Dtg’s New Ip’s Speculation Thread

Hi Folks,

So it’s no secret DTG have some new IP’s coming soon developed by them and they will be revealed on the 26th August. This is surprising to say the least as I’ve only ever associated TSC and TSW with them. Could their new IP’s be shifting away from trains entirely and we could be getting other forms of transport to explore, buses, more trams?

I’m going to be really bold here and base my guess that a potential new IP could be another train game (but we already have TSW & TSC).
TSW is a superb game, but as we all know it can’t deliver on “longer routes”. So here’s my theory, what if DTG have developed another train sim game for consoles and PC’s, but they’re catering more towards longer style routes. The route lengths we will never see in TSW.

What would that mean for their new IP?

Firstly it wouldn’t be high graphical fidelity as TSW is. If I was using a comparison I’d say it would be similar to TrainZ, you know that dodgy Train sim on Steam “yikes”.
With less memory used for graphics, more focus could be put into longer routes.

My second IP guess would be another Tram game. We already know DTG have published two Tram style games, could they be testing the waters here on their very own game? If so, let’s hope it’s UK based. The metrolink network at Manchester Piccadilly “one can only dream”.

What are your thoughts?

 

First one sounds a bit like TSC.

Second one seems more realistic.

 

Intersting thoughts here

 

There's already a thread discussing trademarks that have been taken out: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...railway-game-by-dtg.88940/page-2#post-1018997

 

Maybe a stand-alone Thomas title?

 

Oh dear, I hope not. Anything is possible though.

 

CATAN style game about trains.

 

The title of that old thread is discussing Metro Rivals and the removal of trademarks.
I’m speculating what IP’s could be revealed on August 26th. I don’t know why you’re promoting another thread for, when it’s not relevant to mine.

 

If you read the whole thread you will see the trademarks that are still live named a few times. These are most likely the titles to be released. It’s very relevant to this thread’s topic.

 

What is an IP?

 

Intellectual Property

 

I would like to think they might be doing something transport but not train related.
So yes as mentioned, they ditched CTS to focus on their own tram game.
A specialised Subway/rapid transit game - okay I guess that’s still trains.
They bought the rights to do OMSI3.
Updated Crazy Taxi.

Or perhaps they will be doing a sailing or other maritime game, maybe a canal simulator chugging along in your barge at 4 MPH and operating locks, swing bridges etc.

Something sports related, we desperately need a decent golf game with the demise of The Golf Club.

They have bought out Super Cell and we will get Clash Of Clans and Hay Day on PC and console!

Or maybe they are dusting off Flight Sim World.

However knowing DTG it will be something vague and fringe like Catan or the Fidhing games.

 

Intellectual property, basically a new game

 

I don't think the first idea makes a ton of sense tbh. The sales pitch would be, "Like TSW but with graphics from 15 years ago"- that doesn't sound very appealing personally.

A tram game is certainly possible, but isn't Focus already publishing one? Not sure they'd want to double-up.

Based on the trademark filings, my guess is some sort of Subway Tycoon title.

 

I didn't know they had the rights to OMSI.

I'd be all over a modernised version of that one- I've never been able to get OMSI2 working right on my PC- the front-end is so fiddly and trying to get it to to play nice with my xbox controller ugh...i just gave up eventually.

 

I certainly hope not, do we really need another board game? Heck, is Catan even that popular?

Golf game? Now you’re talking. Must be train themed though.
The perfect scene would be swinging your 9 iron whilst seeing a Class 66 pass on the FCL.

 

I should imagine the graphics would be better than a 15 year old game, instead of a copy and paste job from TSC. I personally think TSC graphics (with mods) look better than TSW, but that’s another discussion altogether.
The odds of another train sim game focused on longer routes is slim to none, but i would welcome it. I just hope it’s not more board games, that would be disappointing.

 

Not sure what DTGs new IP will be, but their current one is 35.179.234.243

 

Well Catan and Fishing are all but abandoned by DTG (so is TSC pretty much for that matter) and given the fickle way they disposed of FSW and CTS not sure I really trust them as regards to any new genre they might tap inro.

 

I was speaking hypothetically, sorry for any confusion!

