Midland Mainline - Skyhook Feedback

I'm pretty confident the community would welcome you on a live stream. They're actually fun to talk with Devs on.

 

heya, if you wander through my posts above, I have mentioned both of those in detail. Thank you for the support, I really want us to be a part of this community.

 

Hi Jane, welcome to the nuthou-...I mean community.

 

This is like the X-Files... Mulder, "I want to believe...", Scully, "Realistically, no I don't".

 

I'm intrigued by the talk of this being a seed route. It prompts the following thoughts and questions:

It does not have seed route pricing.
It does not come with any suggestion that any future extensions locos etc would be free to the owner of this DLC.
It does not come with vouchers giving you discounts on future, related, paid DLC.

If this is the seed route, and extensions are added north and south, does it mean you will need this route to use either or both extensions? or would all related extensions also operate on their own?

If this is the seed route, will each route have its own timetable and one combined/merged timetable for the whole network? If so then is the timetable here the merged one or the stand-alone one?

How much of the above has actively been considered, both by Skyhook and DTG? Who is going to own the network or could different parts of it be made by different dev teams? Will the hooks work for any developer or only for Skyhook? Has Skyhook now "bagged" the MML?

The risk is, as discussed and refuted earlier, that these are nice ideas that cost nothing but also mean nothing concrete, whilst they allow a thin timetable and limited route to be issued at full price.

Answers to the above would help to establish that a clear policy exists (and DTG are either the originator of it or have fully approved it) of having seed routes that will be built out into fuller networks (which would be VERY welcome) and that policy is being enacted.

If this is why until now we haven't seen WCML/ECML/MML then absolutely, this is the way forward. Build them as networks with multiple DLC working together to build out something amazing.

But I would have expected a little more fanfare about it with something verging on the official by now as it would be a pretty fundamental shift and something that would be being hailed as a breakthrough.

 

Another thing DTG need to get real if they bothered paying attention then they would be properly across forums and wake up to fact midland mainline has problems on all platforms not just PlayStation as various people including on steam had issues or is this just Alex deciding only PlayStation worth mentioning I’ve reported issues myself but it’s patently clear from Alex’s earlier post they haven’t done Jack about anyone else other than precious PlayStation players which again is obvious not only when other post’s ignored but when DTG cosy up to and arse lick the same people time and again particularly British ace who they think sun shines out backside get a grip DTG and realise tsw3 exists outside PlayStation and properly read though technical reports and you’ll plainly see it’s NOT just PlayStation

 

I have one Question for this
Why did you guys choose This Section? I was Hoping for The Section Between London St Pancras- Bedford &Corby

 

Jane mentioned earlier that the timetable is being looked at to make it busier.

 

I've had one issue so far which is well documented, and that is somebody standing behind the drivers door and therefore making it impossible to enter/exit the cab, other than that the sou ds are pretty good. I'm not a train driver but apparently the 158 sounds pretty spot on and as for the HST, I LOVE the sound of that thing, so much better than the class 43 on GWR imho, it's a credible effort tbf and if you guys follow up on your promises then this should work out well, please also consider extending the route, in my opinion one thing TSW3 needs is for devs to add 'networks' to their routes, so for example in this case routes that also share derby/Nottingham/Leicester hubs. one of my favourite routes is BCC and there's so much potential there for making a network.

 

I have only just joined Skyhook, so this was well in development as I joined. I will ask as to why this specific part of the route was chosen and let you know. I do personally feel as a T shaped route it adds a lot of interest.

 

You say no issue how about in mml hst fact no option to sit down as passenger?

 

There are some interesting points here and I appreciate them. I have mentioned some of these things up thread. However, I cannot get in to future and current commercial decisions and company policy. It is not my area of responsibility or expertise so can only talk technical and product issues that is within my remit. I don't want to inadvertently mislead or put words in the mouth of our commercial team. I can really only speak to what I know and not commercial or marketing etc. It would not be fair to you or them.

 

alr cool

 

hey Andy, we put enormous effort in to sounds and I am glad it paid off. It was something we knew that people are rightly passionate about. I think the sound team did a fabulous job, both from Skyhook and DTG on this.

Yep, the unruly passenger blocking the cab is known to us and we are on the case!

 

Hi Jane and thanks for being so open and honest. I came here to have a mini rant about the route but you have taken all the wind out of my sails, I am already confident that the issues will be fixed. I have only one thing to ask now and sorry if it was mentioned above but are there plans for the 158 to be available to other routes like west Cornwall, it would be lovely on the st Ives branch!

 

heya, I will ask for you.

 

I never said there was no issue.

 

Your 158 is too small ..?

 

Also had the not quite awake scenario crash to desktop, in addition no passengers on the train at all

 

Good afternoon Jane let tell you about the issues I have found so far.

Large non paintable area on the HST power car at the front end in the livery Designer
Turbos don't spool up gradually in notch 5
All coaches are coach A
Intoterior is far too bright inside on the Mk3s
You can't uncouple the HST power from car from the MK3s
coupler bar hatch doesn't open

No fencing present at Derby Station platforms 2 to 7 both North and South ends

Power cars have the same number
Random signal box on the pilot line into Etches Park
1 carriage 158 on Etches Park
Old Derby round house missing on the pride Park side of the station

Platform 2 at Derby waiting room is enterble at 2 ends
Stairs at Platform 6 and 7 don't have blue handrails

Ticket machines on the platforms don't exist
Pride Park exit isn't there
Maint Entrance at Derby is no where near to be found instead it's just a brick wall.
No metal cable covers between platform 2 and 1
No handrails for the under pass to platforms 2 to 6 and the arrows on the floor don't exist there and it's Just a streight not a zig zag

No HST stop boards present at Derby Nottingham or Leicester

No direction signs present to other platforms and no direction to the female and gentleman toilets on all platforms
Passenger Lights aren't turned on when in daytime on the Mk3 they are on in real life
No weathering on the HSTs in real life there not clean and shiny

Doors opening the wrong side doors in scenario planner

Road bridge to the north of Derby station is only a single not 2 seperate ones and has red lamposts on the top

Posters don't exist on the bridge at Derby Station

No working GSMR on the HST

I hope to these issues addressed swiftly and promptly.

