Upcoming Release Thomas & Friends Visit The West Somerset Railway - Arriving Spring 2025

Honestly would be a shame if it was rivet, would confirm they aren’t able to release DLC under their own name anymore and honestly I’ll be real I enjoyed FCL.

 

Will their be a bundle for say like you have tsw5 but just with wsr and the Thomas and friends dlc?

 

The TTTE TSW Edition including TSW5, WSR and Thomas & Friends is a very good thing for starters coming to the game just because of Thomas.

But there is one more thing to care about for starters.

Unlike most common DLCs on the market which only depend on the base game, the Thomas & Friends seems to highly depend on another DLC, West Somerset Railway in this case. I guess this "narrative gameplay element" you mean is from the technical perspective condensed of several Thomas scenarios on WSR? Because at the moment I can't think of another way to implement a narrative like that.

Usually when being on Steam, you will get this banner/warning in purple which informs one that owning the base game is necessary - IIRC Steam doesn't even allow one to purchase a DLC without owning the base game at the checkout). However, this warning does not exist for other DLCs, only for the base game.

For example, the Leipzig-Riesa extension for Train Sim Classic, also doesn't have that warning to the Dresden-Riesa addon. DTG however hinted that it is an extension in the title and in the product description.

Edit: Figured out that such a banner/warning indeed exists for additional DLCs. For example, for the 101 standard DLC, which mentions HRR as requiring DLC below the bundle options. However, one should be able to purchase the 101 without HRR though. So such banner might be important, yet and this is my point explained in the next paragraph might be overseen.

Now thinking about that a big target audience is children or starters, who have no clue how modular TSW is built, and maybe overlook or don't understand that "You get a fun narrative on the West Somerset Railway" part and given that this DLC is so strongly depending on another like no other TSW DLC before, it might be wise to give a really broad hint or disclaimer in the product description that they NEED WSR to get the full (and maybe even real) experience of the addon and this narrative is practically not included in the addon itself.

Otherwise, you might prepare for a good amount of refunds because of people who didn't understand that before acquiring.

Free Roam possibilites are still given without WSR yes, but A. I see a lot of people (even players which use the game for years) and don't use free roam at all and B. many people (and especially starters) don't even know that this feature exists and the player can drive locos on routes, which aren't suppose to run at and/or aren't delivered with the route addon.

 

Precisely? No, but the bundle for both is $39.99. Which even if you have TSW 5, is a bargain because that's a $10.00 discount from buying WSR and Thomas separate.

 

I think you mean you hold no ill-will.

 

Oops, right you are!

 

Funny now the Free starter pack goes down a few months before a Thomas and friends pack which coincidentally needs a separate route purchase in order to be used?

Time to break out the tin foil hats again?

 

The bundle for those that don't already own the route comes with the starter pack included.

 

West Somerset Railway is a heritage line that runs between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard with a 2 mile rarely used section to a turning triangle at Norton Fitzzwarren.

It could come down to licencing why that can't use the Island of Sodor so that's why it is on WSR and heritage railways do these events called Day Out With Thomas which sadly the WSR doesnt do anymore

 

l think the WSR occasionally run an event with TTTE.

I agree but those that want it will pay the asking price, those that don’t want it may get it in the Christmas sale at 80% discount.

 

Something I'll be very curious about is what they've done with Diesel.

In the show, the steam engines all have realistic cab interiors and from the slight glimpses we've had, Thomas retains his in the game. The diesel engines though all have blacked-out cabs we never see inside so Dovetail would've had to work with Mattel to get an approved "official" cab interior for Diesel that hasn't existed previously. An interesting situation when they're so strict about these characters being represented accurately. He's a simplified 08 shunter so I'm curious if they've pinched the existing 08 cab for him.

Also hoping the Thomas stock's chain-link couplings are compatible with all the other existing chain-link stock in the game. It'd be a real shame if they're bespoke.

