Fury dead: Long Live Trainz!

[Smileyman]

I don't know and I suspect you don't know either.

Precisely!
Which is why everything I said was based on what we know has happened in the past, normal business procedures, and a bit of common sense.
And if I was reading too much into what you said then it was because you were trying to sound like you had inside knowledge, not me.

David,

Unless all my years in accounting were for nothing, if Fury 'raked in millions', Trainz would be 'dumped' by Auran quicker than a crybaby could spit a pacifier !

At last!
Thank you Dave.

Too many people around here have a romantic view of Trainz and the Auran team behind it, and the simple fact is that if Fury had been what they hoped it would be, then we would very likely be the ones left in the cold.
Investors want to make as much return on their investment as possible, and would choose to invest in Fury if it was flying, and not a trainsim with a small return.

Christ, this sort of business 101 is taught in High School.

Oh, and just because someone says something against the grain, doesn't mean they want Auran or their games to fail, and implying so says a lot more about you than it does the person stating the facts.

Some of you need to step back and read this thread again.
I can't see many instances on people enjoying Fury's problems, or relishing in Auran's short-comings.
Ok, so you enjoy the game immensely!
So do I!
Doesn't change the laws of business practice, or the fact that people are in this to make money.
How does me stating this obvious fact translate into me either not liking the game or not wanting Auran to succeed?
Neither of which is true.

Only one thing left to say really.

lol

Smiley.

 

[ish6]

In fact, I've just embarked on the biggest project I've ever done in Trainz, as well as investing in TransDem so that I can get accurate terrain and building placement for the project.

In fact, the project was going to be submitted for consideration for TRS2009 before the release schedule was announced, and it became obvious that it wasn't going to be possible in that time-frame.

I'm even considering updating it to TRS2009 specs when it's complete, if the benefits of doing so are worth it.

Smiley.

Sorry guys but changing the subject a bit ...:hehe:

Hey B...

I have always enjoyed seeing what new things you have come up with, so my friend, are you going to tells us a bit about this project? I just did a pit stop at your site and browsed around, so it's why I have asked!

I like the "future Project" page a lot ... http://www.smileydesign.co.uk/future.html very cool what you have done ... guys take a peak ... you will get flashback to the golden days of gaming, cir80's!!

Thanks in advance!!
Ishie

 

[ish6]

Precisely!
Which is why everything I said was based on what we know has happened in the past, normal business procedures, and a bit of common sense.
And if I was reading too much into what you said then it was because you were trying to sound like you had inside knowledge, not me.


At last!
Thank you Dave.

Too many people around here have a romantic view of Trainz and the Auran team behind it, and the simple fact is that if Fury had been what they hoped it would be, then we would very likely be the ones left in the cold.
Investors want to make as much return on their investment as possible, and would choose to invest in Fury if it was flying, and not a trainsim with a small return.

Christ, this sort of business 101 is taught in High School.


Smiley.

so so so so so true .... :wave:

You know, when Auran went forward with all of those products after TR06 I complaint about it a lot .... it was as if Auran where paying these people's bills because everyone began attacking me for it...

My claim then and still is that I felt Auran was just milking the damn cow with those products.... I was never a fan of them and to this day I have not bought them and might not ever unless I see it at a computer flea market for 2 bucks.

When Greg Lane sold his share or his company (just speculation because i don't know), but I do know that he's no longer in the picture, Trainz really took a back seat.... Now, as B and few have stated, because fury went under resources are now being shift to Trainz, because all of a sudden Auran began a campaign to bring it back ... still, bottomline is money!!! something that many many forget ... and it's why Trainz is getting a face life ... all in all, I hope do TRS09 is worth the buck!!

 

[Barney]

Even if Trainz bites the dust one day, we still have all the previous versions to choose from. So... where's the problem? I don't see it.

I just enjoy what I have right now. If something new comes along, great! If not, my trains will still be running happily.

 

[bernhart_lossiemouth]

It's irrelevant what my definition of "breaking the market" is, and it's odd that you think that it matters.
It's obvious what point I was making, and that the only people whose definition of "breaking the market" that matters are those that invest in the money in the software production.
No point in me saying how many copies of the game have to be sold to "break the market", as that would be speculation dressed as fact.


Well I've re-read my post, and I don't see any examples of me saying anything about Trainz not being what I want it to be, or predicting it's downfall.
I merely pointed out that, unless Auran have become a charity recently, the game will have to "break the market" or the investors may look elsewhere, which is simple business sense.
You've only got to look at Fury for a perfect example of cutting their losses.

