As an Epic Games player since TSW 2020, I've spent over €1,800 (£1,560.24) on this platform. I just hope Epic can get this resolved again, because I wouldn't want to have to pay that amount again. As of today, except for the routes that are 100% American cargo... the rest I have the entire accessories store
Honestly, I think you're wasting your breath - this guy comes across like one of those rabid fanboys who can't tolerate any criticism of their beloved platform, however justified. Of course this is a DTG issue - they partner with Epic to get their product into the market, and if Epic can't deliver the service that was promised then it's up to DTG to offer a remedy for the customer, in the same way that Amazon sends you a replacement parcel if the courier 'loses' it in transit. Hopefully DTG are working on this and will offer a solution to Epic customers; it would be shocking if they don't do this and just expect people who bought their product via Epic to write off hundreds on $ of DLC.
To be fair, there are quite a few of both sides around here. The fanatical fanboys as well as the rabid haters My thoughts on the topic: I don't know if it's Epic's fault or DTG's, but whoever is to blame should have come forth with an answer and a solution by now. Leaving customers hanging in the dark with no tangible information is worse than just shoving the blame around. If it really is Epic's fault and Epic's alone, it's also Epic's responsibility to provide a solution. Same goes for DTG if it's their doing. Simple as that. We can't hold one person/company responsible for something another did. That's like getting caught stealing from a store, pointing to another customer saying "He made me do it" and getting away with it.
As someone who started gaming on PC (1990s-2000s) then switched to console only in 2008 or so, the entire concept of these PC “launchers” confuses me. Back when I gamed on PC you bought a game on disc, installed it and played it on the computer. It didn’t matter where you bought it, it just loaded through windows. Now everyone seems forced into these “launchers” that are almost like an extra layer of ecosystem on top of windows? Like why wouldn’t the Epic version of TSW work exactly like the Steam one, to me they are both running on PC.
When I first started gaming on PC, the likes of TFX (flight sim) came on about 10 floppy 3.5" discs. If you wanted to run something off the CD drive then a huge battle ensued with config.sys and autoexec.bat to free up enough conventional and extended memory. Ah, those were the days. However it also focused developer/publisher minds as it was rare you got a total stinker of a buggy game on disc as there was no instant access to the internet to fix it. The one exception being Frontier First Encounters where you had to send your name and address to the publisher and they sent a replacement disc with the patched game (though as it turned out, didn't really fix things!).
Yep I've seen one in particular who likes to hang out in the feedback threads and tell people that it's silly to be reporting bugs. Even a few of the ambassadors who I used to watch have started with that sort of attitude. In general now I just don't watch most of the yt channels besides a few as most of them now just drool over every route that gets released (or ban people from the chat if they criticise DTG).
OTOH, there are others who are routinely negative and never miss a chance to slag off DTG, no matter how unreasonable the complaint.
Honestly, if someone is always negative and never can say anything positive at all, makes me wonder why they stick around. I certainly wouldn't. Some exist just to dump praise. Some exist just to complain.
I think like most places on the World Wide Web, forum members are very quick to label each other. I myself have been called a fan boy and DTG hater on numerous occasions. Sometimes on the same thread. I would say I am neither, I have always said it as I see it and I’ll call DTG out when I feel it is warranted and praise them also when they deserve it. But of course for some because I dare disagree with their opinion I am labelled by them as either one extreme or another.
Here’s the thing…depending on your country’s laws and corporate charter, showing compassion when not required to could get you booted and possibly even sued by your shareholders who have now lost money because you wanted to be nice. It’s evil and why I could never work in the for-profit world, but we live in an era where companies cannot put the customer first in unprofitable ways. Compassion isn’t something you can easily do in the modern corporation if you want to stay employed. The only way to get this would be to argue that the cost of losing players from Epic is greater than the cost of freely gifting hundreds of dollars of DLC for thousands of people.
I doubt DTG would get sued... but that being said, the argument for them to provide alternative arrangements is kind of moot. The content is still accessible, but you will of course need the older versions of the game installed. They aren't denying you access to the content you bought.
Are we forgetting the part where there is no real alternative to TSW. I'm sure if one existed people would leave.
But perhaps denying access to assets that might layer into future TSW6 routes. Plus, DTG cannot really " curate " ( love that word ) for the Epic players. Just because a route sells or is played more doesn't mean people are more or less happy to lose it. I'm glad I'm on Steam ( for the moment ). There I can curate my own collection and change it up whenever I choose. I have a feeling that the Epic issue will be solved at some point and players will have access to their entire collection in TSW6. But now there is no guarantee that any of our personal collections are safe for future games. Not to overstate things, but the TSW world has shifted on its axis a little bit.
