Train Sim World 7 - Discussion

If the new lighting balance gets rid of the washed out daytime a bit, I'll be happy.

If Medway Valley is the baseline I'm not too worried about the lighting affecting performance. It runs fine on my borderline spec laptop.

 

Maybe the people that dislike the new lighting option, have been forced to live with a modern TV in "vivid" mode.
But at least we now have a choice.

Anybody that has run the lighting mod before knows that the lighting changes alone have minimal impact on FPS.

 

I think it's crazy to judge lighting and colors right now. Personally, I'm watching all this on my phone screen. I'll be playing on my computer screen. We'll see how it looks on the computer in a few weeks. Finally, the starter package allows you to evaluate everything for free, without registering or sending an SMS to a number to gain access. Then you can draw real conclusions.

 

Well when it comes to DTG's official shots there's also shadows not previously present...

 

DLSS being added, assuming it isn't borked straight out of the box like in SimRail, will finally give TSW good antialiasing. That said, I imagine DTG will use frame generation as a free pass for the game's bad optimisation. I'm not opposed to frame generation, I use it a lot in games that have it and I'll probably use it in TSW if it has an Auto setting, but it needs a consistent frame rate. TSW has never had a consistent frame rate in its history. I'm on a PC that's completely overpowered for TSW and even I can't get it to a stable framerate.

I'm really not convinced by the new lighting though. I'll have to wait to see it myself (assuming it isn't only available on a per-route basis), but it looks like a case of one step forward, two steps back. The sunlight might be less blinding, but the game's colour accuracy is still way off and the underlying lighting technology will still be dated by 2017 standards. I know I bring it up all the time, but I still think the AP Weather EP 2.0 has better colour accuracy even though TS has even more basic lighting than TSW.

Before anyone asks, I play both games on an IPS HDR display that isn't spot on but still has very good colour accuracy. And I'm writing this and looking at the screenshots on a MacBook Pro which has very, very good colour accuracy.

 

I never understand people who call them overpriced. €50 for €105 / €80 for €155 worth of content is insanely good value. (pricing the routes at €36 and the locos at €16)

 

I’m hoping live streams in the future do not use the epic graphic setting and the enhanced lighting just because it’s a small number of players who will be playing with those settings and the majority of players would want to see the game more like they will actually see it. They are not available on consoles at all. At present the live streams of content give everyone a fair idea of how things are and I’d expect that to continue. Whether it will is another matter.

 

TSW has slowly been increasing in price. TSW Rush hour pack (bundle of 3 new routes in 2021) was $30, then TSW 3 standard pack was $40, and now we're at $50. Individual route DLCs used to be $30. Then they became $40, and now some are $45. I get inflation, rising costs, and everything, but a 50-60% increase seems a bit much especially when more and more routes are reusing rolling stock while early TSW content included all new trains in every release. For example, Great Western Express included three new trains in the base pack and was only $30. That will never happen again.

 

Based on my recent experience in Nuremberg, it certainly feels like the standards are high. The S-Bahn, however, lacks a certain vibrancy—though perhaps that is simply because I have become so accustomed to the announcements.

 

You could always slap a reshade on top of it to correct the colours to your liking. I'm doing it since TSW 4

 

I didn't expect so many changes. I can't wait to check it all out. I hope my PC will be powerful enough for epic settings at 35-40fps. (Ryzen 7 3700x and 4070 Ti)

I think the UK route will be fun, the 331 and 333 look promising.

For the German route, this new 440 also look promising, but when I see the previous German EMUs, I am afraid, especially regarding the sound. The 442, 422, 423, and even the recent 430 have terrible motor sounds. The 425 has better audio, despite a weird sound between 40 and 50 km/h. I also dislike the wheel-friction noises on curves and the track-switching sounds on all these EMUs. I want to feel the weight of the train, like when I drive the Class 323. The sounds are definitely better on the UK locomotives.

The live weather feature is great. The field-of-view adjustment is nice, but for me, one important element is still missing: the ability to adjust the driver's camera position. I hope to see this soon, because I really don't like the default viewpoint for some locomotives.

I can't wait TSW7, and Lisbon-Setubal too...

 

No, they should use it. Why introduce a new game feature and not show it?

Why are COD Modern Warfare 4's trailers not recorded on the Switch 2? Why record gameplay on a high-end gaming PC when you could record it on an iMac G4? Why advertise a Michelin-star restaurant when you could advertise the full English breakfast on Irish Ferries?

Something about turds and polish comes to mind...

 

I like how they switched from measuring route lengths in miles to kilometers during the stream. Because in kilometers there are a bigger number.
And as always: Germany - 100 km, US - 50 km.

