Introducing Athena Simulations - Tsw5 Content Releases

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to introduce Athena Simulations to you all. As you may have seen from the DTG roadmap we are proud to be a partner with DTG with TSW5 content. We are launching with our ECML Diesels Pack (details to follow) and have other scenario packs, locomotives and routes in development. We have been beavering away behind the scenes for over a year on content!

So who are we? Actually whilst the Athena Simulations name will be new to you all, the team behind the name have a long pedigree with Train Sim Classic and TSW. Let me introduce you to some key team members!

Many of you will know Mike, Sean and Aaron from their previous work at Skyhook. Also joining us is Dan with his depth of railway knowledge and Train Sim experience across a range of acclaimed releases, We are also very proud to include the incredible Chris and Dave, the “Waggonz Boyz” from Waggonz into our group. The community also need no introduction to the talents of Daisy who has previously provided guidance on many DTG and third party routes! We also welcome some fresh faces in to the team, including Blaire (of Blizzard scholarship fame!), Chris, Claire, Eric and Hayley.

Welcome to our “Team Train”. In addition to TSW content we also have teams working with Microsoft Flight Simulator and a major games project utilising our specialisation in open world and simulation.

Without further ado, I will start sharing content with you all!


Jane

 

Anything else to say? I want to see the highlights.

 

Our first release (we have a number in development) features a range of railtours on the ECML, with various diesels and complete with a whole new loco for everyone!

One of the most iconic locomotives of the British Rail era (and one of my personal favourites so it had to happen ) Class 47, 47484 Isambard Kingdom Brunel has been custom built to TSW5 standards. This is NOT a repaint of the existing Class 47, but featuring custom high detail modelling and features that really bring this loco to life. Fans of the loco will notice very unique features that are specific to 47484 including each cab end being visually different (after one end of the loco had to be rebuilt in the real world!) There are scores of little details that we hope all of you will enjoy.

We also did justice to the numbering and nameplates, using custom 3D plates rather than flat textures that really bring old Isambard to life! In short, we have been working away using new model techniques, new methods of detailing and much more to really do justice to this iconic loco.

Yes, the loco is also fully driveable on your own routes We also have some other iconic locos to announce shortly that are nearng completion! (along with our routes etc!)

 

Well, Athena, welcome. Seems like there is a lot of ambition, lets just hope the delivery is on point, better to under promise and over deliver than to over promise and under deliver. Personally this seems like a strange loco to add to the route but interested in what else is being looked at. The blue/grey MkIs is what interests me more.

 

I am also proud to announce our release of a suite of MK1 rolling stock in the much requested BR blue and grey livery! Again, this is more than a repaint, with a significant amount of modelling to bring these coaches to modern standards. The MK1s are included with the Class 47 pack (along with the scenarios).

Included in the pack are the BG, TSO, BSO and FK in response to fan demand!

 

Welcome to the TSW community! I'm excited for your new entry and starting point. The 47 looks fantastic. I'm also looking forward to your BR blue & grey MK1s which will add much needed variety to older rolling stocking instead of the base Mk2As always being the go to for older loco hauled trains!

Love the name plates too! From the entry into TSW this is a nice little start. Look forward to more of your products.

 

Yet another UK Developer. Where are the developers from other European countries. we need more European content.

 

Hey Matt, Good to see you again. I couldn't agree more on delivery. The good news is that we have significant content ready to go, that has been worked on for a very long time. We just had to wait until the TSW5 announcement for us to go public so to speak.

On the loco for the route, the pack is primarily a pack of railtours for the ECML, but we added in the Class 47 there also. The 47 is designed to be used on any route. I will discuss the railtour scenarios shortly once I get further coffee down my chops . So the first release is technically a railtour pack, but we decided to add the 47 as a bonus, albeit a bonus that can be used anywhere. We have another loco about ready to ship (which I cannot discuss yet due to NDA) which will be its own loco pack, but with supporting scenarios for many appropriate routes. So whilst I agree with you, our pack 1 was primarily a scenario pack. I just made the call to share the 47 along with that pack in addition to the MK1 stock being in the pack too for use across a range of routes.

Jane

 

Thank you for the welcome, most of us have been working on TSW since the start and Classic before that (I am now in to 16 years working with Dovetail). What is new though is that a group of existing developers have come together to join forces to create this exciting new venture. So nearly everyone in the group has created some iconic TSW content. It has been really exciting to join forces under a new banner and work cooperatively on these projects. I hope everyone enjoys them as much as we have enjoyed making them! A real labour of love for all of us,

all the best
Jane

 

Thanks, that does make more sense as to why we've gone from not hearing about a studio to multiple pieces coming from the studio. I must say I do like the sound of what you have planned as I feel it may bring back memories of childhood next to the ECML for me and if not the many trips I went on back then. Out of interest what were the reason for this being the loco chosen rather than a 47 that isn't corroding in a siding? I must say I can't help but be intrigued as to what this new loco will be.

