PC (mod) Tsw 4 - New Signal Visuals For All Routes

Let me know what you think of it. The ECML fully benefits from it, however it also works with other routes too

 

Glad you're enjoying it and I'm good thanks

 

Hi. I use UAssetGUI to edit the values. I extract the DLC content into a folder and then edit the uasset file with the appropriate values and changes. I then save the changes into a replicate file structure I created, to then finally 'cook' it all together, which creates it into a .pak file.

 

[removed, obsolete]

 

Strange. I've only ever used UAssetGUI and its always worked for me. Sometimes I get an error message upon load up of the file but I just press OK and it allows me to proceed and save it.

 

Are there any particular routes/conditions you would like to see (I have everything but nidertalbahn (excuse the spelling).

played on SKA earlier and it was much better - then had a thundery run on NTP and was also good. Not spotted a downside yet.

 

Entirely up to you to choose your route of preference however it already sounds like you’ve found a few to test it on

Night time runs make this biggest difference.

 

I tried it on DRA in the morning, but was not convinced. The signal visibility was better, especially the whiteout didn't happen anymore. But it didn't look that realistic as I got flat colored circles from a distance. Up close they looked better. I don't have screenshots, will try to provide some after the weekend.

 

Loving this update, many thanks to LM. The only bit of feedback I have is that sometimes I have a bit of trouble distinguising between red and yellow compared to the originals, somtimes they appear a bit white-ish, but the overall experience is much better regarding the visibility of the signals. Of course it may be and most probably is my system/settings/retinas or a combination of all these that is the issue....
Much appreciated for all of your hard work.

 

I too wanted to love this, but ended up installing and uninstalling it twice, for the same reason - confusion between yellows and reds, and some signals looking almost white. I thought it was just my particular setup, so a bit relieved it doesn't appear to be.

LM - any chance it can be tweaked?

 

Hmm, that’s strange. You aren’t running any colour tweaks or ini mods are you? I tested it completely vanilla and the colours seem fine for me.

What routes are you testing it on?

 

i played with this mod on some old routes too it works very nicely here
you can easily see signals that are 1 kilometer away

following are good
Hamburg-Lubeck / Rhein Ruhr Osten /Ruhr Sieg Nord
Great Western Express
Cajon Pass


folowing are ok but not good
Lirr just so so on visibility might be because most of the Signals are above me

 

I can't recall the first two, but one of them was Donny to Pete. I'll install the mod again and take better notes this time, and a screenshot. As for tweaks - I use Jetwash's engine.ini update but will revert back to default for the next set of tests. Thanks, LM.

 

Obviously I use that and have no issues at all. There’s nothing in the ini tweaks that would affect those type of lights.

 

it might be just on how Lirr is without the mod it is almost the same
signals are just a bit too high up to be visible good enough
with the mod it looks better anyway

 

Well, three successful runs and one failure. The three were on East Coastway, both without and with JetWash's mod, and then SEHS. I was thinking that it must have been just a one off, then I did a 323 run on the ECML from Grantham to Peterborough. Everything was going well until I was approaching the terminus and slowed down for a single yellow. As I approached the next signal, I could have sworn it was yellow but saw to my horror that it wasn't. Even at 20 mph, I was too late and barreled through it.

Chalking up 50% of that to my own error, there is still difficulty making out yellows and reds and, in certain light conditions, I swear they look occasionally even look white (but I didn't experience any of that in my last four runs). Perhaps it's just me, but I don't recall having this issue with your mod in TSW3. Any chance you can redden the red a tad, and yellow the yellow a smidge? Or, failing that, installing a big sign over the reds saying "Oi, numpty, THIS IS A RED!"

 

Having played a wide variety of routes and conditions now (from TSW originals to TSW4 routes) this is a step closer to me driving hudless the first time I’ve felt I can see the signals clearly enough. Last thing now is to learn the speed limits and station locations

 

Must grab this. After finally getting the full game up and running yesterday evening, finished up a run on AVL and the signal illumination by default is pitiful.

 

Could it maybe be your monitor settings? They (the signals) are quite clearly differentiated for me, so trying to think where a variable might exist.

 

Makes a huge difference on AVL that was one I tried last night

 

I agree. Having these signals on the US content is awesome as it makes a huge difference.

 

I'm liking this mod, one thing I have noticed is at certain distances or angles the new flares will clip and show through other objects such as OHLE poles or structures like a bridge for example big it's only minor though. Definitely a big improvement on the vanilla signals, good job.

