Tongue firmly in cheek, but the surge in requests for MP in the Suggestions forum followed by the immediate rebuttal from those of us who see it as a bad idea and waste of resources… Does make me wonder if the Great, Great part of Dovetail Direct will be DTG announcing they have figured out how to implement and are bringing MP to TSW. Would be somewhat ironic.
I'm playing on Xbox Series S and lately I compared some TSW2 routes in TSW2 and TSW5. In TSW5, the old routes run better, less stutters and a better framerate at busy stations. There are also routes with updated track shadows/LOD in newer versions of the game. I didn't notice other differences to the graphics between the both of them. Do you have examples of things looking better in TSW2?
I appreciate that Multi-player is a divisive topic, but I'd be so disappointed if that was the big reveal. Some things in life just seem a bit pointless. The only possible reason for it would be a driver/guard combo but even that seems a bit dull. Otherwise, I can't see how waving at your mate passing in the opposite direction would provide anyone with a dopamine hit unless it was in real life. My hope is that they've figured out how to inject random events into Timetable mode. If it's easy enough to cause chaos by placing an unattended loco on a mainline and sitting back to enjoy the show, there must be a way of injecting TSRs, signal failures, weather-related operating issues and extended station dwell times for minor technical issues. That sort of thing would resolve the somewhat predictable nature of Timetable mode and keep drivers on their toes.
Speaking from SimRail, it's not that much of a hit. The Watney's Red Barrel of train simming! Not only that, given DTG can't even moderate the forums at weekends or even overnight in the UK, how are they going to police a MP server with all the scope for griefing it brings? And that's the other thing about Simrail, At first you could have a friendly chat with other players, within reason. But first they restricted the distance at which other players could hear you or see your text entries, then restricted chat to essential ops comms only.
While I don't think its something I would use myself, given how TSW routes are isolated, small (in comparison to Simrail) and that dispatching could lead to chaos, it would seem to be the ideal implementation of multiplayer (if it were to happen) would be something like a central lobby, on which users create sessions, or join sessions. A session would simply be two players having selected a route, selected a service, with one player acting as driver and the other as conductor (on passenger service) or as second driver (in a freight service with a banker). Having multiple simultaneous sessions in a single route could be interesting, but as Wivenswold says horning your pal at Gatwick Airport isn't likely to tickle anyone's pickle
But as they have said in the past in order to impliment multiplayer would require a whole restructure of the game top to bottom as it was never developed for multiplayer in the first place. So basically you would have to build a new game using existing content. Not going to happen
I've long said that a co-op mode would be absolutely fantastic for TSW, and given we now have a guard mode I see no reason why it shouldn't be considered. Of course, getting MP to work and getting servers going may be expensive/difficult but I think it would be a good addition. The roleplay aspect of buzzing between the guard and driver and having the guard deal with your doors (which only happens on the 158 to-date, afaik) would be a very big immersion boost and would be a good way to tick off services when variety runs thin. I've turned against a full-lobby MP with players all driving trains, though. Unless it's a free roam setting I can't see it technically working (given how the dispatcher can be) and it would then turn quickly to anarchy.
Hence my thoughts that one of these new IP's could indeed be that. An existing route(s) adapted to whatever DTG might want to offer with MP but outside the core game - similar to what they did with VR or the Roblox thing.
I just started learning TSW. I have been a Run8 player, but got tired of the bland, the lack of any quality graphics, no immersive interaction with the systems other than what is absolutely necessary, lack of animations, no milestones or goals for single player users to work toward and the high cost of poor quality DLC. Even though TSW could use improvement in some areas, so far I love it. There are definitely some things that need fixed, and some features that would make game play more enjoyable, i.e. universal control compatibility w/ optional axis assignments available, a little more interaction with the air braking systems like interactive angle LOVE valves, adding & removing EOTDs, dispatcher interaction, an improved train "maker upper", sound overhaul, adding/removing loads or freight visually represented along with the weight physics. But overall, I'm having a blast playing it. I may even invest in a RailDriver for this one.
I’ve always wanted TSW to have MP. I’m not sure I buy the talk of the game needed a whole restructure. But that’s not me downplaying the amount of work required. It would be a lot, but I don’t think it’s as big as rebuilding the entire game. Now that TSW has guard mode, the variances in times it would take to dispatch causing dynamic delays, meaning you may get stuck behind a train coming off a different branch (that’s on time) for instance would add a tonne of replay value. The only thing that would really make it work better again, is a signaller mode. But is that something that DTG would even consider? I think MP at this stage is a fever dream, though. As much as I would love to see it.
I’ve just realised that some recent references to MP were multiplayer, not Matt P. I thought people wanted a Matt P NPC instead of Emily Turner etc., which I agreed with!
Sounds like your talking about Co-op mode instead of MP. And that they have said they may be able to do. But for multiplayer they would have to buy and maintain huge servers and monitor them 24/7. And that is the big reason I don't think it will ever happen.
Even if the Matt NPC doesn't play a prominent role in scenarios and stuff, I think it would be pretty funny just have him as an NPC that is on a train or a platform sometimes.
I think Matt should be the avatar that greats you with tea and biscuits after an infraction such as a SPAD. “Now then Vern, we need to have a talk about your career going forward.” Though if we could ditch the PEGI3 rating it would be more like, “What the LOVING Hell have you just done?”
In terms of TSW6, Skyhook Games have confirmed that 158 timetable for Fife will come after TSW6 is released. "Scotrail 158 – Fife Circle Sprinter Timetable Update! Following communications with Dovetail Games regarding the Sprinter Timetable for the ScotRail Class 158, they have confirmed this update will be arriving after the release of TSW6"
Funny enough they said that last year while still tsw 4 I think, hell the only reason why I bought was because I was under the belief that the update was coming within 3 months like it was said
Co-op is still fundamentally a multiplayer mode, but yes. I’d love a coop mode, doubt it’ll come though. There’s other ways to achieve networking other than renting expensive servers. You could do P2P connections, have players host their own servers and have a server browser for these to name a few. DLC matching would allow you to only join sessions where you own the enabled layers. Just a pipe dream, though. Doubt it’ll ever happen.
Is a Voyager likely with a cross country route now that DTG have the licence for it for the UK route. Although I have to admit I’m not sure of their routes but a Voyager in Avanti would slip nicely onto the WCML DLC.
Depends on the route. If, as suspected, it will be something Western based then more likely the Voyager would become the additional UK train DLC as part of the Deluxe pack, or bought separately. However to be viable then the route would need to have the Voyager running over a substantial section which brings the possibility of something like Reading to Banbury, or perm any 80 mile section between Cheltenham and Penzance (with a possible diversion off to Paignton). But unless something slips, we still have over a month until all will be (maybe) revealed at Dovetail Direct.
Fingers crossed for a decent length route. I’m really excited to see what is revealed and what improvements TSW6 will bring
Birmingham New Street to Sheffield might work. Burton-on-Trent is served exclusively by CrossCountry, and its services go between those two stations to various others. Could be a possibility.
Also serves as the completion (minus the stop-free segment from Leicester to London) of the London - Sheffield EMT services which would give a solid run in the HST with a route-hop. In an ideal world you'd get Matlock too for the 158. Good shout!
