Tadami Line - Q & A

Why has this route taken so long to develop?

Have you kept pace with changes from the start of development to current TSW version?

As an owner of the TSC version, I was not entirely happy with the quality of that product. The scenery was nice but the train in particular cabs was low resolution. The sounds and physics were quite poor and some of the scenarios couldn't be completed due to issues with stopping locations (none of which was ever fixed). Has this been thoroughly addressed for the TSW version?

All that dense foliage and scenery inevitably brings concerns about performance, particularly on consoles or lower spec PC's. What optimisation has been done to ensure this is not an issue?

As this is the developer's first foray into TSW, can DTG confirm if special attention has been given to oversight and the QA processes given the state several recent releases have shipped in?

Will the inevitable patches and fixes this route will need, be offered for TSW6 users as well as for TSW7 (or whatever we get in September) for those who choose not to upgrade, or will it be cut off?

 

A bit quiet in here, so a few more from me.

How easy will this route be for non Japanese speakers to understand and play, given very few people outside Japan can read Kanji which will be on all the controls and gauges? Can we expect full English localisation?

Can we run with ATS switched off?

Given the oops with the bridge plates on TVB, can DTG and the developer confirm every effort has been made to redact real world telephone numbers, particularly anything safety critical or confidential to the railway industry?

Why this route and not something more well known, one of the routes from Densha De Go, BVE or one of the Ongakukan “drive the video clip” titles (which are very good but take up inordinate amount of HD space and frustratingly limited)?

Has this route been done with approval and licensing from JR or is that only offered to Taito and Ongakukan (plus Kuju/MS in the past)?

What are your plans for TSW going forward? Could we see something like the superb Yamanote Line, Osaka Loop Line or Joetsu Shinkansen/Borders as a future route? As a huge fan and supporter of Densha de Go and BVE (especially the work of Mr Goku with the Iida Line and the two inter urban tram routes) back in the day, I would love to see more Japanese content.

 

Why are all screenshots and the coming soon video showing passengers either out of focus / blurry or standing back to the camera or being far away? Are they still being worked on? If so, will they be ready for the route preview or the release?

 

I don't think the use of ATS is mandatory on the part of the licensor, the only cases of mandatory safety systems we've had to date were in LIRR extended and NY-stamford

 

I was asking because in all the other Japanese sims I've played, it is. Even the new Running Train.

 

but if that were the case, they would have made it explicit in the launch article (I think)
and there's also the fact that the Kiha 40 has already been retired

 

With respect Pedro, the question is specifically aimed at DTG and UW. Could be they simply haven’t mentioned it. One of the slightly annoying aspects of Japanese train driving is the ATS bell sounding constantly once you pass the approach signal and come to a stand in the platform.

 

Will this route have a mastery? Since Thames Branches doesn't have one

 

Why does the paintwork on the trains look so matt and cartoon-like, there appears to be no shine and reflection?

 

Has the route been tested on console?

 

For people with questions here is the official manual provided by the developer:
https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.c...dc60918bb82fe46c5b08bfc68a71d/Manual_EN_2.pdf

 

Developers will complete the remaining line Tadami do to Koide Station?

 

Not completely retired. Kiha 40 is no longer used for regular passenger services by JR East and JR Hokkaido, but it's still being used for sightseeing and special excursion trains. There are also some non-JR companies who still use it in Japan, and some ex-JR ones have been exported to Thailand as well.

 

I have seen comments elsewhere that, based on the evidence from the preview streams, the distant scenery is quite poor with low quality 2D tree blocks poorly matched at the edges, more like Run 8 than what we would expect in TSW. Please say it isn’t so?

 

+1 yeah I have the same question its like the outer body surface of the Kiha 40 has a brushed metal finish with paint on top of it ...

 

Given the sheer amount of trees one would assume making them all 3D would kill performance. Hopefully they are blended so they are functionally not really noticeable.

 

It's a shame that some of the scenery doesn't really hit the mark, farmers fields randomly end underneath grass terrain paint? was that the best solution, right next to the track?

 

In principle I don’t disagree but it has to be done very carefully. Flagged as something to look out for during the stream, then.

 

Some of the LOD settings do appear to need tweaking, not sure why in 2026 we are seeing routes with near distant scenery that's not drawn in. Given this route was started probably 4 years ago it seems we might end up with some outdated standards.

 

Guys, this is the Q&A thread and not the discussion thread.

 

To be honest I haven’t seen much that is discussion. Most of the posts above, mine own included, are asking questions or raising valid concerns even if not suffixed with a question mark!

So in light of the pictures a couple of posts above, another question for UW and DTG can you put your hands on heart and honestly declare you feel this route is in a decent enough state to release for a £30 price tag?

 

Question: why is the scenery / terrain so empty in parts?
Didn't we learn from the excellent work from JT and AABS that lineside clutter, vegetation and cab view detail was important?

 

A post I've seen on your Facebook feed seems to indicate the stream will be just Matt and Harry, no-one from UW joining in. Is this correct and why so? Appreciate the possible language issues but I presume the UW developers have enough knowledge of English and what's being said to join in even if passively?

 

Hey Jan, would you consider answering questions regarding scenery issues / distant foliage / farm land border etc with integrity or would you ignore them ?

 

Thanks Jan, understood.

 

Will the DLC have the latest TSW6 features, or TSW4

 

The question on everyone’s lips then… Why was this pulled previously? Can we have an assurance the issue(s) have been resolved and the route is up to scratch for a full price release?

 

Well, I have a few questions :

1. Is there dynamic suspension on the Kiha 40 ?
   
2. What improvements/features have been added in terms of audio like is there passenger ambiance noises in the passenger cabin ?
3. Are there station announcements and are they in native Japanese language ?
4. Is there guard mode onboard the Kiha 40 ?

Thanks and regards .

 

Given that this Route was initially developed under TSW3 standards, can we have assurance that it has been developed to bring all the features that it is now being marketed as... a TSW7 product.

1: Does the route use the lastest TOD and Graphical Improvements.
2: Are TSR / Train Faults / Signal Delays in place.
3: Will safety systems be ON by default.

 

Just thought of another one. The TSC version had the oddity of the player having to switch points manually on sections of line supposedly under control of the signaller/despatcher. Will this still be a thing in the TSW version or will points on the main line under signal control be correctly handled?

 

Hello!
As it will be a TSW 7 DLC now, will there be train and station announcements?

 

Possibly answered already but how frequent is the timetable and will I actually see many other AI trains?
The tadami line is infrequent just like many other Japanese lines. If the AI services are limited, this route really does need to excel in visual representation of Japan, ideally with seasonal colouring of trees (sakura in spring etc) and obviously the water line problems that were highlighted before.