And they showed those screenshots again with the new lighting. Where "before" we see green trees, and "after" the trees turn gray. Is the loss of color count as "improvement"?

 

The trees didn't turn gray, the lighting is just more realistic. Sometimes realism can make graphics look worse because real life doesn’t involve over saturated eye candy colors.

 

Ammm... WHAT?
91 116 61 - Before.
72 75 68 - After.
The same pixel on the tree. Which one is look like a leaf to you?
What eye candy are you laking about, if the second color is definitely gray?

I even specifically asked the AI in case I'm suddenly became colorblind

 

Somehow the "improved" Lighting looks like, if TSW 7 got cataracts or something. The improved Shadows and the Light Rays might be nice but I´d like some colors to go along with it and a cooler Skylight, it looks a bit too brownish-grey for me. Maybe it looks better if you actually experience it in-game, I don´t know.

 

It’s a shame it won’t be on GeForce Now at launch. I would be interested to gauge how many play it through GeForce. I for one, thinks it runs really well and I am keeping my fingers crossed it comes on there soon!

 

All I can say is that I'm glad that the 'improved' lighting can be toggled on and off. I've experienced this lighting on Medway Valley and I'm not a big fan of it at all. Long story short I first expressed concerns with this lighting for overexposure when I first played Medway Valley and received an overall negative reception. I think the screenshots speak for themselves.

 

Um, you do realize Miami is some 1800 km from New York, roughly the distance from London to Gibraltar?

 

I completely agree. The mod has the sky and sun intensity parameter up too high and the ExposureBias parameter down too low(IIRC).
I also experimented with these parameters, and with strong deviations from vanilla values terrible color distortion and insane scene contrast appears. With small changes you can achieve a slight improvement in the overall picture, but when you change those parameters multiple times, you only get an unrealistic scene from Fallout 3.

Do you realize that I was talking about Bergen Line?

 

I can only assume the original post there was in response to the "Take a Ticket" feature's only US route being another NJT one?

[EDIT]

I did!

 

I'm a bit miffed that the enhanced visuals are only available for the Epic version, despite the fact that Steam players outnumber Epic players by about 4:1

 

Do you realize That the "Epic" is the name of settings, not the Epic Store. It's PC only - yes, but no the Epic Games exclusive.

 

I think you're confused. The enhanced visuals are available on Steam. The name of the preset in settings is called "Epic" but that has no relation to the Epic games store.

 

Fantastic technical details on the issue, looking back on it I can completely see the exposure and sun intensity issues you point out. Honestly that lighting just ruins everything on Medway Valley for me not helped by the PS5 optimisation issues relating to the 375 sounds and missing dispatcher mode. I honestly hope the option to turn off that lighting will work on Medway Valley in TSW 7. If so maybe then I'll give that route a second chance.

 

All these modern releases are fantastic but going to make me a very broke man! I'm really liking the way that developers are going about things these days as they start joining many of the DLC to allow a player such a greater run in and around the same era of scenery!

 

After playing TSW2 through 5 on Xbox I switched to PC and haven't touched TSW for 2 years. This summer I got TSW6 special edition for a fair price, bought me a couple of additional DLCs (5 I think) and I'm happy with what I got.

For those who complain about TSW7 or redownloading or whatnot: It's not mandatory to move to TSW7. I will happily stick with TSW6. Works just fine for me. DX12? Already got it with engine.ini tweaks on top. Live weather? Got that one as well + historic weather.

Btw. a week or two back I was wondering what routes can be included with the special (now they call it ultimate) edition of TSW7. Throughout TSW6 life, only two routes were released by DTG. I was suspecting there will be an issue with including third party routes bundled. Who's gonna buy the ultimate edition? Only someone who skipped TSW6.

 

I think the lighting works great for certain conditions such as sunrise/sunset, but I agree the mist during a warm sunny day is quite off putting tbh. I hope this has been toned down if they are implementing something similar for TSW7

 

I think even for these golden hour conditions, the older lighting looks better. On the before and after shot of the Azuma at sunset the 'improved' lighting took a beautiful sunset and transformed it into a dull cloudy night.

 

UK content is looking red-hot this time like the idea of freight overhaul shame South West trains was overlooked again.

Good to see the East-coast main-line is getting the respect it deserves .But the whole well done DTG on the seventh instalment of TSW

 

Here are my ratings of all the content that was announced on a 1-10 Scale

A&W Lines - 8/10
An entire network with several termini and two modern EMUs? Yes please! however it's not a very flagship-worthy route IMO and putting the 333 behind deluxe was an interesting choice! So excited for it though!