However agree it would be nice as I still struggle to get OMSI2 running and, when I do, can only drive with the mouse which doesn't sit well with my neuropathy.

 

Model train simulator.

You start off on a dining table and a few odd bits of track, taking it on tour and earning some cash to upgrade it from making videos of it on 'steamtube' until you work up to having a mile of track inside a warehouse!

 

Actually that's not a bad idea and, as I may have said before, work in some way of being able to scale the player down and actually get in the layout. Get a licence deal with Peco or Kalmbach and bring in some of the great historical layouts from over the years. Or even dabble with rideable miniature railways, something like Train Mountain in the USA would be awesome.

 

Isn't that already a VR game? I could've sworn I saw gameplay of it somewhere.

Also, I do think Metro Rivals is the most likely new IP, but my predictions have seldom been right so...

 

Thanks, I knew IP could mean intellectual property but didn't imagine it meaning that in this context. Why not use a term everyone would understand i.e. Game?

 

Rolling Line, with both desktop and VR modes.

 

"Grandmaster Tiddlywinks 2026"

"Lawn Dart Aficionado 1"

"Roman Bath Sim World" (already shut down by Steam for racy DLC).

 

Mobile train driving game, where you get a limited amount of diesel/electricity, and you need to purchase more from the cash shop.

Please don't.

 

OldVern Can a controller be used on OMSI2? In the menu it clearly states you can use a controller, but when I tried before none of the commands worked. I even tried mapping the key blinds to controller keys. Bloody bus still wouldn’t accelerate after all that.
I ended up uninstalling the game in end.

 

I´m still waiting for a modern tram simulator, with real world (non fictional) routes. All games that attempted to do trams have failed in the past. But thinking about it, would not even need a new game... TSW has a perfect platform for Tram networks, when you think about it. As long routes don´t seem to be financially feasible or desired by most players according to DTG statistics, I´m suprised they have not considered doing a Tram network for DLC. I mean, we´ve had a tube line before... why not a tram Network? Most tram networks clock in at around 40-50 miles of track. Perfect for TSW.

 

Given that DTG has chronic lack of engineers that they admit openly, and even had to re-hire new engineers to optimize TSW, I cannot really imagine them having any capability for a new internally developed game. It will likely be yet another off-shoot game developed completely by somebody else and having nothing to do with TSW, and they will just slap their logo on it to collect 30% of revenues until it's forgotten next week.

 

The biggest issue to be addressed for them to make a tram simulation in TSW would be the road traffic. At the moment if is quite basic and in the background. If you are driving among cars, they would need to be a lot more detailed and varied in their interactions.

Pedestrians too would need to be represented to give cities a realistic atmosphere.

 

That is the problem. It works with a gamepad but there is no graduated response, slightest move on the thumb stick just instantly skews the bus around. Apparently there is a third party mapping programme you can use to set up a more analog profile but I never delved into that. Keyboard is nearly as bad and only the mouse gives a modicum of smooth control on the 4 axis.

 

There aren't any modern maritime simulation games, as far as I know. Only a few old ones that have their own shortcomings. I'd actually love to see some maritime simulation game. But I fear the market simply isn't there, or such games would already exist.

 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2582140/Seafarer_The_Ship_Sim/
https://vstepsimulation.com/nautis-home/
https://www.rockstargames.com/VI

 

It’s a shame.
I tried Sailaway but constrained by a pseudo MMO mode that forces you to use real time, meaning if you sail in another region you can only do it in the dark. Although the oceans and land masses accurately depicted there are no ports or any representation of coastal population centres. If you want the decent yachts they need to be purchased separately from the developer who also seems to have largely abandoned the game.

Sailwind started off with some promise, but I couldn’t get my head around the hardcore navigation which doesn’t work in cloudy conditions anyway. Also seems to have little dev input.

E-Sail, tried that but basically a very small fictional area to sail round.

I also miss the Silent Hunter games, well 3 and 4 anyway, though you spent far more time looking for targets than actually engaging them, at which point even with a deep dive and silent running the AI enemy invariably found you.

 

Thanks. Didn't know of that one. Wishlisted it. Curious to see how it works out. Same developer of Bus Simulator series, which is, how do I put it, not the worst but also certainly not perfect, I guess.

