I've checked some of my downloaded purchases and found only a 4 KB script was changed in a 1.7 GB download. No wonder AP's mostly excellent products are so expensive, for AP must incur huge server traffic costs because of all these updates. The alternatives? A dynamic patching of the .ap file? Which will require either a dedicated .exe, which isn't fail safe or fools proof, and will trigger AV programs? Or a server-side patching of your subscribed items, a'la Steam or the borked insecure online services from ATS? The whole install process of a AP DLC is cumbersome, it requires at least twice the file size in your system's TEMP directories, and not all garbage is cleaned out on a succesful install.
I think if such free updates were a noteable expense to AP to provide, AP would simply not do the updates and save some money. Servers/data are cheap these days and will hardly register on their balance sheet... There's no doubt the installation process could be more friendly but do you have any idea how costly it would be for them to have a reliable Steam type product custom built for their use? Now you're talking proper cost. I would say that if reinstalling is too much of a hassle, just don't bother and pretend the free update never happened. As a previous poster said, they are usually fairly minor things that are by no means essential.
Of course it's up to you individually if you want to update or not. That's what the Update for Info thread is for, to see what is addressed. Personally, I do not find it a problem to rerun an installer (which gets downloaded fast as lightning on my end, and the installation itself only taking a few seconds). For protecting the real brandings, I have downloaded them all and installed them to an empty Assets folder, which I just copy over again after updating, two mouse clicks. I prefer the AP installers, as they comfort players who might have modded some stuff, as opposed to a Steam-style ATS launcher which will revert all your changes (and sniff in your system).
Honestly, I wish he would leave the scenarios alone and not require new stock periodically. It's not a very customer service-friendly thing to do. "Here, I hope you enjoy your new train. Sadly, you will need to buy a dozen additional products to enjoy the scenarios including this new thing I want to promote that just came out. I hope you don't mind!"
As an owner of the whole catalogue, I disagree. It's good to always feature all I got and put it to use. It's an incentive to buy their other stock, why would you if there's no scenarios for it? It's entertainment, a luxury good. Either you can afford it or you can't, that's your problem.
If they didn't update old scenarios, they would soon look very dated and be of little interest to AP's primary customer base (those who care about detail/realism). If you just want a scenario for scenario's sake and don't really care much about realism, then AP aren't for you. In terms of scenarios with stock packs that use what you consider lots of requirements. Again, AP are in the business of providing the most realism. A 142 pack where the scenarios are just other 142s for example would be mind numbing and borderline pointless scenarios for AP's primary customer base; those who care about detail/realism. It would be an immersion killer to see a 142 on a Transpennine Express from Newcastle to Liverpool for example. You might not care about that but AP aren't primarily catering for you (sorry to sound like a broken record but I'm trying to hammer home the point...). Put it this way, imagine investing in a lot of AP's rolling stock but you never actually see it used in their scenarios as they're too worried about keeping requirements down to a minimum. That's much more of an insult IMO. Again, it's probably best to accept you're not their primary customer base. To try and please everyone usually results in pleasing no-one.
Understood. Use LocoSwap. I wish for something like this, but... can't always get what you want: Wise and decent men are gone and replaced by complete lunatics...
I actually have most of the stock. Go back two years and I have everything to run most of the scenarios. An exception is the 185 - which used to be a 170 or somesuch in scenarios where it was used. I mean, was the cross-promo REALLY necessary?
Completely agree with 37418 and Spikee1975 on this, as for the 185 it was updated to use that not because of corporate shenanigans or you rub my back I'll rub yours but because that's what runs on those particular routes, the 170 was no doubt a placeholder until something more appropriate to the timeline became available, and it did. And for everything and everyone else there's Mastercard.... I mean locoswap.
I don't know who "he" is, but if you don't want the scenarios updated to include different stock, don't download the updated scenarios maybe? No one is taking away the version(s) that you already have.
What 185? Have AP released something I don't know about? I don't mind the scenarios that come with DLC From AP and if I don't have something I just swap it. And I clone scenarios to give me something different to run over the route. They could do the same as Virtual Railroads - nobody complains about scenarios with the DLC
Referring to Richard who owns the site. I suppose I could use "they" instead. And yeah, I still have downloads from 2022 when I got a new hard drive. Unfortunately the older versions are still on that old hard drive that had to be pulled. If I ever go about buying an enclosure for it, I might be able to clean that thing off one day and find them...
