Appologies if this has been done to death... I have TSW2, and find it nigh on impossible to read the trackside signs during a sunny day as anything in the shade has almost no ambient lighting (this probably explains why Matt would tend to select Cloudy when doing his videos). As far as I'm aware there's no way to adjust the settings. From what I've heard TSW3 (and hopefully 4) have better lighting, so two questions: I know that there's been dissatisfaction with the frequent releases, but would the upgrade be worth it? If the lighting is better, is it only for maps designed for TSW3/4, or for TSW2 maps too? Many thanks
It’s better in comparison, but I wouldn’t go so far is it’s good. IMO TOD4 has the opposite issue of previous iterations - they were too dark & this one is too bright. It’s one of things that’s stopping me from playing as much lately, playing with the sun just washes everything out too much.
It is only for maps designed for TSW3 and onwards. Old route like London Undergroung Bakerloo Line still have the dark lighting. However, these routes also have the updated lighting: Naverkehr Dresden Cathcart Circle Line Sherman Hill Southeastern Highspeed West Somerset Railway And Boston Sprinter (NEC: Boston - Providence) As for whether it is worth upgrading - the real question is whether or not you want the routes that come with a new TSW. If you do not want the routes, then it is probably better to wait for a later iteration of TSW. Personally, I love the new lighting!
The black sticky tar over everything on the ground in TSW2 was replaced by often bleached out over bright sometimes even shiny effect in 3 and 4. Not to mention the dreadful flare entering and leaving tunnels which owes more to how cameras react to sudden changes in light, than the human eye. Sadly DTG have yet to be convinced this does not look natural and, unless that’s about to change in TSW5, seem incapable of adding in even the most basic of sliders to adjust brightness, contrast and gamma.
Don't forget Boston Sprinter. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't that actually the very first one to be upgraded? Debatable whether you include LIRR as it is a whole new paid release, but it is still an upgrade on what used to exist, same vein as SEHS.
Personally I think it is far better. I don't enjoy the older routes now so much despite some of them being my favourites. Noon on a summer's is like 7am on a summer's day. Some cuttings are very dark for instance. Maybe the post TSW3 lighting has gone too much the other way and sometimes it seems a bit washed out but I think it is a lot better. The difference between the old Cathcart route and the new is palpable. I also like the lighting effects when you leave a tunnel but understand it's troublesome for some.
I believe the entire colour spectrum of (unmodded) TSW3/4 can be summed up in a single song title: "A Whiter Shade of Pale"
Thanks all for your answers, I prefer German routes and it doesn't look like any of the ones I own have been updated so it looks like a bit of a toss-up.
Or, perhaps they simply don't know how to do fine detail adjustments of it within the confines of the aspects of UE4 they are familiar with working within, and consider this "good enough".
Lighting, whether you're talking about daylight, night time, headlights or the eye adaptation effect, has always been an Achilles heel for TSW. They sometimes get it half right but most of the time it's problematic in one way or another. Daytime lighting often looks bleached out, night lighting is often notable by its absence, that sudden burst of light on exiting a tunnel looks completely artificial and headlights ( especially on US trains ) are woeful.
