Is This The Real Reason Why There Are No Japanese Routes ?

Currently I am making a "Buchfahrplan" for several German routes. On the simple ones this is easy done in the Free Roam Mode, I just place a loco at the beginning of the route, set the end of the route and drive slowly, writing down every kilometer and speed signs, signals and stations.

On other routes where there are different tracks with different speeds for certain types of service, I have to drive a normal timetable for each service instead so that I use the right track. Of course also quite slowly, so that at the destination I have a delay of about 1/2 hour. (Okay, its Deutsche Bahn, nothing unusual...)

But even with such a delay, I get a gold medal ! This is when I wondered if this is the reason that currently there are no Japanese routes in TSW.

What I learned from games like "Densha De Go" or "JR East Train Simulator" is that every Japanese train simmer would commit seppuku with such a delay and would NEVER accept a gold medal for this .

So I think it's time for DTG to include the factor punctuality in the evaluation before presenting us a Japanese route to avoid unnecessary casualties !

 

DTG don’t like venturing out of the big 3 countries for various reasons, that’s why theirs no Japan or China at this point in time or any other nation what doesn’t have additional challenges like North Korea or Russia, but even them nations have got the same issue as they are “not one of the big 3”

edit: their is an Asian route in development by a third party, what country that is remains unknown at this time, if I was to guess it would most likely be Japan followed by China in second place.

 

Japanese routes were made by 3rd parties even in tsc. There's a lot of demand for the big 3 which dtg focuses on. Now the same dev, union workshop is making asian content in tsw probably releasing like late next year given how long jt took.

 

Most likely japanese route, as Matt did point out that the track might be cape gauge. Also I assume Union Workshop knows as well that their japanese routes are more popular than their chinese ones.

 

Don't forget Russia would be extremely difficult because of the continuation of the war with Ukraine I agree with your comment. I don't think we will ever get new country I think DTG will only stick with a big three countries that we already have. I'm so sorry to the other fans out there that really want countries like China and Japan

 

that’s why I put it under addition challenges but also still difficult as it’s not one of the big 3

Austria is kinda the exception to the German category, maybe one day they may do Spain or Netherlands I believe those may be high up in chance compared to some

 

I'm sorry my friend Don't expect Japanese, Chinese or Russian routes for a long while because it might be too challenging for DTG I'm so sorry!!!

 

Thank you my friend for pointing that out!!

 

Well I doubt DTG would apply things quite as rigidly as Taito did with Densha de Go. I played quite a few of those titles back in the day on the PS and found the strict requirements and failing the run to be quite irritating. Of course it could be in their market research DTG have discovered a Japanese route might not actually sell that well to the home market, with the D de G heritage and of course titles like BVE which would leave drumming up enough sales on their international market.

Mind that said, TSC has a small number of Japanese routes which are reasonably good so it was obviously deemed sufficient demand for Union Workshop to release their content through Steam.

Personally really hope we get a Japanese route, preferably one that was part of D de Go or indeed the line from Hokkaido that featured in the Tomy SL de Ikou steam loco sim.

 

My man, a japanese or chinese route is literally in the works right now by Union Workshop.

 

Please respect the forum etiquette and don't use bold, italic, or underline unless necessary. It's considered bad behaviour on many forums, just like using caps.

 

The early Densha de Go titles were unrealistically strict because they were originally made as arcade games - gotta keep the coins flowing in. The Train Simulator series of FMV games made by Ongakukan offer a more realistic experience.

 

And they are revived in the form of JR East Train Simulator on Steam ! Unfortunately they are very pricey...

 

I'm sorry buddy but that's life and we have to accept it video games don't last forever!!!

 

I didn't mean from the community I meant an official country from DTG which could happen years from now I wouldn't expect anything but anything is possible from the union workshop

 

Writing everything in italics, bold, underline is bad Internet etiquette, and video games weren't even mentioned in the post you quoted.

It still comes from DTG, the Union Workshop route isn't community made.

 

Union workshop is an official 3rd party developer. They are not community members

 

Few reasons.

1. Research. DTG doesn't have any experience in Japan at all, they have no assets and have never been to the country. Which is why they stick to the main 3, or countries close to them (Like Canada, France, or Austria)

2. Licensing. DTG stated they wont do unbranded trains for TSW. The JR groups also don't seem to like to license to foreigner game developers, but will be perfectly fine with any Japanese based game developer.

3. Union Workshop just started as part of the developer program. They are the only ones who have developed Japanese routes for TSC, and TSW is a whole different beast. Its gonna be awhile till they make one.

 

Union Workshop is an official third party. They are making an official add-on just like Rivet Games or TSG.

You are right in that DTG themselves would never do an asian route. But thankfully official third parties are willing to do the hard work.

 

I also wish that it will be Japan. Probably one of the most attracting train environments on this planet.

Not only for the authentic and unique scenery but also the outstanding high-tech trains they got there.

All issues with creating the assets and licensing aside, sooner or later Japan just have to arrive in TSW.

It's only a matter of how much time left to go, in my opinion.

 

I would suggest that a Ukrainian route would be a more realistic prospect. It's the same gauge, same signalling system, and much of the same rolling stock (at least the ex-Soviet stuff) painted a different colour (and sometimes not even that). A proportion of proceeds going to support relevant charities would probably go down well.

From what I gather, a good proportion of the content for ZDsimulator (which focuses on the Russian railway system) is Ukrainian. There are some YouTube streamers who regularly hold multi-hour sessions on it - though good luck understanding anything they say.

