Anyone else having issues accessing ATS (Alan thomson sim) website? For me it says "Sorry, you have been blocked You are unable to access alanthomsonsim.com" with big red X mark. Don't know why, I had it accessed last night and every thing was working fine.
I believe they were doing work on the site over the weekend to improve things. ATS did state that there may be access problems and launcher issues during this time.
I got the following message when accessing the site: Error establishing a Redis connection To disable Redis, delete the object-cache.php file in the /wp-content/ directory.
Yep getting same message as well - It was working briefly earlier but then went off again. I am guessing they are still in process of upgrading their website.
I saw this the other day as well and figured it was a database issue. Someone else told me work was being done. Should work now as noted.
Was a thread about the works being done and when the work was completed right here https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/ats-website-maintenance.82297/. They are updating the website hopefully makes things easier to navigate
I actually wonder if subscribers can download files that are mixed into the collection like this the same way. Obviously non-subscribers get the half page advert instead, but once subscribed, does that go away and they get a download link, or do they still have to use the launcher? For my part, using the launcher is still unacceptable in my view for purchases. Worst decision they could have ever made.
If you read about the launcher the launcher is for payware products not the free uploads. The free uploads you will be shown the same as above. the launcher is a good thing what’s the harm in it you don’t complain about the JT launcher for payware products or any other 3rd party what is your issue with Alan and his business you seem to have this issue with him and his business. What payware products have you purchased from ATS for you to have an opinion it is worthless if you have not used it I am intrigued
What JT launcher? I've always downloaded files directly from JT. Back to ATS, I was gifted a tamper once, but obviously refuse to use a separate launcher to download it. So yes, I have a valid opinion that it's unnecessary bloatware looking for a problem to solve.
Got to be easier The just trains launcher you have to run when you install a route you open the exe and the installer/launcher installs it’s no different to the ats one it saves you having to download every route/train etc the launcher downloads from the server so it’s easier for the user. you just seem to have this negative approach to anything Alan does or has his name on which I know full well why you do. He is actually a really nice guy if you actually spoke to him rather than criticise him constantly. Perhaps if you spoke to him and told him your opinions directly he may take the feedback on board. Alan Thomson some feedback for you above.
To be honest, no, I don't like having to enter my credentials for every file from JT either. However, I get why it's done that way. Otherwise, I could download, say, all of the Midland Main Line stuff and share them on a server somewhere. They have ensured that this can't be done. I don't know what Searchlight does, but I hear they have a DRM protection of some form as well. I have yet to buy a product from them, so I can't comment on it. DT as far as I know has no protection on their files but limits how many times they may be downloaded. I've been able to install them freely after purchasing. Most convenient for the customer, more risk for them perhaps. I think SSS is the same way; I have bought their two routes as well but actually have not installed them yet, so maybe there is something I haven't seen. I think they use the same method for free routes and scenarios, however. ATS is the only provider of products that tells you, after purchasing, that you have to download an otherwise unnecessary piece of software that none of these other sites needs in order to apply some form of DRM to products purchased by each user. It feels more like a babysitter than any of these other methods, and at one time updated itself for users to literally not work, forcing users to not be able to access purchased products for a time. This is not a good method. A better option is needed. Frankly, JT's method would be better for ATS, I think.
So you don’t think having the drm protecting in place like they do is a good thing ??? Do you complain you are having to log into a steam account and have credentials in place. Of course you don’t because without that you wouldn’t be getting the content you do so that’s not a problem. No different to the are system then in regards to steam. But because you have to pay and purchase from ats that is your problem with the hence why you want everything on steam to benefit you. if it don’t go on steam automatically its a problem for you
I don’t like the ATS Launcher either. Would rather have a separate installer. But I don’t get why it is singled out. Steam is also a launcher and for certain everybody uses that to install DLC. Lot of fuss about nothing. I buy the DLC I want from ATS, download and install it, then the installer can be removed again if desired. On occasions that I’ve needed to speak to anyone Alan or his team have always been really helpful. So at the end of the day, if I want their products, I’ll use it. For the record I don’t like Steam either. It forces me to enter and save personal details which they don’t need and also defaults to saving Credit Card Details.
I'm not getting into an argument about this again. I just compared what other sites do and noted that ATS is more overbearing in what they do. That's it. ATS needs to find a less oppressive method of doing things. Ha, I use Paypal.
Not arguing with you just forming an opinion like you are. The way ats do things in my Opinion and that of many others is fine. If it’s not broken don’t fix it as the saying goes. You quite happily use PayPal on steam. Guess what you can use PayPal on ATS as well so again fail to see your problem Your point about having to download another program I don’t understand as you quite happily downloaded steam and I am sure many other applications to use games. Anything that stops piracy if a good thing in my opinion.
I am just saying there are better ways. To be fair, ATS rarely holds any kind of sales and I think stuff is overpriced. That was already keeping me out, but after the introduction of the launcher, it made me LESS likely to buy from ATS when I started hearing about the issues with it. I do think a method like JT's would probably be perfect for ATS. I still wouldn't like entering my credentials on every item if I ever did purchase something, but it does the job well enough and I can make up my own backups for easy reinstallation later. The one thing I dislike about JT's method is all the registry entries, which AP doesn't create in their stuff, so a mix of methods is best IMO.
AP fills up your appdata folder so always best to empty that after installing AP content I still don’t understand your issues about credentials like you said above you use PayPal. You’re quite happy using that on steam. ATs you can use PayPal as well. You also have donation page set up on your twitch/youtube channel so will upload credentials/paypal information to receive them.
I thought that this had been fixed sometime ago now : I don't see any evidence in my downloaded installations folder (like I used to) in appdata/local anymore!
If you couldnt find the folder then how can you say it is fixed and agree with him. The AP issue does not install the temp folder that’s a windows folder lol. If you can’t find the folder then something is wrong with your windows install.
Nope but at least ATS are doing something to prevent potential pirates from stealing. Anything that makes it harder for these people I am all for and those who are against it well shame on them.
Nah, I think either there is nothing in there or I am just looking in the wrong place. I have found it before. I will find it again.
I would agree that the ATS and Steam method are very similar. Both allowing Pay Pal is also a boon. Respectfully
It's hidden by default, so make sure you have the option to show hidden items enabled in File Explorer
You can also just visit it directly, even if hidden. Unless they disabled that without you making it visible first...
You can't view the folder if it's hidden, but if you know it's there you can access it directly and see the contents. For example the windows appdata folder is hidden, but if you type it's path into windows explorer, you can still see it's contents.
Yes but you can’t click it via folder clicks if it’s hidden. Like you say you need to know the directory. This is all off topic though so can we keep the thread in topic please
Topic is irrelevant now anyway. ATS Website was down for maintenance. I pointed this out some posts back. It's now back. Thread has been irrelevant and off topic ever since. Don't see that it matters seeing as the issue is resolved.
Can we talk about our favourite solo artists?...such as Shania Twain at Glastonbury? (Glastonbury has the letters a, t and s in it so that's kind of on topic)
Good morning folks, looks like the original topic of this thread has been resolved, so I'll be closing it. All the best, Jan
