Frankfurt - Fulda Preview Stream - The Best Of The Three!

ALL OF THIS DIALOUGE IS WRITING FROM THE START OF THE STREAM TO THE END,

THIS ALSO FOLLOWS THE ICE T SERVICE MATT DROVE AT THE START OF THE ROUTE

starts off with the scenarios, and honesty, a great number of scenarios
great number of services here, 527, seems quite decent, however, 74 s bahn services, not too sure how right that is, but anyway
there is a lot of layers for this route, tons and tons of variety.
the service spawned in with the ICE Ts wiper in the middle, not too sure about that. (EDIT: wiper resets itself when you put it in forward)
exiting frankfurt, and it is very very busy so far. lots of traffic, however, performance looks choppy at 40fps.
great pantograph model
the pantograph twist is very nice and modelled well.
the route coming out of Frankfurt performs much better at an average of 60fps
the overall tilt of the ICE T is greatly modelled, looks amazingly animated.
nice driving matt, taken a Zwangsbremsung!
the ICE Ts sounds are not too bad, however, bits of it use the ICE 3 soundset.
ICE T is included in the DRA Expert 101 timetable, so quite good. no more unrealistic ICE 3M Services!
seems to be a sifa bug, where it automatically turns off sifa when you switch to the camera, first bug reported.
the scenery and vegetation on the route is greatly made, looking way better than WCML
during the ICE Ts sound showcase, there was this weird cracking sound, im guessing that is something to do with the core?

 

That's not a difficult thing to achieve. I'd be bloody surprised if it was worse.

 

-LZB is bugged on the Br411 the PZB indicators did not turn off and the LZB indicator "Ü" did not turn on
-DB Vectron got LZB even in article it was mentioned that DB Vectron does not have LZB
-In my opinion the brakes on the Br114 are a little under powered?

 

The wipers are completly correct

 

Very impressed with what I saw in today’s preview stream. This needs to be the standard for all routes going forward. Yes, WCML I’m looking at you!

 

…Was there a wrong BR 423 spawned at the end of the stream?

I’am very satisfied with Frankfurt-Fulda route as well as with new rolling stock, looking forward to buy DE regional edition of TSW5 next week. Just keeping my fingers crossed that frame-drops won’t be so annoying on my PS5, will wait for some early acces reviews from those who has EA to know what to expect.

But little dissapointed with this stream itself, once again I couldn’t understand like 1/3 of what were they saing due the microphones quality/fast speech as I’m not so good at spoken english. Another thing, they didn’t showed interior of Flixtrain coaches. Part of stream with conductor mode was unnecessary long, (IMHO like this whole conductor game mode, unnecessary waste of development resources, just like Route Hoping when you can’t continue your service finished in last route… but thats just my opinion that only good evolution of functions comming with TSW5 is enhanced game map and tracks shadows rendering fix.) and we didn’t saw driving in night.

One detail to conductor mode… Accepted standard train ticket perfectly, while passenger is clearly sitting in 1st class? Looks like 3-5 situations are pre-scripted which going to repeat while you running through the train. Can’t imagine it could be any more fun after one journey.

 

Why is it always the German releases that come out best?

 

It's not surprising, because it is Train Sim Vaterland. Seriously, the German content always get more care.
Don't get me wrong - nothing against DB. But we need a better content for all of the others countries.

 

I was impressed too. Looks like a well made route with plenty of variety on it. The timetable certainly makes WCMLS look like a poor relation.

 

I think they sell more, so they have a bigger budget for them.

 

It looks like the restrictive monitoring in-cab pzb indications in the ICE-T are again not working. This makes driving without the hud rather difficult. The ICE 1 had the same problem and was never fixed. I think the ICE 3 from Kassel-Würzburg had that problem as well, but don't quote me on that. This feature was working on trains before Kassel-Würzburg and was working or fixed in trains after Kassel-Würzburg, but apparently the problem has returned.

 

I won’t be playing conductor mode. Can’t imagine anything more boring.

 

Thats quite normal... Not every speed reduction has a 1000hz magnet... The most will have that but in some cases they dindt have active 1000hz Beeinflussung.

 

Conductor mode : Well, I looked at it and I didn't know how to understand it correctly ..... the fun would be with the 30-minute section between the stations, you can actually go to lunch in between. But it will definitely find all the conductors

 

Looking at the HUD (top right), we see that the next signal turned green just before the ICE-T passed. And so, the 1000Hz magnet went back to the "deactivated" state.

 

Is this the stream discussion thread? Am surprised to not find more people talking about it (or are people hijacking the Q&A thread?).

