Hello fellow drivers and dovetail again with another proposal . I have been playing in TSW now since it's released back in 2018 and hard-core fan/player of the game. I along with many others don't necessarily see eye to eye on everything the developers seem to do along with their business practice but instead of complaining I want to maybe start a discussion on looking for a solution that satisfies everyone. Every time we get a new game we get three routes and usually two features along with the three routes. Although I don't have problems purchasing a new game in the appropriated time period, there are many people including myself that don't always fancy the three new routes normally proposed but want the new features. I want to know is there a way where players can maybe download new features sort of how PC players would download mods? I think if there's a way where features are developed in the core of the game it would be a lot more simpler to sell them as small DLC's perhaps five to $10 for the routes that are left behind. let's say something like Harlem line for example : where as this was a Rush hour route released for TSW 2 I would be able to purchase a TSW 4 feature pack including volume metric clouds, volumetric fog, electrical sparks for third rail, passengers using umbrellas when it rains, new dioramas etc. I am in no way shape or form knowledgeable about anything PC or game development which is why I come here seeking answers amongst developers and the community. New versions of the game don't always appeal to the customers understandably you cannot make everyone happy and not everyone is going to be excited for the selection of routes chosen for a release. I think this is the best place for us to start looking for options to better diversify the options for the community in a collaborative effort amongst buyer and consumer. I would love to hear back from the community and what you guys would think or even propose. Please feel free to add onto this post all of your ideas that we may be we can minimize what I will call collateral damage when releasing a new game which in favor should be looked at as a good thing as we all want what's best but must understand the order of which the developers decide without scrutiny. Thank you all in advance for participating in please I ask not for you to keep this conversation civil and let's work together instead of against each other! Cheers
One of the common comparisons I see online is that tsc has free updates each year with an optional route bundle while tsw has brand new titles for a lot of the major core updates (except rush hour). Players don't like the idea of fixes being behind a paywall by having to purchase a brand new tsw game. Maybe they don't like the bundled routes and just want to get a route that comes after. They don't want to spend the extra amount on content they don't want. I understand game development is hard so the developers want to get paid for their efforts. That I support, but having a brand new tsw title for each core update is the main issue I have with tsw which could easily turn into a yearly thing. That's the last thing I would want with tsw. Maybe tsw5 would make sense if ue5 rolls out officially, but after that, I think it's better to just move to the tsc model so we don't lost customers or get angry customers. I personally think having to pay for updates is not the right way to go. Many players would be very upset if they had to pay for what they would see as an update (paid update). I think one of the ways dtg could handle this task is to have the special projects team work on implementing the new features. However, considering how quickly game development moves and how time consuming it is, it is not really realistic to brand new features implemented on all older routes, especially as the back catalog keeps on growing. Imagine having a core update each year that added new stuff to newer routes only and to bring it to older content, they each had to be done manually. I wonder if it is possible for dtg to make it so that each core update applies to all other routes by default which is how tsc works I believe.
I do agree with you, main problem I have with TSW is not that improvements are in new TSW versions which I have to pay for, although it is a bit rude for customers to need to buy updates. I just want new features to backport to older routes, as I am mostly playing on them anyway. Problem gets more visible especially as newer routes are getting shorter and shorter and very often contain just one train,. I'm looking here at ECML for example (maybe just for me) as a huge disappointment, when comparing it to some past routes that were in TSW2020 and TSW2. Lack of updates on older routes wouldn't be a problem if new routes would be as entertaining and busy with traffic as some others, mainly comparing BML and SEHS to some new routes. At least SEHS is getting yet another update (which I complained about other routes not getting love in other thread) so I hope at least one good UK route will be up-to-date. Even if I would have to wait few months or so I up for it, like it was with TSW2020 content getting updated for TSW2.
Apparently dovetail have attempted to do this for TSW3 but failed because many people in their purchasing the features when they wanted the new game unfortunately. There's gotta be some middle ground that's going to appeal to everyone but seems like we're still in limbo with this one. https://steamdb.info/sub/843860/
