I just completed the TSW winter survey and they changed the survey whilst I was part way through so had to repeat two of the arduous ranking questions and a couple of written responses. After doing so, I came across a question which asked to rate a number of ideas by how much they appeal but it was formatted as a selection of only one, so further changes may happen. I’d suggest all players wait before attempting to fill it in until they have finished writing it.
Aye, had to repeat the first section because apparently they changed the survey, but then was able to fully complete it without much problems. Although there was one ranking question with an "Other (please specify)" option, without anywhere to specify. Oh, and apparently you can't like both modern, historic and heritage routes, you need to pick one. Just like commuter/freight/branch/high speed/steam, you need to have a preference because the poll doesn't let you answer you kinda like everything. Odd.
I first noticed it on their Facebook page. I expect an email newsletter about it arriving soon. Being one of the first to fill in a survey isn't necessarily a good thing, as pointed out in this topic.
The survey link doesn’t seem to be working at the minute for me. Just keeps loading and not bringing it up on survey monkey.
Apologies - someone had mentioned that there was an amendment that needed to be made with the wording of one of the questions (I wish it didn't impact the whole thing!) I think it should be all good now. For these kind of questions, we're looking for a preference, ideally. If you don't have a leaning, then you're able to skip some of the questions.
Yeah, I wanted to write about this as well. I just completed my bachelor’s thesis and had to do a relatively complex scientific online survey for that, with pre-testing and all that. So I have a few recommendations: Once the survey is uploaded, you can’t change anything (except maybe typos, but not if it results in many peoples’ answers being reset). Changing the description of just a single option will skew the results compared to answers made before the change. You should really rethink these absolutely enormous sorting questions. They can get overwhelming easily… I was using a relatively big iPad and the options didn’t even fit on my screen. Lots of people are likely to stop bothering with the sorting after a while, leading to exits or massively inaccurate results. On the other hand, I want to highlight how nice the introductory texts to the different sections as well as the question/item descriptions were. Very clear and easy to understand. Ideally, there should be an internal pre-test before the survey goes live so all the potential issues can be worked out. Maybe reducing the scope of the survey a bit would be beneficial to get more accurate answers and less mid-survey exits.
Just completed it there, I guess the subscription service even showed up in it what has been mentioned on here lately, DTG seemed keen on the idea judging by the wording of the question in my view but yea not for me. some of the rankings were quite a hard choice at times but think I managed to put them in the way I wanted. and the 1 2 or usual 3 routes bundle every year question seems like it would stir a lot of anger from some of the more “advocates” of the country or 2 countries what get left out if that gets changed from 3 just seems like a change what’s asking for intense backlash to me and I personally think 3 works well when it does. there was an “other” option at one point, didn’t seem to click so I just put it at the bottom.
Yeah that survey pretty much convinced me a subscription model is coming based on the wording. As long as I can still buy routes, and the subscription model is like Hoi4 then that is fine I guess. If it is a compulsory subscription, I'm done with TSW.
All it says it's something they're considering. Will only become reality if enough people vote in favor of such a thing. Agreed. I made my hatred towards subscription pretty clear in the survey, too.
Oh you wouldn't believe how many times it's been sent round for feedback, it's a case of sometimes your eyes can glaze over though. Thanks for the feedback, it's the first time I've made a survey, so appreciate your input for future versions. Glad you liked the introductory texts, it was something I thought was important for context.
Was a good Survey on the whole, I just think some of the sort to your preference sections were a bit long.
The reason we do these surveys is to get a gauge for how you feel about things like this. They're things that have been mentioned by the community, so worth asking about. If the feedback is wholly negative, it wouldn't be in our best interests to do implement it. It's entirely exploratory at this stage, as with pretty much all the questions in the latter part of the survey. For certain things, like a subscription, it's also important to get a follow-up as well as to why you might not be in favour (if you click yes, by the way, there are other follow-up questions too).
That's fair enough, I did mention it loosely in my answer. But if a subscription model is required Hearts of Iron 4 (https://store.steampowered.com/app/394360/Hearts_of_Iron_IV/) is likely the most palatable option for people. Still allows people to buy the DLC content they want, or they can subscribe monthly to have access to all of it.
Filled out. Also had to start over halfway through as the survey was changed. Remarks: 50 words or less. Sorry guys, but for some of the things I had/wanted to say 50 words doesn't even come close to being enough. So next time, please more possibilities for free expression. One of the questions had you ranking a couple of options. One of those options was 'others please specify' but there was no possibility to specify... Question about subscription service: Sorry, I guess I'm getting to be an old geezer, but I'm not sure what a subscription service would entail for TSW. Some explenation here would have been appreciated. As there was none, I chose uninterested.
Financial Gain can overrule Popularity in a lot of cases, true it still may not come but seems to be leaning further in coming. Edit: considering it’s very likely optional if it does, there ain’t much downsides to bringing it and seeing the financial impact of such a move.
