Article: M/M, TWOR, E2, TANE, Kickstarter Nov 13

[j_maybury]

This is more like what I like to hear, but what is the core as you call it made up of.
Is it all of what is in TS12 already? or is it a very slim cut down version of TS12,
For instance, are there still interactive industry's or is this going to be a stretch goal?
And what ells is going to be missing from what we have now with TS12?

 

[mcguirel]

My honest opinion with all of this Propaganda - Unwarranted. The new foundation should of been kept quite until it was about to be released.

The Kickstarter Program should of been announced after release of the new core as a Pay Upgrade.

TS12 is not solid even after SP1HF3. This proves to your customer base that this new foundation has great odds of being placed on quicksand. For the next year to two years, this new core game will be a main source of my popcorn consumption. Not tapping into your customer base that have specific skills that could elevate the game experience is ridiculous. There are plenty of dedicated creators on all aspects of the game that would of probably been willing to work closely with the core engine developers to add SOLID BUILT-IN FEATURES, AMPLE NEW CONTENT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW CORE, AND PROTOYPICAL OPERATION DEVELOPMENT behind the scene.

 

[steve123]

Here is were i think you are wrong mcguirl, if i am to contribute to something then i wish to and should be able to no all aspects of it right from the start.
But in N3V's case they should not be holding information back either or be misleading if they wish for people to back them 100% UP FRONT FROM NOW ON, no investor wants lies or questions unanswered. There is no propaganda if the truth is given first and i believe this is where N3V is wanting to be with the Trainz community, there is no point in misleading anyone.
We can sit as it has been and scream about what we want from N3V as much as we want, but now is your big chance as a community to do more than just support with words that bounce around a forum until forgotten and then re-surface 10 months later.

 

[shaneturner12]

Isn't that what the Kickstarter pages will be for?

Shane

 

[amigacooke]

Small point, but KickStart pledges do not make you an investor in either TANE or N3V as I understand it.

Seven things to know about KickStarter

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

Thank you for that link amigacooke - I hope lots of people read it as there is definitely a big misunderstanding of what Kickstarter is about. I think the problem lies in the way Kickstarter avoid using the word "pre-order" in all their documentation. They say "we are not a shop" and therefore people think - "oh, then pledges must be like investing in a project since the product doesn't yet exist".

Let me put this as simply as I can in two sentences here:

(i) A pledge to a kickstarter project is a "donation" to help the project creator fund and complete their creative work.
(ii) In return for the donation, the project creator guarantees to deliver one or more "rewards" to the backer.

In most cases, the reward includes a copy of the final product plus various other "enticements" to donate more to the project such as early access, additional content, posters etc.

Here is a fairly typical set of game rewards: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects...nihilation-a-next-generation-rts?ref=category

 

[amigacooke]

Here is a fairly typical set of game rewards: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects...nihilation-a-next-generation-rts?ref=category

Planetary Annihilation, I backed that one too

 

[steve123]

Sorry Tony, i knew that it was a pledge, once more poor word selection on my behalf

 

[Shortline2]

Thanks for the extra info given.

A small question just, if one really want to invest some sums of money, are there options for that too?

Mostly curious, as I am not that wealthy, but sometimes it would been fun to support something I love and like and want to see succeed in the long run and get back something for old age, and not here and now thing.

Good to see the discussion guys, I better go prepare for November.

Linda

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

A small question just, if one really want to invest some sums of money, are there options for that too?

Mostly curious, as I am not that wealthy, but sometimes it would been fun to support something I love and like and want to see succeed in the long run and get back something for old age, and not here and now thing.
Linda

Good questions Linda, and thanks for your support.

The pledge system works on a "pledge this amount or more" basis. A reward level that offers a product might be $50, a reward level that offers a product and a t-shirt might be $75. If you want to pledge $75, you can choose the t-shirt option or you can choose the $50 product option and pledge an extra $25.

I think more people are now seeing that this is far more than a pre-order system for a product they would like to purchase. It is a pledge of SUPPORT for a product - support will help bring that product to market.

