Are Dtg Testing The Water...

Discussion in 'TSW General Discussion' started by OldVern, Apr 11, 2024.

  1. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    ...maybe a bit unfavourably, with the latest crop of forthcoming add ons?

    We asked for routes to get additional DLC to liven up, so they gave us the 380 on Cathcart. An old route with declared no intention to "do it up" for the new train, which is another example of a fairly modern one handle EMU.

    We asked for existing routes to be extended, so we get LIRR 2.0 with a considerably smaller amount of extra track than might have been expected, also a new train but a huge whack that we will need to run with safety systems full on to comply with the RL operator's licensing requirements. And at a price which even with preorder and existing owner discount, comes in at more than the original cost.

    Finally we get the DB BR101, a much loved and extensively played add on, now getting an "expert" version (with additional cab car) because people were asking for study level equipment.

    However all of the above as noted come with baggage that might not encourage people to buy or at least wait for a sale. At which point, DTG turn round and say, "Oh well, additional loco DLC for routes doesn't sell." " Route extensions don't sell." "Study level trains don't sell." Giving them the perfect in their eyes justification not to do anything similar in future, even though this exercise is heavily weighted in the first place.

    Maybe I'm just a bit cynical here.
     
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  2. coursetim

    coursetim Well-Known Member

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    Tbh it is something thats crossed my mind as well. But I do think it depends on the quality of the products. Because if they do what they did with steam and just fire off some half baked content then It's not a fair representation as we've discussed in depth. But considering the 101 is being done by TSG I'm hoping it'll be very high level content.
     
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  3. devsecops#8603

    devsecops#8603 Active Member

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    There has to be a backstory to all of this. my personal opinion is that allot of stuff we see is the wants and interest of the devs, commercial reasons around licensing and cost.

    A business is there to make a profit and will have is own strategy and mission too, for both growth and profit. DTG may be less interested about the offering in terms of exact DLC but the income it generates and the cost to develop. Which then means devs have free range to develop what interests them and justify it with cost and forecasted sales.
     
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  4. matt#4801

    matt#4801 Well-Known Member

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    This is exactly what I fear, and why I am so unsure and, you could say, against the 380 coming as a 'loco' dlc.
     
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  5. phil.elliott

    phil.elliott Well-Known Member

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    In most cases, it's sensible for a business to test demand - the conclusions as to whether a particular line of testing (ie DLC for older routes, route extensions, expert locos) is worth continuing will need to bear in mind perceived quality as much as sales data.

    Personally I'm very happy to see DLC for older routes (and where appropriate, bringing them up-to-date as with the excellent WSR revamp), and route extensions (even if it's a re-purchase, as long as the quality is there).

    I'm not personally sure about the expert locos, just because I am under no illusions that I am a more casual player, but I'm happy for others who are excited about the potential for it (and I have to say I think a lot of people would be reassured that a team with the reputation of TSG is the one bringing it about).
     
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  6. nockwurst

    nockwurst Well-Known Member

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    They do surveys, and as said above, they test new products. They’re trying to appease a “very difficult to please” community, while probably also looking at new revenue streams.
    Maybe some of the new offerings don’t pan out, but sometimes you gotta keep throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks.
     
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  7. daanloman#3930

    daanloman#3930 Well-Known Member

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    Well said. Route extensions. the preservation crew and more rolling stock has been way more asked for on the forums than new routes. they probably took some ideas from the survey and some things are indeed tests to see how the community responds. but how LIRR has been recieved that's a clear flop. the 380 idk much about but don't see much happiness. and the 101 has to be seen what happens but will never be something for the casual player.
     
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  8. CK95

    CK95 Well-Known Member

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    Completely agree, all this stuff would align very well with DTG refusing to do similar things in the future.

    Loco DLC? Here’s another EMU, barely requested for a route that offers little for you to do with it & has incompatible lighting (like really - take a TSW 4 train into a TSW 2 route and enjoy the wacky lighting).

    Route extensions? Here’s LIRR V2, broken since TSW 2, other US content all but abandoned and no focus on development, £30 for fixes and reused US content please.

    BR101 Cabcar? Here’s a Pro Pack that most players will likely struggle with, priced more than a loco DLC & we aren’t sure what can be offered in terms of layering.

