Dovetail Games February Roadmap Q & A - Tuesday, Feb 13th

As it’s been 4 months since this was posted by DTG (during November Roadmap), I’m eagerly wondering if theirs any kinda update, thanks.

• Z-Fighting on all Xbox platforms
  • We did acknowledge this on stream, the teams are aware and we're looking at what we can do to resolve this.

 

Do you have any realeased date for the Goblin Line ?

 

After seeing the announcement, I have a couple of questions:

• why is the Cologne timetable now on release date pending?
• London Commuter still waits for Rush Hour passengers, which waits for performance improvements; is anything happening on that front?
• Munich-Augsburg also waits for performance improvements so that 420 can come; any news on that?
• It's awesome that we finally see long-distance travel in Austria. But sadly it is the Taurus yet again with coaches that look very similar to IC coaches. Would have been awesome to see the Railjet. That also features a 1116 as far as I know but wholly different coaches. It's the predominant train in Austria for long-distance nowadays. Which leads me to the question: what year is Semmeringbahn set in?
• What year is Rosenheim-Salzburg set in? I'd guess pre-2010, post 2000. Really a shame that the BR 111 is the only actually new stuff. We've already had DoStos for gazillion times. Would've been cool to get other, new, EMUs or DMUs for a change.

 

Will the 385 and 801 layer as ai on fife circle?

 

After months of desperately looking for any help, reference material in form of masterclass videos or even written tutorials (which in fact you did in the first weeks after the release of TSW4, but unfortunately not so anymore since October 12th, the last masterclass video (exactly 4 months today) plus now not even having new updates or improvements to the Editor in the Roadmap at the 6+ months entry anymore, let me ask you these questions at the beginning first:

Do you want us to help you out with the PC Editor or not?
Do you even have an interest to help the PC Editor community anymore?
Was the hype and the engagement about the PC Editor only for selling TSW4 (which in fact worked in case of mine if it were so)?

I mean yes, you might think "Hey, the PC Editor is basically just Unreal Engine 4. If the people want to use it to build routes go and search for tutorials and documentation of Unreal Engine online!" but it's actually not exactly like that with the PC Editor that we have available. Many of the tools you brought into your version of Unreal Engine 4 do not exist in Unreal Engine 4. Many of the techniques you use, we need to know, have no importance or are not exactly like that in/for the basic Unreal Engine.

So we can't look for any tutorials or documentation on it, simply because it's not there.

Then there is the aspect of "They should find it out all alone".

To cite a third party developer of yours (I'm not going to use a direct quote this time and reveal the name):

"That's often a silent expectation from your employer/client. Work fast, without any help, and you are a welcome developer. One of my strengts tbh. Delivering a manual to each contractor/employee is often a time consuming and expensive thing no one want to deal with. And especially in the computer gaming industry that's a know thing. You get asked if you can do something, you might say yes, and then it's on you mostly to deliver."

but a few posts before he said this:

"I would say 80% i learned by doing over the years. There was a sort of a basic doc that i got 4 years ago, but that was old already at that point. I have of course the opportunity to ask some DTG devs directly and can look into already made vehicles (not that i do that often as i want to create my very own stuff). But i love to dig out how things work. Lot of the work you do in the editor is your very own idea."

Now,
1. We never really got a manual like this (even if it is simple, deprecated and somehow old). The only thing which we got was the 3 masterclass videos and a handful of guidance tutorials in the PC Editor Forum, but that is simply not enough to make a route on your own as it requires so much knowledge about making specialized stuff. And the argument that the document was already old and deprecated at that moment of time does count nothing for me as we all (community and DTG itself) are also working with an old and deprecated game engine. Porting every route to Unreal Engine 5 would be impossible (I understand that), but this does not change anything at the fact that we're working with an yet outdated version of Unreal Engine.

Now, indeed we help each other in the PC Editor Forum to find out how to do what, but that A. does not always work (noone of us will ever have the same knowledge as a developer of Dovetail Games regardles of how much of experience you gained with other tools like Blender or Unreal Engine before).

But B. An at least simple documentation of how you do certain things and maybe even what you got for standards to maybe think about release the content at the end of long process, is desperately needed. But nothing on that part.

Until now (almost 5 months after initial release), we do not even have legal terms & conditions available of what we are allowed to do and what not with the Editor, what should have been there since day 1.


2. I am no game developer, I didn't had any appenticeship in using Unreal Engine or game design in general before getting into my route project. You can't expect that from the community creators to have. Many people just want to create their favorite or hometown routes and have no skills in any aspect of game creation. Maybe there are people coming new into it and want to do this job for the future, yes, but nonetheless they need guidance.

