Alan Thomson Simulation – Northampton Loop For West Coast Mainline South

dunkrez ' Modern HST Cab pack is broken since release for some HSTs (breaking AP HSTs), I've filed two tickets on ATS to no avail. Some scripts are missing and instead of delivering them, they are ignoring it.

Ask me, the mistake made was to not publish it in cooperation with AP, and there's some kind of blocking due to distribution rights which may explain why the long awaited new AP MTU HST pack still isn't available.

 

yes, they are not perfect. They have also announced loads of routes over the years and never seem to finish most of them. I have publicly called this out on the facebook group in the past. Remember the Bittern Line? Transpennine Network merge? Manchester Airport and Crewe to Manchester? Stock-On-Trent to Manchester? I could carry on... what´s happenend to all of that stuff?
They also had password leak on the website a while back and I was using my password for other stuff and had to reset alot of things and was very stressed that day.

 

It's not about announcing things, it's about releasing seriously broken stuff and not fixing it, putting a bad light on the developers Alan has contracted, just because of some shady contracts. (See the changelog last being updated in 2023?)

If ATS announces and don't deliver, I can't be bothered. Surely some devs said goodbye and chose to publish on trainsimcommunity.com.

There was a free Workshop GEML Norwich extension which was withdrawn and reuploaded, again withdrawn by ATS because he wants to sell it as GEMMA Phase 2. (I do have a copy of that one )

 

do we know that to be fact or is this just hearsay on the internet?

Since when do they have anything to do with ATS? I only know of them to be a place for TSW mods?

 

I´m sorry Spikee, but this is just not true. The Gemma thing is a completly different route.... it has nothing to do with the old workshop thing from back in the day.I followed the streams for this project and a guy revamped the old GEML over 2 years in his spare time. I´m very certain the old workshop route was nothing close to that.

So all the others don´t do this? Even virtual railoads loco have minor bugs and imperfections. 3D Zug has problems, I won´t even start with Railtraction, RSSLO, DTG and all the others. Don´t they all? And they never fix everything.

 

Check trainsimcommunity again. It hosts content for TSC, TSW, SimRail, Run8 and others.

 

You have not read - the ATS Modern Cab pack breaks other devs' content, the MTU AP HST. You can only restore it by using backups and copying the old bins back selectively. It is unusable else, as the script will not work and the train cannot be operated, all smoke emitters are active etc.

So what keeps them from adding the three missing scripts (which are out there, I know.)?

Am I the only one who bought the Modern HST Cab pack?!?

 

okay, I did not know of this. I thought AP has withdrawn the MTU pack and is doing a new anyway? Complicated stuff. Can´t blame most people for using TSW ^^

PS: you never adressed my other points about Gemma beeing 2 years of work from a totaly different guy and all other devs also having bugs, that they never fix. I´m just trying to figure out why ATS is some super villian and all other devs are not. Maybe I´m wrong... I´m just asking questions.

 

The TSW HST looks pale in comparison (and has less functionality, ATP missing for example.)

Btw, as you are not really aware of trainsimcommunity, I'd recommend downloading the fantastic routes from OnTrackSimulation there. (Preston Blackpool in two variants, and an extended Tees Valley including York - Darlington ECML).

 

I know it from the time when I still played TSW and tried to get all the mods working. I was aware that they have a small TSC section, with nothing of interest to a German player.

 

German stuff is what rail-sim.de is for , just as ATS is not interesting for German players then.

 

So in your view there are just "a couple of people" who don't like the launcher.

But you are defending the use of it.

Why cannot ATS have the option where subscribers use the Launcher and and Non-Subscribers get an exe file?
I'm happy to get the extension at the Non-Subscriber price but without the use of the ATS Launcher.

 

The haters will hate, the skeptical will hesitate, the adventurous open minded enthusiasts will go forth and flourish! Each to their own. I personally have bought most ATS stuff and have been very happy.
Respectfully

 

In other words if we don't agree with ATS and your ideas then people are not open minded That is Not very Respectful.

