Going into Steam once in a while to check for TSC updates and desirable new Workshop items from authors I've subscribed to, I've noticed the latest Activity shown on the Steam front page is Juli 31, Rail Subscription - Summer Update Is that all there was in 2024? No end-of-year update to rotate some DLC for the new year 2025? Despite all the promises made regarding continuing with TSC development and core improvements, nothing concrete seems to have materialised. Focus Entertainment focus on DTG's direction, finances, or whatever has made the top level of DTG Tower's staff change their mind? Anybody here has a subscription or knows a person having a subscription? The gaming consoles have their Game Passes and various Steam games also have a Year Pass.
Some DLC has been added twice, there is this thread: Dovetail Games - Rail Subscription - Winter Update | Dovetail Games Forums There was a concern that removing DLC from it could mean that workshop subs and custom scenarios get unplayable, so it's possibly the best to leave as is. Aside from not getting permanent DLC, it's an alternative to paying 1000€ just to start playing. Also, this way you'll purchase permanent routes if you desire stuff beyond this collection. And thus it makes sense to add very little to it. I know why you did, but an actual Game Pass would be more like rotating yearly editions, you get 2-3 routes and locos for each month.
To a certain event, you may be correct. I do not believe there will be new routes or locos published directly by DTG. Unless they are for TSW.
I look at it this way. DTG provides a platform with basic assets and routes. Third party take it from there. I spend most of my dollars these days using 3rd party stuff
Last update was in December but don't worry we have more updates planned and will keep you updated on when these have been added
Any news on development of the TSC core Jamie? The beta programme seems to have stalled and DTG Steve Dark who was leading it hasn't posted here for ages.
I'm suspecting management has quietly ended all support for TSC and put all their staff into work on TSW
I hope not. One of the TSC updates disabled the ability to put trains in portals, it's fixed in the latest beta but there are signalling issues in the latest beta too. Come on DTG, just raid the penny jar and pay someone to sit down for a few hours with the beta, sort out the portal issue and whatever else you can and then call it a day.
niall101b I fully agree with you. DTG should fix the last things and call it a day... not just leave costumers, who have spent hundreds and sometimes thousands on DLC, hanging. I find that to be very disrespectful and it shows how they fell about their customers. A last patch and a some kind of video or text saying thank you for all your support and building TSC etc.... but just radio silence. It´s like they despise TSC now. But it´s the game, they built the company on for over a decade.
They can't just say farewell to TSC. That would encourage people to not buy TSC. But I agree. Get information on how to fix problems from people with knowledge, figure out if it works across the range of DLC, and if it works, go with it. This is where an ongoing beta branch testing fixes would be great to save QA money and focus QA on things not yet tested.
That is great to hear Hopefully that means in the near or not to distant future, version 78.1a officially releases or we can get some insight to the current development process of TSC. I am currently running version 75.8a but would like to see further updates to the build of TSC and hear what the plans are for TSC now that it is 2025
I hope not! It breaks signals on several routes - check this thread: Public Beta Build 78.1a | Dovetail Games Forums
I hope DTG irons out the bugs with 78.1a beta and perhaps fix everything including the red signal issue and the headlight flares in a possible 78.1b official release this year. I am really curious to know where the development program stands and what is the current status of it, if any work has been done since the last development update article.
My guess is that he is talking about updates for the Rail Subscription Plan, and not an update for TSC core. Hopefully I'm wrong.
As are a lot of us I assume. But the question on that topic I asked of DTG Jamie yesterday has apparently been ignored despite him visiting the forums several times since I posted. I presume he's under orders not to engage in any discussion of the topic.
Gotcha, thanks for letting me know. I guess we have to be patient. It's just frustrating not seeing an oncoming train until it's very close to the player's train in version 77.6b which is the latest official build, especially at night due to the draw distance of the headlight flares being reduced a ton
Personally I am totally fed up with DTG. They are good candidates for "rip off Britain". They never even really sorted out crashes to desktop: I am getting loads of these again now. They deserve all the criticism they get.
I just casually want to drop it here. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/227300/view/530961267633947386 I could do the same with some Trainz. Not to ad the product, but as a precedent and reminder: especially with a sub model, refreshing old content is a practical way to keep it relevant. I understand that certain things can break existing scenarios, so just avoid those, or clone the route, or... Eventually DTG will face this issue that they have nothing to offer. 15 years old core game with 10+ years old DLC. The game needs new customers and they have to be greeted with content that meets current standards. Really just didn't want to open a thread for it, and fits, that's all.
