Enough Is Enough Thomas And Friends Edition

But THATS the ONLY market and even then for every person such as yourself there's a person like myself that has TSW but wouldn't spend the money on it for my kids or even if I don't have kids.

DTG are relying on folks who already have TSW installed, are also into trains and have grandkids who are into trains. Anyone else is not going to bother spending on the main game and then buying the DLC. In fact Id wager they won't even understand it's not a standalone piece of content.

Would you spend 65 quid to get a TTTE piece of DLC if you don't own or play TSW games for your kids? Its not very viable.

 

No, but if the controls are indeed simplified, it should broaden the scope of the user group considerably. But maybe that's just hypothetical. We'll see.

 

Sure, that is of course your choice. Let me say though I will only buy it soon after release if the ambassador streams look really good. Otherwise I will wait for a sale.

 

Sorry I didn't mean the controls although yeah you raise e a good point. Im talking about the ecosystem of Main core game + DLC for people who don't normally play train games.

 

Absolutely true. You still need the base game + WSR to get to Thomas and its simplified controls. So there's that.

 

That's probably where most of the problems lie.

To get access to this DLC, you'd have to purchase the base game and West Somerset route. Which, going by current prices and the Free Starter Pack having expired, is expensive for something that won't see much use.

The only way I can see it be viable, is if the TTTE DLC is included in a bundle with TSW5+WSR. Because, let's face it, how many parents are going to buy it all separate, just for their kid to play TTTE and forget about it after a while (of course, not taking into account any adults who may purchase it as well).

 

I thought they already announced there will be a bundle?

 

The obvious solution is to make expert trains with an optional simple mode. It's more work, but it appeals to everyone.

I'll dive a bit deeper, as your logic is quite flawed.

The first trailer, as part of the Season of Reveals, received 44,000 views. Not surprising considering the controversial nature of the DLC. However, only a little more than 2000 people reacted to the video. The like to dislike ratio is also not very good, with a 69% approval rating (nice).

The second trailer so far has got only 19,000 views, a drop of more than half. The view count won't go up by much more, but there is no way it's a "large following from the masses." While the like to dislike ratio is better on the second trailer, the amount of total ratings has also decreased.

This isn't the flood of new people interested in the game that you think it is.

 

My post in the first place is relating to the IGN trailer. NOT the official trailer from the TSW YouTube channel, which has 33,000 views,1,200 likes and 28 dislikes.

the like/dislike ratio on that is way better than the videos on the main TSW channel. Meaning it IS attracting more players.

 

More likes by the looks of it, more viewers? Perhaps ...

More definite buyers?
That still remains to be seen.

Any parent who knows how telemarketing aimed at toddlers and school age children works, knows the first 'free' release is only an appetizer.

The main expense comes in the follow up purchases, new levels, new features, new Thomas's friends, another part of the Island of Sodor, another adventure for TTTE to complete and in the end it could add well up above 100 or even 200, not counting the second console and subscription needed to keep both the younguns and older siblings/dad/(mum?) happy ...

And knowing DTG and the toy market in general, it is mostly play until completion, get your appetite whetted for more of the same and off to the next purchase, rinse and repeat until the child gets bored with it. And hear those DTG, FE and Mattel cash registers ring ....

Whether any of the proceeding will be funnelled back into TSW proper remains to be seen. And since I am not interested in TTTE at all, this is the main interest in this sub-franchise's succes for me.

 

You did not mention it being the IGN trailer in your post, which you should have.


The first trailer from January has roughly the same amount of views as the others, but with the lowest amount of engagement of the four. The latest trailer has a good like to dislike ratio, but again the engagement isn't as good as the first trailer on DTG's channel.

Of course, views and likes don't count towards sales. I've watched trailers for plenty of things I've never bought. The evidence of a great flood of people buying TSW, foaming at the mouths to drive Thomas, is flaky at best.

 

It'll be interesting to see how they'll advertise TTTE. For dlc generally they work the player community. But, even with all the parents, younger players and older members into their second childhood, that won't be enough to reach the target audience of 4-10 year olds. What other media outlets could they use? I suppose Mattel has its own advertising channels.

 

That was my fault then. Didn’t realise.

