General North American 3rd Party News (non Dramatic Version)

Schnauz checks Reppo's new GP60M out:

 

Nicely done. Running on Marias Pass
I don't have Raton Pass but these are at home on Arizona Divide.

 

No wonder he complained about the colour and looks. I was wondering why stuff looks better on my system.

At one time he notes he's using RWE with a setting to remove the "shine" - this apparently also kills any metallic surface reflection (probably the texture alpha channel is ignored for reflective shaders) and the locos look a bit like plastic in his video.

Also that cloudscape is a bit tricky - as the lighting still works like Fair Cloud it suggests the sun is shining through the clouds, but the cloudscape gives an impression everything should be much darker. That makes the scene look a bit off here. (Using a real AP (non-core) weather, the lighting will change many times between darker and brighter. The RailSimulatorCore RW_Cloudy.bin replacement is static though. (I've studied all the blueprints)

Judging texture colouring is best done choosing 3D Overcast weather at noon (Dynamic Clouds!), with diffuse neutral lighting, though I agree the red is a tad too strong.



Schnauzahpowahz please use AP shaders only when presenting DLC

And btw. HIS cannot make APSWEP a requirement, that's not possible if you're distributing on Steam. Gary is mostly using core RW_Cloudy ("2. Cloudy") which is automatically replaced if you have the AP pack installed, as AP replaces these core weather blueprints for QuickDrive, so it fits both AP and vanilla players without needing adjustments. (AP replaces RW_Clear, RW_Cloudy.bin etc. with AP weather blueprints anyway.)

I think for you I won't need the almost mandatory disclaimer ("only my opinion", "you're of course free to use whatever enhancer you want" bla bla)

Cheers,
Pete

 

Schnauz' review leaves me with a mixed feeling, for I think as a ProRange product it is slightly lacking in features, sounds and physics and execution.

Seems like textured edge wear is the new trend. It needs to be applied selectively, on edges that actually wear and not as a general tool to make a model look 'sharper' while the effect actually is the opposite.

The BNSF cab should look different, esp after the modernisation.

Are there 'patched' locomotives for the transition period?

Other than these casual remarks, it is a welcome addition nevertheless.

 

For the most part i like them..but in the video when he tested the horn and was trying to figure it out ..its a kinda off sounding K5LA but back when these engines came new out of the factory they had a Nathan K3la horn that sounded really good i pulled out a dvd i have in my collection that has old footage of GP60m s back when they were newer and the K3LA s blasting by at 70 plus mph was impressive ..to bad that when any engine is made for train simulator games they should research what factory and RRs used a standard horns and try to use the best horn sounds they can ..in TSC some of the horn sounds are great others not so great ..

 

Latest screenshot from Milepost (with words of a diesel loco is also gonna be included):

 

There is definitely a tonal difference between this and other KL5A recordings. This seems somehow muted and has less high end frequency.

 

Good god you guys, what's the easiest thing to change if you wish, it's horn sounds. Give it a rest.

 

It was only an observation not a criticism.I have already changed it.

 

It's easy to change yeah, but what is wrong with pointing out errors in a release. Not every user is comfortable replacing and editing files.

 

As a user I do not expect to modify any of the code for anything purchased via Steam. I have seldom found any Steam product which did not work (sure some of the Career scoring may not be optimized, however, that is not a deal breaker for me). I have no issue with other users suggesting optimization for sold DLC. Whether anyone pays any attention to these suggestion is unlikely. I am just happy to discover new areas of the world where I can enjoy all that God made and the challenges of driving a loco in these environs. For me I do not spend much time outside of the cab reviewing the details of the loco/rolling stock.
Everyone has their opinion and reason for purchasing this fantastic product. Years and years of enjoyment!
Respectfully

 

DT, Is there anything on the Earth you don't want to argue about?

 

Stop being wrong and I won't need to argue <3

 

I sometimes think that if a North American developer says the sky is blue that somebody will still argue with them.

