Isn't there some way that TS can have mods enabled in the steam workshop? I would think it would be worlds easier to have something like that being a thing so that those wishing to play scenarios/routes where there are reskins/sounds/assets and other modifications required to play them. And also giving folks a safer, more streamlined way of being able to enjoy the content provided by other community members. The main example would be when unbranded content is provided, and someone puts in logos and uploads it to the workshop to fill in the blanks. Giving others instant, easy access to modifications that are safer. Even for something like locos that are created by those talented enough to make them, that for instance, DTG is either unable to or unwilling to create themselves.
The problem with someone putting the company logos on an unbranded route is that it could infringe on the copyright of company logos were put on the ubraneded train.
But it’s not being sold. You’re just giving people a more easier direct way of utilizing something they would already be getting by other means outside of steam anyways. Look at ATS/ETS. They have the logos provided via the workshop that isn’t shipped in the vanilla offerings of the game and many of its dlc’s.
Well they are in fact infringing on the copyright/trademark of the company. For example AP does not include Virgin tracks branding because of the fact that Virgin is very tight on the use of there logo.
It is actually funny that they have not told Just Trains to remove it from the Voyager. But regarding Workshop, here is the thing. For something to go in the Workshop, the item used must be available on Steam. A stub could very well be created for something like the AP 142. It is not sold on Steam. But having the stub with the content would make it usable. And here lies the problem. People are being directed elsewhere to buy the content. Steam makes nothing from that. Neither does DTG. So why would they support external content? The catch-22 is that other devs avoid Steam because 60% of the money is taken by others for their work. Can you blame them? The result is this mess. There are cases where customers get hurt, too. Look at the 700. AP did not want to provide sounds for the DTG product. Now they are charging a mint to get those sounds and more liveries. They are unusable on the Workshop in the EP. Kind of shocking, isn’t it? You will pay more than a route to get a fully proper 700 with zero Workshop support. This is just wrong. But this is something DTG needs to control better. This can be done through terms and conditions modifications. For their own future with the product. a proper balance needs to be figured out.
This idea was already touted a few year's back. I doubt that Steam would want thousands and thousands of loco/rolling stock reskins and various asset packs using up their bandwidth every day, if they are free, and I would have thought that the majority of us already have a lot of whats available downloaded from other areas, the UKTS library, and European Trainsimming websites, etc. Some developers also might not want their creations on Steam. It's a good idea, but, too many hoops to jump through and if Steam aren't making any money out of it then they wouldn't consider it a viable proposition.
I agree with Steve, there are plenty of other sites and there is nothing to stop you (or any other member) flagging a repaint or third party dlc. It is the third party/repaints that make the game as interesting as it is but none of it is possible without the basic (DTG) TS20XX.
One reason why it is not done currently is the high risk of pirating some content becuase of how easy it is to edit that game files.