 

My only caveat with UW is that while the routes are very good, some of their train assets are in what I must diplomatically describe as the B- category, particularly sounds.

 

Not to mention Tokyo Commuter is missing the iconic Station chimes that the area is known for

 

The station chimes are a licensing nightmare - even Japanese train sims don't feature them.

 

What, thats actually licensed?

Shame though, I picked up Densha De Go (The Yamanote line)for my PSP while there the last 2 weeks and was impressed that they had those in there and were (AFAIK) correct for the corresponding stations.

 

Yeah, due to this reason not even all Densha de GO games feature them. For example Densha de GO Final! for PC features them, but Densha de GO Plug&Play, which is essentially the same game on a standalone console, does not.

 

That honestly quite a shame, just came back from Japan the last 2 weeks and it was nice hearing them again.....

 

it only doesn’t have the issue of sanctions and controversy

however like with Russia it’s in an active war, not at all a viable option for people to go an survey major infrastructure.

 

Issue for tsw is the conflict with Russia which is still not over so it's not be appropriate to ask Ukraine if a license can be obtained.

 

I agree, their sounds tend to be quite weak. One thing I also dislike is that they also keep making incomplete routes ending in the middle of the line.

Hopefully they make something shorter, but complete for TSW.

 

UW also with their last 2 routes had track laid for sections that they've never bothered to complete, such as the Akita Shinkansen line or the extra trackage around Tokyo.

UW also has never touched any JRF stuff either for some reason.

 

Yep, even though they said for both routes that they plan to extend them. For Tokyo Commuter they said they want to finish the already laid track sections and make the Yamanote Line stock driveable, but it has not happened so far. I assume they have high ambitions that they can't fulfill.

At one point they also shared a new livery for Tadami Line and how it will be a free update "coming soon", but I don't think it ever released?

The only post launch update I remember actually materializing was the addition of the 105 series to the Wakayama Line.

So I do hope they start off with better planning and a more realistic scope this time around. I would rather take a shorter, but complete route, than something half finished.

 

So dont call the game Train Sim WORLD...

 

The 'world' in this sense doesn't mean the whole planet. Everyone lives in their own world, for example.

'World' in this sense, means being able to explore the map, drive any service you want etc.

 

Obviously I'm thinking of when the war is over. Russia will still be a pariah state at that point (and decidedly unfriendly to the West), but Ukraine will be much easier to visit.

 

Then what do they call it? They can't call it train simulator since tsc exists.

But the world is not the entire planet. Dtg aren't asobo studios who made msfs

 

DTG have actually mentioned before the “world” part is actually more about exploring an open area such as trackside and stations (one of the biggest things that sets it away from TSC is being able to walk about) rather than international nations

Edit: what is the world, is a very subjective view, many seem to think it’s the political entities/nations, world could be classed as every place on the planet but not every place on the planet has rail, neither does every nation what claims it’s own existence.

 

how long a place stays out of reach on the basis of politics is subject to change either slowly or quickly.

personally I see nothing wrong with passenger and general freight routes, from any nation or era.

every country has issues, I don’t see how some can be closed off and others not because of that, you will be able to find very bad things in pretty much all of them at some point in their existence, so I don’t think it can be the scale of bad that the issue is.

 

I had the chance to visit Japan in 2009.
Furthermore I had the chance also to travel in the Shinkansen.
Nagoya to Osaka, and Nagoya to Tokyo.
I do it in the N700 Series.
It was an awesome ride!.
The train does not move at all.
Only when you cross another Shinkansen it has a very little movement.

I believe it will be very difficult for DTG -or another developer- to make a Japanese route.
Due to almost everything is quite different!.
From the start... the language, and the "letters", which are like symbols..
If it has to be real, all the sounds, and commands of the trains must be in Japanese.

So it will be much more complicated to drive.
Also consider the Shinkansen route, goes mostly over bridges, over the city and country lands.

 

Not to mention the multiple types of Shinkansens that the main Groups operate

JR West and central has....
-The 500 Series
-The 700 Series (Railstar)
-The N700/S Series
-Class 923 (Dr Yellow)

JR Kyushu has...
-The 800 Series
-The N700 Series

An JR East has...
-The E1
-The E3
-The E5/H5
-The E6
-The E7

 

Well... that could be a matter of selecting the train they will like to have on the sim, then the route be mostly defined.
But the fact is high speed trains, requires very long ones.
I believe some regional train could be better.
As they are very special and unique from the design point of view.

 

1 The world is all that is the case.
Ludwig Wittgenstein

 

Not strictly true - in fact Japan offers one of the shortest high-speed lines in the form of the 41-mile-long Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen.

 

long ones in the way to get a good experience out of it rather than about 20 minutes, not as in structurally impossible.

 

Not really, since the in game tooltips will tell you what each lever or button is anyway. It wouldn't be much different from a german locomotive if you don't know german.

But thankfully Union Workshop does have some experience in it, so hopefully they can make something good.

 

Yet, that line is technically incomplete as it's supposed to connect to Hakata in the future.

Not to mention they only have a total of 4 trainsets running on that line. So there really isn't much variety as well.

The N700s are painted in an interesting livery though.

 

Not always be careful what you wish for!

 

Don't know about you, but for a route like this, variety isn't a priority for me. Even just one type would do.

 

That's just the way I roll. There's nothing wrong with that!!

 

I just wanted to point out that nothing left forever but you do have a point!!