Enough Is Enough Thomas And Friends Edition

If you are looking for Real-Life train simulation on Steam you can always try TSC. It has a huge variety of DLC/Routes some which are 400 miles long! (Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverly). I am told that since the last updates it has become very stable and some of the AP products have greatly improved the graphics. I believe there are currently 600+ DLC available on Steam and outside of Steam a similar quantity.
Respectfully

 

Talking of research, here's the result of some research into DTG's nefarious plan to gradually sideline realism in their own sim. Or maybe just have a bit of fun, but there's no place for that nonsense here!

December 16, 2021: The RHB Anniversary Collection, a festive add-on by Rivet for their own Arosalinie route. Not strictly an attempt by DTG, but technicalities....

December 13, 2022: The Holiday Express, a model train DLC set in a holiday-decorated living room with Christmas-themed scenarios.

2023: Nothing

2024: Nothing, except an announcement of a Thomas & Friends add-on currently expected to appear sometime in 2025.

If this is a DTG plot to frivolize TSW, they're clearly playing the long game. Seemingly long enough that few people alive now will see its fruition.

 

Don't forget the questionable aka simplified steam physics...

 

Well this is one add-on amongst how many, two, that is what my "research" uncovered, so that is two over five/six years? I was pointing out that you are moaning about one fictional add-on amongst dozens of other realistic ones. It isn't even a fictional route, it is a real route with fictional trains. Maybe there will be more fictional routes, if this sells well, but I doubt it and even if there are then it proves they do sell and won't see and end to real life routes.

Some are making a mountain out of a molehill, as usual.

 

Are you seriously losing your head over one thing?

 

The thing I find funny is that I’ve seen a lot of people saying they are going back to TSC because they don’t like Thomas in TSW. The same TSC that has multiple fictional DLC, that never ruined it. TSW is going to be fine. I still prefer TSC due to the variety of stock, but I’m not giving up on TSW. There were 19 other days of reveals, a lot of which I’m sure I’ll really enjoy.

 

They are both great products. TSW is catering for a different audience with the ability to reach out to console hardware. It is clear that DTG is focusing all new in-house product on the TSW franchise. TSC, however, is also being bolstered by multiple 3rd party contributors. Enjoy both products.

 

l would accept Thomas and Friends as a standalone game and would probably purchase it that way. It just doesn’t appeal to me for TSW so will be giving it a miss, as there is lots to play and do in TSW without me adding this. I am surprised that DTG didn’t make it into a separate game.

 

Why make a separate game when it can share assets with an existing DLC. It makes sense to leverage what is available and let us be honest. There are steam trains which are made to look like Thomas in real life which can be seen running out of London. This may be an actual 'real world' DLC for all intents and purposes.
Repsectfully

 

The Holiday Express and now the Thomas LOCO add-on are setting a dangerous precedent that in the future we may get more fictional DLCs rather than real world add-ons or better yet, fixing the numerous bugs in existing DLCs. Regardless on mine and yours view on the Thomas add-on, it WILL sell well because the kids that will actually want this DLC will buy it and WSR. If the Thomas DLC costs £12 as is regular for a loco add-on, plus £20 for WSR, then the kids that are buying (or their parents are buying for them) is going to make this company a lot of money.

 

It is not about "hostility". It's about DTG's contradictionary statements and actions. On the one side it is to much for them to give us back the fast moving external camera on console controllers. What we had from the start of TSW till last year. Then they said the whole year, that they can't do steam and american freight, because they can't do it authentic enough at the moment. But on the other side they have enough resources to bring a unauthentical cartoon to TSW. So I can unterstand the frustration of a lot of train fans here.

 

Ok, I'm trying to take Thomas and his friends' announcement seriously for a moment - which is really hard for me - and figure out what the idea or goal behind it is.

What does DTG think the attention span of children (who are clearly the target audience for this content) is to play the game continuously? Do you seriously think kids are going to tell their parents that they need to buy a computer, or if they already own one, that they need to buy an extra $49.00 game and then invest extra money in a DLC just so the kids can have 15 minutes of fun with this game? How do you envision DTG targeting this audience?

I think I can put it quite simply:
They have no desire to stop at certain locations for hours on end like adults, load goods, drive them to certain locations and then do it all over again the next day. They will race Thomas across West Somerset and wonder why Thomas doesn't go faster than 50 mph and why there isn't another train coming towards them that you can drive/crash into.