 

Welcome, blue/grey Mark Ones very welcome and a Day One purchase.

Any chance you can eventually look at adding the oft requested catering vehicles, RMB buffet car, RBR restaurant car or similar and maybe later on some Mark One sleeping cars?

The big cheese we need on ECML is of course a Class 55 Deltic. Another Day One purchase guaranteed 100’s if not 1000’s of sales if it came to fruition.

 

If I had a pound coin for every time etc

But genuinely we do need some kind of catering vehicles!

 

I notice that absent from your post is acknowledgement that you were previously CTO at Skyhook...

 

Welcome Jane and the Athena Simulations team to the forums!

I think the models shown look really good and cant wait to see what other things you are working on. I agree with matt#4801, a railtour pack seemed kind of an strange choice for ECML but I understand it after your explanation about how it happened. To be honest, I prefer more modern trains but since the model looks so good and there is a chance it can possibly be added as a railtour on more routes I will for sure be watching the "preview" stream when the time comes.

Cheers

 

I didn't actually mention myself in the post at all as most of you know me, so wanted to comment on the amazing devs! However, yes I had some time helping out at Skyhook. As many here also know my wife was taken critically ill (she now has full time nursing care and is severely disabled) so I took some time out from work and train sim. So it is good to be back!

 

heya, thank you for this. We do indeed have some modern stuff in the works (that will also feature in our route that is underway, led by one of the top TSW route designers). I wish I could breach NDA and share but the time is nearing when we can discuss!

I am really grateful for your comments on the model and will make sure Chris and Dave, the modellers, see your post

 

Hey Vern, really good to see you again!

You will not find any disagreement with me on any of the above especially a Deltic, if you remember I grew up on the ECML spending my weekends cab riding them. My TSW dream is to drive Tulyar!

 

Well Jane, welcome back to the active Train Sim world. Looking forward to seeing what your team brings to the table.

 

hey Sharon, so good to see you. Your kindness to me has never been forgotten and never will be!

 

I'm reasonably new to the forums so do forgive me! I've been in the train sim world since 2006.

Refreshing to here the genre or locomotives and stock your developers are aiming for. With all that expertise I'm sure we won't be disappointed! As I say I really like the development photos, the detail is superb. (That 47 will be very welcome for railtours on the overhauled GWE route too. And those Mk1s phwoarrr! Tasty stuff for a BR enthusiast like me!)

 

Can you Guys please make the Class 50 finally

 

Nothing to forgive, I really appreciate your posts and comments. You are not wrong about the use of 47484 on the overhauled GWE... No accident we chose to model this loco )

 

most definitely on our wishlist of locos to make. I love them too! One of my fondest memories is being hauled by Temeraire from Hull to Kings Cross, substituting for a Deltic many years ago! Was incredibly rare to see them in Hull, but Temeraire arrived light engine ex Doncaster Works and they worked her down to Kings Cross (rather than the usual out to Birmingham then Paddington)

 

A 50 would be great, could fit on multiple routes. I'd imagine there will be memories Jane has of them as they used to appear on trains to Hull after coming out of Donny works. I know that showed me some exotic types of rolling stock along my section of line.

Edit: As if by magic! I really need to learn to type quicker, or check what is posted before me!

 

Here is Isambard from the other side, showing the completely different modelling of the cab end. There are also some other uniqueness to this particular loco too which was researched very deeply indeed. We didn't just want a Class 47, we wanted 47484 quirks and all! Both cab ends are entirely different (someone can correct me, but I believe it is a first in TSW?)

 

you know me so well )

 

Just a few questions, if I may.

Will there be versions of the 47, without the 3D plates & plaques, for Livery Designer? Do you have any plans to produce a refurbished version of the model (without the bufferbeam cowlings)? And, are you planning a non-ETH fitted model?

Can you go into more details about the types of Mark 1 coaches? I can see a TSO/SO, FK, BG and BSO or BSK. Are there going to be any others? A Restaurant/Buffet car, for example? Additionally, will these be Vacuum braked or Air Braked coaches?

 

Probably at the top of my wish list. This would be awesome!

 

The BPO Class 47 (which you based this off of) has different marker lights on each end, so uhh kinda yeah kinda no.

