Yikes, this has all got a bit complicated! I have and like Orbx PNW and PF. When FTX Global was released I waited to watch the fallout/comments - and then forgot about it. So, now, you need to buy FOUR different packages? A bit daunting even leaving aside the costs of it all.
Orbx - FTX: Global VECTOR
- Thread starter Pepere
- Start date
Ed, I agree that JV sometimes is quite hard headed when it comes to customer complaints but who isn't with the number and frequency of some of those posts by users who are clueless about what they are complaining about. But I just want to tweak your information a bit. First of all, Orbx produces its scenery offerings on two fundamentally different levels. On one level are the all-inclusive Regions which include landclass level of detail, custom made scenery textures, and mesh, all tailored for specific individual geographic areas. Several of these have been completed now but they are far from world wide in their totality. At the second product level, Orbx redesigned the whole of the FSX default texture set, and they sell them as a single world-wide product. Called FTX Global, it does not include a mesh component nor does it include any custom made vector data like detailed coastlines, roads, river or lake shoreline data. The latter is offered in separately priced companion product that you mentioned called FTX Global VECTOR. As mentioned, Orbx's two FTX Global products do not include a mesh component. Orbx, however, does sell (in the FlightSimStore) a separate downloadable global mesh product compatible with their Global product that is designed and produced by PILOTS - but the two are separate companies, albeit with a working relationship. By the way, PILOTS also independently markets a series of more accurate and more expensive set of mesh products under the label FS GLOBAL ULTIMATE. The latter are separated into geographic regions and sold separately. If you get them all, the ULTIMATE series can be even more costly. As an Orbx customer, you are not forced to purchase ANY mesh products, however. Orbx has said on their forum in many places that FTX Global will work with ANY mesh you may have or get including FSX Default mesh and FSGENESIS. Now, there is no question - scenery needs to have an associated mesh to depict terrain contours as we are accustomed to seeing them but there have always been multiple products, even some freeware, to meet that need so pick your poison. If you don't have a separate mesh product, your scenery will still "work" - and that goes for FS Global scenery too. It just won't look uber realistic because what 's there is less than perfect in reflecting the shape of the real world. You are absolutely correct in saying that the cumulative effect of buying a lot of Orbx's products is very expensive and if money is tight, obviously you have to make YOUR choices to match YOUR budget. What I am trying to say here is that you need to understand better what those choices are in terms of the products that are for sale versus your level of pain at not having them. I hope you can understand that a significant number of the Orbx customers who JV is ranting at on their forums are totally mixed up about the mesh products they "need" - which ironically is governed only by the level of detail they themselves require. They don't always differentiate between Orbx's products and PILOTS's products either and that can get quite frustrating to Orbx, as I am sure you understand.
arrowmaker
SOH-CM-2024
Rather than opening a new thread I thought I'd bump this one. I have a query. Have I got this correct. If you are quite content to fly within the various Orbx packages then you don't actually require Vector? I have most of the Orbx US and UK area packages as well as FTX Global and to be honest I rarely stray out of those regions. So would Vector actually provide any benefit to me?
vora
Charter Member
The regions come with their own vector, landclass, textures and mesh. They are an all-in-one package with more hand-crafted details. In those regions none of the "Global" products will apply, neither Vector nor FTXGlobal, nor OpenLC. The "Global" products are for the world outside the FTX regions.
The only exception is the Australia region AU SP4 which does not have a mesh included (freeware Holgermesh required).
The only exception is the Australia region AU SP4 which does not have a mesh included (freeware Holgermesh required).
arrowmaker
SOH-CM-2024
This is a I suspected. Being more of a GA flyer, then, it appears Vector would offer me no benefit at all. The only reason I picked up FTX Global was to make the borders of the Orbx regions less obvious, and to make the few times I stray out of those regions more bearable.
Firekitten
Charter Member 2016
Oh but it does... I have global and vector.. it makes non orbx regions, (Ie, everywhere else) a HELL of a lot better for GA! with open landclass, its stunning! I mean, this is Austria, open LC, Vector and Global... Its IDEAL for GA flying!
