It would be nice if Auran used the Announcements Forum more often.

J

JCitron

Trainzing since 12-2003
Given that so many people are having difficulties downloading, patching, purchasing, etc. It would be nice if Auran made a sticky of some sort, perhaps in the Announcements Forum, that would provide the community, as well as the newcomers alike, with status information on such issues as the overwhelming load of tickets on the Helpdesk.

This would keep the sporadic posts by Zec from disapearing in the furor in the General Trainz forum. I also think is would quell some of the angst we see here on the forums.

Just a thought on the goings on here.

John
 
And pigs will fly.........

JCitron said:
Given that so many people are having difficulties downloading, patching, purchasing, etc. It would be nice if Auran made a sticky of some sort, perhaps in the Announcements Forum, that would provide the community, as well as the newcomers alike, with status information on such issues as the overwhelming load of tickets on the Helpdesk.

This would keep the sporadic posts by Zec from disapearing in the furor in the General Trainz forum. I also think is would quell some of the angst we see here on the forums.

Just a thought on the goings on here.

John
Click to expand...

It would be nice indeed, wouldn't it? But given AURAN's past history, this is a chance like pigs will fly. Interestingly, if a new product/version is in the pipeline or is getting released, we see all sorts of announcements/promises/news/progress etc. and the powers that be fall all over themselves to feed the masses/throngs/believers. Why not letting us know of progress, updates etc. in between these periods?

This is not an AURAN bashing, this is fact!

For example the mysterious SP4 for TS09, there is talk of its imminent release but no announcement from the top of whether this is going to happen at all, if and/or when its approximate release will be (if at all) or any progress update or whatever.

Then there are the announcements like the TS09 EE edition when in fact we only bought and received a half finished product there, which then suddenly was superseded by TS10 out of the blue, but we mushrooms (you know what these get fed/grow on) had we known all this beforehand would never ever have bought TS09 (again,had we known). Now some one and a half years AFTER TS09's release, still no fixing yet of the several issues/problems this version is still causing.

Apparently as TS10 is now the latest and current version, there is NO hurry/priority of getting TS09 fixed now, never mind, we now have TS10, lets worry about this version and all TS09 buyers and users can get stuffed so it seems as this seems to be AURAN's attitude towards us TS09 users. There is NO excuse of not having enough men/womenpower to fix in TS09 what needs to be fixed or do the SP upgrade for TS09 but yet, there is enough to do a completely new version. I know there is some slow progress/work on the SP4 upgrade for TS09 but do YOU know? So why can't we all know of its progress?

Also, at the same time there is the continuing work on TS10 going on or possibly what comes after it. Isn't it time to FIX the erstwhile version first completely AND then move on to the next version WITHOUT importing all or most of the negative issues or problems right into the next version? One would think so but does AURAN do so?

Just to let you know, I also bought and own TS10, in the past I bought Trainz, TRS04 (4 times including the Ultimate Edition pack) TRS06 (twice), TC3 and TS09. I also bought several route DVDs released by AURAN.

Cheers

VinnyBarb
 
VinnyBarb said:
There is NO excuse of not having enough men/womenpower to fix in TS09 what needs to be fixed or do the SP upgrade for TS09
VinnyBarb
Click to expand...
Oh yes there is the TS2009 is now the old model.

look its just not the way us Australians do things

she'll be right mate they will get the next work experance boy to sort the bugs out between doing the coffee runs.

Its a well published fact that after each trainz relase, hot on its heels is a required Service pack, its all ways been that way. Even TRS2004 which is often presented as the most stable trainz every by some needed quite a few SPs to get where it is today.
 
John,
You've really made a good point here.
I personally think that your idea is spot on, exactly what is needed, after all isn't that what the Announcements Forum is about?

