I don't know. I just still can't bring myself to pay £30 for this. Was browsing my old OPC Rail Atlas a few minutes ago and it really is a miniscule area they picked to model. When you look at what we got route wise in other DLC costing £30, or £25 at the old prices this is really nothing at all. Think I'm going to sit on the fence a while longer. As I've said, £18 or £20 I would have given it a shot but part of me also says, if we just say, "Ah okay then", and buy, DTG will just grin and start giving us more £30 mini routes with the decent size ones jumping to £35 or £40.
TSW Nathan is actually a retired botanist from Tasmania but just really really really likes Scottish trains
The other factor is how many of the issues already being flagged will be attended to by DTG, or whether it will be the usual brace of low hanging fruit fixes and the route tossed in the "former DLC" bin.
Onto the next DLC! Get ready for a seasons of reveals, dev diaries, deep dives, ambassador streams, behind the music features, interviews, chats, social media updates and maybe some folk sat round trying to keep warm talking about trains. Somewhere in that lot there may be a DLC or something....
I won’t spam the thread with screenshots but as I posted in the feedback thread - my thoughts, it exceeded expectations! I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a very busy route, Cardiff Central / Queen Street are busy, nice to see layers in the form of the 166 and Class 66. The route could do with more polish, I’m not really sure what happened at Whitchurch for example but it’s nothing at all like the negative hyperbole some said it would be. Not one bit.
I just had a scare - I was told my IP got banned! Having to use a VPN and incognito to access the forums. Have I said anything wrong?
I agree, I think it’s two extremes, when it’s good, it’s very good! The evening run I done it looked stunning, but there’s some areas like Whitchurch where you think, why?!
I've noticed from several streams with the 150 that it does not have 'running' sounds when coasting or accelerating (only engine sounds)... I've noticed this with the 170 on FCL too...
Yeah it definitely has that thrash again that a sprinter should have, especially in notch 3, but the only thing annoying me is that after the thrash, when the revs drop down and settle, the revs drop WAY too low, on both the 150 and 153. The rev up is a lot better, they just need to adjust the resting RPMS after the thrash in Notch 3!
Oh, OldVern, don't be forlorn, For Cardiff's trains now blow their horn. In valleys green and cities grand, The Sprinters glide across the land. The Class 150, a trusty steed, And 153, for all your need. Through Coryton's quaint, scenic track, To Radyr's charm, you'll soon be back. At Cardiff Bay, where seagulls play, Or Penarth's end, to end your day. With Welsh cakes sweet and lovespoons fine, Collectibles for you to find. Bilingual signs, "Croeso" they say, Immersed in culture all the way. So grab your gear, don't hesitate, The Cardiff Network's worth the wait. For thirty quid, the journey's yours, To explore Cymru's rail corridors. So, OldVern, rise and don't delay, Your train awaits—let's ride away!
Oh, OldVern, don't be forlorn, For Cardiff's trains now try to blow their horn. In valleys green and cities bland, The Sprinters glide across the bug ridden land. The Class 150, a rusty steed sound remixed by the Pet Shop Boys, And 153, for all your need. Through Coryton's quaint, unfinished scenic track, To Radyr's charm, you'll soon seek a refund... At Cardiff Bay, where Mindcraft seagulls play, Or Penarth's end, to exit to your desktop and sigh. Then go and eat real Welsh cakes sweet and lovespoons fine, Bilingual signs, "Croeso" they say, Immersed by Rivet all the way. So grab your gear, don't hesitate, The Cardiff Network's worth a refund.
An honest appraisal from a Welshman. 6/10 isn't good enough for me, especially at $45+. I think that shot of Whitchurch was the final straw for me. That and the missing concourse plus talk of " teleporting " Really! I mean we do have Cntrl +O etc. But still. The L word rears its ugly head. My Steam wallet tells me to choose between an underperforming Cardiff and an overpriced Dutch route. It's such a long time since I bought a route, either the quality is too low or the price is too high or( mostly ) both. Still, as Cardiff and TTTE are both non starters, the Zwollen route is beginning to look interesting and it is the first route in many a moon to sport 2 count 'em 2 new trains. ( DTG must have momentarily forgotten who they are ). Decisions, decisions.
I've had a quick glance at one of the streams and I am still just not convinced. The amount of time I have spent on TSW has been very low and apart from a couple of runs I just can't see myself enjoying it the way it is currently, especially when there are the likes of WCML (proper) and WSR setting very high standards, coming to this route I just don't think it's worth it. Does such a thing exist?
