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

Looks like Travel by Train is done with TSC

 

Can't particularly say they'll be missed, though I suppose some of their earlier work was decent ai filler

 

Makes me wonder if he's done with train sims overall or moving somewhere else....

 

Travel by Train complete colection Add-On
US$50,00

• EMD GP50 Burlington Northern.
• EMD GP50HH Norfolk Southern / Southern RR.
• EMD SD70 Canadian National / Illinois Central.
• EMD GP40X Union Pacific / Southern Pacific.
• EMD GP40 Illinois Central / Rock Island / Burlington Northern / Canadian Pacific / Conrail / Western Pacific / Chessie System.
• SD60 EMDX / Canadian Pacific / CSX / Canadian National / Conrail / NYSW.
• SD70ACU Canadian Pacific / Norfolk Southern.
• GP35 DRGW / PRR / Conrail / Erie Lackawanna / Penn Central / B&O / Chessie System / SOO LINE.
• General Electric C30-7, C33-7 locomotives and B30-7A, B30-7AB "booster" Units. Burlington Northern / Union Pacific.

 

[Deleted; Insulting another forum user - DTGHarry]

TBT's stuff really didn't cut it as most of it was more like DTM discards.

Now Diesel Workshop can fill some gaps with quality, up to today's standards DLC.

 

Please don't feed the troll, if he doesn't grace us with is presence no need to go poke him with a stick.

 

Meanwhile from Machine Rail, a pretty big tender

 

so Machine Rail's Western Maryland 2-10-0 is coming along nicely? Welcome addition to the H8 super heavy Consolidation we already have from MR.
Whey did WM need tenders this big? Few coaling towers and water points in between major terminals when the 2-10-0 were used in mainline through freight service?

PRR in the final days of steam coupled very large 16 wheel tenders to their remaining steam locomotives to facilitate running over longer distances, since intermediate coaling towers and water troughs were already being eliminated because of dieselization of the premier passenger and freight trains?

 

Question regarding tender size....

Are there noticable differences between coal / wood / oil tenders ?

 

Generally, a steam locomotive consumed way more water than fuel.
So by pound, the water tank is the larger weight in a typical tender.
The caloric value of wood is lower than coal, which is lower than oil.

When there were track pans in use, NYC, PRR and others, also in the UK, the tenders held more fuel, as water could be replenished on the run.

Some roads had 'run through' coaling docks over their mainline tracks, so coal could be taken on scheduled stops, with the necessity the coal bunker was stopped under the chute.

But I think mostly engines were changed at division points together with a crew change, as it would take less time than taking fuel and water and typical steam engines require inspection, greasing, have their ash pans emptied and such after a certain mileage.

 

Mileposts next route WIP after Pipestone, only note is 70 miles.

 

It's not a Mountain Pass route then.... or is it?

 

Probably wishful thinking, but MoPac in eastern Colorado?

 

One of my first thoughts as well, while the scenery mostly fits I don’t believe it is. There’s no good 70 mile section plus it parallels highway 96 for the entire run, and no road is visible in the screenshot.

 

At least it appears to be in one of the plains states.

 

Are there any downloadable scenarios which leverage the TBT fleet?

Thx

 

Maybe on RWA? I don't know of any. (Though with this bundle I'm tempted to start using them in my scenarios as ai)

 

Some have scenarios with them, some do not.

 

With the current lack of scenario creators, I doubt there are very many and also doubt many (if any) will be made in the future, for 2 reasons:
1. Most of the stuff in this bundle is only available off steam, so the half dozen or so people that make workshop scenarios can't use them in anything they release.
2. The VERY few people who consistently release 3rd party scenarios on TSC/RWA/wherever have a very large array of addons to work with, and, quite frankly, the TBT stuff is very low quality to use as a leading locomotive, when the door is open to using Searchlight/Diesel Workshop/Machine Rail content. There's just no reason to use the TBT units over those. As DT said, they're good AI fillers, but that is probably going to all they will be in 3rd party scenarios.

