Dovetail Games Tsw February 2025 Roadmap Q&a Thread

Some of these may not be answered but don’t ask, don’t get.

First and foremost, nothing on the Roadmap re current performance issues. These are continuing to drag the sim down and are affecting every route, including as evident on stream the forthcoming Mittenwaldbahn. Have your programmers identified the cause? Is it the new 2D map and if so why not give players the option to revert to the old less intensive one?

Some time ago, Matt said he was going to talk to the coders about save game improvements, specifically more slots and finally squashing the limitation or bug whereby if you chain a second run by returning to free roam, save and load then fails to restore the objective data? Any progress to report, please?

As TSC never gets a Roadmap, feel the question must be asked here - is it now regarded as “end of life” for further updates and fixes? Ditto Catan and Fishing on behalf of their players who never seem to get much attention?

Do you still have a sufficient establishment of in house coders and artists or are they depleted?

Eagle eyes have spotted DTG registered a “Project Subway” trademark. What can you tell us about this? Is it something happening in the near future or just securing the rights to the name? Have development staff been pulled off other titles including TSW to focus on Project Subway?

The loss of the Caltrain licence and no new USA routes on the Roadmap seems to put the future of North American content in doubt. What options are being considered to remedy this? More historical routes perhaps - have you talked with the developer of TSC Pipestone Pass with a view to building a version of that for TSW?

Please tell us the new German route will be something different, maybe a diesel secondary line such as Obereruhrtalbahn and not just another 70km inter urban double track electrified route?

Can you confirm whether £33 is the new standard price for a DLC with new trains and £30 for a route without, up from £30 and £25 respectively?

Other than Cardiff City there doesn’t seem to be another UK route in development? As regards Cardiff can you confirm what involvement (if any) Rivet have had in the building of this route and the rolling stock? We know now the Rivet 150/2 has been reused, but please tell us the physics and sound for both that and the 153 (which also has a slightly different power to weight ratio) have been redone to more reflect reality?

As usual, these questions are for DTG to answer (or not) not our resident expert witness/unofficial spokesperson(s).

Thank you.

Edited to change Subway Sim to correct Project Subway.

 

What's the situation regarding guard mode on Birmingham Cross City please?

 

I remember Matt mentioned the TSW API, but I haven't seen any messages on this for a while. Is there any message about this that can share?
Also, when using brushes to paint foliage onto the route in PC Editor, it cannot be saved to Tiles, which means scenery elements can only be added manually one by one. Are there any plans to support this feature in the future?

 

One more from me…
The Class 104 DMU and Tadami Line have been on the Roadmap so long, it is hard not to regard both as vapourware or at least stuck in development limbo. What can you offer to convince otherwise?

 

The players have recognized that Series S has reduced layers on SBN and MKN. Can DTG please confirm if this is the way the game is supposed to play, or if this is a bug that could potentially be fixed? We know that FTF and SBD were originally released with less layers, although this wasn't recognized or communicated to players until after the fact. Going forward, would DTG be able and willing to include the available layers for Series S in the article for the route DLC, prior to release? This would be much the same as was done with LIRR2. While recent articles have mentioned less services for Gen 8, Series S has not been mentioned, and should really be considered as separate from Gen 8 in order to avoid confusion.

 

It's funny that you don't even need to mention their name and I know exactly who you're talking about, in terms of the 'unofficial spokesman'!


1) Optimisations seem to be in limbo slightly. Do we have a clear plan and timescale to get the game adequately performing?

2) Once optimisations are implemented, can we be assured that previous commitments to the WCML will be implemented?

3) Going forward will we run into the abnormal amount issues WCML was plagued with in future add ons released and marketed as DTG products? And have lessons been learnt from the issues that plagued WCMLS and will quality control be important in new routes going forward? I think it's important to acknowledge them openly and make sure lessons have been learnt going forward... GOBLIN line set the standard of what DTG are capable of when developed in house.

4) Is there a standardised quality control that developers have to meet prior to an add on being released? And if not, could a standardised form of quality control for all developers and outsourced work be implemented to save varying forms of quality in third party content... And if not what determines the quality of a route is acceptable to be released?