 

In other works you are not seeing it for what it is. You need the Steam App to purchase TSC in the first place. Is this loader spyware? Maybe. Do you chose to use it. Of course since you are actively using TSC. If you wish to purchase DTG product can you just download the exe file? ATS has their own loader. It is your choice whether you purchase any of their product. Some of it is controlled via the loader, not everything. ATS has decided to employ a loader to help with their (apparently limited) clientele to reduce the email traffic of requests for downloads which did not execute effectively. It is their choice how they deploy their product. It is your right to choose whether to purchase or not. ATS has deployed new technology to help them service their clients. It may not be perfect. You simply have a choice.
THOSE who have a gripe with ATS for other reasons (excluding ATS's technology choice) should keep those opinions outside of this forum.
Respectfully

 

Wouldn't that indicate
a) flawed products
or
b) those downloading have been *dumbed down* enough to not know how to overcome the smallest of problems?

 

With all due Respect....

So they are dumbing it down for the rest of us and they are not giving anyone a choice

So this thread is about the Northampton Loop but because its an ATS Product we should not discuss it and related things?
And what is it to do with you?

 

Good morning Gary. I believe technology has moved on since when TSC first started out. It would appear that ATS is intent on bequeathing us with this new found technology (rightly or wrongly). Are they deploying the most up to date AI savvy peer to peer interface. Is there another 4.0 IT tool they are deploying to manage their backend data objects. We have no answers to how and why they have deployed such a tool. We as consumer simply have a choice. If you perceive it as flawed then simply don't purchase. I suspect they have deployed this type of interface to help establish control of product deployment and update from their end to simplify their processes. They are attempting to provide a product which has no flaws. IT architecture has moved on from simple FTP and drives to cloud based data structures such MS Azure and Snowflake. I suspect their solutions are leveraging the latest cloud technologies and marketing strategies and it no longer makes sense to maintain a simple html click to download solution.
I am sure there is a technical reason behind their strategy. Your choice to use! Alternatively keep browsing through the fragmented UKTS files which have been scattered.

 

Even though that is what most DLC, Payware and Freeware, comes in.
Most of the add-ons on ATS do come in a Click to Download form.

 

Simple scenarios yes. Their latest packaged routes no. This latest offering is one complete package unlike the previous 5.3 which has a lot of dependencies.

 

Have you got any evidence to support your assertion that the Steam client "might be spyware"?: I think a great many people working in the video game industry would be keen to see such.

 

The previous 5.3 was introduced many years ago - probably before you started with TSC - and was ok for its time as Freeware.
ATS did not build the route - they just host it.
WCMLSv5.rar was uploaded to UKTS on 30 Aug 2018 - just under 6 years ago and that was an upgrade from an earlier version.

 

Most of that package we already have installed--WCML-S
They've added 20 odd miles of track, infrastructure and scenery. That does not need some *wonderful* piece of software to distribute and/or update!

 

Ok Mr Negativity! (Gary) We hear your moaning loud and clear!

 

Peter the only items which ATS have as mandatory installer are complete routes. There are 7 of them. This is not unlike what Steam does.
Respectfully

 

Dear Mr Rose Tinted Glasses....

If pointing out the blindingly obvious is being negative, I'll plead guilty.
We'll never change each other's minds, so is the solution to give users the choice of installation method?

No...Steam does not insist that you download another installer to install game content.

 

When I first bought TS2014 on a disc I didn't expect it to require me to download an installer either.

 

Gary, quite simple. Don't buy ATS Routes.
My opinion, ATS provides robust routes and I am happy to entertain the technology provided. Do I think it is spy ware? I do not believe this is the intent of the application, no more than Steam actively talking across the web real time with my Steam data. Do I trust ATS with my financial info - no I use Pay Pal.
Respectfully

 

Kilt...I'm not saying that anybody should shy away from ATS, only pointing out what quite a few feel is a flaw in the delivery mechanism.
The installer isn't the reason why I don't buy from ATS.

 

According to Wikipedia, Train Simulator 2014 was released on Steam in two editions. The Steam Edition was released on 26 September 2013, and the Standard Edition on 7 October. Retail versions were available from October that year.
Train Simulator 2016 was released on Steam on 17 September 2015 as Train Simulator 2016: Steam Edition.