 

Oh does it? I thought someone said it didn't further up. That'd make some sense tbf

 

What does TTTE stand for.

 

Thomas The Tank Engine……

 

WSR dropped DOWT a good 10 years ago

 

I remember TTTE appearing on the WSR for many years and more recently the Watercress Line in Hampshire. As WSR is the only heritage line in the game it was appropriate to use the WSR for Thomas. No other route is suitable unfortunately. Hopefully one day soon we will see some more heritage routes in the game.

Incidentally the Seven Valley Railway has lost nearly a third of its route to a landslide meaning that Bridgnorth station is out of reach. However over the weekends they are running engine cab rides at Bridgnorth in an effort to raise funds for the line repairs. DTG could design the route and offer a percentage of the sale value to the SVR. Something that would show DTG into a very good light!

 

I fear the SVR are in a deeper hole that what a few £k royalties on a TSW route could bail them out of, but nevertheless it would be a nice gesture and a Day One purchase. Unlike Thomas - Day never!

 

I kept quiet about this but now i can't defo a day one purchase i am a big child

a 2 year old me would of love this in 2002 i was a massive Thomas fan watching re runs of the old Thomas series and had all the books

and finally a tank engine in the game my wishes have come true we have a tank engine in TSW

 

I'll buy it. Peak forest has a bit of a sodor feel to it. I'll definitely find a use for Thomas and friends there.

 

Will TTTE be available for livery designer to change into a proper tank engine?

 

if not I walk and keep my money its a make or break right there i have big plans for liveries I could make

 

l won’t be buying it until l see a worthwhile livery!!!

 

definitely want to do this liveries

 

That’s what l want to see in TSW.

 

And standard TSW steam physics, not great but better than the simplified Thomas physics will be.

 

I won't be best pleased if they get AI Steam sounds working for this yet have been abandoned for the proper Steam engines.

 

I doubt that Mattel will want you to mess around with the looks of its franchise player.
After all, advertising a children's toy train is a big part of this project.

Plus, I'd imagine they'll want to keep the physics and controls as simple as possible.

 

Making this was probably not DTG's choice, but it's so unprofessional and the complete opposite of what a SIMULATOR should be. I know Train Sim Classic had fictional content like the Holiday Express, but that was a seasonal thing that had a clear distinction from the rest of the collection. This just seems out of place and out of touch with what the community has been asking for. Put this in Tycoon, not here.

 

Certainly an interesting perspective from one of their associate developers. As has been said previously, I don’t think there would have been so much ill feeling towards the project had, 1. It been introduced in a more low key fashion, i.e. not the “Big Reveal” in the Xmas run up and certainly not that excruciating Fireside Chat and, 2. Been issued with its own little custom route or as a standalone product.

As you say they have diminished the image of TSW for a bit of quick cash from Mattel. In fact I would rather they had partnered up with Lionel and given us a garden or park railway we could shrink down and ride on, or operate from a control board. At least the trains would look moderately real!

 

This is, I think, the crux of the objections that many of us have about TTTE. You can say " don't like it, don't buy it " but the fact is its inclusion will lessen the genuineness of TSW, make it more of a child's arcade game.

But then DTG is apparently no longer master of its own destiny. Having been taken over by a company whose primary interest is probably the bottom line rather than train sim authenticity.

 

I think the issue is how they balance this with the real simulator routes. I don't think it'd be awful to get people into the game if they do a sodor route or something like that (let's face it that's what people want) with some other characters (maybe their own stories etc?).

But not at the expense of genuine simulator content and not at the expense of the painful core issues that are currently plauging the game. There does need to be a divide to try and stop TSW becoming an arcade style kids game. If anything maybe a separate release for TTTE might be a better idea?

 

I think it's a good move. It's bound to bring a lot of new players to the table. Probably will raise more income from the few basic models (if they are that basic) than some previous released routes and trains.

