Looking For A New Group To Form
- Thread starter LWVRR
- Start date
I have to admit that the lack of response from established creators does not really surprise me, for a couple of reasons. First, I expect that the established creators are pretty much where they want to be. There are enough groups around that any creator who wants to be part of one, most likely is. Secondly, many of the established creators have been burned a time or two by changes in policy. When I first came to Trainz in 2006, there was a bit of a kerfluffle (that's a technical term for it, I think) about changes enforcement of content policy between 2004 and 2006 that caused some to become inactive, and the changes introduced more recently have caused a reprise of the first. Third, I think some of the established creators have had their fill of groups, having been a part of a couple, and being dissatisfied, to one degree or another in each. I know of a couple of groups which were quite active when I came to the scene that, while the group still exists, many of the creators have gone their separate ways, for whatever reason. Some of them have found their way to competing railroad simulators. Finally, some of them (I suspect) have just found other pursuits, whether for their "amusement" computer time, or imposed by real life considerations. Some of the recent posts suggest to me that some of them may come back at some point, but others may not.
Also, the SP1 release of TS12 is impending, but I expect work is already underway on the next major release, and I expect that, if not in this one, in an upcoming major release, there will be a change that will further alienate some of the old time creators. As nearly as I can tell, the Jet game engine that runs Trainz is getting a bit stale. There have been tweaks to it, but I don't think there has been a major revision for a while, and I suspect at some point in the near future, this is going to have to come. I don't have the access to information (and frankly, the information may not yet exist) as to whether updating the game engine can be accomplished in a way that does not break, or at least minimizes breakage of existing content. I expect that the number of creators who stop creating content for Trainz will be directly proportional to the amount of content that gets fails to work.
Next, looking at the power of machines today, I think that more attention needs to be paid to some technical aspects of engineering. I have yet to see a route that incorporates anything close to real drainage principles, for example. Look at any rail line that is at grade, and you'll see a drainage ditch on either side, and frequent culverts in areas where standing water tends to accumulate, to keep the water on both sides of the track substructure in equilibrium, but I've yet to see a screenshot of any route that incorporates anything other than the merest nod to the concept of drainage. The quality of modeling, particularly in terms of locomotives has improved greatly, but the quality of the "stage" on which the locomotives are operating has not kept pace. I'd like to see the quality of the stage improve, now that computers have more power.
So, I think a better solution might be to expand the mission of the group just a wee bit, to include not just promoting railroading of a certain age (or ages--I would argue that there are several "golden ages"--the golden age of interurbans, the golden age of narrow guage, the golden age of passenger service, the golden age of steam, &c), but to also incorporate an "Academy" or "Institute".
I see a quantity of posts from a number of people who are looking for help in various ways--how to find a particular asset, how to create content, how to build a route--which gives me some relief in the future. But some of these people may be at some disadvantage over some of us more senior, in that N3V does not have the size of staff, and seems to have fewer resources to devote to helping out new creators the way I suspect older creators were assisted. There are a number of tutorials which need to be updated, and I would rate the documentation of Trains to be generally weak, to the extent that I am amazed that so much high quality content exists from third party creators. This is more so, when I look at other simulators. For example, on my "to-do" list is a tugboat I found on line (sorry it won't fit the "golden age" theme, as it's a very recent vessel--on second thought, it will too, as it fits right in with the "Golden age of intermodal containerization", which I admit may be a bit of a stretch of the concept), and I briefly perused some descriptions of some of the ship simulators, and did not find one that supported user created content. By incorporating an academy, we help grow the next crop of master creators. A few of these will stay with the new group, but others, like the established creators currently exploring the imagined Golden Age of Railroading on Mars, will go off to their own ventures.
