To be clear, there is no deception here. We are very upfront that members get benefits. Non-members can choose the offering we provide to purchase or not.
Trainz Plus features make their way into future Trainz Retail releases. The TRS22 release includes the Trainz Plus updates from 2018 to 2021. (S20 phase 1 was completed in Feb this year for Trainz Plus and there is more development to go).
We haven't announced future updates yet, but based upon history you can assume a Platinum Edition will come online in the next year or two followed by another full Trainz Retail release a year or two after that.
As I have said elsewhere, we believe the membership option is incredible value at <18 cents a day (if paid annually). And that includes an FCT which many people buy regularly anyway.
We also think that 5 x $40 routes plus a bunch of other content and new features is great value for $70.
Waiting for anyone to tell me how Surveyor 2.0 just works in the subscription versions and not the full release.
As above, it's available for those people who are members. Later this month, Trainz Plus Beta will begin testing the next new feature for members.
There's also a bunch of new content already in development or testing for the next retail version of Trainz and Trainz Plus and Gold Class members will get access to that content as it comes online in the coming months and years.
Then that gets wrapped into a new Retail release.
Ultimately, each person gets to make a decision
(i) stick with the current version,
(ii) buy the new version,
(iii) choose a membership option, or
(iv) walk away.
The more people who choose option (ii) or (iii) the more features we can add, the quicker we can deliver updates, and the better value for your money.
