Is Dtg Testing The Subscription Model With Tsc To Move It To Tsw In The Future?

So, for those that stay on this side of the forum, DTG just announced TSC 2024, the next yearly bundle for Train Simulator Classic, what's notable about this update, is DTG is testing a subscription method for this core release.


IIRC that was an option on DTG's surveys every once in awhile and it makes me wonder if DTG is testing the option to potentially bring it over to TSW in the future....

Thoughts?

FAQ for it
https://live.dovetailgames.com/live/train-simulator/articles/article/train-simuator-classic-2024-faq

 

I don't care what charging model DTG uses. My concern is America's long-haul freight routes. If DTG is released I will buy it.

 

If it was everything?, I'd bite their hand off.

 

As long as they continue to offer purchasing DLC as an option like it is now (and like is suggested) then I don’t actually have an issue with it at all.

Whereas purchasing a full game and individual DLC is my preference (and from previous discussions, alot of others) a lower priced subscription model will suit folk who might not shell out for the full thing or only want to play for a couple months etc. or even try before buying and subsequently increase profits and the game base for DTG. More players can only be a good thing for the longer term.

 

As long as it stays optional it’s fine. Though given what you can pick up at sale prices for the cost of a year’s subscription, it looks a touch expensive to me given that the moment you stop paying a subscription you lose access to everything.

I personally will never pay a subscription for a game.

 

Perfectly fine to test the subscription model on TSC. Because 1. it's not TSW, and 2. it's optional. And as long as the 2nd point is there, i don't care if they test it or even implement it in TSW, as long as it stays optional.

 

I'm sure they'd like to bring that system to TSW, and will if it proves successful. A constant cash-flow is any developer's dream.

I don't mind it as an option. If it becomes mandatory, then i'm out.

Edit: just saw the price-point.....it seems... very ambitious for what you get lol

 

£8.99 a month, for a currated DLC selection doesn't really sound appealing. More expensive than gamepass, and without access to the whole DLC inventory? How does that make sense?
I can understand that some 3rd party devs might not be onboard, but atleast the DTG DLCs should all be available for the service.

 

tbh. imho it's not all bad. I myself really like to own what I buy. and play TSW on a regular basis. working through all the stuff I want to do. I love owning a decent amount making new routes which use trains that already exist even better. it depends on how the subscription will take form. per country or something it can count up quickly if you want multiple. and a general one will mean you pay for stuff you don't want.

Personally I don't think it's for me, I own a lot already and after a few years some routes I still get back to on a regular basis. I suppose if this lives next to the pay to own model we have now it's allright. I can imagine the install times being bad though if you don't have gigabit ethernet.

I do think that on the plus side. for newer players trying to see what they want or someone who casually plays the game sometimes it's perfect. for countries too. I personally don't care much for US content, now it's so rare and what exists is either a barren desert route or a buggy not working busy commuter it is something I might want to if I didn't get most on an insane sale bundle last year to try an american subscription to the routes for a month, play them to see what I think and later buy them to own it forever.

as playing farming a lot I like the season pass idea for a whole year of all the planned DLC. a way to get the main interesting things on a discount technically instead of buying them seperately. the same as snowrunner does it with their more frequent DLC. but then you do own it so it's not as such a subscription. because just like in real life. if you need to lease something more than twice. you are better off just buying it.

I do hope it brings more new players and maybe gets people into different content of the game. although I will never pay a subscription as many existing players would. I hope it brings some more income and new players to DTG to improve the game we all know and mostly love. so to end it off, interesting test. and intrigued to the results. but leave it as an option next to what already exists. if we get forced to a subscription I'm out as many others have said above me.

(and maybe if older routes are in the subscription we finally get some bug fixes after years)

 

This isn't for the hardcore, this is for people like me who dip in and out here and there, for me, it makes absolutely no sense to have hundreds of pounds worth of DLC sitting there doing nothing, if I can drop £8.99 a month on everything? bargain.

 

It isn't everything though, you only get what DTG picks....

Also an unknown is if the offers are only DTG stuff or are 3rd parties included?

 

Be aware of the fact that this isn't for Train Sim Classic, it's for Train Sim Classic 2024, the new iteration of the TSC franchise.

As I said in another thread, it isn't the subscription modell what concerns me if it's optional. I'm more concerned and surprised about that DTG decided to make new chapters with Train Sim Classic (the classic game).

I didn't think they would do this. Unsure what this also means for the future of TSW.

Will there be then two yearly updated train simulators from DTG?

Is each Simulator developed by the same developers and occupies the same ressources?

If it is so, we might see less content/upgrades/fixes for TSW in the future.

 

I know, and that's the only reason why I wouldn't bite.

 

8,99 a month? Let's get serious here. How on earth would they make money on 8,99 a month with TSW? That's 3 routes a year.

 

Absolute shame, hope it's temporary and not permanent

 

Only include the base 3 routes in the yearly bundle/ release?

 

DTG are just money hungry. Was it not a couple years ago they went from TS20XX to TS Classic and now they have gone back. The rate the amount we put into the game goes up doesnt match the rate at which quality is increasing.

 

The subscription is for TSC. makes sense to me

TSW is more console base oriented. The 3 base routes is what you got with game pass. Would make more sense to add it to the subscription of the console service than setting up a subscription yourself I guess. I think even giving the base routes for free would generate more money on consoles than a subscription service.

 

It's good for bringing new players to the game, as many might be put off by the biggest DLC library on Steam. Test the subscription and have access to a larger variety than by buying the standard game. Then decide if you wanna get into it or leave it.