Just some thoughts....
ns
Also, the SP1 release of TS12 is impending, but I expect work is already underway on the next major release, and I expect that, if not in this one, in an upcoming major release, there will be a change that will further alienate some of the old time creators. As nearly as I can tell, the Jet game engine that runs Trainz is getting a bit stale. There have been tweaks to it, but I don't think there has been a major revision for a while, and I suspect at some point in the near future, this is going to have to come. I don't have the access to information (and frankly, the information may not yet exist) as to whether updating the game engine can be accomplished in a way that does not break, or at least minimizes breakage of existing content. I expect that the number of creators who stop creating content for Trainz will be directly proportional to the amount of content that gets fails to work.
Next, looking at the power of machines today, I think that more attention needs to be paid to some technical aspects of engineering. I have yet to see a route that incorporates anything close to real drainage principles, for example. Look at any rail line that is at grade, and you'll see a drainage ditch on either side, and frequent culverts in areas where standing water tends to accumulate, to keep the water on both sides of the track substructure in equilibrium, but I've yet to see a screenshot of any route that incorporates anything other than the merest nod to the concept of drainage. The quality of modeling, particularly in terms of locomotives has improved greatly, but the quality of the "stage" on which the locomotives are operating has not kept pace. I'd like to see the quality of the stage improve, now that computers have more power.
So, I think a better solution might be to expand the mission of the group just a wee bit, to include not just promoting railroading of a certain age (or ages--I would argue that there are several "golden ages"--the golden age of interurbans, the golden age of narrow guage, the golden age of passenger service, the golden age of steam, &c), but to also incorporate an "Academy" or "Institute".
I see a quantity of posts from a number of people who are looking for help in various ways--how to find a particular asset, how to create content, how to build a route--which gives me some relief in the future. But some of these people may be at some disadvantage over some of us more senior, in that N3V does not have the size of staff, and seems to have fewer resources to devote to helping out new creators the way I suspect older creators were assisted. There are a number of tutorials which need to be updated, and I would rate the documentation of Trains to be generally weak, to the extent that I am amazed that so much high quality content exists from third party creators. This is more so, when I look at other simulators. For example, on my "to-do" list is a tugboat I found on line (sorry it won't fit the "golden age" theme, as it's a very recent vessel--on second thought, it will too, as it fits right in with the "Golden age of intermodal containerization", which I admit may be a bit of a stretch of the concept), and I briefly perused some descriptions of some of the ship simulators, and did not find one that supported user created content. By incorporating an academy, we help grow the next crop of master creators. A few of these will stay with the new group, but others, like the established creators currently exploring the imagined Golden Age of Railroading on Mars, will go off to their own ventures.
Just some thoughts....
ns
Out of the PM's I sent out to some of the active content creators, I only got one reply back...and that reply was semi-nasty. I shall look at that creator (who shall remain nameless) in a different light from this point on.
He's talking about me. I have no idea why he thought my reply was "semi nasty." If you want to look at me in a different light that's your right. But I would never intentionally write anything to hurt anyone or want anyone to think of me as a "semi nasty" person. I think you misunderstood my reply.
Cheers,
Dave
Hello Mjolnir and LWVRR,
That's a very thoughtful post you have given us, mjolnir. I would, however, suggest, that we not draw conclusions from one response from one creator, who might just have been having a bad day, or might only have written a response with something in mind, but didn't realize how it appeared to someone who was reading it out of context. If it was Dave Snow it has to be something like that. He, after all, is the one who published an apology for something that was almost invisible to everyone he was apologizing to, and has proven himself to be a perfect gentleman over time. Let's keep a spirit of optimism and, to the extent we may be greeted with some skepticism, prove we are real with good natured persistence.
Just my $0.04 (gave my $0.02 in an earlier post :hehe:. Will I run out of cents?
Never!).
Bernie
That's a very thoughtful post you have given us, mjolnir. I would, however, suggest, that we not draw conclusions from one response from one creator, who might just have been having a bad day, or might only have written a response with something in mind, but didn't realize how it appeared to someone who was reading it out of context. If it was Dave Snow it has to be something like that. He, after all, is the one who published an apology for something that was almost invisible to everyone he was apologizing to, and has proven himself to be a perfect gentleman over time. Let's keep a spirit of optimism and, to the extent we may be greeted with some skepticism, prove we are real with good natured persistence.
