Hi guys so a while ago I spoke with a DTG and the reasoning for not approving Australian built trains into the game is because apparently they need a license because of the company logos on the trains but why can’t they add the trains in without the logos on it and leave it blank plus majority of our trains are built in Japan and South Korea so is there a way to work around it possibly and use the trains without Australian routes on it
There's more to it than that. For starters, DTG still need access to the railway and trains for research if they are going to simulate operations even remotely accurately. No license = no access for research. Even without logos the corporations/operators might still object if they feel their objections are being circumvented. Australia is also a long way to go for a UK based company to establish a new region with no idea how it will sell. How many payware Australian routes in TSC? Er, precisely none. Even if a reliable local third party could be found that still leaves the business case for a route that might only sell a few hundred copies - just about everything for Australia would need to be built from scratch, not just the railway elements but buildings, flora and fauna. And many TSW customers will not entertain an add on if it's released with a fictional or unbranded livery - just look at the furore over withdrawal of branding on WCMLS last year.
And also look at the general reception of a route when it's not 1000% perfect. While I can't and don't speak for all Australians, I would prefer it to be done right rather than halfarsed. If all you want is an 'aussie' style train, then have a look at the SNG3 on Zwolle or the DB red DMU (sorry, can't recall the exact number, it's an Sbahn one) otherwise there are a great deal of UK trains that look almost Australian if you squint and pop a Met/Connex livery on it. As for an Australian route, Vern covered it pretty well. And to be fair, I don't see Australian content in TSW until/unless an Aussie/kiwi third party step up and make it.
For your information and interest RayRay, Class 43 (MML/GWE) = XPT stand in Class 158 (MML) = V/Line Sprinter stand in Class 700, Class 710, DB br423, ÖBB 4024 = Metro Trains Melbourne stand ins Any US freight loco = SCT/Qube/Aurizon stand ins
Presumably but only DTG can answer that. However whichever way you cut it the lack of Australian content comes down to several factors as said. Distance from DTG’s base of operations and massive costs for a research visit even if all the factors are favourable (return air fares from the UK to Australian airports are a minimum of £800, more like £1000). No reliable local third parties who are interested in becoming partners - the majority of Aussie content still seems to be made for Trainz and mention of TSW tends to be met with derision on the N3V forums. The people who did earlier MSTS content seem to have vanished. The logistics of tackling new infrastructure systems and all new train types. Yes they did it for the Dutch route but probably had a local partner and Holland is a cheap EasyJet or Ryanair one hour flight from the UK. And as said if they are going by previous commercial interest neither MSTS or TSC spawned a single Australian route. Closest we got was the one off NZ route for TSC. Basically, it ain’t happening.
Mostly freeware and some of the content is quite old now. And as said. the general vibe I get from the Trainz Community is that very few are interested in TSW certainly not to the extent of crossing over and spending months creating the resources needed and the route/trains from scratch.
The truth is DTG are not risk takers. They're not going to invest in or take a chance on a new region unless they're pretty sure it will be profitable. Far from it in fact. DTG is becoming more parochial (ie. European ) rather than global. They've largely abandoned the American market in the last couple of years, except for a couple of commuter routes. Anything else is being left to 3rd parties and, so far, there are few takers.
It could be that it's either not financially viable for them to make the content - they don't get enough revenue/money back to make it worthwhile or even that the content isn't as popular as people are thinking it is. From a purely cynical point of view, I think if there were money to be made DTG would want to make that cash.
