Enough Is Enough!!!

p. 60 by New Year's Day?

 

On paper, it shouldn't. In theory TSW from its inception would have been designed and developed with the experience and lessons learnt from the development of Train Simulator. In some cases this was done. The PIS displays in TSW work based on some sort of route-based setup and allows for seemingly universal functionality. It is highly impressive when implemented correctly. This feature is just not possible in Train Simulator. SimuGraph is also an improved way of calculating vehicle physics, making things that in TS would need advanced and proprietary scripting simple and relatively easy to do.

However, there are certain things that should have been done better. The map not having tags on it is a fundamental flaw with the way the game is coded. When the game was in beta it was excusable, but now it's not even on the table, which is inexcusable. The biggest problem though is that the same setup for DLC was used as in TS, which has created gigabytes' worth of duplicate assets and some trains with many duplicate variants, each with their own features and bugs. If I was in charge of designing the DLC system, assets would be part of packs that are downloaded separately to routes. The asset 'House 1' that is used in Route 1 would be used in Route 2 as well, rather than both routes having their own House 1. Rail Simulator and early versions of Train Simulator did this correctly, but because of the way that game loads data, many assets that are not used on a route would be loaded. Therefore, each route would have an index of assets needed for it to function correctly. Only those assets would be loaded, and nothing else. Similarly, the BR185 has a bunch of different variations. Really there should be just one in the whole game, which is updated as new features are developed. This means all routes that use the BR185 will have no differences when it comes to features. Loco DLC in both games generally works like this except when trains included in routes become their own DLC or vice versa, or if there are multiple loco DLCs with the same train. The Class 52 in both games has two versions available, and in TSW one is clearly superior to the other. It should not have been that way.

It's also worth pointing out that in both games human error, corporate idiocy and a lack of care and attention all play a part in messing things up. There are trains which are more realistic in Train Simulator, and routes that look better in it too. That isn't because of Train Simulator being a universally better game, but because of the developer who is making the content. Just Trains and TSG prove that TSW itself isn't always the problem.

 

The last sentence explains it well. A lot of us have seen the potential TSW has and TSG and JT have exploited that properly. DTG sometimes produce content that feels like its phoned in. JTs route gave me a little more time in TSW than I would have had without it but ultimately even that route falls down due to the poor signalling and dispatching. Also some AC locos would set the scene better at Preston something that we lack severely.

Ultimately after 7 years where does TSW go? Minor improvements claimed year after year which break older content, editors appear but will take a long time for content to be produced for. A policy of privatisation or steam only from DTG for UK releases. By now in the history of Train Sim a new platform has been in the works or about to be.

One common theme is that many are either bored, frustrated or very annoyed that nothing seems to change or in some cases go backwards.

 

Well this much is certain, there are signals up ahead lol

 

Shamefully, they forgot to tell you. Weirdly, they instead thought you didn't know what distance meant.

 

It was NY-Trenton again, what in the world, I thought this was fixed! For two days in the ACS-64 I've been UE crashing in the Penn tunnel, stuttering more than the usual along the whole Route, and finally heard that AI alerter in the station that won't shut off (never had heard it before). PC/Steam/Ryzen7/RTX3060/ no mods.

 

That's a setting. It's possible with the new as well as the old HUD to have it display signal locations but not aspects.

 

If I am not mistaken, that is not a bug, but an actual setting. You can set it so the game tells you when the next signal is, but not the aspect - this way you know it's coming up, but you also have to actually watch out for it in the game enviroment.

 

I know that, I walked on the ramp with tracks removed, saw the sealed tunnel. But both KWG and Maintalbahn were there before they closed the ramp, they could've chosen a year to fit things together, it's all up to them when they're in the planning stage. If they wanted to do that, they could've.

 

I think you are right: I was playing around with HUD aspects and the track monitor and it seems that happened - the signal colors were taken away

 

Thank you, that's helpful - I had no idea. I'm used to so many bugs in this game that I actually thought that was another one.

 

I think it's a good abstraction, really: a driver who has signed a route will know where the signals are but not what they are showing until he sees them

 

It's been months until they fixed the Scenario Designer 2 bug that literally made nearly all use cases for path chaining useless. It's been a month since release of Maintalbahn and they still haven't fixed the PZB bugs on the map and the passengers only using one door bug.

 

It definitely made me pay attention to the next signal rather than using the track monitor as a crutch

 

https://mol.im/a/12891457 just gonna drop this here as was just catching up on the news.

 

Catching up on the news? On the Daily Mail? That's a yikes.

 

The review is positive (obviously ignoring the issues).

The comments of said, however, are (apart from one) all negative.

Bad publicity for DTG I think.