Würzburg-Nürnburg (ICE4) - 6-10 (8/10)
Not the most exciting route and I don't imagine it's crazy busy. I am really excited for the ICE4 though.

Tri-Rail - 7-10
A new American region with really nice trains and liveries, just a bit linear and repetitive but excited nonetheless

B'ham - Shrewsbury - 7/10
Was thinking AABS would switch region but I do love a modern DMU route, especially with the 170. and of course AABS always cooks

Atlantic Coast - 4/10
Not my style of route at all but seems like a nice sale purchase

ÖBB Railjet - 9/10
I have been waiting for this and some better timetables for the austrian routes especially Voralberg. Can't wait! Bit afraid of the price tag however.

Bergen Line - 7-10
I can see a similarity with MBTA Commuter, I did really like Morristown so I welcome more NJT and new stock too!

NTP Remaster - 7/10
Though im usually never a fan of dated content, this route always satisfied me. Looking forward to TSW7 Standards.

Amsterdam - Den Haag - 9.5/10
I adored Zwolle-Groningen but it got repetitive and it wasn't the most interesting. So excited for a proper Sprinter and Intercity distinction and busy traffic, and new stock too!

ECMLS - 9/10
I really liked MAC and appreciated all.of the Updates ATS did. I have faith in them to do one of my top wanted routes.

GWR 387 - 6-10
While an updated 387 is something I've wanted for a long time, I really don't see any value in this at the minute, maybe an updated GX one for BML or a GN one for ECML or even an Electrified version of GWE but yeah.

Northern Class 158 - 5/10
Another 158, and I don't really see the value it's seems as though its only really for one route, two if you count MAC and some very sparse gameplay.

466 + Sheerness - 3/10
Not my thing at all and unlike others, the 466 is just a two-car 465 to me and the sheerness branch on its own simply doesn't suit me. Not say it won't be up to High standards, just not my thing. Cant wait to see what firefly do next.

DBBR 212 - 1/10
No interest in freight or shunting at all for me

Romanian Route - 7/10
Love new countries and its old Electric locomotives. Just a bigger fan of city stuff.

There's my 2 cents

 

Great list but I honestly think the Northern 158 will add more variety than the ScotRail one. As a local from Yorkshire, most services around Leeds are diesel services and Leeds is going to be unrealisticly quiet without these services. The 158 will partially address this issue but I fear that without TPE 185/802 services, Leeds will be unrealisticly quiet. A&W does at least have end to end services unlike Cardiff but I do fear that a unrealisticly quiet Leeds could make this another wannabe Cathcart Circle. Nevertheless, I have heard rumours that this 158 will layer onto other routes and one Northern diesel train is better than none at all so I do actually have high hopes for this one.

 

That Northern 158 can theoretically layer into Hadfield & Glossop, and Manchester Airport Commuter. Heck you could timetable some in to run all stations down to Alderley Edge, the Airport or up to Glossop. It could probably layer into a lot more than that. I know they (Northern) run out of Nottingham on the East Midlands line, and a couple of stations on the section of East Coast Mainline we've got.

 

I get the fear of a quiet Leeds without TPE or other Diesels but they don't yet have the Licenses or Routes for TPE or further NT 170 + 195s.. (Might need to look at a Mod TT with the TPE802 I have from my WCML2026TT and the NT170 + 150 Mods available)
Being they are expanding the Northern Rolling stock I take that as a good sign, and with a 331 inbound the costs to design a 195 have basically diminished. Lets see what comes with the season of Reveals later in the year and who knows we may get a new Northern Route or the TPE license to start adding a 185/802, but they aren't build train models just for AI, its not what DTG do. Only chance is an unbranded 802 in TPE colours for AI if they choose to go down that path similar to what GWR did etc.
One things for sure its going to be better then the Glossop release where Manchester Picc is a ghost town!

 

I suspect and I strongly believe it would be a good business case for DTG to do this to make the class 185 a deluxe loco add-on for a future TSW installment given how popular they are with rail enthusiasts and how highly requested the unit has been; subject to acquiring a TPE licence. Indeed I absolutely hate TPE as an operator but I absolutely love traveling on the class 185; they're absolutely fantastic regional express units! Hopefully we'll get either a modern day Northern Transpennine, the Hope Valley Line or another Leeds Network route from Leeds to York and Doncaster to Leeds/York to make use of them.

 

It wouldn't be realistic as most diesel trains in Manchester are class 150s, 156s or 195s. 158s are generally only used around by Northern in Yorkshire and the North East although some do reach Lancashire. Nonetheless a Northern class 158 would still be better than the unrealistic ScotRail 158 layer used on Manchester Airport Commuter.

