You're completely right honestly. Just a small push into steam would've been so much better of an idea. Just introduce bits at a time and get that steam simulation right in a small manageable chunk. SOS and even PFR to some extent was just too big of a project Imo. Hayling would've definitely set my world on fire
The fact is, commercially steam probably isn’t as popular. As much as I’d like to see more steam in the game, I’d prefer they plough that money into more dev time on routes and better quality control.
I find it ironic that they had someone ready to do steam for TSW, only to can it. Nowt like shooting themselves in the foot.
Something like Yelverton to Princetown would have been great for that. Lovely scenery, a challenging gradient but not too long. Another good one but a bit obscure was the old Highworth branch at Swindon, where you went from the urban and industrial bustle around Swindon and the Works, to the sylvan sinuous route through fields and woods to the hilltop town at Highworth.
I don't buy that excuse to be honest. DTG made a mess of steam and the routes the made which is the most likely reason it didn't sell. Just how we got told BR blue doesn't sell yet JT have created two of the best routes the game has seen. In order for DTG to get more out of steam they shouldve put more time and quality in like we get from JT and TSG in my opinion.
In fairness to DTG they didn't know I was planning it. They released the editor with TSW 4 which I excitedly purchased and embarked on some UE4 fun. You can see images in my profile under media to see what I managed https://forums.dovetailgames.com/members/victoryworks.4135/ But it started to fall apart when I just got frustrated with the editor constantly doing odd things and everything that was non-standard UE4 being some mystery box that you needed to post about on the forum and then wait hoping someone who uses it at DTG would take pity on you and explain it. Also the current state of TSW steam simulation wasn't great but they had promised to fix it ("do it right" was their own quote) and that the fireman side of the driving experience was coming as well - something they promised and sold SoS to many of us on. So I stepped away for a couple of months and waited for things to settle a bit, for some editor documentation to come out and SoS to actually get fixed with AI sounds. DTG then abandoned steam traction
Some of those WIP shots look really interesting and I love the Terrier model even there. It's a shame that everything with the editor was so rough to do. If it was a little more accessible we could have some really awesome content. It really does leave a bad taste in the mouth that because of the mess with steam and as you've said the empty promises we're robbed of content like this.
I mean, there was speculation about a 14XX because a detailed model of one showed up on...I can't remember the name of the site but it's a place where 3d models that people make are uploaded, and a modeller who had worked with DTG before uploaded a 14XX around about the time that the WSR route was in the works. That in itself would have worked quite well, you had a route for introducing steam, ok, it would be steam that could go 25mph tops, but if you wanted to thrash then you could put it on another route. Start with a small tank engine, then work up to something like a Hall or maybe even a Stanier. Instead they ran before they walked and went for both a steam era route and two tender engines. Which, I admire the spirit (of steam) and I don't blame Matt for wanting to do it, I know he loves steam engines as much as the rest of us, but I think the grand spread of SoS and then pushing on to do Peak Forest soon afterwards, whilst SoS still had issues. You can tell it was a passion project, they no doubt wanted it to work, but at the end of the day it just failed the economics test, and continuing to try and get the Sim engine to work properly with steam locomotives was money that they couldn't continue to spend.
If you want steam trains you play TSC. It’s that simple really. Plus with the free content in the workshop, the possibilities are endless.
*Looks over at a lack of a pc*, huh I wonder why I haven’t thought about, you’re basically screwed if you’re a console player like me. Also a big turn off is its less detailed than train sim world
I’ve had quite a few consoles over the years, but for train games a PC is the way to go. Mind you, TSC is a bit like Simrail these days, in that every time I play it, I remember why I prefer and enjoy TSW so much.
Well yes and no, the game without graphical mods sure, but having AP mods installed adds an extra layer of realism. I have the sky and tree/vegetation packs installed and I’d have to argue some scenery looks better than what UE4 can offer. I would like to pick up the signal packs and ballast mods one day too. Since I’m not playing much TSC at all I don’t see the reason to waste my money.
Yes but it would be nice if we could enjoy steam in the same way we can enjoy all the TSW content and that it was all under one hood.
I agree to a point, although looking at some of the recent Golden Age Sim routes and some of the other freeware projects, coupled with using re-shade, TSC can still look very good. Not as good as TSW though.
VictoryWorks, seeing that Terrier model is a sad sight, because I would have loved dearly to see it come to life in TSW. Love those little locos. I also agree that a small, self-contained route like you had planned would have been a better starting point than SoS. As has been discussed, it really is a sad state of affairs that both SoS and PFR were sold on promised improvements that were promptly cancelled. Even if DTG never planned to touch steam traction again after PFR, they should have at least delivered on promised features and left the core steam simulation in a state that would entice 3rd parties like you to develop steam traction for TSW. Can’t be helped now, I suppose.
Best we can do is to continue talking about steam traction as not to let DTG forget that they've still got promises to fulfil, it also shows there is still demand for it. They can avoid questions and put their head in the sands for as long as they want, I'll keep talking about steam and so should everyone else in this thread. I would've been first in line for VictoryWorks' Hayling Island route had it seen the light of day! I remember when DTG started this third party recruitment thing up for TSW. Every livestream it was mentioned, they would constantly pat themselves on the back at how amazing and supportive their third party support team is... If they're that amazing, they should be contacting VictoryWorks, asking him what support he'd need and what they can do to help from their side, even if that meant improving the steam physics. Heck, you'd think having a well known, steam traction focused third party dev to consult with on steam traction physics would benefit DTG as well... or am I just being too logical? The whole situation around steam is outright frustrating and it hurts the game's overall variety. The Executive Producer is supposedly a steam enthusiast, yet hasn't said a word on the situation... Some proper transparency on the whole thing would be appreciated. All we've had from DTG is Alex saying there is no steam currently in development on roadmap streams, he never said it was permanently cancelled, but it's vague enough to take it in that context. DTG like to advertise TSW as the "Ultimate" train simulator, but without active steam development you can't rightfully call your simulator that. I'd say the same if it were diesel or modern stock that got dropped, you need steam/diesel/electric together in unison.
"Why Is There No 9F In TSW?" Because we are TSW owners and we aren't allowed nice things! Train Sim World? Hardly, when only four imperfectly modelled steam locos from just one country, are all that's available to represent the most numerous technology type during 200 years of railway history.
Couldn’t have put it better myself. I think it’s time DTG addressed steam now, it’s been long enough since the last time they said anything about it.
You know what they say! Don't keep flogging a dead horse. But as long as we're all here the horse is very much alive!
If I won it would be a setup by the community team to re-educate me to the ways of modern class 66 driver Me: *Wins* DTG Alex: Would you like to go with these nice men in suits, your free add on is in this nice pleasant room that steam era loving customers go into but don't tend to come back out of very often
Some say Dovetail Towers has a room dedicated to those who have dared mention steam on the premisses deep below the ground.
Perhaps DTG is like that TV show Severance… On the outside they are all steam and classic diesel fans. When they get in the lift to the office the “innie” chip activates and they all love Class 66’s and Electrostars. But the question is, who is the equivalent of Mr Milcheck?!