5) As already asked, but to reword slightly, can DTG confirm or deny Rivets involvement in any upcoming UK routes and to what extent? Is it just the reused 150 or is the entire route outsourced? (With WCMLS we were only told very vague amounts, it wouldn't matter normally who built a route, but because of the poor quality in which the route was delivered in.... as well as Fife Circle... I think that it's only fair and transparent to know as a player who the developer is given the mostly negative reception around Rivets quality. It gives the customer the right to make their own decision based on this, rather then it being completely marketed as a DTG product and being a Trojan Horse.)

 

Is rivet involved with the Welsh route or can you not say.

 

Will the Thomas & Friends locos and rolling stock couplings be compatible with other existing chain-link coupling stock in the game?

 

How close are we to updates for Ludwigsbahn and getting the TGV running?

 

hopefully not

 

When is the class 158 going to be added the five circle we have been waiting for it for a long long time

 

Anything new on the Manchester commuter

 

Yes indeed. Particularly in view of recent revelations about further volatility in the ATS development team. With hindsight, was it wise to reveal the project before it was substantially ready?

 

A few general questions regarding licenses due to the recent announcement of the Caltrain license withdrawal.

1.) Best bet is you get Caltrain on-board again to bring the DLCs back into the stores. In case it doesn't work,

What do you plan to do to get the related DLCs on stores again?
Would re-releasing the DLCs with removed trademarks/logos of the operator from the routes and locos be a realistic and likely option?
Or wouldn't you like to do that because of the lack of realism?

2.) Are there several types of licenses or do all licenses DTG helds have an expire date and the same conditions? Has the Caltrain license been different to the "normal" type of license from the start up?

3.) What would happen if we think that a big fish like for example the Deutsche Bahn would withdraw their license with DTG? Would this mean that (almost) all german DLCs would be taken off stores as well?

I'm not particularly interested in the Caltrain license per se, but interested in these kind of questions about license issues and their aftermaths.

 

Is DTG taking any steps to ensure that the recent lapses in release quality and missing features are met? Matt spoke about getting a list of standardised features a while ago in a thread to make sure every route has these things. It's just frustrating when small things like off destination PIS is missing etc.

Are developers taking more time to work on things to a higher level? The 104 dropped from 1-3 months and seems to be almost vaporware as stated. Are there any assurances that can be made regarding the releasing of new content with the issues with features and performance etc.

 

New year new me right?
Is there any chance of anything being worked with by third parties or anything regarding steam? Is there at least any chance of fixes for PFR just for the bugs/non working features?

Is there a chance of getting a genuine answer on this of what went wrong and why? Rather than the PR "nothing is being worked on"?

 

We are now almost 6 months since release and the console blurry textures still remains. Is there any progress or is it a lost cause and we will just have to deal with it going forward.

As well it has been mentioned about having options to adjust graphic settings on Series X to be in parity with PC and playstation 5. Is there any progress on this as I'm reluctant to purchase any mountainous routes going forward as the popup of distant scenery is terrible on these routes.

 

Will some of the improvements mentioned to the Br111 get back ported into the original where appropriate?

 

Two things is there any progress on the blur texture issue and is there anything being done about audio popping on xbox?

 

You mentioned in a previous stream that guard mode may come to the 411T and 390 and be properly supported in the future, depending on how players rated it. Do you have any updates on this please? Is it something DTG are working on? Is it something DTG has not decided to continue with? Thanks

 

Any reason why the older Metrolink White Liveried Bi-Levels weren't included with the F59PHR loco DLC? It would of been nice for variety reasons instead of reusing the Grey scheme from San Bernardino Line.

 

On board announcements, what's happening there?

It's been mentioned previously about a core system for them, is this being developed at all? Or even being looked into?

 

No mention of blurry texture patches specifically in the bit where you went through the patch notes DTG Alex . Guessing this means there is no news on it?

 

Is it known yet if DTG will be releasing versions of the Caltrain DLC for future iterations of TSW, unlisted, so that existing owners can continue to use it but that can't be bought by those who didn't buy it for prior versions? Or is it the case that the Caltrain DLCs will only be available in the current versions of TSW, and not in future versions unless a new licence is secured? (amended from Doomotron post in another thread)

 

Most of them are specific to the older 111 so it wouldn't make sense for an older and newer version to have the same exact physics and sounds

 

They couldn't say what exactly the licensing entails and what happens if it expires. That's probably private information

 

I'll give the DTG team the benefit of the doubt for the moment until Monday, when they can possibly answer better via a forum post.

