After Zinertek released its Enhanced Airport Graphics for MSFS a few months ago, REX Game Studio just follows to announce their Real Global Airport Texture for MSFS as well. To me, it’s pretty similar to what they compete in FSX/P3D environment before.
In terms of pricing, REX’s version is $17.95, which is about a dollar more than Zinertek’s $16.97.
Does that extra dollar makes REX’s new product better than Zinertek’s?
Let’s put aside the quality of enhancement first, the extra one dollar does give users a choice of 4 combinations spawned from New & Used Taxiway Markings and Heavy & Light Rubber Buildups, against Zinertek’s only one universal style.
How are they different and are they better ?
Followings are two sets of photos briefly comparing the two products. I’ll give my choice at the end of the story.
Since the size of the photos are a bit large (1,800 x 1,100) , be patient if your network isn’t fast.
The last two photos show no difference between using Zinertek only and using Zinertek + REX together. There’s really no needs to get both of them.
One significant change from both addons users can tell instantly is the color of the Taxiway Markings, which are in richer yellow. The Rubber Buildups on the runways are reinforced too.
Performance-wise, I don’t see, or at least I don’t feel, any dropping in framerate from either products.
In terms of graphic presentations, I like Zinertek more as it adds in little cracks and tiny artifacts to the runways and taxiways, making the whole environment more realistic and lively.
There are similar enhancements in REX’s product too. But I think Zinertek does a better job in this respect (see the last image in photo set 2 above).
Moreover, although REX gives users a choice of four different enhancement styles, none of them is my cup of tea. Especially, I found the color of the New Markings a little odd and over-exegrated. If there could be a medium tone between the New and Used style, it would be tempting.
So, Zinertek is my pick.
However, REX still has great potentials to reclaim its lost ground (from me at least) because the flexibility of not bonded by one single style is no doubt a smart idea. It could be a key to regain the victory if those imperfections are revised in the future.
Edit:
A reader asks if the two enhancements add to the overall reality and do I enjoy them.
The answer is YES, definitely. But they are NOT a must-have on my addon list.
Because unlike what they are in FSX/P3D, their enhancement values are diminished by the already pretty good default texture in MSFS.
You don’t have to agree with me. We all have our preferences.
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FS Times 