Is N3V Rational?

[martinvk]

Where is the immersion for players like myself, that cannot or are not interested in doing route building.

Well, if the rails are not going in your direction, perhaps you're on the wrong train.

As for the lack of perceived quality, we all know that N3V makes very few of the object themselves. Trainz is a creators dream workshop where enthusiasts make objects and share with others, either for free or as payware.

And while TSC might have a shed load of stuff, from what I've heard, it apparently doesn't go very far and only where they decide you may go. Perusing the TSC themed forums, one constant complaint is that the routes they provide are too short.

 

[SRKing783]

I bought Trainz simply because I like trains and I've never had the space for a model railroad. Started with mobile, then TANE, now I'm on TRS22. I'm happy with the product overall. I can testify that the UK content selection is a bit limited since a lot of it is based on older standards, but it's still usable. I think most of it is built for TC3 and TS12, which while it can still be good it can age very poorly.

I think overall Trainz is heading in a very good direction and I think N3V is able to handle it well. Maybe a bit better communication on their end but I understand they're a smaller company so that might be more difficult

 

[Forester1]

If you like steam, there is a lot of great stuff on the DLS by edh6 and dundun92. paulsw2 and robd have done some more modern british trains, and there is quite a bit to be found there for free.

 

[SRKing783]

I've got a lot of their stuff and it's all great, I really do appreciate them. I just feel like there's overall a drought of UK content, but that's probably just me. At least there is some

 

[UnionPacificFan1005]

Here's my 2 cents that nobody asked for.

I love Trainz. I really do. I've been playing it since I was 5 or 6 when I convinced my dad to buy me Trainz Driver 2 on my iPad Mini that was cracked beyond belief. I love the sandbox feel, freedom, and ease of use that you don't find in sims like TSW. But lately, I really have not been a fan of N3V. TRS22 has brought nothing new to the franchise, really only a content swap and multiplayer surveyor. Compare this to the jump T:ANE gave us, with redesigned physics and lighting, or TRS19, with further improved lighting, PBR textures, parallax textures, TurfFX/clutter, etc. TRS22 was a rehash of what we had before and a stoop to the level of EA just sticking a different number on the box and hiking the price up. Of course now, if you want to get the new features that should have been there before like surveyor 2.0 and 5m terrain, you have to pay up again! (again, very reminiscent of EA). I really don't care if N3V wants to have whatever subscriptions where you can test DLC early or whatever, that's something that I very much see worth in for the right person. But that shouldn't mean people who just buy the game just get a rehash.

TLDR, I love Trainz, but N3V has to turn the ship around IMO.
Ok, 2 cents over.

 

[martinvk]

I've got a lot of their stuff and it's all great, I really do appreciate them. I just feel like there's overall a drought of UK content, but that's probably just me. At least there is some

Suppose that could be said of any region which you more content from. Are there enough Indian, South African or Dutch assets? Not if you want more of them.

 

[Forester1]

It is especially true for newer assets, say 4.0+. A lot of the assets being made out there are still 3.5 - 3.7. If I want something for a route and I search sorting by version, I am usually well down into 2.x before I find something. Also, because of N3V's policies, many developers won't put their content on the DLS, as they lose both creative control and control of how it is used by N3V. There are third party sites all over the world (although I only have links to one in India and none for SA), but you won't see their assets on the DLS. I wish I could become an adept developer, but even in retirement I don't seem to have the time. Priorities, I guess.

 

[martinvk]

I think you'll find some creators deliberately use a lower version number to reach a wider audience, especially if the asset doesn't need or use any feature from a higher version. There is no real link between quality and version so it doesn't matter as long as it works in your version of Trainz.

 

[BlackDiamond1964]

It is especially true for newer assets, say 4.0+. A lot of the assets being made out there are still 3.5 - 3.7. If I want something for a route and I search sorting by version, I am usually well down into 2.x before I find something. Also, because of N3V's policies, many developers won't put their content on the DLS, as they lose both creative control and control of how it is used by N3V. There are third party sites all over the world (although I only have links to one in India and none for SA), but you won't see their assets on the DLS. I wish I could become an adept developer, but even in retirement I don't seem to have the time. Priorities, I guess.

