Alan Thompson Simulation Route Discussion/speculation Thread

Alan said on his stream that they were still finishing up ends. And more likely he hasn't submitted the release build yet until this morning as they probably worked over the weekend on it.

Does not mean there is a problem with it. Just DTG don't want them showing anything but the final build.

And TBH its not the first time a 3rd party is submitting content last minute. Just ask the beta testers.

 

Still smacks of gross incompetence to me. How on earth can you can you not have the gold version locked down two or three days before release. Amateurs all round.

 

Go make your own addon then

 

Looking forward to seeing what the stream is like tonight. Whilst I won’t go as far as OldVern, I do think it’s a pretty poor show not to have the content locked down and ready for preview before release. Let’s hope tonight is a comprehensive showing so we can all make up our minds

 

Sure this happened a few months back with one of the DLCs as well and it was just the streamers had been sent the wrong build version.

 

I don’t understand what’s happening. What people mean saying content locked down?

 

The gold version which is the definitive one for release. How on earth can you keep making changes right up to the last minute and not risk something getting totally borked.

 

Whilst I agree it's not a good look that ambassadors were sent the wrong version, at least (if this is indeed the case), it's only a case of someone uploading the wrong file, and not a case of (the release build) being really buggy and someone, somewhere saying "don't show this" so they can save their own backside

 

Oh wow so there could be some problems with it

 

Not necessarily but it does seem a bit sloppy having more than one version on circulation. I guess digital distribution means developers can push closer to the release date than they could with titles on CD or DVD ROM.

 

Well if people aren’t happy already before already seeing the preview stream, don’t buy it. Problem solved. Same cycle everytime we have a new piece of DLC.

 

I don't see any evidence to support the claim of multiple versions of the route being out in circulation, only a post that says "The Youtuber" said DTG told them to hold videos back. Aren't we jumping to conclusions a bit?

Preview is on later this evening, let's allow the route to have a chance to speak for itself. The ATS stream had tech issues and was on a dev build but the content shown on that looked decent. Admittedly I didn't watch the full thing due to Twitch adverts, I'm looking forward to watching a proper preview of it on YouTube without an advert every 10 minutes.

 

This is a non-controversy to me. "Gold version" is a concept that doesn't have much meaning anymore with digital distribution.

As long as the correcrt release build is sent for certification from MS/Sony in-time (i think takes like 24-48 hours?) it should be fine.

They're still doing a preview stream today so i don't see what the problem is really.

 

You have no idea who you're talking to do you

 

I’m I meant to keep tabs on everyone on these forums nowadays, look at the time I just came off a really bad shift and that was the first thing to come out and well to be fair I have no clue if they are some important or not

sorry

 

OldVern (Mr Vern to you) is a former route builder with published works, among his many other unspoken skills

 

Oh I didn’t know sorry

 

Seems like the route will get regular updates to its timetable and layering and what not.. i thought Alan came of as enthusiastic, passionate but just a little mad! All good things though.

 

Really enjoyed that stream. Fascinating chat between the three of them and the route looks excellent.

 

I too enjoyed the stream and the various exchanges and insights. Bit a shame that Matt’s microphone was constantly saturating and distorting his voice, I hope that gets sorted for future streams.

 

Some have already responded to your discourtesy but quite apart from the fact I have been building routes in various train sims since before MSTS, your response bears no relevance to my actual comment. It is surely in the interests of everyone to have a stable finished version of the route several days before preview streams and the actual release.

Go build it yourself is at best disengenuous, the whole point of paying between £20 and £35 is that you’re funding competent people to deliver the content you want.

 

The stream overflowed with enthusiasm and mutual backslapping which got a little bit too yucky for me at times. But on balance the route looks well made with great attention to detail. Just a shame it’s the third iteration of the 323. Does anyone know if layers will be added to Manchester Piccadilly for the Glossop Line as otherwise that’s going to look extremely empty. I do t see why not after all it was done on the ScotRail routes.
As for buying I can’t make up my mind tbh. If there’d been a new train an insta buy for sure. Ok there is a 20% discount for me but then if I leave it for a while they’ll be a much bigger one!
Do I need to drive the 323 again?

 

Well going by the feedback thread so far, things seem a bit mixed. Certainly don’t think I would venture Day One even with the Steam discount. More than likely this will be going for £15 or less in the late Autumn or Christmas sales so along with Cardiff, it can wait. Also gives a chance to see what the ATS commitment is to supporting and fixing any issues, whether they will do so or adopt the Rivet stance of once in the stores wash their hands of it.

 

Appreciate this is ATS’ first TSW route but I’d have liked to see at least a Class 331 to add a bit more immersion. Too many missing potential layers for this to be a full price purchase for me.

 

Well supposedly Alan alluded to a loco DLC that is in development (or rather that is what multiple people in the TSC server said) - could it be a 331, or even a 333?

