Dovetail Games Mattel's Thomas & Friends™ Arrives In Train Sim World March 20th!

DTG’s financial year is likely aligned to the tax year, and so they probably want to close development on many new products and release them by ‘end of year’. Could be multiple reasons - business finance (tax) planning, internal targets (possibly including financial incentives for staff). Just the way businesses work, alas.

 

Yes they certainly seem to want to rake it in for the end of the fiscal year!

 

Think I will save my money for now Cardiff network should be put back until it's in an acceptable state to release

 

I think your mixing up games by saying "serious Train Simulation game for Train enthusiasts" that's TSC.


TSW drescription since TSW 2020.

Train Sim World is an immersive first-person simulator perfect for everyone, with complete in-cab interactivity, accurate detail on locos, real-world routes and hours of gameplay. Take to the rails with the brand-new Train Sim World 2020 Edition and find everything you need to master new skills.

Key wording perfect for everone. Including non serious players and people who know nothing of trains.

nothing about serious simulator or train enthusiasts.

The TSC description.

Learn to operate officially licensed locomotives from historic steam to modern day electrics and explore realistic detailed routes from around the world. Train Simulator Classic 2024 is the simulation made by railfans for railfans.

Look at that a simulation made by railfans for railfans.

So looks like your thinking of the wrong game mate.

 

Very cool to see Thomas and everyone looks so amazing but it's not fair they are not allowed to interact with items other than themselves for example if someone wanted to use Thomas with rolling stock/locos that is US based to simulate a Day Out With Thomas or even other UK rolling stock or locos wouldn't be possible as Thomas is only allowed to work just Diesel Annie & Clarabel and the troublesome trucks.

Thomas and his friends are UK and at least should be compatible with UK Rolling Stock I do understand the lockout with other regions but I have feelings that they locked Formation Designer and Livery Designer because it is Mattel's copyright and wanting to prevent Thomas Content creators from ripping Thomas and other assets to be exported to games like Trainz or be used in animations or be altered as they are based on the last CGI versions from Jam Filled Studios before they filed for bankruptcy.

(mind the fact an older version of the CGI Thomas was already put online by someone) Which is why I believe was done as an attempt to prevent them from being ripped from the game. Asset Ripping has existed in every single video game it is bound to happen even in games like Train Sim 5.

For years now Thomas & Friends has existed on Trainz and is great and almost can be comparable to the Classic Thomas series and even CGI series models made by endless amounts of time and dedication from loyal fans. I enjoy watching their content more than what Mattel is pouring out nowadays.

I'm sorry but as cool as it is I rather use models created by actual Thomas Fans because at least then I don't feel locked down only being allowed to use Thomas with only paired assets.

If that feature is changed then I may reconsider and actually buy the game as I only own Trains Simulator Classic and by godly it's boring as there is no good way to export models because it does look very nice even for models that tend to only be used in an animated production format.

 

I never expected to be able to.

 

i just had high hopes I guess

 

question jack are you getting thomas or skipping it ?

the big child in me tells me to get it another I am too old for that really then again its a tank engine i love tank engines i wanna kind of say screw it and screw what people think

 

Oh, I'm getting it. I may be a physical adult, but the child in me still wants the toys

 

I have always wanted to drive Thomas since the age of 2 I have my dream

 

I refuse to grow up, I will always be a child in an adult suit, so this screams me at the top of its voice, and I am so ready to sit down like I was when I was 8 years old with my Thomas comic every week and just loose myself in my own happiness......

 

As the Canadian band Sloan says "If it Feels Good, Do It."

 

Ha! I'll just quietly steal this...

 

No need to quietly steal it you can have it gift wrapped......

 

Yes - right at the end of the financial year too...

Hmmm....

 

It worries me a little when there is a sudden rush of product right at the end of the financial year.

Why? Is there a sudden need for DTG to raise money?
And does this mean that some of these releases have been rushed. Even a bit?

 

It has been like this every year, at least since 2023. So the same pattern of driving up sales and the net result before EOY. That is, assuming the people here claiming that DTG's fiscal year ends March 31 are right.

 

The fiscal year always ends after the 1st quarter of the year.

Its this way because the fiscal year ends at tax season.

 

Thanks. Apparently I don't know enough about UK fiscal laws

 

l am with you OV. I too feel, not only it should have come with Sodor, but sold as a separate game.

l will keep an open mind and my next purchase will be the Dutch route unless something grabs me in tomorrow’s stream. If it does l will watch the ambassadors videos to convince me and if l am convinced to buy it, will leave it until April 1st for a fools day purchase!!

 

Fail on not bringing Ringo Starr back

 

Depends on whether Ringo Starr wanted to do the VO or not.

 

I always wanted a tank engine in TSW. Not in my wildest dreams did l ever think that it would come in this form!

l hope a proper tank engine, a panier or prairie arrive on one fine day!!!

 

Its actually worldwide accounting. Not just UK, every company at least on the stock markets do it this way.

I live in Canada BTW.

 

And would even be affordable.

 

This is mostly due to licensing reasons, as many licensors may not want their content to appear in non-intended ways or disturbed by other factors. Like mattel definitely do not want users to make a choo choo charles (horror game character) livery for thomas. Also there's no way to prevent anyone to create a model that look like thomas.

 

We'll see...

 

just watched the stream can't wait

 

It may have felt to risky to start a kind of new product line with a full new route. From a commercial point of view it is smart to start with something simple to test the market. Probably Mattel is not interested in a one time thin, so if it works out we can expect new Thomas adventures and also 3rd party devs may jump on.

 

I really enjoyed the stream last night and although l don’t really want it, it has its uses, like using it in free roam and running around to collect collectables. For £20, l can consume a few pints and have nothing to show for it. So will be purchasing this against my better judgement.

l think they should add 20 poster collectables around all the stations advertising a TTTE visit. Shame DTG didn’t think of this!!

 

I’m not getting it and I was on the fence about DTG venturing into Thomas territory but, honestly, it looks like a job well done. If it gets kids into the hobby, I won’t argue against it.

If it sells well, they may want to do a separate, and full fledged Sodor based game.

 

Thomas II: The Return to Sodor

Thomas III : The Wrath of Gordon

 

DTG Alex DTG Harry As a general question, why don't you lock these old threads when you start new ones? There are 4 Thomas threads in this 'Dovetail Live Article Discussion' sub-forum, all still open, and variously posted in.

Personally I would either lock an old thread when starting a new one, or change the title (i.e. from ' Coming Soon' to 'Out Now') when posting a new update. Otherwise you end up with discussion spread across multiple threads, as is happening here.

 

Ok, inacurate formulation.. My point is: thats too childish for a serous sim like TSW.