November Roadmap Q&a Thread

Apologies if that particular example has been fixed.

 

- I have a question about Trees Sim World. On all recent routes new tree models are often used, which greatly reduce FPS at "forest" areas even on modern videocards(especially at sunset and dawn - cascade shadows). Will there be any work to optimize the new flora?
- Don't you think it's time to revive the team to fix old add-ons, or do you think the number of new bugs in old add-ons is still acceptable and doesn't require any special?

 

Boy, DTG can't answer several questions where you asked. Since the 420, 232 and 218 are not made by DTG just like the 187 which is not built by dtg either. Du Jufu

 

Mods have been broken by the update today. Any idea what has gone wrong? Thanks.

 

I think the problem is the mighty core update, which took the game to Olymp:
Removed branding for “Snapple” on the hotdog cart collectable
Why do I feel spanish shame(empathic confusion) when reading the patchnotes?

 

How do you view TSW4s release right now? I feel like its had a lot of issues and broken a lot of stuff along with content being released with a fair few issues mounting up alongside the positives. Do you think it was worth releasing TSW4 as a new game? Would it have caused less of these issues if it the routes were just released as dlc for tsw3?

 

My main question about the upcoming Class 142 "Pacer" is what engine will it be, the Leyland TL1 Self-Changing Gearbox engine or the Cummins LTA10-R engine?
Edit: and one more thing to add is will JT be using there custom sound set or the AP EP Class 142 V2 sound set.

 

From the JT thread, I believe it has been confirmed to have both engines/soundsets.

 

That's sounding good.

 

Two questions - one slightly off topic for Matt - have you seen Wabtec’s new battery loco and what do you think?



and more on topic - why does it feel like we often go two steps forward and one step back, why do fixes seem to break things with regularity and what happened to the QA changes that were being implemented to prevent that as it doesn’t feel like it’s working?

 

Will you be fixing the issue on PS5 where the game crashes after having installed update from 31.10.23. It's seriously frustrating for players who are told that these updates will make their game better and all it is doing is causing the game to become unplayable

 

What´s happening with the soundupdate for the DB BR 187?
Last I heard about it, DTG had taken over development.

 

Is there any chance of getting rid of the large shadow that flows in front of the train, even towards the sun, changing the colours of the trees drastically. The biggest factor that spoils my enjoyment of the game and makes it seem completely unreal. That's on a PS5.

 

Technically Roy Hills locomotive, as it's their locomotive they've ordered from Wabtec

 

Yet another example of this with the latest patch.

 

I think that was for mml

 

Quite literally the dark art of coding, stuff can break other stuff with no explanation.
It's not just TSW or DTG that has this issue.
Quite literally any game has it

 

I have never seen a game where one update breaks something else or causes crashes many times. TSW is the only game that from what I've seen has these problems.

Some people really do go to lengths to make excuses for DTG's incompetence

 

I second this. I did some testing and found that the crash must be related to signaller, as the game instantly crashes in timetable mode, stays running in the empty free roam mode but then instantly crashes if you use free roam to plot a course. This has rendered little short of the entire game unplayable on consoles, it's probably the largest scale break since Rush Hour.

 

You haven't seen Star Trek Online mate, thats all I'm saying. People over there call it Spaghetti Coding.

 

DTG must have spaghetti coding as well considered what they fix breaks something else then.

 

Starcitizen, Digital Combat Simulator, Plenty of Early Access games just off the top of my head.
Lot's of games break like that, they shouldn't, but they do. It's very much not a DTG exclusive thing.

 

Yeah that's probably a safe bet to make. Star Trek Online has a reason that TSW doesn't though, because unlike TSW which runs on Unreal 4.26, Star Trek runs on an engine from the 6th gen console days (yes that means PS2 games used it) and they've made all sorts of messy hack fixes and partial reworks to bring it to the graphics and performance it now has. With a coding mess like that, the patches that take one step forward and two steps back are little short of expected. TSW runs on an up to date and still widely used game engine, the same excuses can't be applied.