But it did seem as if only a few of the easier and selectively hand picked questions were answered. Hmmm, sometimes your mind can fill in the blanks with the silence.

 

Haven't watched the stream but assume none or only a very few of my searching questions were answered. And I bet they weren't prepared to confirm or deny anything re "Project Subway"!

 

Yes, pretty much. A few of your questions were picked out. I think the only one that got answered reasonably (for me at least) was the question about TSC. The answers we did get from the hand picked questions, were quite vague (maybe that is just me though). I didn't hear a peep about the Subway one, but they did say as usual "if it isn't on the road map or been mentioned" it wouldn't be discussed, which is expected and reasonable

Everything else though seems to be concentrated on German content upgrades.

 

As expected, dodging questions regarding if Rivet were ever involved in CCN and no even further comments for fixing the state of the WCML South.

Instead all we see is them hyping up the fanboys and the casuals of begging constantly for Thomas the Tank Engine. This is our DTG, ditching the core play base for the relaxed casual. They realised appealing to the core market is too costly if it means fixing bugs and creating routes at high standards.

 

I can't be bothered to watch through the stream, was Caltrain mentioned?

 

Will there be voice announcements in the Class 158 Scotrail trains like in the 170 trains?

 

To be fair, doing so could probably land them in legal trouble depending on what agreement they have in place.

 

All we are asking is for them to roll the credits before the end of the movie!

As regards the Thomas stuff exactly why I can’t bring myself to watch the stream but further to response about TSC what did they say about its future?

 

Yeah, that's understandable. I'd like to know as well. Clarity is key to a healthy relationship.

But surely they aren't always purposefully dodging questions? Pretty poor customer service if so.

 

Never wanted them to go into detail about the Caltrain license (as I said I wasn't very interested in that particular license).
My questions were focused on general license aspects and how they feel about them.

Would have loved the answer to whether a relisting of the DLCs with removed logos (being unbranded) would be a viable option to go for or if - for any kind of reason - they don't want or can't (legally) do that. But I guess, even that information about further behavior can't either be shared publically or simply is unsure/unknown at this point in time. I can understand that.

However Matt gave an answer to my question about license expiration though and confirmed that the majority of licences indeed do have an expiration date while very few exceptions don't, for which I will thank back to him.

 

Did they answer the question about BCC guard mode?

 

That’s standard for DTG roadmap streams isnt it?

 

They did reveal Rivet was involved in work for the WCML South, so I'll be curious if a similar case happens for CCN or potentially a new UK core route for TSW6.

 

Apparently working in a patch due next week, aiming for Monday

 

This is expected. they didn't say anything about rivet for WCML, when there was SOLID evidence of their involvement. so why wont it be the exact same for Cardiff as well?
this is how it is, unfortunately. stuff like this gets covered up.


I don't think Cardiff will be all rivet though, however, I reckon one of the locos will be rivet made, and other will be DTG.

Scenery wise has got me a little nervous though...
I notice the building asset. that's a rivet asset, seen in either Luzern or Edinburgh - Glasgow? iirc
as well as the ballast being the poo colour that they always use in their routes. however, I imagine similar to WCML. this will be changed to the ballast DTG use for UK routes.

 

To be fair, I've heard that the scenery on Cathcart was built by Rivet and that is one of my favourite routes. As long as the DMUs and timetable are left to be built in-house, and the route in general isn't rushed, then the route should be at least decent.

 

The lights at Cardiff central are not bright enough are there plans to fix this

 

Will there be a last chance sale for all Caltrain add-ons on the PlayStation Store as well?

 

They haven't said otherwise, but for consoles it's best to assume there won't be one until there is. Leave buying them to the 26th just in case.

 

Can we get a status update when the photomode erasing certain types of weather types (fog) is going to be fixed? It's been a few patches since we've heard anything about that.

 

Weren't we due to get some answers to the questions on the forum on Monday? Hmmm.

 

Any updates? Monday has been and gone now!

 

I may understand the staff can be busy, but I think it's important to be engaged with your customers at the same time. We have critical questions that are yet be awnsered in particular for CCN and WCML South.