And even if you got apprenticeships finished and earned some skills, in most jobs you kind of have a practical introdruction nonetheless, how things work in that special company and how you need to do things to comply with the expectations and standards of your company.

3. We do not have the opportunity (and in my POV, the privilege) of him to ask any developer of DTG for help at a certain topic. I mean you could help us in the forum, for the questions we have there, but you don't (at least not anymore). I even tried to tag some developers several times, but no response.

To summarize all of these 3 points, at least any help of you at a regular base (let's say spend your time helping us out 1 day in every 2 weeks at least but better every week), doing either masterclass videos on YouTube/Twitch, self-made tutorials in the PC Editor Forum or just give responses to our questions raised in the Forum would mean a lot.

And I cannot really understand why at least this isn't possible anymore.

The PC Editor feature was a major selling point of TSW4 for me and infact I bought it because I can create my hometown route with it. All other features (Photo Mode, Free Roam, Formation Designer, etc. ) of TSW4 - even if they are a nice ones for a lot of other people here - have no real interest to me personally.

All what I want is creating my route and I guess this is also the aim of many others in the PC Editor Forum. But after months of no life signal and help from you, one project after the other is about to be abandoned. And of course, yes the major point for this probably is the complexity and toughness of the project (counting all the time, effort and pain it needs to create an at least half-good result out of it) but another point many people share in the PC Editor Community is your loss of interest helping us out with the PC Editor and maybe even your loss of interest in the PC Editor in general (my very own perspective).


I mean in the end it is our will and wish to sacrifice our free time for months if not years with just one single project (and in some way I could call that with a lil prise of exaggeration but nonetheless without a doubt "sacrificing our lives") - , getting the route that we love into the game and maybe with it even enhancing the Train Sim World 4 experience overall. This is not a weeken project. For example, I spent already 264 hours in the PC Editor only, not even counting the time I lost for preparing my Lidar data in QGIS for more than 1 week at the start of my project.

But as it seems, you're not interested anymore helping us to - in the end - helping you out selling your product(s) and/or making it/them better.



By the way, really sad that improvements to the Editor have been first transfered to the 4-6 months category in the December Roadmap to now being completely vanished away from it. I mean, I already can see where this goes but I'm not ready to pay more and more game iterations for in the end, helping the game get better.

I already purchased a lot of DLCs just because of getting their assets during the last months (just for there assets, I didn't even play on Linke Rheinstrecke, Niddertalbahn or Köln-Aachen a single time yet - need to say here I'm relatively new to TSW), but it can't really be that I would need to pay for TSW5 just to get some fixes or improvements to the PC Editor. It's already a big thing that we don't have anything like a common available repository of assets that we can use and are required to purchase some DLCs just maybe to get a few houses or plants. But every exteme has a limit at some point.




Yes, a bit of anger comes together here. But that's simply because I "wasted" so many time in the Editor already, it simply hurts that it seems to get abandoned.

As a sidenote, if you're looking for improvements to the Editor. I made this video, where I talk about a few things I have problems with in the Editor for now. It's not all DTG related things (things which Dovetail Games could fix) but indeed there are some suggestions to really improve creating routes in the Editor.

And most of all: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, fix the constant crashes while placing tracks ASAP. I cannot even lay more than 70 meters of track without that the Editor is going to crash and it takes me ages to lay tracks just by 50 or even better only 30 to 40 meter of track chunks so that I don't get a crash (not to even mention what I need to do if I need to lay parallel tracks) and not only lose all of my progress with laying tracks to far but also need to reinstate all settings and need to get me into the right spot again.

Because of this reason, I need to hit "Save" and "Save All" every 20 seconds, to not lose anything because a crash when laying tracks usually happens at least every 3 or 4 Minutes, and creating tracks in that way is a pain.

Completely agree to that post.

At the end of that all, I can understand that fixes and improvements to the main game have priority however it simply looks like you completely left us alone with our projects in the PC Editor giving the fact that there were no lessons for 4 months now and PC Editor improvements finally even disappeared completely off the February Roadmap.

 

Any work going on on improving the save game function (not able to do return journeys when saving,...)?

 

The Roadmap image for the GOBLIN lists a 'Holloway Road' station, hopefully this is just a typo and that the station in game will have its actual name of 'Upper Holloway'? Holloway Road is a Tube station on the Piccadilly Line!

 

+1 for more information about the suspension.

The routes look like an interesting mix & I’m looking forward to some of them, but regarding the new suspension it’s not really good enough at this stage to say ‘we have no information about it’. Of course you do, but for some reason you’re choosing not to share it which is a bit sketchy in my opinion. Why is it sketchy? Because you sold TSW4 on the basis this was coming soon after release. It was one of the reasons I bought the game. When it didn’t materialise it was then coming in the Winter Update, then the Winter Update Part 2, now ‘at some undetermined point in the future’.

