Enough Is Enough!!! The Ongoing Saga!!! It's Almost The 3 Year Anniversary

More spinning of conspiracy theories. But, given you went there, the reaction to the whole Thomas thing was over-the-top, childish and utterly pathetic. People are entitled to be disinterested in it, which includes me, but some of the behaviour around it would embarrass a 5-year-old.

 

Where are the conspiracy theorists now?

 

Maybe some feelings got hurt with the backlash from the big reveal.

I've uninstalled tsw since it got stuck in a updating loop, due to the game needing 200gb of free space for a 3gb download.

I don't know about tsw5 but tsw severely broken is a more fitting title.

But rather than fix the existing problems dtg keep adding new features and content that just adds to the list of problems.

 

The fact the EP is no longer viewing the forums (allegedly) is not a conspiracy theory. And the indignation over Thomas was a complex reaction based on the previous abandonment/lack of interest in proper steam traction, the buggy state the game is in right now and the fact a toy train is being placed totally out of context on a “real” route rather than being given its own self contained add on.

 

Bought into a serious Simulator, waited for big reveal. Got shown something that is not serious simulation. Maybe some people reactions were over the top but those of us still waiting for a save game, steam traction (with AI Sounds) and have had years of being told BR era stuff doesn't sell and feel bugs and older content are not given the attention they deserve then the reactions are not surprising.

 

I'm struggling with the idea that you were viewing it as a 'serious simulator', only for your hopes to be completely dashed by one specific announcement on one particular day. I think your expectations were, and maybe still are, wildly out of kilter with reality.

 

I haven't been commenting here since I stopped playing TSW, but well, I could probably be interested in getting Thomas DLC, only if it also included a couple of scenarios for Holiday Express (if not some very simple timetable, which that "route" is lacking), as I think it's much more appropriate place for it than the WSR, and that route is another toy that is underutilized in TSW - once you finished included with it scenarios, you simply forget it existed. WSR on the other hand needs realistic steam locos and not toys.

 

Well, you were being a lot less specific then that and, still, you are repeating something that even you feel has to be qualified with the word allegedly, so I'm comfortable with suggesting that you, on occasion, pedal conspiracy theories.

I agree that DTG appears to have a quality problem though. It's familiar to me to see a software product have snowballing quality issues and it can become a bit of a runaway train (excuse the pun). They need to get it under control somehow but that means directing resources away from revenue earning activities, but companies are like sharks, i.e. if they stop moving, they die. On the other hand, the fish rots from the head down, so someone needs to be brave and get a grip of the issues. The repeated carping (I'm persisting with the fish theme!) in this forum isn't particularly helpful though - they will generally know where the issues are and their level of seriousness.

 

Look at the other points mentioned too, the Thomas thing was possibly the last straw for many.

 

I don't wear the hat anymore, it was making my bald head sweat too much

 

It's so sad; I can just play TSW4 because I can use my RailDriver on it - but the stuttering on certain Routes and you mentioned the Dispatcher issues and Save Game is still not fixed. Instead we have 8 years of new releases and unrealistic winter season colors and how many other issues?

 

For me it's the performance and running issues that are really plaguing the game. Since TSW5 came out it's the most unstable I think it's ever been. And I haven't even bought WCMLS.

I've stuck to mostly BPO, SEHS, BML and GWE and since the last update there have been a drop in frame rate in all of them and even GWE of all places on Series X which definitely wasn't there before.

 

And yet they talk about focusing on performance improvements at the moment... I can't help but call into question competence.

 

Sadly agree. Every iteration of the game seems to bring more instability and more empty promises aren’t kept. To be honest I’m thankful for JT and their routes and hopefully the Incredible Trains upcoming route.

 

And now we don't even get empty promises, just a wall of silence - except when promoting the latest DLC.

I really can't believe that no one at DTG either the management or production/programming side hasn't got the faintest idea what is causing these stutters that also mangle the sound and where to start looking in the code changes since TSW4 to fix it. Er, guys that's what we the customers pay you for...

 

I am anticipating the be greatful gang on the horizon now....

 

I really hope this farce stops them doing these annual releases - rather than making sweeping changes to things like the UI etc., just fix core features every so often!

 

Probably focusing their efforts on roblox. The kids got no gripes spending mum and dad's cash nor do they complain.

 

Except dtg aren't the developers of roblox

 

Yes, I confirm. Framerate has definitely got worse on Xbox Series X. Noticed that on Antelope Valley, LA-San Bernardino e Boston-Worchester, especially in forest areas (winter is worse. Don't know why, but trees with leaves don't affect framerate that much...).

 

Still takes a great deal of work to do a convincing compressed area, though.