    All 3 products seem like they came from a place of DTG thinking up how to make them fail. A Pro 91 IMO would of been a perfect way to test the waters for both more loco DLC’s & a new Pro range, not taking an existing product, giving it the correct consist option it should of had & then charging more.

    The LIRR situation is just sad, the only reason DTG are going to get away with it, is because they’ve starved the NA side of any content.

    The 380 has literally only had any fanfare at all because it was announced & notably the fanfare has come from people who buy any & all TSW content (I’m not trying to offend or get personal here so apologies for any offence caused). This was such a wasted opportunity for a DTG scotrail line (Ayr anyone?), the loco packs we seldom see (many more alternatives requested & frankly a criminal need for a UK modern loco), the Pro pack being an already released loco with its missing cabcar.

    it’s a rant from me, but lots of DLC’s lately have had far too many cost cutting measures or dodgy caveats.
     
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  9. Scorpion71

    Scorpion71 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I'm with you on that.

    Imagine if the DLC was a Class 25, 56 or 60!

    Imagine if the existed route extended was TVL, NTP or ECML (ruled out GWE because I know licensing issues don't allow this)

    Imagine if the Expert loco was the 801 or anything that takes advantge of TMS etc.

    I don't think they could then make excuses about not selling!
     
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  10. 21c164fightercommand

    21c164fightercommand Well-Known Member

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    Well, whatever makes DTG decide over new routes, rolling stock? Their infallible market research, player response, bookkeeper figures, drowsing rods, crystal balls or whatever, it seems the studio is running out of ideas that fit within the available resources and licenses.

    Like with TSC, will we see more 'upgraded' and/or 'extended' routes at premium price? For esp in TSC there are many candidate routes and trains that could use a touch-up?

    Yet the never ending stream of more and more improbable Suggestions suggest the current crowd of players is dissatisfied with the franchise as a whole. A franchise that has turned into running plastic one-handle commuter trains on short routes with the only action repeated starting and stopping.

    Resources and licenses to disclose totally new territory in the game? One needs knowledgeable and capable local developers to even try anything out of GB or GER locales, since USA is already lacking in 'substance' and apparently freelancing is out of the question for nobody would buy a fantasy route?

    Yet even most existing routes could use more and different trains, set in different periods.
     
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  11. RobertSchulz

    RobertSchulz Well-Known Member

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    Definitely those "testings" need to be more transparent and not being dependent upon one example only.

    For example, is LIRR 2.0 really considered to be a good example for a "route extension" and therefore stands for all future route extensions? People already debate about it and have bad feelings because of various reasons. However every case is different, and a route extension like that might be much more appreciated on any other route, dependent upon different factors, which influence the interest of purchase in the end.

    There's a lot of stuff which can influence and distort a clear result and whether a test could be classified as being successful or not and this only can be achieved by several different tests in different environments and under different circumstances.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2024
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  12. lcyrrjp

    lcyrrjp Well-Known Member

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    I think it’s a bit cynical to suggest it’s a deliberate ploy to demonstrate these ideas don’t work so they don’t have to do them in future (if that is what’s being suggested). DTG are under no obligation to take any notice of community feedback, so if they don’t want to do something, they can just not do it. They don’t have to go to the cost and effort of deliberately creating a failed project to demonstrate why they’re not going to do it.

    Some of the developments do feel misguided (to produce yet another modern EMU, particularly one with a very poor Driver’s view, is incomprehensible to me given the endless feedback that this is the opposite of what is wanted) but then I don’t see the sales data. Maybe the people out there who don’t use this forum go positively mad for modern EMUs (although one might say that as that’s all DTG produce these days, they can’t really make any valid comparisons).
     
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  13. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    Indeed. Those would sell like hot cakes, as would a Deltic and Mark 2 aircon set for the ECML.

    And such terrible cynical thoughts would probably not have entered my mind. In fact I'd be scheming how to get some Steam Walley credit past the wife.
     
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  14. Canadian Follower

    Canadian Follower Well-Known Member

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    Although I hate to say it, I would have preferred the LIRR been held back for TSW5 (we all know it’s all coming). I think Dovetail should’ve held it back to improve lots of things, such as the 3rd track, possibly the DM30AC, Grand Central Madison, or something like Port Washington.
     
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  15. Lamplight

    Lamplight Well-Known Member

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    I agree. Why would DTG come up with an elaborate plot fitting a thriller to make a point when they could instead just drop the development of undesirable products like they already have with US freight and steam?
     