Just my $0.04 (gave my $0.02 in an earlier post :hehe:. Will I run out of cents?
Never!).Bernie
@mjolnir: Talking about tugboats, this one would fit in nicely though.
It's the star of a book called 'Hollands Glorie' with as main human character 'Jan Wandelaar'. A name I often use the few times I'm in a bar to order a whiskey since it translates litterally to Johnny Walker. :hehe:
@Bernie: One of the things that do happen when writing texts on the internet is conflicting interpretation of statements made and written. Obviously something like that is the case here too and that shouldn't cloud, as you so eloquently stated, the proceedings here.
Greetings from nighttime Amsterdam,
Jan
It's the star of a book called 'Hollands Glorie' with as main human character 'Jan Wandelaar'. A name I often use the few times I'm in a bar to order a whiskey since it translates litterally to Johnny Walker. :hehe:
@Bernie: One of the things that do happen when writing texts on the internet is conflicting interpretation of statements made and written. Obviously something like that is the case here too and that shouldn't cloud, as you so eloquently stated, the proceedings here.
Greetings from nighttime Amsterdam,
Jan
steamboateng
New member
The written word has its limits; especially via cyberspace. A writer's meaning and a recipient's understanding are always subjective to the individual.
First, Jan, the tugboat that caught my eye was the MV Noon Wednesday, Port of Mobile, AL
\
One of the things I'd like to see in an upcoming release of Trainz, is the capability of having drivable vehicles that are not engines dressed up to look like, in this case, a tugboat. When that happens, I will likely contact the builders to secure permission to produce this as an asset for Trainz. [NB: under US Intellectual Property law, Naval architecture plans--"Naval" here meaning designs for all ships, not just military ones--are copyrightable]
Bernie, regarding your wise counsel,
since I was aware of LWVRR's characterization of the exchange at the time I crafted my post, I can't say the characterization had no impact at all. I would note though, that even in the case of people I know very well, I never make judgements having heard any a single side of any issue. Further, the opinions I wrote have been forming over a period of months, if not years, so any impact of the exchange on what I wrote at most miniscule, and most likely non-existent.
ns
One of the things I'd like to see in an upcoming release of Trainz, is the capability of having drivable vehicles that are not engines dressed up to look like, in this case, a tugboat. When that happens, I will likely contact the builders to secure permission to produce this as an asset for Trainz. [NB: under US Intellectual Property law, Naval architecture plans--"Naval" here meaning designs for all ships, not just military ones--are copyrightable]
Bernie, regarding your wise counsel,
since I was aware of LWVRR's characterization of the exchange at the time I crafted my post, I can't say the characterization had no impact at all. I would note though, that even in the case of people I know very well, I never make judgements having heard any a single side of any issue. Further, the opinions I wrote have been forming over a period of months, if not years, so any impact of the exchange on what I wrote at most miniscule, and most likely non-existent.
ns
Maybe "Mid Century ModelERS Assoc."
In any case, I'll vote to for the "academy" concept. Here's the thing - I for one have had my fill of running my own businesses, so I have no real desire to become a faux, quasi, and real corporation in the trainz community.
I think the idea that makes most sense to me would be modeled after an other group to which I once belonged. It was called Musical Instruments Technicians Association International. It formed just prior to the Internet going public - members originally communicated via a bi-monthly news letter, snail-mail, and telephone. The idea was never to take all technicians and make them members of a collective and operating under a single name. Rather each one retained their sovereignty and were members of the group which existed to foster communication between technicians and education of younger techs by accomplished members.
In those days (late 1980s) many manufacturers of electronic organs had gone out of business. Those that were left no longer offered educational opertunities such as seminars and with the closure of many companies, there were no places to find special parts. MITA came into being to fill the need for the proliferation of information. Schematics, knowledge, and who had what bits and pieces in their basement or barn.
