Dovetail Games Mattel’s Thomas & Friends™ Is Coming To Train Sim World!

Players don't like fictional content. Everytime when someone suggests fictional content, it is usually rejected. It just isn't popular for a game that calles itself an authentic simulator.

 

I'm here for all of the pi$$y adults and I can see that I am NOT going to be disappointed

 

The same people that allow rivet games to be a developer, allowed NEC to launch in the state it did, allowed an announcement of the editor 5 years before it actually came out, and so many other things. These people have no standards. They would allow a product that someone created by going into UE editor, place a few tracks and table, and release it. Oh wait. They already did that with the holiday express! Whats next? Train Sim World x Skibidi Toilet? I honestly wouldn't be surprised.

 

children of what age though? Pretty sure the 15year old console gamers of this world [that DTG are so preciously trying to market towards] couldn't give a monkeys about Thomas.

 

Well well what a bunch of salty souls we have here, because you all didn't get what you wanted we are back to calling DTG the worst thing on earth, everyone again forgetting that the game wasn't made specifically for them, so it doesn't matter that this one dlc isn't aimed for their consumption, me on the other hand a 44yr old dude that had Thomas curtains and all the comics from issue 1 as a kid will definitely be taking a trip back to my childhood when this gets released......

 

The few positive comments in this topic got me thinking. It's not so much that DTG releases a DLC I have absolutely zero interest in (and I do have a wide interest in DLC, not limited to a particular region, era or traction type), but the fact that they hyped this for 3 weeks for their "big reveal". Hyping and then coming with this reveal is just cruel.

 

I can agree with that, maybe this being the big reveal wasn't such a good idea.
Since this might cater to a certain niche inside this niche of a market.

 

No love for Thomas ???. At least you can use him on your favourite route.

 

My little brother is 5 years old and watches thomas the tank engine and is a typical "iPad kid". He has never heard of Train Sim World or Dovetail Games. This is not something that will work out with the people that DTG are targetting!

 

DTG is all about big PR and lousy programming. But they know their customers who are buying anyway, partly due to addiction and fear of missing out.

 

The hope is that this comes with a significant cash injection from Mattel, which will go toward keeping DTG's lights on, so that they can continue to make the sort of content the rest of us are looking for.

 

you’re alone on this one

 

This hits the nail on the head for me.

As a standalone development I agree it has it's uses and will be a positive for some - DeJaPa's example does an excellent job of highlighting how content like this can lead to some quality time and special moments with the children of serious players that I hadn't considered.

However, this could have easily been an annoucement made outside of this event or on any other day during the last 3 weeks. The audience that this announcement appeals to is incredibly niche within an already niche market and I just don't feel that it justified being built up as this big announcement.

 

I actually like this will be a day 1 buy
and I am sure I am not the only one
but yeah the majority might not like it
it is a good way to bring in more younger people too

 

Bet DTG remove posts they dont like!

 

Have they got the games mixed up? And ment to have announced this for the roblox game! Even my kids laughed.

 

As if they don't already get plenty of cash...

 

This would have worked better either as part of the TSW Roblox thing, or as a seperate announcement. Not as an anonnoucement that was hyped up for the past 5 weeks (yes, 5. The first mention of a "special surprise" was on the November roadmap".

 

Although I can hardly disagree with you it being a simulator.

You do realize that there are 'life-sized' Thomas & friends loco's out there, right? Even our National Rail Museum (the Netherlands) have Thomas & Friends days where these loco's come and visit the museum.

So in a way... It's not just a 'toy'?

I do realize that I'm barely on the edge of 'real' and 'simulator' here.

 

I'd be surprised if they do, given the niche nature of the train sim business. Not exactly a massively popular hobby, is it?

 

For a niche product, they do make a lot of money

 

I think this is exactly it. Had this been announced as a regular during the month I don’t think there would have been as big of an issue.

Exactly this. This would have been better served as just an additional regular announcement. All the hype of a “big exciting announcement at the end” is what really feels like a kick in the teeth

 

Frankly I don’t see where the hate is from yes the game is a simulator but why does that mean we can’t simulate what it would be like if Thomas came to a real route ( I would have preferred at least a part of door) and it that doesn’t work for you you can class it a day out withThomas pack

 

That was the LAST thing I was expecting for this but I'm all for it

 

If they decided to make a DLC that people have been requesting for ages now, like another tube line, a new freight loco beside the 66, the Class 91, an extension of GWE or the other routes that have abrupt end points, then DTG wouldn't need a "cash injection from mattel" because such a DLC would sell really well. Look at JustTrains. Instead of rushing out content, they took their time to learn the editor, then created their first route, and didnt then rush another out after seeing how well it sold. The 2 routes that JustTrains have came out with are some of the most highly rated TSW routes since the game came out, and JustTrains are a company that also produces content for Flight Simulator. JustTrains have proven that a team of developers can make quality content. Dovetail need to stop rushing half finished content out, and maybe they wouldn't need so called Cash Injections because the content they did release would be high quality so it would sell really well.

