End of Support for Anything below TS12

[nicky9499]

Any version of Trainz will continue to work with or without N3V's support.

As is apparent in this thread, all you lose is (free) DLS access and uploads. My FSX works fine too, but as a reasonable person I cannot expect to click on the Gamespy Multiplayer button and expect it to work almost a decade since release. Inexplicably, to some people the same logic doesn't apply to Trainz.

 

[RRSignal]

Any version of Trainz will continue to work with or without N3V's support.

As is apparent in this thread, all you lose is (free) DLS access and uploads. My FSX works fine too, but as a reasonable person I cannot expect to click on the Gamespy Multiplayer button and expect it to work almost a decade since release. Inexplicably, to some people the same logic doesn't apply to Trainz.

Inexplicably, N3V seems to think it's logical to disallow uploading of perfectly good assets that meet all the criteria to work in later versions. Inexplicably, they are deliberately breaking functionality for no technical reason, but simply to shut out a pool of loyal customers and perhaps even some content creators.

But, sure, life will go on. Perhaps with fewer customers and content creators.

 

[amigacooke]

None; they didn't practice planned obsolescence (at least, not very well), so I can still use them 15, 20 and 30+ years later.

Amazing how well software can work even when it's "not supported", huh?

I trust they are all still licensing you to use the software in its present environment

 

[amigacooke]

but simply to shut out a pool of loyal customers

They might be loyal Trainz users, but they're not loyal N3V customers.

 

[RRSignal]

I trust they are all still licensing you to use the software in its present environment

For the most part, old software didn't have EULAs.

 

[RRSignal]

They might be loyal Trainz users, but they're not loyal N3V customers.

Sure, they are, judging by the timelines of many of them.

[loi-uh l]

adjective
1. faithful to one's sovereign, government, or state: a loyal subject.
2. faithful to one's oath, commitments, or obligations: to be loyal to a vow.
3. faithful to any leader, party, or cause, or to any person or thing conceived as deserving fidelity: a loyal friend.
4. characterized by or showing faithfulness to commitments, vows, allegiance, obligations, etc.: loyal conduct.
Source:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/loyal

 

[stationmistress]

I challenge anybody to provide proof that businesses of any type provide free support and upgrades for an unlimited time.

Peter

Avast!, SuperAntiSpyware, Zone Alarm (I've used this since 1998), Adobe reader XI, Flash player.

 

[phimat]

Good solid read here. Seems to me there are two kinds of developmental principles: dev to maximum potential of machine/system - eg computing, weapons, space exploration; and dev of already maximised machine/system purely for profit - eg motor cars, washing machines etc. The former increase the economic and social potential, the latter merely sucks it dry until only debt remains.

Which then is Trainz, or rather, 'everfail? Trainz in principle sprung fully formed into the market (forget the chap's name, but a progger of some genius). Could argue that its potential was dev'd up to - when? If Trainz had gone with Auran, I think most would have been happy with Tr2006. It would seem dated now, but in the way many really good games seem dated - HL/HL2, WZ2100, Priv etc. I think Trainz was good up to 2010 sp4 (except the silliness of S'trees). I hope there will be some kind of redemption with TANE.

But 'everfail? It seems over the years to have modelled itself on Microsh*t, pushily exploitative, devious, happy to forget its past mistakes in the certain knowledge that hopes springs eternally. But Ms is merely splashing about to save itself now, while 'everfail has yet to achieve its aspiration. In reality, TANE is not a true dev of Trainz; it's having a renovation of sorts, bog standard graphics especially. The point is, what does 'everfail hope to achieve here? Money? The real games market is by now almost completely cinematic in the blockbuster sense. Sitting in a train is fun for about two minutes if that is all it's about, tootling about on a tab. And yet 'everfail will never be more that a supplier to hobbiests otherwise. No glory in that.

Be easy to say that 'everfail is milking Trainz, but the truth is Trainz can't be milked. You can't do a Borderlands -Borderlands 2 with Trainz: it's still those bloody tracks stretching out into the distance and some veg on the side. So it might be that despite the more crass intentions, 'everfail are obliged to actually produce a decent renovation of Trainz.

Nice it if works, very nice. Even nicer is 'everfail recognised the reality.

