A quick question for our many DTG official screenshot competitors: do you have a separate vanilla installation of TS just for use with that so as to comply with the rules? I was just wondering, as for many others it would be very hard to ignore the allure of AP track, sky and weather enhancements, for example, which rules us out!
I don't partake in the official screenshot comp but I do have a separate vanilla (Steam only DLC) install, my main Steam install is D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks but the game I play which has all my 3rd party content and modifications is actually E:\RailWorks. Basically what I did was copy what would be your current only copy of TSC RailWorks folder to a new drive (in my case this became E:\RailWorks) and then via steam I uninstalled TSC and deleted any and all remaining files (in my case D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks) and then re-installed the game via Steam to that same location. This way I now have a clean install in D:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RailWorks and a shortcut from the RailWorks64.exe in E:\RailWorks on my desktop for the version I actually play. The reason I done this was because Steam started verifying all files when purchasing new content for some people (me included) and this stopped it reverting back any changes I'd made like texture changes or bin file tweaks. The only downside of this operation is any new DLC you purchase via Steam you will have to locate it and copy that over to your Modified install. Finally because Steam reads your original install (my D:\ drive one) it doesn't cause any DRM issues as your copy is on the same machine. If you're wondering about the legitimacy of this then just know it was Matt Peddlesden who suggested it. > https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...-does-doesnt-do-an-opinion.62821/#post-583729
They must do. No one would run the game looking like hot garbage, and cripple their own game play just to enter the screenshot competition, surely.
I mean, whats stopping you from submitting a screenshot into the competition with 3rd party stuff. Sure you are ineligible to win, but the rules don't prohibit submissions of 3rd party pics do they?
If winning is not important, then just enter into the unofficial one... the one with less arguing and much better looking screenshots. You cannot enter 3rd party stuff screenshots into the official one, and if you keep doing so after being warned not to, I would imagine the moderators will take action of some kind.
You can remark in your post that it's exempt, you're participating because you like the theme and have something to share. I feel like it's a bit of a pressure point though, some people will want you to feel inferior for not buying 3rd party modifications. Which can create some drama and thus it can become outlawed. Also, some of the mods are subtle, and I've been accused for using some (which I should take as a compliment, I suppose). And thus often a rather mediocre shot is selected as a winner, to keep everyone involved. Like if you don't use Photoshop plugins to enhance your photos, change colors, remove offending parts and insert some objects, and replace the boring real life skies with something dramatic matching your beauty preferences, you should just stop photographing. On a practical note, you can instruct robocopy to only update newer files, and there is a checkup mode to see what would happen. An exempt from my sync script, created after I casually deleted a wonderful set of screenshots, because. robocopy "c:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\...\screenshots" "c:\Users\...\Games\Trains - Train Simulator (Steam)" /mir /ndl /lev:1 robocopy "C:\Users\Andrej\Pictures\Games" "Z:\Pictures\Games" /mir /ndl /l robocopy "C:\Users\Andrej\Pictures\Games" "Z:\Pictures\Games" /mir /ndl robocopy "d:\WoW\_classic_\Screenshots" "z:\Pictures\_WoW\Screenshots_v3" /mov /ndl /xx
I don't think Photoshop is what they mean by 3rd party enhancements. It refers to things like AP rolling stock and track and sky addons, or basically anything you can't get off Steam. I don't think people in the unofficial screenshot thread use Photoshop either, unless the week's theme is set on the past, then I've seen people us it for sepia effects etc.
You can do that with the in game settings either in the escape menu or Ctrl Shift either F3 or F4 iirc.
No. I don't have a separate installation. Although I own AP's weather and track enhancements I don't currently have them installed. I get a lot of pleasure out of entering the screenshot competition, so I'm prepared to do without AP's add-ins for the rest of my gaming. I don't really miss them much. In my view the track pack is only a marginal gain and can introduce its own problems. The weather pack has more value, especially in sorting out bad sky domes in things like RSSLO's routes, but it's value can often be reduced by choosing the right weather pattern in the scenario editor and judicious adjustment of ambient, contrast etc through the in-game options menu. I can't think of any competition where entering when you know you should be disqualified will gain you friends. At best it's wasting people's time, at worst it's cheating.
I know, I used it as an analogue. Reality / game is not good enough, you must enhance it or go home. Now, my primary wish is for DTG to realise the same and make a deal for everyone, at least regarding the basics. It's a bit of a pain point for me when I see two screenshots, one well done but more basic graphics, and another missing on several photography ideals but the train is in your face and has nice shaders, and people just prefer the latter. Same on Facebook, people generally appreciate heavily modified pictures which have little to do with reality. Partly because I was reading and watching bits about photography, tried to improve and I'm observing negative returns.
Since I barely use TS as a simulator anymore, I don't have any of those enhancements installed by default. If I do have anything installed, its either a sound or physic mod. Or its a separate piece of content that doesn't overwrite the original file.
Making comparisions with the worst default track in the game doesn't really prove much, does it? Try MML, WHS, or Albula for a better comparison.
I use the AP pack for Midland Mainline as well ( I assume that's what you mean), so have no comparison any longer. Care to share a screenshot? I have no idea what WHS as an acronym is. I probably use the AP track pack on that as well though... whatever it is.
MML, West Highland Line South and Albula aren't supported by the AP track pack. You may have been able to hack the MML so it does, but it's not standard functionality, and even then in my eyes not much of an improvement and certainly not worth disqualifying myself from the screenshot competition for. The AP track pack doesn't work with any route featuring bullhead track, most European tracks, all US tracks and all narrow gauge tracks. Where it does work it improves the look, but each user has to decide whether the effect is important enough to them. I don't think it is, but I'm happy for others to think differently. We all get our pleasure in different ways.
I love screenshot comps but I don't bother with the official one as I can't be bothered to remove unofficial DLC nor do I have any desire to drive un-enhanced locos/rolling stock as to be honest it's not a great experience.
Obviously each to their own preference: the screen shot comp or enhancements. When I got the new Huddersfield route, I had a close look at the default rails again before installing the AP track enhancement update. For me anyway, the difference is very noticeable and the EP very much improves the realism of the simulation.
I have no respect for standard functionality. Yes, it's a hack to get any route that uses the JT common library to use the AP Track Enhancement pack. Why does everything need to be "standard"? Why would you not want the game to look better if there are no downsides to doing so? Anyway... I'm not messing with it to see what the original track looked like, so if you want to post up a screenshot so we can all see how 'marginal' the gains are, that would be great. Thanks.