 

It looks to me like the same people who commented on that short review in the Daily Malicious have also commented here, which tells me quite a lot. If you upset a DM reader, you've got to be doing something right. Well done, DTG!

 

That's a weird compliment.

 

There are only five comments too so I wouldn't say DTG will be too worried. I wouldn't imagine someone would base their buying choices from a Daily Mail commenter. The one, from someone apparently from Moscow using the bingo winning phrase "rip off" and citing TSW4 as having flopped (without providing any evidence of course) could be any number of people. I wonder why you would go to the trouble of commenting on the review in the first place and directing people to this thread, no agenda obviously!

The one comment which isn't particularly negative, I suspect is from a former regular poster on here judging by their name.

 

I certainly wouldn't look to the daily mail for a review, and especially wouldn't listen to someone who doesn't back up their claims.

 

I only saw it and then dropped it here and rightly so when lied... lol, but yeah 4 is a flop in 3/4 of a way. I just personally thought it was desperate to ADVERTISE '4' on a newspaper who the reviewer lied about.

 

Should be on the front line rather than playing but hey ho, the clown is right though. 4 is a flop and DTG promoting the fk out of it and literally the discounts on 4 says it all. And now news apps for promotional.

 

How is it a flop, exactly. Discounts mean nothing, most games have them especially at this time of year.

 

Well your argument is very persuasive, don't bother providing any evidence to your claims, you have convinced me!

 

Focus Entertainment stock free falling

 

Of course I don't know if that is the sign of anything, but I have always found this buyout of DTG by Focus a bit worrying. Smaller companies and studios usually don't go the successful route once they get bought by someone.

 

Number 1 rule of business: never sell your company.

 

Skyfall by Adele... Is this the end....

 

Never heard of this rule. Make a social platform, when it's big and Google or Meta knock on your door, sell it and go fishing for the rest of your life.

RSC (DTG) founder Jackson sold his company to Focus, retired, and I guess he's well off.

 

You do if you've already reached your peak and are on the downslide. Let some other sucker ride it out to oblivion.

 

It's a personal rule more than anything, but the boss of Twitter at the time also said it when they shut down Vine, so I guess it does have some officially credibility.

As for me, I'd hate to see a company that I've built up be run by someone else who just doesn't get it and ruins all that I've worked for. Look at all of the studios Rockstar Games has. Other than Rockstar North and San Diego, the rest of them are just support studios now. If I was the founder of Ruffian Games and saw it become a nothing studio under Rockstar I'd be furious. My work would have been wasted.

 

It's no wonder so many of the old crew left. Adam, Sam - and now Derek Siddle, who's in his early fifties supposedly, quit DTG and follows his hobby, painting.

Can't deny the boat is sinking.

And it's not the fault of anyone in here, "moaner" or "fanboi", we've all paid our dues and bought our DLC.

 

Just look at the mess that Twitter has become after Musk bought it.

 

At least you would know it was contributing to top-quality work, even if as a subsidiary and under another name- unlike the many studios bought up, ruined and finally shut down by EA: motto, "We have the Merdas touch. Everything we touch turns to LOVE."

 

Have to agree, TSW overall is rubbish. So many bugs, so many promises and so much hot air hype from the developers and owners. They should feel ashamed.

 

Honestly I don't want DTG/TSW to die... I love this hobby even with his flaws and bugs

 

Or play train sim

 

True, true. (Well, unless the rumours that they worked on the Definitive Editions are true )

It's a good point. While I have little interest in TSW, if DTG went out who would support TS and TSW?

Just as we're having this conversation, DB have announced they're selling the Schenker division, which I believe includes DB Cargo UK. Recently it came to light that DBCUK have made a £49 million loss, if the rumours are true.

 

Is there an explanation as to why Focus Entertainment's stock is falling? I thought this buyout was supposed to a good thing

Edit: Nvm. This article seems to explain the problem

https://ca.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/FOCUS-ENTERTAINMENT-20757389/news/Focus-Entertainment-share-price-falls-after-half-year-results-45578328/#:~:text=In a press release, the,the first half 2022/2023.

Basically it's due to low sales however they should bounce back in 2024/2025

 

Nothing indicates that it is because of TSW4. Unless someone would provide any evidence.

 

No one said that. But it affects TSW development, as shareholders, having lost 70% of their investment, want their money back. As they are the owners, they are dictating what's to happen ultimately.

Which means produce even more with less effort and resources. Which again makes things worse. Publish or perish.

And the promises made to get people into TSW4 : Suspension - still in development, breaking motion sway on older stock already, TSW4 Editor: overly complex, buggy and useless as you can't cook and export your work into the game, won't help raise sales, because some of us are well understanding that we've been lied to.