Tony has already said on the Dev forum that Auran has switched pretty much all their focus on Trainz, which is something I don't remember happening before.
While Trainz was a side project for Auran (paraphrasing their own words over the years), there was also more room for failure, but as I see it, if they've made it their main interest then it has to succeed or else.
From this, we can safely assume that more funds have been allocated to Trainz for this venture than ever before.
Do you not agree?

My opinion, based on comments made by Auran employees and events over the last 2 years or so.


With your mindset, I could call that comment negative, and say that you are predicting the downfall of Trainz by saying that.

Again, implication that I'd said something to the contrary.
I can't see where I've said that I'm not enjoying the ride.

In fact, I've just embarked on the biggest project I've ever done in Trainz, as well as investing in TransDem so that I can get accurate terrain and building placement for the project.
In fact, the project was going to be submitted for consideration for TRS2009 before the release schedule was announced, and it became obvious that it wasn't going to be possible in that time-frame.
I'm even considering updating it to TRS2009 specs when it's complete, if the benefits of doing so are worth it.

Does any of that sound like I've given up on Trainz?

You've mistaken a realistic view on business models and recent events, with someone who wants to bring the game down.
I honestly can't see how you get from one to the other, but I guess that's what you get if you persist on trying to "read between the lines", even when there's nothing there.

Maybe you're just one of those people who think Auran shouldn't be criticised for anything, even if it's in an adult and sensible way.

Whatever floats your boat.

Smiley.

If I could, on one of those poll things, then I would vote this as the most boring, crap post ever.

BeRNIe

 

[pommie]

Hi WestSideRailways, how are ya mate :wave:

David,

Unless all my years in accounting were for nothing, if Fury 'raked in millions', Trainz would be 'dumped' by Auran quicker than a crybaby could spit a pacifier !

My thoughts ---,dave

Yeah, I realise that, I left out an "if" from in between 'and' and 'Auran'.
It was just to state that the same one's doing the crying would not of even thanked Auran IF they did.

@ Euphod, where is my popcorn :udrool:

@ bernhart_lossiemouth, nope, Smileyman's post is not the biggest load, your post is a pile that big you need air traffic control approval before you open your mouth

Cheers David

 

[amigacooke]

And if I was reading too much into what you said then it was because you were trying to sound like you had inside knowledge, not me.

What is your definition of 'breaking the market'? Seems like more speculation dressed as fact.

There's never been any shortage of those predicting the possible downfall of Trainz (normally for not following their particular model of what a train sim should be). Sooner or later, because of persistance is nothing else, one of the predictions will come true.

However, until that time I'll enjoy the ride.

Can't see where the implication of inside knowledge is there?

Also, not sure where there is a suggestion that any individual is not liking the game or not wanting Auran to succeed.

 

[JCitron]

Amiga, I know what you're saying, and maybe the person you're replying to is assuming that the money comes from the same pot (I'll assume it doesn't), but certain things are evident in the shifts of focus that have gone on around here for the last couple of years.

When the Holy Grail that is/was Fury was being worked on, the Auran team gradually lost almost all contact with the Trainz forums.
Seriously, you couldn't have a got a reply even if you said you had a crate of vegemite waiting here for them.

Now that Fury has gone belly up, we suddenly see an Auran presence on the forums that I can only remember being matched around the time of TRS2004!
The Fury crowd have had months of trying to contact people from Auran on the Fury forums, with very few replies (I know, I've been watching), which everybody should be familiar with around here until recently, and then they get the news that it's all over, and that the forums and website will close.

Let's not kid ourselves that the new confidence in Trainz has anything to do with loyalty to the Trainz crowd by Auran.
Investors will pretty much call the shots, after all, it's their money, and I suspect that most of them have no interest in Trainz other than from a financial perspective.

If something comes along that will net them a better return on their investment, then Trainz will go the way Fury has, and it won't be decided, in the first instance, by anyone at Auran.

I don't want Trainz to stop, but it's pretty clear to me that TRS2009/X is the one that must break the market, and nobody should be under any illusion that the same sword that fell on Fury isn't swinging precariously above the head of Trainz (or any other investment for that matter).

Not cynical or pessimistic.
Just realistic.

Now I'm going off to have a quick game of Fury, and then.....oh....right.

Smiley.

Thank you, Smiley for answering the response from Amiga. You summed it up nicely. I work for a small orgainisation about the size of Auran, and I know that even though there are seperate budgets for different things, the money has to come from somewhere to feed them. With Fury, and I'm speculating here, the money in the development and product support budgets was allocated more to that project and pulled from Trainz. It depends upon what marketing has to say along with other input from other stakeholders in the corporation, and what direction the company wants to go in. Unfortunately their marketing department was wrong and the valuable resources were placed in the wrong basket. There are already many MMO products out there, and their timing was a bit off. They hit the US market as we were, and still are heading into a really bad downturn.