Anyways, I was very impressed. Such a long route with tons of cool landmarks and varied landscapes to look out for. Good contrasting comparison is the Rosenheim-Salzburg preview stream, where the entire route scenery and driving experience looked boring and very bland. Compared to that about half a year ago, they really took the scenery and textures up a notch. Timetable is also wild, need to put a few more German DLCs on my wishlist to fill it to the brim . Performance looks acceptable considering we didn’t even dream of Frankfurt being playable in TSW a few years back when the Munich-Augsburg disaster happened. Rolling stock looks great. There seem to be a few safety system bugs, but I play without them so not personally affected.

I was waiting for all the previews, but based on this I’ll probably buy the Deluxe tomorrow. Content looks too good overall to pass on the 10% preorder discount. Will likely take until winter for a better deal to come around, and I don’t want to miss out on the content for that long. Time is money as they say, and we’ve got a rainy week coming up in Southern Germany.

Notes on some of the comments I’ve seen here:

• The DB BR 423 S-Bahn train spawned at the end was indeed the wrong one from MAG. Apparently they’re identically named (please fix?) so Matt chose one randomly.
• Not sure why the DB BR 114’s brakes were so weak. To be honest, I was quite tired (long day and stream lol) at that point and didn’t look at all of Matt’s inputs, but he generally seemed to be unfamiliar with how to operate the train. Maybe he used the AFB/throttle lever to brake… I thought you’re supposed to use the classic train brake for station stopping (this works great for me when I drive the 143/112). Or the whole brake system got bugged because he repeatedly turned the brake key on/off. Anyways, I don’t think the braking system is that weak if used normally.
• I believe Matt stated that one of the next things they’d like to do with conductor mode in the future is 1st/2nd class tickets and so on. Right now, I guess the AI doesn’t differentiate between different classes and just sits down in a random seat (along with a randomly generated ticket).

And some of my own notes I made during the stream:

• I really wish we could get working suspension in guard mode considering we (the player) are riding on the train. The usual “AI has reduced physics” shouldn’t apply here. Surely you could program the game to activate suspension on your AI-driven train if you’re in guard mode.
• What about these wooden TBC (to be confirmed) cubes at some of the stations? I saw them in one of Lukas’ Gamescom interviews and just thought they were development asset placeholders. But now they’re in the launch build! Oversight, prototypical or a teaser for a future route/add-on? Speaking of teasers…
• Teaser 1: Upon being asked about a DB BR 111 layer, Lukas said “stay tuned” with a smirk. Surely this has something to do with the DB BR 111 that is planned to arrive with the Mannheim-Kaiserslautern route (again mentioned by Lukas in one of his German interviews). Perhaps the period/livery/wagons it has are more appropriate for Frankfurt-Fulda than the Rosenheim-Salzburg version?
• Teaser 2: It’s obvious that something with the Frankfurt S-Bahn tunnels is coming. Lukas could hardly contain his excitement when talking about them. Plus, it is confirmed that the DB BR 420 loco DLC will have Frankfurt-Fulda as its home route. Coincidentally, the 420 is one of the few locos that can operate inside the tunnels. I’m guessing they’re bringing the 420 along with the S-Bahn tunnels, either as an expansion to Frankfurt-Fulda (the tunnel tracks already exist for AI as confirmed by Lukas) or as a standalone Frankfurt S-Bahn route built on the basis of Frankfurt-Fulda’s scenery.

 

For real, thats than my Bad I dont use the HUD usally

 

Does anyone know if the RE/RB/S-Bahn services run across the entire length of the route or do only the ICE & FlixTrain services run across the entire length?

It is unfortunate that the FlixTrain timetable is so scarce for a paid DLC, but that is reality.

 

Maybe we will get The Friedberg Route from Pilot as Extension oder standalone with fb ne 420

 

To me it felt really like there is no performance left to add more to the route, and Lukas was simply excited because he lived there.

On the other hand, 111 was also used in push-pull S-Bahn with x-Wagen (not here but on HRR)... Historical S-Bahn pack on the horizon?

 

Yup, finally a preview that screamed "Open your wallet. You want me!"

 

That was a mistake of the article, DB Vectrons DO have LZB irl and rightfully so in game

 

Route looks good (WCMLS looks wistfully on) but Conductor Mode, has there ever been a bigger waste of dev time than that? It would very quickly (10 seconds of novelty perhaps) be mind numbingly boring anyway, but given the whole passenger system in this game seems to currently be the worst it’s ever been I just don’t get the point in a game mode that relies on it. How, at 0830 in the morning at Frankfurt’s main station can there be not a single passenger in the whole station? None. Yet again though we have to sit through the executive producer, on a live stream, nervously making small talk whilst a major flaw in the game is exposed for all to see and no mention at all is made of it. Let’s all just pretend it’s not happening, that’ll make it better.

ps Did anyone else nearly choke on the irony of the statement re the timetable complexity and how in the past it wouldn’t have been achievable. In the very same release we have WCMLS, talk about tone deaf!