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  16. Pipe

    Pipe Well-Known Member

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    To pull such a didactic conspiracy stunt, the company would need clever planning, alignment and coordination within and in between several departments.
    Oh ..... and a water tight seal of leaks.

    Naaaaahhhhh .... no way this is intentional.
     
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  17. Fawx

    Fawx Well-Known Member

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    All of them are things I'm looking forward too, and all I will be picking up day one. Hopefully they do more.
     
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  18. mattwild55

    mattwild55 Well-Known Member

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    My personal view is that this is a touch cynical, but not completely without reason given how the community was burned on the steam topic.

    For what it's worth, I don't believe we've seen the full story on the 380 yet and Cathcart will end up getting significant upgrades that DTG don't want to talk about yet and/or the new UK route will utilise it.

    Regarding LIRR, the licensing concerns are clearly out of DTG's hands and also came at the last minute following a real-life joyride in January. Nothing they could have done there, and from speaking to developers and associates on Discord it is clear that this route was ready to go some months ago before MTA flagged up concerns.

    I also don't think your statement about more than original cost is quite right - wasn't LIRR £25 originally? Pricing isn't substantially different overall to GOBLIN and offers approximately the same amount of new track and loco, but integrated into the existing and improved network. I think £25 full price would have been fairer in the end but we are where we are, and a fiver here nor there probably wasn't going to change folk's minds significantly about it.

    Some will continue to think they should have it for free because that's what happened with WSR, but WSR didn't get significant new mileage or any new locos/rolling stock. It wasn't completed on company time and therefore doesn't need to be budgeted for.

    Perhaps DTG would be wise in the future to even more clearly delineate between a Remaster in the WSR sense and a paid rebuild/extension with additional features such as LIRR2.

    I'd personally like to see more of the latter - I'd happily fork out for an appropriately updated Tees Valley, extended to Boulby and Bishop Auckland with a Class 60 for instance and I certainly wouldn't expect it for free.

    The BR101 is a more complicated matter - how will this work in practice given the original isn't being updated with the cab car? Does this mean that the default 101 consists in the future will include the cab car and therefore we'll all need to for out for the expert version regardless of whether or not we're interested in the additional functionality? I'm not so sure this one has been properly thought through. A better solution for this would be to update the original with the 'basic' cab car (for at least the sake of future timetables), then whoever wishes to use the 'expert' functionality can buy the new one.

    In any case, I'm interested to see where it all goes. LIRR2 will get my money most likely, the 380 depends on Cathcart revisions and the new route, and I'll probably pass on the 101. Each to their own.
     
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  19. theorganist

    theorganist Well-Known Member

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    I don't think there is any conspiracy, it doesn't really make sense for it to be so.

    I have seen people asking for more complicated locos before and there was much annoyance when the cab car wasn't included in the first place. I would say it is likely an act of marketing genius by the developers.

    The class 380 is a modern EMU which presumably sells well otherwise DTG wouldn't make them.

    People have for years been asking for an LIRR upgrade, which is suddenly causing angst in some quarters. However I suspect DTG again have hit the marketing nail on the head with this one.

    Many say they don't listen, many will argue these releases show they do.

    These may be the official forums but that doesn't mean we are representative of the user base.
     
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  20. Disintegration7

    Disintegration7 Well-Known Member

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    I don't think DTG have the chops to pull that kind of conspiracy, even if they wanted to tbh.

    If the 380 comes to Cathcart with no TOD4 it's a big mistake and sales will surely suffer. I'm gonna wait to see how it actually develops.

    LIRR 2 issue was totally beyond their control. I don't have a problem with the solution either. Glad it's coming out soon!

    Expert locos were asked about in the surveys. I'm very much wait and see on this concept tbh. It could be very cool but depends on the execution.
     
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  21. cmadonna1998

    cmadonna1998 Active Member

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    I think your view is probably a little too cynical; I don’t think anything is being done intentionally by DTG. That being said, your points are exactly why the people who say things like “if you don’t like it don’t buy it” frustrate me so much. I think having community debates and giving feedback to DTG about why we are or aren’t buying a particular route or loco is important.
     