It is a very customer service friendly service thing to do for us AP customers. We are given free updated scenarios to make best use of our latest purchases, what is the problem with that? It obviously isn't for you, which you have mentioned time and time again. As previously stated if you don't like updating your scenarios then simply don't update, it ain't rocket science.
But if you don't want your scenarios updated, you have to forego the functionality updates, which is the irritation. Yes, I can backup the old scenarios and then use them to overwrite the new, but it's a chore I'd prefer not to have.
Read the post prior to mine that you quoted, that person brought up the 185 I was merely responding to it.
Gary and cscarpenter have answered this perfectly well, so nothing really I can add to that initial first quoted comment.. If copying over 1 folder from your backup to your current scenarios folder is considered a chore I'm amazed you have the time or inclination to buy and download the content in the first place, in fact I wonder how you even stand to double click the TS icon to run the game.. I'm being flippant but in a good naturedly way please don't take a fence (the crazy people might escape)
If people have such an issue with AP stuff... just don't use it, or buy it. This endless moaning is just tiring after a while. It's like Groundhog Day... same arguments and objections constantly on repeat. I just can't be doing with it. The thread should be about actual issues with updates, or discussing the updates themselves, not a platform to constantly moan about the fact that AP has many and frequent updates. If you have complaints about the frequency of AP's updates, address them to AP so we don't have to scroll through turgid threads about how it's unfair, or the tin hat conspiracy theories about sinister sales tactics etc. If you think the scenarios should retain the old stock, or if AP should allow the downloading of pre-update scenarios, then address them to AP so that we don't have to have this depressing Déjà vu all the time. It's boring, and is ultimately pointless. Stop it.
Fully agree. If AP wants your feedback, they'll ask for it. If not, accept their way of doing things and back up your stuff. Discussing this here won't solve anything. The installers allow you to install to another folder and copy over what you want. I think it's fine as it is. At least for an anti-launcher control freak like me
Not for new customers. When I first went to buy AP stock, I actually was trying to figure out which came out first by looking at the stock for the scenarios and eventually realized they basically went in a circle, and there was no one train (or two!) that one could buy as a standalone pickup. A new customer would not find it convenient. Of course, I'm an old hand by now, but that isn't the point.
Have AP made it impossible to swap stock with RW Tools? The answer's obviously "NO!!" so why are you getting all worked up Cyclone?
Well all I can say is I'm glad I took the plunge with that installer, yet more updates dropped (thanks Spikee1975 for making me aware) I think AP need a bigger beta testing pool!
I do think there's more to come. I think the script update for all stock by Jack Hales was a bit too hasty (if it ain't broke don't fix it), but mistakes can happen. Nice to see them immediately react to reports and ever trying to improve their products. You can also do it like Peter and wait till the storm's over, only updating then (or not at all )
New customers will only be buying the current products so will have no need for the older stuff. Cyclone Please just drop this never ending moan about AP and his scenarios in this forum, you are just going round in circles stating the same old thing time and time again. We are all just bored to death, deal with it. Please move on or take it up personally with Richard at AP.
If you're going to complain about AP using loads of AP products in their scenarios you then also have to complain about 95% + of scenarios available at sites such as ATS. If you ain't got the stock and don't want to acquire it, just walk on by or swap the stock out.
There is a difference. Those are user-made scenarios. That said, I do have a problem with them using products that are no longer available, but as they would say, use LocoSwap. I still think it's better not to force users to do that, but hey, what does my opinion matter. I feel like you are intentionally misreading the point of my comment. The suggestion was having basic scenarios available using the featured train, and a few of the same train as AI. I have no issue with scenarios involving other stock being included, but to basically force an uneducated user (someone who doesn't have third party swap apps and the like) to have to create their own scenario or use the - in my opinion - boring quick drive mode instead of playing a structured mission they can play out of the box is a fault in my view. I have no problem saying that. If you don't want to hear it, then fine, ignore what I'm saying. You commenting about it is the problem here. You don't like my opinion, just ignore it. Don't argue about it.
Quick show of hands...how many just delete JT's *standard stock* scenarios and just use the versions with a wider range of rolling stock?
Following the debate with interest, but It feels like losing the debate when it comes to saying about Quickdrives being boring! I would counter that and say Scenarios are far less dynamic as the same thing happens everytime and at every place. Quickdrives are different everytime in every aspect, and if you take the time to set up the routes and put the AP products you own into the correct consists groups, you never have to worry about switching out stock or updates.