 

[dpgibbons]

From the Kickstarter Guidelines - note section in bold:

Projects must be clear about their state of development, and cannot be presented as preorders of finished products. Projects must show details (photos, videos, sketches) of their progress so far, along with a prototype demonstrating the product's current functionality. Projects must explain how the final design is likely to differ from the prototype, and include a production plan (i.e., how you're going to make it) and an estimated timeline.

I would have no problem making a pledge to TANE which appears to me to be a much more solid crowdfunding project than most. However for those that aren't familiar with Kickstarter it's important to understand that there are some risks involved. There's no guarantee that Kickstarter projects once funded will deliver the rewards or meet the spec, or give refunds if they don't.

 

[ftnwo2012]

Future of trainz: a train that doesn't derail.

I just hope that the next trainz will be more stable and faster opening (currently more than 5 minutes to launch a map!) Short, optimized and not just beautiful!

 

[shaneturner12]

Welcome to the forums ftnwo2012. The main reason it takes a while to load a map is because it has to load everything into memory that is required for that map, which for larger maps means a lot.

Shane

 

[worksim]

My mind is crazy! Will be revolutionary!

 

[amigacooke]

Another Grandma and egg moment, but I hope that N3V has material for updates throughout the KS campaigne as that helps to keep momentum going.

 

[phimat]

Economics? Will Trainz cost me more this way? If it will, then I will wait until TR15 or whatever is released and then buy it.

 

[paulhobbs]

Your choice of course, but you are assuming there will be a TS15. I for one don't want to have you asking in two years time why you can't have a new game engine. If you do I shall take great pleasure in linking you straight back here.

Paul

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

Economics? Will Trainz cost me more this way? If it will, then I will wait until TR15 or whatever is released and then buy it.

With most Governments and many families in the world unable to run to budget, it is no wonder that economics is a confounding subject.

Let's try some more analogies for fun:

Funds for game studios are like food for puppies. The best fed puppy becomes the dominant force of the litter. The poorly fed pup struggles to grow.

Support Trainz on Kickstarter and it will grow into the mightiest of all beasts. Without support, growth will be slow and painful.

Ok, it's late, perhaps I'll try another tack...

In 2015 would you prefer to power up Trainz with a brand new game engine, awesome graphics, great performance and fantastic new physics and features, or power-up Trainz 12-SP2?

 

[Roy3b3]

Great news! I was there at Ipswich Rail Museum on Saturday when TRAINZ A NEW ERA, TRAINZ WORLD OF RAIL, A NEW ENGINE E2 and KICKSTARTER was announced. To all Trainz enthusiasts, guys and gals, we have something really special to look forward to. N3V have the technology and the knowledge of past experience to move us forward to new gaming heights. The skeptics can say what they like, but I have a more positive attitude and strong confidence, that our gaming platform will be far superior than any other simulator game in the market. I'm all for the 'Kickstarter' program, which means the more people who want something better than what they already have, and participate,... then a better gaming experience happens sooner and not later. Everyone benefits. Well done N3V for your initiative and your great team of support staff. It was great to meet you guys last Saturday.
Roy Burnell

 

[mcguirel]

Tony_Hilliam: Support Trainz on Kickstarter and it will grow into the mightiest of all beasts. Without support, growth will be slow and painful.

The Trainz Community is all to familiar with this already. With this in mind, why would the Trainz Community place in good faith that this scenario will change with KS Funding. I support this comment with the following:

Tony_Hilliam: In 2015 would you prefer to power up Trainz with a brand new game engine, awesome graphics, great performance and fantastic new physics and features, or power-up Trainz 12-SP2?

The truth emerges from the depths of the underworld. TS12 is a dead duck per above comment and therefore the customers of TS12 will not have a solid game. Multiplayer was the big deal with TS12 and the key marketing strategy of N3V with TS12. As a longtime customer who is staying with Trainz for Multiplayer Refinement and Stability, avoiding of questions regarding Multiplayer in TANE is very disappointing. The question many need to ask to oneself is, "When will TANE become a dead duck on a new platform whereas common sense based on the traditional past clearly shows N3V will look two years forward with a new release regardless of the state of its prior release?"