 

I've not tested without the mod but the mechnical signals around Lindau will lose their light up close, I've not tested it at night either.

 

Here's an example (ECML), the yellows look a little too white on my system, the reds can too so that's why there's sometimes some signal confusion for me. Using no other tweaks/mods. I am using an old Nvid1080 card though.

Original


Mod

 

me too

 

Just a comparison of Yellow vs Red with the mod at varying distances in the same scene

 

I tried this mod but it didn't click for me. Signal gantries just looked terrible at a distance.

 

Hey guys. Regarding the signals looking 'white' to some people, be aware this is how it looks in real life. Particularly with LED signals. The 'real' colour comes around from the edges of the lens (the flare)

This screenshot was taken from a cab ride video at Preston:



This picture also shows that the LED look mostly white in the middle:


The same applies to some LED traffic lights too. We see the colour towards the edge of the lens, as well as reflecting onto the lens hoods:





Daylight. sun and cloud all have an influence too, although typically you'll be able to see the signals better in darker conditions. Hope that clears a few things up

 

on US routes this mod is god sent

 

Got to say I really am impressed with this mod. It really has enhanced the driving experience, making signal aspects easier to see at greater distance. It is now far easier to drive without 'show signal aspect on HUD', especially with routes with semaphores such as Spirit of Steam.

Many thanks to Londonmidland for all the work you put into this and your previous mods!

Kevin

 

I've only tried this mod on ECML so far, and it's a massive improvement over the unmodded game.

In normal day-time lighting conditions, unmodded it's only possible to see the signal aspect when you're within about 200m of it, which would only happen in real life in thick fog! With this mod activated I can comfortably see the aspect over 1000m away, which is how it should be.

This improvement totally changes the driving experience and makes it far more realistic - a huge thank you to Londonmidland.

As regards the red/yellow discussion - I had this problem with unmodded TSW3, being unable to tell red from yellow in some situations. Oddly. if you moved to a camera outside the cab, it was obvious what colour the aspect was - the problem only existed when viewed from in the cab. I found that Londonmidland's mod improved things, but didn't completely remove the problem. I haven't had this problem at all with TSW4, but I've only played ECML so I'll play a few other routes and see if I can re-create it.

All of the above is on PC (steam).

 

Thanks for trying, all the same/

 

bumping this

 

Been using this mod for a while now. Its great.
Not having any issues with colours at all.

 

Great to hear it’s still working okay

 

londonmidland I´ve testet your signal mod and I love the new visualization! However, blinking aspects on german KS signals nearly don´t blink (the further away, the more continues lighting).

 

Yeah I’ve also noticed that with the ECML route, although it happens in the reverse order. I don’t think there’s anything I can do about that unfortunately.

 

Great mod, makes it a bit more easiers spotting signals further away!

Would you know how to make trackside signage more visible/reflective from further away? I'm not trying to be lazy by asking somebody else to make the mod, but I've no idea where to start..

 

Thanks.

I have no idea how to make the signs more reflective. I assume this has something to do with the materials, however this would be something for DTG to do.

 

Afaik we can't mod material properties at the moment for TSW4 due to changes made for PC Editor compatibility (I've tried a simple mod modifying the UI highlight color, but it's not accepted.)

In ETS2 that's pretty easy, all .mat files are plain text and you can easily modify reflectiveness etc there.

 

londonmidland It looks like the latest update from Oct 31st has broken this mod as the signals appear to be back to default despite the mod still being installed. I tried redownloading and installing to no effect. Can you or anyone else confirm?

 

This is after the update with the mod installed. As you can see, the signals are very dim again, as they are unmodified, even at night. Appears the mod is in fact broken now.

 

londonmidland *

 

all mods are broken now

 

DTG have just killed all core mods, so GodMode is dead (which takes my lighting mod with it), LM's signal mod is gone and so on. Thanks DTG.

 

Mod is really good. Can you make something with LODs distance? Cause for now the LOD(spot on top of the signal) disappears too late.

 

ill quit playing until at least godmode and the new signal visual mod is working again

 

I had noticed mods had stopped working I thought I had broken it.

 

My bad. Updated my tag. Thanks!

DTG and TSW really are just the devs and game that keep on giving. Breaking all the mods people have created so far because of one update. How sad…. What a disappointment. Again.