Gwe Remaster: Appreciation And Discussion Thread

I played through GWE timetables and I took a couple of snapshots along the way.

I took the photos as a reminder.

Class 166

And as I finished the timetables on GWE it just seemed fitting to have a certain livery on it.

 

One thing remains unclear to me! Why does DTG not want to take on remasters of old routes when it sees how well the community accepts them? It is not a question of money at all, many have expressed their willingness to pay for a route remaster, including me! We understand that the received remasters are a generous gift to the community and cannot be a permanent practice.
How I would like to receive TSW 6 consisting of:
-Sand Patch Grade (remaster)
-Ruhr-Sieg-Nord (remaster with extension to Siegen)
-Brighton Main Line (remaster with extension to London Bridge and Lewes)
De Luxe supplement: GP40-2 (revival); BR Class 420 with a new timetable for Brighton Main Line); DB BR110 (early)

 

Or for the UK either NTP remastered and extended to York and/or Liverpool with a Class 25 and maybe Class 123 DMU.
And one of the most requested, TVL extended to Bishop Auckland and Boulby, remastered with a Class 56 added.

Oh and definitely agree on RSN. As TSC fades away (at least in DTG’s eyes) they need to bring the TSW route in parity with the older classic version.

 

A Class 124 is the better fit as 123s were only transferred to the Transpennine route at the end of their careers to supplement the 124s. Otherwise I agree.

 

Oops I meant 124. Always get those mixed up! Still, a 123 could slot into DLOGW as they tended to be used on the Oxford semi fasts and towards the Berks & Hants.

 

HRR would be my choice for a remaster - see link in signature.

 

Maybe some players would pay for a remaster of NTP and other routes, but clearly not in sufficient numbers to make it worthwhile as a commercial venture, unless additional trackage to the East. and more trains were added. I don't know how successful LIRR2 is, but I imagine it is the added tracks and trains which were the selling points. Taking NTP as an example, extensions to Liverpool, York or Hull would be sizable additions, probably resulting in a new DLC like LIRR2, priced like a new route.


Otherwise we will have to rely on the work of individuals beavering away in their own time, which necessarily takes a very long time. And such projects will be very few and far between.

The remaster of GWE is a laudable effort by an individual, but it's notable that DTG itself didn't feel it worthwhile to rebuild the route with suitable extensions. Presumably they knew it wouldn't sell in large numbers.

New routes are where the money is and that's where the focus will be.

 

You would probably be surprised about how much of this community wants br content, any company that remasters and adds to NTP can probably make 10x the amount, there’s a massive market for br trains and if there’s wasn’t then just trains routes wouldn’t be some of the most highest selling content for this game

 

I have suggested the Class 123 many times for both DLoGW and NTP as they were operating in those areas in 1971 and 1984 respectively. Truly unique as well as they were the only passenger dmu of the first generation with end gangway fitted.
Due to the mechanical similarities and limited number of sets, I think it would be a good idea to build both Class 123 and 124 together to save overall on duplicated work.

 

10x really?
You would need to provide some real world numbers to support your hypothesis. I mean do you know specifically how well Blackpool and Shap sold? DTG doesn't want to touch that era because it doesn't sell apparently.

 

Time to end the eternal loop of 'BR era doesn't sell'. Clearly BR era has a sizeable audience, otherwise Just Trains would have sold very few copies of Blackpool Branches and West Coast Mainline over Shap. Perhaps it is time to review the standpoint and start bringing in older classes, especially as dlc on older era routes as way too many are left with huge holes in the appropriate fleet available for use.

 

Ask yourself why it isn't happening.

 

DTG only really did NTP and TVL for that era. They then opted for some of the less interesting types of traction to populate the routes. They missed various prototypical classes out. Had they applied a little more energy to these routes, they would highly likely have been far more popular. This is aside the fact that many new players with interest in this era have joined in the years since either route was released. This era had far more variety and atmosphere with the possibility of frequently being surprised by what might turn up at a given location in real life. I think the number of players talking on this forum about Just Trains routes is a clear indicator of how well they sold and how popular this era is to fans.

