Armstrong Powerhouse Is Working On A Class 700/707/717 Enhancement Pack

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Blazin, Feb 26, 2022.

  1. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    If you have not heard, Armstrong Powerhouse has been working on a new enhancement pack, which is for the Class 700/707/717. Here is what they have posted on their facebook page.
    Screenshot 2022-02-26 132855.png
    Screenshot 2022-02-26 132925.png
    If I see any more updates involving this enhancement pack I will post it on this thread.
     
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  2. bart2day

    bart2day Well-Known Member

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    This is excellent news. I have been particularly scathing on here about having to buy the AP 450 EP to make the DTG class 700 playable but looks I made the right decision to save my money and buy this instead.

    I am a bit concerned about the lack of functionality in the first screenshot. Are AP really going to release the EP with the GSMR and three TCMS screens on the left not working?
     
  3. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    Perhaps you are not aware of the term Work In Progress?
    AP are still working on it.
     
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  4. bart2day

    bart2day Well-Known Member

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    If that is the case shouldn't it have a 'WIP' somewhere in the corner of the screenshot? Nothing at all on there to indicate that.
     
  5. jrnyfan4life

    jrnyfan4life New Member

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    They've never done it.
     
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  6. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    I would think the text "From our forthcoming Class 700/707/717 Enhancement Pack." might have been a Clue
    Look for it on their store page and you won't find it as it is only on their Facebook Page.
     
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  7. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    Armstrong Powerhouse posted a video showcasing some of the new sounds for the Class 700/707/717.
    7eb6af7f59fe233c70a1509cea201280.png
    Here is the link to the video: https://fb.watch/bscEptoZGm/
     
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  8. TrainsAreBest

    TrainsAreBest Active Member

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    We don't know, but it's quite possible this functionality won't be provided.

    AP would be foolish releasing promotional pictures that were missing significant functionality they planned on including at release.

    I should set your expectations low on this one. I'm finding this increasingly necessary with AP.
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2022
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  9. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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  10. RizGE777

    RizGE777 Member

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    AP have confirmed on their Facebook page, that there will not be any GSM-R or TMS.

    "All new build models and complex digital interfaces (such as a TMS or GSM-R) within cabs are handled by third parties and is totally at their discretion. They have lives and priorities of their own away from Train Simulator so we are grateful to take their work when they can offer it but when they can't, we do the best we can under our own steam."
     
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  11. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    If there are no actual features and they demand anything more than 10 pounds for models only used as AI, that will probably be overpriced. I will keep an open mind, but this is looking like a cash grab hearing all these negative things after the big announcement.
     
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  12. RizGE777

    RizGE777 Member

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    I agree completely. They just need to keep it a fair price, then all will be good.
     
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  13. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    The Class 717 will not have a new cab, you can still drive it but it will use the regular Class 700 cab. The Class 717 will mainly be used for AI it seems.
    e72e0f0c22f1e679c34af0786ee9a36a.png
     
  14. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    Or you can just drive it with the 700 cab and wait for someone else to produce a 717, which will then get another 717 EP. :o
     
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  15. jamesthepershing

    jamesthepershing Active Member

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    Doubt that will happen for a very long time if it even happens.
     
  16. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    If DTG (hypothetically) put out a route with a 717 in, let's say, September (I know, unlikely), then in reality AP has data already and will probably try to snake oil an EP by December or January. They already showed they're willing to jump all over DTG's work if their userbase is upset about it.
     
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  17. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    The route the 717 runs ins the same as the 707 - ECML London to Peterborough
    I don't see DTG revisiting this route for a few changes -
    the Moorgate Branch is available separately as it the Hertford Loop

    The 707 turns off near Belle Isle to reach St Pancras and the Southern region.
    The 717 was built to replace the 313s on the Moorgate line which is two single track tunnels
     
  18. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    I was being hypothetical. I know the 700 goes to Cambridge, but I am aware a 707 runs from Waterloo as well. I didn't think the 717 was only the one place.
     
  19. andy.malcolm

    andy.malcolm Active Member

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    my emphasis:
    A hypothetical stick to bash AP with, seems all a bit pointless. Bash them for something real if deserved, but a non existent thing that hasn't happened appears somewhat petty.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2022
  20. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    It's just hypothetical, yes. And I doubt a 717 is on DTG's radar. Though there was a model for that on the same site, it would need its own work done to it in order to make it also usable, and I don't think DTG wants to repeat what happened with the 700.
     
