Exactly. I doubt the majority of players want an unrealistic timetable. The backlash to New York to Trenton proves that. 65 Lioness Line services that is advertised as being a major part of this route when there should be around 144 services along with the number of ECS services is just not acceptable and there certainly would've been backlash It just feels like DTG prioritize getting things out of the door if it means getting immediate earnings. They keep talking about having standards, and listening to feedback but honestly there are too many times that it doesn't seem to be the case
nope, it read as "you cannot please all the people, all the time, but our info shows that for most of the time what we produce is well received"
that's fair enough, i know i and a fair few others have felt disappointed regarding the timetable mode (especially after being given genuinely great timetables with last years ECML and Goblin line) but ultimately we all want the same thing, to have the best version of TSW possible.. just keep us updated and i really hope some things can be added and enhanced with this timetable in the not too distant future
The producers 'just' lose a lot of money, unless they 'take precautions'.. Some might say that's a 'good incentive' to 'get involved'.. Isnt Matt a producer..?
I'd agree there, but you'd have to admit that the WCML hasn't met that benchmark, hence the criticism. Would you say that's a fair point? Would you also agree that the feedback you receive here (where constructive), is useful to help move things forward, and that if a common theme is ignored then that would mark a failure either technologically or directionally?
On the PS5 and the 390 motor sound loops are a bit strange. You can hear the gaps between sound loops
I'm curious about compatibility mode for the free version in combination with Birmingham Cross-City and Conductor mode. According to the FAQ, conductor mode doesn't work for owners of the free version (even with compatible routes), but that information was created before it was announced that TSW5 will enable a non-recommended version of conductor mode for this route.
That we can agree on. The game is much much better than it was in the TSW2 era and is clearly moving forward. With that said however, obviously we can’t pretend to know what goes on behind the scenes or the pressures you are under, but to many of us (and I’m not speaking on anyone’s behalf but paraphrasing conversations I’ve had) the progress of the game is absolutely glacial. Features get added which don’t really work but then never get developed further and long standing problems still haven’t been rectified (8 years and 7 iterations and we still cannot save a game reliably, and even if we could there is a single save slot for the whole game). We watched a stream last night where you demonstrated ‘conductor mode’ which is a new feature of TSW5 and all we saw was a major station with zero passengers, not a single one. We had TSW Rush Hour that was meant to add many more passengers to the game to make it feel realistic, yet here we are 3 iterations of the game later and Frankfurt station has no passengers. I don’t know about anyone else but I found it painful to watch, even more so because it wasn’t even acknowledged. There is no consistency from DLC to DLC which is amply demonstrated by the 3 launch routes for TSW5. We spoke a while back about a checklist to ensure features were included (what happened to that?) yet we still get trains where rain doesn’t land on the windscreen (including on the £30 expert 101 which is, frankly, beyond a joke and still hasn’t been patched). I could almost write a thesis on it but then it’s only a computer game, there are far worse things in the world. We’re all still here buying the content and willing it to improve and I enjoy the game despite the frustrations. TSW5 should have been another step forward on the journey but instead all the signs are that what we’re getting is a bit of a mess. We’ll find out in a couple of hours but It looks to me that the new features add very little to the game (I still really don’t get the point of this route hopping at all) and the ones that made my ears prick up then turn out to be half a job (track shadows). The collective ’you’ tell us one day that ALL TSW5 locos will have suspension then less than a week later tell us that’s not actually the case. Suspension, remember, was meant to be a TSW4 feature. All I’m saying is that at this stage I would rather hope that this sort of thing wouldn’t be happening anymore. There has to be a point where someone takes responsibility for it, takes it by the scruff of the neck and sorts it out. Perhaps trying to please the largest number of players possible is the issue? I don’t know. It’s nothing personal at all, but I do find it increasingly hard to watch these streams where there are pretty sizeable issues with the game there for all to see and they never even get acknowledged while everyone has a good old laugh. All well and good, but we’re paying a lot of money for this & the joke is slowly beginning to wear a little bit thin. I’ll shut up now. Despite everything I’m looking forward to getting the game.
