I offer just two examples of what can be achieved. The first is a screenshot of Simrail during an evening freight run. I passed more ai and human players in 20 mins than during entire runs in TSW, and in the screenshot you can see one such human player engaged in a faster passenger service passing me on the right. The colours were vibrant and the world felt alive. As I passed through a station I could hear an announcement that a train on platform 1 was shortly to depart. Human players were running signal boxes, routing slower traffic onto sidings for faster traffic to run through, and signals changed dynamically according to the operating situation. The second screenshot shows Derail Valley with some skin mods. Just a simple shunter getting ready but what is noticeable is the depth of colour and absence of overdone glare. Compare these two examples with a screenshot of a steam locomotive doing 177 mph bathed in what can only be described as a nuclear glare and we can see that work needs to be done.. this is supposed to be a realistic railway simulator for goodness sake.. I suggest TSW/DTG can and should do better, and that to argue otherwise is to stand in the way of progress, to maintain the tendency towards substandard output, and to subsidise mediocrity by validating the recurring revenue business model that the conveyer belt of dlc so clearly is. Im pretty much out at this point, sadly it has to be said because a month ago I was filled with optimism, misplaced as it turned out. I honestly believe TSW and DTG can be better than this, and as a fan of UK content Im genuinely disappointed at the recent debacle that has been the WCML release. I found myself for the first time in months stirred with that long forgotten sense of romance and nostalgia that the railways can bring to me, and it happened in a Polish Railway simulator. Theres no need for my fellow enthusiasts to respond and I hope that even those that disagree with me can see the positive intent behind this post, but I hope that this reaches a meaningful desk in DTG. I am not hopeful however of a change of direction anytime soon.
Am I right in understanding that you want a multiplayer game such as Simrail with the graphics of Derail Valley? If so, Train Sim World is not for you. Multiplayer is not coming. As a certified TSW fanboy, I can't believe I'm saying this, but Simrail is probably the better simulator for you.
Not really...the loco isn't doing 177 mp/h...your wheels are slipping at 177 mp/h...that's quite a difference... . So well, you have to do better...
I know some of the 8fs were balanced to run up to 60mph, but fairly sure none of the 8fs ran in excess 150mph in LMS days, as this would lead to hotboxes, especially on the older goods wagons. I've had the 8f well over 200mph before in a slip, DTG must of balanced up the motion on the 8f really nicely. I wonder if a tilting mechanism could be added to the 8f?
Meh, you can always find ways to make something look good or bad- that's certainly about the most-unflattering pic of TSW you could find. I guess i just don't see the 3 titles as comparable: SimRail is a Polish-only multiplayer game with just ok graphics/physics/sounds, and a glacially slow development pace- will it evolve into something bigger and better? Maybe. DV is fantastic but has one smallish map, no AI, no signalling, and no passenger operations of any kind. Again, could it evolve into more? Maybe. TSW absolutely should keep improving, but i don't think the comparisons to SimRail and DV are negative at all.
And again, you're not treating the loco right, you've got a heavy and powerful machine 'below your feet'...and well, steel on steel...well, tend to slip, if you're appling to much power at once...
Indeed once the 8f hits about 100mph that is when the uncontrollable wheelslip occurs. I think it's best to keep the 8f below 98mph just incase.
I have to admire a certain portion of this virtual halls population, they never fail to find a way to sing the same song over and over again, but always dressing it up in a different word soup and salad. But as much as I do admire their skills of regurgitation of the same points in nearly every post they write, it's slowly starting to get very tedious. For context this is just my observation and not aimed at anyone, but I'm sure folks won't see it that way......
Looks like Cajon Pass, or climate change in Cheshire. 528mph up a 1:196 is good going for an 8F, especially with only eight percent cutoff. Must be running light. Try increasing the cutoff to go supersonic.
Well derail valley is another thing, but DTG should be aware that simRail and Run8 is a serious competition. The way dtg rushes out content (under the lack of quality) it might be working out when you have the total monopol, but competition can be dangerous now for them.
There's some points I agree with, DTG should indeed be doing better in quality especially with the prices they charge for each DLC... But to compare TSW to SimRail is kind of odd. Since both games have different priorities from each other and are built on two different engines. Ultimately, I don't think much will change. TSW5 is nice and all, but some hope is lost that DTG might change the way they conduct things.