 

I think it's how these forums are.
Except British content is mostly sold by 3rd parties so not much to discuss, and most of them look pretty, they are the ones still in business.
Could argue about German ecosystem stuff as well, but their target audience might be more practical and solve it. Such as Mr Fixr.
Even then I believe Gary's style (hyping and praising) stuck a nerve at one point and that gets rubbed. Didn't check the author but this Reppo DLC was also extraordinary depiction of the fantastic.

I agree that some are either glass-half-empty or perfectionists.
In my case it helps that I'm playing a spectrum of content - mostly low demand old content - so I can accept when something is mediocre.
After all my main argument against 3rd party stuff is that it's expensive, which is a difficult math but my average train cost me 5€ and the average route 15€. And the ones with high detail models reward me with 10 fps (such as the E18 pack from 2012).

It's kinda like food. If I'm eating on a budget, anything goes. Sometimes I end up eating Michelin for two weeks and then I can't stomach a burger or a potmeal. So I get the attitude. Heck, playing Kuju after some mid-high DLC it feels. Just don't feel the need to rub others about it (anymore).

 

I am not that much of a perfectionist since I've never seen those trains and routes with my own eyes. Photographs and period videos are my reference, so why can't they be the developers also?

I want value for money, a product to deliver what's been promised. Quality over quantity. Execution over abundance.

And I want routes and rolling stock sold separately.
Kuju's, RSC's and DTG's old stock USA assets don't cut it anymore in today's full price releases.

No matter the hyperbole in HIS' advertising and the continuous zealous praise in certain circles.

I won't buy sub par DLC of the same repetitive 'going over the Pass' theme with the same cut-copy-paste locomotives and crappy rolling stock at full price. Once the bugs have been squashed, enhancements made (if any), the next Steam sale is around the corner and a decent discount available.

Has the included NP themed rolling stock been announced yet, including the important appropriate caboose (plural)?

There used to be a guy who made all kinds of enhancement packs for USA content, correcting physics, emitters, sounds, etc. Is he still doing this?

 

You will find a lot on the Train Sim Community site for North American content and a few for European. https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/mods/c1-train-sim-classic

 

Thanks, that's quite some treasure trove.
Given the dearth of decent and different from the threaden bare theme of :passes' (in my eyes at east);I haven't played TSC with US content much of late.
My simulation hours are mostly spend on Run8 and Railroader, both sims with a far better grasp of NA railroading.

And studying how it's done allows me to do the same to some of the mediocre NA DLC I'll probably buy in the next Steam sale.

 

More Milepost screenshots, confirms that Northern Pacific diesels will be in the route.

 

"And I want routes and rolling stock sold separately.
Kuju's, RSC's and DTG's old stock USA assets don't cut it anymore in today's full price releases.

No matter the hyperbole in HIS' advertising and the continuous zealous praise in certain circles."
Complain moan complain.................Rinse and repeat.

 

Pardon but what are you replying to?

 

"And I want routes and rolling stock sold separately.
Kuju's, RSC's and DTG's old stock USA assets don't cut it anymore in today's full price releases.

No matter the hyperbole in HIS' advertising and the continuous zealous praise in certain circles."

 

Pardon, who are you quoting? One should put the source next to the quote.

 

Ah found it, was posted 20 days ago.

 

Hahaha, no idea. Is the text that matters, not the name of the forum name person.

 

Milepost shared a route map for the upcoming route
Really looking forward to taking searchlight's upcoming MILW sd40 and sd45 on it

 

I'd certainly disagree, it's useful to be able to to see who posted it and when to read the context of the conversation in which something was posted instead of cherry picking quotes without attribution.

 

Each time I'm thinking "will this be the last US route?"... keep it up Jon!

 

If I remember right this actually is supposed to be milepost's last route, but I'm not sure of where that was said.

