Moving on.......

Hi All
As has been outlined a few times this week, we have been working this week to improve the servers.

We will have further news on this by Friday, however we are already seeing improvements to the servers at the moment.

However, simply saying "get more servers" is not going to see some beautiful multi thousand dollar servers (yep, servers are expensive!) suddenly appear at the server farms.

It takes time for the server to actually arrive, and then have it setup, then actually set the site up on them... Then testing, and tweaking, to ensure that they are running satisfactorily.

At a minimum, we should already be seeing an increase in stability for the First Class server, as well as the 'planet auran' website system in general.

Of course, anyone wish issues with the DLS is free to contact the helpdesk as well. We do hope that anyone who does experience issues with accessing the DLS with a FCT does contact us via the helpdesk, so we can check if there are issues with your account's permissions.

As to people who are 'leaving' the community, this really happens all the time. Just some people are more public, playing the 'drama queen' as it were, when leaving whilst others choose to move on quietly. It is unfortunate that some have found that they no longer wish to be a part of the Trainz community, however that is their choice, and they are free to make it.

We do take this very seriously, however it's not just a case of saying "we need new servers" and they suddenly appear. It does take time, and sometimes it's not possible to give an update on the status every day. However, just over a week between updates (last Wednesday, till Friday when we plan to give a full update in the situation) is pretty good. And we have made regular statements via other threads on the forums.

Every man for himself, and devil take the hindmost

The impression of rats leaving a sinking ship is because people who get disgusted and want everyone to know it announce they're leaving, but people who are satisfied don't announce once a week that they're staying. I'm not really happy with Trainz either, but having actually tried the other two and given them a fair chance, I'm LESS unhappy with Trainz than I am with MSTS or Don'tWorks. But I don't announce that I'm staying - man bites dog is news, dog bites man is not news.

So now that this thread has completely turned into a "old head" temper tantrum.......

I've been around for a while. TS12 is by far the best version of Trainz to date. I do agree that it has been frustrating that it has taken about 4 versions to get a good one but it is now going in the right direction. It seems you guys are all stuck in the past and want Trainz to be a cartoon and a game and not the simulator that it is supposed to be.

Now onto the FCT and DLS issues... I have a FCT and very rarely do I have any issues downloading except for when servers are down for maintenance. Problem is on your end. Not theirs!

@steve123 --- Swearing and ridiculing the teams effort will get you nothing. So without further a due.

I'll leave the DLS complaints to someone else, I rarely use it and when I do it's for maybe one quick dependency here and there.

I got TS12 as a gift from the other half, she thought it was the Mac version. While the content looks good in it, it is becoming a pain of what can and can't be used in it. All my old routes I built have content obsoleted and replaced with content I particularly don't care for. I understand NV3 needs to turn a buck but, this content game is really starting to get old. First errors most wouldn't know how to fix with no guidance on how to do it until PEV came along. Not very user friendly to someone who just likes to build and run routes. Now, we can't even decide what content we want to use, stuck with Speedtree.

Thought I would give TS12 a shot since I had it and started to build a route. Spline attaching on things like Yarn intersections is about impossible, adjusting terrain under road bridges is like pulling teeth and tears in the ground start showing when you do. Once again I have to keep an older version installed for my older routes to display properly and now it seems to build the basic route to transfer over.

I use the program to relax and have fun. Instead, the bugs and content games are starting to become a source of frustration. I try to use as much built-in content as possible. Can't, what was in this version is not in that version and only available on the DLS and we know about those problems. A route started in 09 is missing track in TS12. Wait for a slot or pony up for a FCT I will never use and around it goes.

A program I used to use for fun is now becoming a major hassle and I'm finding myself spending less time with it. To much time trying to figure out what works in what version, what version has what, fixing errors to milk the program out and still needing an older version installed to build in or run what you already built. Aggravating at best.

007007 said:

~~~~snip~~~~
I've been around for a while. TS12 is by far the best version of Trainz to date.

~~~~snip~~~~

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So how do you explain making that comment since you do NOT have a registered version of TS 12?

Will you be supporting the N3V team with a purchase?