 

I have suggested buffet car steward mode before… But then that’s only to get the much needed RMB catering car in the game!

Back OT, I haven’t watched the stream and forgot to ask in the Q&A, does Flixtrain get its own Journey mode or is it just accessible by timetable? Well guess we’ll find out tonight at however long after 1800 the game finishes downloading and the data transfer across from TSW4 (old routes can get installed a few at a time, no rush).

 

The paid Flixtrain DLC only consist of 6 playable services, so not much to be journeying about.

 

Okay, thanks.

 

Just to +1 on a couple of comments above:

• Please can we fix the PZB/LZB indications in the first patch:
• The PZB and 85 lights should have disappeared, and the Ü light should illuminate. The PZB and 85 lights disappeared when the Ende programme started, so it seems the trigger at the start of LZB control isn't firing.
• The only train I've seen with proper indications of restrictive mode on the digital screens is the Expert BR101. When in restricted mode, it should be flashing both 70 and 85 next to each other on screen. In all other trains that have MFDs, it just flashes 85, so you have to check the HUD for restrictive mode (or check the yellow bar for the v-überwaschung speed on some trains, which itself is also very buggy, especially in the Talent 2). I hope this can be addressed in time on all German trains, but as a start, this should be fixed for any Kinzigtalbahn trains in the first instance.

 

Just back to the TBC wooden boxes, these are in TSGs Nidderbahn route also. I have wondered fir a while what these are for.

TBC stand for something else in German?

 

I completely agree, conductor mode is overhyped with no reason at all it is something unneeded and useless (I’m going to repeat myself but just as well as route hop function!) I don’t believe anyone going to play it anymore after few times at beggining when they just want to try it. I don’t understand why they don’t rather used development resources to fix bugs and make better TSW5 starting routes (especialy UK content players with their route, I feel bad for your dissapointment after UK preview stream despite I just play DE content)

 

I saw it on the stream too, making me a little dissapointed, guessing they aren’t any more AI driven Flixtrain services, right? I know they propably trying to catch reality proportions of trains operation (maybe someone local with knowledge of this route can explain if it’s true that only 6 times a day when Flixtrain passes by). Now I’am little indecisive if I spend another 15.99€ to my TSW 5 DE regional edition just for train that I’ll barely meet through the day, as my goal is to make route traffic more busy to reach as much reality feeling as possible when playing.

 

Or retention tank empty challenge, the shouts for working toilets are loud....

 

That's right. The thing is - in comparision to DB Flixtrain is a *very* small operator. So even having 6 services a day for flixtrain is quite a lot. And then we come to the question: Realism vs Gameplay. Do you want to have more gameplay, meaning a bigger timetable with fictive services? Or do you want more realism, meaning you're fine with 6 services a day?

There is no right answer to this question. Everyone prefers something else.

 

From what I have seen in TSW lately more and more realism is being compromised. 158s are rare at Glasgow Central for instance, West Cornwalls Intercity services are so far from reality it's unbelievable. The recently announced ECML pack is for a loco that's never ran in around 30 years on a route set firmly in the now. DB 66s practically operate everything on UK modern routes and as for sounds well that's well documented all over the forums. TSW to me is turning into trainz without the easier route building tools. I strive for more realism and that's delivered less by the day with TSW as dev time goes on gimmicks.

 

It's funny that all these things are actually 3rd party products and not DTG products.
As for the Class 66 - I'm not from UK but from what i can tell, the Class 66 locos do actually run everywhere in UK, don't they?

 

Not DB ones on every freight, its also irrelevant wether it's 3rd party or in house.

 

I hate the conductor mode and am annoyed that DTG spent valuable dev time on it. However they clearly have statistics to show that some people like it, so I’ll like with it. I hate collectibles, scoring, medals, achievements and mastery as well. But apart from some of the collectibles mostly easily ignored. I particularly hate the collectibles on this route (Frankfurters) as they will always be visible when collected and look ridiculously out of place.

Other than that the route looks really good. Bits of everything that make German routes look good and plenty of variety of stock. Really looking forward to driving the ICE-T.

So have pressed the button on Deluxe. Only thing that will make me refund is if the sound stutters are as bad as they were on stream. Again not addressed by DTG despite being very obvious when Matt was demonstrating pulling away in the ICE-T. I rarely get the stuttering at all in 4 so this would be an unwelcome feature that I couldn’t live with.

 

In the case of a DLC which will sell separately for £13, I would say yes to a bit of creative licence.

 

I'm guessing we will see more of the Flix train on upcoming routes. It's a shame though Flix themselves are not giving them away for free.

 

From my understanding the DB Vectron has LZB IRL, it was a mistake in the article before.

 

The H/V signal repeaters are missing their additional small white light again, which has been a problem since TSW3.