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  22. AtherianKing

    AtherianKing Guest

    well we are not always going to get TOD4 upgrades at least not yet anyways so i don’t see the pressure on the 380 to conform to that, are we banning all pre TSW3 routes from loco addons unless we get TOD4 route upgrades for them…

    Do people want those route to stop being empty 1 train routes or is the sky and lighting a bigger factor of whether that’s cared about.

    Personally I prefer loco addons focus on the loco rather than now need to allocate time for route upgrades concerning the lighting and sky.

    every train could be a different train when it comes to what the loco addon brings, and every train has opportunities and areas where it can’t solve everything.

    Peterbourgh to Doncaster is a pretty flat route, is the 91 potentially going on that affecting sales more than it would on say a more southern section of the ECML.

    DTG’s stats on selling and not have always been wonky, I don’t think the 380 is the hammer to loco dlcs, some people really just need to admit they don’t like it like potentially any other not act like it’s bringing the end of the franchise…
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2024
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  23. Crosstie

    Crosstie Well-Known Member

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    Although I'm looking forward to LIRR2, in the cold light of morning I might have preferred something more imaginative like a short line pick up freight with some ancient diesel road switchers.

    But, with the dearth of any US content, DTG had us salivating like a pack of Pavlovian dogs just at the thought of any American content.

    The only other thing we're likely to get this year is Metrolink Part 2, yet another commuter line.

    As far as testing the waters, if these two routes sell well, I think we can kiss US freight a final goodnight.

    The 380 has no interest for me, yet another joystick, prison-windowed emu on a route I can't drive after sunset.

    I have no opinion about the German loco, except to say that my toy box is already overflowing with red boxes.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2024
  24. andrewandjane66

    andrewandjane66 Well-Known Member

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    I think it is testing the water, but I don't think there are sinister motives.

    The questions are:
    Will people pay for new dlc for old routes? I suspect that's an easy yes as the 380 will populate stations and can be used in free roam/scenario planner.
    People have asked for route extensions. Are there enough people to pay the same price as a new route given that we could alternatively spend development time on new routes? That's more of an unknown. Personally I wouldn't buy LIRR but extend GWE and I would have to think twice.
    People have asked for expert versions of locomotives. Are there enough people willing to pay for these versions? I guess we'll find out.

    Ultimately the financial risk is on DTG, and if not enough people are interested one or more of these will go the same way as steam.
     
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  25. vuurkip#5765

    vuurkip#5765 Well-Known Member

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    I dont get why alot of people expect alot of american freight content. TSW 2020 had 3 passenger routes and only 1 freight route. Its always been passenger favored over freight when it comes to american railroads in this game. TSW 2 was the outlier with 4 freight routes and 2 passenger routes but if american passenger routes prove to be more popular than freight than dtg will keep making them. That doesn't mean that freight is completely out of the question. its just sometimes inside the passenger route like antelope similar to german and uk content
     
  26. CK95

    CK95 Well-Known Member

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    I’d say it’s a requirement when you have an asset that is developed & baked for what is a different version of the game engine. There are niggles with Cathcarts lighting in terms of the route yes, but the direct issue is that ToD3 isn’t compatible with ToD4 rolling stock. You end up with odd texture issues inside the cab, light bleeding, day heads becoming floodlights, PIS being invisible etc.

    It’s the hammer to anyone that wants something that isn’t a UK EMU, the only rolling stock DTG seem to want to make for UK routes.
     
  27. daanloman#3930

    daanloman#3930 Well-Known Member

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    although that is true. there seems to be a problem with TOD3 and TOD4 light compatibility. so you will get in essence a great new loco that you can only drive during the day without mist. because most people have no faith there will ever be a compatibility fix for that problem. Like the previous loco dlc I would love to have more than one train on a route, and it's the reason why routes using a lot of layers are prefered in my opinion. as long as it stays real with some years of wiggle room if it makes sense. a vectron dual mode on niddertalbahn is just weird unless a modern timetable with a 245 will be a thing one day. DTG is indeed listening a bit. after an insane amount of seemingly "here is the train that comes with the route on it's timetable, for the rest that drives there use free roam" to the vectron being on Salzburg - Rosenheim. according to a 30 second search, railpool ordered 6 vectrons in 2010. the rest after 2013. so imo it's a bit too prominent on the route. I'd like the chance to see one reduced personally. but the 612 on maintalbahn is just wrong. only 628's, 642's and 218's ran there. for that free roam is there. not to fix lazyness.

    for testing the waters of course. they do that with the survey and of course results of sales. I am betting they do read the messages here too but there is no saying for sure since there isn't always a response to what people say. leading threads like "enough is enough" to complain about something for weeks with no answers. on the inside there is also personal preference of the devs, what the knowledge about certain aspects is in house, licensing issues. and whatever makes the most money. I doubt there is any malicious intent. just sometimes having to make ends meet and a terrible communication towards the community about that.
     
