Is my thinking correct

[MoreEqual]

Hi

First

I bought TS19 standalone when first released for $70($69.99).
Now with the platinum edition I get to pay again for some new features. $60($59.99) $10 discount applied.
If I had of waited until now to buy TS19 my up front cost for the latest version would have been the same $70.

As I did not I now have to pay $130.

Second

The now reduced full stand alone version is $48.99 and the platinum version is $69.99. An extra $21.
I have to pay and extra $59.99 to get the advertised $20 platinum features.

I feel I am being financially punished for getting in on the ground floor.


Am I reading this correctly?

Cheers

 

[johnwhelan]

The latest and greatest always commands a premium.

You did however help N3V stay in business. If it helps look at the price of a steam loco in HO gauge then add in the cost of a few wagons or coaches.

Cheerio John

 

[coble12]

That does appear to be the case. I personally haven't purchased TRS19 in 'protest' of N3V's handling of T:ANE's release (which doesn't need to be discussed here) and also what they've done with certain aspects of '19 for that matter. Maybe I'll scoop it up when the platinum version is $30 if not too close to the next major release. Anyway, a $10 discount for those who already own the core product is quite laughable.

As an aside, we don't work for N3V and it's not our responsibility to keep them in business. I don't want Trainz to go under any more than anyone else here, but I'm also not going to constantly feed them money after already purchasing a product. For those who always bring that up, I'm sure they'd appreciate you sending them a check anytime you want.

I should add that I do appreciate N3V providing a non-subscription version containing the new cameras and unified driver/surveyor, although it wont contain whatever next 'plus' features are released. But hey, maybe there will be a Platinum+ version with those included down the road for another $70!

 

[pware]

There is nothing wrong with staying with the TRS19 original edition (or as some here have coined it, the "Classic" edition) and not moving over to TRS19 Platinum edition. Platinum gives you more features (i.e. tools) including the Unified Driver Surveyor interface and for some people that will be an important advantage, but not to others. Financial considerations will also be important.

There are some who will be sticking with TANE and will not move to TRS19 and again that is their choice. Every time a new version of Trainz is released we get the same arguments, points of view and opinions expressed. No one is forcing anyone to upgrade to the latest and greatest as soon as it is released. It is often stated that early adopters get the bragging rights and the headaches.

But N3V are a business, not a charity. If they cannot generate a steady stream of income then they will go under. New releases, special offers, customer rewards schemes, etc are all part of that strategy.

 

[pcas1986]

To be fair a Platinum edition also provides you with a bunch of payware assets. Problem is, for some of us, that we might already own them.

I know many don't like subscriptions but I have quite a few for products I use indirectly for Trainz purposes. Trainz is not the cheapest subscription but not the most expensive either.

 

[MoreEqual]

But N3V are a business, not a charity. If they cannot generate a steady stream of income then they will go under. New releases, special offers, customer rewards schemes, etc are all part of that strategy.

Yes they are a business and not a charity.

I am not a charity either.

I don't see the business strategy in asking me to donate an extra $38.99 above the $21 value they have placed on the platinum version.

I have no issue in paying the $21 upgrade cost.

Cheers

 

[pware]

Then don't donate the extra $38.99 - you could wait until it comes out "on special sale". Each person will make up his/her own mind on the value of upgrades, versions and features. From the posts that have been made in the various TRS19 forums so far, many have made the decision to go with the Platinum version. I have no doubt many others will also make the same decision much further down the track. I honestly do not know if I will be one of them - I may wait until Trainz 20xx is released in, if the usual release timetable is any guide, 2021/22.

Whenever a new Trainz version is released there are those who adamantly state that they will not be buying it but months or even a few years later, the new version appears on their timeline. There is no rush.

 

[boleyd]

I update, and pay as needed, in the HOPE that bugs are fixed or performance is improved. Sometimes it is worth it.

One thing that is NOT valued is the time customers spend debugging the N3V code. I would love to see where that is shown on the balance sheet.

I went for the Silver by accidentally clicking on the wrong box. But, given recent visual improvements, I do not regret that. Visually it was worth it.

The goodies you get cost N3V nothing except in the accountants mind. At some time I may go to the next $$$ level just to get some more goodies.

 

[Vern]

It is classic N3V policy, repackage broadly the same game and resell for not much less than you paid originally. It used to be the bi-annual (or more frequent) version update, now that appears to have spread to double dipping within the same version.

As others have said it is up to the individual whether they choose to fund N3V in this manner. However I'm firmly on the side of the "no thank yous" in this - I already paid N3V £55 for the base game and only recently another £20+ to renew my annual FCT (probably the only thing stopping me uninstalling the whole shambles that is SP1). So they're certainly not getting another £30+ from me just so the splash screen says Platinum on it, a bit of DLC I never use and a stupid Driver/Surveyor interface that 99% of route builders would probably never use.

 

[johnk51]

I just got the platinum today. I went and got my redemtion code since I already have the full original. But there was no place to insert the code for a discount. My cost for the upgrade was $69.99. Is this correct?

 

[pware]

...and a stupid Driver/Surveyor interface that 99% of route builders would probably never use.

I can't agree with you there. Over the years there have been many demands for such a feature, the ability to fix something and then continue running the edited driver session from that point - something that I always thought would be impossible. Many of my sessions involve driving scenarios that are hours long and are a real pain to test when you have to restart the entire session after making a critical edit. The use of the Shift key to speed up the running of the session was a real boost but by itself still not enough.

Having said that I do worry that the UDS, by its nature, will introduce other problems. I have already noticed a few minor irritations that have "spilled over" into the non-Plus version of TRS19 SP1.

 

[pware]

One thing that is NOT valued is the time customers spend debugging the N3V code. I would love to see where that is shown on the balance sheet.

The same criticism can be made against every software developer. I have often heard it said that those who buy any of Microsoft's retail products are the real beta testers.

I went for the Silver by accidentally clicking on the wrong box. But, given recent visual improvements, I do not regret that. Visually it was worth it.

The goodies you get cost N3V nothing except in the accountants mind. At some time I may go to the next $$$ level just to get some more goodies.

I am glad that that accident worked out.