even looking at some select airports that are friendlier on frames.  US only.

 

Thanks,

Chris

Orbx is in the process of upgrading the landclass for FTX Global and it should be released sometime this year as a separate product similar to openLC Europe and the Alaska/Canada portion of openLC NA.

 

That should noticeably improve the SW as well as other areas.  Unfortunately, that won't address your initial issues.

 

As far as GEX, I can't answer.  I have the previous version, but once I switched to Global I put it away.

If you are looking at improving your hometown area, Phoenix, I would look at adding some of the photoreal scenery out there for this area. I currently use MegaSceneryEarth version 1 as that had some basic autogen and even ground night lighting textures included (version 2 does not), and then I throw in Flightbeams KPHX on top of that.  Overall, very nice until I rework the area with my own scenery.

 

Also, check out Blue Sky Scenery for the area and there is a nice freeware photo real Tucson I picked up a ways back.

 

Just some ideas...

 

Clutch

Ok thanks.  The photoreal looks nice.  I wonder if the autogen is substantially less (e.g., tress, buildings)?  Looks that was in videos.  Hmm