  28. AtherianKing

    AtherianKing Guest

    My apologies i forgot train texture issues are unheard of among other users, so I take it in your view TSW2 routes on TOD3 are all off limits to addons then, that’s ok, that’s your view.

    So if something other than EMU comes up it’s fair for EMU fans to blast it as ruining the game as it puts a hammer to EMU fans ? Not every loco is going to be other than an EMU no need to blast everyone that comes up, feel free to advocate for others but no reason to blast what’s coming without good cause.

    edit; though if what you’re saying is true about putting new trains on older routes causes issues, I should be able to replicate and see what that is by spawning in say a 801 on Cathcart ?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 11, 2024
  29. mbjbjm#7281

    mbjbjm#7281 Well-Known Member

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    Why would they sell like hot cakes?
     
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  30. mbjbjm#7281

    mbjbjm#7281 Well-Known Member

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    This is really overthinking it. DTG don’t need to invest time and resources into products that they think won’t do well. They just won’t produce those things if they don’t want to.
     
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  31. CK95

    CK95 Well-Known Member

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    I’ve clearly twanged a nerve here by daring to paint an EMU in a negative light.

    I’m not in a position to dictate content releases & take your toys away, so calm the attitude.
     
  32. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    Because at least some of us are calling out for more classic UK traction than yet another claustrophobic electric box. Now whether a Deltic would be more popular than a 380, well the only proof of that will be if DTG actually made one. But my personal view is that it would be far more iconic and far more likely to encourage people to part with £14.99 or whatever the current average rate for a loco pack is. Probably far more Day One sales rather than wait and see, especially given it would be going on a recent and our longest UK route (ECML).
     
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  33. coursetim

    coursetim Well-Known Member

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    If the DTG sales really do show that all people want is modern EMUs and are staying away from more complex traction on purpose it makes sense to let a different company go and try Expert locos. Because there's no risk for DTG?

    Maybe UK Modern EMU content is DTGs safe space? Because the last risk they took was Steam content and they made a mess of it (lets be honest here it was left in a heap on fire and swept under the rug and now they refuse to acknowledge it after ripping off all the customers who bought it). We still haven't had any sort of apology for that either. But its been a very much "3rd parties are asking about it!" speech.

    I think its just genuinely that modern UK EMU content is a safe space for DTG and they don't need to risk going outside that box and they basically have no reason to want to? Like it makes them money whether its up to JT standards or not. Which I think is genuinely a shame because there are people in the DTG dev team like Matt, Liam etc who genuinely do a fantastic job and genuinely love what they do. Look at WSR its incredible :)
     
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  34. AtherianKing

    AtherianKing Guest

    I didnt say you were, I listed points, I don’t call you out, report the post if you think it’s attitude but I can’t find it.
     
  35. jack#9468

    jack#9468 Well-Known Member

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    Modern day, 1 handle box EMU routes obviously sell well. It's the only reason we have so many. We can want other things, but at the end of the day money dictates what happens.
     
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  36. AtherianKing

    AtherianKing Guest

    I agree the modern stuff looks to be selling well but top profit hasn’t always been a factor in dlcs, thankfully benefiting to the enthusiast side.
     
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  37. wcwood92

    wcwood92 Well-Known Member

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    The word “conspiracy” being used to describe a train simulator is, quite frankly, absurd.
     
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  38. lcyrrjp

    lcyrrjp Well-Known Member

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    I think this probably hits the nail on the head in describing modern EMUs as being a safe space for DTG. It does feel as if their confidence has taken a knock and now this is the only thing they’re really confident doing.

    But it’s a great shame, because they did an excellent job of the 20, 31, 33, 40, 45, 47 and 101 all that time ago, and there are so many opportunities to do more BR diesels and electrics. Furthermore, you can then use most of them on the same route and create a route with 5 to 10 different forms of traction, which you can never do with modern stock because each unit/loco has such a limited operating area.
     
