Been watching this thread with interest... I've noticed that with some add ons (like AP's MTU HST pack) make use of a "realistic branding patch"... Could anyone explain what its about & could the same principle not be applied to BN / SF / BNSF stock??? Eric
It's a 3rd party developers way of discretely distributing unlicensed branding, by allowing you to optionally download at no charge the logos and lettering that were left out of their payware. They're not connected with DTG, so they can do what they like and take whatever risks they want. You can find models and reskins with unapproved branding all over the internet and on fan sites, but DTG's policy is that they won't distribute models with unlicensed branding.
Hmm something is happening in steam between Dovetail and BNSF on europe store?? https://gyazo.com/249d3136bccd4a9fab29c55db6715a06
I presume you have not seen the Chicago Racetrack route https://store.steampowered.com/app/258648/Train_Simulator_The_Racetrack_Aurora__Chicago_Route_AddOn/ or the Montana High Line route? https://store.steampowered.com/app/1147154/Train_Simulator_Montana_HiLine_Shelby__Havre_Route_AddOn/
If you want BNSF locos for the game why not buy them from the US on this page? http://eyein12.blogspot.com/ There is a FREE livery patch for BNSF Livery for those people not in the US.
There is a pack like this for Metro equipment on the Chicago Racetrack, but AFAIK, no one has made one for BNSF/ATSF locos on the Racetrack, Raton, or Montana Hi Line
Except Metrolink, there used to be a pack for them, but I believe the creator was forced to retire the pack.
It's not that simple just going to the the US to purchase BNSF content. You have to have a separate US steam account and would have to repurchase TS2021 again.
The weirdest thing about the BNSF licencing issue is that it doesn't stop 3DTS selling Run8 outside the US, or N3V having numerous BNSF (or heritage predecessor) content in their online store not to mention 100's of items on the official Download Station. No restrictions there I'm aware of. So either 3DTS and N3V are flaunting the requirement, or DTG didn't negotiate hard enough. The real bind from the route builders' point of view is that Marias Pass contains many useable assets for a US route but no point in referencing them as anyone outside the US who doesn't already own it, can't buy it.
There are two ways to get Cajon Pass [1] Buy a new unused version of Train Simulator 2012 [2] move to America as you would need a US Billing Address to purchase items that are restricted to that country.
Another thing is that NV3 sells Jointed Rails Mojave Subdivision, which has branding on the piggyback trailers, as well as TTX, which seems quite odd to me for them to have the licensing requirements to sell those across the last 3 versions of Trainz.