You could always just swap the power on the player train though, it only takes a few seconds.

 

Given their ally HIS didn't touch any of TBT's stuff for his commercial scenario packs is perhaps already telling?
On the Steam Workshop there could be some

None of TBT's stock is that unique, and like said above, can be swapped in or out of scenarios.

The US locomotive fleet really can use updated to the latest standards F, GP and SD units, U-boats and such. There are so many clunky out-of-scale models still around with poor cabs, physics, lights and sounds.
But the apparent 'death proclamation' of TSC makes such an enterprise a bit daunting commercially I'd think.

Diesel Workshop's GP9 hasn't been showing progress lately?

 

Still showing as on hold, as it has most of this year. Second sale this year so maybe he has financial problems ( who hasn't the last 2 years) and has to put in his efforts elsewhere. It's still there so we can but hope.

 

Maybe, but it might depend on the route, too.
And whatever the scenario is competing with.
And maybe some intel on the reception of the DLC, which is proxied by their free scenario or two.

Agreed.

I think the biggest issue is distribution.
Theoretically, someone could supply a fancy new model (if needed even), for which many someone could supply a HQ and LQ livery each. Following an extremely strict, global naming scheme. Then strip the existing loco from DLC and insert the new ones. Player trains HQ, AI LQ. Win.

It could happen gradually as a community effort with gatekeeping, but the ears aren't open. Not even the old SD40 doors are fixed, for example. Nor All Aboard bogus RouteProperties. I guess it might complicate licensing, profit sharing and other stuff. (DTG selling your product as theirs. I mean, Trainz...)
Quite frankly same about weathers, shaders...
Also, some scenarios would need review if physics change. The funniest one I observed is that apparently US stock was initially smaller: trains clip into All Aboard tunnels and rolling stock tends to be overlapping.

The solution widely offered with UK content was to introduce copies of the same stock, so that players have access to pretty Class 37 and else, but it requires loco swapping en masse. That's a good thing to learn (old NEC really benefits from introducing additional locos) but I'm fairly sure that the massive majority of the players never do that. People don't even research workshop issues, for example.

This last point in short: without actually swapping the new models in, they will be wasted. With it, it might bring new breath of life into this old game.

 

Why don't you ask him?

 

I await a reply.

 

triznya.andras There's workshop scenarios. Not.Silent and HIS are making use of pretty much all stock in the game.

Be aware though, for me it's all the same: DTM, TBT and TheLocoShop all bear the same handwriting (and blueprint errors). They all look a bit out of place texture wise, like plastic toy locos.

 

"Be aware though, for me it's all the same: DTM, TBT and TheLocoShop all bear the same handwriting (and blueprint errors). They all look a bit out of place texture wise, like plastic toy locos."
Well until something better comes along I guess we'll just have to continue to suffer through these won't we.

 

Hi Buzz,
About the GP project, this long-awaited locomotive is being developed for a special release on Steam! We are working hard to make this release a must-have for all TS enthusiasts.
Regards
Fernando

 

To be fair, I wonder how many people are still going to focus on TSC. Right now, to make anything you want to sell viable for users, you pretty much have to have it on either Steam or ATS (which has its own population that will use anything released there all over scenarios posted on that site).

 

I think there is more interest out there than you might imagine. There are things released to the RWA library this year which isn't exactly heavily advertised that have over a thousand D/L.

 

How many scenarios preferentially featuring DTM, TBT, HIS rolling stock and routes are actually in that RWA file library?

One would assume based on how revered these developers are with RWA, the file library will be full of the most interesting scenarios featuring these products?

On the Steam Workshop it is sort of difficult to find scenarios since I don't own many of the DLC and the filters aren't the most descriptive.

 

Just browse HIS' workshop.

 

Revered? Do you even know the meaning of the word? How about enjoyed by many as the most prolific developers for North America. The super devs some of you are in love with put something out every two years or so whether we need it or not. These folks churn content out every few months and keep TSC interest up. Respected for that but hardly "revered".

 

What would be your definition of "revered" buzz?