 

When will TSW 3 receive the new Trenton timetable now that the performance problems on TSW 4 have seemingly been fixed? And will steps be taken to ensure that it runs well on TSW 3 upon release, rather than fixing it after the fact?

 

Early access is understandable because it's in early access. Last time I checked, this game is not in early access.

This game is using a modern engine and the games I've played with this engine doesn't have these problems. Making comparisons doesn't mean DTG should be excused for it's actions. Heck, if they took the time to release a product rather than rushing it out the door, there would be no need to go back to fix self inflicted problems on a particular route in the first place

 

*cough* Fallout 76 *cough*

It had a running joke that one fix would break 6 things at one point.
It was truely awful, has got better since.

Also, I'm not "going to lengths to defends DTGs 'incompetence'" as you put it.. I just happen to know that coding a game isn't a straightforward activity as you seem to make it out to be.
There are quite literally hundreds of posts and quotes on coding forums about how things that should work.... don't and things that shouldn't... do.

This isn't the thread for this discussion, but please... keep those negative and unwanted opinions to yourself.

 

Of course coding isn't straightforward and yes other games may have similar problems, but this has been a continuing issue on this engine for far too long and is self inflicted. Perhaps if DTG weren't rushing releases thus causing them to go back and fix the problem, issues like these can be avoided. Other games should not be used as an excuse. I haven't experienced a game on this engine that isn't in early access where one fix breaks something else.

I will not keep my views to myself. If you don't like it, that's not my problem. Who are you to tell people what they can and can't say?

 

I think it should be noted that a game, in the current form of TSW4, shouldn’t be having as many bugs requiring constant updates and fixes, however frequent those have been, as we’ve been experiencing. It’s almost like we bought a beta version that’s still in development. Instead we got a release version with glaringly obvious bugs that were missed during actual beta. Maybe for TSW5, there should be a community beta phase. I’d bet money a lot more issues would be fixed prior to release.

 

Stop talking things that are not true

 

And they keep harvesting new DLC on a core that is straining at the edges. I am seriously considering whether to even buy the Blackpool route with the core game in such a poor state. I want to support Just Trains but what’s the point if their (hopefully) superb route and train fall down in the mess that TSW4 has become.

More than ever DTG need to budget a 3 to 6 month timeout from making new stuff. Sort out the core, fix the long-standing content issues, look at enhancing what they already have with small packs or new timetables (e.g. 4F on WSR and SoS).

 

Excusing mediocrity by pointing to other examples of mediocrity is an unusual position to take...

This is exactly what the SimRail team have done, the results of which are due to land shortly as a free update.

 

Always the same comparison between this both games are so useless.... You can not say such things without having a clue about the budget that they invest.... Please do not talk this kind of madness....

 

I doubt the SimRail budget is bigger than DTG’s for TSW yet they seem to be doing better overall. Look no further than the audio. Compare the EU07 or Polish Pendolino to the lacklustre efforts for the Azuma and Class 700. We don’t want excuses or obstacles, as the paying customer we want solutions.

 

where do you get this very dubious argument that access to sound sources means that SimRail has more money?!

Then come up with real proof instead of throwing such unqualified comments into the world....

I have been annoyed for a long time by the conclusion that the grass is always greener on the other side, but the reality is really not as rosy as it is described here.

Besides, the games have little in common with each other other than the fact that you control trains.

be careful with solid statements if you have no clue and label your own "opinion" as truth.

 

Trunk service - rur sig nord. Get it fixed and stop ignoring

 

The Audio on the Azuma is fine.

 

In your opinion. It's not (in mine) and I have travelled on these trains in the front coach. You can still hear the traction audio permeating from the adjacent powered car and the ride and track noise coming through the floor is much louder than represented. In fact it's a far noisier ride than sitting in a HST Mark III coach.

