Reminds me of the new Fife timetable. Given to DTG who just sat on it for months and then released quietly.
Hi Everyone, Thanks for the continued interest. You're correct that there is a sizable service update for Cargo Line Nuclear. We submitted the final elements of this recently following internal and beta testing feedback and we've been in talks with DTG about release windows. It works a lot smoother logistically if we put all the improvements into one block and so it's been cooking a little longer than originally envisaged but will be worth the wait. DTG control the release scheduling, so as soon as we know more on that front we'll do our best to share it. Here is a reminder of the fixes for the update, and there are several more that we've added since this was posted: Cargo Line Vol. 5: Nuclear Feedback Thread
With respect, this could have been communicated a while ago. Especially when there were numerous remarks about it appearing to have been abandoned. Delay in release is one thing but delay in communicating why is something very different.
You'll need to insert the master key on the second locomotive I guess (if you don't want it to be just dead in tow), at least it works this way when you spawn an HST in free roam...
Until yesterday they had said nothing at all since release apart from the promise of a fix. No timeline. No updates and no explanation as to why it was released in a poor condition.
Here is my post history which includes communication about Cargo Line Vol.5 Nuclear support since release. https://forums.dovetailgames.com/search/146643058/ Until requirements are understood it would not be appropriate to discuss delivery estimates, but more importantly DTG are solely responsible for releases, and as is documented with the ScotRail 158 Fife Circle timetable, it can be many months between Skyhook completing the work and DTG releasing it. So we would never give a release estimation anyway.
I appreciate your position, but from the perspective of the customer, the reasons for issues with the 158 TT & now the fixes for this pack have really put me off Skyhook products again, this being after the PR disaster that MML was & how much the CL packs & your own interaction did to rectify that. I don’t know if you have any sway at all in the overall process but I have to believe you’re in a better position than we are to communicate that the update & content pipeline is defective. You’re giving us the reason for why the 158 Fife TT was the way it was, but honestly it’s just poor. Skyhook basically sold that pack on the back of the timetable to Fife Circle, which was only emboldened by the disappointment in the original timetable. It took way too long to arrive & when it did, it was worse than what we already had. Now with this Nuclear pack things are lagging behind yet again, if we have to wait so, so long for patches to arrive, which correct really visible issues, why am I bothering to pay full price for it? I may aswell just get it when it’s in a deep sale & closer to a fix - just like with the 158, could have had that way cheaper & got the timetable not long after. It really puts me off buying SHG packs at release, which is not something I want to do as you’re pretty instrumental in providing unique content. You personally are a standout reason that I stick with TSW overall, you put the passion into the game from a development standpoint & push home the little things that truly provide authenticity. Unfortunately though if the lines of the 158 & Class 20 pack are going to be the norm, I’m not seeing much point in being a customer, at least not within 12 months of the content release. Something really needs to change & all of what I’ve written doesn’t even broach the topic of why the content is releasing in a state that needs significant updates anyway.
I didn't purchase the class 20 pack due to amount of issues with it, however I did then purchase it when it was clear the updates were imminent. I regret that choice as we are now three months into the year and there's nothing. I wish I waited. Like you say, Skyhook had done a lot to rebuild their reputation and now that's being undone with the lacklustre 158 fife circle timetable and the delayed update to the Nuclear pack and virtually none existent communication for months. I won't be purchasing anything from Skyhook anymore until I know there are no issues or any issues have been resolved with an update.
To be fair to Lucas, there were posts on 24th Nov/11th Dec/Jan 13th with information. But then total radio silence, as we have all been saying!!
Adam, you said: ""Its probably safe to say we do not expect to release an update this side of Christmas due to the lead time DTG requires for such a release. We will however prepare an update and submit it to DTG this side of the holidays, for release at the earliest opportunity in the new year."" ""Thanks for all the great feedback since the release of Cargo Line Vol.5 Nuclear. We've been busy verifying and addressing concerns raised and can report that the following updates are with DTG for testing and release hopefully soon in the new year."" Then a month passed and in January the story changed to: ""So far the beta testers have not raised any concerns with the updates listed above. However, we're still working on resolving the missing HUD elements and the odd dipping behaviour when coupled to some rolling stock. Once we have solutions for those we'll signal to DTG we're ready for the patch to be put through the formal process."" Since January 13th no updates, until today, nearly 2 months on after concern from community members that things had gone quiet.. You DID give estimations for a patch update as being "soon in the New Year" for which (May/June??) the patch release date is certainly not. We know that DTG got lots of stick for sitting on the Fife 158 TT longer than they should have done, but this one is on Skyhook.
I completely agree with the points made above. I felt it was necessary to revive this thread after being forced to drive in pitch-black darkness because the headlights simply do not work in the current version of the DLC. Imagine buying a brand-new car where the windshield wipers don't work on any unit because the motors are defective from the factory. The tester notices this during pre-release trials, but since the car is scheduled for launch tomorrow, the decision is made: "No time to fix it, as long as the car moves, ship it." Now, every customer complains they can't see anything in the rain. The manufacturer promises a fix within a month, but five months pass and the car is still unusable in wet weather. Meanwhile, the factory has already released a new model, but this time the headlights and the horn don't work. The cycle just repeats. This is practically the same situation with most Train Sim World DLCs and the developers involved in general. We are paying full price for products with insufficient beta testing and promised updates that never arrive (the BR 147 being a prime example). My critique is aimed squarely at DTG (not necessarily the third-party devs). Taking four months, or even years, to release a patch, or promising an update and then going completely radio silent is unacceptable. On the official Discord, the "Patch Notes" channel is the perfect illustration of this: it remains deathly silent since january compared to the announcement channels for new content, which are hyperactive despite the fact that new DLCs will likely carry the same issues I’ve described. Ultimately, I am only repeating what the community has been saying since the Train Simulator 20xx era, but the frustration remains the same.
But *Your* saying may/June. Adam said "...soon in the new year" - no date, rough estimate "...Once we have solutions for those we'll signal to DTG we're ready for the patch to be put through the formal process." - Again, no date given just that DTG would be told it's good to go into the release cycle "...for release at the earliest opportunity in the new year." - No date, just that the earliest time it could be released it would. Devils advocate, no lies told and in fact I'd say that puts it squarely back in DTGs court. Why can't *THEY* hurry up and release the patches?
For me it’s simple. I don’t care if it’s on Skyhook or DTG that the proper fix hasn’t come yet. The fact is that it hasn’t. If it bothered Skyhook enough I’d hope they were onto DTG insisting it was released as it’s damaging their reputation. The other problem is why it was released in such a poor state to begin with. As we say all the time lately, why wasn’t this tested properly? In the end it will be DTG that pays the ultimate price because as has been said elsewhere may won’t flock to buy releases on release day or they’ll get them refunded when the bugs come to light. As for the nuclear 20s, I’m glad I bought the DLC but I wish I’d got it refunded. Instead I believe the update was imminent when it clearly wasn’t.
You are totally correct that "soon in the New Year" could be any time at all. BUT its still frustrating that the DLC released back in November and its now March. The patch log clearly shows alot of work has gone into the patch, which cannot be denied, but why so many bugs were present in the original release begs the question as to what went wrong with QC.