Nothing wrong - you can still purchase the game and DLC the normal way.

 

A monthly subscription… does that mean DTG are gonna be releasing a new route / train every month for TSC

 

No. There's already a catalogue of 742 Steam DLC to discover.

I think the community will benefit from new players coming in, that prefer the subscription model. Possible that was a result of the survey.

 

From the other TSC related thread here:

 

Sounds like DTG wants to sit on two chairs at once.

Also, it gives me the feeling TSW isn't doing as well commercially as DTG's current owners might have wanted.

Been playing TSC for a decade probably, I have all the DLC I want. It is mostly 3rd party DLC I buy nowadays, DTG's is lacking lustre and from the same mold 'up-and-down-the-mountain', at least on the USA side of the Steam catalog.

DTG's 'curated' choices for the subscriber? Most of the 'items' you find in every sale? That's how popular these are?

 

Well it’s been known they are keen to explore the subscription model for a while

not for me, I only go for ownership, the models often are like loans, they look like they help then you go overcharged quickly.

Edit:
ownership = pay this get this, end of transaction

subscription = pay a little less for short amount of time, but keep paying forever way beyond buy price or lose everything.

I’ve heard people say the ownership prices are expensive, I’m not about to talk on that here but they are really cheap compared to a subscription model, to the point if the subscription per month was in £’s it wouldn’t take much time to match the ownership price.

 

Of course, if you purchase TSC or TSW, it's not like buying a car. You don't actually own the software. You are granted a license with a bunch of restrictions as to what you can do with it. You can't resell it for instance. In theory it could be withdrawn in whole or in part at any time. So either way, buy or subscribe, you're really just renting.

 

Does the player get to pick what DLC they get? Because what if the player is only into British content?

 

Big difference either way, I would like to see a game company try and remove a game everyone purchased, one court ruling not in that companies favour and games over for them

I’ll gladly play chicken with them on that, any misleading phrases anywhere such as “own this” and there’s grounds for false advertisement.

 

I suspect this model will come with TSW5 too but I prefer to buy and own my dlc. Maybe if they make it a premium subscription with exclusive content like routes and addons that you can't get anywhere else, then I might be interested.

 

Well at least we now know what all the questions will be on the next few TSW4 Road Map live streams.
Best get the popcorn in

TBH the proposed subscription model for TSW4 sounds quite fair to me.
£9.99/month, less £2.99 for no Suspension, less £2.99 for no finished Formation Designer and less £2.99 for no complete Editor.
Personally I think it's a bargain

 

No absolutely not! This is a model for people they start from scratch that was DTG Jan already written above....

 

Which leaves tuppence which we shall take off for the abandonment of steam.

 

This whole paid model is not like Ubi+ where you get the games and the dlc included for a fixed price.....

 

I already stopped purchasing 50% of new releases(I have 100% of their content before price increase) Now i will stop purchasing all their products if they introduce some stupid subscription model

 

If you read my comment above there is youre answer....
"This whole paid model is not like Ubi+ where you get the games and the dlc included for a fixed price....."

This paid model includes the base game with a small amount of dlcs and not the whole dlc database...

 

I just want TSC on console. I CBA paying for some high end stuff to run it stutter free, especially when Rail Simulator was released in approx 2005. I'm 33 now, I wanna play non stuttering TSC routes, like the good old Riviera Line lol..

 

bundle fee or subscription based ?

if that’s subscription then it’s less of a deal to not the get the whole content (I’d still stay away from subscriptions regardless though personally)

 

I guess youre not the only one! There is absolute a large group that like youre idea but the game is to old for the console to bring it!

 

This is from the QA on the official dovetail live website:

"
What is the Rail Subscription?

The Rail Subscription is an optional way to play Train Simulator Classic 2024. With the subscription you get access to the base game along with a selection of curated routes and locomotives for a low monthly price. Available across all supported regions, this is the best way to get started with the ultimate railway hobby."

So not the whole library for sure!

 

To be honest, the subscription model makes more sense in TSW than it does TSC.
In TSW we see 4 or 5 new UK routes per year. In TSC it's one every two years.

 

seems like normal subscription model, just not full collection, it is TSC though and whole collection is a lot bigger to take into account, still the less included the less value it is of course.

edit; not sure about its wording of best way to get started, in subscriptions if you leave you lose the lot, as a try out it might be an alright deal but that’s about it, kinda depends how much you really are comfortable paying for something to check out what you may not like,

Thinking more definitely getting paid trial vibes from it rather than long term game subscription.

 

For sure you be alert for the upcoming summer whats coming with the new TSW year update

 

Looks like DTG are channeling their inner Electronic Arts. This company is really hungry money. Although I don't see the point of TSC having a subscription model. Many DLC's do frequently go on sale. Just seems like another way to earn a quick buck.

Looks like DTG are testing the water with many things

 

seems more trial price in the form of subscription to me.

 

Thats how you can understand this whole model... Its for new people they want to start with this game

 

But tsc and it's dlc's do go on sale quite often so this would actually be more expensive in the long run than for instance picking it up on a sale. Even though it may be optional, it does seem rather pointless for "new players."

I wouldn't be suprised if this comes to TSW at some point

 

In case you have missed the whole purpose of this TSC 2024..... The only thing that count is money

 

Without money you can't produce new content. Nothing wrong with making money. We want entertainment - they want money. A deal is made and both parties are happy.

 

Fair point. I remember getting TSC on a sale which got me into TSC and it's DLC's hence why the idea of a subscription for that game seems very odd to me. The sales happen quite often

 

i wouldn’t go for it, if I started TSC tbh, seems like a bad option.