Dovetail Games Bought By Focus Entertainment

I don't think Matt has ever shown on that page, neither do Lukas as a senior producer

 

Well hopefully the quality of the products start to see an improvement because let's be honest it can't get much worse than recent offering of dogs breakfasts served to us by DTG.

 

That's a weird page- it has a sampling of everyone from the Big Bosses down to clerical staff, but omits key people like the TSW Executive Producer

 

DTG was probably bought up for pennies on the dollar given the massive player base loss and poorly reviewed products over the past 8 months. Hopefully Focus will clean house and put some proper direction back into this game. I guess only time will tell if the clownish development cycle continues over the next 6 to 10 months.

 

I doubt this will happen since it has already been said that the current DTG CEO is staying in charge.

 

Okay, I'll refer to my post above again: the DTG manager staying in his position means little. Focus are the new publisher, therefore they own the franchise, therefore they're now in charge. That's how the industry works. So Focus can effect big changes (or small ones; it's their prerogative now).

 

Yeesh.. maybe they'll leave him on for now until they fully transition. Can't see the head of an organization running their flagship product into the ground the the point of "sell or go bankrupt" (my best guess) would stay around long term.

 

Positive thinking here: Looking forward to a fresh perspective on quality content, and a long list of customer concerns finally being addressed.

Many of us love TSW, enough to keep visiting these forums regularly. Even through its trials and tribulations (I actually deinstalled the game and quit for several months after TSW3 was released), it's the only game that attempts to do what it does. And yes, it does a lot of it really well, which is precisely why it's so frustrating to see the same legacy issues popping up repeatedly. We love TSW, but at the same time we know it can be so much more.

Anyway, here's to Focus + DTG. Cheers!

 

Well said. Focus has a good reputation in the simulation circle of gaming so this was a good acquisition. I've played my fair share of Farming Simulator and Mud/Snowrunner over the years and they've both been enjoyable for what they set out to do. Hopefully they bring a quality mindset to TSW and the recent junkware will be a thing of the past.

 

My one and only wish in what I would like to change is to give developers more time and not have such tight and unrealistic deadlines.

 

Oh yeah, I should have added; Farming Simulator and Snowrunner are both the bomb. If that's what we have to look forward to, us train simmers are going to be quite happy.

 

One other thought, that might be wide of the mark but here goes anyway...

Isn't Snowrunner primarily developed by a Russian team? It may be Focus wanted something to fall back on should the current political sitaution change for the worse and it is no longer possible or seen to be the correct thing to be involved with.

Also we don't absolutely know whether this was a hostile takeover, if DTG went to them or if it's all high fives and milkshakes all round. The CEO staying in place could be a temporary measure for the transition period but even if longer almost sure to be handed a very particular set of objectives and targets - fail to meet at your peril!

 

Wonder if that means the end of tsw3 and possible a new one....

 

what a surprise lol. if anything, i wouldn’t mind it if it meant better graphics etc

 

I doubt it in the near term. But perhaps quality could improve in its current version if expertise is provided in the optimization space. All we can hope for are positive changes for the player. But again, I will patiently take a wait and see approach. I doubt anything drastic will come of this for at least 6 months and probably closer to 10.

 

Farming simulator is giant software, not focus

 

This is either a brave new beginning for DTG and it's 3 party developers.

OR

This is the beginning of the end for DTG and it's 3 party developers.

Stay tuned train fans for the best of times
Stay tuned train fans for the worst of times

One has to ask just how long has DTG been trying to sell itself?

 

Given that Focus is leaving the extant management team in place, and DTG generated 15 million Euros last year, I doubt it.

 

But Farming Simulator is published by Focus, so it's their game and the finished product and its quality is their responsibility.

 

Steam says both giant software is the developer and publisher

 

Published by Focus

 

Giant at least allows mods on consoles. Huge for the farm simmers (like me).

 

Ah, I think Focus used to be the publisher, but not any more.

 

Just 15 million? For a company this size with multiple games, that is quite a pathetic number.

 

I'm fairly certain Focus published the Sherlock Holmes games as well, although Frogwares is the dev. Always had a good time with those games.

 

Yes, they did.

 

I think we should be optimistic. Monetisation opportunities doesn’t necessarily mean bleeding the existing customer base dry, if Focus are better able to promote Train Sim World in the US and elsewhere then they have the potential to make more money with what they already have, hopefully creating a virtuous circle of increased revenue equalling increased investment.

 

What I'm about to say could
be very controversial. I personally think this is not good for the TSC & TSW franchise as from my knowledge they have not made anything they related which equals no experience with trains which means for all we know the next route could have the Class 158 with TGV sounds or something. Although you don't know until the end result.