Edit: I have heard a rumour that a modern day timetable for Preston to Carlisle could come with the Northern 158, a bit like a reversed version of Diesel Legends of the Great Western. As far as I know this has not been confirmed but it wouldn't work properly for the Pendolino without EPS.

 

I think a Modern NTP is out of the question unfortunately, DTG dont like doubling up the same area irrespective of era.. Hope Valley would be a great choice to Sheffield from Man Pic and hope they get to that first before a JT does so its in its current form and not the 80s..

With Leeds + Doncaster in modern times, a Leeds to Doncaster & Sheffield (the latter via Goldthorpe) and Doncaster to Sheffield would be a nice addition as it'll be LNER, NT, TPE, and XC operating, three we already have licenses for and traction in game, 195 from a 331 shell, and a Nice way to introduce the 185 if they can secure a TPE license

 

It is confirmed but Not fussed on that as Im on PC and already have that out with a modern 2026TT which includes a TPE reskin amongst other goodies along with a mod scenery tile to modern days with the new Morecambe station, but nice for the console players.. I do not believe they can change the track rule for the whole DLC as that means the 80s one changes to modern speeds also looking at screenshots it'll remain on the 80s scenery

 

I suspect if we're due to get a modern Northern Transpennine, it would probably be being developed by the third party doing the remaster rather than DTG themselves. I'd personally prefer the section from Doncaster to York rather than Sheffield to complete both the Leeds and York sections of the ECML.

 

That's annoying but at least us console players will get a chance to drive the Pendolino on Preston to Carlisle but it just won't feel right driving the Pendolino without EPS. That's a recurring issue with packs that place stock in the wrong era, it just feels wrong. Not including rail tours or the heritage stock on the WSR.

 

It is a shame that you cant enjoy the mods as there are some fantastic TTs out there that add variety and cover some missing reskins

 

I should briefly point out that the Class 212 is not—and was not— a shunting locomotive; back then, it was also used on main lines for both passenger and freight services. I assume the locomotive will be released as part of the new TSG route (which is set in the 1970s).

Today, many Class 212s are still in operation with private companies for freight and construction trains, as well as on heritage railways.

 

To me the Class 212 is one of the highlights of the forthcoming releases and would rate a 10/10 on my expectation score.

As regards the rest, well I have pretty much decided to consign the bundle routes to a 50% minimum off sale. Cold hard assessment of each one whether I would buy as a normal standalone DLC. The only waver I now have, believe it or not, is the German route and ICE4 which from the YT interview with Lukas summarised in another thread will be near Expert level quality. So 4/10 for Leeds Local, 3/10 for Miami, 6/10 for Nürnberg to Würzburg.
Bergen Line - 2/10. The only NE I now want to see in game is NYC Subway.
Atlantic Coast - 4/10. Wrong era for me.
Birmingham to Shrewsbury - 5/10. Comes up a bit short considering we already have Birmingham to Wolves, though the new 158 could be interesting.
ATS ECML - 3/10. Premise is good. Era is wrong. May be proved wrong but too many yellow flags from previous releases to approach with other than extreme caution.
Dutch route - 9/10 bring it on.
Romanian route - 8/10 also bring it on but caveat it is a new unproven developer (are they the people who did a lot of Romanian content for Trainz?).
Goes without saying Neckar 10/10 on the must buy list.

 

To be honest current xbox policy of DTG makes me not care anymore of newest iterations of TSW. Though deluxes are bargains considering three roads and two lockos. My current policy is just to buy previous or older DLCs which prices should go down, the newest dlc can wait another year or two. I still have 90% of TSW 6 DLCs on the wish list...

 

Another year of having to un-install and re-download everything allover again. Sort it out DTG, update the previous version of the game so we don't have to sit for ages waiting for things to re-install.

 

I bought the Deluxe edition; I’m happy with the new graphics—even if it’s just a slight improvement. I like this game, even though I do grumble about it sometimes. =)

 

Oh, I see now why the Tadami line was held back and delayed. So that it will be available only on TSW 7

I wonder what's new in TSW 7?

Would be nice to have character customisation, the drivers are old looking and really outdated
when you create your game profile

Anything Australian really would be nice, I know the story 'Licensing' really not an excuse anymore
you could simply make a DTG branding where logos are meant to be located on locomotives and rollingstock, this would allow the community to release reskins with proper branding "Wow, great idea, no licensing needed" problem solved.

Will there be a TSW 7 starter pack at launch ? Being FREE

 

CityRailVSet
Yes, the free starter pack will also be available for TSW 7, but it won’t be available to select on the respective platforms until 15 September.

 

Thanks mate, appreciate the information