I think that's the best form this group can take. An association of Trainz content creators who release content under their own names and are about promoting the community at large though the dissemination of their knowledge to others.
In any case, I'll vote to for the "academy" concept. Here's the thing - I for one have had my fill of running my own businesses, so I have no real desire to become a faux, quasi, and real corporation in the trainz community.
I think the idea that makes most sense to me would be modeled after an other group to which I once belonged. It was called Musical Instruments Technicians Association International. It formed just prior to the Internet going public - members originally communicated via a bi-monthly news letter, snail-mail, and telephone. The idea was never to take all technicians and make them members of a collective and operating under a single name. Rather each one retained their sovereignty and were members of the group which existed to foster communication between technicians and education of younger techs by accomplished members.
In those days (late 1980s) many manufacturers of electronic organs had gone out of business. Those that were left no longer offered educational opertunities such as seminars and with the closure of many companies, there were no places to find special parts. MITA came into being to fill the need for the proliferation of information. Schematics, knowledge, and who had what bits and pieces in their basement or barn.
I think that's the best form this group can take. An association of Trainz content creators who release content under their own names and are about promoting the community at large though the dissemination of their knowledge to others.
This sounds like an interesting group. I too am of the middle-age now and now retired. My heyday was the 1960s to the present with the waning of steam and the early diesels becoming the mainstream. ALCo RS-3s and Fairbanks Morse Trainmasters were still ruling the rails along with GMC E8s and the early GP-9s and then the GP40s. The old famous companies were sadly competing more and more with the auto industry, but they were still trudging along. I still remember seeing old NYC RS-3s working along the B&A, and New Haven Hornets racing up and down from New Haven to New York. This to me was the exciting time of railroading, perhaps out of nostalgia to when I was a kid and used to sit with my dad on the fence overlooking the old Bradford yard.
Anyway, I'm not so much a content creator but more of a researcher and historian. I love digging up the history of a rail line, the region, and what made everything grow. I'm also a route builder with a fastidious attention to detail and perfection, yet do compromise for performance. I'd rather have something that performs well than something that is so chock full of details, right down to sewer manhole covers, that it is impossible to drive. I am also a good story teller (as if you guys can't tell), and can come up with a purpose for a fictional route if someone builds one. Remember the old saying that every railroad has a purpose...
I too have noticed the differences here in the forums. Like any community they grow up and residents leave, and sadly pass on. In our small niche hobby this is more like a small town so we notice this more than in the larger realm of the computer game and simulation world. Over time people develop other interests too and life also gets in the way, or this hobby becomes like any other and gets dabbled in once in a great while instead of all the time. I can say this from a personal note. I spend a good time going through bursts of route building energy then quit. I'll poke on the forums, download updates to CM, but not do any building or driving anything in Trainz. Instead I'm off playing other games on the computer, trying to get my piano-playing skills back in order, or doing other things. Due to my other ongoing issues, the piano alone is very frustrating and depressing, which doesn't help other fun activities as well.
The other thing too is the younger generation. There are exceptions of course, and I'm not trying to generalize here which this may seem to be. This group really don't have the patience to learn how to do things like the rest of us. We spent or spend the time digging through the dirt, using our imagination, and solving problems. Instead, many of them walk away in a snit and give up too easily because they are used to the iPad and the click-to-create instant everything world. The really great early developers, I agree here, got burned by the updates to the program. Sadly, many of them could have easily updated their skills. In all intent and purposes, the process is still pretty much the same, only with more details required to make the assets work properly. The sad part is Auran had and N3V still has this carefree, let the content creators figure this out on their own, attitude which really hurts the efforts. For a company that survives mainly because of the passion of the content creators, this is a sad place to be. I agree we need better documentation about what's required. I have a feeling that all in all this isn't all their fault. Having worked in the high tech industry since 1980, I've seen this through out my tenure there. The developers are smart, come up with great products, and then documentation is the last thing on their mind. Sadly, in order to make stuff work, we need easily available documentation! The other problem now is we have an even smaller company without the resources to create the documentation for us, which is what was done before with the CGIs and the much larger support structure. Instead, we're left with one of those really confusing, convoluted, and very incomplete Wiki-things. I would rather have a single document I can download, print-out, and use as a reference. There's nothing worse than having to dig to find information.