I mean you could take anything that's said in a negative way if you want. But, no, I value the opinions and views of everyone - but that doesn't mean I can meet everyones expectations all the time. I totally understand the feedback. We worked hard to get the timetable to the level it's at, and accept there's a shortfall against expectation. I'm looking at options to see what we can do, and am not in a place to make any promises yet about what form that might take or a timeframe, but if I can make something happen, I will. The feedback on the forum is useful in many ways (when constructive), but it also doesn't necessarily always represent the majority view. I hear from a lot of people here and other places that ECML is a terrible route with a poor experience and why on earth did we make it... yet player numbers show it as the most popular route people play (by some margin). Again, ECML will hit the mark for many, and not for all. But yes, I'm regularly here and reading what you're all saying and trying to accommodate the requests that I can into the updates and content that we make. Matt.
The "will it work" "wont it work" feature list is for people who *ONLY* get the starter pack. It has no scenarios, so it has a cross. It has nothing to conductor mode, so it has a cross. If you have content that contains those features, then it will work just fine, the features are there in the core game but need content that works with it. Matt.
Hi Matt, I was referring to the 'compatible content' box in the overview, not the free starter pack list. Kind regards, LunaVisits
Just watching Dad Rail's video which is the first I've seen - in all honesty the line really looks quite decent at a brief first glance and I was glad to see some 350s stabled in the Camden sidings and some freight dumped by Wembley, I was worried it would be a little like Hoo on the SEHS originally and feel really dead. However, it does feel very empty - I feel like we have barley passed any 72s/710s on the DC line and not much traffic coming the other way. The 4 car 350s everywhere are a little jarring as well. I had hoped for the magic moments you get on the BML where you depart at the same time as another 377, and then realise a 465 is pacing you on the SE side, and then get passed on both sides by 2 trains coming in as well. This can happen at Euston as well where a 350, 390 and 710 pretty much depart at the same time, and I fear that is what is lacking with this cut back timetable.
Not sure where ECML came in as I referred to the WCML..? One is good, one looks at the moment considerably less so wrt background issues less to do with the route per-se (lighting etc).
Biggest single one for me. Adjusting my playing card randomiser list with the three routes arriving later, I now have over 50 routes in TSW and it is quite possible I want to break off a run on one to start another which might also need to be saved. Run 8 supports infinite save slots. TSC allocates a save slot for each scenario. Yet TSW still refuses to budge and whenever the question is raised, it gets stonewalled. If there is a real technical issue then let us know, but otherwise please task one of the programmers to look at and implement it. Even three slots would be better than what we have now.
Adding to your point, playing an immersive shift pattern is not really viable without a well performing save function either.
I see what you mean - that's because Birmingham was never intended to launch with conductor mode at release, so the statement remains true. I think the reality is that Birmingham *has* updated with conductor mode, however, I'm not convinced it's working properly so expect an update. There's at least two other back cat routes that I can think of that are getting or already have conductor mode added too for release at some point in the future. Still not promising if any further back cat routes will get the feature added, just letting you know where things are at right now. Matt.
Whilst not a solution, on PC you can manually move the save-file elsewhere and then put it back when you wish to use it, allowing for multiple saves. Thank you Matt, it's always great to hear when older content gets new features.
ECML for me is still my number one go-to route, as somebody who lives on part of the section you created you genuinely nailed it for me, it's incredibly well modelled, the timetable is excellent, frankly it's everything i could ask for in a route. If you're currently taking notes my number one wish in the entire game is for this route to be extended to York But genuinely other than hoping the ECML does one day become Peterborough - York, the ECML you created is for me personally the best route you've created so far Matt.
Multiple Save Slots - I don't see why we can't sort that, i'll add it to the list to discuss with engineering. Full fix on save/load - That's much harder to solve, but i'll go talk to people and see what the issues are. Suffice to say - that one is death by a thousand paper cuts, not one or two big issues. Matt.
Alright, at the moment I’m playing WCML and tbh the experience is pretty alright so far. My biggest issue that hasn’t already been addressed (timetable, branding, PIS), really is that most Class 350 services are only 4 coaches in game, whereas in reality they’re almost all 8 coaches. Please tell me this is in the pipeline to be fixed at some point soon?
Yes the old picking up a second service and finding the objective data hasn't saved/restored. WCMLS is a route where it would be great to do a fictional driver's diagram, Pendie out to MKC, work a 350 back in then a round trip on the DC. But that's only feasible if the save game stands up over working the several services.
