Is it as big as it used to be?

[Laddie]

So guys,

I'm installing TRS2006 as I create this thread.

I may have posted about this on one of my rare visits here, but what the heck!

When TRS2004 was about the forums were heaving and the content was coming in thick and fast.
When TRS2006 came out and the new forum was launched every thing took a steep dive resulting in numerous threads complaining about the forum and TRS06 (I put my hands up, one or two were mine) and several members hanging up their boots and not looking back. I tried to hang up my boots and not look back but I miss those long winters, relaxing on the computer with a coffee making routes that I was never satisfied with, and now its getting to the stage where I want to get back into it, but I just can't see the *buzz* in the Trainz Community anymore and I just cant seem to find the masses of enjoyable reading I used to find on the forums.

Has anything picked up since the release of TRS2006? Is it actually worth coming back to it?

The forum seems to be mainly orientated so product support, are there any forums out there that are like the good ol' TRS2004 forum?

Also, how many items are on CMP?
And finally... is there a service pack for TRS2006 build 2773?

Thanks guys,
Michael

 

[OMG_internet]

Is it as big as it used to be?

That's what she said!
sorry


seriously though, having not been here when the 04 forums were, i cant really say. But take a look in the Freeware and Payware sections, see how much stuff is being released, there's a fair bit.

For SP1 for 06 build 2773, try here

 

[nwhitney]

The forum seems to be mainly orientated so product support

Sorry, but what's this forum supposed to be for? Thankfully there's no waffling just to raise his post count, and I could care less what screensaver you have on your computer. I frequent here to learn more tips and tricks about Trainz and to try and help with someone's question or problem.

 

[colhad]

hmmm, the forums aren't what they used to be I guess. The fact of the matter is Trainz is getting bigger all the time, more people joining the forums. Not always good people and they're the ones that tend to spoil it for everyone else.

I would recommend using TRS2006, there is quite a lot of good quality content to be utilised. Search the DLS for "FMA", you will not be disappointed. I like to encourage people to use Surveyor more, make some routes and upload to the DLS.

I'd like to see more city/suburban routes, there seems to be a real shortage in that area. Lots of city routes, but no one seems to have made any with the city and suburban lines branching out in a network.

 

[Buffalo_trains93]

I agree with Colhad. Its not like back in the day with 04 but its still lively. The problem we face is more technical than anything else and that is getting fixed one step at a time. We have great people here who are willing to help anybody that doesn't understand something! It does get bigger and the content gets better but it will never be like 04 was.

Ryan

 

[johnwhelan]

I think with TRS2004 we were doing something new. Today its matured a bit, the DLS or CMP now has nearly 100,000 downloadable items a big increase from the TRS2004 days.

Many of the people who are only interested in UK items moved across to http://forum.uktrainz.co.uk.

The other thing that seems to have happened is we used to be on a single platform TRS2004, now we are spread out across TRS2004, TRS2006, TC1/2 and TC3 with TRS2009 due out shortly.

The layout creators don't need the extras in TRS2006 or TC3 so they are happy with TRS2004.

I and some of the other content creators have moved onto Blender, so there aren't as many questions for GMAX, the tutorials are more comprehensive. We have the Wikibook for Trainz which answers a lot of questions that used to be answered in the forums.

Auran don't visit this forum quite so much, off topic no longer exists, there is another forum for content creators called Trainzdev.

Sort of life moves on.

Cheerio John

 

[deeelare]

In addition,

We also experience the slow down in the Forum chatter as a new release is near the horizon .
I suspect that as soon as TS2009 is released to the public you will find it hard to keep up with the new threads and posts .

My thoughts ---,DLR

 

[0099]

The forum seems to be mainly orientated so product support, are there any forums out there that are like the good ol' TRS2004 forum?

People started complaining because in their opinion if there was a Off Topic one then why can't they have one... Not going to say much more so i don't start something.

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

Welcome back Laddie. Items have been uploaded to the DLS at nearly 10,000 items every 6 months ever since the release of Trainz 2004 in late 2003. The number has been increasing every year.

Here are the stats of new items to the DLS each year:

2002 = 5000
2003 = 13200
2004 = 15300
2005 = 16500
2006 = 17500
2007 = 19000
2008 = 13500 year to date (so 1600 expected).

I think the slight slow down this year is due to some confusion over the new content standards for Trainz 2009 plus no doubt some "I have everything I need" feeling amongst the creators.

Tony

 

[Laddie]

Sorry, but what's this forum supposed to be for? Thankfully there's no waffling just to raise his post count, and I could care less what screensaver you have on your computer. I frequent here to learn more tips and tricks about Trainz and to try and help with someone's question or problem.