 

The 158 also seems to be missing couplings between carriages and the gangways are not animated

 

Im going to go out on a limb here

Skyhook will be the first Dev to have created a modular route. There's only so much expanding you can do with new loco stock.

Sussing out a modular route expansion before dtg with a working integrated timetable that can be built successfully like lego is the holy grail of TSW

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/route-mergers-in-2022-lets-build-a-network….50511/

 

I've a feeling this may be difficult to solve, the permanent AWS magnets are probably active both directions as in TSC?..... Hopefully not....[ Edit, maybe there were unidirectional, it;s been a while! ]

What is more irritating for me is that approach control is implemented properly in some parts but not others. We were spoilt with the accuracy of app control signalling for Brum + your timing mod.

 

So then.... jane-skyhook,
I would like to know how and why these things here are builded as they builded in the DLC - I would like to understand this:

At first picture you can see a platform (that one on the other track has same problem) are not parallel, that in a kind that a trains runs into the platform. May be not much but it is (for me) VERY disturbing.
At second picture you can see some concrete blocks at end of platform in Derby (i think it was in Derby). Same problem. Passing trains becomes cratched in an extreme way, not only cousing of missing gap between track and platform, also in hight!

I mean - someone must have seen that or not?

at Barrow-upon Soar


those here at Derby

 

I know Beeston should have them but it doesn't

 

You know if the commercial team from SHG came on here and said listen guys and gals, this is part one of a modular route and within 12-18 months we'll have one route extension and 2 loco DLC's, Id be onboard with that and it would sway me in regards to supporting them with a purchase now as I could excuse the lackluster timetable. 109 runs as part of my usual roster will take me about 6-9 months to complete and whilst Id love more AI to aid the immersion, ley way would be given with consideration that this is part 1 of the something I and many have been asking for for years.

 

Aren't they active in both directions in real life. On single track lines you have a blue cross after a magnet that doesn't apply in your direction, which suggests to me they don't know which way you're going and are active in either direction!

 

Should be possible as BCC has permanent uni directional (that's the word I couldn't think of earlier!) magnets on the branch for the Redditch fixed distant, I think. It's been a bit since I drove there.

 

Afternoon jane-skyhook. Good of you to come on here and collate feedback. Any chance the route can have another pass on it regarding foliage? Quite a few areas are devoid of bushes and trees which make the railway feel more enclosed. Here are some comparison pics for your consideration. As you can see there is quite a bit missing making the route look very plain:












There is also no cable trunking along any of the route and very few if any lineside cabinets, rails, fences, or general bits and bobs that are plonked along a railway line so hoping this can be looked at. The MML is my local so if you need any more reference material or help with anything please do reach out.

 

HappyBasher
Yeah, that would apply for simplified single lines, but this line is reversible and signalled fully. Just remembered it's like the the up/down reversible at South Croydon. That has unidirectional magnets with suppression.

 

-The cab light lamp in the HST does not shine itself.
-While on the move in the HST, if you bring up the TAB menu there is extra noise generated inside the cab (like outside rolling noise mixing in with the in-cab audio)

 

Ok thanks, and all this time I thought TSW was wrong not sounding AWS in reverse

 

Lol, everyone keeps saying walk the talk but I thought it was walk the walk?
“If you’re gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk…”
idk lol
Anyway, welcome, Jane! The key thing for me in TSW is the in cab experience. And I’ll tell you what, I really like the 158 in cab experience. Great sounds, at least to my ears.

 

The speed limits are always the HST limits regardless of whether you're driving the HST or 158.

For example. Leaving Long Eaton there's a speed board stating 80mph/100mphHST. Driving the 158 and my speed limit is 100mph.

 

Hi Jane!
Welcome and thanks for coming on here to engage…. Really loving the route… thanks to the team, and looking forward to hopefully diving on additional content your team releases for the MML.

one visual thing I noted on the second HST scenario (chasing yellows), is that the rain is streaming in the wrong direction in the windows based on direction of travel. Screenshot attached (PS5 version)

keep up the good work

 

The reality of commercial software development in a nutshell.

 

Speed limits in the yard scenario for 158 are all 100mph in the yard itself.,

 

thank you for this. We sorted this one and teased a few of the dev team about high speed yard work!

 

There are yard services in other routes where this kind of speed is required to beat a blocking AI train.

 

you have 30 seconds to leave the yard, starting from ....... NOW

 

I would point out here that, if you look up while in the cab, you can see that the 158 has a maximum speed of 80 mph.

 

That's perfectly fine. 158s can drive to the HST line speeds in real life.

 

Dsd is not working on the Class 43 on ps5

 

When will the Achievement be available on Stream

 

Was not aware of that. Thanks for clarifying

 

The guide panel is not working properly on class 158

 

Yeah it might seem odd, but as the HST was one of the first trains to have rapid braking disc brakes they created the HST differential. As time went on they started adding new stock to the HST differential list as long as they fall within the same (or better) braking curve and axle load. The HST sign is a legacy basically.

 

Thanks John, we are aware of the guard panel issues. Wanted to reassure you the issue is in the hands of the dev team.