I'm back from a 5 year hiatus after growing frustration and broken promises, persistent bugs, unfixed and immersion breaking microstutters in TSW2020. I got the train bug again and figured the steam sale was a reasonable entry point to come in to get my fix for US heavy haul power and those routes. Those are what I grew up daydreaming about and those are really my only interest. I figured TSW6 was the natural step since most of the bugs I'm experiencing were likely carried over from previous versions anyway. What a crazy problem to have with "annual releases." Anyway- within my first hour or so I can already feel my temperature rising. Microstutters remain- visible in most youtube videos I've watched and also now on my screen, mixed with various bugs like my dude constantly running by default while the shift button makes him walk which is the reverse of what the game tells me (probably just an easy control change buried in the settings somewhere), trying to repeat segments of training (pardon the pun) that take me back to after I got the "complete" notification from that task so it ends immediately (not allowing me to redo the task) topped off with really unconvincing audio- Go into free roam and try and choose my power setup but it's all just icons and names with abbreviated company names- no image representing the livery... Just this huge list of model numbers and abbreviations. C'mon. I'm getting cold feet- again. I would REALLY like to get back into my love affair with trains- but as I approach my 2 hours and an opportunity to refund (I leaned in on almost all US heavy haul routes- except that latest High Iron one that looked like it's underperformed) I'm trying to figure out if it's a fool's errand. My only consolation is that I got almost all for 40-60% off or so. DTG just had their transparent "come to jesus" moment that highlighted a bunch of stuff we already knew about their business practices- and I really, really would like to believe they mean it this time (again). How are guys feeling about TSW6 so far? Are you confident in the future or are you reaching for the ejection handle?
Can ger this right? one of the reasons you took to writing about wanting a refund is because of the walk/run...? Really? Or because you successfully completed training modules, you feel you need a refund?
Well, I don't really see a clear future for TSW in general. It's more of the same with the anual releases, expensive DLC, tons of bugs which are not going to be solved. UE engine is not the best engine anyway and UE5 is even worse in terms of performance. On consoles there are blurry textures since TSW5 release, crashes to desktop and unstable performance. DTG is stating, they are on it, but releasing a new version with the same issues instead of fixing issues and then release a new version, don't give me much hope. Then I even haven't talked about the many issues on routes like graphical or gameplay ones, not fixed for years. Those bugs are reported here on the forums or by bug reports, but they don't take care of them. I quite like to drive trains in TSW, it's releaxing and fun, but on the other hand it also can become boring without new routes to explore. When routes are more and more of the same, it will become harder to keep enjoying the game long term.
Yeah I get that. It's something I plan on doing occasionally but I think what's got me burned isn't so much about the content- looking through the various DLC there is lots out there for many tastes... maybe that's part of the problem. A lack of monitored consistency with the 3rd parties. If they're going to start holding themselves accountable and value the player instead of just pointing at laughing at the suckers and our love for trains maybe something will change. Doesn't matter now anyway- I had the game up and needed to step away... took longer than I expected and left the game on so my 2 hours is up. So make hay I guess. I guess my question is: Will the sun shine.
Again, can i get this right? You say the games boring because its more of the same? Its trains, doing standard train things. What are you looking for? for trains to do a barrel loop? The DLC are not expensive, there are sales every six weeks, sometimes up to 90% off, or even free (like the Spirit of Steam). And there is a new route or add-on almost every month or so and you will have just seen the December roadmap, right? Its just a really, really weird critique
It's your opinion my critique is weird, well my critique is just my opinion. I mostly play the German routes, lot of them are just the same routes around big cities with (kind of) the same DB rolling stock. There is a lack of other (private) operators, which are very common nowaday on the German tracks. Also mostly missing are scenic German routes and routes on small branch lines aka Niddertalbahn. The UK routes are also mostly focussed on the main lines, but atleast there are a lot more operators in game. About the scenic routes, Bernina line is a good example of a very scenic route where you can really enjoy the views. I want more this kind of routes, instead of the urban big city ones. I'm playing on Xbox and the amount of sales is not that great, but I have to admit the last 2 sales where quite ok and I picked up several routes. My complain about the price of the DLC is also related to the amount of bugs, the quality of the content does not match the price in my opinion.
Well there is certainly a great deal of repetition with the German routes. I like the look of the 140 but not paying £30 for another cyclostyled double track electric inter urban line and a short one at that. The UK fares slightly better particularly now we are seeing the 3P’s getting on board who seem to have broken the cycle of 15 mile modern electric bus stop routes. Birmingham to Crewe, for all its flaws is actually very good in that it caters both for the bus stop brigade and those who want a longer, faster run. Even DTG with Riviera Line broke their own mould, just a shame they gave it such an ultra modern setting. North America remains a weak spot though. I did not engage with Morristown at all and found it rather boring. Probably because, as with Germany, it needs something to break the cycle of North East or Californian commuter routes. While the forthcoming HIS freight line probably needs approaching with caution, at least it will be something different.
Riviera Line is one of the routes I will pick-up some day, as it's looks scenic and I like the look of GWR trains in General. Downside of a lot of UK trains are the small cab windows, blocking the view. Last sale I bought BCC, I actually like this route as the city is in the middle of the route. So you drive from the country side trough the city back to the country side and the view on the country side and the canal are not to bad. Glossip line is another one I like to pick-up some day. I'm also in interested in the Czech route, different country and from what I've seen, the route is quite scenic. Also the Portugese route can be interesting. I'm really hoping we get the Stubaitalbahn from Innsbruck to Fulpmes in the future. Yes it's a tram nowadays, but the route itself is stunning. I really like to see more this kind of routes.
I think you'd like Semmeringbahn and Mittenwaldbahn. Twisty single-track alpine routes with wonderful views. Mittenwald also has the fabulous old OBB 1020 (ex- German E 94)
Thanks for the suggestions, Semmeringbahn is for sure a route I like, but I tried this one already and refunded it, because of performance. The trees around the the route made it pretty laggy, not sure if this is fixed in the meantime. From what I read here on the forums, Mittenwaldbahn also has issues so I'm not sure if I wanna try this route.
Voralberg can be quite nice indeed with the lake and distance mountains. Last night I had a drive on the most underrated route in game, S-bahn Zentralschweiz, I still like this route and train, quite scenic and some variation.
