Is The Game Getting Worse?

Been the same myself lately… I’ve been focusing more on No Man’s Sky. TSW is just one of those games I’m on and off with. Most of the upcoming DLC isn’t that exciting at the moment. Mind you the Netherlands Route looks pretty good. Kind of Bummed about Frankfurt S Bahn being cut off halfway. Also TSG new route looks good. Cardiff is sort of meh. That’s about it for now…

 

That's the strange thing. I was doing a scenario on Semmeringbahn last night and running downhill with the 4024, everything seemed pretty much okay with the world. But I know if I fire up WCMLOS, after 5 minutes of the Class 87 sound squelching here there and everywhere, I'll be completely disillusioned. And that's where DTG and the EP in particular needs to recognise in most cases the criticism and negative feedback is not because we hate the game, but because there is so much potential - if the core can be fixed and maybe start addressing some of the concept oddities when deciding what content to build. As I said earlier or in another thread, I uninstalled TSC a little while back, initially just intending to spring clean the DLC, but never got round to reinstalling.

Anyhow for now, I have about 7 missions left to finish Scandinavia in Snowrunner, so heading over that way now!

 

I know what you mean about being drawn to it. I can't quite put my finger on it.

 

Only thing I'm after is 86 pack from JT. I actually shied away from WCMOS for a bit after seeing two Wolf of Badenochs in Carlisle at the same time. 42 diagrams was it for 35 engines.....not knocking the quality but if I was JT would have done the 86 first for that reason. Am hoping after the 86/2 they look at The 86/4s as they are most at home on the freight with the 87s. 86/2s originally didn't have multiple working either.

 

As someone who drove an LRT for 26 years, I completely know what you mean, driving a train, especially an EMU or DMU is a very repetitive thing and not very exciting.

Thats why every train has a safety feature to make sure you stay awake, it is very repetitive and not that complicated of a job. Even planes don't have this on them.

TSW came out on console 1 year after I stopped driving and started on a timetable and rolling stock management position. I thought it was neat to drive different types of trains from different parts of the world. Plus I missed driving, but on my own time and not for 8 hours in a row going back and forth on the same route.

Think of running on Cathcart back and forth for 4 hours, 1 hour break, 3 more hours, but only one of the routes each day. So Glasgow-Neilston return Monday, Tuesday Glasgow-Newton all day, Wednesday the Circle all day.

Thats what I pretty much did but onlt 2 different routes.

You could see how that would be very repetitive over and over.

And some nights I'll drive a longer route or frieght run and find myself being awoken by the alerter, or Sifa. Then off to bed.

It relaxes me.

 

I always mix up my gaming session between TSW and sth else... lately I have been playing a lot of US passenger diesels, loved F59PHR and others as well... also having a blast on the new UK stuff I got and all... of course I do some German/Austrian stuff for good measure

when I need some palate cleansing, I run Crew Motorfest or WH40K Boltgun, or sth ... but TSW is the game where I got most hrs, if we count TSW 2+3+4+5... it has flaws, no denying that, but it still is a sanity saver for me + I appreciate trains and everything a ton more IRL... also gives me more reasons to smile and be giddy IRL, as it often improves my mood when I see a cool train or sth outside the game

and with more DLCs I got more to play (also it acts as a sort of therapy tool, as I learn to better deal with my OCD and such tendencies - like, a bug or sth pops up, and I learn to deal with the ensuing anxiety or such states... I know this isnt an intended effect, but still with a positive end effect, besides all the really good stuff)

 

For me the game is getting worse on the performance side, even with the -DX12 launch argument.

And before asking yes, my PC most of the newer games, even Crysis Trilogy Remaster, CP2077 & GTA V Enchanced at Max settings.

 

Regarding the argument that newer DLCs are more detailed: it would be normal practice, as a developer, to ensure that optimisations are done that ensure a new product can run well, rather than just throw detail in and release it as is, regardless of poor performance. And if it isn't achievable, don't release it with that level of detail.

Regarding the notion it's Unreal Engine's fault: I am aware of other games – in fact I am aware of one particular massive, continuous world game right now, with much more detail in its environments and a lot going on under the hood – that run on UE, with world tile streaming, where the developers have successfully eliminated loading pauses and stutters.

 

Oh you and me both.

I'm quite happy to give credit where it's due, as I did with the recent F59 loco. But the moment you post a valid criticism of DTG, the White Knight Brigade is all over it like bees to honey.

Just take a look at the absence of US content from DTG in the latest Roadmap. Who would defend that? Yet they do, using the same tired old excuses that DTG itself uses. Some of these apologists may have a connection with DTG, who knows.

You and I and others know full well that there are ways around the license and access issues but DTG has decided not to explore them.