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  39. NJR_B312

    NJR_B312 Member

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    Nice to see someone taking a reasonable outlook on EMUs vs stuff from the 80s as opposed to just going "this has one lever and a meh cab, me no like, therefore you shouldn't either" to be honest. Most of the discussions on that sort of thing just devolve into a war between fans of the stuff from the late BR era and people that grew up with modern stuff, resulting in them judging content in the way you'd judge a new weapon in a multiplayer shooter rather than by its authenticity and accuracy. Those sorts of arguments just make people like me that aren't too fussed by what era it is annoyed that people can't agree to disagree.
     
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  40. DTG Matt

    DTG Matt Executive Producer Staff Member

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    I always enjoy reading a good conspiracy theory. I'll let you all know when I find one. :)

    I can't actually remember the reasoning behind the 380 now... we decided it so long ago... but I think it was more a case of wanting to do something for Cathcart, still a fairly popular route, contributing something to the scottish scene etc. Testing loco DLC? not at all, very well aware loco dlc's are just fine - we don't do so many, because the loco teams are flat out keeping up with trains in the route packs. Nothing sinister here folks. Finding good train artists is actually really really difficult.

    The BR 101 expert line - that's a third party project. Nowt to do with Dovetail at all. I personally wouldn't do it, but I'm also really happy that they are - because at least here, I *am* interested to see what the feedback is for it. Consider the cab car a bit of a bonus, they had the time and resources to build it and fill that gap and decided that it would complete their expert pack nicely especially as they could fit up the cab car to expert levels as well. It is NOT to be understated how many hundreds of hours have been put into this pack by TSG.

    LIRR 2 - well, the inboxes were overflowing and we were somewhat drowning with requests to go back to LIRR. We put together a proposal to add the Long Beach branch and overhaul the route, in particular scrapping and replacing the entire signalling system (thanks Brandon!) and the timetable, adding a new loco and basically making a whole new product out of it. A chance to revisit and do it better. If it "fails" then that doesn't mean an end to extensions, i'm drawing up plans and options all the time for them to see what might fit a particular development window along with trains to consider and licensing. If this doesn't do well, then like anything, it'd be reviewed for all its pro's and con's and then learned from. We don't just draw simplistic conclusions like "hmm, lirr didnt do well, let's never do extensions, or the us, or emu's, or trains ever again".

    Matt.
     
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  41. RobertSchulz

    RobertSchulz Well-Known Member

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    A reason more to get in touch with community creators doing faboulous locos in the PC Editor Forum.

    Appreciate that, Matt.

    However, steam seems to have been proven to also not sell well and got abandoned because of it. Why wouldn't the same apply to a completely new niche product of yours, not even having good other examples in comparison, justifying a shopkeeper at the "first test" as the end of the entire product line in the future?

    What is also Focus role in this? I mean you're obviously the best man we could have in your position, but what would the business heads and CEOs at the top say about that?
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2024
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  42. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    Appreciate your input Matt. As regards the 380 it’s just such a bland train, very similar to what we already have and as already mentioned Cathcart has issues with lighting that need sorting to make a 2024 model shine in it.

    My tin foil hat has gone back into retirement.
     
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  43. chieflongshin

    chieflongshin Well-Known Member

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    I sometimes feel there's a bit of " we ask for" , but then "we don't want, we wanted" when things are tried

    I think a busier lirr will be interesting ans make it more intriguing. The 380 interesting but I think Glasgow night lighting needs sorting.

    The study level train I think is a great idea. So many people post " that's not prototypical" , "we want ebula" etc.... Now people are concerned.

    What a great opportunity to really learn a train
    .
     
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  44. daanloman#3930

    daanloman#3930 Well-Known Member

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    Shame but understandable. I hope one day Semmering will be more than a 1116 with Bmz coaches spam and show a variety of 1144, 5047's and of course the railjet in it's different liveries. a 4023 to add to the 4024 would be cool to see too. just take out one of the middle coaches. I genuinely enjoyed the special rescue services with the dispolok or that british diesel. or the RHTT services. those loco packs really spice up the railscene and options to drive different services. I personally can't wait to try out the expert loco, but from a marketing standpoint it's not the best idea to sink resources in. DTG have proven recently that they are really good at route building. And the quality of TSG's products means I have no fear that this will not be worth the money. something that can't be said about other third party developers.