So yes, the insistence on Steam being the only delivery channel didn't exist in 2013/14 but you still didn't have to install a new 3rd party installer when the move to Steam only occurred

 

So if you DONT buy from ATS how do you know ANYTHING about the installer? Why all the negativity about something you have no experience about?

 

Because I read what people like you say about it, and measure that against what those on the other side of the argument post.
How sure are you that I haven't downloaded the installer and tested it?

 

I find it strange how reading between the lines of information on this forum there is a desire to put other people off using certain DLC Sites. Facts and Data - (since I have procured the majority of DLC that JT, AP and ATS sell), my own experience would suggest that there is technically nothing wrong with the ATS installer. Does it feel like the slickest validation software? Compared with the wealth of other packages I experience in my day to day like as an IT professional I would say is no. Does it do the job - yes. Can I get this DLC content from ATS that I cannot get elsewhere - no. These routes specifically are not offered elsewhere and are what require the installer
https://sites.google.com/view/trainsimulatorcontent/uk-routes/chat-moss
https://sites.google.com/view/trainsimulatorcontent/uk-routes/kings-lynn
https://sites.google.com/view/trainsimulatorcontent/uk-routes/leeds-line
https://sites.google.com/view/trainsimulatorcontent/uk-routes/wcml-midlands-missing-link
Respectfully

 

You're not the only one. I bought the Modern HST cab pack and it broke my AP MTU Network Rail power cars. They just emit smoke and are unresponsive. Haven't tested all of the other liveries but FGW and Cross Country are fine for me. Also it says on the website it works with the EMT Buffered (Angel) power cars but I still get the old cab on those.

Hopefully AP's new HST pack will solve all this when it releases, assuming ATS update their cab to work with it.

 

My boxed edition of Railworks (c. 2009) clearly states on the back that a Steam account and client download are required for it to work.

 

My hope is that AP will make a deal with dunkrez, and his cabs become default for all AP HSTs. I don't know what deal he made with ATS though, and have a feeling there's a problem not allowing him to comment.

 

Have you reported that bias to the moderation team?

 

I think I will stop using this forum. I hear you have managed to become a problem on previous iterations of TSC forums. You will not hear from me again.
Good day!

 

You have problems answering questions?

 

Yes they do.
Chat Moss (Liverpool to Manchester)
Most of the West Anglia route is their work but they added a reworked ECML to the project.
Norwich to Sheringham is on the way which is a Wherry Lines add-on.
Ipswich to Norwich is also a work in progress which is technically an add-on to their GEML Updated route.
Oh nearly forgot WCML Missing Link (Stafford to Preston or Liverpool) and the Doncaster/Leeds/York add-on for ECML.

 

The line between Edge Hill and Manchester Victoria has never been released on Steam.
The DTG line from Liverpool Lime St goes via Warrington Central to Manchester Oxford Road/Piccadilly

 

Both are pretty good drives, in fact, it's been so long, I might have a run along the DTG one later.

I doubt the ATS Chat Moss route will ever appear on Steam. You probably know this already but they're doing a Trans-Pennine route merge to include Liverpool to York with both of the Manchester terminals and apparently it also includes Manchester Airport. Not sure whether it will go any further east or north from York. That's probably a long enough run!

 

In the Alan Thomson facebook group I just saw it seriously claimed that doing a file verification would wipe out ALL third party installs on your TSC folder... I am beginning to understand why these people need a launcher to install the simplest stuff.... Hopefully they'll at one point make a deal with someone able to distribute their stuff for adults as well.

 

It's interesting that *those* people have been described as "advanced players" and "adventurous open minded enthusiasts" in this thread....

 

Not entirely representative of the whole ATS group though is it, there's a lot of knowledgeable people there just as there are here, just like there are novices and the "my mate told me so it must be true" crew, the ATS group isn't really any different to this or any other community group (asides the fanboys of course they deserve a special place in sweaty ass crack hell)

But I guess here or even UKTS in its day never had anyone post misinformative posts eh, I guess that makes a few posts a fair and broad representation then?

Anyway throw all that aside.. When the hell did two groups that both like trains and both like TSC become them and us? Grow up!

 

No, but my point was that instead of the ATS membership being composed of the elite, it is exactly the same as any other group...those who can, those who can't.