 

hey Rob, thanks for this. The plan is to build on the model for 47484 to indeed create some other 47 variants yes. Likewise more coaches are in the planning also covering both braking systems. The variants you rightly point out are in our initial pack release, but we are not done yet (I just cannot name them yet, sorry for being vague... such is the world of NDA). The short answer is that we are far from done in the areas you mention We have a VERY busy pipeline in many areas.

We also listen to all requests, so all ideas are always welcome!

Jane

 

Gotta say i think Doncaster Enterprise would be great for this.

 

now that is interesting, I have passed it on to the team, thank you!

 

Sounds good! I can certainly see plenty of scope to improve my existing Livery Designer reskins even further

You really don't want me offering up ideas; I could probably come up with enough to keep you busy for the next 20 years

 

Like this? Granted, this uses JT's version as the base model; so no flush front.

 

What about This Train for ECML

 

Welcome Jane and Athena Simulations. Can I thank you for your explanation of how your 1st pack came about, i.e. the choice of the loco. This points directly at the "DTG light-bulb moment" regarding loco pack stock being available in a very similar form in other DLC. After reading your posts I am starting to see that you are aware of this and I am hoping your products will be more USP focused?...I love the Diesel Legends of the Great Western DLC but it was late in its development when the decision was made to tell fans that all of the stock included could be seen in other packs and by that time expectations were high for at least 1-2 new locos or stock, whilst telling us we might not do this again as loco packs dont seem to sell...The next month after feedback Sam and Adam -bless them- "Light bulb moment".
Hoping a light is been left on for Sam and Adam,
Ralph

 

Well i have to say nice model and paint, finally we get a class 47 with a cable socket on the nose . looking forward to this one

(i hope the hoses and cables will be attached on the final product)

 

It's basically another Great Western Legends I guess.

 

Just wondering if this will pop up in timetable mode as well with a service or two? Even as AI. Would be cool to see this loco pass by while driving the Azuma!

 

Better to have the BR Blue version HST as it would represent the Class 43 diesel Paxman Valenta for the later half of the 1970s when they were introduced to the ECML in May 1978 and the beginning of the High Speed Train era with this great loco.

 

Even a red HST with an MTU would fit well.

 

yes they will Thank you for the kind words, really appreciated.

 

Welcome Jane and Team =-)
New here, so don't know any of the names mentioned, but the vets here seem to think highly of them!
My question is... do we know which routes the 47 will layer on/substitute on?
The model looks great.
I've noticed that the implementation of new locos tends to be rather more limited than many on the forum would expect.
With the ubiquitous 47, it should really fit in just about nearly everywhere across the UK I should think.
(ok a few very new or very old lines excepted like SOS/PFR or Isle of Wight, but you know what I mean...)

 

Just on the scenarios, something I want to share, is that a huge amount of work has been put in by the team to not build the scenarios around simple A to B driving. We really wanted to push the TSW5 tools to the limit, spending months creating 10 scenarios with various locomotives. This includes depot movements, creating double headers on shed and then running the tour with them... Running around your train obeying signalling and prepping services, signalling delays, delayed trains ahead of you and many things that we hope will bring the trains and route to life! Lots of stuff that we hope proves unique. Rather than an afterthought we have spent around 9 months with Eugenio on our team and others just creating scenario code.

We were adamant when we started this last year that we simply didn't want people only to be able to do end to end from Doncaster to Peterborough and vice versa.

We have also layered in pretty much everything that you could see on the route with bucket loads of moving AI and statics.

Again, to answer the question, this first pack is really intended as railtour scenarios using new techniques available to us. We made the call to add in the Class 47 and Mark 1 coaches as we think people will really enjoy them! Yes, the Class 47 will appear elsewhere including western region metals We were keen to share them with all of you so they join this pack as a special bonus!

 

thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate them. We are currently working on layering with DTG for this loco and others we have yet to announce. Once I have a definitive list I will share here with everyone. Rest assured we want the locos wherever they can be driven and suitable!

 

Is there a preference of era for what you’re going to build and whether it’s locomotives you’re focussing on? Sorry to hear about your wife, glad she’s being looked after and it’s exciting to see what Athena come out with.

 

That is a great question thank you A couple of preferences. We are building modern era and classic and not just the UK, but spreading around the world. In that sense we are looking at what we think TSW could really benefit from. The second preference is in relation to our own routes, which we will announce shortly (Dan is beavering away on track and signals as I type - many of you know the quality of his work on TSW routes). We want to build locomotives that fit really well with the routes we are building. Our first route is very much a modern route, I can say no more at the moment, but I promise I will share more when I am able.