I wanted to discuss this real quick. Wouldn't it be possible for DTG to upgrade all the other routes to the TOD4 lighting? I don't care about the OHLE rendering and whatever else there is on TSW3/4 routes in comparison to TSW2 and TSW2020 routes. All I want is to drive my trains from newer routes on older routes, without the headlights looking funky and off, generally the route lighting is pretty much trash. This could be such a great improvement, but I understand if "if already upgrade lighting, upgrade all" comes up. thats fair. I just want better lighting visuals on the good OG routes that I love.
It will never happen. DTG doesn't even fix the smallest bugs on 6 month old routes. So why should they add lighting overhaul to old routes? DRA also got additional problems with TOD4, but no fixes for other stuff. Would have been an opportunity when getting back to it, but no. Btw we had this discussion already when TSW 3 was released. The answer was too much work.
because of all the other things to be implemented. just the lighting might just be less work. but I still partially agree. but then again why can't they just take their time and do something the community actually wishes for for once?
You must understand that DTG's perspective seems to be that old content is not interesting to be upgraded, updated or be fixed. Please don't ask me why as new customers are coming every day and buying older routes. So IMHO it shoul be in DTG's best interest to revisit content, fix problems, add new features or at least "standardize" features. Their are small issues which mods resolved within one or two days after something is coming out. We are in many cases asking for stuff that should only take minutes or maybe an hour of worktime to be reworked or redone. But no, it isn't happening and it won't happen as it seems. Maybe we get another updated route when TSW5 comes out, no idea.
It’s not a case of interesting or not, it’s just the simple fact that DTG have made their money from a route and have moved onto the next thing that makes money.
We don't know that, we don't know sales figures. Also TSW layers in with other routes, so if new route X comes and I like it I tend to buy another route which has rolling stock layering into the other one. Just to have more traffic and variety. Sure in that case I will also take a look at the route itself or even drive services or journey mode on it etc. I spent money on it. I'm sure their are routes everyone of us would recommend if someone asks for UK routes, german routes. etc. You answer would normally not only "get SEHS you don't need another UK route". No, if you enjoy UK routes then you would recommend Tees Valley Line for example. The concept of having rolling stock from route X added to the timetable of route Y is brilliant from a sales perspective. So you can sell older content to new people when they want to get the maximum out of their content. I own all german stuff (besides the skin packs) and a lot of UK routes. And I like to "complete" my collection to have all possible layers and variety. Layer example for DRA which came with TOD4 in TSW4 deluxe and german edition I believe: Lots of reasons to buy other stuff if you want't to get all the layers and variety on this route for example. As I'm from Germany, I get it ;-)
I believe they have stated to change TOD is almost as much work as redoing the route as every light source has to be manually changed.
Unfortunately, they said back in TSW3 that putting TOD4 on legacy routes is not easy! It effectively would require a near complete redo (since, apparently, lighting is actually quite difficult to do). If they were to upgrade everything, they estimate it would have taken 3 years if they focused only on implementing TOD4 everywhere and did not put out any new content and continued working as if they had the same income anyway. Of course, this would mean no Cross City, Bremen Oldenburg, Peak Forest, TSW4, or the next 2 years worth of 1st party DLC. None of this means we wouldn't like TOD4 on all routes, but having a priority queue may be a good idea (as to which routes should get it first).
Wouldn’t mind seeing it applied selectively to legacy content but it does not move the playability needle for a lot of routes. Would be cool to have LBN done. But it’d be a waste of time to put it on something like LIRR lol
If it was as simple as press a button and magically does all the work and does it in less than a minute, then it would have been done by now. But no, there's 56 dlc that all have to be manually updated with the new lighting. It first has to be converted to tod4, add the clouds, make every single light source brighter, fix every single light bake issue and tested. With a single route, you're probably looking at close to a month to do. If you think that's easy to do for 56 dlc, you can do it yourself. The mod for pc doesn't count since they don't have access to everything. If it was easy, it would have been done, but it's not. There's no apply all or copy paste button anywhere.
Well you had a comment earlier that lighting might be less work. Just scroll up and you'll see your comment. If dtg only worked on upgrading old content to the new lighting, there wouldn't be any new content and dtg could go out of business. But dtg don't have all the time in the world. There was a mod that converted legacy routes to tod4 which was also flawed in many ways since modders didn't have access to the official tools.
If done properly, then sure. But after seeing what they have done to Boston Sprinter, I would rather they do not touch old routes.
I think a select few should have it but frankly I don't think the amount of work is worth it as I do prefer the TOD4 but still have no issues going back to NTP for example. If we are going to improve older DLCs lets get some DLC/ available layers on them (+ up too date timetables) to actually give a boost to their gameplay (e.g. 25 for NTP, 700 on LBN, more steam for steam routes and diesels for Peak Forest) first as this would personally be much more preferable to lighting updates not all prefer. Not against the idea but doesn't rank high on the to do list personally.
I'd rather brightness and contrast sliders like most modern games have. And HDR calibration for the game where you can set peak brightness and black limits. That would solve alot of things I feel.