 

Well, it's a fun add-on and all (if this was posted on aprils fools we could all laugh at it). But as "Big reveal" for this advent Calander is disappointing.

I was expecting a big update on TSW 5 (like more modes, a second "Rush Hour" route bundle etc.)

 

Where is this very exciting release? Have I missed something?

 

Words fail me. Can't think of anything more disappointing, not to say laughable and not deserving of serious discussion.

Well at least we have confirmation of DTG's target audience and we now know where the game is headed.

If this is the best, big reveal they can muster, DTG needs new leadership, and a new direction.

 

I had to look down at the date on the computer clock when I first saw this...

DTG, this is a joke, right? ...right?

I grew up on Rev. Awdry's works, and it's the reason I'm so interested and invested in British railways. That said, surely this would've been a more appropriate addition to the Roblox side of things?

People are asking for steam, American freight, more countries, Amtrak long distance equipment, Southern Region electrics, IC225 transets, route extensions, etc. etc. etc. ... and we decide to pay what I'm sure was an extravagant amount for the license for Thomas? For real?

And side note, you couldn't even slap together a quick Sodor map for it? How much was the license that there was only enough money and resources left to re-use an existing real world route for your fictional trains?

 

Are DTG's finances public info? I can't say I've seen them.

I think there's a difference between "new locomotive that sells really well" and "cash injection from gigantic megacorporation like Mattel" - I'd be so bold as to say that it's likely to be an order of magnitude of difference. I can't imagine any business turning that down.

 

I can't see it either. They must have made a typo

 

I thought Focus buying DTG was gonna take the DTG in a new direction

 

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/FC041787/filing-history

 

Cheers fella

 

Because Thomas isn’t real, people don’t like fictional stuff

 

There is thousands worth of DLC across Train Sim World, of which has had 5 paid releases on 4 different storefronts, and Train Simulator Classic, which on its own last time I checked has like £12K worth of DLC, and that is on steam alone. That isnt counting anything from 3rd party sellers like JustTrains which sell items on their own storefront. Safe to say, this business makes Railsimulator.com, trading as Dovetail Games since 2014, a lot of money.

 

If only DTG put this reveal earlier in the month, I'm sure the reception would have been different.

 

What about my boy Percy?

 

I know this probably doesn't need to be said, but, this game isn't just for train enthusiasts! There are many casual players who will play a route or two whilst watching or listening to something else... I do just that. DTG will need to expand their portfolio to attract new players and not only cater for the hardcore player base.

Whoever it was that said "Imagine if apple hyped up a brand new "announcement" for 3 weeks, and it turned out to be a new colour of iPhone?" They did, 4 times!!
- iPhone 7 and 7 Plus (ProductRed)
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (ProductRed)
- iPhone 12 and 12 Mini (Purple)
- iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (Yellow).

All released shortly after they originally came out.

 

I’m sorry but considering the point of the original books was to have real trains act realistically and just be kid friendly buy giving them faces and personality plus’s the amount of real versions of Thomas that have been made and do run on preservation railway

 

The negative comments are a result of the hype leading the community to believe something exciting was coming and leaving it to the end with all the expectation that brings. Personally I have no issue with Thomas style content, if it makes money and keeps things going then fine, its not the first non serious style content (Remember count of monte disco in TSC etc). The desire for decent loco DLCs and routes and bugs being fixed is far greater than a TV show toy that already has its own games and media a plenty. So instead of fixing steam they bring out the most far fetched DLC imaginable. Thats the problem and thats why there is such a reaction.

 

Yes, but that’s not what this pack is doing

 

If I wanted fictional trains, I would play Stepford County Railway. Train Sim World 1, the original TSW, as it says on their steam page, "Is an immersive first-person simulator perfect for everyone, with complete in-cab interactivity, accurate detail on locos, real-world routes and hours of gameplay.". They are going back on previous advertising!

 

Some have suggested Thomas will likely be driven like an electric engine so I don't think this marks the return of steam. Will be very happy to be proven wrong though.

 

And if that is the case then that is even more lazy from Dovetail Games.

 

If DTG Alex or anyone else from DTG is reading this, please just know that despite all the needlessly harsh comments on here, I’m sure there is a silent bunch of players that is thrilled at this announcement!

I am a 38 and loved Thomas as a kid. I’ve also loved playing TSW, despite the issues, since TSW 2020.

My 7 year old autistic son also loves playing TSW (he could probably tell you more about a lot of the BR locos than a lot of the grown ups here!) who also loves Thomas - this will make his year.

I’m sure I wont be the only person in a similar place!

Yes I get that it’s not something that will appeal to all the die hards (a term I use affectionally I should add), but there’s been plenty announced that will. But to a lot of people, this will be amazing.

And who knows - it may open up the wider train world, heritage and modern, to a new young audience who otherwise may not have realised the interest and that has only got to be a good thing.

Cheers & Merry Christmas to all

 

THIS is exactly why this Thomas add on is being made. I can imagine my nephew pestering me no end to play on this with him.

 

And those people are wrong. The Holiday Express wasn't driven like an electric engine despite being a model train...