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  21. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    Armstrong Powerhouse has posted a screenshot of their Class 700.
    7ca2fa7d64cd7185dbcc9fd63fb15978.png
     
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  22. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    Quite a few updates from yesterday and earlier today.
    - 2 New Screenshots of the Class 700
    - Images of 1 Livery for the Class 700 (Thameslink), 2 Liveries for the Class 707 (South West Trains and South Eastern) and 1 livery for the Class 717 (Great Northern)

    Here are the two screenshots.
    97e07d356437c57016dff2b820be289b.jpg
    2a9e563debbb3be0c9853afc8ae60953.png

    And here are the liveries! (Check the reply below this message to see the Class 717 in Great Northern Livery)

    275380440_5425388694155892_7417666335096517786_n.png
    275063434_5425388690822559_1816299133243329764_n.png
    274985684_5425388610822567_4361527808248163634_n.png
     
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  23. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    275235748_5425388687489226_7697110985158360113_n.png
     
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  24. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    Armstrong Powerhouse has uploaded a trailer of the Class 700/707/717 Enhancement Pack to YouTube!
    Here is the link:
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2022
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  25. Blazin

    Blazin Well-Known Member

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    The Enhancement Pack is now on Armstrong Powerhouse's website available for purchase! :D
     
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  26. dragoner

    dragoner Well-Known Member

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    Dissapointing tho.
     
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  27. hayward.john48

    hayward.john48 Well-Known Member

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    One s 2 ps
     
  28. dragoner

    dragoner Well-Known Member

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    What
     
  29. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    14.99?

    Cash grab. A lot of the things are already on the ATS patch. If this gets purchased, a poor business model is being validated. Sorry, can’t be happy about this one.
     
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  30. andy.malcolm

    andy.malcolm Active Member

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    Here's a longer look at it (not watched this but just saw it pop up in my subs)

     
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  31. bart2day

    bart2day Well-Known Member

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    Totally agree. Considering it doesn't have GSMR or TCMS and only four liveries it should be £9.99, £11.99 tops. Really taking the proverbial for that price, probably banking on the fact that people will pay because of how popular the 700 is as a unit.
     
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  32. dragoner

    dragoner Well-Known Member

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    Yeah this is not just cash-grab. It's also False advertising! This is NOWHERE close to be called as an 'enhancement'. The class 717 has been also falsely advertised.
     
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  33. dragoner

    dragoner Well-Known Member

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    You forgot the false advertising of class 717. Just WTF Armstrong Powerhouse?
     
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  34. AirbourneAlex

    AirbourneAlex Well-Known Member

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    I wish AP had just collaborated with DTG from the start and release it in one place with an acceptable level of quality, even if the price was slightly higher. I would like to give this a go but don't want to have to repurchase the Class 700 off steam then spend even more than that again to make it bearable to drive.
     
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  35. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    Then download the ATS enhancements. They are free. Frankly, if everyone insists on using that instead of the AP pack...wait, who are we kidding, of course the enablers who insist on having a class higher than everyone else are going to use nothing but AP models...
     
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  36. AirbourneAlex

    AirbourneAlex Well-Known Member

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    Doesn't that require the Class 444/450 EP? Again another thing I rather not have to buy to make something else work properly.
     
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  37. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    I already bought that because it was cheap enough. So not a big deal to me. But point taken.
     
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  38. jamesthepershing

    jamesthepershing Active Member

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    To be honest, the liveries, physics and some new features are worth the price. And, forgetting the cab, the 717 is actually a blast to take down to Moorgate, even if the front is a bit dodgy.
     
  39. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    So you are saying it's actually worth 15 pounds and actually better than the ATS enhancements?
     
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  40. Wivenswold

    Wivenswold Well-Known Member

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    You can spot people who aren't responsible for paying their electricity and gas bills. "AP shockingly pricing something that you can choose to not purchase at £15, what a scandal". Meanwhile my energy supplier bill has gone up £120 per month in a year, I have a disability that requires a warm house but I don't qualify for a discount. So perhaps a sense of proportion is required ladies and gents.

    If you're getting angry about an independent, tax-paying business man who probably only makes a modest living out of providing entertainment, you're really missing the bigger picture.
     
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  41. RizGE777

    RizGE777 Member

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    I agree. Realistically it is just a sound pack, nothing more. But a good sound pack.
     
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  42. RizGE777

    RizGE777 Member

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    I couldn`t put it any better myself. I totally agree.
     
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  43. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    Understandable, especially since our own groceries are also going up in price (and let's not talk about $50 for a HALF tank of gas). However, given our own budgets are also being stretched, a little give the other way helps as well. We have less money than we would if not for these other increased costs.
     
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  44. jamesthepershing

    jamesthepershing Active Member

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    The physics are miles better. And the sounds are miles ahead.
     
  45. 749006

    749006 Well-Known Member

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    I saved even more money by not buying the DTG Class 700 and not needing the AP or ATS Enhancements :)
     
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  46. Reef

    Reef Well-Known Member

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    Ditto.
     
  47. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    Touche. Same here.
     
  48. dragoner

    dragoner Well-Known Member

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    Doesn't excuse the price, lack of scripting and lack of features.
     
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  49. Cyclone

    Cyclone Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. It's pretty expensive for a sound pack. The Class 52 sound pack gives you more than this joke of an EP does.
     
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  50. dragoner

    dragoner Well-Known Member

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    AP should have counted on creating far more complicated trains when they were established and should have HIRED developers that are capable of doing it!
     
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