So recently since hearing about Rivet working on their Fife circle line route and hearing Skyhook has been making a dlc for the route it got me thinking about collaborations between developers on routes. Particularly the idea of some future routes being made by two developers be it both do the same thing, or one does the rolling stock and services while the other does everything else. As I personally believe it would allow for more railway lines to be recreated in game with an increase in quality rather than quantity. If a route could be created by two developers personally I would hope Just trains are in charge of the scenery while Skyhook or DTG work on the rolling stock of the route. For what route I possibly believe a route like Calder valley line in the mid 80s due to both DTG and Just trains having experience with the area and era. Which could make a banger of a route but that is just my opinion feel free to express your opinion and discuss away.
We had a recent discussion where this concern, why another dev couldn't work on a project where another can't or failed, came up and why it probably won't be the case. https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/its-not-as-simple-as-just-dont-buy-it.79962/ TLDR, it depends on giving a piece of the cake, which probably is the biggest problem. Another concern is whether there even is enough interest in a remaster or remake by another developer if the first one didn't sold, well. Because the doubt comes about if a second version would sell better, if there wasn't enough interest to even sell the first version, even if it were faulty.
Skyhook did OBB 4744 and OBB 4746 for TSC, hopefully they do those for TSW as well, either normal or expert line
The problem is, which third parties would work well together either with each other or DTG? We know that Rivet are pretty hopeless at making routes and while they can do reasonable rolling stock models they seem to founder with physics and sounds. At best they are going to be second string to whatever the primary partner is doing. Skyhook at least on previous efforts are "so so" with all aspects, though Adam cracking the whip may have rallied things a bit but the proof will be in whatever their next major route with new loco DLC brings. Just Trains seem to be doing fine on their own, both with regard to route building and rolling stock. Ditto TSG, who seem to spend a lot of time working alongside DTG anyway. The rest of the third parties have yet to prove what they are capable of. ATS seems to have gone very quiet, UW are specialising in Japanese stuff so pretty much on a limb as regards helping on a UK/Ger/USA project. We have yet to see anything tangible from the comapny doing the Class 104 DMU.
Meh, I still think they are perfectly able to make a good route, they just need better managed. E2G was pretty good from a world perspective. There was room for improvements but generally speaking, i thought it was pretty good. In the case of FCL, I think they ran out of time or didn't have enough people working on the world building.
I think there's lots of cooperation going on anyway (as was in TSC). I heard Lukas (DTG) was also involved in making Niddertalbahn (TSG). But it seems to have become the standard now that developers don't get credited in manuals. Especially the TSC US content was made by a small group. Rick Grout (G-TraX), Michael Stephan (GreatNortherner), Jonathan Lewis (Milepost). Rick and Michael's project firmed under GNTX, Michael and Jonathan under TrainsAndDrivers...
the same also happened with dovetails WSR and Rivet making dlc for that. though whilst I think full split development of routes is probably quite complicated to sort and ask for in any way what would be possible, I do think JT and DTG could make good matches. Though in honesty I don’t think theirs any match what wouldn’t.
There is also all the HIS projects with input from Rick, Michael and Ceasar (DTM). JL also contacted Mike (Smokebox) for work on his last 2 steam locomotives for his routes.
