totally agree with you on this about v2 owners who got a merely £5 discount to purchase v2 then having to as far as I know PAY for clouds it’s another insult to loyal customers and like you I won’t be buying it and I hope others do the same and vote with the wallet. as for ap turning comments off and deleting comments. They have deleted negative comments in the past as well
That wasn't his question though. He wanted to know what the point of a graphical update is, apart from being a graphical update. The answer of course, is nothing... it's a graphical update. He didn't mention being an upgrade to to SWEP, or anything else. Here.... There is none. It's to give graphical benefits... it's a graphics update. (shrug) Yes, but that's not what he was on about. He merely wanted to know what the point was apart from being a graphical update. He didn't make any other comment. He wanted to know how it improved gameplay. The answer is... it looks better... it's a graphical update.
Thanks for linking this. Hopefully ap do other “development blogs” like this for other projects great to give people an insight
Actually I did, when AP mentioned the fact that social media wasn't the most suitable platform to showcase projects due to all the bickering replies (heavily paraphrased because I can't remember exactly what he wrote) the first thing that sprung to mind was "blog it then".
Pretty hard sell that for me. Shame really , feels like they're winding down. No doubt the ATS fanboys will be all over it. Turning off their comments on FBook posts too.
To what though? We've not seen it yet. Also, no one is asking the right questions: If this is a separate pack, how does it integrate with SWEP2.0? Will your programmed weather in SWEP2.0 still work, and if so, will it work with this "pack"? Are they mutually exclusive? Will you have to chose between SWEP2.0 or this? Much better to just argue about price though, right? I mean, if this does integrate with SWEP, then it's possibly the most awesome thing AP have yet done. You can still argue that it should be part of SWEP, but if the combined price into single product is too high, then its not fair to those on a tighter budget. Having the option to install one, or the other though? On the other hand, if this is a wholly separate product that doesn't integrate with SWEP, then it's useless, as having to choose between them is impossible. I mean, these clouds are awesome, but to lose the fog effects and all the other goodies of the SWEP? No thanks. However.... speculation would be just that. Unless the second blog instalment answers the question, or AP reply to my e-mail asking just this, we'll have to wait and see.
Ignore the above. Just got a reply: "Thanks for your interest. It absolutely will work alongside the Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack 2.0. It will simply allow for a huge variety of cloudscapes, some of which are directly related to the weather you select to use as part of the SWEP 2.0. This will all be explained upon release and in the manual. Regards, Richard Armstrong" That's me on board then. It will be awesome.
Yeah, probs will be cool. You know what though, Mr. A's blinding talent is train sounds. It'd be very nice if he would go back to selling sound packs so that other people could build models that work hand in hand with those packs. That's his A-game. I mean, I love a good sky but TSC isn't my go-to destination for the like, I prefer Curbar Edge, or Surprise View. Wonder why he packed all that in - and for what gain? Why not let other people create products that work in hand with his products? Does this have to be a walled garden? I've never seen anyone throw their toys out of the pram over Richard using their work to create a product for. I wonder why the same isn't true the other way around? Just thoughts. Ignore as required
Dunno... the 40s sound was pretty poor to be honest, and I'm not that impressed with the Deltic sound pack actually. He just throws away things that no longer live up to his standards apparently. Seems a shame, but it's his work. This is why the comments about money grabbing business practices don't sit right with me, as he seems to just delete content people want, just because he no longer likes it. He strikes me as a perfectionist who actually doesn't really care what people want, and just makes what he wants. Fair enough I suppose. I can kind of relate to that. I wouldn't want something I was no longer proud of being paraded around in front of me either.
There are two ways of looking at this I guess - one is self-orientated and the other is community focused. Not up to us what anyone does I guess, but I for one have been a happier soul being more community focused than self-orientated. Never even heard of an MPV until I started building one. Would I do it better even now? Sure. Would I stop people from being able to buy it (or the tamper for that matter)? Absolutely not. But then, I'm not the rule, only the exception it would seem. Also, can't wait to show what I have been beavering away at. But that can wait until it's fully baked this time.
I was thinking about this today. I would prefer new trains over graphical updates. But then, I don't have an i9 with a 3080 graphics card, so perhaps someone with all the bells and whistles would see a benefit to this. I play on Medium as it is.
TBH there is LITTLE if any change to fps using the current WEP2.0 so i dont imagine a new cloud pack will affect your performance to much if any fps drop at all. Like you i would rather have more train packs we have quite a few gaps on modern day routes missing modern day stock which would be a nice gap filler.
You're not going to get any modern AP stock I'm afraid. From the horse's mouth, in reponse to direct question regarding the 331... "The chance of a 195 or 331 from us is virtually zero unfortunately. Our focus now is simulating stock that played a significant role anytime from the mid-80s to 2020. Anything after that is just too bland in our opinion. Never say never of course but that's how things stand at the moment."
It's Facebook. It's not a great platform to promote anything. It's just full of old Karens and Gammon shouting at one another. Facebook is awful. Other than a few select groups, I avoid the place like the plague. Not sure where else you'd promote though, as unfortunately, that seems to be where train simmers are in terms of social media due to the average age I would imagine. I don't think you'd gain much traction for AP products on TikTok LOL.
