Dtg Are We Waiting For Tsw5

Decided after a long while to hop on TSW4 to see whats been fixed and updated. Its now December going into January. Free roam and US locomotives aren't fixed. Its like us US freight people are getting repeatedly kicked in the groin over this.

Are we just gonna have to wait for TSW5 for the fix..? Seems like thats your typical trend for the studio. It wasn't even mentioned on the last roadmap...

Edit: TSW4 was advertised greatly for the free roam addition to the game. Not much of a difference from TSW3, so now you sold us a broken part of the game (If United States based like me.) I paid for this and have received broken/unplayable software. Theres a legal issue here DTG. I want answers.

 

TSW5 wouldn't fix anything if it happened.

It would instead release with a forgotten promised feature, or a new feature that will be broken forever.

 

yeah, it sucks. the game's gotten real boring with having the same freaking manifests and unit trains on every single ROUTE, it's gotten so bad that I've even quit gaming for a while. Until DTG adds something like the CN Mesabe sub, I don't think they're going to have many happy Americans. I also hate how the game is 99% foreign, like, i understand its train sim WORLD, but there hasn't been a decent update since Sherman Hill was first added. I hope they add Mesabe sub..

 

Hopefully you're still within your window to get a refund.

 

Yes, unfortunately, TSW4 launched with a lot of promises, but they have remained largely unfulfilled.

Even the routes, ECML, AVL and Voralberg are rather uninspiring and some have unresolved issues.

TSW4 did not deal with the problems of earlier iterations, in fact, completely dismissed those of TSW2. TSW3 issues remain in the circular file

 

This shouldn't really be a surprise considering that DTG are based here in the UK. There's been plenty of good updates too, the recent MML update is proof of that. I can see the frustration on the US side of things though. It was kind of odd how they didn't get a Christmas teaser like UK and Germany did.

Hopefully the new US route will be revealed early in the New Year

 

Personally, I think I this point it would be better that DTG ditches US content for good and just focus on the European market and expand there.

-US content isn't as good as the UK or GE stuff.
-US freight doesn't sell well overall.
-DTG are based in the UK and its easier for them to get references from closer countries than the US.

Maybe DTG should pull an SCS and just make something like Train Sim Europe, and ditch North America all together till they can get more devs and more references locally to properly represent North America.

 

I'm happy with their US content, the NEC stuff and NY stuff is all really good.
Freight does need some work, though I love Clinchfield, Sand Patch Grade, Cajon and Horseshoe.

So definitely no to them "ditching" it.

 

Sorry my man, but I strongly disagree with that idea. The solution is not to ditch US content, but finally get competent in it. Or should TSW never improve and expand? Just DB red EMUs alongside Traxx locomotives, and modern UK EMUs with Class 66s?

Your idea reminds me of the concept when raillines get closed due to low passenger volumes instead of improving said line to regain passengers. You close one line, which affects other lines - those lines also loose traffic and then you close them as well. That's how the US and many european countries lost most of their railway branch lines.

Silly idea, not the solution, it just makes things worse in the long run. DTG has plenty of expertise in the train simulator market to make good US content, they simply choose to not put in the effort. Lack of reference material or knowledge really is not an excuse when the same routes and stocks have already been made in MSTS, Trainz and Train Simulator, and you can always just fill in the gaps (like synthetized sounds) when the source material is not available.

 

If we ditch US stuff same could be said for Germand UK stuff.

 

aren’t you wanting to see improved US content ? Seems a bit of a self damaging move to call for their complete departure..

3rd parties probably have more likely chance at joining if the main developer (DTG) had a strong grapple of US content, if the main developer pulls out it kinda seems to suggest to a 3rd party it’s a problem area.

 

It could be awsome... Colourfull and demanding...

 

I don't know what I even want anymore.

It's just hard to see any positive outlook right now.

Mostly underwhelming DLC this year, the teaser for the next route withheld. No good US 3rd party devs (And oh God if DTM comes over, that would be an even bigger disaster)

 

I understand, i wouldn’t worry too much on the teaser, always better delayed than rushed, mass production is never a good sign.

i definitely think DTG should continue on US routes though, I don’t think any sort of hiatus and absence from working on it would do any good, probably would backfire on U.K. and German content aswell if that happened, if they were to up the mass production on them with the free gap.

maybe a route with some interesting content rather than a mainline run may help with the enthusiasm aswell.

edit: or mixed passenger and freight routes might help with that, they have always came out as some of the best routes with European focused content.

 

I'm sure that the New Haven Line with Grand Central terminal and NY Penn would be a best-seller. Let add the New Canaan branch and the Danbury (Or a part of it) branch and you alreday have a lot of passenger action. For commuter you have the M8 from MTA and some P32 for the branches.

