I was browsing the dovetail videos and found a 3 years old stram about the editor that should be launched for tsw..." Almost with no differences with the one used on internal by DTG" What happened ??
Multiple things, mostly licensing. As I understand it, the TSW editor is basically the Unreal Engine editor but modified to suit DTG. Epic seemingly aren't happy with Dovetail releasing that publically. It is available to anyone taken onto the 3rd party programme.
Oh, thanks. That means its definitl'y unavailable for common people. It would have been a powerful tool for creating the mods we would all like.
yup and also since the game is on console the editor won't be supportive. so tsw2 is extremely limited on world routes. i was hoping to make cp rail mountain pass line but not anymore.
Well we are still supposed to be getting Scenario Editor 2.0 which I hope will give greater scope than the current one. Maybe a consist editor and the ability to construct a more expansive timetable which will allow us to move about and change trains as now in the main game.
Yep, as above The Editor was a pipedream back in the days when Matt would have streams saying things are being worked on that we would never see, but I believe that stream was around the same time as DTG decided that all platforms should work essentially the same with only OS and hardware limitations being the difference (so PC gets mods and raildriver because it can support those things, console OSes cannot) In essence it was something they hoped to do, before choosing a different path (and maybe having a mod hammer dropped on them by Epic)
If you search the forums you'll find someone has released an unofficial editor along with some instructions on how it works and what it can do. It's worth looking through that thread if you are interested in learning more.
That's the question we should all be asking right now. Wouldn't that be the solution to some of problems?
And the start of a lot more problems unfortunately. What happens when someone finds a fault. the first thing DTG would demand is a "virgin install", ie remove all mods? How do consoles get mods? Who's responsible for IP compliance? How is version control managed, ie if DTG update to TSW3.1, how are the mods managed? It's not just as simple as "throw an editor out there". Works on PC only games because there's no overarching PC license control (there is for MS and PS stores). You can essentially do what you like to your file structure and nobody is required to ensure it works. On console there is
Though being a dedicated TSC player and not interested in the shiny but limited TSW, I want to leave a comment on this about things that came to my mind after reading all the TSW3 related threads. This is exactly TSW's main problem. Due to the delayed release of development tools, TSW's content will be very limited and I do not see any change coming. People want fixes for their old TSW2 content, and will want fixes for TSW3 when TSW4 is out. The big difference to TSC is that shortly after Kuju released Rail Simulator, all development tools were available for everyone. They did not have licensing troubles because the game engine and editors were their own development. Soon 3rd party routes were available and content was growing almost exponentially - I doubt there will ever be another simulation offering this amount of content. (This is often wrongfully critizised as being the most expensive game ever, well but if you buy a model railway you'll surely not be considering the cumulated price of all HO scale stock available worldwide to be a rip off). And powerful editors enabled the community to fix issues for themselves - PZB magnets missing? Fire up the editor and place them. Upload your route update to workshop, everything is very easy and so the community did a lot of work for TSC that is not possible with TSW at the moment, for example there's a great Cajon Pass update adding the Palmdale Cutoff and modernizing track layouts made by a user - more than 4 years after TSW's initial release, DTG is basically left alone with all the issues (and have to blame themselves for that) and have to prioritize things which means some bugs will never be fixed. So I have the feeling one should get acquainted with the fact that TSW is more of an Arcade style experience, collect your achievements and wait for the next release. Not really a platform to start your collection like TSC is.
I think some kind of editor would be desirable. A more power scenario editor at least so you can make your own detailed scenarios, the current scenario planner is fairly useless in my opinion and not on a par with TSC's scenario editor which has plenty of its own flaws. I can understand DTG not wanting "amateurs" to mess around altering things themselves I suppose and I can imagine there are plenty out there who would edit a route, the route then not work and they would then throw their toys out of the plan blaming DTG for it! It is a shame we are unlikely to see the like of some of the wonderful freeware creations in TSC, in TSW.
Exactly that's the big mistake. If you check out the Workshop - it's the "amateurs" that made content that's waaay better than some DLC. Because of two reasons: No release deadline, and real self-driven engagement and enthusiasm, no financial interest.
