Do you think Brighton Mainline route should get a remaster? (update to scenery and vegetation along with TOD4 lighting update)
So this is not the announcement? It's just a poll asking if I want a remaster? Why wouldn't I want a remaster of BML?
Some people may consider the route acceptable as it is, and may prefer that DTG use their resources on other aspects of the game. Matt P stated its over a months work to complete a standard remaster. One or two people popping up on LiveStreams asking for it might not represent the more wider community.
I was just about to make a similar thread lol. Yeah I'd love a remaster of this route, but considering how many services there are already, I'm not sure it would cope with the addition of Thameslink services as well. So for myself, I'd be happy to lose some of the driveable services that last for a handful of minutes and start from a random location and end in another random location if it meant we got Thameslink. (Though keep those lost driveable services as AI). Though I'd also like to see some of the other older routes done first, like Tees Valley or North Transpennine.
Reading between the lines from the ECW live stream... I think it's definitely on DTGs radar, but has not come to fruition just yet. I'm hopeful it will happen, but not in the next 6 months atleast.
They’ll need a pack to sell alongside/ after. A 455 would be nice, assuming a 73 and DBSO is too much to ask! I think the best way of getting a BML remaster is to buy the 171 pack, and Liams forthcoming packs for GWER to show that remasters are commercially viable.
Would love this to happen but feel like realistically it might end up being PC only as could see it melting even gen 9 consoles.
no reason why it should. great western express runs fine compared to the modern standard of busy routes and bml has much less traffic variety along most of the route
Less variety maybe but it’s still one of if not the most busy timetable in the game and any remaster would presumably add more to it (ie the 700). Combined with any scenery upgrades, could easily see it bringing PS5/Series X to their knees.
We are some many years further. I was under the assumption that in the meanwhile they have more tricks up their sleeve for optimization.
It's definitely known to us how highly requested a BML remaster is (possibly the most requested). Personally I'd love to see it happen with Thameslink added but to me it's not worth doing until both the core texture issues are fixed and we know the route performance issues can be optimized.
Thank you for the reply Liam it is much appreciated! On the radar, but current limitations are putting it on temporary ice for now until a substantial improvements to the core by the sounds of it... Either way it's nice to know it is on the official radar and there is atleast hope in the long term!
If they do decide to remaster it they should also make a 700/1 since the 700/0 has the wrong formations for this route
DTG are probably holding weekly meetings now and deciding on what this project should be (Remaster or Remake W/ extension). When this project does start the development process, don’t expect it anytime soon. I can honestly see this being a GWE remaster situation all over again.
With BML you could do a remaster of the route then have a DLC 700/1 which came with a new modern timetable and also do a "retro" DLC with a 442/319 set sometime between 2010-2015 timetable. Both would sell well.
it’s highly unlikely but i hope the reduction in dtg content is because they’ve been working on stabilising the core to the extent where they can remaster and possibly extend bml as the uk tsw7 route
I suspect it is on their radar from what's been said. A remaster with the 700 layering in and a class 455 DLC would be lovely. I assume the 455 would have worked to Reigate at some point?
There is a modded timetable for BML with the Thameslink services, it works fine in it's current state but as Liam said the route needs a lot of optimization with textures etc before getting the TOD4 treatment but it would be nice to see it get a remaster or upgrade at least considering it's the only one of the rush hour routes not upgraded yet but same with you, I would love to see both TVL & NTP remastered with new timetables/rolling stock as well at some point.
I think there's a strong chance it could be the "remaster/extension" route for TSW7, similar to Dresden-Leipzig this time. I think having one of the annual three routes be semi-recycled saves DTG dev time and $ and if they can sell a Deluxe edition loco for it, that's even better for them. With it being so highly requested it could help sell the overall package. I've seen the 455 mentioned- anything else that might work as loco DLC?
the 319 or thameslink 377s if you backdate it far enough, but i think a 442 would be more likely to be the deluxe loco
You call that remastered? Sorry, but what DTG did with the Riesa–Leipzig extension is not really a remaster in most people's eyes. It was just thrown together quickly, and not even done properly. And they didn't even touch the old part or change anything. And DTG isn't even able to provide updates for Dresden-Leipzig. No, since it's a route that was sold in the new TSW, there's no need to update anything. It's exactly the same with the Cologne-Aachen remaster, which was also just thrown together quickly without any real love put into it. And before another English route is remastered, they should make a decent German route with the love that the two English routes got.
I'm not calling it anything, tbh. I was just making the point that a semi-recycled route for the TSW7 launch could make financial sense for DTG. Personally i'd be happy with that, cause BML is one of my faves. Agree with D-L being a little underwhelming (definitely could have used the underground section). I think SKA would have been received better if the TOD4 update had come alongside the updated timetable when it released. Coming out right after the GWE remaster certainly made it look worse by comparison
I secretly hope this is the next route! Perhaps an extension to London Bridge to complete the route? Although the class 455/8 has been retired for a while, a DLC for it would be cool as the class 421. Maybe something like a timetable in a whole different era. In any case, adding London Bridge would allow players to experienced full Thameslink service, as it does not run to London Victoria. I think this offers a nice alternative and it would make the line more diverse than it is now.