The forum used to be about the Trainz community.

I dunno guys, trainz just doesnt seem to have an appeal like it used to. I installed 06 yesterday but just cant find the will to load it up.

 

[0099]

plus no doubt some "I have everything I need" feeling amongst the creators.

Tony

Well i don't have everything i need so keep creating

Anthony

 

[colhad]

The forum used to be about the Trainz community.

I dunno guys, trainz just doesnt seem to have an appeal like it used to. I installed 06 yesterday but just cant find the will to load it up.

Don't let the situation with the forums stop you from using TRS, it is still a great program. The forum is really only good for looking at screenies and showing what you've been working on, if you can avoid the waffle.

 

[johnwhelan]

Welcome back Laddie. Items have been uploaded to the DLS at nearly 10,000 items every 6 months ever since the release of Trainz 2004 in late 2003. The number has been increasing every year.

Here are the stats of new items to the DLS each year:

2002 = 5000
2003 = 13200
2004 = 15300
2005 = 16500
2006 = 17500
2007 = 19000
2008 = 13500 year to date (so 1600 expected).

I think the slight slow down this year is due to some confusion over the new content standards for Trainz 2009 plus no doubt some "I have everything I need" feeling amongst the creators.

Tony

I suspect there is also a quality issue I suspect many of the more recent items are built to a higher level of quality. I know I've been going through much of my own work and creating new versions that look a bit better with lower machine impact. It takes a little more time to create but the final product is better.

Cheerio John

 

[Laddie]

Yeah I can remember a hell of a lot of content that was well.... abismal. I tried my hand at making my own but I cant for the life of me remember how to use 3DsMax now lol.

Anyone know any good websites for tutorials on 3dsMax?

 

[colhad]

Yeah I can remember a hell of a lot of content that was well.... abismal. I tried my hand at making my own but I cant for the life of me remember how to use 3DsMax now lol.

Anyone know any good websites for tutorials on 3dsMax?

Probably PhilC's site would be a good place to start.

 

[Boco]

Why not pop into chat for that community feel....live! We're always open; lot's of bright people to answer your questions...hopefully; and just plain good-natured conversation.

Welcome!


Boco
Mod in Chat

 

[leswell]

Welcome back Laddie. Items have been uploaded to the DLS at nearly 10,000 items every 6 months ever since the release of Trainz 2004 in late 2003. The number has been increasing every year.

Here are the stats of new items to the DLS each year:

2002 = 5000
2003 = 13200
2004 = 15300
2005 = 16500
2006 = 17500
2007 = 19000
2008 = 13500 year to date (so 1600 expected).

I think the slight slow down this year is due to some confusion over the new content standards for Trainz 2009 plus no doubt some "I have everything I need" feeling amongst the creators.

Tony

Impressive figures but I am sure amongst all that stuff there is a degree of duplication. How many different versions of invisible track do we need for instance?

Also, with so much stuff and no coherent naming system, plus foreign languages, it is very difficult to find particular assets and there is simply too much stuff to 'browse'. An asset named 'WWxx32' (fictional) for example is no use to anybody particularly when it is a tree classed as Fauna or a gate classed as a building. If it is the exact tree/gate I am looking for, how do I find it? It just clutters up the DLS worthlessly.

Les

 

[johnwhelan]

Impressive figures but I am sure amongst all that stuff there is a degree of duplication. How many different versions of invisible track do we need for instance?

Also, with so much stuff and no coherent naming system, plus foreign languages, it is very difficult to find particular assets and there is simply too much stuff to 'browse'. An asset named 'WWxx32' (fictional) for example is no use to anybody particularly when it is a tree classed as Fauna or a gate classed as a building. If it is the exact tree/gate I am looking for, how do I find it? It just clutters up the DLS worthlessly.

Les

Hence if your interest is for UK items have a browse at http://trainz-carriage-wagon-works.com. The items are on the DLS. There are other web sites around that do the same.

TC3 has some quite good rolling stock and scripts for opening side panels on wagons when unloading etc. It also has some robust and more efficient scripts that are useful. I've been updating the older items using Blender and reducing the poly count, also taking into account some newer information that has come to light about lod. So the old stuff works but isn't so efficient and TC3 is cheaper than a hardware upgrade.

The other thing to do is avoid .pm models, purely from the performance point of view.


Cheerio John

 

[Blue]

TrainZ

I can remember when it was fun.

Blue

 

[amigacooke]

I can remember when it was fun.

Blue

It still is, but I'm finding Lord of the Rings Online more fun (at the moment).