Enough Is Enough!!! The Ongoing Saga!!! 3 Year Anniversary

by "kids" I meant the top management who are the ones who actually make the decisions, the developers are not to blame for the horrible decisions of their superiors

 

I don't care if you've only meant management or the entire staff, it isn't good criticism. It doesn't help anyone if we just start insulting people. That's why Matt left the forums, and I can understand that very well. Do complain about things that are going wrong, but stay fair.

 

You mean this thread? https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/track-titans-a-new-railway-game-by-dtg.88940/

 

That was actually the first time I’d seen the “Titans” thread. As being discussed, it could just be the marketing blurb for TSW6, hopefully the “Titans” being a Deltic, GTEL and V200!

 

Exactly people moan about developers not interacting on the forums but it is any wonder when you see some of the comments and vitriol on here

Calling people names is childish in itself and shows you don't have much of an argument.

 

Indeed. I can be quite critical of DTG and some of their decisions and actions (or lack thereof). But it doesn’t really do to name or insult individuals - though I will admit to the odd whimsy about pink headphones - as at best it makes them feel unappreciated.

 

Well, who knows what this all means, but if it includes a 3rd gen GTEL as part of a remastered Sherman Hill with the missing 3rd track, hey ho!!

However, I'm not sure that DTG is currently sufficiently equipped to build such a powerful and complex locomotive. I mean an F59 is one thing but...........?

 

Can SimuGraph even simulate a gas turbine? That would kill a GTEL before they could even start.

 

If you had to simulate something big from UP at this point you'd be miles better off with the DDA40X. Both because I'm more convinced Simugraph could actually handle it, but also because it should be relatively easy to get good reference and recordings for them. There's at least a dozen or so in preservation, have to imagine at least one of those places would be willing to work with DTG if they poked around. And they use the same prime motors as the SD40's I believe, so I'd think it would be relatively easy to rework the existing SD40-2 sound-sets to match. And that's not even mentioning that you could potentially just record 6936 if you could work with RRHMA.

 

Thing is, the sounds from the SD40-2 are pretty old and dated, and I know it would get pointed out DTG would be reusing those old sounds again...

 

God this game is buggier than ever.

In the last week or so I keep saying random dispatcher messages popping up on my screen when starting a run. They are not for my train. They usually say "denied, wait for signal to change" or "denied, train is occupying the next block". If I do a dispatcher call myself, it says everything is fine and proceed as signals indicate.

Also tried to to a freight run on the Worcester Line just now. Released the brakes but the rear of the consist didn't want to move. Applied more throttle which resulted in the trucks of the locomotive freaking out, phasing out from under the locomotive and the whole consist derailing from the tracks.

Like is this the state of the game now? A simple wheel slip totally crashing the physics system?

 

That's the secret new multiplayer mode

Also the new secret multiplayer mode, guy in the rear loco putting the handbrake on to mess with you

 

Unrelated but your pfp is terrifying

 

Glad you like it

 

Fred looks like this in real life... So it's one or the other...

 

In the meantime, the senior management will continue to keep their heads in the sand and “no longer look at the forum”.

Is it me or did this wall of silence seem to start after the general derision with which the “Big Reveal” and subsequent Fireside Chat regarding Thomas was greeted? To take umbrage over the reception an announcement of a toy train add on received is definitely not reading the room. Did they genuinely feel we would all be going ooohhh and aaahhh over the little Blue toe rag?!

 

My guess it their parent Focus Entertainment did think so after having acquired the Mattel license? Perhaps some other console games featuring Mattel's toys will appear?
Sony's annual Playstation Network fees and the obsolescence of my PS4 made me give up on PS all together.

 

More spinning of conspiracy theories. But, given you went there, the reaction to the whole Thomas thing was over-the-top, childish and utterly pathetic. People are entitled to be disinterested in it, which includes me, but some of the behaviour around it would embarrass a 5-year-old.

 

Where are the conspiracy theorists now?

 

Maybe some feelings got hurt with the backlash from the big reveal.

I've uninstalled tsw since it got stuck in a updating loop, due to the game needing 200gb of free space for a 3gb download.

I don't know about tsw5 but tsw severely broken is a more fitting title.

But rather than fix the existing problems dtg keep adding new features and content that just adds to the list of problems.

 

The fact the EP is no longer viewing the forums (allegedly) is not a conspiracy theory. And the indignation over Thomas was a complex reaction based on the previous abandonment/lack of interest in proper steam traction, the buggy state the game is in right now and the fact a toy train is being placed totally out of context on a “real” route rather than being given its own self contained add on.

 

Bought into a serious Simulator, waited for big reveal. Got shown something that is not serious simulation. Maybe some people reactions were over the top but those of us still waiting for a save game, steam traction (with AI Sounds) and have had years of being told BR era stuff doesn't sell and feel bugs and older content are not given the attention they deserve then the reactions are not surprising.

 

I'm struggling with the idea that you were viewing it as a 'serious simulator', only for your hopes to be completely dashed by one specific announcement on one particular day. I think your expectations were, and maybe still are, wildly out of kilter with reality.