I love how giant updates that change the game from bottoms up once per half a year (but not talking to the community in between) are "glacially slow", while TSW still did not deliver the one and only functionality promised in now already legacy TSW4, but because they do a roadmap every month, it's just about fine. That just shows that marketing works (even when SimRail developers keep refusing to acknowledge that).
I kind of agree and sympathise with the OP, although even though I enjoy SimRail I have only frustration with the way the devs have virtually ignored the single player game and failed to introduce any sort of save or checkpoint system. Last time I was on there, the MP servers didn’t seem that busy - EN1 used to run at 60 or 70% capacity and it could be hard to find a train or signalbox you wanted to take over. But on my most recent visit there were only about 10 “live” drivers and even fewer signallers. That’s offset by the lovely traction, the EU07, EP07 etc. and the EN57 are marvellous trains to drive and the sounds in particular put TSW to shame. Derail Valley I haven’t played on in months. Think I last took a look when they did the “simulation” update but got bored very quickly with the same map, unrealistic gradients, no signalling, no AI traffic, unrealistic fuel consumption and overheating. My goto tend to be TSC, which I found myself back on yesterday evening first of all playing Virtual District Line, then I grabbed the Woodbury Branch in the Steam sale which is quite a blast. Or Run 8, but that tends to be a binge fest for a few days then the ancient graphics require me to go off and do something else. Also maybe occasionally Zusi 3, just hate the fact that, like SimRail, you can’t save a run in progress.
Glacially slow.. SimRail Changelog - SimRail Forum The original point of my post however was actually not to make direct comparisons, and certainly not to advocate for multiplayer, but rather to advocate more life in TSW routes, better lighting, and more immersion. Those two other titles achieve elements of these things better than TSW, and I see no reason why DTG shouldnt shoot for that. If people dont want those things, thats odd, but ok.
Have zero interest in multiplayer. Rather than introduce new features (like Conductor Mode), I’d rather DTG worked harder to make TSW look, sound and run better. I want to drive trains in a realistic looking and sounding world. I doubt I’ll ever want to check people’s tickets.
The wants of any single individual mean nothing, they will never be important, what will always remain king is the wants of the masses, and don't even bother about using the bunch of people here as a reference, because they are a fraction of the playerbase. That's why it always makes me laugh when people start camping on the mountain they make any issue into, they always get left behind screaming into the void and quickly forgotten about........
DTG are capable of putting really good routes together, which they proved with the Goblin Line and a few others. Problem is the DTG shareholders who only exist for money and profits. Most of them have never played a video game in their lives and can't see a problem with putting stupid time limits on DLC that would realistically take twice the amount of time to complete. If DTG stopped existing tomorrow they'd go and buy shares in a lightbulb or toaster factory instead... whatever would make them the most money. It's all they care about.
"Yes, it has multiplayer and everyone can party together in the evening, but I get bored of always running on the same line, even if it's long, and I would also like to change country and train and signals and safety system. TSW has all these things, you can and must do better". For intellectual honesty you could write it on the Simrail forum. And also upload some screenshots in which you highlight a bug officially declared by the Polish team.
Missing the intent of my post which was to encourage improvements, but I'm sure you make a great point.. As I said though, I'm actually beyond caring now. I just wanted to feed back to DTG why.
I don't see Run8 as a serious competitor, at least to TSW.... 1. Its not distributed on a major platform, and is PC only 2. Its focused on US Freight, which most people on TSW don't care for anyway and consider them boring (See: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/most-boring-route.84543/) 3. Multiplayer isnt really a big draw for it. SimRail may be more of an issue later, once they focus more on single player, console release, and if SS's US route and the German route ever get done.
As much as I like Run 8, sadly this is true. Everything from their marketing (never a sale) and e-commerce system (on item only at a time in the basket) to the game itself is something you have to really want to persist with.
Unless DTG can get their head around making extensions possible then it never will, no. Until then we are stuck permanently with routes the way the are when they're released.
I buy content, not make it. Someone is already bringing the Southeastern network to life in UE4 anyways.
DTG should really start focussing on remastering. Remasters mostly show what TSW is really capable of. Whilst focussing on attracting new users they also should cater those new users with a relevant back catalogue to buy. From very soon in my TSW adventure I noticed to stay away from older content because it did not live up to the quality of newer routes. There are still routes left I refuse to buy like Rapid Transit. Although this is a route right up my alley I refuse to buy a bag of frustration just to complete my collection. I once had a look at Simrail and it looked impressive back then but when I see the images in OP I must say TSW really improved a lot because I was skimming the images in the OP without reading the post and assumed these were all images of TSW.