On top of that, timetable broken all over the game with AI spawning on top of signals, getting stuck. Glossop half of the services not working. And so on.

Game is in a state where it's become so messy and complicated due to workarounds instead of fixes applied over the years, that it's broken beyond repair - the list of outstanding bugs is growing instead of shrinking.

Passenger system still not working after seven years. Highly overpriced DLC for limited content that gets boring quickly, and is only purchased by the "loyals" at full price. (Loyalty means stand by their side no matter what and buy everything regardless of quality. A questionable stance - good in friendship, but bad in a customer relationship). Which overall, also won't help selling enough to survive.

I'm eagerly awaiting the US 140 mile DLC for SimRail, which will probably cost less than a 40 mile-ish route in TSW, and be of much better quality, as SimRail's routes are already excellently modelled (and have much better lighting).

 

I had a not so strange thought that someone here would use it as an excuse to say TSW4 failed.

I should also add that I'm a bit under the weather and extremely tired so may not be reading things right.

 

Well, it certainly is the most bug-infested and content-breaking version ever released. With console players suffering the most.

Posted that in another thread but here's what TSW basically is - Lava Flow.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In computer programming jargon, lava flow is a problem in which computer code written under sub-optimal conditions is put into production and added to while still in a developmental state. Often, putting the system into production results in a need to maintain backward compatibility (as many additional components now depend on it) with the original, incomplete design.

Changes in the development team working on a project often exacerbate lava flows. As workers cycle in and out of the project, knowledge of the purpose of aspects of the system can be lost. Rather than clean up these pieces, subsequent workers work around them, increasing the complexity and mess of the system.

Lava flow is considered an anti-pattern, a commonly encountered phenomenon leading to poor design.

So messy that even skilled devs like TSG are giving up on fixing broken G6 services.

TSC was giving the player and devs full freedom and easy to use tools right from the start - that's why it is still there, and TSW failed to become its follow-up.

In TSW, 3rd parties can't sell their own work. DTG are the only publisher for TSW content. Not a good idea, will limit development. You'll never see the vast universe of stock and routes that are in TSC. There's an enormous output of content there, almost weekly releases from 3rd parties. They do not even announce them anymore on the forums.

 

I never said because of tsw4. The article if you bothered to read it pointed out that it was due to the low sales of Atlas Fallen hence why I said low sales. Perhaps I should've been more specific

 

I think the thing a lot of people seem to forget is that TSW opened up the world of consoles, a potentially huge market compared to the PC-only gaming market. Yes, it might attract the more casual gamer (no mods etc.) but, financially, it has a lot of upsides. It might not be what the diehard simmers want, and that's fair enough, but that's a calculation I assume DTG made. Did it work? I genuinely don't know, but there are far too many people here equating the fortunes of their hobby with the fortunes of the company they expect to 'feed' it. Those people might ultimately be proved right - the uptake of new players might not outstrip the hobbyists who (can!) choose to walk away - but just because something doesn't suit you doesn't automatically mean it's the same for everyone else.

 

Ultimately until the editors came out this year we were all locked out. TSW is eye candy and service (timetable mode) and not much else. Couple that to a policy of looking to produce some extremely dull DLC and the countless bugs everytime something is fixed something else breaks. Many have had enough. Blackpool gave it a reprieve in my eyes but the novelty has started wearing off and back I go to modelling.

The alternatives are:

Simrail
Zusi
Trainz
TSC
And various more.

TSW had a chance to be something great. Instead it's a slowly churning DLC machine kicking out some very mediocre offerings to the day one only crowd looking for the latest multiple unit with PIS and GSMR with the token 66 or railtour mode to add a hint of something less repetitive. If the likes of JT can give us some further good DLC then that may help.

 

If you're sure of that and don't consider buying Focus stock a high risk investment (which it is now), then you must buy shares now, as the company's worth is extremely low right now. If you're right, you'll support the company and make some money, if you're wrong, you'll lose all your money. (Don't invest more than a third of your capital on risky stuff as a rule of thumb).

In any case Focus will have to get rid of unprofitable studios, whether they're being taken over as a whole by some potential investors or not. The bad thing is, DTG has hired a lot of new staff recently - which could be a huge problem now.

According to ambassador Felix der Weise, we could be seeing more route remasters (which would make a lot of players happy according to the Suggestions forum) instead of new routes in the future, as well as cheap to produce gameplay packs. What's on the roadmap as of now should be safe though.

I'm glad I've got enough content to play in TSC and TSW till I'm six feet under, and do not really need new DLC anymore.

Even in the worst case scenario, Steam will continue to host these games, as they never ever remove content you already purchased.

 

This makes me wonder why DTG accepted the offer to be bought out by Focus Entertainment if its public knowledge that they were in a precarious financial situation?