 

Well DTG have recorded what they were able to record, and the new stuff they recorded all sounds good. They're not allowed to capture the audio of it running on the mainline. They've had drivers say the audio is fine in the Cab, which is heavily insulated. I can't say I've spent any time in the passenger areas on the Azuma in TSW, so can't comment on audio there.

They're not able to get the recordings they need, so not really sure what you expect them to do? If the TOC says no, that's pretty much the end of it. Like with the OBB Talent 1.

Maybe try get the audio from another TOC I guess? I'm pretty sure they are already using AP sounds for the parts they couldn't record.

 

I really don't understand why people push back against efforts to make the product better. All that will happen is that people will cease their efforts.

 

Because some of it is subjective, and isn't just "better". People have requested that the audio in some of the trains be turned up, despite the fact actual drivers saying the volume level is fine as the cabs are insulated. So increasing the volume wouldn't be making it "better".

There's so many other issues that need addressing on the Azuma first (Wipers, Pantograph, PIS), and so many other trains that need a bigger focus from the audio team (Flying Scotsman, several of the older trains, the 187 and 185 especially need it).

It's like the patch the other day that changed the GWE HST. They increased the cab view that apparently some people requested, despite it now being less accurate than what it originally was (so now need to use a mod to move it back). All while ignoring the fact the wipers are still broke.

 

To be clear, I'm not referring to those subjective issues, but rather more obvious things like rain in tunnels, crashes with patch updates etc, stuff that DTG themselves have acknowledged or that is immediately obvious to be a problem.

But tbh I think I'm finally done. It's just not worth the money.

 

Two things I can think of come to mind:

1. Any fixes break existing content.

2. Another broken DLC will be released and not fixed.

 

Yeah stuff like that should 100% be fixed.

 

Why does some bugs on a few routes not get fixed like the Pantograph on the br 442 talent wich make any service from Aachen unplayable?
Any news on fixes for mml like the crashing?
How can you let out a patch that makes a couple of routes unplayable (31th/1st update)?

 

With regard to audio, some here are forgetting the entertainment factor. We want an exaggerated or more interesting mix not necessarily how it is in reality. Imagine how dull the Class 31 or 37 would be if you had the real in cab sound as opposed to the blend of external sounds that it comes with. So yes it might not be realistic to have an electrical whine in the Azuma cab or heavy rail travel sound I would actually prefer that to the near silent glide we got.

 

Louder and more exaggerated is certainly not more enjoyable for me personally. Louder audio just gives me a headache, the class 37 for example, while I love the train, I can't drive it as it gives me a headache within about 10-15 minutes. The trains should sound like they actually sound in reality IMO, within the constraints of recording opportunities.

I do think they should give us more granular audio bars/sliders.
Like have a separate audio option slider for engine audio, and track audio. To enable people to balance their audio as they see fit. I'd love to lower the engine audio down on quite a few trains, but still want the flange squeals and track running noises audible, which you can't currently, it's all or nothing.

 

This.
And if people stop complaining or stop pushing for features like this, the chances of it happening drop from unlikely to zero.

A vocal community can be a sign of discontent. It can also be a healthy forum for the exchange of ideas and the coalescing of issues.

 

I would definitely go with that. Think AP did something along those lines in TSC when they put realistic (i.e. quiet) in cab sounds in some of their enhancement packs and following complaints from the "thrash heads" included the option to render the external "Wired For Sound" instead.

 

It's even a useful accessibility feature, certain sounds can be unpleasant to some people. More options can only ever be a good thing, same with customizing the hud etc. Giving people more options to do what they want is good.

Me for example, I'm not sure what it is about certain trains audio in this game, but they give me a headache, usually specific diesel ones. Its not the volume, as I can turn it down a fair bit and still get headaches. But I can listen to music much louder, or play other loud games with no issue.

 

Yeah I think that's a compromise that makes everyone happy. Audio is obviously a very subjective thing, so as many options as possible to allow people to tweak would be great.