Have fun,

he did purchase it. i can vouch personally for this.

steve123 said:

I would kick the managment team out the door so they could get a job in a circus,,after all look at what has happend ,,,not many are happy are they,,now thats something to be proud of isn't it

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Actually junior feel lucky I am not in charge because I would have shown you the door a long time ago...:hehe:

Believe it or not I've actually been considering leaving the forums. I've done it in the past and I have no doubt I'll do it again. It's not because of anything Auran/N3V has done, but actually because of the antagonists that seem to troll and take every opportunity to malign not only TS12 but in most cases those of us who enjoy it and use it and wish to help others do the same.

I've had more antagonistic comments while attempting to help somebody than I care to deal with. And it never fails even veteran members of this forum will talk about the "bugs" in TS12 and then go on to cite the shadow mesh limits and spline attaching, both of which are program changes and not considered bugs at least not with my understanding of what a bug actually is from my years of beta testing.

Evolution is normal and natural, those who evolve survive and flourish those who resist it become extinct. Now I build routes in TS12, I built content for TS12, I use TS12, and attaching splines required me to adjust what I had always done but that's all. Since I don't build shadow meshes large enough to hit the new ceiling I don't have to worry about that. As far as updating content and fixing content, that's something that has existed as long as I've been involved in Trainz.

I very seldom use the DLS even though I have had a first-class ticket every year for the past five years I think that will change too, I think I'll just let all the cheapskates sink or swim on their own accord. And maybe if I come back next year the DLS might not even be in existence any longer.

Then you have people that believe for $50 they own the company. They don't appreciate even the effort that it takes but they just want to complain that they spent $50 and feel they have a right to call for management teams to be fired. These people I guess have never spent $1200 for any of the Adobe creative suites and gotten far less enjoyment at a far higher price.

But mainly the problem I see is a simple refusal to evolve. I'm sure the same people had Auran/N3V left everything virtually unchanged from 2010 would be complaining that TS12 was just 2010 with a new label. Maybe if I take a year off from the forums when I come back I may be surprised, because maybe evolution will take place in those who refuse to evolve will have in fact become extinct…

until I met a man who had no feet

I had no idea that we MSTS stalwarts were so lucky. Ten years and not a single asset lost to a version change! Ten years and no version changes. No improvements. No bug fixes. Nuthin' except heroic struggles by the users to keep the thing running.

I fact i do spend about $3000.00 a week running my business to which i have done for 25 years without so much as 15 people moaning over that time.
so i feel that i am in a good spot to say something about how something is run that i support with my money as well.

steve123 said:

I fact i do spend about $3000.00 a week running my business to which i have done for 25 years without so much as 15 people moaning over that time.
so i feel that i am in a good spot to say something about how something is run that i support with my money as well.

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Why is it that people with money complain about money and how much things cost and us poor bastards complain about nothing.

bobhahn said:

I had no idea that we MSTS stalwarts were so lucky. Ten years and not a single asset lost to a version change! Ten years and no version changes. No improvements. No bug fixes. Nuthin' except heroic struggles by the users to keep the thing running.

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oh bull!

nice try though!:wave:

steve123 said:

I fact i do spend about $3000.00 a week running my business to which i have done for 25 years without so much as 15 people moaning over that time.
so i feel that i am in a good spot to say something about how something is run that i support with my money as well.

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Then the answer is simple, if you don't like it move on. $50 doesn't entitle you to own the company.

And I don't think you really realize what it takes, you have over 1 million customers? Where is your forum? What is your product? Do you develop a software program that is a railroad simulation to be used on a multitude of platforms and machines?

If so let me see what you have and I'll decide whether or not you know what you're talking about.

Because I have owned businesses that required all whole lot more than 3K a week, didn't have 1 million customers, didn't create a piece of software to be used on a multitude of platforms and a multitude of machines, did have my own forum though:hehe:

Because simply running a business doesn't mean much. Because one of my businesses (video production) had a completely different set of customer expectations and customers for that matter. Another one of my businesses (albeit years ago) was importing 60s and 70s American muscle cars into Europe, I spent well in excess of $3000 a week with that business, but again it had a completely different set of customer expectations and completely different set of customers.

So how can I compare either one of those to developing a railroad simulation to be used on a multitude of platforms and computers, a DLS and a forum? The answer is simple, I can't…

But if that's your area of expertise show me what you have, and I'll be the judge if you do it better than Auran/N3V…

Considering the number of registered users of Trainz I don't think 3, 12, or even 120 people "leaving" indicates anything. If someone wants to politely post that they are moving on to another platform, or just taking a break, or retiring from, or just no longer interested in wasting their lives in front of a keyboard, then that's their look out.
I admire those that have tried other sims, even those that have created for other sims, they have more gumption than I.
I remember buying Trainz products many times over, but not once have I taken an oath of loyalty...

