Am i the only one getting bored with the new TSW announcements? WCML cut up into pieces and in different time Era's? Why dont make the whole WCML in modern time era? Or make a new Dutch route network? Or a TGV network? ICE network? It is all shredded pieced of railways in TSW. From modern to yesterdays.. Done once and left behind. Uninteresting german routes from D to W.. To be forgotten about and maybe bought in a Sale. There is no focus. Please one today and please the other tommorrow. Its a big mess of nothingness.
Well the WCML sections are from two different third parties, not DTG. So they get to make what they want to make. They aren't coordinated.
There is a german Steam Engine announced, that's something new and truly exciting, atleast for me. And the WCML, wouldn't it be more boring, if it were all in the same time period? Who drives the whole length in one go anyway? It's not just a train travel, it's a time travel! Exciting!
I understand the limitations. And 3th parthies choices .But you get my point, i hope. Its a Railroad mess of pieces. Its not Sustainable.
Well, I think we can agree in one point: Network Style Routes tend to be the better routes, just A to B can get boring quite fast. Maybe someone should do the whole WCML in different time periods, always London - Glasgow but different times, that would be interesting, of course with enough branches and sidings to keep everyone entertained. The problem is just, who could that in a reasonable time? I always love to see how railway lines change over time.
I respect the preference but i stick to the one time period. Otherwise its a mess. Start in london in a steam loco and end in Glasgow in an EMU would be silly in IMHO.
One period at a time, so the whole Route like 5 times or so. 1930, 1960, 1980, 2000, 2020, something like that. I would really love to drive from London to Glasgow in one go with the Coronation Scot and LMS Coronation Class, I totally get your point, I just have different preferences for time periods.
Thats ok. I understand and respect the time preference. I like modern and you like older. No problem. I just wanted the creators to make up the minds. Create something of the same in TSW. Not old not new not once and forgotten. I think we are on the same page here.
It would be nice to have the whole route set in 5 different years as above, but then it takes 2 years per section to do and each route is basically five in one, so approx £150 per DLC in dev time. The route from the 1930s steam period would be significantly different to 2000, so can't really expect to just change rolling stock, buildings and other items. I recon what we have now across the multiple DLC sections, in 5 different periods would be nearly £1k...silly business model, wouldn't work. If every section was set in 2025, It'd be off my list, just find modern locos like modern cars, a bit bland. So think what they have now is the best option as it caters for the majority of the player base.
I know it is not necessarily easy, but I do think the opportunity to take existing WCML routes and switch the eras hasn't got much attention yet. I like the idea of running a class 86 from MK to Euston and a Pendolino from Preston to Carlisle in a matching era, not just free roam or creating my own scenarios. Think this would refresh these routes too. I like how JT include branchlines too. I know it's not network like, but it adds to an A to B route.
That is exactly the point, you loose variety and any reason if you would do this. That's why I think, the way we have it now is not the worst after all. The Devs could really concentrate on one period and area for a bit longer, a route that never gets any rollingstock to layer on feels just sad and empty but only WCML, only modern as the only content for probably years? Not really exciting at all.
Just like only old. Not really exciting at all. Empty and sad. No variety. BUT if they dont concentrate on a certain time period. It will get old and sad and empty. Doesnt matter if its old or modern.. You get my point? There is no focus. But it is all about keeping everybody happy. I rest my case.
Keeping everybody happy is impossible, it's all about compromises. No one is totally happy but no one is totally unhappy either basically. Yes, I still totally get your point, there is just no solution to this problem. Like I said, the Devs could try to focus a bit more, so that you have variety without having totally isolated routes either but it still would be just a compromise.
One thing I’ll add my 2 cents in on, it would be absolutely amazing if the WCML in the future was able to be standardised for one era
Has anyone played the Halo TMCC? If you have, you know the option where you can switch between classic and remaster. Wouldn’t be good if it had an option where you change from one era to another. Only the scenery would change, TT’s and locos would remain the same.
I know DTGs system for many years now. A solid smooth route hop experience would be technically possible in the way op is immagine. But here to say when DTG is creating a route, they basicly never think about possible future content on a route section, and neither care about already released lines. Every dlc is kind of a self contained thing for its own, with its own bugs. I kind of get they cant stretch the scope to 5-6 already released dlcs and think about 3-4 potential future routes while they struggle with the very one dlc which is in production. TSW has to evolve in a parallel way. And here im honest, its way better now than back in 2021, where timetable had huge gaps. Now the uk and german modern stock allow for a very good experience because the variety of the available rolling stock. So devs can focus on realistic timetables, and also make timetable dlcs. But this was not always the case years ago. Im sure if there are all legs of wcml in the more or less same time period, devs come with a suitable solution for players who like the long run.