Let's hope that their visionaries are right this time, and that sword that's dangling over their heads won't come down on them!

John

 

[Vern]

Even if Trainz bites the dust one day, we still have all the previous versions to choose from. So... where's the problem? I don't see it.

I just enjoy what I have right now. If something new comes along, great! If not, my trains will still be running happily.

I think the worry there Barney will be if they give "48 hours notice" for the DLS, as they appear to have done with Fury.

My missus has worked in several places where the management came out and said how good business was and great plans for the future, followed a month or two later by the company going belly up!

 

[Mike10]

I think the worry there Barney will be if they give "48 hours notice" for the DLS, as they appear to have done with Fury.

My missus has worked in several places where the management came out and said how good business was and great plans for the future, followed a month or two later by the company going belly up!

Uh Oh, you've done it now Vern, the DLS will probably be down all weekend now while people 'panic buy'

Mike.

 

[aardvark1]

If I could, on one of those poll things, then I would vote this as the most boring, crap post ever.

BeRNIe

Perhaps others here might view your posts in the same way.:hehe:

Have fun,

 

[Barry]

Even if Trainz bites the dust one day, we still have all the previous versions to choose from. So... where's the problem? I don't see it.

I just enjoy what I have right now. If something new comes along, great! If not, my trains will still be running happily.

--------------------------------------
Barney. ..............The big question that people really want to know is what year are you going to change that front page of yours.....................
Barry....the getting ancient trainz mariner.

 

[Vern]

Uh Oh, you've done it now Vern, the DLS will probably be down all weekend now while people 'panic buy'

Mike.

I'm a bad person...

 

[axe1970]

Barney - A Blast from the past.

 

[Smileyman]

If I could, on one of those poll things, then I would vote this as the most boring, crap post ever.

Oh No!
What am I going to do?
And I so wanted to impress you with my verbal shenanigans!
I'm so upset now.
Oh the pain!

:hehe::hehe::hehe::hehe:

Thank you, Smiley for answering the response from Amiga. You summed it up nicely..............
Let's hope that their visionaries are right this time, and that sword that's dangling over their heads won't come down on them!

Thanks John, although somehow Bernie seems to have missed the point of my post.

@Barney; Who let you back in?
Good to see you.

@Aardvark1:Lol, couldn't have put it better. Nice one.

@Ish: Check your PMs.

Will the pain of Bernie's post ever fade?
How will I sleep tonight?
My bruised Ego will never be the same! :'(

Lol.

Smiley.

 

[JCitron]

Oh No!
What am I going to do?
And I so wanted to impress you with my verbal shenanigans!
I'm so upset now.
Oh the pain!

:hehe::hehe::hehe::hehe:


Thanks John, although somehow Bernie seems to have missed the point of my post.


Will the pain of Bernie's post ever fade?
How will I sleep tonight?
My bruised Ego will never be the same! :'(

Lol.

Smiley.

You're welcome, Similey. I think something got lost in the translation somewhere.

What you've said is very true with not just Auran, but many companies I've worked at in the past and including the current one I'm with now. We're on the brink of being over the edge all the time and without any venture capital funds to bail us out. It's tough, but we're self-supporting and actually showed a small profit last year for the first time. Lean and trim is the way it had to become inorder to function, but barely with any breathing room.

John

 

[QR1408]

These sort of threads are a bit of a why bother. Sure Auran could have done things a lot differently and better, but they didn't. The money and effort didn't go into Trainz even though most of us have been buying the stuff since it began. Who do you believe anyway. Tony Hilliam says that they only make $5 per game and every Helpdesk question costs $5 to answer. I read claims that both TRS and DLS run at a loss, but when I challenged one of these statements the only evidence this had was forum posts. Ha, ha! lol
Looks like we're lucky to have any Trainz at all, maybe Auran should register as charity. lol
:hehe:

 

[Smileyman]

Despite all this fun and games, and I do enjoy them , what I was generally trying to allude to in my first post was that we shouldn't take too much joy in the fact that Fury failed, and that Trainz seems to have a new lease of life.

It could easily have been the other way around, and still could be.

Now let's all play nice.
C'mon, form a circle (not you Bernie, not until you can behave yourself :hehe

Smiley.

 

[amigacooke]

Now let's all play nice.
C'mon, form a circle (not you Bernie, not until you can behave yourself :hehe

Smiley.

Not until you admit the Welsh rugby team is rubbish.

 

[Smileyman]

Not until you admit the Welsh rugby team is rubbish.

As soon as someone manages to take the Six Nations Championship from us then I'll.........actually, not even then.