 

I haven't been commenting here since I stopped playing TSW, but well, I could probably be interested in getting Thomas DLC, only if it also included a couple of scenarios for Holiday Express (if not some very simple timetable, which that "route" is lacking), as I think it's much more appropriate place for it than the WSR, and that route is another toy that is underutilized in TSW - once you finished included with it scenarios, you simply forget it existed. WSR on the other hand needs realistic steam locos and not toys.

 

Well, you were being a lot less specific then that and, still, you are repeating something that even you feel has to be qualified with the word allegedly, so I'm comfortable with suggesting that you, on occasion, pedal conspiracy theories.

I agree that DTG appears to have a quality problem though. It's familiar to me to see a software product have snowballing quality issues and it can become a bit of a runaway train (excuse the pun). They need to get it under control somehow but that means directing resources away from revenue earning activities, but companies are like sharks, i.e. if they stop moving, they die. On the other hand, the fish rots from the head down, so someone needs to be brave and get a grip of the issues. The repeated carping (I'm persisting with the fish theme!) in this forum isn't particularly helpful though - they will generally know where the issues are and their level of seriousness.

 

Look at the other points mentioned too, the Thomas thing was possibly the last straw for many.

 

I don't wear the hat anymore, it was making my bald head sweat too much

 

It's so sad; I can just play TSW4 because I can use my RailDriver on it - but the stuttering on certain Routes and you mentioned the Dispatcher issues and Save Game is still not fixed. Instead we have 8 years of new releases and unrealistic winter season colors and how many other issues?

 

For me it's the performance and running issues that are really plaguing the game. Since TSW5 came out it's the most unstable I think it's ever been. And I haven't even bought WCMLS.

I've stuck to mostly BPO, SEHS, BML and GWE and since the last update there have been a drop in frame rate in all of them and even GWE of all places on Series X which definitely wasn't there before.

 

And yet they talk about focusing on performance improvements at the moment... I can't help but call into question competence.

 

Sadly agree. Every iteration of the game seems to bring more instability and more empty promises aren’t kept. To be honest I’m thankful for JT and their routes and hopefully the Incredible Trains upcoming route.

 

And now we don't even get empty promises, just a wall of silence - except when promoting the latest DLC.

I really can't believe that no one at DTG either the management or production/programming side hasn't got the faintest idea what is causing these stutters that also mangle the sound and where to start looking in the code changes since TSW4 to fix it. Er, guys that's what we the customers pay you for...

 

I am anticipating the be greatful gang on the horizon now....

 

I really hope this farce stops them doing these annual releases - rather than making sweeping changes to things like the UI etc., just fix core features every so often!

 

Probably focusing their efforts on roblox. The kids got no gripes spending mum and dad's cash nor do they complain.

 

Except dtg aren't the developers of roblox

 

Yes, I confirm. Framerate has definitely got worse on Xbox Series X. Noticed that on Antelope Valley, LA-San Bernardino e Boston-Worchester, especially in forest areas (winter is worse. Don't know why, but trees with leaves don't affect framerate that much...).

 

Still takes a great deal of work to do a convincing compressed area, though.

 

The silence is deafening, and even the friendly face under the pink cat's ears headphones hasn't been seen for a loong while ...

where is the visible focus and direction Focus Entertainment should have given DTG's franchises by now?

no word about the blue faced little critter 0-6-0 tank engine terrorising the tracks of a quant preserved railway line in the hands of 6 y.o. konsole kiddies?

instead we get ever shorter routes out of the miracle hat that is DTG's market research, now even without new rolling stock, but with ever increasing numbers of bugs?

 

Perhaps he is busy writing out the disciplinary forms for poor performance?! But seriously, it says a lot about the state of the company when the EP publicly states they are no longer looking at the the forums. How else do you find out what is wrong with the game and what people like/don’t like/having issues with if you don’t read the room?

Still think the generally negative reaction to Thomas rattled them a bit, they really weren’t expecting it to go down like a lead balloon. But still no excuse to go off in a huff, except of course when there’s a marketing stream to present ignoring the more searching questions.

Sorry I must have my Monday morning cynical hat on…

 

Kinda reminds me of my ex. Say something she don't like and get the silent treatment for months!

 

If you communicated with her like many do on these forums, I'm not surprised.

 

No, no, it's the hat you usually wear, the one made of tin foil.

 

I guess when she bought me a Thomas trainset for Christmas and I wanted a flying scotsman, I may have been a bit harsh yeah.

 

141, damn ... I am seriously considering making a livery for sth like F59PHR themed around this thread and its now legendary status

 

The most K.O. proof of downgrading quality of TSW for me, is difference of trains textures. It is just painful to compare 4 years old great quality weathered and photorealistic Caltrain SF trains textures with newest cartoonish textures from tsw5 trains. Even TSG or JT don't match level of attention of these old products...

 

As a regular traveler on London Overground, the 378s and 710s are superb quality. As are the 323s, 350s and 380s. The 390s and IETs had their issues but look and play pretty well now.

I can't speak for US content though, mainly because I don't care enough about it.

 

I must admit I'm surprised at the lack of PR about the Thomas train. I expected a veritable whirlwind of streams and articles between the " not- so- great reveal " and the actual launch, whenever that may be. Instead the poor little fella seems to have been forgotten.
Well, we did have that cringeworthy " fireside chat ", but that was a long time ago.