The Acela can go over it with stops at NY, Stamford and New Haven and the NE Regional can top it with more stops. They already have almost all the license. The only one maybe they have not is CT Rail with their Shore Line... If CSX can go over it's perfect !

Spoiler

New Haven Line :

Spoiler

The M8 Railcar near Harlem 125th Street (Some layering possible with the Harlem Line) :

The Danbury Branch:

The New Canaan Branch :

DTG Please

 

While I certainly understand and share a lot of your frustration, this is certainly not the answer. If US content is abandoned then where does that leave us? We’d be worse off than we are now. I’d rather have at least an attempt made at US content that MIGHT have the prospect of being approved upon in the future either by freelance or 3rd party than nothing at all.

Best we can do right now is continue to provide the feedback we have been regarding what has come out. And what we’d like to see in the future. Whether it actually gets listened to or a response is given is not on us. That falls all on DTG. At this point, there should be no question what all is wrong with US DLC and what we’d like to see moving forward. The ball is in DTGs court. We just have to sit back and watch what happens.

 

I also have a sneak feeling that the part 2 of the winter core update will be delayed and then they will announce its just going to be a TSW5 feature

 

No because thats just allowing DTG to get off easy. Instead they should heed the requests and demands for bug fixes from the entire community

 

Although I love this route from TSC and real life, I don’t think this route will come out for a while. Simply because it’s U.S content. Only way I see this route coming out is if TSW5 actually becomes a things. Seems like Dovetail only makes long U.S passenger routes when it’s a new title releasing. Would love to see it though!

 

If TSW 5 is a thing, then I don't think anyone should be suprised.

 

it wouldn’t shock me honestly if it comes in September, I don’t think it should and it’s not really going to do much about it talking about it tbh, about the same as the opposition did to stop TSW4.

New iterations seems to boost sales more and I don’t think the management side of DTG would want to turn that down for any reason, for less.

 

I agree. After the NYT debacle and the uninspiring AVL, I'm also despondent concerning US content.

When I think back to the quality of SPG and even BPE, I'm left wondering what happened. I honestly think that this management team has simply lost any interest or enthusiasm they had for North America, despite their statements to the contrary. Perhaps, as I suggested in another thread, some new blood is called for.

Old chestnuts of excuses about the inability to get information, sounds and visuals don't ring true for a company of DTG's size and experience. If they want it they can come over and get it, as they apparently did with AVL. It takes effort and a desire to connect with the US player base.

From my viewpoint, the next US route, should there be one, will be the proof in the pudding. If it's not of an acceptable quality, then I will start looking elsewhere for my train fix.

 

We've given them so many brilliant ideas for future routes. Most routes they already have basically licenses from the owners, CSX NS etc. 70s era trains or something modern with freight and passenger lines together. But we all here on forums dont seem to get feedback from DTG. This is a close community. Its obvious when things are hidden from their loyal fan base.

 

Cutting the American Market is a seriously bad idea,

 

As a US trains enthusiast (mainly freight stuffs), i feel this this frustration. Reminiscing Sand Patch Grade on it's glory day.

 

If they get permission. Metrolink gave them permission to record their trains and made time in their schedule for dtg to take photographs of the train, stations and sounds. Amtrak also gave dtg permission to record their trains in the depot. Some operators such as mta don't give such luxury because it is not allowed. I'm not surprised given the crazy stories I hear constantly about the subway. Dtg can't just walk up to a depot or freight yard in the middle of the night and be like "We're gonna steal your trains for an entire day to record sounds and take photos." It would be trespassing and illegal. Then you need high quality recordings, not recordings from a cheap camcorder. Even the employees might not be able to attach microphones on their trains to record sounds since that can be a safety violation. The train also has to exist for dtg to get reference material.

Just because dtg has numerous employees and experience, it does not mean they have access to everything.

 

I really don’t understand why producing just one flagship US route to please customers and build enthusiasm for the TSW franchise is so difficult. Assemble a team that actually cares and give them enough time to do the job well. Problem solved. Customers would be pleased, DTG’s reputation is improved and the TSW franchise gets a lifespan extension. Everyone wins.

Or produce something heavily flawed and let the decline continue. But what’s point of that?

Same goes for working on a TSW 5 2024 release. Many people are displeased with TSW4, so why further erode customer satisfaction and damage the franchise further? Sometimes there’s need to take a pause and mend fences before moving onto the next shiny object.

 

DTG should think long and hard about hitting a dubious player base with another annual paid update, which starts to look suspiciously like a subscription. Most of us have grumbled but paid last year and this; but that's because TSW remains the only game in town except for those who want to put up with the hassle of TSC, or the graphical primitivism (and regionalism) of Run-8 and ZUSI; console players don't even have those options.

But that is changing. Simrail has both US rail and singleplayer in the works. Railroader is in early access and the stupendous-looking Century of Steam* is on its way. DTG's captive audiece are noticing that the bars in the window are pretty rusty....