Very few make new content anymore. Most people, like me see it isn't worth the effort to create content in the latest high standards. Even if you managed to get all the pay ware tools and invest all that time and knowledge into making your shiny new PBR content, You certainly won't be willing just to hand over your creation to N3V. I think those days are gone. It's truly a no win situation for both N3V and the Content Creator. While the older content still works in the current builds, people will be sticking around. After that? Who knows.

 

[martinvk]

Is suppose it also makes a difference why the asset was created in the first place. Every thing I ever made was because I needed it in my route and then because of the community we have, I shared it on the DLS. And for every one I shared, thousands were also freely shared by others that I could use. A win-win. If I had thought to charge anything and everyone did the same, it would be a lose-lose for everyone since for every $ I made, I'd have spent $$$$.

As for the DLS vs third party sites, I never understood this "creative control" or the lack there of. Either share or keep it to yourself. Once it is on the Internet, anyone and his brother can get hold of it. And while the DLS can't stop that, at least it's all in one easy to access place instead of all over the Internet on sites that may or may not be there tomorrow. How many times have people had missing assets only to be told to go to this and that site only to come up empty handed?

 

[martinvk]

Here's my 2 cents that nobody asked for.

... , if you want to get the new features that should have been there before like surveyor 2.0 and 5m terrain, you have to pay up again! (...

Not sure if S2.0 could have been retro fitted to other earlier versions. As for 5 m terrain, that's been in there since TANE.

 

[Forester1]

at least it's all in one easy to access place instead of all over the Internet on sites that may or may not be there tomorrow. How many times have people had missing assets only to be told to go to this and that site only to come up empty handed?

Sorry, I don't know how to quote with the attribution. But yes, sadly that is all too true. And I admire folks like Dave Snow and MSGSapper and Dangavel and all the others that are willing to host their content on the DLS for the rest of us. As long as creators' efforts to share do not become "Packaged" or included in payware to the point where they can no longer share their content. I have definitely spent far too many hours searching the world for missing assets, the bane of Trainz!

 

[pware]

How many times have people had missing assets only to be told to go to this and that site only to come up empty handed?

For that reason I only use assets on my uploaded routes and sessions that are built-in or on the DLS. As for packaged assets I check that the same version or an earlier version is also available on the DLS.

 

[UnionPacificFan1005]

Not sure if S2.0 could have been retro fitted to other earlier versions. As for 5 m terrain, that's been in there since TANE.

Ugh, sorry about the 5m terrain. I keep meaning 1m terrain. As far as S2.0 I feel that it should've either:

-Been included in TRS22
-Been in an update for TRS22
-Should have shipped with TRS22 at a later date

 

[pware]

Ugh, sorry about the 5m terrain. I keep meaning 1m terrain.

HD is actually 0.125m terrain. At that much smaller scale different skills and methodology is needed.

 

[UnionPacificFan1005]

HD is actually 0.125m terrain. At that much smaller scale different skills and methodology is needed.

Well whatever the size is, my point still stands.

 

[martinvk]

Well whatever the size is, my point still stands.

and the disconnect in the terrain would have happened much earlier since HD is not backwards compatible plus the hardware back then would have been even more stressed to the point where it might not have even been usable except for very high end computer users, mere mortals need not apply.. Just imagine the howls of protest

 

[UnionPacificFan1005]

and the disconnect in the terrain would have happened much earlier since HD is not backwards compatible plus the hardware back then would have been even more stressed to the point where it might not have even been usable except for very high end computer users, mere mortals need not apply.. Just imagine the howls of protest

The hardware back in... May 30th 2022?

 

[martinvk]

No, 2015, when TANE came out and you could get a GTX980 TI for only $630. Normal people would get a GTX750 Ti for $110. Don't think I would try HD on those.

 

[UnionPacificFan1005]

No, 2015, when TANE came out and you could get a GTX980 TI for only $630. Normal people would get a GTX750 Ti for $110. Don't think I would try HD on those.

I'm not suggesting to try HD on those. I'm saying HD and S2.0 should have either come with TRS22 or should have been a free update to TRS22.