How is HIS able to do a SF gameplay pack, but DTG isn't? ( not that I'm overly enthused about another couple of scenarios on Cajon ). There are plenty of possibilities using data and research already available publicly and in DTG's own back catalog. Second string railroads are also numerous and may well be willing to work with them. How many have they asked?

Oh well. I'll keep complaining and those apologists can go on my virtual ignore list. ( or, as in a couple of worst cases, on the actual list ).

 

Worse? The game has been dying for 7 years and cannot die completely - I have been seeing these topics for 4 years

 

Seems to be doing well then if we are still here after all those years. Haha.

 

So $64k question then... What if anything was said during tonight's stream to address the multiple core concerns?

 

Not much. Blurry textures is top of the list. No active plans to fix Z-fighting on xbox. But it shouldn't happen going forward (they said that in October too ) From what I can recall, nothing was said about audio.

 

What exactly is “Z Fighting” ???. I keep hearing about this.

 

I think it's like two textures conflicting with eachother, in the sense that they're "inside" of eachother and you see a bit of each every fraction of a second

 

I suspect there is no desire to compete with Run 8 in its home turf at the moment. Looks like the focus is a stronger foot hold in Europe with a patchwork quilt of routes.

 

Spot on.

 

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/z-fighting.84619/

Some videos in this thread.

 

I am getting the same as you, just plain and boring, routes with silly end points. Passenger System Broken, Crashes etc lots is just ruining the game, communication with Dovetail has gone down the hill. Remember the game used to be really enjoyable now its basically Each new TSW, get excitement up until December. Then basically it is the countdown till the New TSW.
We get an exciting new Welsh route, bam Rivet, we as the community have said we don't want Rivet involved in the UK routes, Train models fair enough but it ain't good enough. Rivet are going to end up tarnishing DTG's reputation

 

Come on guys, I'm sure the Cardiff route will be Riveting.... I'll get my coat.

 

Wish i could Use the 'GET OUT' GIF ahahaha. Love what u did there

 

I'll be honest and say that I don't think it's because of all the problems with TSW that I'm bored of it. I tend to go through phases where I do something, get bored of it, do something else, get bored of that.

I think I'm just going through that "bored of TSW phase" at the moment, I'm just not in the mood for it. Granted though, if there weren't as many issues as there is, I'd probably enjoy it that little bit more.

In fact, I'm looking forward to the Cardiff route precisely because of what it is. Let's just hope it doesn't exacerbate my boredom with it.

 

Part of the challenge for me with TSW is that it is timetables e.g. same route at a different time of day. This can certainly get repetitive. I like to run a random run on TSC with routes stemming from 15 minutes up to 4hrs across multiple routes. I enjoy the ability to drive different routes with different rolling stock. Lots of free scenarios can also be found along with the ability to run random runs (Quick Drive). I certainly find TSW to be too repetitive and I also have no desire to be conductor or go on a treasure hunt.
What would be interesting is to be able to dispatch some of these routes from a central signal center!

 

So basically despite the detailed questions and various forum threads about poor performance and various other issues such as passenger behaviour, nothing of substance to acknowledge or address our concerns. Just the usual marketing fluff designed to convince us to part with our £30’s for DLC.

To be fair, I wasn’t really expecting a public acknowledgment to the “R” question as regards Cardiff, so that one will be waiting for the Day One buyers’ feedback.

Though I have to say at this point really reluctant to spend any more on TSW while the management and production team continue to walk round with towels over their heads as if nothing is amiss.

Let’s hope some more detailed answers are provided in the post stream write up, but not holding my breath.

 

Short answer from me? Yes

also north London line included the entire London of course it’s going to lag

 

I think dtg are scared of breaking the game even more by trying to fix it so just want to let this title fizzle out. It’s glaringly obvious that gen 8 won’t get tsw6 so I reckon dovetail just want to wait until then and start with only the best quality machines and a clean slate

 

Definitely feels like it's getting worse for me, and certainly less fun to play. TSW4 was a real peak for me but feels like since the release of 5 it's just not been "there" anymore.
Lots of fixes which seem to fix one thing, but break two etc. Being told to switch off some content to make other content better is completely unacceptable too. I can - almost - understand it for the older consoles but when Series X and PS5 owners are being told the same then it's just not acceptable.
Then you have other routes still full of small, and glaring, issues (I'll use Fife Circle as an example) which just seem to have been completely abandoned by the developers.
All in all it's a hard game to recommend to anybody just now which is a shame, as just a few months ago I was genuinely being mocked for how much I loved it and raved about it to others.

 

Here it is…

 

After watching the roadmap stream I’m not convinced DTG are going to fix anything for consoles. Blurry textures is apparently top priority? But this has been going on since TSW5 was released, what like 7 months ago?

For TSW6 I think they just need to stop adding new features, which usually don’t work properly anyway and just concentrate on performance including a stable passenger system. Authentic train and platform announcements would be a nice addition but I fear that would probably just break something else in the game.