In other words, the time is rapidly approaching when DTG will have to a) up their game, a lot, and b) avoid alienating their base with a paid TSW5 just a year after 4. Or else there will be meetings with Focus without tea or biscuits to explain why the numbers resemble Disney's in trajectory.

*Almost every player criticism of DTG visuals, sound, lighting and especially steam physics has been seemingly overcome by a tiny indie studio (17 people, 4 of whom are "researcher/consultants"). Too hard? Too much work?

 

That's why the editor exists to potentially bring more 3rd parties to tsw. Dtg are always open to 3rd parties so it's to job of the community to create one.

 

I will say it does help for SimRail that Searchlight Simulations has a very good reputation with Canadian Pacific/CPKC, who does allow them access to their equipment (Such as when they 3d scanned the Holiday Train) so they have a huge upper hand over DTG in access to US freight equipment (On top of most of them being employed by various railroads too).

 

So completely give up on potentially being able to drive the largest, most powerful, fastest steam locomotives ever built? Even something like a USRA 0-8-0 switcher has a larger, higher capacity boiler than a BR Standard 9F, and that's before we get anywhere near the superpower designs. It would be like having a car driving sim, but limiting yourself to only small hatchbacks and small sportscars and omitting all the GTs, supercars and muscle cars.

Also, this hypothetical TSW5 should finally come shipped with basic steam simulation improvements like working water gauges, that we've been promised since TSW2. No mention of it anywhere on the TSW4 roadmaps. I would of expected this to have come shipped with TSW4 upon release.

 

One thing I'm going to ask: why do people keep going on about TSW5. It isn't a thing, nor is there any evidence pointing towards it.

 

If it were an option would you put money on TSW5 not being released in September ‘24? Not sure I would.

 

i dont want DTG to give up on US content ...I hope they can find a great 3rd party that will focus on creating US content ..and DTG themselves step it up and create US content thats great quality..i got into TSW because of the US content and DTG is the only train sim of its kind on console im console only ....is there even any train sim games planned to come to console ??.DTG has niche on consoles they should go with that and keep ahead by stepping up the game ..

 

It’s coming though. Everyone knows it.

 

I certainly wouldn't, those are some bad odds.

 

I find US freight only routes to be one of the most boring forms of train sim in this game.
I prefer the passenger and freight routes. At least it gives variety for people who don’t like US freight.
Clearly US freight routes don’t sell well, that is why DTG are hesitant in making them.
DTG should focus on passenger and freight routes going forward. NY-Trenton I really enjoy. If that route was only freight I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

 

I wouldn't bet on it coming.

But to say it is is absurd.

 

To say it’s not coming is wishful thinking.

 

TSW3…. 2022
TSW4…. 2023
TSW5…. 2024? Very high possibility!

I don’t really care if we get TSW5 or not though tbh. All I want is more content to enjoy, whether that be a new game or dlc. I couldn’t care less. As long as it works, that’s what’s important. Gimme some of that BPO standard, polished, equivalent content.

 

I cant get why people think running US freight is boring ...Its a train simulator ...on Cajon Sand patch HSC etc thats whit it is in real life you do a run 8 slugfest up grade and you better know how to brake going down the other side ....i love running thses beasts the challenge etc ..i wish they would put more switching scenarios but people think thats boring too ..it s just a fact thats how real life railroading works operates we buy a train sim game to play virtual what real trains do...

 

For US Freight content I'm already consider to switch to Run 8. The graphics are not that pretty but the simulation aspect actually works in that game.

 

I'd much rather existing issues present since TSW2020 were dealt with before yet another new game.

 

Slow boring US freight? Then the solution is not to stop producing it, instead let's see other place where fast freight run is possible. I give you one example, BNSF Southern Transcon. Easily doing 60+ mph freight there.

 

Union Pacific out of El Paso to California would be a great run too.

 

even BNSF transcon in Missouri. The La plata rail cam popular lots of 70mph stack trains

 

Agreed. TSW is not enough "sim" to be a simulator and not enough fun to just be a fun train game. Others have done the former better and the latter is being surpassed by new entries into the genre (even though they don't have realistic routes / licencing). TSW sits in the middle, full of bugs and too much of a mess to mass appeal to the casual player and not serious enough to appeal to the hardcore simmer.

 

I would not be so surprise if they released Multiplayer for TSW5 along with other dispatch and different roles to play such as full guard mode, dispatch from tower as the selling keypoint.

 

Multi-player was already shot down by DTG themselves, don't expect it ever for TSW without a full reboot.

 

This.

We would not have speculated with any certainty this time last year that DTG were going to push a paid version change just 12 months since the previous instalment.

However after the somewhat disappointment of TSW4 (particularly the UK keynote content for release) I will be far more circumspect about jumping in with both feet should the eventuality come to pass.