I agree too that the trains may look great, but their stage is still the same. With our current technology, our machines are quite capable of dynamic lighting, shadows, and reflections. Sadly, our simulation we love so much is still in the early days of computer simulations. The Jet engine, the old stalwart, really doesn't have what it should, in my opinion. The lighting we have is better than it used to be, but objects still look like cardboard boxes with photo textures placed on a painted surface. Trees look like they're glued on the ground, and the water looks like a Mylar sheet with ripples. That lack of shadows in the world is sadly the killer. This is great for a model railroad simulation, but this simulation has grown out of that original mode it was in. Perhaps if this program was developed from the opposite point of view like the other more difficult simulation to model in.
Having said this in my very long winded post as usual, perhaps we should think of this group as a way to keep the hobby going. We could work together to train new users and encourage new creators rather than alienating them. Sadly, there will always be those that don't listen, and don't take criticism. These people are not uncommon and we just have to let them go. They will never learn, and will never improve. I've seen this in piano students who were so full of themselves, that their names were coming out of their...! (fill in the blank). These people won't get anywhere, and sadly are the ones that scream the loudest about how difficult the program is to use.
We could work on developing our own documentation. I said before I am willing to do this, and now that I have plenty of time on my hands, this would surely be a big project to keep me occupied. We would need N3V's help and encouragement here, but it's surely doable. It's not something that can happen instantaneously, but more over time as it's perfected. Yes, there will be changes, but so what. They can be incorporated as updates to the original document. As I said before, a lot has changed, but a lot has remained the same. This is the same with content creation its self.
Anyway my thoughts on this. Thank you for starting this thoughtful thread!
John
Anyway, I'm not so much a content creator but more of a researcher and historian. I love digging up the history of a rail line, the region, and what made everything grow. I'm also a route builder with a fastidious attention to detail and perfection, yet do compromise for performance. I'd rather have something that performs well than something that is so chock full of details, right down to sewer manhole covers, that it is impossible to drive. I am also a good story teller (as if you guys can't tell), and can come up with a purpose for a fictional route if someone builds one. Remember the old saying that every railroad has a purpose...
I too have noticed the differences here in the forums. Like any community they grow up and residents leave, and sadly pass on. In our small niche hobby this is more like a small town so we notice this more than in the larger realm of the computer game and simulation world. Over time people develop other interests too and life also gets in the way, or this hobby becomes like any other and gets dabbled in once in a great while instead of all the time. I can say this from a personal note. I spend a good time going through bursts of route building energy then quit. I'll poke on the forums, download updates to CM, but not do any building or driving anything in Trainz. Instead I'm off playing other games on the computer, trying to get my piano-playing skills back in order, or doing other things. Due to my other ongoing issues, the piano alone is very frustrating and depressing, which doesn't help other fun activities as well.
The other thing too is the younger generation. There are exceptions of course, and I'm not trying to generalize here which this may seem to be. This group really don't have the patience to learn how to do things like the rest of us. We spent or spend the time digging through the dirt, using our imagination, and solving problems. Instead, many of them walk away in a snit and give up too easily because they are used to the iPad and the click-to-create instant everything world. The really great early developers, I agree here, got burned by the updates to the program. Sadly, many of them could have easily updated their skills. In all intent and purposes, the process is still pretty much the same, only with more details required to make the assets work properly. The sad part is Auran had and N3V still has this carefree, let the content creators figure this out on their own, attitude which really hurts the efforts. For a company that survives mainly because of the passion of the content creators, this is a sad place to be. I agree we need better documentation about what's required. I have a feeling that all in all this isn't all their fault. Having worked in the high tech industry since 1980, I've seen this through out my tenure there. The developers are smart, come up with great products, and then documentation is the last thing on their mind. Sadly, in order to make stuff work, we need easily available documentation! The other problem now is we have an even smaller company without the resources to create the documentation for us, which is what was done before with the CGIs and the much larger support structure. Instead, we're left with one of those really confusing, convoluted, and very incomplete Wiki-things. I would rather have a single document I can download, print-out, and use as a reference. There's nothing worse than having to dig to find information.