QuickDrives are more dynamic than TSW's timetable - and sometimes an even better alternative due to their randomness and stock variation. People don't play it because they need to be told by the computer to make a passenger stop, instead of just doing it themselves, like a real driver. Can't we play like children anymore, using a bit of imagination? The game offers everything for that. Maybe it's just me, but I do find it sad that people need these instructions and XP point medal judgement. Sorry for taking this off topic further. Over and out.
Agree. I usually use Quick Drive in TSC when type or route learning and sometimes even dig a timetable out and run to those timings. It makes a nice change from the usual and you sometimes see something unusual along the way.
Nobody praises the amount of work they did on MML. Delivering multiple QD templates based on 2011, 2016 and 2019 timetables. Endless gameplay. Keep doing what you're doing, AP. Brilliant stuff!
Just started a QD on Newcastle to Edinburgh with a Class 87 and Mark 2’s. Not strictly accurate, but I’ve already passed a couple of Class 50 hauled Mark One rakes, a 4 car Class 150 and a 153 just now at Cramlington. Quite fascinated to see what comes next. I will probably stop at Berwick quickly. And now, I’d better slow down for Morpeth!
Any QD scenario is only as good as the efforts the creator has put into them. Consists need to be created from fragments, assigned a working and enabled on the route your QD plays on. Most devs don't go into much detail or deep thoughts as to the use of their trains in QD scenarios. Lots of otherwise excellent rolling stock doesn't come with QD enabled consists at all. However, the creative player can make his own, still a quite tedious task. But consists and fragments can be used on many routes representing the appropriate period. Long runs can have AI collisions when the AI doesn't vanish in portals along the route.
Yes the 3 right mouse clicks in RWE2 to create consists based on the AP supplied ones is an extremely tedious task! (Not) I set up two sets of 30 consists (60 in total) based on the supplied AP ones , to run on the 5 WCML DLC, for both 1989 and 2024 in under an hour !
So that means we have a boring same train only scenario ............ Oh! So you have no issue with other stock being included? Does that mean you are happy for AP to include all their amazing products in their own scenarios? Please say yes, so we can finally put to bed your one man band campaign to stop AP producing wonderful scenarios using the stock we have purchased from them.
What are we fighting over? I'm looking at what JT does doing scenarios for both Steam-only and third party stock users. Give the option for those buying their first AP stock to try it out in a scenario and see how it works. I'm not saying to stop making fantastic scenarios - and I've driven a few of them, including the withdrawn HHA ones that I wish would have just gotten an update instead. But maybe it wouldn't have worked as intended. I dunno. Not my problem.
Maybe AP should do the same as Virtual Railroads regarding Scenarios - Don't Provide Any with the DLC AP have their own Scenario section - https://www.trainsimscenarios.com/categories/1 AFAIK the lack of included Scenarios does not affect the sales of vR stock
They're keeping everything on the same version level, and they know why they are doing it the way they do. VirtualRailroads are usually not issuing patches, much stuff is in aged state.
On the subject of Powerhouse, i've tried to launch it today and get this message: Does anyone know what this is caused by & how to fix please? Cheers
Don't know - something on your system's not right. Check the logfile. Works fine, just tested Kim Olesen my desktop wallpaper is a shot of Öresundsbron toward København taken in 2004, returning from a long trip through Scandinavia and stuck ever since as my backdrop...
[26/07/2024 19:14:52]: Caught exception when initializing registry. The exception is: System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. at Powerhouse.RegistryManager.DoesRegistryKeyExist(String keyPath, String keyName) in C:\Users\Jaydeep Tailor\Source\Repos\Powerhouse\Powerhouse\Classes\Managers\RegistryManager.cs:line 86 at Powerhouse.RegistryManager.ReadRefreshKey() in C:\Users\Jaydeep Tailor\Source\Repos\Powerhouse\Powerhouse\Classes\Managers\RegistryManager.cs:line 67 at Powerhouse.RegistryManager.Initialize() in C:\Users\Jaydeep Tailor\Source\Repos\Powerhouse\Powerhouse\Classes\Managers\RegistryManager.cs:line 22 I'm afraid this is ancient Greek as far as my knowledge goes...
It should fire off the User Access Control dialog when you launch it. Usual things to try - reboot and try again, uninstall and reinstall.