    In the end I would like to know why the decision was made for only the Bmz coaches. in the stream there was even slight confusion there was only one model. I get that it takes time to make and research all the coaches. and to have all the possible 20 ish variations is a lot of effort. but after a month of asking by half the forum members on multiple threads and a lot of people in the stream chat. I am yet to hear an answer. I genuinely don't care if time, money, people to work on it or the availability of ÖBB to let you do research like for the 4024 sounds. I just want to know why there is decided for or against keeping certain stock in. I have no doubt the devs would love to have as matt said "all the loco's on all the routes in all time capsules. but to a lot of people, just a Bmz feels like the least amount of effort to get it done. of course it's logical since 80% of the players never get into the coaching stock. I'd like just the first class to start with. the 101 and N wagen do have the 1st and second class wagon, why can't ÖBB? I'd say a bordbistro and nightjet/euronight coaches would be a great next step. but that's for future. I hope the 1116 replaces the 101 on NJ services for KWG and others though.
     
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  45. mattwild55

    mattwild55 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the insights Matt, it's good to have you back on the forums dispensing cold water where required ;)

    With regards to the above quote though, if you replace 'LIRR' and 'extensions' with 'steam' then it looks to the community at large that is exactly what has happened - steam (or specifically Peak Forest) didn't sell well, now DTG don't look like they're interested in touching it again.

    I understand we've had the party line from Alex which kind of hints at third parties but it would be good to get some more clarification from yourself on the topic. Cheers!
     
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  46. theorganist

    theorganist Well-Known Member

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    Regarding steam I would like to know how well SOS sold, I get the impression it would have done well, presumably if it hadn't PFR wouldn't have even been considered. As has been said many times, if PFR was a relative failure then it was probably due to the scope of the route and the unfixed issues with steam. PFR is one of the best produced routes in my opinion and potentially very atmospheric but is let down by the poor timetable and the remaining issues with steam, hopefully the class 104 pack will turn it into the route it should have been from the start.

    LIRR I think has the potential to be one of the busiest routes in the game and one of the best routes. It never was due to the poor timetable and broken signalling, it has oft been argued that this route should get an upgrade.

    I also do feel that there are some on here who will complain vociferously that a route for example should be upgraded or remodelled and then when it is, it is the upgrade they wanted so they will complain vociferously again. I do feel that all owners of the original probably should have got a small discount, only steam users are which is a pity. However, as I haven't touched the original for a good few years as it was so disappointing, this will be like a new route and I am happy to pay for all the time used up upgrading the lighting, fixing the signalling, adding the extension and adding a new train. It seems some people think that is a couple of weeks work and should be free.

    Anyone expecting to get it for under £20 needs to give their head a wobble in my opinion, but they can wait a couple of years for a sale and it might be that cheap if they are so against paying more for it.
     
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  47. Lamplight

    Lamplight Well-Known Member

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    Really, PFR has so many things working against it, it shouldn’t be used as a benchmark for steam routes if that’s the problem. The timetable is woefully incomplete; neither ending point is satisfying; not only were the Jubilee and 8F not enhanced, the new 4F was borked in completely new ways; transition era route lacking transition diesels; etc.

    And all of this is coming from someone who adores PFR. It’s a fantastically atmospheric route and I love it dearly.
     
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  48. theorganist

    theorganist Well-Known Member

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    I agree with you, I should have been clearer. In terms of the modelling the route is well produced, it is the timetable and the issues with steam content which lets it down.

    I was one of the those complaining the most about the start and end points, however that is unlikely to change, at least if the new pack makes the route busier and in particular, for me, adds some self contained services it will be a much more usable route.

    The silent AI steam engines will still be extremely irksome however.
     
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  49. locobilly

    locobilly Well-Known Member

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    I'm all for current 1 train routes to have additional rolling stock added to it to bring it alive. That to me is more important than a lighting upgrade. I think DTG/3rd party devs should look at all their 1 train routes and see how they could be improved, specifically Glasgow - Edinburgh which is like a ghost line. An empty line with just one runner spoils immersion and more resembles the training track than anything else.
     
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  50. spikeyorks

    spikeyorks Well-Known Member

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    "Testing the water" or just tapping in to our fears? ;)
     
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