Would be nice if DTG could hire a dedicated remaster team, who only update older route and such to modern standards, kind of like how SCS has map teams for ETS2 and ATS rebuilding the older map sections to match the higher road quality of later DLCs.
I downloaded the Sim Rail demo off steam its decent but i wont invest unlessome US content would get in and be decent
No reason why DTG can't aspire to be better. If the business model precludes it, then they may want to revisit their mission statement. Again, this is purely to show what can be done, so no need for anyone to feel threatened, insecure or that they need to leap to DTGs defence. Let them do that. In the meantime, transport fever 2 is scratching an itch.
Yes I agree DTG must try harder with both ai traffic and timetables. Certainly on pc at least there is no issue as some timetable mods have proven, they add dozens of services to the game without any problem, in fact I've had more stuttery runs when it's only been my train in sight which sadly is too common an event! But no to MP mode.
Searchlight sim is making a us route. The game has changed a lot since the demo although I don't own the game either but it's only a demo for a reason
Im intrigued by the sky in Transport Fever 2. It looks quite good. Is it really beyond the wherewithal for DTG to get the sky looking better?
Given the abundance of critical to downright negative, sometimes even hostile comments on TSW5, those high up in DTG Towers must have sensed by now a certain sentiment is on the rise. To me it seems both studios are struggling on many aspects of delivering their ambitions. DTG's many 'teams' still stumble and fall, even fail, regularly on the most basic things. QA still seems absent, and some staff members smooth talking things over doesn't give me much confidence the general standard will improve. SimRail is much smaller, equally determined, but so far failed to deliver on basic features like a proper single player experience and save function. Instead continuously talking of 'unique features' until they get bogged down with 'featuritis' and cannot distinguish left from right anymore. It often seems both studios have bitten off more than they can chew, and once investors start breathing down their necks hissing 'where is my return on investment, now!', content is going to be rushed to market bugged and half finished. Unfortunately a large number of players seem to accept this, and only in veiled terms testify of their disappointment, always hinting/hoping/wishing at future improvements. While ignoring their collections full of bugged, half arsed abandonware, instead already drooling over the next announced release, often cast from the same molds. Since management knows it sells well in the affluent and volatile console market where there is no competition.
Well said. To be brutally honest, other than the fact my PC is below the minimum spec, MSFS 2024 is looking quite intriguing particularly the career and company mode. I can see one or more of the train sims getting shuffled off to make way.
Well you got me, i guess. As someone who doesn't follow SimRail that closely, it looks like a dead game to me because their last activity of any kind on Steam was on April 24th- i'm not on Discord so maybe there's more info there, but letting your customers know you're still working on the game seems like a good idea maybe.
Theres actually weekly updates posted in a thread on their forum. I provided the link to that above. Once again.. https://forum.simrail.eu/forum/122-summary-of-the-week/
I only have a PS5 so TSW is all I have access to. Should it do better? Absolutely. Do I get miffed at the excuses rolled out everytime? God yeah. Did I refuse to purchase WCML south because it's broken? Yep and I'm sticking with that. Er....I meant to end this is something good but I lost track (No pun intended haha). Oooh I know, it's the only Rail sim game I know that you can start a service at 00.01 and drive all sorts of services for as long as you want, or until the game crashes.
There's at least one other out there that runs a 24/7 timetable, sadly not available on consoles (yet).
In the spirit of doing better, station announcements. I seem to recall a conversation about the restrictive amount of audio channels available but station announcements do provide an excellent immersion boost, especially when triggered in real time in response to train movements. I'm in the middle of a 3 hour Warsaw to Katowice express service and it really does add to the experience when you hear them.
The ideal length run for a fast express train is not 30 minutes with likely no stops, that's crazy. Minimum should be 45 mins with at least one stop, ideally an hour, there are dozens of scenarios of 45 mins plus. 30 mins is just too quick especially without a stop. I shan't be buying WCMLS until it's on deep sale. Not only the Pendo but the almighty mess up with the 710 timetable.
That's why I like ECML. Yes, it has weird end points and little variety with just the Azuma (the 700 and 158 don't add much). 5 stations, and various stopping patterns of different lengths make it enjoyable experience.