The GNT indicators in the MFD display of the ICE-T are missing or wrong. The status of the GNT system (Ready for serivce / under supervision) is currently only displayed by the workaround in the EBuLa display, but not in the MFD. The brake demand indicator (red G) is also false. You can see the correct displays in this video (captured in Zusi)

The faulty LZB/PZB indicationg were already mentioned by other users so I won't go into that.
The guard controls in the Dostos are also completly wrong. The key switch is actually located on the emergency door release (red button).

When the door is open this switch is once turned into the release position (indicated by a loud beep) and set back in the normal position. The door is now excluded from the automatic timed closing. When departing the driver turns the door side selector to the center. All doors other doors automatically close themselve and the driver checks with the guard to receive the clear for departure signal. The guard then enters the train and closes his door by operating the red close door button found right next to the door. When his door is interlocked, the driver is able to depart.

 

Tbh, I'm kinda meh on all the new features. My issues is that the DTG lacks continous improvement of their features...

We got Quick Play, which never got expanded beyond less than 30 minutes or more than 30 minutes filter (why cannot I narrow the search i.e. to german passengers)?.
We got Random Weather, which never got expanded beyond simple propability graph that 99.9999% of times ends in rain (look on ACC how random weather is done in UE).
We got Free Roam, which never got expanded beyond basic A->B runs (no ability to load cargo, no ability to load passengers), no improvement to consist spawning, so finding i.e. the correct wagon is a total PIA.
We got new lighting system, which looks better in most situations, but is extremely overexposed on sunny day. Isn't tweaked at all.

Now we're getting Route Hoping which will most likely never get expanded beyond a simple route load schortcut (no ability to select service, and automatically advance time).

We're getting better 2D map, but there are still usability improvements to be done (like, why do I have to hover over a service on foot to get its state, why cannot this be indicated some better way, on the train icons itself, so I don't have to hover over each and every service).

We're getting conductor mode, which tbh, might be a good first step into another gameplay loop, and possible improvements to passenger framework... But it will not be....

There is a lot of potential in lots of features that are already in game, but they are left barren, half usable, and forgotten.

 

That’s probably because they come up with a gimmick to sell the new title.

New sounds better than Fixed to a new customer.

 

The route looked good to me. Frankfurt Hbf was - as I had expected - somewhat empty in the depots but part of that is also down to not all the needed rolling stock being available in TSW (+ performance, I imagine).

The ICE-T looked interesting except for the already-mentioned issues with safety systems and displays. The 114 looked to be in rough shape though. What's up with the direct brake being the wrong way around?

 

The 66s themselves do yes, but not DB. DB are actually losing quite a few contracts. The main companies are GBRF, Colas, DRS, Freightliner ect

 

And still then we have other locos. The 70s from freightliner and colas. The 60s from DB and DCR. The 56s, 68, 88, some 90s I think, 69s, there’s quite. A lot still around.

 

They literally just added layer toggling, no reason why not to use it to toggle fictive layers as well.

Six drivable services and a loco that is already in the game is fine DLC for me, but only if it's priced at 3.99 eur at most.

 

To be clear, I'm thankful that they stayed prototypical and did not artificially add more services, but the FLX Vectron is a bit of a hard sell to me too (I am biased though since I prefer freight). I appreciate the new coaches but given my disinterest in WCML South and the Pendolino, the Deluxe version would be 27€ extra just for the FLX Vectron for me.

 

I cannot agree more regarding Conductor Mode, I think give it generously One trip and it would end up boring. Where is the voice over "Tickets Please" I would end sitting in a seat looking out of the window. The dev time taken to build this feature could have been put to far better use.
Now, what route needs more attention?

Whoever created Frankfurt you are to be in the main congratulated.

 

I don't have a horse in the race since I'm indifferent to conductor mode, but what I noticed in the stream is that you don't even get to do the work the mode is for? Not once did Matt have to check every ticket on the train saying that "they were checked when boarding" or similar ... which is true in the UK but not in Germany. Matt should have been instructed to go through the entire train checking every ticket instead of sitting in a seat enjoying the scenery.

 

Yeah the layer toggling defeats the objection of fiction.

The price is up there, but it’s not like it’s worse than anything else such as the Scotrail158, or when you consider the Talbot coaches - Skyhooks wagon packs cost the same but don’t even give a new livery for the loco.

My problem with things like FlixTrain aren’t really what the cost is, but what the utilisation is. There’s a few locos we need on a few routes that don’t have many daily services, but over multiple routes the runs do add up.

From what I understand, this Vectron will have services only for 1 route? With SKA using it (which isn’t even DTG, it’s a dev in his free time right).

The problem here isn’t the low number of services on one route, but poor utilisation across other routes - things like RHTT & ROG have already become sparsely used. What point is there in DTG making these special locos if they don’t use them?

Ultimately the consensus here is right, £10-13 whatever it is, is very expensive for what we’re getting.