For me probably of all the "improvements" over the last few years the most immersive has been suspension. To a point now where I often don't play some older routes where it doesn't feature. Clunking slowly over a set of points or skipping over some at speed feels much more real. It is great to see the GWE stock get it added for the wonderful remaster and that ECW will to. It's a shame that Koln to Aachen won't but it is done by a new developer so more understandable. I would love to see the older stock get it. I wonder why the CCL class 323 doesn't when the training centre and ATS one does. I would love to see it on the 314, 465 and 710 in particular as well as the 31 and other older diesels. Plus non UK stock, the 628 for example off the top of my head. I wonder how others feel about it and I guess this is a bit of a plea to DTG to see if they are considering adding it to older trains, some like the 710 are quite recent of course.
Yes I think this & ToD4 are the main 2 things I’d like to see implemented across the entire catalog. Definitely the biggest things that stand out to me as missing on older content.
For me it makes very little difference. But I play on Xbox with a controller and you are getting constant vibrations from that anyway.
I don’t think suspension gives any controller feedback, its all about visual feedback & it’s massive (for me at least) in making the trains feel more real & giving them a better sense of weight.
Yeah though I do find that’s wildly inconsistent across different stock. I noticed in the 805 stream it looked really overdone, and personally I think the 87 is another one for being too much.
I think I already have sensory overload from all the bumps and jolts and jars through my controller, so I do not really notice the visual stuff much to be honest. Sure I would if I had feedback turned off though, as it seems very different the minute I get a low battery!! Only ones I really notice it on, are the really bouncy trains like the pacer.
OK not everyone believes in coincidences but I have been looking at the suspension physics today as I really enjoy the immersion it adds. Quick side ramble on my immersion projects I have been along time windows user and have recently abandon windows for the forceable future and have now settled on Linux Ubuntu and I am super amazed that it runs TSW 6 on Ubuntu as its running through another layer of code Proton/Vulkan. Anyway been looking at increasing my immersion in game in different ways and have experimented with the following due to a recent TSW 6 update the game briefly lost DX12/11 support for me on Ubuntu I realised I had installed the game via the Package manager called SNAP but read you can get better support less issues if installed directly from Steam. In short I ended up with 2 steam installs and found I could run both steam TSW6 applications and they have separate installs on separate drives I hope to be able to have the map window on a 2nd display like a quail map. As I was able to run TSW6 DLC both on the same map and have the single XBOX controller supply both games weird but kinda worked. But that’s another project. I have experiment with AR Glasses the Xreal Air 2 found that it does not add much to my gameplay immersion as I feel the screen is too far away but is great for looking at Railway photos as the image is super crisp and highly detailed. Helps with my visual impairment, Its like a View-master if any one is old enough to remember them. Recently got the Woojer Strap 4 and just in time for the GWE Remaster as its great the rumble of the Voyagers is epic and I may go for a full vest when funds permit. Finally as part of my move to Ubuntu was gifted some vouchers for a charity project and bought myself a web came as I saw this software Look Pilot on Steam it lets you use the web camera to control the in-game cab. First tries was abit awkward as the camera felt off putting and I was trying not to move but its kinda cool moving my head and the in-game camera works. So Today as I remembered the Xbox controller rumbles as you pass over the points on most UK games I play, but is sometimes a little hit and miss when triggering but I wondered if it would be possible to connect the rumble to camera as the software lets you control the Yaw, Pitch, roll etc. The developer has a feedback section so I suggested if this is a feature he called added if possible who knows. I tested the idea in the class 31 today on Tees Valley as the Xbox controller rumbled I shacked my head and it is not like the subtle suspension physics roll but I can see some potential. If all else fails I can shake my head at the state of the tracks as I pass over them!! I have started to look at how the Xbox controller rumbles and maybe some code out there can connect to the virtual in-game camera so all trains can sway in some way or I can MacGyver a solution, yes I am that old. One last project is Vridge on Steam it has the potential to stream to your mobile for the Cheapest VR you can get but first attempt failed was just experimenting may need a deep dive into some obscure forum or need to watch more MacGyver episodes. There you go, thanks for listening.
One thing I noticed about suspension is that it changes with head sway. Before TSW5, I'd play with 200% head sway to try and capture the forces that the old suspension model was lacking. However, once the new suspension physics came in, I was being thrown about unreasonably until I dropped the head sway level back to 100%. Now it's pretty good for me. It is still missing roll, though. Even if only one side of the train dips into a gap in the rail, it doesn't roll but stays level as if both wheels were riding over a gap in the rail at the same time. It would be nice to get thrown from side to side (like a rollercoaster, eh?) as well as up and down in a suspension 2.0 update.
Yeah, whether it's the suspensions or the cab sway, it makes driving so much more realistic. It's really something that was missing in TSC, where I so often felt like I was watching "a carpet scroll by" while I was staying idle... I must admit there were exceptions, like the Thumper AP Class 205. Overall, a game that claims to be a simulation must be able to use certain techniques to make the players experience what the the reality feel, and I think DTG have done a great job there.
Suspension was a game changer for me - the 805 is my current favourite because it feels so alive - I’ve no idea how realistic it is, but it’s so much fun to drive. My all time favourite loco is the 40, but it’s a flat and unexciting drive these days. One for a remaster if ever there was one
I saw this problem the very first time they released a route with suspension physics. At first, I did not see the big fuzz Matt was making about that feature until I started up another route that did not have the suspension physics. It felt like something was broken and immediately realized what the fuzz was about, but also realized that all my routes with no suspension will feel broken. Can you imagine GWE without the bouncing? I can, but I would rather not.