2026 is shaping up to be a very good year for TSW. Several great UK routes in the pipeline. A cracking German one with a return to steam traction and at least the possibility we might see Tadami. Yes there are flies in the ointment with regard to the core and we know DTG have become fixated on Metro Rivals. But we live in hope things might happen there. And as regards TSW itself being boring, last night I interrupted a Class 86 run on WCML Shap to do a Winter Wonderland run in ETS2. I actually found myself rushing the truck job so I could get back on TSW and push a bit further with the 86!
Yes, if everything pans out the way it looks on the Roadmap, there's lots of intriguing routes and trains to look forward to in the next year. There are at least two UK routes that I will likely buy day one, Cumbria and Medway for different reasons. And even the US content looks fairly tempting for a change. The German route is spoiled for me by being essentially an electric line. Why is it not a historical steam route? That I would pop for on day one. As it is I'll be on the fence. In any case, I would never describe TSW as " boring ". Flawed it may be, especially for console players. But I can always find enjoyment, even if it often involves the older part of the catalog.
Not saying I want a full length modern WCML, but this stinks of "I don't want this therefore nobody else does"
Just bored - or fed up really - with the game in general at the minute. Played it maybe twice in the last month and both times hit the blurry textures and just switched off. Fortunately Planet Coaster 2 (a game not without its issues although Frontier seem infinitely better at fixes than DTG) is keeping me more than entertained until such time as DTG manage to deliver an unbroken game - yeah I know it'll probably never happen !
That sounds like something that someone who would rather not get hit by a on coming train than not have that would say
I can’t understand why people are so obsessed with having the entire WCML in one route. How often are you going to sit down for six hours straight to drive from London to Glasgow?
Given that you’re asking for the whole of WCML or a Dutch *network* I’d say it was abundantly clear that you don’t understand the limitations!
Approximately twice a month. Sometimes up to Fort William (TSC). Conversely, I rarely do short missions.
...Because some of us do want to? I've done runs of four hours in TSC uninterrupted, and I've done TSW play sessions of around that length regularly. In fact it's pretty rare I don't end up playing TSW for less than about a hour and a half or so when doing it. Heck, another game I was playing recently I was putting in legit six hour play sessions into it, did that for two, I think maybe three days straight actually, and I played other stuff on top of that actually. If you look at YouTube livestreams of various games you'll see there's absolutely lots of people who put that much time into games regular, and not just people who live off YouTube. I mean heck, not games, but I my mother got interested in Clarkson's Farm and Grand Tour from me talking about them, and those she would legit watch three or four episodes a day easy. People act like six hours is a insane number nobody reaches, but no, lots of people spend that time on this stuff.
Absolutely, looks like an ordinary gaming session for a friday evening for example. Once, I did a railtour... Dover Priory - Mallaig. 21 hours. That, on the other hand, was completely crazy. But anyway, I don't regret it.
If it's 6 hours every day, obviously. But if it's twice or three times a month, where is the problem ?
I have to say I think this year could be a better one for TSW as well. We have our issues like textures etc but it's refreshing to hear Matt and Alex in the Q&As coming to chat with the community and tell us what's actually happening and why. I'm thrilled that Steam's coming back as for me that will mean a new country to explore alongside the possibility of new steam content in the future, JT have got two great looking routes coming up with some really good looking rolling stock, Firefly studios look to have built something special which I can't wait to see (despite it being an electrostar Jetwash got me excited for this one), Rivets ECW could bring some much needed life back to one of my old favourites and all of the new third party stuff too!
To be honest with you, for me at least, this has been the most exciting time in the history of the game in terms of developers and the content coming into the game (bare it mind it has been noted there are even more developers and there projects haven't even been officially announced!). We have such a variety of third party developers coming onboard now, that will also add such a rich variety of content to the game. There will be something for everyone to enjoy. To say this is a boring time, is a little out of touch if you ask me. If you compare what is on the roadmap now VS what was on the roadmap even 3 years ago, there is a massive difference. Historically we only had DTG & Rivet, with the odd input from Skyhook, producing content. With the most recent weekly season of reveals it has shown us how the game is going to change immensely over the next 12 months, and for the better. Handfuls of new developers, handfuls of new content and variety. It looks as if we are going to be spoilt for choice. So no, it isn't boring at all. If anything this is the start of a very good thing for everyone involved!
I’m in the modernisation camp of the WCML and If JT would do a paid upgrade to their scenery to make it more 2025 I would be happy to pay for it.. only reason I’m picking up their overshap route despite the scenery era is for the 2019 modded TT (and will wait for a similar modded TT before I get Preston’s to Crewe) I don’t come from the uk so my interest in anything back dated pre that is zero even if DTG did an Aussie route I don’t want that in anything pre covid TBH and I’m in my mid 40s and rode the trains regularly in my childhood. I like older trains but put them in as rail tours or special events, keep the scenery as close to current as possible. it’s also a real shame that ATS didn’t go to Crewe with their Manchester DLC!