With an extension to London Bridge it also brings the new southern 171 into play with a starting point for runs to Uckfield (even though it'll only go as far as east Croydon in game as playable?) When they do fix it up and going off GWE-R being they arent afraid to add in unbranded liveries and use alternative close enough rolling stock then it would be good to see Clapham junction a little busier with Sth-west coloured trains from the 158, 350 as a 450, 700 as the 707 and use the 710 as the 701
I was thinking today that a lot of effort went into the Class 171 for it to only appear on one route. Likewise the class 387 pack for the Paddington to Hayes & Harlington shuttle.
I mean it travels the entire ECW (other than the branch), it doesn’t make any less sense than any other trains which are exclusive to one route & cover the entire stretch. The 387 pack will add in a decent level of traffic to GWE, aswell as AI on other routes & even sub in. There will also be 2 wagons with it.
Ah, whoops, got thrown by the FL66 image on the other thread. Out of curiosity on that front though, are you able to say when we can expect an official article on it? Bit of a pain having to go back & forth to a thread discussing a screenshot & stream announcement.
I can't give an official word on it, but my personal hope is I can include the first details and pics on the next roadmap.
Take it a step further. To London Blackfriars instead. We have the ingredients for BML v2, the question is when is it going to start cooking.
I see you’re quite passionate about a remaster being extended to Blackfriars, but two things. 1) it isn’t (at least to my knowledge) part of the BML, so now you’re creating a length of a new railway line and trying to combine it with an existing one - especially adding a station which is primarily served by one operator which is the only one with playable services to and from. 2). For Blackfriars to be useable, players would need to own the Class 700 DLC, and as it is such, it cannot be included by DTG into any route except as a layer or separate route loco dlc. Anyone who doesn’t own it is getting Blackfriars for nothing.
i’m aware that it’s not exactly the same scenario, but when sehs got extended dtg added the 465 as part of the bundle instead of keeping it as a loco dlc. there is a possibility that the 700 could be added to a bml dlc that includes blackfriars
if the route got extended all the way up to Blackfriars, included the correct for BML 12-car class 700, and got all other remaster perks, I would happily buy it again to be honest. Of course scenery along the existing route would need to be improved in order to justify the full price. But as I say I wouldn’t mind if it got the SEHS extension treatment
It’s just I feel an extension to London Bridge isn’t far enough and if you’re going to take the time to model and map out central London, there’s no reason not to go that little extra distance and add Blackfriars. In theory this route is the BML, but it’s called London Commuter. Add some branch lines off the main line to emphasise that. The 465 & 700 could partially run the service to Sevenoaks and also from Clapham Junction. I don’t know where the 465 goes to from Clapham junction though.
Even when the game was stable, they didn’t want to add a 700 layer. I’d contain any expectation of more London termini on this route.
A remaster is a total no- brainer now. It would not be a quick job but as I've said on other threads, just think of the stock you could layer onto it now, as well as the chance to fake up some SWT/R trains for Clapham Junction area. Not only that but with a little bit of work open up more areas for short ECS workings or services. Imagine being able to introduce depots and stations without having to add a lot of track. For example: Southeastern ECS workings to/from Grosvenor carriage sidings. Bring in Queenstown Road and Clapham Junction platforms 3-6 and fake up a 700 as a 707 so you can do short runs between the two stations. Fully scenerise Stewarts Lane and bring that into use. Lots of short ECS runs and you could even recreate the Lovers Walk - Stewarts Lane ECS workings. Heck, you could do some rail tour ECS workings into Victoria, fictional or realistic. It's a shame the track runs out just after Wandsworth Road station as you could build a model for that and be able to do London Overground services to Clapham Junction. Add scenery and the station at Streatham Hill, and replace the shed at the depot. Adds ECS workings and extends services to/from Victoria by a stop. Add Streatham for more services and also a chance to add 700s as AI. However I do think the track after where the station is, would need to altered for this. A chance to redo Selhurst depot and add in one station I know most of wanted from the start - Norwood Junction. Then there's Reedham and Couldson Town, a chance to do train splitting/joining at Purley. Not that it's really needed but I think London Road (Brighton) and Moulsecoomb are also in the route. And finally, this one would need some track added, but you could also bring Hove into play. I think that's all but you could add in theory 11 or so stations, a few depots and carriage sidings and a lot of gameplay. I doubt it would happen, but it's good to dream!
Or they could sell it with the game like they did with the German TSW6 route. IIRC that was essentially a remaster and an extension. I hope not though, we still have many other regions to explore (no SWR or Chiltern territory ingame yet!!!!)