Ah yes, saw that one a while ago, certainly looks interesting but I'm staying away from their subscription based pricing scheme. Would love to make a purchase once they offer one-time-purchase options.

Not sure how GTA6 fits in here. Different type of game I think?

Hmm.. I'm not really interested in old school sailing boats. I want them motorized ships. Small ones, but also large ones.

Aren't those naval combat games? I'd say that's a different genre. Those seem to be more common.

---

I've tried https://store.steampowered.com/app/48800/Ship_Simulator_Extremes/ and https://store.steampowered.com/app/299250/European_Ship_Simulator/ in the past. That's the kind of game I'm looking for. Unfortunately these two are oldies and they both have their shortcomings. Reviews aren't too kind on these games either. But I wish there was a game as good as TSW that focused on these types of ships.

 

I have spent some happy hours sailing ships around the various GTA locales. Realistic? probably not, but if you're after a fix of sailing its a good and easily accessible shout

Re Nautis, assuming they offer a one month sub, perhaps worth getting it for one month (assuming you don't have to pay out for the software on top) and then cancelling

 

The maritime idea seem cool. I’ve wanted an ocean liner building game for a very long time.
I’m not on PC so not sure what’s out there. To find a new IP these days is quite hard considering how saturated the market is.

So for me I’d be wondering what DTG is trying to create market wise.
Something that will provide new theme or line of revenue.

But what?. Flight sims have been done by Microsoft is the market leader.
World of Tanks, and Warships. We have construction games and farming simulators absolutely everything as many developers tried to find a new way to create a game or new IP.

Im assuming DTG would stay in the simulation market sector because again there are too many well established titles. Forza, Motorfest.
Fortnight, FIFA, Roblox, Rainbow Six. Big corporations, Microsoft, Ubisoft, Epic Games, EA, the list goes on.
That’s just focused on the big leagues yet again there are so many small developers pushing for new IP.
So many get missed because it seems only the best or most popular games by the massive corps are used by the masses.

Small games that are quite good in there ideas yet get overlooked because kids play the lasted trend or to fit in.

This is the problem for any game developers. They either need a solid IP that gains attention and grows of throw loads of money at a new IP hoping it pays off. So one I’ve thought of is a Train maintenance shed sim. That too would get lost in the market with being so small.

There has to be a gap in the market to exploit. Hence Market research.

We as a community could do a little test today.
By presenting two ideas.
So Martime theme, (Ship Building games or long distance ocean liner travel. We have flight sims but where is the long distance navigation style games. I played a game called Fishing Barents Sea. Trawlers and ocean fishing. Great game but the graphics could have been better.

I’d feel the second idea would be a model railway game. This is a sector where I feel there could be improvements.
The opportunity for micro sales is huge. Something I’ve approached Hornby and DTG with the odd idea on a full on Model Railway simulator.
One for the console market, yet again that gives limited options for good graphics over immersive play.
TSW, vs Run 8 has been a discussion of such topic. Run 8 focus on the player immersion so is more complicated than TSW as this is basic set up and away you go. Simple A to B. My personal opinion is that Run 8 is for adults (PC) and TSW is for players of all ages.
It’s on a games console. Simulators will have limited range in length over graphics on that system.

Yet if we as a community did do a poll on these simple ideas then we might see answers from market research.
I do feel if DTG and Hornby game together they could take a standard IP they have now and bring them together.
Why. Well do kids buy model sets with pocket money. Or follow the crowd by purchasing the latest skin of Fortnight.
The model industry has suffered from the advent of games console since the mid 80s. Even today.

The market. Yet bringing a full on IP and franchise set solely on modelling could turn that around.
Why well cost and space. Issue for me a kid and even today as an adult. If I had that on a game then would the kid inside build and model railway on a console. It has the building elements like Transport Fever franchise, I own and play those games.

For size then separate games. UK. EU. USA, ASIA. Within each game you’d have limited size. So you can make a few small layouts or one big layout. A base game like a train set does, and add as you do in the modelling world. (DLCS).
I cool sales pitch would ever time you buy a DLC a small certificate or cast model could be sent out.
Of each time you by a DLC you collect points to gain free DLCs. There has to be some incentive for a user to buy.