 

how do you know that

yeah they havw

true

me too

i know right

dont even bother getting it its not worth it but if u still desire then ok why not

Bro when i watched it laughed so hard and cringed at the trash DTG Are doing with that useless and trailer that I am going to make a meme out of

yeah true me too

Me too

 

I don’t see why not, it might surprise us both

 

You know, you don't have to quote and reply to people with one word answers, it comes across as spammy. That's what the like button is for.

 

Yes it is, my 9 year old grandson seems to have picked it up pretty easily.

And got gold on a freight scenario within 3 hours of 1st touching the game. On a shunter scenario on RSN. With safety systems too I may add.

Driving a train is not that complex. You have a accelarator and a brake simple.

And yes I drove trains for 26 years and say driving a car is more difficult.

 

When you think about it all you’re really doing is speeding up and breaking when driving a train, yes each train is different in terms of how they operate, but the fundamentals are the same. Even with the safety systems turned on, on UK routes, all you’re doing is pressing B or O on your controller to acknowledge AWS, TWPS and vigilance. You have all the information in front of you too, speed restrictions etc. All in all it’s not rocket science.

Your grandson seems to be have a knack for how the game works, so I’m certain other youngsters do too

 

I was quite impressed he tackled it quicker without the safety systems and then spent 2 hours learning them.

He initially got interested in TSW for Roblox when he learned I used to drive the LRT and then made the connection to hey TSW is the same game grandpa plays.

Although he has no interest in TTTE at all, I'm sure he'll ask my daughter to buy TSW for him now. I'll even buy him some DLC too.

Next Sunday when he comes over I said we would do a challenge to see who gets the most points on a run. Like the old 4up challenges.

 

That wasn’t what I was referring to.

 

Haha that’s brilliant. That’s something I’d like to do with my son when he gets a bit older (4up challenges).
Since you’re a retired train driver I bet you’re full of knowledge so that will definitely help with his growth in the game.
Wonderful to read he has mastered the German safety systems too, as they’re probably the most advanced safety systems in the game.

 

An interesting comment from the latest trailer:

The Thomas fans don't think this is aimed at children...

 

It probably partly was. Thomas is, and always was, for children.

But there is also an entire fandom dedicated solely to Thomas, which is comprised of many adults. Which is probably where a lot of sales will come from.

 

Just thought I would nudge this post back to the top to open the door for feedback for the new DLC

 

Only real feedback is… zero interest. And to repeat if they want to do Thomas properly, they need to task the route building department with creating the Isle of Sodor.

 

I'm actually quite surprised that nobody has been misbehaving with Thomas in an effort to get the license revoked, then again those of us that would actually do that wouldn't stoop low enough to by the bloody thing in the first place

I still can't believe how deluded they are though, the whole "surprise stream" this week which was another sodding Thomas announcement, way to keep pissing off the serious users who spend a fortune on DLC each year. I'm just hoping the JT86 wasn't pushed back a few weeks for the sake of it not clashing with a new Thomas release.

 

There are one or two rather rude TTFTE parodies starting to appear on a certain well known video site using the TSW route as the base, and, under international copyright law it's perfectly acceptable. You can make your own version of copyrighted material for the purposes of parody or as something far naughtier and much more grown-up!

If anyone is really interested I can probably find the UK test case reference.

 

when you say 'far naughtier' do you mean language wise or the other type

 

On a more serious note it's actually very concerning that the second DLC in we're already seeing so much apathy toward Thomas. So little chatter about it one way or a another, which is much more concerning than even if people were complaining massively about it even, controversial media isn't nessicarily poor performing media. On the contrary, if tons of people are complaining that often means tons of people actually went and saw it. The Last of Us Part II, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, or even the recent Lilo & Stitch remake all come to mind as examples. The real bombs actually tend to be all the media that people never even bother to talk about.

 

i gave no feedback and i bought it
reviews and feedback is not everything

 

The feedback thread for it speaks volumes.

Normally after a couple of days there's usually two pages, not two posts.

 

To take of my cynic's hat off for a moment...
Kid's don't necessarily understand why Thomas is green, heck I'm 39.8years old and have no idea why he's green - it's Thomas, he should be blue. It just doesn't sound like a DLC which is going to draw in masses (or draw in a "decent" size of casual players that would have gone with the first Thomas DLC). Had it been something bigger in terms of including Gordon, James or one of the other well known engines then folks would jump at the chance but this doesn't really offer anything extra.