If the route is for you - then go for it. What I will point out is this. I was sent the following screenshot… now, yes you have to “fly out” of the station to see this, but considering this is adjacent to platform 0…. couple this with the concourse… it just leaves a very…. meh feeling. where the route shines, it shines… where it falls flat, it REALLY falls flat.
100 percent. It honestly makes me kinda sad - I wanted this to be successful, but there we are. well, by DTGs metrics it may very well be… but eh..
Oh, definitely not getting it. And that screenshot of the station forecourt is just awful. The more you see.........
It seems like a very cool route, the kind I like. Although we really only get one complete Coryton Line and half of the Merthyr Line to ride. I'd probably be tempted to buy the Cardiff City Network DLC, as I really like the vibe of such local routes, and I'd probably even hunt for sales to buy AI traffic rolling stock at half price... But, as I've read, the electrification of these lines is currently underway, we're on the eve of a complete replacement of the rolling stock, and so Cardiff City Network DLC will be obsolete in no time. While DLC representing the state of a route from the distant past is virtually eternal (like the Blackpool Branches DLC, where every year is 1986), somehow it doesn't work in modern routes. Cathcart Circle Lines DLC became attractive to me the moment it was updated to its current state and given contemporary rolling stock that will likely remain in service for many years to come. And that's why I'll stick to playing in Scotland instead of getting at the controls of those cool Welsh diesel commuter trains. Although I think I like the vibe of Cardiff better than Glasgow (no offense!).
Overblown because you have differing opinions on what is acceptable? No, I don’t necessarily think so. No one is trying to stop others enjoying the DLC.
Poetry or no poetry, having got out of bed with mixed feelings about whether to purchase that clinches it. And I am not going to hold back on the adjectives here - lazy, lazy, bluudy idle rip off. For £30 they couldn’t even be ars ed to do a half decent model of the main station on the route. I mean this is a 20 mile mini route, the opportunity should have been taken to put as much intricate detail in there as possible. If those views put the EP’s or anyone else at DTG or Rivet noses out of joint then so be it. But that level or rather lack of, is inexcusable. Even though I was cr@p at it and only ever used Train Sim Modeller, one of the things I prided myself on when doing routes like Blackpool Tramway for MSTS was to make the best 3D models I could, like the North Euston Hotel at Fleetwood, including the sides of the building that wouldn’t be seen from the tram. IMHO DTG should pull this from sale, refund those who bought it and hand it back to the route builders and artists with a final warning to finish the job properly.
Of course, I was just saying from the point of view of a community, any community. For example if a dodgy builder or plumber or whatever, starts plaguing a community, word soon gets around and he either has to mend his ways or move onto another area. By contrast rivet seems to be getting away with sub standard work for TSW for years now. Perhaps the time has finally come to send them a message? Likewise I will probably buy this in a deep sale, like you. I do like the subject matter.
I don’t agree with pulling it from sale - that’ll do more harm than good. I don’t know what the financial implications would’ve been if they delayed it from Q4’24 to Q1’25, but all new DLCs being rushed out before that point (other than the ATS one it seems) does suggest that money very well may have been a part in it being released like this.
Yes. It is also a quite short route compared to most others. There shouldnt be any below average quality spots if they are selling it full price.
Maybe not pull it then, but they should certainly review the pricing level, along with a public admission and apology from the EP that this isn't good enough and the route is being handed back to the developer for a major rework.
It ain't all bad. I quite like it, if I look past the problems (not specific to this route) but seen on many routes. The 150 sounds still sound like poo. It's a bit short for 30 quid. I'm unsure where the Marston Vale livery 150 came from?
So i was gifted this by my son and its not has bad as i thought it would be it really shines in some places but looks horrible in other places routes tasks are at all stations locos are ok I'm stuck on bay blockage red signal will not change anyone done it yet.
Unfortunately, on the Class 153, a common problem is noticed-getting stuck between the seat and the cabin(( In the "St. David's Day" scenario, where you need to constantly jump back and forth, this is a nagging pain. Long live TrainSimBug 5!
Scenario Bay Blockage You cant get into Cardiff Queen street to finish the Scenario you are struck a constant red the path is clear
I spent almost all of my shift at work last night thinking about the route and how much I wanted to play it, which is surely a good sign. I'm surprised at how fulfilling some of the runs turn out to be. I know I have a worse attention span than most people but personally I find the Coryton to Penarth and Radyr to Radyr services very enjoyable, and almost the perfect length for me. I still think it should have at least gone to Pontypridd/ Barry Island/ Caerphilly, but what we got doesn't feel as bad as I feared.
PPD may have been too far with it still being another mid service terminator. BYI would be the most logical option of the three.
Interesting that the introduction text for the 'Translator' scenario pretty much needs translating into English to read properly