Wow, look at the plethora of bugs coming out of WCML. Some PS5 builds even have the LNWR Branding still in
Thanks Matt. I cross posted so sorry to have to respond again. Not sure whether the issue is that the objective data doesn't save in the first place, or fails to load but as you're no doubt aware when you load back in to the subsequent service the LH top clock and objective data fails to display, along with the objective lollipop.
Especially when the DLCs are so "independent by nature" that we need 27 versions of C66, why can't each route DLC have a save slot?
Just wanted to say that I appreciate you dropping in on the thread so thankyou for that Matt. I know that you guys are taking everything in but sometimes it does feel like certain things are ignored a lot more than others. Is there any way of DTG looking at providing a more substantial answer or discussion towards issues like Steam? Rather than nothings being worked on as a lot of us put our money into that on promises, fixes and features that haven't materialised. As it's incredibly frustrating to be left high and dry like that.
DTG Matt This highlights perfectly what I’m talking about. Someone has just sent this to me which is a screenshot from someone currently streaming the PS5 version of WCMLS. Surely we can agree that something is very very wrong with the development processes and quality control. How does this even happen? In case there’s any doubt, those are meant to be wheelie bins.
Makes me wonder if that's the case for PC and if so, will any modder be able to find a toggle to activate it?
Ok *that* one will be a single core engine fix, i'll add that one to the engineering task list (or go find it and bump it up anyway, pretty sure it's there already). Matt.
Just running my first service from MKC to Euston in the 350 on Series X. Random observations: Performance is good so far, but let's see how that holds up closer to London and once all DLC is installed. Model seems nice. I don't know the authenticity of the sounds, but the volume seems ok. Timetable isn't too tight with timings Occasional audio popping Overall lighting seems better but need to see it in more conditions. Lack of suspension on the 350 is glaring- ETA on fix? That's what i've got so far waiting for departure at Apsley
Nope. I suspect it's someone who hasn't allowed their console to take the latest update and they've managed to run the preload version. Our in-house retail PS5 doesn't have the branding and neither do any other console platforms, nor the PC. While i'm sure some enterprising person will mod some branding on by reskinning, it's not just "toggled off" Matt
I would add that this is also a problem when taking trains over from on foot when they're in the middle of a service. It's easily replicable with certain services - routes I've noticed that suffer from this include ECML, Glossop and Trenton at the very least. As an example, load in on foot at 10:30am at Newark on ECML and take over the train sitting in the platform in front of you - once passengers are loaded, it doesn't acknowledge the fact you've closed the doors and so you can't complete the service. It makes certain routes almost impossible to play when starting on foot, as I and I'm sure others prefer to do.
Don't have an ETA on it - but I think the 377 is done ready to start testing etc so there's progress at least. Matt.
Ah ok - possibly that got washed in with all the other litany of lightbake issues particularly in Euston. We are getting parts of the route rebaked, Euston is already done as are a couple of the stations, and tunnels are in progress. Matt.
Matt, can you confirm whether or not there is a fix coming for the formations of the 377 and 350 to convert services from 4 coaches to 8?
Haven't checked it personally - but that would be the intention, and if it hasn't, it'll get done again! Matt.
well, I bit the bullet and bought TSW5 special edition for the 3 routes I didn't have already. Ok, there are a few issues with the lighting and the timetable being short of some services but so far it seems to run ok. All content that should be there is there (all 9 routes + the 2 trains) and previous content is not present as expected. As far as LNWR branding is concerned, there isn't any in my build (601) on PS5 (except on the bottom of the PIS station screens). Also, the LO Suffragette Line, Bremen and NY - Trenton installed on TSW4 to play.
Last post on it as you don’t need me droning on anymore. Exactly this though is the crux of my point. How is it that this happens? Why are there light baking issues and how have they made it to release? Why is there not, by now, a perfected process for adding lighting to tunnels that is replicated 100% of the time across all developers. Why is it still a lottery? In other words why are we, the customer, effectively rolling the dice everytime we buy something as to whether or not we’re getting something good (which a lot of DTG’s post-TSW4 content has been) or something like this. I hope you can see where I’m coming from. I watched a very interesting interview with Adrian Newey this morning about his move to Aston Martin, his philosophy and how he turns around mediocre teams to be championship winners. It’s really excellent, and I’ll certainly be taking onboard a lot of what he says. As he talked about the Red Bull engineering team when he joined them my mind jumped straight away to DTG (in the context of WCMLS). I don’t know if there are parallels but you might find it interesting.