That’s missing from TSW I feel. No real incentive other than trying to keep up with the latest DLC, yet the core principles haven’t changed in over 5 or 6 years to keep players interested. Especially in the younger generations.
Why again DTG is waiting to see what GTA6 does to sales on Gen8. If the TSW gen 8 user base jump to GTA6 and upgrade to Gen 9 then the community and DTG will see the picture. It’s a separate issue but I do think that’s what DTG is holding out on this matter.

I could go on about all this, I’m no expert yet I’ve always found it interesting because it’s all about creating.
Building dreams or a vision, and I’d love to see DTG do something that changes the market.

It all depends on if their is a market that is worth investment and if any new IP has the legs to stand in an overcrowded market with limited money or resources to compete long term. What ever they do they need to move with the times.
For on my own personal opinion and that of my kids that once played TSW, It’s boring with limited rewards.
Photo mode is made out to be a big thing yet that’s standard on many games.
Does TSW have to mention such things because the game does seem lacking in punch. IE what it offers potential buyers.

Anything DTG brings out will have to change all this. Seem now trending fashionable modern, an IP that speaks to that generation.
Yet the theme of that IP will always dictate who it speaks too.

Using TSW as the example I see a child talking about this with school friends like a child did about trains, ships or planes.
I got bullied for my interests. That’s the problem right there. You could come up with something amazing tomorrow but if it’s not fashionable or trendy then it doesn’t workout. It’s all based not on quality of content but rather how popular it is in society.

It’s always going to be the same narrative. If something said or provided doesn’t fit that narrative then it’s game over right away.
Be correct right or good. It doesn’t matter unless it’s trending.

A very interesting topic, one that might start trending

Thanks for reading.

✌

 

I mean, an expert level tram game would rock and I would play it, especially if it involved Vienna, Budapest, Prague or Bratislava

 

I’m thinking it could be another tram game too.
I don’t know how popular they’re based on the sales figures, but if they’re DTG could be jumping on that bandwagon too.

 

Or Blackpool in the heritage, trolley pole and pre Flexity rubbish era.

 

The tram game is now also a bus game
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3592110/City_Transport_Simulator_Bus/

DTG is publisher of the console version of the tram one so I wager that will be at least one of the announcements (Bus isn't out on console yet)

 

I am actually quite fond of Flexity, honestly I dont get the animosity towards it in some discussions - yes, it can get shaky (it is very low floor, so yeah, on worse tracks it can be, but so is ULF), but I kinda like the ride, the speed, especially on Badner Bahn tram-train variety (which has that cool "angry face" front )

 

My main reason for disliking new trams is my fond memories of the old Blackpool trams starting when my parents took us on holiday in the 60's and 70's. There was just something a bit scary about those big Balloon cars with the grinding wheels and hissing trolley poles.

 

I didn’t even know there was a bus extension for this. Good to know.
I enjoy CTS, so will be picking this up when a console release is on the horizon.

 

I remember both the older trams and the new ones... when these bad boys arrived in Bratislava:

it was such a change for the better, and not just cos it finally had air-conditioning

and in less than 10 days the new section to Petrzalka will be opening, and these cool trams will be operating there in the future as well:

new 50+ meter long ones, almost as long as some MU trains

 

There’s definitely a chance it could be a game dedicated just to steam players, it would be good to finally have that

 

DTG were the publisher but now they are no longer involved. There was an announcement about it a while back…

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/cts-tram-publishing-rights-transfer.91312/

 

Continuing on the theme from other threads, another less bold step could be a multiplayer spin off from TSW, rather than trying to graft it onto the numerous routes and trains we have in mainstream TSW. It would make more sense to focus the gameplay on two or three busy routes in a separate product, perhaps BML for UK, Dresden to Riesa for Germany, not sure what for US with or without some kind of player as signaller involvement.

 

I would really like to see a London Buses sim title. London has had SO many bus routes as well as absolutely tons of different bus makes/models. You could explore bus routes as they were long ago or as they exist currently as there are often multiple differences over the years. As far as fleets go, you could have the likes of RMs, LSs and DMSs during the 70s, the DKs and LLWs in the 90s up to the latest hybrid and electric Enviros and Volvos of recent years, amongst many many others. The scope for expanding a full collection is immense to say the least.