Which is a shame HOWEVER as AP rely on modellers i do wonder if the modellers AP have used in the past have anything up there sleves we are not aware of yet............. one can hope
On the ATS stream last night there was mention that a lot of old TS modellers have moved on to bigger and better things where their talent can actually make them money. TS is too niche and takes too long to create products for. They compared it to MSFS where the user base is enormous and you can create fairly niche content and have thousands of people buy it. That's just not a thing you can do with TS unfortunately.
https://armstrongpowerhouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/making-of-cloud-ep-part-2.html?m=1 Part 2 of the blog continues. Still no mention on price which is what people wanting to know
It is looking really nice. I’ve just been through all the photos in the blog and it’s clear a lot of work has gone into it. I can imagine sunsets are going to look stunning. As said, just waiting for the price now.
After reading blog 2, i can say that i suggested this method of cloud management (controling the clouds from an external app/script) to AP in already in 2019. In 2019 i mailed AP this; “Another possibly impossible suggestion: I wish there was a little AP WEATHER configuration app where you could chose what weather pattern TS will use when chosing a weather type in quick drives. That way “quick drivers” will have much more variation and get even more out of the APWeather purchase.” To which AP replied; “ Unfortunately there are no plans to create more advanced functionality for weather in Quick Drive” And on facebook in 2021 i suggested this; “It would be great with some enhancements for quick drive. An idea would be a script that didn’t always pick the same clouds when cloudy was selected”. To which AP replied; “We agree but sadly this is way past the capabilities of Train Simulator.” So SERIOUSLY, the new cloud implementation is partly my idea, and the least they could have done is acknowledge that. Anyway: i am extremely pleased that this is being implemented. Any randomisation is good for the TSC experience. Autobuy for me.
https://www.armstrongpowerhouse.com...a4fPhoecPyt5WR91R9SEnNDnpS6fku_1C2LTufCrHxhJg cloud enhancement pack manual has been released.
I can't wait for this. It looks amazing. I'm off to read that manual so I can hit the ground running. It can't be long now, or they'd not release the manual, surely.
I have ;-) It is going to be yet a significant improvement of my TSC experience. And going by the description, it is worth my money.
I have to say I am seriously impressed by the lateral thinking involved in this project. Totally get being fascinated by clouds and their effect on realism. But to start using a drone as a cloud photo device is a bit of a genius moment - one of those really obvious when you know but wouldn't have thought of it in a month of Sunday's things. Hats off to them for the sheer effort involved. I know its a great commercial decsion etc etc etc but its also clear its a passion and enthusism as well.
So in other words, pick up the 87 and it's time to move on because there won't be much else of importance. That's unfortunate. I can't speak for everyone, but I would presume more people want newer trains to drive so they can create timetable scenarios based on the newer stock. It's hard to produce realistic scenarios using stock if we don't have access to timetables for that stock. That said, maybe the game has reached the point that it's being future-proofed for Windows 11 support going forward. If so, graphics updates might be where things go to make everything look better, than move on to the next thing. I guess we'll see. I know AP does work for TSW as well, but obviously can't do extensions there like for TSC. I see what you did there...
Yeah, consider my opinion changed from never purchase to will get it when I can and enough people are using it in secnarios
I love the knee jerk negative reactions of so many (not just here but Facebook too) that have now been replaced with oohs and aahs and well done AP, you lot'll never learn eh..
If you are looking to make timetable scenarios for TSC then there are websites that have RTT data updated in real time and in advance some companys even show the running number of the stock involved so you can recreate accurate RT scenarios very easily now thanks to the interweb
You beat me to it. It's the same every time AP release a new product. It was on steroids this time because of all the "a pack for a pack?" hysteria. Every time, people moan; Either price, or perceived value, or the 'business practices' (whatever that means)... every damned time. Then, when actual facts about the product come to light instead of the cynical speculation and collective schadenfreude that is typical of these threads, people just either change their tune, or just go quiet. If anyone wants to avoid a thread like this in future, why not just wait until you actually have the facts about the product before launching into the usual tirades? It's not over yet though folks... as we don't know how much it is! I guarantee you, unless it's £10, this will all blow up again. I mean, six months of someone's life developing something that will only sell a few thousand copies of isn't worth more than that, right? Get it out of your systems now, because we all know it will be at least £24.99. The price of a couple of packs of cigarettes, or a LOVE pair of jeans from Tesco. (sigh). So go on... Write all your comments about it being too expensive now... mash that caps lock key if it helps, and add some exclamation marks too.
You'll be getting it then, because I guarantee that new scenarios will start to appear on day one, just as they did with SWEP2.0.
Agree - For me - the price of a cinema ticket and I know which one I'll enjoy more and for longer. SWEP and the Signal Pack really changed the game for me and this while I don't see it having the same impact, is going to make it look even better. I'll never understand these people that think others should work for Free. Given the age of the game it's quite amazing to me how good it can still look and I'm pretty happy to support any company or individual that continues to support my enjoyment of it.
You make very good points, especially about pricing after I learnt that this took 6+ months and literal drones were used too! Why do people expect all this work to come out as free or extremely cheap? It’s hard work and it’s paid off, looks good. My early worries have luckily been put aside by the blog posts. Apologies if I classify as one of those people who were immediately negative right out of the gate instead of waiting for more information, I tend to voice my opinions quite early on when something is announced I must admit.
Only 3 days ago you were surprised and expected it to be part of SWEP2.0 as well though so you were in the same boat as those complaining.