 

I must take Buzz's side here. Even if DTM/TBT/TLS stock is subpar in many ways, you can decide if you buy it or not. But the errors should be acknowledged and not considered nitpicking - but that means also acknowledging the freedom of the developer to make a product that represents their skills. But don't expect the devs to change their style. It's a free market. Someone offers something and you say yes or no.

I have TBT stock too, and with some tweaking I have improved them. That's my own choice. I'll point out the issues, as that's what a discussion board is for.

 

Synonyms

• hallowed
• reverend
• sacred

revered

[ ri-veerd ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA
adjective
held in high regard tinged with awe; venerated:
If someone is revered, it means he or she is held in deep respect and devotion. Religious leaders, saints, and martyrs are often considered as revered. Celebrities? Not so much. There's a touch of the other worldly about revered.

 

Are we all children here? Do we really need an argument over the definition of revered?

 

Spikee1975 Even 'subpar' is a questionable assessment. They may not have the same functionality or accuracy as Smokebox or Searchlight, but they are a good deal cheaper.

Price v. performance has to be considered in any assessment of quality.

As I am only an occasional US TSC driver, I'm not too bothered about accuracy, as I often don't know what is genuinely accurate, but I do care about price and variety. DTM/TBT fit my needs very well.

 

But that is what I'm saying, everyone can choose to buy or not. What is "subpar" can be my own definition, that's the result of comparison and studying the blueprints.

I've bought their stock too, because I could fix issues (no audio occlusion in the cab, too dirty windows, headlight flares, light colour and cones) myself.

Each product has its justification if it makes someone happy. I love all the HIS (G-TraX) routes for example, and I think the last Milepost releases were pretty bland and devoid of detailed scenery. Nevertheless I enjoy them.

There's no need for quarrels, that's what I'm trying to say. But also no need to suppress different opinions.

 

Your comment validates claims by others that the content is sub-par. That said, I've heard good things about the routes, which I believe G-Trax is associated with IIRC? I've heard negative commentary regarding certain developers, and I won't get into any of that other than noting that it does not necessarily shape my personal view. I get what interests me at the time. I also usually go for good sales, which HIS rarely has as they never go higher than 50% off. (If you think about it, selling at 70% off something that's been out for a while is a good way to get those holdouts and is better than making no additional money.)

 

My comment does no such thing. Please don't put words in my mouth.

 

Looks like it should be over the definition of "your".

 

First, let's not turn an opinion into an argument.

Second, my point: "These folks churn content out every few months" - that is not enough time to properly test everything and make sure all of the textures are doing what they are supposed to do. I was in fact the source of the idea for the CSX SD45-2 pack and I have seen the criticism for it on Steam. I can't make this up. The four MOST HELPFUL reviews on Steam sourced from https://store.steampowered.com/app/1717658/Train_Simulator_CSX_SD452_Loco_AddOn/ follow:

I am not putting words in your mouth. Your words validate what I said based on what I have researched.

 

Stop arguing now children, or there'll be no dessert for any of you!

 

It's in the contract. You can't invalidate the contract.

What contract? I'll show you the contract when I have time to gather all the information....

 

Christ on a bike the arguing over semantics is a bit much, no?

I get formulating and having opinions over individual items as they come and go but the chest thumping over content from developers as a whole being good or not gets old to read.

[Deleted; Disrespectful to other forum users - DTGHarry]

This forum would probably be better off without the two usual suspects starting flamewars. Everyone else seems to go about discussions in a civil enough manner. The one clearly is clearly only coming over here to start fights, then goes back to his own forum to pat his own ass about getting banned from here. Can the ban just be permanent at this point?

 

I think one of the "usual suspects" is already banned.

 

... where was that "Non Dramatic Version" thread again?

 

I think it's like TSW, it needs a new regular version without really changing anything.

 

Almost a month since any news, HIS decided to throw up more Bozeman Pass shots.


Still no word on release date for either this or Milepost's route... (Though I think Milepost was attempting to get proper Milwaukee Road licensing at one point)