Good point, if only DTG/Focus took this approach. SCS has been going back to older states and countries that were released years ago such as Germany, Black Sea, Scandinavia, and California and have been reworking older areas bringing them up to modern day standards and continually adding more and more to the game which is now 9-12 years old. In my opinion, if Focus brought timetable to TSC, and TSC had improved graphics/stability, it would be awesome. If we can blend qualities from TSC and TSW into one simulator, I think that would be the goal.
Yes, Jamie was discussing the subscription plan. He probably would not be clear to talk about the behind the scenes activity.
Someone from DTG has already said that all the remaining TSC team have been moved over to TSW, whether they should of said that or not I couldn't tell you, but they have mentioned it twice now (once on this forum, once somewhere else), so this is probably why they are keeping silent, they don't want to be the bringer of bad news. If this is the case, then I can not see anymore progress in any shape or form happening with TSC, you either except it for what it is, make the most of what you have, jump ship to TSW, or hope that someone from the TSC community can do something with it. I've lost a lot of respect for DTG over the years, whether it has anything to do with Paul Jackson retiring or Focus..... well, they are not the company they once was sadly.
I'd lay good odds that your crashes to desktop are nothing to do with the core but are caused by something you've added or changed. There are plenty of examples in this forum of such problems that have been resolved by repairing the user inflicted errors. In all probability the core won't be changed now so you'd be better off trying to solve the issues yourself.
I see them becoming more of a publisher than a developer. Even in TSW things in house are scaled back. Little to no news on core fixes. Another German 50 mile electrified inter urban route that no one asked for and not even any new locos or rolling stock assets included. The only in-house UK route on the horizon is the laughably small Cardiff City network, doesn’t even include Barry Island. Whether due to Focus housekeeping or attrition of personnel (at least one long term production employee jumped ship to a 3rd party) I just don’t think they have many programmers or developers left, just a bunch of marketing and PR people pushing second and third party products. DTG Towers in Chatham must be a lonely place to work these days.
The game works fine until users add different freeware locos and stock and expect the to work when you make a scenario without testing them first. Don't blame others for changes YOU made to your game.
DTG in the doldrums? Looks like it, to me at least. Lack of progress in new directions, lack of development of what we have, lack of licenses or money to buy them, instead mounting problems, bugs, development costs, staff salaries and what else. Plus what now seem to me poor choices made at the start of TSW, the supposed successor to TSC. A bit of eye candy, but hardly any substance, and not such a great performance improvement either. Thomas the life saver? I don't think so, for that Mattel license cannot be cheap and TTTE by himself on a boring heritage route will not entertain children for long. Fortunately, the simulations competing for my gaming budget and computer hours are advancing well, so my interest in TSW is already reduced to almost nill, were it not for JT and TSG. Run8 and Railroader make steady progress and add interesting new features. And I'd rather buy the DLC that meets my criteria instead of leasing it. I am glad there is still DLC being developed for TSC and even what I have will probably entertain me for years to come, as TSC still is invitingly open compared to TSW.
I have considered Run8 but the DLC model and apparent lack of anything along the lines of what could be called a “sale” has turned me off. $40-50 USD for a DLC? That is $10 shy of a first party console title. We pay $80 CAD for those in Canada, plus taxes. DLC is usually much cheaper. That said, if each “DLC” is the equivalent of a new game in many ways, maybe that is the right model. And each new route on TSC is now over $50 CAD anyway. But without the regional pricing Steam offers, it is like buying in British Pounds from Armstrong Powerhouse; very expensive (and they are still often cheaper, too, given the type of product in question). You still must buy the base route to start, however, in Run8, so you have to basically buy two games to start. Unless this changed.
There are things that can be done with existing stock, that would be very interesting. I will just say Hannover-Bad Harzburg set around 2010 or so with BR 218 hauling Regional Bahn (N-Wagen and cabcar) and BR 612 doing Express. Very scenic route from the big city to the Harz mountains. Over an hour of driving and service variety with interesting branches along the way (if they included them). Also different signal systems (semiphore, HV and KS). Hannover and Hildesheim could be populated with ICE 1, BR 103, BR 101, BR 110 etc. There is a reason that I spent 3 years building this area in TSC. All the stock would be there in TSW.... but I better not give them too many good ideas =).