 

I would but it would require leaking it or for the DTG to actually come out and say it, I personally prefer not being sued so I let just say it how it looks, hell if people didn’t like br stuff a ton more of them would have been scarped instead of preserved

 

I suspect the forum and the sales aren't always in synch, meaning the forum isn't representative of much of the player base, but rather a small miniority. That's true of any forum, but I would be interested to see what sells how well. You used to be able to see on Steam for that side of the house, but again that's only maybe 20% of the market since you don't get console numbers.

As far as paying for remasters.... I'm not sold (no pun intended) on how well that would go over. People will post nice things about FREE stuff, but the minute it's $10 for a remaster the mob turns angry quick. I agree that adding more content WITH a remaster is the best route.
Then you can "bundle" them together and people take it better.

Quite a few pieces of "missing" era stock that could be added in, even if it's minor.
Also, DTG doesn't seem to get the huge inherent value of maximizing "layers" even the not strictly "historical" ones (off by a few years, but still close, or ran on the line at a different time)
Even if a loco is "out of year" by 5 years or has the incorrect livery, it's "close enough" for a substitution in my book and I'd still like to run it.
People that don't want to sub in...well... don't. =-)
For example:
Lots of early diesel action in game could fill out the PFR/SOS even if it's a few years too late or not in the right livery.
Swapping the Class 20 or Class 8 for the Stainler 8F is a good example.
Even the Class 47 was based out of Crewe within 5 years of 1958 I think and would "fit" (y'all can argue over what variant to include from the game)
It doesn't hurt anyone if you could do it, and it'd fit into the timetable fine.

Might be a good excuse to start making those Class 25s and such we haven't seen yet!

 

Cathcart circle didn’t seem to have any players annoyed from my knowledge, so I failed to see how this would be much different

 

The Cathcart remaster was free.

 

Has any "remaster" not been free so far?
(And to be fair most aren't costing the company much, they are passion projects by staff members done on their own time as far as I know)

 

LIRR 2
KAH "New Journeys"
SEHS 2 (sort of)

 

Cathcart remaster was free but we got the 380 and new timetable which kind of subsidised it. 380 not a bad train, apart from the retro rocket brakes. So that's an exercise I would be fairly happy to support if repeated.

 

Not sure what KAH is, but SEHS wasn't a paid upgrade, and LIRR seemed entirely new to me.
I didn't have the old route, so can't compare but it was heralded as "new" and not just "tweaked."
It was way more than just a rework of an existing route.

SPG, WSR, SEHS, Cathcart, even Fife... just extra content for free.
My point remains that if you release something NEW with it like a MU or Loco, it'd be taken better, but charging for JUST the "remaster" would cause an uproar.

 

Indeed. We have seen this more often. The MML remaster and later addons (mount sorrel loading facility) were clearly subsidised by the first two cargo line releases. Also my reason for hoping that the release of the class 86 coincides with some needed adjustments to Blackpool and Shap.

 

I would pay for a Class 108 DMU to get the Windermere branch... and the Class 108!

 

I will say though that the 31 is one of the best BR DLCs and it's one of the oldest as well.

 

100% yes.

 

SEHS remaster was a paid upgrade, you couldn't get it unless you got TSW3.

 

I was meaning the class 380 that was required for new timetable from what I can remember

 

But that would could as "something else" with it as I said, not "just the upgrade."

 

Same

 

The 31s are good except for the brakes being tremendously slow to release. But by this stage we should have received the Class 56 as well as the JT 142 Pacer layered in.,not to mention absolutely zero ECML traffic (47 with Mk1 and Mk2 coaches perhaps) at Darlington. In much the same way, NTP really needs 123 and 124 Transpennine dmus, 141 Pacer and perhaps some 25s to fill things out

 

There's no way a Class 421 would be appropriate for the VTB in game, it's at least 20 years out of date. A 455 would be the best option by far.