I agree too that the trains may look great, but their stage is still the same. With our current technology, our machines are quite capable of dynamic lighting, shadows, and reflections. Sadly, our simulation we love so much is still in the early days of computer simulations. The Jet engine, the old stalwart, really doesn't have what it should, in my opinion. The lighting we have is better than it used to be, but objects still look like cardboard boxes with photo textures placed on a painted surface. Trees look like they're glued on the ground, and the water looks like a Mylar sheet with ripples. That lack of shadows in the world is sadly the killer. This is great for a model railroad simulation, but this simulation has grown out of that original mode it was in. Perhaps if this program was developed from the opposite point of view like the other more difficult simulation to model in.
Having said this in my very long winded post as usual, perhaps we should think of this group as a way to keep the hobby going. We could work together to train new users and encourage new creators rather than alienating them. Sadly, there will always be those that don't listen, and don't take criticism. These people are not uncommon and we just have to let them go. They will never learn, and will never improve. I've seen this in piano students who were so full of themselves, that their names were coming out of their...! (fill in the blank). These people won't get anywhere, and sadly are the ones that scream the loudest about how difficult the program is to use.
We could work on developing our own documentation. I said before I am willing to do this, and now that I have plenty of time on my hands, this would surely be a big project to keep me occupied. We would need N3V's help and encouragement here, but it's surely doable. It's not something that can happen instantaneously, but more over time as it's perfected. Yes, there will be changes, but so what. They can be incorporated as updates to the original document. As I said before, a lot has changed, but a lot has remained the same. This is the same with content creation its self.
Anyway my thoughts on this. Thank you for starting this thoughtful thread!
John
Documentation, yes. Meant to mention this before - I think that this group should also focus on contributing to the WIKI as well. Filling in the gaps and so forth. While I don't know the details, I know there's some bad juju about the Wiki, but I still think it's the best thing going and better to fill it out then to start from scratch.
My suggestion is the if a member does take the time to file and article or update information, they should also keep a local copy of their work and discoveries, so that someone pressing a button can't erase it from existence.
My suggestion is the if a member does take the time to file and article or update information, they should also keep a local copy of their work and discoveries, so that someone pressing a button can't erase it from existence.
Dave since you reveled yourself let me say that your reply started out by you saying no, then went on to question my motives for wanting to create this group. It sounded semi-nasty to me. That is why I replied- you just could of said "no". I expected better from a fellow content creator.
Just a few notes...
We want to add to our list Frogpipe & JCitron. We also have a supporter that will help us out when needed...Mike from Jointedrail (jointedrail)
Ok folks, it's time to start looking at the big picture. Start thinking up any ideas for this group. Start asking yourself these type of qurestions... Should we have a web site? How about a Facebook Page? Should we make our own content? Where should the content be hosted? How should we pick on what to work on? Exactly what eras should we be working on? What the best way to communicate with each other? Who won the English Football Cup in 1941? All these are good questions...well except the last one, I kind of phased out there for a second. Think of the direction you would like to see this group take. Write down those ideas!
We want to add to our list Frogpipe & JCitron. We also have a supporter that will help us out when needed...Mike from Jointedrail (jointedrail)
Ok folks, it's time to start looking at the big picture. Start thinking up any ideas for this group. Start asking yourself these type of qurestions... Should we have a web site? How about a Facebook Page? Should we make our own content? Where should the content be hosted? How should we pick on what to work on? Exactly what eras should we be working on? What the best way to communicate with each other? Who won the English Football Cup in 1941? All these are good questions...well except the last one, I kind of phased out there for a second. Think of the direction you would like to see this group take. Write down those ideas!
