Hi everyone, Wasn't sure where exactly to post this suggestion. With DTG’s massive success in replicating historical and modern rail networks in Train Sim World, alongside their publishing history with titles like TramSim, I want to pitch a concept that I believe has a massive, untapped market on PC and current-gen consoles (PS5/Xbox Series X): A dedicated London Bus Simulator built on the TSW modular DLC model. Specifically, a focus on London (TfL and LT) routes across different eras. The Concept: Instead of a fictional city, the base game or initial core DLCs would focus on iconic, real-world London bus routes (e.g., Route 15, Route 38, or Route 159) mapped at a 1:1 scale. The TSW Formula Applied to Buses: Just like TSW gives us historical transitions (like steam to diesel, or 1970s rail to modern electric), a London Bus Sim could use the DLC model to explore eras: The Heritage Pack: Driving the iconic AEC Routemaster in the 1960s/70s, featuring period-correct traffic, vintage store fronts, and conductor gameplay. The Transition Era: The 1990s/2000s featuring step-entrance double-deckers (like the Leyland Titan) and early low-floor models. The Modern Era: Driving the New Routemaster (Borismaster) or modern electric Wrightbus/Alexander Dennis fleets with contemporary ticketing and live TfL-style countdown displays. Why this works for DTG: The Blueprint Exists: You have already mastered the art of selling high-quality, era-specific vehicle and route DLC packs. The Console Gap: Console players currently have no 1:1, authentic, real-world bus simulators with historical depth. OMSI 2 is locked to PC and showing its age. There is a massive, vacant market here on PS5 and Xbox. The third party angle: As with TSW, there is the potential for third party developers to create additional content. This would eventually increase the number of playable routes, types and eras. I’d love to hear the community’s and developers' thoughts on whether a road-transit sister franchise to TSW is something that could ever be explored! A few ideas for Initial routes. 1. Route 15 (The Heritage Showcase) The Route: Blackwall to Trafalgar Square (passing Tower Hill, Monument, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Fleet Street). Why it’s perfect for the pitch: This is arguably London's most famous historic corridor. For years, TfL ran a specific "Heritage Route" using vintage AEC Routemasters along this exact path. It gives the developers a built-in excuse to feature both 1960s vintage buses and ultra-modern electric buses on the exact same road layout. 2. Route 24 (The Political & Royal Heart) The Route: Pimlico to Hampstead Heath (passing Victoria Station, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, and Camden Town). Why it’s perfect for the pitch: This route hits almost every major tourist landmark in Central London. It provides incredible visual variety, moving from the grand government buildings of Whitehall to the gritty, neon-lit streets of Camden Town. It was also the very first route to fully deploy the "New Routemaster" (Borismaster) bus in 2012. 3. Route 38 (The Ultimate Gridlock Challenge) The Route: Clapton Pond to Victoria Station (passing Hackney, Angel, Bloomsbury, Piccadilly Circus, and Hyde Park Corner). Why it’s perfect for the pitch: Route 38 is legendary among London bus drivers for its massive passenger volumes and intense Piccadilly traffic. From a gameplay perspective, this represents the "Hard Mode" challenge. It requires tight time-management and navigation through dense, chaotic West End traffic clusters. 4. Route 159 (The Historical Milestone) The Route: Marble Arch to Streatham (passing Oxford Street, Regent Street, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Bridge, Kennington, and Brixton). Why it’s perfect for the pitch: This route is deeply historical. On December 9, 2005, Route 159 was the very last regular London route to use the classic AEC Routemaster before they were retired from standard service. It crosses the River Thames via Westminster Bridge, offering a spectacular cinematic driving view of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. 5. Route 222 (The Low Floor Revolution) The Route: Uxbridge bus garage to Hounslow bus garage via West Drayton and Cranford. This route skirts the northern perimeter of Heathrow Airport. Why it’s perfect for the pitch: This route, set in 1993/4, was amongst the first in London to trial the now standard low floor buses using the Dennis Lance SLF/Wright Pathfinder LLW type. It is also a fairly short and somewhat linear journey. 6. Route 726 (The Longest Route) The Route: Dartford to Heathrow Airport via Bexleyheath, Bromley, Croydon, Sutton, New Malden, Kingston, Hampton Court and Feltham Why it’s perfect for the pitch: This was, and still is as SL7, the longest bus route in the capital. It started life as a National Green Line route from Gravesend to Windsor before acquired by London Coaches and absorbed into the London Buses network .During London Coaches tenure, the unique dual purpose DK class were used which were DAF SB220/Ikarus Citibus vehicles. The 1970s/80s "Gritty London" Mechanical Pack: 7. The 'Smokey' DMS Challenge (Route 220 - 1971): Drive the notorious DMS-class Daimler Fleetline on its debut route between Shepherds Bush and Tooting. Sim fans will love the challenge of managing an overheating, sluggish engine while dealing with the era's complex, early one-man-operated ticket turnstiles. [1, 2] 8. The Screaming Single-Decker Pack (Red Arrow LS - 1981): Take command of the legendary LS-class Leyland National on high-intensity Red Arrow commuter shuttles. This pack focuses heavily on immersive audio, featuring the iconic screaming turbocharger, rattling body panels, and fast-paced station-to-station multi-passenger boarding. I would really like to hear others opinions on this concept and will happily provide more details if required. Thanks for reading.
