When Railworks NEXT is finished, TSW will probably have one more problem. Because with Railworks NEXT, the same thing is being done as with Omsi 2 and OpenOmsi. And if I look at these 2 pictures of Railworks NEXT now, and it’s not even finished yet, then the final result will look even better. Here is the forum link to this Railworks NEXT. https://railworks-austria.at/forum/index.php?thread/2686-railworks-next/ The first picture is already a bit older, and the second picture is from today.
To be honest I don't think that looks like much of an issue for TSW. If I understood everything correctly, it's basically TSC with a bit upgraded graphics. TSW's strengths lies in more than just pretty graphics.
Unfortunately, you are wrong there, because not only the graphics are changed, but much, much more. And if I just have the graphics in TSC like in TSW, then I have much more routes to choose from in TSC, and above all, countries that don’t even exist in TSW. If I just take all the Swiss routes alone, with all these and many other improvements, then I will definitely play TSC more than TSW.
What more than the graphics are the big deals? I understand that the ammount and the variety of conent available for TSC is an important factor for many - and that's just how it is. I guess it has to do with how different TSW and TSC are. As I said, TSW offers more than just fancy graphics. For me, it's the timetable modes, the first person mode and several other things.
Except as people have pointed out many times, TSW really isn't that far ahead, the best TSC routes in fact have more scenery density, like this route as an example. https://store.steampowered.com/app/...idland_Line_Aickens__Springfield_Route_AddOn/ The biggest hold back is that the lighting in TSC by default is awful, but with light enhancements it becomes fairly competitive. Stuff like Midland Line here honestly blow TSW out of the water in quality. I remember a few threads also comparing TSC to TSW, notably this one. https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/sehs-tsw2-vs-ts-screenshot-comparison.34865/ TSW is not always a universal improvement over TSC in route quality, and especially not loco quality, see the steamers which somehow feel worse than the bloody default Kuju steamers from 2007. Which is kind of ridiculous considering there's such a big gap between the games in terms of tech. But then there's all sorts of commentary you could have on the state of games in general, particularly about remasters of games not always being the best versions despite being so far removed from the OG games they're based on.
Looking at what modders have done with Assetto Corsa, none of those things seem insurmountable as long as the community is there for it.
The problems TSW have are contained within TSW and not in the quality of other train sims. Nothing would be a threat if TSW content released in an acceptable state and that is what DTG and third parties have to concentrate on. I’m a console player and the quality of TSW game and content is the only thing I care about. I don’t look at competitors at all. There aren’t any. If I stop buying TSW stuff it’s because it’s rubbish and not because something else is better. The same will be true for PC players. If TSW game and content are good enough they will buy it. They may also buy stuff for other games if those games are good but those other games are already there. The only threat to TSW is TSW itself.
Another key difference between the TSW and TSC is not only the graphics, but the fact that TSW does not have an "easy to use" route editor like TSC so there are way more route options available! TSW is fine if you just want to jump in and drive what routes that are available to purchase from DTG. TSC has so many well made freeware routes which is great for replay value and customization.
The link isn't working for me, I'll have another go later. I'm interested to see what RailWorks Next actually does to TS. Hopefully it doesn't become vapourware like many of these community upgrades end up.