 

The silence is deafening, and even the friendly face under the pink cat's ears headphones hasn't been seen for a loong while ...

where is the visible focus and direction Focus Entertainment should have given DTG's franchises by now?

no word about the blue faced little critter 0-6-0 tank engine terrorising the tracks of a quant preserved railway line in the hands of 6 y.o. konsole kiddies?

instead we get ever shorter routes out of the miracle hat that is DTG's market research, now even without new rolling stock, but with ever increasing numbers of bugs?

 

Perhaps he is busy writing out the disciplinary forms for poor performance?! But seriously, it says a lot about the state of the company when the EP publicly states they are no longer looking at the the forums. How else do you find out what is wrong with the game and what people like/don’t like/having issues with if you don’t read the room?

Still think the generally negative reaction to Thomas rattled them a bit, they really weren’t expecting it to go down like a lead balloon. But still no excuse to go off in a huff, except of course when there’s a marketing stream to present ignoring the more searching questions.

Sorry I must have my Monday morning cynical hat on…

 

Kinda reminds me of my ex. Say something she don't like and get the silent treatment for months!

 

If you communicated with her like many do on these forums, I'm not surprised.

 

No, no, it's the hat you usually wear, the one made of tin foil.

 

I guess when she bought me a Thomas trainset for Christmas and I wanted a flying scotsman, I may have been a bit harsh yeah.

 

141, damn ... I am seriously considering making a livery for sth like F59PHR themed around this thread and its now legendary status

 

The most K.O. proof of downgrading quality of TSW for me, is difference of trains textures. It is just painful to compare 4 years old great quality weathered and photorealistic Caltrain SF trains textures with newest cartoonish textures from tsw5 trains. Even TSG or JT don't match level of attention of these old products...

 

As a regular traveler on London Overground, the 378s and 710s are superb quality. As are the 323s, 350s and 380s. The 390s and IETs had their issues but look and play pretty well now.

I can't speak for US content though, mainly because I don't care enough about it.

 

I must admit I'm surprised at the lack of PR about the Thomas train. I expected a veritable whirlwind of streams and articles between the " not- so- great reveal " and the actual launch, whenever that may be. Instead the poor little fella seems to have been forgotten.
Well, we did have that cringeworthy " fireside chat ", but that was a long time ago.

 

Has anyone ever suggested Thomas on the suggestions part? Haven't looked but don't recall seeing amongst the daily WCML/ECML Scotrail and merseyrail present day requests. Not to mention those of us asking for older stuff. Obviously it was felt to be commercially viable when announced but yes it ain't half gone quiet.

 

Matt said they can't discuss Thomas without Mattels sign off on everything said.

Due to Mattels NDA he said on his charity stream.

Also how many other EP's are on forums?

Sure a Senior Producer should be but not an EP and once he became an EP its up to Senior Producers and Community Managers to advise him on whats happening on the forums.

Basically the forums are not his job anymore. And luckily he still does preview and roadmap streams.

What other EP is on streams monthly?

 

Every page until 145 will have a Pacer on it, I can already tell...

 

Then since 145 there will be three pages of Bombardier Traxx locos...

 

All well and good, but didn't stop the occasional past participation.

 

Maybe he's turned his attention less to the community, and more to the game?

Makes sense to me. Probably heard of the many issues people are having and trying to resolve them. Or maybe he's not at work currently, does have a life (presumably) that doesn't operate around his job.

 

I do hope so with the current state of the game. But the thing that worries me is the patches have been breaking things and performance has got worse since some of these patches have been released. I'm getting frame rate drop on GWE on series X of all places since the latest update.

 

They are plenty of new rolling stock coming

 

If many from the forums communicate with his wife she must have a pretty full inbox

 

Only the best aircraft grade aluminium hat for Vern you know

 

What is this, a train for ants

Go big or go home

 

You'll hate the Class 139...

 

They really do like their silly terminology... "fireside chat" "season of reveals" etc. I also laugh at their constant reference to the "teams" that are supposedly hard at work in DTG HQ designing and refining the product. Maybe they are silent now because they've realized doubling down on the feelgood euphemisms and cringy corporate-speak to paper over the flaws in the product is fooling no one and only serves to makes them look insincere.

 

The other one that has worn thin is passing problems or suggestions e.g. more save game slots to “engineering”. Visions of a huge department of programmers beavering away on code, when the reality is probably an email to a hacker in Romania or India bunging them £50 to see what they can do!!

 

You mean that if you gave an infinite number of monkeys an infinite number of typewriters then one of them would eventually produce the real reason why there has never been a Mk1 buffet so far?