Hmm, bring me a 'smokey moonshine' perhaps?
On a more serious note, reading all the thoughts since this post, I think some ideas stand out as a common view on the path to take.
Working on completing documentation involving content creation and configuration, including hints and tips on the use of needed third party software.
The above will also make the introduction for new trainz enthousiasts into creating their favorite parts easier and less of a hassle and thus hopefully create a new influx of creative minds.
The form 'an association of trainz content creators' speaks the most to my imagination. I don't think the individualism of anybody interested in this here should be capped by some kind of company like structuring.
Finally there where some organising questions thrown in the group, well, I haven't thought about those yet... :hehe:
Greetings from sunny Amsterdam,
Jan
Incite on Me
Some folks have posted some thoughtful incite on themselves, I thought I should do the same.
Just the basics...
My name is Scott and I've been around since Trainz 1.3. I ran under the names of MrScott2006 and Lurganbr2005. Originally from Harrisburg Pa, I moved to the Wilkes-Barre PA. area in 2006. I am 48 going on 86...well that's what I feel like when getting out bed in the morning!
I always had an interest in trains but never done anything with that interest until I got Railroad Tycoon 2. It had a Pennsylvania map that I played on and that inspired me to start learning about the railroad industry in PA. I got into Trainz by simply searching for "railroad PC games" one day, I've had just about every version since.
In 2006 I moved to Wilkes-Barre and was fascinated by the railroad and the anthracite history of the area. The Laurel Line (my current project) was a 'no brainer" for me as it has everything that I'm interested in as far a railroads go. All this soon hit a nostalgia nerve with me as I'm now fascinated to learn about history and the way things were. I studied all about the Laurel Line, that why there is so much detail in the layout. Plus, with help from Jananton, I'm learning my way around Blender. I feel the best is yet to come as far as content creation is concerned. I found that I was interestest in the 1930's throught the 1950's content but I have no problems even going back further if need be.
Lately I started to think that there has to be other people out there that have some of the same interest that I do, why not get them together? Most of the screenshots you see here are with newer locomotives and newer rolling stock. There are a few folks like Whitepass, PWeiser & Pencil42 making the older content but those are few and far between. Those making general older content are even less.
So to sum it all up, I want to make a group specializing in the older content, help folks learn to make that content and keep that older railroad model scene alive and well for the future.
Some folks have posted some thoughtful incite on themselves, I thought I should do the same.
Just the basics...
My name is Scott and I've been around since Trainz 1.3. I ran under the names of MrScott2006 and Lurganbr2005. Originally from Harrisburg Pa, I moved to the Wilkes-Barre PA. area in 2006. I am 48 going on 86...well that's what I feel like when getting out bed in the morning!
I always had an interest in trains but never done anything with that interest until I got Railroad Tycoon 2. It had a Pennsylvania map that I played on and that inspired me to start learning about the railroad industry in PA. I got into Trainz by simply searching for "railroad PC games" one day, I've had just about every version since.
In 2006 I moved to Wilkes-Barre and was fascinated by the railroad and the anthracite history of the area. The Laurel Line (my current project) was a 'no brainer" for me as it has everything that I'm interested in as far a railroads go. All this soon hit a nostalgia nerve with me as I'm now fascinated to learn about history and the way things were. I studied all about the Laurel Line, that why there is so much detail in the layout. Plus, with help from Jananton, I'm learning my way around Blender. I feel the best is yet to come as far as content creation is concerned. I found that I was interestest in the 1930's throught the 1950's content but I have no problems even going back further if need be.
Lately I started to think that there has to be other people out there that have some of the same interest that I do, why not get them together? Most of the screenshots you see here are with newer locomotives and newer rolling stock. There are a few folks like Whitepass, PWeiser & Pencil42 making the older content but those are few and far between. Those making general older content are even less.
So to sum it all up, I want to make a group specializing in the older content, help folks learn to make that content and keep that older railroad model scene alive and well for the future.
