So TSW6 has been announced (surprise, surprise). With the free starter pack returning I've personally got no problem with it being a thing (other than yet another dead TSW game clogging up my steam library. First TSW(2020), then 2, 3, 4, and now 5 (Wasn't TSW, now TSW2020, supposed to be a single evolving thing, rather than yet another yearly release?)) I would however like to point out my one major gripe with it being a completely seperate game, rather than core upgrade to the existing title with a paywalled route pack, and that is the Roadmap. If we look at the new roadmap, everything is now TSW6 only, except; some core improvements, the JT 86, 101 expert gameplay pack, and the newly announced 170 pack. But if you go back to last months roadmap; everything was shown as coming to TSW5. In the same vein, when you look at last July's roadmap it showed a load of content in the 4-6 months, and date TBC category for TSW4, that by the August roadmap were now TS5 exclusive, some of which still haven't arrived and are now TSW6 exclusive. Having looked back, this is something that has happened on every roadmap from TSW2 onwards. My issue here is promises and expectations. The pre next game announcment roadmaps are marketed as: "This is future content being worked on for THIS game" to only a month later to go "Psych! You're not getting this unless you move to the next version". Considering the history of TSW and things that were promised but never came (multiplayer...) it feels... dishonest to be advertising that a game is going to get content 4-6+ months down the line only to next month say all that stuff is no longer coming unless you buy into the next title (and remember TSW2, 3, and 4 did not have free starter packs) I understand sometimes things take longer than expected, but you know a month out from, say, the announcement of TSW5 for example, that San Bernadino line is going to be TSW5 only and yet it still shows on the roadmap in July as coming out for TSW4. I suppose it wouldn't be as much of an issue for me if it was the Train Sim World Franchise roadmap, and only stuff you knew was coming to the current version said it would be in that version, but it's not. Its the TSW2 roadmap, the TSW3 roadmap, TSW4 roadmap, etc, etc... I admit it's probably minor in the scheme of things but its something that's bugged me everytime a new TSW has been announced. Anyway: rant over. 5 --> 6 4 --> 5 3 --> 4 2 --> 3
I agree with you Sparky and was actually commenting about this on the roadmap topic. I've seen others mention this in the past as well, about DTG announcing new routes too early, especially from 3rd party developers. It creates unfair expectations. Whilst I understand that DTG wants to share their excitement and drive up sales and/or hype, I do think that they should be cautious, especially when it comes to routes on the roadmap for a new version of the game and then never releasing them for that version. For example, several DLC that were announced alongside TSW5 never made it into the game and that shouldn't happen.
I agree too. I made the point last year that the July roadmap contained untruths, in that the TSW5 content was in the 4-6 months category, meaning it couldn't be a September release. Whether the release date was brought forward or whatever, we'll never know, but it certainly misled.
Hi, I get your point. But does it really make any difference? You can take the free TSW6 upgrade and just use your current DLC. When the DLC appear which were initially slated as TSW5 content, you can still take them. Effectively you will still be running TSW5 with some core changes for TSW6 but no new TSW6 routes. You won’t be in a worse place playwise or money wise. Now if the free upgrade did not exist, then it’s a whole different question and you’d get a very different response from me! Pete
You would think after 3 years people would get the point, if its not out by July then its for the new version. Just seems like common sense at this point.
I think it matters less now that the free starter pack is a thing. Before that I would say it mattered a lot more as they were then locking away promised content behind making you pay for a new version. Now... it mostly matters for people who, for whatever reason, miss the free starter pack Oh, WE all know that by now. Newcomers to the franchise possibly not. My issue is that it's essentially deceptive marketing. Which I feel, given history; Dovetail should be keen to avoid
Seems to me as deceptive as not telling a child what they are getting for their birthday. To me deceptive would be if they were saying after TSW6 releases on the roadmap in October that they were still going to be released for TSW5 and 6 You know like they did when TSW3 came out.
I don't agree. If we're going for analogies, that would be "We're buying you a game for your playstation but we're not going to tell you which one in advance" This is "This game we said we were going to buy you for the playstation? Yh we're going to buy you the PS2 version instead, even though you don't have a ps2, so you're going to need to get one" They may be giving away ps2's for a little bit so you can get the console free and play your game, but it's still not what was promised. (And in the case of TSW--> TSW2, TSW2 --> TSW3, and TSW3 --> TSW4, they werent giving away the PS2 so you had to go out and buy one (only available as a bundle with some games included). (Yes I'm aware I stretched that analogy for all it was worth) To discard the analogies and try and talk plainly: It's a bait and switch. Wikipedia definition of Bait and Switch: Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud used in retail sales but also employed in other contexts. First, the merchant "baits" the customer by advertising a product or service at a low price; then when the customer goes to purchase the item, they discover that it is unavailable, and the merchant pressures them instead to purchase a similar but more expensive product ("switching"). Now replace the generic language to be specific to the roadmap: The Roadmap before Dovetail announce the next TSW is a form of fraud used by Dovetail. First, Dovetail "baits" the customer by advertising a product for a TSW title; then when the next roadmap comes out, they discover that the product will be unavailable for that title, and Dovetail pressures them instead to purchase the next TSW to access that content ("switching"). Is it a major issue now that they've started doing the (Limited time only) free starter packs? I don't think so, but it doesn't change the fact that they have done it in the past and are still doing it. *edited to correct a spelling error