 

I have no interest in or much of a clue about the games industry. I only play a handful of games. However working in industry and having seen suppliers I deal with being taken over and being subsumed by bigger fish, it doesn't always mean better, in fact in many cases it has often been worse, you lose the personal service.

I do think we should be careful about discussing personnel matters, it seems a bit unedifying speculating when some of those concerned might be reading this forums.

 

Upcoming DLCs for TSW -

 

I've only played 2 focus published games and they were both top games. Hopefully Focus get DTG to actually test the dlcs

 

Well, Focus is not new to the Simulation scene. I loved their Hardspace: Shipbreaker as well. Hope this means more good things to the Train Sim World franchise.

 

Snowunner physics are as far from simulation as you can get too

 

One thing that's just occured to me currently DTG has been the publisher for third party TSW DLC. Now I guess that will fall to Focus, will they be as supportive to these third parties as we've seen recently

 

I do not have any Information, but in my opinion the purchase from Focus Interactive means nothing but the TSW Franchise will be sent to the Grave.

Focus will create their own Railway Software (for now they dont have any Railway Software) and will dont keep any hands on TSW in the Future.

Actual DTG Employees will be working also on this new "Train Simulator Software". DTG knows and see the Sales for latest TSW DLC's is massive dropping to the negative direction. In other Way i cant explain the Sale to Focus Interactive.

 

Hopefully they won't turn TSC and TSW is some kind of fantasy world (like the WCL route) and allow DTG to do what they know about and do best, whilst supporting them in making the products better.

 

I think its a great bit of business for all concerned. TSW has a load of potential that is not yet being realised so if Focus can build on what we already have then we will be in for a treat. They also get TSC that I suspect is still making a lot more money than TSW but the outgoing owner will know that little cash cow has its best days behind it and now is the time to sell up.

 

You don't spend 6 figures on buying a title just to bin it off. They could have set up their own train division and poached the cream of the train developers far cheaper.

 

Sales does not equal profit and a whole year has passed since we have any accounts to look at. We have no idea how much DTG have made or lost in the last year. None at all.

 

Highly unlikely. TSW is a multi-platform modern game that DTG is actively updating and creating DLC for. TSC is an aging platform that is mostly being kept alive by third party devs and passionate freeware makers. DTG has significantly cut down on in-house DLC production for TSC. I bet most of DTG's revenue from TSC now is from the cut they take by publishing third party content.

 

TSC has a higher user base and a significantly higher number of dlcs with more being released all the time. Its just guesswork but I still think think it will account for a huge chunk of their income.

 

We all know that the TSW Franchise is a Error/Bug Grave. DTG - THE DEVELOPER - can't handle the amount of Issues and Bugs on their own Game. And with every DLC the Technical Reports rising to the Sky. It seems they are overwhelmed with their own product. With every new Patch, it will increase the Reports of new Bugs and for example Red Light Issues.
Time to starting from Zero with this (Focus) purchase.
Dont get me wrong. I like the TSW Franchise a lot but i dont have bought any DLC since Loco Addon Bundle 1 (Oct '22). And many players are no longer willing to spend any more money on this flawed game.

 

'it was clear that we share much in common, most notably a deep-rooted passion for simulation gaming, a commitment to deliver engaging and rewarding experiences for our customers'...............John Rissik; CEO Dovetail, on the new merger/acquisition. Well in my opinion they certainly encourage engagement. One need only look at the 'engaging' complaints about bugs and the inability, or dare I say complacency when it comes to fixes and delivering on promises to fix things. Rewarding? Not so much, recently.

 

I think starting from zero will have a ton of backlash. From losing all our content and having to rebuy everything. Unless they manage to merge it all into one big network or make long routes.

 

I am one of those players who refuses to spend any more until my game (which DTG broke), is fixed. Even if that happens.....once bitten, twice shy.

 

One of the profiles that was removed from the website was that of Paul Jackson, Perhaps he wanted an out. Perhaps even he wanted SoS which was his personal wishlist item, and then after that quickly lost interest?

 

I suspect that with the spate of bugged and obviously un-tested games from DTG lately, thay are themselves 'bleeding the existing customer base dry.' They need no assistance from others for this.

 

not any more. It's possible that Giant decided to self publish after Focus screwed Frogware games over with their Sherlock Holmes IP

 

Sorry, but Point A:
It will never be possible (technical) to merge two or more Routes in TSW. Route-Merging will NEVER official come to TSW. And Yes, SEH and SEH-Extended are two different Routes for two different Games.

Point B: If they sent TSW to heaven, you will not loose any of your Content. You have a Game in your Libary with no any further Support...not more...not less.

 

That’s my problem as well. I’m really struggling to see why so many see this as good news. I associate studios being bought with more rushing, less polishing, and sometimes exclusivity.