Everyone has the older route they'd like to see updated or converted from TSC. Clinchfield, Tees Valley, etc for the former. The latter are a bit easier to fund, since we did get the Riviera line, WCMLS and Shap. So, those do happen from time to time. However, they'd be more common if they had more selling points for those that already own them. Something not in the original that a TSC owner would already have. The problem with remasters and release of TSC content is that most players already have it. Therefore, they're not going to buy it. So how do you pay for people to work on it? I don't believe in the "they should do it cuz I want it" theory. There should be fair compensation for the worker as well as the customer. If there were something that would SELL related to the route (like there is with GWE) then it's much easier to swing. What are some suggestions the community might have to sell in order to fund these remasters and conversions? It would be win-win because it's not only funding the remaster/conversion...but it's also more content for those routes, many which are sort of "forgotten." So what would your suggestions be? To get the conversation started, what for example could be added to Clinchfield, or Tees Valley?
Clinchfield had a "Santa Claus Express" they'd run which would be in line with the three other "Christmas" packs we have in game. What about the F7 from the Xmas DLC to pull the train? (The train continues even now I think run by CSX) They also had "citrus trains" with refrigerated cars which would be more stock. Locomotives not already in game that the Clinchfield used would include the SD-45 and the U36. If they're willing to go a few years later after 1983, then much of the CSX stock from SPG would work on it too. The SD-40 could be a direct swap out, the GP-38 near enough too. Even the GP-9 from Oakville would work with different livery as a stand-in for the F7s on runs. With updated lighting and textures, it could be a nice seller. So much of the material is already in game, too so while you're polishing it, might as well throw what you can into the timetable and tweak any minor bugs.
Mainly thinking of the UK but… TVL a Class 56 would be a real crowd pleaser, particularly if the remaster included an extension to Boulby. NTP a Class 25 which could work trip freights and double head passenger services. PFR - DTG adopt and bring in house the seemingly abandoned Class 104 DMU pack. SoS - huge potential here to fund a remaster, the favourite probably being a Jinty or Standard tank engine to do freight trips and local passenger workings. Glossop and BCC - Class 304 EMU for an earlier timetable.
Remasters of TSW routes and TSW routes that are already in TSC are two completely different things. TSW players are very likely to have a TSW route already but a much smaller percentage of TSW players will have the same route in TSC. There is a crossover of players but it’s not a majority by any means. The two things shouldn’t be lumped in together.
Clinchfield remaster was already being worked on by a dev in his free time. I don't think your suggestion would really work out. Money isn't everything. They also need to pull developers from multiple departments and create time to work on the project. Even if it was possible, the amount of funding would not be consistent. If it's not enough, then what. Does the remaster get abandoned?
SCS seems to have it working fine with their rework teams on ATS and ETS2, even if that process is a bit slower that what some people want (IE Nevada still being neglected) But SCS also has enough funding that they don't need to get players to pay for reworks on top of new trucks. (Seems like map and other DLC's keep them afloat)
I think adding loco DLCs along with a new timetable and a remaster works well. No particular thoughts on what to add to where, but I think this is a reasonable way to get funding, as long as all components are well made. There is something about a passion project - because the creator is so passionate they are likely to go above and beyond compared to a project constrained by time and budget - however I also understand that the creators need to be compensated for their work.
Aren't the remasters abandoned already if the person doing it on their own free time get busy? It's not fair to make them do it on their own for everyone else's pleasure. They should be paid for their work. Their time is as valuable as yours is. Plus, it brings more content WITH the remaster. ATS/ETS works on volume and new sales. That's why their prices are so low too. If you sell 10 times as many copies, then you can charge 5 times less and still make a lot of money. TSW doesn't have that volume sadly. Although to be fair, ATS markets themselves as a game for casuals and cuts a lot of corners that the TSW forum would froth at the mouth about if it were in TSW. Not fully modeling their AI models for example and not having a walking "avatar." In TSW EVERYTHING is detailed, even trains that you aren't driving and you CAN walk all over exploring so it's modeled a lot more in depth. You COULD have a train game like ATS/ETS with that level of detail and a very casual gameplay. It would be much cheaper than TSW and sell more copies. It'd be more like Trainz I think. TSW doesn't have the profit margin from higher sales and lower costs.
With regard to ETS2, it will be interesting to see how much Nordic Horizons goes on sale for on Tuesday. My instinct tells me it will be slightly higher than their usual pricing level, maybe closer to £20. Still a Day One purchase (who can resist the pull of the far north) but it’s been in production for ever and presumably subsiding the Scandinavia remaster too.