Something that makes me think it could be a 333 is that they showcased an AI 333 for an upcoming TSClassic route, and it had a sort of TSW-esque look to it (think of the 465/9 ported to TSC from TSW). Although Alan said it would be AI upon release I believe he said they would be potentially working on it to include a cab so that it is driveable. Saying that, I have no clue where the 333s operate with Northern so I could be completely wrong.

 

Sorry….

ps I would make a addon if I had the technology

 

If he’s making anything for this route it would be the 331. Nothing else fits so well. The 333 doesn’t run out of Manchester & the 331 would run practically every service in MAC, along with Glossop Line.

 

Don't feel like you have to apologise here. What Vern failed to mention is his utter befuddlement at Unreal Engine,
it's editing suite and therefore, inability to make anything for TSW. So you were right the first time.

 

And I'll buy it - men's did a great job: it is clear that they put their hearts into the development of this route, although it is VERY sad that they did not reach Crewe

I hope this will help uncle Alan and his team create many more great add-ons for the game)

 

333's run around the Leeds area, they definitely run Doncaster - Leeds stoppers and I think Leeds - Skipton. (There may be others too)

 

Thank you so much for speaking on my behalf and so glad for your insight into my personal life which determines what and if I make a route for.

 

Look at it this way. The route is £24.99 or £19.99 with a 20% discount on steam. If they added the Class 331 you’d be paying £29.99. You’re getting a cheaper route because there is no new loco.

If the demand is high enough I see no reason for ATS to add new rolling stock though.

I don’t have the Cardiff route myself so I’m missing those extra layers. I feel the 390 and 323 make up the bulk of the traffic though from what I saw on stream.

 

Don't worry, it's just a small selection of out dated members of the forum that believe they still have some relevance to modern trainsims because they modeled for primitive ones decades ago.

Case in point, vern thought a 1060 should be getting 4k in tsw.

Luckily they don't represent tsw's player base. (hence why they are perpetually upset by it!)

 

And already a patch on the way to fix the lighting and PIS

Rivet they are not.

 

Given that something is cooking behind the scenes (Alan said it again in the stream)... Think that 319 would fits the 2018 timeframe perfectly. Despite its scrapping, could AC sounds be obtained from 769?

As you can see (Alderley Edge, 2018), those units were quite common here!
Maybe 331 could be introduced instead, but it was phase in in mid-2019!

 

They operated the Leeds/Bradford/Ilkley/Skipton lines, but can now be seen between Doncaster and Leeds as of the most recent timetable change.

 

Might be a good shout. ATS could potentially license the sounds recorded by AP for their (fantastic) TS Classic Class 319 pack - AP have licensed some of their sound sets to DTG for TSW locos before, though not sure how willing they would be to work with another third party rather than DTG directly.

 

I'd love a 319. From the talk on the stream, there were a few mentions of updating the timetable to be more now (as per the route build itself) if more 2025 stock was available. If the loco DLC is for this route, I'd expect a 331 would be more likely (or even a Civity 331/195 pack?) that would then cover so many services.

 

I'd be happy either way. I know it's sacrilege on the forum to say this, but I do enjoy a commuter EMU. The 331 would open up other possibilities for north of england routes, whereas the 319 could also add value in the south east on a timetable set before 2016 when the Class 700s entered service.

 

As someone who grew up on the Thameslink line in the 90s, the 319 is my commuter EMU. Day 1 purchase if it ever came to the game. It also followed me up to Manchester too haha!

 

I’ve posted my feedback already but I’m very happy so far! Barring the timetable, some of the best trackside scenery in TSW.

 

Nice route but it has crashed twice on Xbox Series S but willing to give it the benefit of the doubt for now.

 

Have made a couple of Sunday timetable runs so far and the 323 is fine and from what I could see the layers look decent too. Sounds seem okay and the visuals are top drawer. Again, not from the UK, so YMMV. I'm finding this DLC really enjoyable. Cheers to ATS.

 

Richard from AP is good friends with Alan, he’s been on the twitch streams numerous times.

 

Given we know that Crewe is coming to the game (can't remember who it is developing it). I wonder if ATS are hoping they can negotiate using that model in the future to do the extension to Crewe. Given the work involved in bringing Crewe to the game is the reason they didn't terminate there. Not sure if that is something that happens between 3rd party devs or not.

 

Isn’t the group doing the as yet undetermined to where route from Crewe, those who split from ATS under less than amicable terms? I can’t see much cooperation if that proves to be the case.

 

There is one glaring problem.. No bridge reverb! This should be standard in latest released routes! Oh and Stockport appears to have its own gravel mountains! Please oh please can the audio be added I know Alan doesnt give a monkeys about audio but there's a lot that do.

 

I noticed one of the gravel mountains watching the stream and it was hurriedly coughed over by the presenters!

 

So we were told during the preview stream that the improved track shadows had already been implemented into a newer build, yet here we are with the release build using the old shadows.

What went wrong DTG Matt?