Obviously Operation ‘Deflect attention away from the new suspension’ has worked because for now at least, very few people are mentioning it. In the spirit of fair play however, I think you have a duty to explain what’s going on. Simply saying ‘no information’ isn’t good enough.

That’s not evening mentioning how the editor, which still can’t cook content, has dropped off the roadmap entirely.

 

Yeah was the feature of TSW4 I was most looking forward to. It really makes a difference in the 142 on BPO.

DTG what is happening with this? Is this going to be pushed back and forgotten like Manual Steam firing has been?
This was one of the core features promised for TSW4, and one of the reasons I bought it.

 

Are you or Rivet able to tell us if the Fife Circle will include the soon to reopen Leven rail link? Considering it's more or less part of the Circle, with the junction on the way to Markinch, has this been considered or at least been discussed as a future mini extension to the route?

Thanks

 

Also one last thing for consoles users at least for me the speed camera on the exterior cameras in classic control mode has not been fixed since tsw 4 release. If you look in the controller settings for the all the classic camera controls it’s there. Will we be seeing a fix for that camera anytime soon?

 

From Matts stream the other day, he mentioned Joe paused work on the koln timetable because he is busy working on other projects at the moment

 

DTG Matt mentioned how beautiful the scenery is in the upcoming German and Austrian routes. However, close up scenery continues to be marred by late LOD and popping in of trees, foliage, fences and shadows etc. Is anything meaningful being done to the core to address this because no matter how good the scenery on the route, this issues ruins the experience.

 

A while back Matt mentioned in a forum post that it was planned add a JSON(+HTTP?) API to TSW4 so external applications could access data and send commands to/from the game during play. Is there any update on this?

 

What are the plans for US freight content we keep getting denied new freight routes and content which is the dominant trains here in US ..where I live only 2 Amtrak trains a day and tons of CSX NS freight trains ..think they need to talk more abuout this lately they not been giving us any thing information wise on this subject

 

Could we potentially expect licensing to be sorted for the American Route out in time for the next Roadmap in March?

 

Alongside the 104 & Peak Forest update, will the track layout at Millers Dale be altered? You can't currently run directly from Buxton on the up line & into the bay platform at Millers Dale unless you shunt or run wrong road.

 

Could you bring the other network of the London Overgrown to tsw4

 

will the ÖBB class 1116 and its cars from the new austrian route sub into the MRCE 182 and DB IC cars on Vorarlberg? eventually even entirely? idk what the reality is but to me that seems more logical

 

Has to be asked but with the increase in 3rd party developers looking like it is going to substantially increase towards the end of the year, how do you think the increase need with testings and subsequent bug fixes will be dealt with

Hate to be Debbie downer but DTG does not seem to be in a good place with the current amount of dlc released, so very much concerned that the situation will only get worse

 

• Which trains will layer into Salzburg-Rosenheim in general?
  
• Does the ÖBB Rh 1116 + IC coaches layer into S-Bahn Vorarlberg (AI/Player train)?
• Does the ÖBB Rh 1116 + IC coaches layer into Salzburg-Rosenheim (AI/Player train)?
• Does the Editor get any support like updates or masteclass streams?
• Will there be any weekly updates like in October/November/December?
• When or better said will Hauptstrecke München-Augsburg get an TOD4+an perfomance upgrade, so that the BR 420 can be released?
• Will the broken HST liverys be fixed?
• When can we look forward for formation designer improvements?

Best regards

 

actually interesting point. May be really really damn worth it honestly.

 

+1 user here who is upset about the editor information being removed from the road map and no information or further help given to the community about this.

Could you please inform us what is going on with the editor?

- another question - will you update the Vectron to work with ToD3 routes or will you update all older routes to work with ToD4?

 

What assurance have Rivet given they have overcome their previous issues with the 150 to bring correct and accurate sound and physics to the 170? Will DTG be having some oversight on this project to ensure a modicum of QA?

Does the complete lack of any mention of steam (traction) confirm that both future development and improvement of this aspect in TSW is dead?

Why no Railjet train set for the Austrian route?

The San Bernadino route should be good but will effectively give us three SoCal routes adjoining. Why not link these into one network, Run 8 style, so we can run down from Cajon into the LA Basin?

 

Cuz mergers can't happen in tsw. If it was possible, it would have happened by now.

 

Probably because nothing actually runs down this line into LA, they use BNSFs other line out of San Bernardino.