 

Schnauz checks a new update pack out:

It transforms Norfolk Southern old GE's standard Dash 9 into updated AC44c6m.
Seems really well done pack.
Available at https://danaguitar2013.wixsite.com/switchpointsims

 

Ctrl-F might be helpful

 

Not that important anyway. Just a usual buzz comment.

 

Buzz is an important guy. But most whiners don't like him

 

The whiner takes it all!

 

Yes, they sure do over here

 

Only important on RWA, not much important here.

 

I don't think Woody ever posted those publicly yet, only on the TSC discord.

 

Important in many places. Apparently you do not know him at all.

 

If so, then tell me?

If not, then he's just someone involved with RWA, and that's about it.

 

Hahahahaha, you are funny !

 

I find that many of my places are important too....

 

Exactly, just what I thought.

 

This threads almost as funny as the Trump/Biden televised debate, just trying to work out who reminds me of whom.

Americans, you're so funny ya'll

 

Don't even go there, already have to deal with that IRL......

 

Unfortunately to some degree buzz is correct that some here live to whine and nitpick anything from most any developers (some developers in particular) fluffing their feathers to show off their "extensive knowledge" and can never be wrong. I personally ignore them, purchase what I want and make changes to the products that suite me. Nothing on TSC will ever be perfectly correct. Promotion is promotion. Artistic license is a prerogative.

 

Are we looking into a mirrior?

 

That person is buzz. The only thing in his post history are the same insults and comments about people, mocking, and personal attacks, and is the exact person that he claims to hate. HE is the one who lives to whine and complain about others, not many of the people that he claims do.

This is a developer forum--of course when developers get something wrong with their work, it will be commented on here. 99% of the time, the people saying said thing is wrong post a photograph or some kind of source showing that it is. Just because the developer said it is correct, it is not.
And maybe the same developers get called out because the same developers consistently get things wrong? Especially considering these days about all we have left is the sporadic Reppo release, DTM, HIS, and Milepost. Among these 4 there are a couple who routinely put out low-quality work that gets easily shown incorrect in a single google search. Don't be surprised they get called out often if they can't do the research.

We shouldn't have to spend time modding $20 and $40 DLC to make it an acceptable quality. That's not how selling content works, especially at that price.
Artistic license is fine, but only if it is marketed as such. When was the last time a piece of NA content was? Last I can recall was all the way back to the B&LE days. Nowadays every single DLC releases is "(insert synonym for highly) realistic" when they most are not, and, again, having a tiny amount of knowledge in the subject or a quick google search will easily tell you that information.

 

With all due respect, that sounds more like loyalty than objective view. Buzz has repeatedly posted these short sarcastic Rinse Was Repeat comments that are everything but constructive. Yes he may be the admin of a forum that has become insignificant probably due to the moderation style. I do not see anything of importance here. Anthony Woods has made constructive posts related to Reppo's texturing style. Buzz just goes Yawn / Nobody cares what you say / Rinse Wash Repeat... Self importance nothing more. Judging people not content. Comes over as trying to trigger people and cause threads to be locked.

 

getting threads locked doesn't really help to incite those developers to actually improve the quality of their work, noticing how they sanitize their own FB page's shop window and the other board
a new DLC is announce with the same fanfare, and the same lame assets pop up, the same lazy cut-copy-paste, everything is clearly visible in the first screen shots posted
unless of course, this certain incrowd is fully satisfied and willing to pay the full price every time for content that doesn't rise above the same trodden themes and indifferent schema's
how many 'passes' created at the cheap from public domain data, filled with the same old Kuju assets and repaints of the same old rolling stock do you want to buy, play, repeatedly play, devise scenarios for and actually still enjoy in a couple of months from release?

 

If it is approved by DTG to sell that should be good enough. Is it perfect - I don’t care. It is about entertainment. Stop with all the moaning. Something is better than nothing and obviously work and effort has been put in to make these products. If one feels aggrieved about the quality of the work then let’s see your product so we can compare! It is easy to be a critic. It is harder to actually DO the work.
Respectfully