 

[nicky9499]

Avast!, SuperAntiSpyware, Zone Alarm (I've used this since 1998), Adobe reader XI, Flash player.

Avast Software S.R.O. also sells shareware and has a user base of over 200 million users.
SuperAntiSpyware is owned by multinational corporation Support.Com.
ZoneAlarm is owned by Check Point Ltd, another multinational IT security company.
Reader and Flash are provided by technology giant Adobe.

Your argument is invalid.

Additionally, it seems people still can't grasp the concept of money. Say (for example), a user who bought TRS2004 10 years ago. Since then he/she has been happily playing it without any additional payment, uploading and downloading from the DLS with a free connection.

How do you suppose N3V earns money to fund development? By shaking the money tree?

 

[nicky9499]

'everfai
Microsh*t

Yea, that certainly isn't adding any credibility to your point of view, just like the "Failworks" people. I don't think one is qualified to critique a company or product whose name he cannot even spell correctly.

 

[amigacooke]

Sure, they are, judging by the timelines of many of them.

That reasoning would make me a loyal customer of Microsoft because I bought some (now ancient) versions of Windows, though I now use OSX for preference.

 

[oknotsen]

It's just that cutting off uploading of perfectly good FREE assets - which are otherwise fully-compatible with and error-free in later versions of the sim seems to be leaning more towards outright spite, as opposed to simply "dropping support." Nor does it seem to even be a smart way to do business, especially considering many users are paying for premium access to those items.

I think you have a valid point there.

If people would still be allowed to upload 2.9 assets, and people without TS12 but with a FCT can still download these assets, this can still be a profitable structure. Note that I do not have an insight of the actual figures; it might just be something worth calculating IF (and only IF) this would result in people without TS12 (or later) still being motivated to buy a FCT.
In that case the cut-off for pre 3.5 assets could be delayed by (example) a year (or just 6 months till TANE goes life for example).

Something to consider?

 

[BLACKWATCH]

How do you suppose N3V earns money to fund development? By shaking the money tree?

Did you miss the 'Kickstarter' thing ?
That was all about raising developement funds wasn't it ?

I'd call that "shaking the money tree"

 

[nicky9499]

Did you miss the 'Kickstarter' thing ?
That was all about raising developement funds wasn't it ?

I'd call that "shaking the money tree"

Going by that logic, TRS2006, TS12 and everything in between must have been funded by Kickstarter too. Because how dare N3V even think of earning money by selling games.

 

[RRSignal]

That reasoning would make me a loyal customer of Microsoft because I bought some (now ancient) versions of Windows, though I now use OSX for preference.

You're a disloyal customer because you did not buy the TS12 Anniversary Edition, using your logic.

 

[H222]

One of the more pathetic threads I've seen around here. N3V are ditching their Stone Age versions because they want us to buy their newer stuff. Seems pretty capitalist to me. No DRM, no conspiracies (RRSignal you can probably butt out now since neither of these things are involved)

 

[amigacooke]

You're a disloyal customer because you did not buy the TS12 Anniversary Edition, using your logic.

Not really, I don't think I suggested anywhere that you had to buy everything that N3V produces to be a loyal customer. However, and perhaps I'm misunderstanding here, you seem to be suggesting that if you ever bought anything from Auran/N3V you are a loyal customer.

 

[RRSignal]

One of the more pathetic threads I've seen around here. N3V are ditching their Stone Age versions because they want us to buy their newer stuff. Seems pretty capitalist to me. No DRM, no conspiracies (RRSignal you can probably butt out now since neither of these things are involved)

Ah, but you're the one posting conspiracies upthread. As usual, the pot calling the kettle black.

Also, why are you commenting here, considering you haven't created one darn bit of content for Trainz?

 

[RRSignal]

Not really, I don't think I suggested anywhere that you had to buy everything that N3V produces to be a loyal customer. However, and perhaps I'm misunderstanding here, you seem to be suggesting that if you ever bought anything from Auran/N3V you are a loyal customer.

You're the one who brought up the concept of "loyal N3V customers". Is the definition whatever you feel suits your argument at the moment?

 

[BLACKWATCH]

Going by that logic, TRS2006, TS12 and everything in between must have been funded by Kickstarter too. Because how dare N3V even think of earning money by selling games.

Your logic, not mine, but T.A.N.E. certainly qualifies.