I don't know what dtg's annual targets are regarding profit. But if something like this was to reach that target before the year is through, dtg might be able to throw some labour at core issues.

 

l feel that this definitely should have been separate release of TTTE plus the fiction route of Sodor. Then DTG could have developed and introduced more characters and stories!!!

 

Because Thomas is a £20 story based loco pack which gives it a reason to have achievements.

 

I can see the angry mob will now be claiming that the achievements are the thing that will make Thomas destroy the entire franchise and how they are being forced to buy something against their own will, you really can't make this stuff up, even if you tried......

 

We really should have achievements/trophies for all loco DLCs as well as routes, assuming they plan on restarting achievements from scratch again with TSW6, there is no way they would hit a limit with just a year's worth of route and loco DLCs.

 

But I also have to buy all German and US and any other non-UK DLC to get 100% achievements on TSW5. I have zero interest in buying them either, so should they not have achievements?

 

But if you compartmentalize Thomas as not belonging in TSW because it's an entirely separate thing, can't you also set Thomas' achievements aside by the same reasoning?

 

If they were to give us sales figures on one DLC I hope Thomas is the one.

What ever the number is a bunch of people will be eating crow on these forums.

If it does well those saying it won't sell it's not what the majority wants or the crowd who says it makes no diference and it will sell at least as good as other DLC's if not better.

 

One question that burns in my brain is: What's the second act?

If the target audience is kids and/or their parents, where will this vast new player base go next, after they get bored with the original dlc? I mean we all know the attention span of children and how long after Christmas Day before the new toy ends up in a closet.

I find it hard to believe that these kids will gravitate to WCMLOS ( " I think I can, I think......." ) or Cathcart Circle and Glossop.

So doesn't DTG have to follow up with a new and different toy train?

Of course on the other hand, driving one of DTG's modern emus probably takes about the same skill set as controlling Thomas, so maybe these kids will want to drive Goblin or BCC.

And maybe, just maybe, by building all the toy trains we've gotten recently, DTG was simply anticipating Thomas all along. Who knows?

 

l have no doubt it will sell. I just feel that it has no place in TSW. However l would have been more delighted to have TTTE and friends in a separate game developed by DTG with perhaps the sodor route and more characters to add to it in the future etc., that would have made it really interesting. If it was a separate game, l would give it to all my many grandchildren, it would have made a great gift.

 

After Cactusjuice pretty much confimed my thought that it was Mattel that approached DTG and not the other way around, I'm pretty sure they are testing a market with this, basically if it does what they want then they will contract out DTG to perhaps make a stand alone game.

Featuring the Isle of Sodor and a bunch of default characters and expand that with DLC for other characters.

That was what I said way back when this was announced before Xmas and I was told I was crazy, that never would happen, DTG must have paid a fortune.

But seems to be going towards exactly what I said.

 

You know the pitchfork squad won't let a little detail like hard facts they can't argue with get in the way of their angry Thomas will poison the entire franchise narrative......

 

Maybe it will be a new route, like "The Count of Monster Disco"...

For Thomas, if it isn't separate Sodor released some time later with an option to buy it in a bundle with Thomas, they could probably make a gameplay pack for some another route with a bunch of other scenarios (my preferred route to receive that pack would be "The Holiday Express" - that's probably when I'd first think about getting the Thomas DLC).

 

Getting 100% achievements is not mandatory so no one HAS to buy Thomas. If you want something, then you have to buy it. If not, you don’t.

I prided myself that I had travelled the whole of the London Underground and Overground (not on the same day) but then they added new stations to both. I’m not complaining that they have added these stations that people might want to use because I now HAVE to pay to travel to London and buy tickets to travel the new lines so I can keep my 100% record. Similarly, you can’t complain about them releasing an add on that many people will enjoy just because you don’t want it personally and it will mess up your 100% achievement record.

If I’m in London in the future and have time on my hands, I might travel to these stations for completeness (in fact I probably will). If not, it’s no big deal.