Euphod said:

Considering the number of registered users of Trainz I don't think 3, 12, or even 120 people "leaving" indicates anything. If someone wants to politely post that they are moving on to another platform, or just taking a break, or retiring from, or just no longer interested in wasting their lives in front of a keyboard, then that's their look out.
I admire those that have tried other sims, even those that have created for other sims, they have more gumption than I.
I remember buying Trainz products many times over, but not once have I taken an oath of loyalty...

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Believe me, I'm not against anyone doing it either. Currently I have three different simulators, but to continually blast Auran/N3V over and over and over again in a whole multitude of threads for things that are just part of the simulation evolving for whatever reason is rather pointless.

If you feel you've been cheated, move on with life because if all you ever get cheated out of is $50 consider yourself lucky and move on with life with a smile.

But to continually hang out in a manufacturer forum, and continually post about your unhappiness leads me to scratch my head wondering about the sanity of the poster. I would've thought he had it out of his system by now, I know I would've, because life is way too short to harbor resentment over 50 bucks for this long:hehe:

7121239 said:

Been a member here since 2002 and enjoyed the journey.
Decided it's time to move on - been visiting less and less and although I didn't post a lot, don't find much that I really appreciate, want to appreciate or really understand now. All a bit too technical...........
To me, it was just about being in the cab and enjoying the whole concept.
Thanks to all who have helped make the journey fun and all the best to members who continue to enjoy.

Regards to all,

7121239
IM

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I really can't find anything in his post to fault, but the subject matter has changed considerably since then.

Euphod said:

I really can't find anything in his post to fault, but the subject matter has changed considerably since then.

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Again agreed, my only comments on the topic have not been about the original poster.

VinnyBarb said:

Yeah, well, how about spending some of these riches on the improvement of the DLS?

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We're doing just that. Since the server load troubles have begun, we've done all of the following:

* Upgraded our existing server hardware.
* Purchased additional new server hardware.
* Hired a full-time experienced sysadmin (previously we couldn't afford to have somebody dedicated to this role.)
* Spent engineering time on tuning both the server software and Trainz's handling of various types of possible download faults.
* Planned and begun implementing larger-scale improvements designed to address long-term load.

Most of these don't pay off immediately. Anything that involves new people means finding suitable talent and training it up; anything that involves software updates means plenty of testing and then waiting for those updates to reach the hands of significant numbers of users; etc.

That's not to excuse the position that we're in regarding the DLS. As I've admitted before, we were caught without a good strategy for handling this kind of load. That's the risk of running without an experienced sysadmin for any length of time, but there was only so much we could do while the company was going through the hard patch. Now that we've recovered from that, it takes time to get everything back on track but you can be sure that's exactly what we're working on.

Judging by the complaints one reads here in these forums, the complaints about the DLS by far outweigh anything else people complain about here. That alone should give the powers that be some food for thoughts.

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There's not a lot to think about. We're aware that it's a serious problem and are actively working on improving it.

cheers,

chris

mrscsi
Running a business means everything to the success of it ,,98% of all small businesses close down in the first 2 years through bad management

Mordin
i work 7 days a week to earn the money that i get ,i don't sit on my butt like so many others who sit and think that the world owes them something,
the same oppitunites are there for all it's up to them weather they wish to do something about it or not .

i am a god fearing man who believes we all recieve in accordence to our works good or bad,
the holy bible states even the sparrow knows where it's next meal is coming from
but it also knows it must get up off it's butt and go and get it ,,it will not just be dropped into it's mouth,,you must help yourself first

Steve123 if you're gonna go religious on me then think about this: you say your a god fearing man and yet you claim to work Sunday's for money I'd say that's greedy according the a biblical reference.

Also what is it with you Austrailian men you all claim to have a sense of humour but you all are so frigging miserable and yet you have the most hottest sexiest women over there ( Lucy lawless comes to mind).

I only hope you location said Australia I sure it did.

Any way I was only joking but obviously you have no sense of humour and you've done nothing but complain also the OP wasn't complaining just saying he/she is moving on.

But anyway cheer up FFS your cheesing me off now.

Ps: your an obvious troll and you got a reaction from me I have to get my Billy goat gruff out. Under the bridge.