Let's assume that 2 children from the target group (there probably won't be any more children) really see the point of playing the whole thing every day: How long will they have fun playing with simplified controls? In other words, why not just stick with a (reasonably) realistic simulator and why develop something for the wrong target group?

I haven't understood DTG's plans for some time anyway. And this DLC is another question mark in the whole TSW franchise.

 

The only 2 real new things were the Metrolink F59PH and the 9 mile Lo ndon Overground Route. The rest we knew already from the November Roadmap.

 

It will have TVM for Highspeed action.

 

Which ties in with what myself and others have said. Have absolutely no objection to DTG doing a TTTE add on but it should be outwith the main TSW franchise. It's own little self contained game with a route that won't bore the tar out of the average 8 year old playing it. Something like the Project Platform route from TSC, or a rabbit warren layout designed to represent part of Sodor.

 

That's how fortnite works ;-)

free game: check
appealing dlc: check
next stop: the island (i dno its name)

 

I don't hope, that TSW will become a pay to win game like Fortnite and so on.

 

It's nice to see the announcement of Trainz for Consoles. That will bring more competition. And I'm excited to see, how long DTG will keep the abandonment of steam and american freight. And when that will come, I will not have a problem with more cartoon like stuff.

 

Wasn't even thinking about pay to win, but all the skins to buy drives many parents nuts

 

Yes the fast external camera is greatly missed for us console players, maybe a TSW6 feature which they’ll sell to us.

I should imagine that an unauthentic representation of a cartoon train is easier for DTG than an actual steam train though.

Sorry I don’t really keep up with the news from DTG or the road map, so what exactly was promised that fans are so unhappy about?

I understand the frustration, but it’s not like we haven’t had plenty of content lately to wet our whistles. People would moan whatever it was though as long as it was what they wanted to see. Isn’t that the case with all content for this game?

 

Spot on, it really needs it own world with supporting cast and characters. Dropping it into TSW and on the WSR? Is it recreating a Thomas day? Unsure of the plan (maybe I just haven't had time to read it).

 

Yeah, because those companies would never release buggy software........

 

Yes because if recreating a Thomas Day, should simply be a suitable loco dressed up, as the preserved railways do, not the actual model itself which I think is where the dubiety arises. It looks as if we are going to have a toy style engine and coaches working on a real line.

 

" When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood like a child, I thought like a child. But when I became a man, I put aside childish things. "
- 1 Corinthians 13:11

By all means make a train game for youngsters. But make it separate from the adult sim.

 

Children these days get so much to play with. When l was young it was etch a sketch and not much more!!

l cannot see Children staying interested for long as they will soon be onto something else. The toys my grandson has, fills his bedroom and more and he plays with one thing for about 10-15 minutes before he gets something else out.

l agree Crosstie. A separate game it should be. I am sure then it will be very successful. So many add ons would be available to!

 

Never thought I would see a piece of scripture referenced on these pages. Paul is referring to spiritual gifts and spiritual maturity, not whether DTG should cater for children as well as adults.

 

Not suggesting that DTG shouldn't cater to children. I'd encourage that. Just not in TSW. Create a separate game with all the cartoon characters you want.

 

I think Thomas is better looking than a class 91

 

Actualy, I'm a little surprised by the vitriole on this thread alone, considering how many rail fans worldwide are very respectful on train forums towards Thomas.

I think it's a cool collaboration and if you don't want it, don't buy it.

Not trollin' but a photo I took at Fuji Q in Japan.


And had to get the Plarail replica of the Keihan 130000 Series train with the Thomas wrapping.

 

But why create a separate game at a high expense that will likely then make a loss when TSW does all that DTG need it to and they can make a loco DLC cheaply that will likely make a profit.

All I’ve seen so far is ‘I don’t want fictional characters in the game therefore it has to be a separate game’. To which a simple solution had already been provided. It is not a mandatory purchase.

People elsewhere are complaining that a loco dlc takes time away from other things in TSW (I doubt it does, I expect they’ve outsourced it). Creating a separate game with a separate core is going to take a lot more time away or cost a lot more if outsourced.

All this is, is a very small part of the player base that for some reason don’t want to see Thomas in the main game. I’m at a complete loss to understand why.