I agree some of the best routes are the freeware routes. I don't necessarily agree with the sentiment but I can understand DTG's stance, however they just need to make it clear that if you mess around and your game doesn't work then it is down to you. However I believe there were also technical reasons why an editor cannot be supplied to the general userbase.
And a whole lot of dross, badly made routes and assets, orphaned scenarios (yes there's also an editor for that but still) and even the best 3rd party routes have bugs and issues that they won't fix (such as speed limits missing outside Coventry on ATS WCML route, signals missing from branch lines (same route), loops and sidings marked as one way (previous Glasgow region route (no longer available to my knowledge)) etc etc It's also a minefield getting all the requirements together, so look at the AP system. Every time they release a new route they make all previous routes require the content from that route. Want that in TSW? I personally prefer the fact that content works (in a given context of work) out of the box without needing a spreadsheet to track my owned assets and therefore what I can play as the author intended (ie without needing to swap out assets in aforementioned scenario tool and then worry about interactions, "ghosting" assets etc) So yes an editor would be helpful in some ways, and a complete nightmare in others, as is the case with TSC
There’s pros and cons. TBH I gave up on building routes in TSC a long time ago as I felt uncomfortable sending people on an asset chase not to mention over the years some of the referenced material gets withdrawn or obsoleted by DTG themselves. I recently downloaded a couple of freeware routes via SSS, one the Wycombe route requires a shedload of DLC to run the supplied scenarios and I’m just too old and impatient these days to go through with RW Tools and sub the missing items. Another route from Southampton to Weymouth required a cartload of DLC, which I now have, but in addition numerous items from UKTS - which teeters on the edge of extinction these days - and numerous other sites, some of which had extremely dodgy download paths (trick advertising etc.). So in the end I again CBA and deleted the route.
Yes but you don't have to use the freeware content and other payware if you don't want to. There are plenty of self contained DLC for TSC on steam for those who want that simplicity. Freeware in TSC has given so many new experiences that wouldn't have been available if I just stuck to steam content. Steam era routes like Southampton to Weymouth, The Wycombe route, Ruabon to Barmouth, the Speyside line, the Withered arm, Exeter to Plymouth on both the SR and GWR about to be released, Salisbury to Exeter being constructed. BR period routes like the South Lancs and Cheshire network, North East rails. All the modern period routes on ATS like the WCML and I could name so much more. Will we ever get anything like this in TSW and if we do will we have the stock to run on these routes? Surely it is better to have the variety if you want it and if you want to keep things simple then you can!
Best of both worlds would be companies that make such things signing up to the 3rd party program (or some form of assisted constructor program) so quality and publishing assistance can be given. Look at IoW... Rivet aren't new to train sim dev but the crashed and burned on IoW because they worked alone. Not to say similar would happen in all cases, but certainly it would in some cases. The advantage TSC has over TSW is that it's not just routes and locos which have vast asset libraries. There are probably millions of scenic, clutter and other lineside assets online that people can use to make varied and in depth routes, which TSW definitely DOESN'T have right now (though I assume UE would have an asset library in place)
I think the Wycombe route only uses WSR, Woodhead, Falmouth, IOW and Riviera in the 50's. I know that is five routes but they would be cheap in the regular steam sales which take place. Southampton to Weymouth admittedly was a lot of hard work downloading all the stuff but it looks good. Golden Age simulations are building Bournemouth to Weymouth with the Swanage branch which from what I can tell will have more assets bundled with it and won't require such a chase around for assets.
Whats to stop a few Modders on here banding together and joining the 3rd party creators club? Or is it a members only club?
Absolutely nothing. A group of modders forming a micro-studio - or even a one person studio - could work well in as a third party team.
There's some users on the forum that have made some nice finishing touches to existing routes. I'm guessing you would need experience in asset modelling/building or maybe dtg offer some sort of asset packs to third party creators. I wonder if anyone from dtg would care to comment on the subject?
You read my mind! That's good to know. Thank you. Is there somewhere we could find more information on this please?
Good to hear this but.... I wrote 2 email when TSW2 went out but and I never received a reply.... Can you give us more information about this ?