I think it shows a bit that you don't work in the for-profit world. In real businesses, rather than comic-book caricatures, building customer satisfaction, brand loyalty and company image are all considered to be major contributions to "shareholder value," and boards are all in favor of it. Heck, over the last several years it has been the boards of corporations, not management, who have been implementing ESG and DEI programs, all of which in the short term at least cost money.
Short term and long term they cost money and don't add value to the company. Although they may have benefit to the personalities involved.
Not a single competitor anywhere? That's a high bar legally. Just at a glance there are: TSC Derail Valley Sim Rail Railroader Railroads Online Zusi Trainz Roblox Open Rails Run 8 City Transport Simulator That's just the major ones, not the small ones or ones in development like Century of Steam, Constracktion, etc.
If we narrow that list to console competitors, then the list gets really narrow. And TSW still is kind of the only option. Trainz Xbox title still hasn't launched and SimRail hasn't pursued a console release yet.
I just think this situation has been massively over dramatized. DTG have done many things wrong, but I don't in good conscience believe that this is something they should be taking the wrap for.
Not forgetting the Ongakukan Japanese video based sims and BVE/OpenBVE though the files are getting harder to find.
Throwing around concepts like "monopoly" around (which the OP did) implies there is no other possible option and that the company has taken steps to actively prevent competition. If on the other hand it's just a niche market or a self-imposed hardship AND it's a "necessity" then the onus is on the consumer. Any rail sim video game is not a "necessity" for life. You don't have to play any video games, let alone a specific rail sim game. Finally, the people on console are choosing not to play on PC. It's not at all like someone is being denied basic food or water. There's just very few rail sim video games because the customer base is tiny, and even more so among console players. Most developers don't bother with tiny niche markets, and that's especially so when dealing with big corporations like Microsoft and SONY. It's just too much work for too little profit.
Says the non-Epic player, I assume, enjoying his full collection without having to repurchase 1200€ worth of DLCs
Nah, I find it really understandable for those affected to be upset over this. It's pretty much almost worst case scenario for them (almost because there's still some dlc, but meh).
But the dlc is still accessible. People are acting like it’s gone forever, never to be played again like Ubisofts The Crew. I’m not saying that it doesn’t suck, but throwing your toys out the pram isn’t going to fix it.
Well, it can't be played in TSW6, which means Epic players will have to maintain parallel installations of 5 and 6, at great cost in disk space, and if changing from one to another will have to endure TSW's eternal boot cycle.
Isn't it just "not playable on TSW 6 at first?" This is why we need a definite response from Epic themselves.
This is the issue. Voice your displeasure so those that have power know, sure. But throwing a hissy fit and demanding all sorts isn’t what’s going to change it. As far as I’m concerned this is Epics issue, not DTGs. Just like how it’s Microsoft’s decision to include TSW on Game Pass or not. And I respect that it’s frustrating, but I really don’t think demanding cd keys is going to fix it. People would be very lucky if they got that, and would imagine that would come from DTGs parent company. Remember services like Ultraviolet where you got digital versions of movies of you bought blurays? When services like that got shut down people lost entitlement to a whole library of digital films. This is no different. If any case I think we’re very lucky that content remains compatible through each iteration.
If this were the case it would be a minor inconvenience but from what DTG says on their FAQ there is no indication it is a short term thing. They just updated the FAQ today to say 17 of the 60 DLC that will transfer into TSW6 will not be available at launch but will come later. DW
There'll always be an even worse example. Doesn't mean we should lower our standards to the bottom. Also, the line they gave - "if at all" - is hinting at anything but "short term inconvenience"
The White Knight Brigade can excuse DTG as much as they want, that's why they're here. But it would behoove them to have just a little bit of sympathy for those Epic players facing an uncertain future. Please put yourself in their place ( you might literally be there sooner than you think. )
Those who respect Murphy's Law would do well to imagine DTG and Epic announcing that they've found a solution to the problem right after the player has rebought everything on Steam.
People do have sympathy for them but are directing their anger at Epic who appear to be responsible for the mess rather than DTG who have explained the situation.
But DTG really hasn't explained the situation. They've said all this DLC will not move on into TSW6 on Epic Games but have not given the reason why, at least not that I've seen. DW
You seem to be here to blame DTG even when it's likely not their fault though. Meanwhile no one has even bothered to get Epic's opinion on their own platform and rules. Why would that not be the first step for people that are using Epic? It's just the logical first step that is being avoided for some odd reason. Again, it's like your local garage screws up on repairing your car and you don't even talk to them about it, you go straight to the car manufacturer demanding money. Step 1...then step 2.... It's not "white knighting" it's just going through the rational process that will lead to best results. You're skipping a key step and won't explain why you are avoiding it.