I’m making a guess that there is a very sound basis from DTGs side to add it to TSW. Cost as already mentioned, but also the fact that if a parent buys this for a child, they might also like it themselves, with some DLC being very cheap in sales these days it might bring a parent into the hobby as well. I personally think it’s great to have a game that parents and children can enjoy both together and separately.

My only is issue was the way it was annouced. I’m over that now and looking forward to the DLC that I’m actually going to buy instead of worrying about something that I certainly will not.

Like it or not DTG are in this for the money. A brand like Thomas could increase the player base and make money. The player base is what matters. Not the ‘community’.

 

Post removed cause I'm mentality ill.

 

The counter question to yours is how hard is it going to be just to not hit the buy it now button on this DLC, probably so much less work and absolutely nobody gets affected by the existence of the people that bought it and installed into their game.....

 

So same game, but less value as you can’t add non Thomas DLC?

DTG then have double the builds to make and test for every core release.

This would also block people that actually do want the DLC in TSW. There will be some that will recreate Thomas Experience Days on WSR and no doubt some that will have great fun seeing how fast Thomas can go down the LGV route.

Separating it just creates work and reduces value. For no reason other than to keep a small but vocal section of the community happy.

 

Post removed cause I'm mentality ill.

 

I got considerable mileage out of a bag of Lego designing weird buildings or ships by linking two of the flat boards together. I then had a bag of marbles which became the passengers with a “big” marble the Captain on the bridge!

Years ago, Lego actually attempted a simulated version of their train section, “Lego Loco” I think it was called. Pretty dire and the quintessential problem simulating anything model related is that a 2D representation on screen is no substitute for picking up, handling and playing with solid objects in the real world. I hope Thomas doesn’t suffer the same fate it TSW.

 

Ironic.

Since the quote is often used (wrongly) to dissuade adults from using childish things such as VIDEOGAMES.

If you don't want childish things, why ARE you playing videogames, especially one rated for three year olds?

Thus is the problem with religious quotes, they often assume word meaning has permanence where it simply does not.

 

Everybody has days when the brain just refuses to comprehend basic logic and just farts out stupid stuff, nothing to feel stupid about my friend......

 

Indeed. The quote referenced isn't even referring to material things or even emotional maturity. It was to do with spiritual growth. Seems a bit out of place to be discussing this on here, even on today of all days.

We are all children at heart though even with the wrinkles of older age!

 

I definitely didn't sign up to grow up, adulting sucks, I'm like Benjamin Button, trouble is they got my body ageing the wrong way round, God's gonna get a slapping for that whoopise.....

 

Indeed, Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

Too many bad things happening in the world to not enjoy things when you can.

At 8 years old, I went to school, did my best, came home, played with trains and built Lego.

At 58, I go to work, do the best I can, come home, play with virtual trains and build Lego.

Do things that make you happy, regardless of what other people think. Lifes too short.

 

Post removed cause I'm mentality ill.

 

Never hate yourself, embrace the stupid with a smile, my whole life has been me farting stupid ideas out of my face, the beauty of it is tho that our stupid ideas are actually good ideas, the world just hasn't caught up to our genius yet.......

 

Going to use that one on my missus, every time she tells me to grow up!

 

Good Luck!

 

I have nothing against the idea of Thomas and Friend. But I totally agree that the last announcement should have been something the whole community wanted. This seemed to be the exact opposite of what was promised. Thomas and Friend is a fun edition just not in the way it was presented. Only one big route at the big reveal or an new country, new underground line could have already hidden all the other announced Add - Ons which we all known.

 

I didn't notice a pantograph, but I I hope Thomas is bi- modal so I can take it on the ECML , and have a railtour alongside the modern glorified trams.

 

I know it baffles me too. I think the majority of people who use this thread are old or that seems to be the case. Childish thoughts must be put a side. A children’s loco appearing in their mature Train sim is a big no, no!

Me - Bring on more collaborations

 

Why is it that you & others say ‘people are complaining’ when someone tries to open up the conversation in a different direction? The real truth is that no-one outside of DTG knows if it has/will take away internal resources or if as others suggest it is outsourced.
I brought up the question initially about resources a few pages back because I am increasingly frustrated with the approach taken to not fixing (properly) the bugs & issues with the game and if that means resources have been moved away to produce the Thomas dlc then I am disappointed.

 

We all make comments and then have a light bulb moment, me more than most I am sure, it's called being human and getting older, not something to be down on yourself about.