I only have Hearts of Iron 4 to compare, which, if I'm not mistaken, offers a subscription model as alternative model. Subscribers pay a fixed fee but get access to all the DLC, including newly released ones. Obviously no clue if DTG would go for a similar subscription model, or something completely different.
The talk of a subscription service is very concerning. If it’s an alternate way to get new content, with buying DLC individually still being an option, that’s fine. If the game eventually requires a subscription to access all future content, I will have no choice but to drop my support for TSW which is something I don’t really want to do.
What really peaked my interest was the question about new countries. Apparently DTG has made a shortlist of 10 or so countries. So I assume that if we'll ever see a new country, it'll be one of those listed in the survey.
There was one section where I was asked to rank a preference and "Other - Please Specify" was listed. I put it at the top, but never got the chance to specifiy. Want I wanted to type was "Timetable Complexity" which, besides locos with realistic driving experiences, is my favorite thing about TSW. I love add ons that both utilize and add layers to prior DLC.
Will do the survey later as currently sat in Halfords waiting for a windscreen chip repair. However my thoughts on a subscription service are well known. Not going to happen. A reasonable price season pass where you get to keep the content would be the best I might consider.
I with you, man. Although I understand them investigating it since subscription models are so popular now… everything these days is about locking in customers as much as possible, I suppose it also makes reporting more predictable?
This is mainly collating some of the ones we'd seen most-requested. If we left it as open text response, you end up with so many different spellings and answers it's not really useful for us. Just helps to focus the mind a little better.
I don't imagine we'd drop the opportunity for people to purchase Add-ons separately (that doesn't really make commercial sense in my mind).
I like new countries, cos I can see different ways they do trains, learn new signalling and safety systems, braking/accelerating, station designs... I wouldnt even mind Slovakia/Czech Republic, but I am aware that those have little following among here... India would be interesting tho, but they have very long routes... Vande Bharat or Gatimaan Express would be nice tho... or those electric freight locos with like double stacked containers and ultrahigh pantos
Ah, sort of like a season pass in Farming Simulator if I understand correctly. No thanks. Not spending money beforehand. Might pay for DLC's I don't want.
No, not like season pass in Farming Simulator. Season Pass in Farming Simulator is a one-time purchase, although you're not really sure what you're getting for your money if you're an early buyer. It's not a subscription fee. It's a one-time purchase and you get to keep whatever you bought. Not that different from what Rush Hour for TSW2 did. For a subscription, typically it's a monthly fee and you loose access to everything once you end your subscription.
These sorting questions would be better off replaced with two simple questions that ask for the best/most important and worst/least important questions. I honestly didn't have enough experience with TSW4 exclusive features to really properly rank them. I picked free roam pretty much just because it was the only one I made major use of. and I purposefully ranked scoring well below everything else, everything else I had a hard time with and ended up just giving up. And while I eventually worked out a order for what I'd consider most important for a route, sorting 20 items is a headache to go though.
I got my priorities well sorted, so those were a quickie for me... I liked the questions where I could write out the answer in more detail
Yeah the subscription service is basically like Gamepass, but just for Hearts of Iron 4. So you pay monthly, and get access to download and play all of the expansion packs and the base game.
And done (as is my windscreen repair!). Only question I really had issues with was the choice of future countries or territories. Very limited choice and no "Other" option to drop in Norway or the Yugoslavian narrow gauge!
A particularly interesting question I saw is one asking about new categories of products, and which type you'd want most. Personally I take issue with the question, not due to the actual ideas, all in theory could be decent. That said I find it hard to make a proper decision without a firmer grasp as to how these would work and how they'd be priced. For example while I wouldn't mind expert locomotives, I do pretty well need to know how much more expensive they are before I could say whether I'd want them or not. You can get the various get various expert TSC locomotives without even paying beyond the normal $20 retail price, the Reppo AEM-7 being a recent example. And even the excellent Smokebox articulateds are only $5 more than other DLCs for TS. Similarly remasters are something I'd need to know the business model for first. Are we talking about something like SEHS, where existing owners get it for free? Or is it paid, and if that's the pricing for upgrading to it for existing owners? Assuming of course that's even a option.
Just like in past years, I´ve done the survey. But what about the results? DTG JD Will they be shared with the community this time (just for a change)?
I appreciate the time you're all taking to let us know your thoughts. I'm not promising anything, but there may be some bits and pieces we can share - will wait to see what the results look like when the survey is closed.
Tbh even as a red blooded McDonald’s eating ‘murican I have found I am wayyyy more into German routes than anything. UK is a close second though!
In regards to new countries I would actually like to see some Spanish high speed routes, hopefully they can also add the TGV Reseau to LGV Mediterranee at some point.
