Driver_Col
Active member
I would really like someone to help me to understand the direction that Trainz has gone, and is going.
My interest in Trainz started with TRS2004 and did a beautiful job of fullfilling both my perceived creative side, and a desire to relive earlier days. In that context I not only created layouts in TRS2004 but also accumulated considerable rolling stock enabling me to run all four (UK) pre-nationalisation companies, plus all four BR regions in steam, plus same in the diesel interim period, and was planning on continuing into early electric up to current day operations.
Having had a less than inspiring introduction to TRS2006, I was very hesitant when the Classic series came out but, on the strength of apparent much improved sound and trackwork etc., I purchased TC3 and although extremely frustrated when I loaded my layouts to find that the trackwork and many textures (and a few assets) were missing, the benefits did justify the legwork necessary to re-track, and re-texture as necessary. The conversion of my rolling stock (still in progress) is also a huge job but, again, can be justified.
Now TRS2009 is out with apparent further track improvements etc. however, I asked a Trainz colleague (who already has a copy up and running) to load up one of my layouts and let me know the end result. After only a cursory glance, he noticed that there were no stations, estimated about 50% of the textures gone, no signals, and a lot of extraneous trackwork that came from ........??????
Here is where you come in! I can fully understand the ongoing need to improve (which Auran have done well ..... which is why I am in TC3 now), and the benefits of revising the configuration for more effective operations, and making it more efficient with pc resources etc. etc. What I am at a loss to understand is why it is made a major task for current users to upgrade? Is it really necessary to make assets "unavailable" to "the next version"? Is there a reason (for example) why the built in track in TRS2004 could not have been made available (via DLS) to the Classic versions?
I will concede that perhaps most Trainzers are game players and probably just use whatever comes with their version, but surely there are many other Trainz people who would like to upload the fruits of their labour to the latest version?
Finally, does anybody have any ideas as to whether all my "converted to TC3" steam locos are going to show up and function in TRS2009?
Thx. Colin.
My interest in Trainz started with TRS2004 and did a beautiful job of fullfilling both my perceived creative side, and a desire to relive earlier days. In that context I not only created layouts in TRS2004 but also accumulated considerable rolling stock enabling me to run all four (UK) pre-nationalisation companies, plus all four BR regions in steam, plus same in the diesel interim period, and was planning on continuing into early electric up to current day operations.
Having had a less than inspiring introduction to TRS2006, I was very hesitant when the Classic series came out but, on the strength of apparent much improved sound and trackwork etc., I purchased TC3 and although extremely frustrated when I loaded my layouts to find that the trackwork and many textures (and a few assets) were missing, the benefits did justify the legwork necessary to re-track, and re-texture as necessary. The conversion of my rolling stock (still in progress) is also a huge job but, again, can be justified.
Now TRS2009 is out with apparent further track improvements etc. however, I asked a Trainz colleague (who already has a copy up and running) to load up one of my layouts and let me know the end result. After only a cursory glance, he noticed that there were no stations, estimated about 50% of the textures gone, no signals, and a lot of extraneous trackwork that came from ........??????
Here is where you come in! I can fully understand the ongoing need to improve (which Auran have done well ..... which is why I am in TC3 now), and the benefits of revising the configuration for more effective operations, and making it more efficient with pc resources etc. etc. What I am at a loss to understand is why it is made a major task for current users to upgrade? Is it really necessary to make assets "unavailable" to "the next version"? Is there a reason (for example) why the built in track in TRS2004 could not have been made available (via DLS) to the Classic versions?
I will concede that perhaps most Trainzers are game players and probably just use whatever comes with their version, but surely there are many other Trainz people who would like to upload the fruits of their labour to the latest version?
Finally, does anybody have any ideas as to whether all my "converted to TC3" steam locos are going to show up and function in TRS2009?
Thx. Colin.