It's really good to see one of these threads that actually has some constructive points in it, rather than certain other threads that bash Auran, and ask people to petition them.
I was recently talking to my teacher (an extraordinary person BTW) who pointed out to me that often, a kind approach is the best if you want to get somewhere.
Though most of the time my hot headed self would disagree, I think it applies very well here.
Perhaps if we encourage Auran, and show them that the Trainz Community is for them and not against them, we may get somewhere.
Auran is just another company really, trying to make it in a tough economic world, we should support them I suppose.

I reckon the quote that my Grandma always taught me applies here:
"Money Talks, B.S Walks!"


Cheers,
Woody:wave:
 
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illinoiscentral said:
John,
You've really made a good point here.
I personally think that your idea is spot on, exactly what is needed, after all isn't that what the Announcements Forum is about?

It's really good to see one of these threads that actually has some constructive points in it, rather than certain other threads that bash Auran, and ask people to petition them.
I was recently talking to my teacher (an extraordinary person BTW) who pointed out to me that often, a kind approach is the best if you want to get somewhere.
Though most of the time my hot headed self would disagree, I think it applies very well here.
Perhaps if we encourage Auran, and show them that the Trainz Community is for them and not against them, we may get somewhere.
Auran is just another company really, trying to make it in a tough economic world, we should support them I suppose.

I reckon the quote that my Grandma always taught me applies here:
"Money Talks, B.S Walks!"


Cheers,
Woody:wave:
Click to expand...

Woody,

What made me think of this was in my previous job, I worked as a customer service representative, among other postiions. I would face customers and dealers calling me about products we couldn't ship. It wasn't our fault, but I couldn't say what the problem was either. Eventually we lost quite a few big customers because they couldn't get their materials on time. All the while this was happening, I had to keep quiet. People would tell me it's better to say something truthful rather than nothing.

John
 
Woody,

Very nice post from you.

It is good to see the.... kinder, gentler side of Woody.

Yes, I agree with the OP and the topic.

Have fun,:)
 
The obvious place to make announcements would be on that page that pops up when you start Trainz, assuming you're connected to the Internet of course. I think we need to constantly remind ourselves that the Forum isn't that well patronised by the majority of Trainz users.

Many newbies (and not so newbies) find themselves here out of frustration, They ask a question, get an answer and vaporise until the next problem arises.

By placing announcements on the game home page, Auran can then direct people to a page on their website or an announcement post in these forums. Then if people decide not to follow up, no one is to blame.

The ad-hoc approach currently used by Auran and their staff is like writing notes on pieces of paper and throwing them in the air. Take for example, this significant post:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showpost.php?p=564343&postcount=8

I wonder how many people actually saw it?
 
Johnk said:
The obvious place to make announcements would be on that page that pops up when you start Trainz, assuming you're connected to the Internet of course. I think we need to constantly remind ourselves that the Forum isn't that well patronised by the majority of Trainz users.

Many newbies (and not so newbies) find themselves here out of frustration, They ask a question, get an answer and vaporise until the next problem arises.

By placing announcements on the game home page, Auran can then direct people to a page on their website or an announcement post in these forums. Then if people decide not to follow up, no one is to blame.

The ad-hoc approach currently used by Auran and their staff is like writing notes on pieces of paper and throwing them in the air. Take for example, this significant post:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showpost.php?p=564343&postcount=8

I wonder how many people actually saw it?
Click to expand...

John,

This is exacly what I'm talking about. A recent post somewhere from Zec Murphy pointed out that they have problems with shipping, and there are delays moving product to the US. If this had been put in the annoucements thread, it would've been great.

Your idea for posting within the main screen of the game is nice for DLS problems, and patch releases, an other things of that nature.

John
 
John I fully agree with you regarding the game page, but even a simple one-liner saying the forum announcements or Auran web site has been updated is all it takes.

Those who normally don't visit the forums still have the option not to, but they may be missing out on an important announcement.

Taking things further, I decided to reload 2009 on my new computer last night. I then went looking for the service packs using the game page and what a merry chase that ended up being. I eventually found myself at TrainzDev then Spiffy's forum post, but I honestly couldn't figure it out. I think it's all too hard for the casual user if there's no specific Q&A.
 
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