 

I have all 4 of the Cailforina routes
Why, including the antelope Valley line, Cajon pass, and the peninsula corridor can I get the new one for free for the PS five
I gave metro link for a different route

 

No. Why should you get it for free and not anyone else? I'm sure a lot of people also have all the routes. The developers need to be paid for their work so you will have to pay for it

 

Any information about the German Route or the Austrian loco, which had been a German loco at the beginning of TSW4?
A screenshot from the november roadmap:

 

the austrian loco has since then been changed to a german loco and then removed from the roadmap (edit: or it was german first and then turned into austrian and THEN removed on dec. roadmap). I believe it is the same loco which has reappeared as a partner release if I'm not mistaken about that
the german route shown there is unknown I believe. Maintalbahn was the first so Rosenheim-Salzburg is the second, and the 3rd is unrevealed yet.
US loco. no clue.

 

Any update on the unachievable gold medals?

 

Looks like an exciting road map, the BR111 looks amazing. Will there be updated Dosto Steurwagen to go with it? Would be a shame to go from the immersive experience of the 111 to the same recycled dostos that have been around since TSW started.

 

Why are you choosing to do another route in SoCal?

 

The functionality of hiding the HUD is broken in normal HUD mode for consoles since the release of the Winter Core update.

When will you fix that?

 

The functionality of the fast moving external camera is broken since the release of TSW4 (almost 5 months).

When will you fix that?

 

About San Bernardino Line:

Will it have freight layers?

Will LATC and San Bernardino Freight yard be operational?

Will the Metrolink MP36 and the Bombardier BiLevels layer into the Antelope Valley Line?

 

When will the HUD preferences be saved on PS5?

 

About Semmering Bahn:

Will it have freight layers?

Will the 1016 an the ÖBB Intercity coaches layer into Vorarlberg Bahn and Rosenheim - Salzburg route?

Will the 1016 an the ÖBB Intercity coaches layer into other german rotes?

 

Is that the speedometer doesn’t disappear as that is now fixed

 

Semmeringbahn:
1) Will there also be freight services?
2) Why is there no Amz coach to go along with the Bmz?

 

There is a noticeable absence of the Editor improvements on the roadmap now. What's going to be happening? Is this now on the back burner or can you confirm if there's resource allocated to working on it? I recall the initial reason it wasn't being worked on was to sort the major issues with content at launch not appearing for players, but that is long gone now and things like cooking still haven't been fixed, resulting in models to fix it. Some rough timelines would be appreciated.

 

Exactly on consoles you can't turn off the the Speedometer in minimal HUD mode now. It seems that something useful gets broken with updates and new releases.

 

the obb Wiesel cars on semmering would of been nice. will we see any new european freight wagons with any of these new routes?

 

The question is for DTG, not their self appointed spokesman. And I'm sure under the hood there would be ways and means... The release of the flawed, still undocumented and now it seems unsupported editor has busted the myths on some elements of content production.

 

Yes, this poster delights in answering Q&A meant for the roadmap stream. Does it frequently whether he has a coherent answer or not.

On point, I too would like a technical answer from the developer as to why they can't or won't develop the software to allow route mergers. It's been done on other sims.

Just because something hasn't been done in TSW doesn't necessarily mean it's technically impossible.

 

What about keyboard mappings on console, have we got any update about this missing functionality after 5 months?

 

Is there a possibility to get a new (old) livery for the 185.2 on Rosenheim-Salzburg?
The first 185 in RSN was (imho) the best looking livery for it so far. The bleached out old Railion logo looks so awesome! But this version of the loco is just not up to the game standard anymore. Is there a possibility to change liveries on the 185 for this release? Because according to the screenshots we will get the same 185.2 with the normal Railion logo AGAIN for the third or fourth time since Kassel. It would be really awesome to get the RSN version again since it looks gorgeous and would be a welcome “new” loco

 

Will the San Bernadino line include the Bombardier Cab car so it can be used on an older timetable? Or will only the Rotem be included?

 

- Will the OBB 1116 from Semmeringbahn layer into the timetables for Rosenheim-Salzburg and Vorarlberg to represent Austrian long-distance services?

- Regarding Fife Circle, will Edinburgh Waverley finally see the LNER Class 800 (as well as the 385) as AI traffic? Conversely, will the Edinburgh-Glasgow route then be updated to have Scotrail 158 and 170 AI traffic so Waverley is more realistically busy. I appreciate this is a Rivet route, but if DTG can get them to answer this, thanks.

Busy timetables and AI traffic are one of the most important things to having a great route - even better if it means players' can use more locos from their DLC collection.

One final question:

- When will the loco substitution issue finally be fixed?

 

Because they have a metrolink license. Matt mentioned somewhere that it was planned from the start to add the mp36 and this route is perfect for it. San bernardino has more of a metrolink feel to it. He even teased it himself when antelope valley was released I think.