 

All okay ideas, but that's way more than a simple "remaster" =-)
Now you're talking a total overhaul and a ton of new DLC.
Which is fine, but way beyond the scope of the thread.
The Class 56 by itself would be a whole new project, let alone the 123/124 or 25....

 

I would have no qualms in parting with £30 for a class 56 dlc on its own. The suggestion seems to be falling on deaf ears sadly.

 

Doesn't DB still operate a few? I wonder if the DB license covers the GB Railfreight subsidiary that still uses the 56?
I saw something about them being upgraded to Class 59s (basically new electronics and an EMD engine) but either way, it'd be a neat project for either or both versions.

 

Agreed with all of that.

With the 31 brakes I use train brakes to stop, and then switch to loco brakes, put them on 100% and release the train brakes.

 

DB dont own GBRf

 

On GWE the 31 spawns in goods timing for some reason.
Changing to passenger and they come off nicely.

 

Historically EWS inherited the 56 fleet from BR during the privatisation. EWS withdrew its examples during the early 2000s and many were 'stored'. EWS was purchased by DB in 2007, and rebranded under the DB brand in 2009. So whilst DB didn't physically operate 56s, I believe they owned the ones in storage that either went for scrap or were some of the few selected for conversion or to donate spare parts for the program.

16 Class 69s were ordered by GBRF using the 56 body shells, but re-engineered into Class 69s, by completely rebuilding the locomotives and using the EMD 710 engine and associated cab controls used in Class 66s. Some stored Class 56 locomotives were selected for the conversion program, aswell as some operational examples (I think the operational ones were the ex Fastline 56/3s?). So they are essentially a Class 66 in a different costume.

I also believe some of the long term stored 56s were used for 'parts donation'. (Well outside of the engine and associated cab equipment).

There are a few small independent operators that still use 56s, but DB certainly doesn't.

I stand to be corrected, but I believe that's the jist of it.

 

I would love a class 50 or Deltic dlc.Sorry off topic.

 

On the GWE?

 

Honestly, I'd be in favour of having many remaining, or all, 'older' TSW routes - yes, rather hard to define exactly - updated (timetable, scenery and/or TOD 4) instead of any mundane brand-new routes...

Then for each new remaster (or whatever you'd want to call it) a couple new loco DLC for each so it can at least bring some revenue but, most importantly, fresh, long-term gameplay for classic routes most players already love and enjoy. Surely it's a win-win?

 

If you want the new loco yes. But this is the DTG Forum. How many people will complain they have the "free master locked behind a paywall of having to buy a loco I don't want" or "DTG is lying saying it's a free remaster!"

Whenever a new version of TSW comes out with a new feature, you get exactly that whining about "why do I have to pay for a new TSW version JUST to get the new features?" or "I just want ONE new route, but it won't work on TSW 2 and I don't wanna upgrade to TSW 5! That's unfaaaaaaaaair!"

I think you idea has merit.... just realize not everyone will think it's "win-win."
Now I would be on board with scrapping the whole idea of "free remasters" and offer then for a minimal fee of say $5 (which would be included in the price of the loco DLC you mentioned) so that people know up front "nothing is free." Then it's on them to determine if a remaster is worth a measly $5 to them. If not... then it's not. No harm done. Keep playing the old version.

 

Who said anything about any remasters requiring you to buy the DLCs?

 

It's a "what if" hypothetical. See above.

 

That must have somehow slipped from my attention. But just checked the roadmap again.

Hey, I am considered to be grumpy by some, I LOVE dogs, and I like the HST. So I will definitely get it.

 

HST Valenta Pack?

 

I for one would support third party remasters that were funded by a new livery pack, for example.

The HST pack is definitely a day one purchase for me, spent many hours watching GWR HSTs on the Thames Valley stations.

 

Doubt it, because idk where they will get the sounds from? AP might give sounds but I X - Doubt.

 

AP was always nice to give the Sounds for the DLCs