Cynic's hat going back on now, screw Thomas and his Friends, Dirty Diesels Forever!!!!

 

I had a similar conversation with my wife about it, granted I've not watched the show properly for decades but Thomas has always been blue, all the marketing for him has been blue, children across multiple generations around the world grew up with him being blue.

That it took an article to point out that he was painted green for a one of prequel film ten years ago makes me wonder if kids from ten years ago watched it and remembered it, we do have young gamers on here after all.

 

That might not be...people who enjoy a product and don't really feel there are bugs usually won't post on a feedback thread.

If there are bugs or people dislike the product you will get more of a response.

So it could be very well that people are happy with the DLC.

In reality its just a few more stories/scenarios so in all honesty how could they screw it up that bad.

 

I don't ever remember him saying something about his green paint after The Adventure Begins (which popularised his green livery before he arrived on Sodor) to the point it became a focal point of any story.

 

I am not even sure he started as green
see this link of a first edition of the very first book 1 ?
The Three Railway Engines- UK 1st Edition 1st Printing hardback book in original dust jacket. by Awdry, Rev. W.: Good Hardcover (1945) 1st Edition | Jason Hibbitt- Treasured Books UK- IOBA

insane amount of money they ask for it as damaged as it looks

 

Percy would have been a good choice for a green engine, but that would have necessitated a new model (and voicings) as opposed to a less-costly reskin. Despite my initial misgivings about the whole TSW Thomas & Friends WSR project, I do have a soft spot for the franchise and would welcome an eventual full Isle of Sodor route. Pretty sure the island would nicely fit TSW project parameters, it being a modestly-sized network. It would definitely fly off the shelves as kiddies young and old would rejoice.

 

The first book ain't gonna help you, Thomas didn't debut until the second, the first three characters of book one are Edward, Gordon, & Henry, who are all rather irrelevant to the Thomas livery discussion.

To clarify, he's always been blue in the stories of The Railway Series, which David Mitton & Britt Allcroft stuck to with their adaptions of the early books. All the stories in question take place after he had became part of the NWR, and thus would've already been in their colors. Extended lore though does imply he would've came to Sodor in LBSC Black livery, as he was loaned from them during World War 1. He was bought a few years later as the LBSC had actually written him off as a war loss, which lead to the NWR buying him.

The Adventure Begins retcons the first few stories to be when Thomas actually arrived, thus the reason he has LBSC colors in that version. And the change to green just to make it more marketable, and to be fair is a real livery I believe, just not ones E2's tended to wear.

I will also note, that for all the chatter about how obscure this might be to some, but for what it's worth this is a very common variant in most merch lines. It's up their with the likes of Busy Bee James & Chocolate Percy as being variants that get made all the time in the toy lines or Bachmann. So I can see why DTG though that it would be worthwhile to produce, even if it's turned out to be seemingly a bit of a dud.

 

The type hidden behind paywalls on special websites only people over 18 are allowed to look at...

 

It isn't a very interesting pack, considering it's just a reskin of Thomas. I assume there would have been a bit more interest if it was a new character, but that isn't what happened.

 

Has anyone told DTG that friends is a plural? Diesel is just one friend and the Phat Controller isn't Thomas' friend, he's his boss. Thomas is more like Billy No Mates at the moment. I mean you could easily turn the 101 model into Daisy and solve the mystery of what Daisy has on her rear? I mean I get that's it's going to be red light themed so maybe something NSFW?

Also I wonder how long before this post earns a moderator was 'ere?

 

The threads been going since the 20th of December without any moderator issues so there probably won't be any.

 

Her other end is the same as the front with the face removed.

 

This! Not everyone is going to leave a review or feedback. I don't think you can base the success or failure of TTTE in Train Sim World purely on the ratio on a video or the feedback thread on a forum.

I have picked up both the WSR+TTTE bundle and then the 80th and didn't leave a single review, like or comment on any of the TSW streams/vids.

 

Yesterday have found this in a flea market

 

nice catch for a flee market
have you tried it out yet ?

 

Unfortunately no, but i think this was probably a hint for Thomas in TSW

 

ah yeah did not look good enough at that picture
it is very popular in japan
lots of things can be found when just googling for items
old phone trivia device

Terebi Denwa Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (てれびでんわ きかんしゃトーマスとなかまたち) - All Sounds