Yes, "good job" is too much for the mass of bugs and the unwillingness / incapability to learn from past mistakes.
One thing that I am especially grateful for is DTG’s decision to put TSW on consoles. It remains the only train simulator on console to this day (excluding arcade games like train life, etc.). I would never have gotten back into train simming without this since I’ve never had a decent PC to have more than the at this point ancient MSTS/OR.
Fair to say most of us have days when we really like TSW and others when we think the whole thing sucks. I certainly wouldn’t universally acclaim DTG with the “good job” caveat, just too much baggage from poor conceptualisation (PFR only going from Ambergate to Chinley), the flawed and empty timetables (SoS, WCMLS), numerous core and DLC bugs often just chucked into the forgotten pile along with much vaunted DLC over six months old. Then there are the little moments that bring a smile to the face. Starting a heavy train on NTP with the Class 45. Running into an intricately modelled terminus or large Hauptbahnhof which can only have been a labour of love, sweat and tears by the 3D and graphic artist. The sheer number of trains on BML, even if they are all Electrostars. Being able to physically walk around a location as opposed to being tied to fixed views. The fact that 25 years ago we were playing Simudrive and the SIAM text based with no sound driver sims and could only dream of the environment TSW now lets us play trains in. Overall I would probably give DTG a “B”, which essentially is not bad, but could and should be doing much better.
It's important to give credit where it's due, for its own sake, but also to add more weight to your criticisms - when I criticise, it doesn't come from a negative perspective, but from liking TSW, and wanting it to be better, to fulfil its enormous potential.
Customers are walkers! They are never happy with anything these days. Do a perfect job, price it well and they will still find something to moan about. The days of acceptance are long gone!
I actually think you've got that the wrong way round, the days of quality products are long gone, the days of developers spending the time they need to make a quality product are long gone, these days it's all about shovelling things out as quickly as possible to make the biggest return as possible. That's the sole reason why we now get a new edition of TSW every year, to make money, it has literally nothing to do with making the product "better", because essentially the last two editions of TSW have been the same game with the same problems.
Yes totally agree with that. Currently there is no consitency in the products that DTG release. Be it from Third parties or DTG them selves. Its a shame and I hope it can really improve. Hopefully this will be the case going forward. When I stop enjoying TSW then I will stop playing TSW, Currently I have 60+ routes to try and enjoy (well most of them) Yes looking at you Arosa and Cane Creek!!!! Hentis
Overall I think TSW started with an "A" with CSX: Heavy Haul/SPG and was still an "A minus" in 2020. I'd give Rush Hour a " B plus ", but TSW4 a " B minus ". With TSW5 it gets a " C ". Strictly from an American POV, I think it has sunk to a " D plus or C minus " , mainly due to the abandonment of heavy freight. Because of the freight issue, quality deficits in TSW5 and the complete failure to go forward with steam traction ( an essential element in railway history ), TSW could be heading for an " F " unless DTG turns it around and re-embraces freight and steam. I mean, what is a train simulator without those two aspects of railroading?
I wasn't talking about dtg customers. I was replying to operators post. I own and run a business, I know what a pain in the arsenal customers can be first hand experience.
I'm enjoying TSW very much, and althoug it may not be perfect, it's the best game in its genre I've been able to find. So yeah, good job overall DTG.
I enjoy TSW, play it most evenings and find it a good way to wind down. My main issue is with the historic bugs and errors that still plague certain routes even going back to TSW2. To me this just shows you cannot trust that problems with newer routes will ever get fixed either. To take one example, Bakerloo has incorrect info on the PIS at Kilburn Park, the platform stop marker clips through the train at Warwick Avenue and there’s daylight in the cab when underground around Kilburn Park and Lambeth North. My point being, these obvious errors have never been fixed in all the years the route has been around. Now If DTG actively cared about fixing details like these it would show me that they take pride in their work, which in turn would make me far more forgiving when new routes are released with issues.
You have summarised my thoughts exactly - and the sad thing is that those Bakerloo issues are minor compared to a lot of other routes!
Me too, there is some good humour emerging on these forums amongst all the drama and angst! This thread had me chuckling too, and Fred Elliot isn't even involved!
Darn you all. Reading this thread while trying to test Boston, and I managed to get bombed out by ACSES at least twice, ATC at least once, and only narrowly managed the stop at Ashland. Test passed then I guess. Anyway. Grateful for the positive post, but welcoming of all views. If you didn't care, you wouldn't post, so I assume because you're posting, you care, and I (oops nearly blew that 60 limit) would much rather that. Still on time bound for Worcester, so that's a plus. Thanks everyone - signing off before I blow another ACSES limit. Matt.