 

Or they could/should just forget TSW6, I fear too much dev time is being given to future game iterations, resulting in less for fixing core issues

 

As we head into Spring the announcement of an announcement and the announcement of that will be planned. Maybe a fireside chat too. Rivet stuff obviously still sells despite the critics and that in the end is the only thing that counts in the towers of power.

 

With all of the ongoing issues, whatever the summer release will be whether that's a new title or a new game entirely, DTG are tarring their image rather badly to the point people are going to lose complete confidence in any of their products and not believe any half baked commitments and promises.

I think it's wrong to say any of us want them to fail, the reason their is a lot of discontent and frustration is because we all know this game can be 100% better. The frustration comes from a place of wanting the game succeed but not seeing it at full potential.

DTG have certainly misjudged the fall out from the ongoing core issues and thought by burying their head in the sand that the noise will die down, but that's not the case. It's one thing making all the right noises and answering selective questions, but actions speak louder then words.

Come on we all know you can do far far better...

 

Am with you also on series x. I want to play it but its making it difficult just now. I used to play it alot, but not so much now, its a mess

 

I do find DTG's lack of communication rather concerning because it's not just us the game really is worse compared to TSW 4, i'm getting blurry textures, performance hitches, crashes and the DLC quality is all over the place. I think something needs to change

 

No, I feel the game is getting better. I'll caveat that though.
I'm on PC so I have a world of mods out there which improves everything from textures to lighting, timetables and reskins that provide a break from passing the exact same train as the last one. It's a bit jittery but as someone who has been driving simulation trains for over a decade, I've gotten quite used to it.

That said, London to Brighton remains my favourite route because it's immersive (with Thameslink services) and that was TSW2 or 3 wasn't it? A proper end to end, busy commuter line. My sweet spot.

 

Tend to agree with this, as I too play on PC with various mods (and a decent graphics card). But I will say that everything was set up and worked on TSW4, yet it took time to get TSW5 to the same state. That clouded my view of the first few weeks of TSW5, especially since WCMLS needed the enhancement pack and Fawk's timetable to get the desired experience.

 

DTG have said before that "the yearly new version of the game brings about the biggest financial gain" It is also part of the strategy by their owners Pullup Entertainment to release a yearly version of the game. Sadly it becomes an easy get out clause to not fix bugs in the previous version, and reviews on game platforms such as steam become cleansed of negative reviews as the review cycle resets with the DLC being renamed to "compatible with TSW6/7/8 etc"

 

Unfortunately I understand we may not see any of the excellent EP's again as community members have spoken out about doing DTG's dirty work for them (in bringing DLC up to a high standard).

 

Yeah - aware it is unlikely to be stopped. The game doesn't seem to be about the players anymore.

The owners are now Focus though - not sure if they are linked to Pullup or not

 

From 1st April 2024 Focus was rebranded as Pullup Entertainment.

 

Not 100% sure, but looks online like Pullup may be Focus' parent group? So many different names, it was better when DTG went at it alone (as far as I know TSW 2020 was just DTG with no big parent company)

 

This makes no sense at all, since the positive reviews are also cleared, and they outnumber the negatives by 3-4 to 1.

 

I've got no problem with the annual release so long as they keep offering the basic upgrade without the routes, as I can bet that at least 2 of them won't be of any interest to me. If I'm not bothered about any of them, it's nice to know I can still buy other TSW6 DLC.

We've all got to put food on the table, DTG/Pull-up staff included.

 

putting food on the table by offering a free upgrade? to me it doesn't make any sense, ok it's reasonable that the upgrade is free but to me it just sounds like a way to make us be forced to download all (and more and more) of our dlcs every year, that's really annoying

edit: and I forgot to mention the game is increasingly full of bugs that will never be fixed, by the way
and it's already obvious that with each new tsw iteration the list of bugs that will never be fixed just gets bigger and bigger, buggy game core, buggy dlcs, etc
all of this is really annoying

 

And every time they get a version to start to become stable we have 2 months until the new version comes out.

 

Well, QA has always been shockingly poor with DTG...

 

If you were to ask me, I think it all went wrong with the launch of TSW2, that was appalling when it came out. Then a year later we had ‘Rush Hour’ which was such a disaster I almost find myself laughing when I think about it. TSW3 was sort of ok, felt like they finally prioritised core improvements, but then TSW4 and TSW5 have both been 1 step forward 2 steps back. In my opinion anyway.

It’s baffling how this game can be such a mess, it’s clearly capable of good things because we’ve seen glimmers of it with Just Trains and Train Sim Germany. And I suspect with Alanthomsonsim, hopefully.

 

I don’t think QA are the problem. It’s the people above that push for a specific release day regardless of the state of things.