Here is an idea for loco DLC's. Not sure if it should be in the suggestions section or not. If It should, mods feel free to move it. I noticed recently that bus simulator 21 did a thing with it's tram DLC where even if you haven't bought the tram DLC you can still see and ride on the trams. It just wouldn't be drivable. What if for TSW loco DLC's they did something similar. For example The Class 380 comes out. Players that don't buy it could ride on it around the circle but ALL cab doors would be locked and gaurds panels and staff areas would be inaccessible to the player. Buying the loco would allow them to access these areas and use the train on free roam, scenario planner, livery designer, etc and would unlock other layers to routes that the train was released for. For example, you could ride the 380 on CCL but you wouldn't see it on Edinburgh to Glasgow til you buy it. Of course, this would be toggelable in the settings if you didn't purchase certain trains cause you don't want to see them. Let me know your thoughts below. I can understand why this might not be a good marketing wise but it's just an idea really.
It would be a big loss for DTG because they would sell a lot less routes and a lot more single trains. And the routes with the train included are obviously more expensive. Not to mention that both TSW and TS include the assets of the various trains within the routes. You want to run the DB 101? You also have to buy the HRR. The ICE3 403, Munich-Augsburg and so on. This is their business, do you want to destroy it?
It is a logical idea yes but no doubt people would find away to break the restrictions XD as said above yeah it would be a big loss for DTG massive infact
SimRail have done this with their cargo pack. Even if you don’t own the DLC the ET22 still appears as AI or on player trains where it’s the nominated motive power. So in principle, yes I agree with the proposal. Look no further than the Cathcart makeover where to get the full benefit of the new layers you are going to need to buy including the Class 380 and reskinned 158, the latter presumably not having any (or many) actual driveable services.
And who wouldn't approve? Customers would all approve. But many routes are purchased solely because you "unlock" and use elsewhere the train you like. Or conversely you buy and pay for the umpteenth time the copy of a train that you already own just because you are interested in the route. This is what DTG does. Even the new Pro Evolution Soccer (I don't remember the name) by Konami is entirely free, including annual roster updates. Yet Fifa continues to sell and be paid full price every single year. * By the way, SimRail should be released soon(?) on consoles too.
It would be a great feature for us as players… in my case, I don’t buy any of the freight enhancement/expansion packs because I (almost) exclusively drive passenger trains, but I’d certainly love the added AI and static stock if the trains from the packs were visible in timetable mode without having to buy them! On the other hand, they would remove a lot of the value from the loco DLCs themselves. After all, a big feature is the addition of AI services, resulting in a fuller timetable and a better experience no matter what you’re doing on the route. If they give that part of a DLC out for free, I reckon they’d need to reduce the price of the loco DLCs since you’re now only paying for the right to drive a train you can already see in-game. It’s a thin line - great for the players, not so great for the business side of things.
I think it’s a good idea. It frustrates me that I have routes which are empty because I don’t have the loco/unit DLC as it’s one I have no interest in driving. Paying that sort of money just have AI trains doesn’t feel right when I’ve already paid for the route (which I think should include AI traffic). From a commercial perspective (which is ultimately how DTG will take their decision) I can see people being tempted to buy a DLC having seen the train on their route, when they might not have done otherwise.
Even if the loco cab is accessible, but the "you don't have permission" alert comes up when you try to take control, like with off map services. I can see the benefits for this, so I'd love to see it!
I would like of course, but as others already said, AI layers are a considerable part of the value of the Loco DLC. Not to mention as well that even if not drivable, there is an effort put on by DTG to do the loco. Would be quite a bad business decision for DTG, which if I where they I would only do under very special circumstances.
I was going to vote yes with grievances and consider it having no chance considering it’s not in DTG interests possibly possibility due to the way things work in TSW but having re-read the implementation route suggested I’m voting no. Due to it becoming an in game advertisement, I think it’s a bad company what does that (advertising products of their own in game typically dlc) very sinister behaviour I find it to be, EA has done similar with the Sims and I oppose that. It moves to the turn what should be 100% a game to being a pay to see adverts. I forsee a lot of currently unknown effects and ultimate decisions branching from it from this implementation, I think it’s better to avoid that road and not go down it.
Didn't LIRR at one point have "blacked out" Amtrak stock for static/AI. No clue if it made it into TSW2 (as the real Amtrak stuff was lost until Boston Sprinter released) but I seem to recall it on the TSW2020 edition, originally. I may be wrong. Point is - something like that. Reducing lag, too, by not having the interior modelled, even if not the prettiest thing ever.
