hiawathamr
DLC developer for Trainz
So it’s been 2 years since TCCP v2.0 came online replacing TCCP v1.0 and after a while of using it this is my review on the new system. Hopefully N3V will consider some of this feedback. I'm only going to concentrate on the content creation side rather than the beta side as there isn't much worth saying.
The good:
- I really, really, really love having the ability to build and test our own packages. This was one of my wishes with TCCP v1.0 and I was happy to hear this. I can now easily see what the final size of my DLC packs will be without having to guess it all. No longer must wait for N3V to build the package for us.
- I like that we have control over what we consider featured, what we could consider payware. This was something we had no control over, and I don't think N3V did either from when talking about the older system.
- I like that we can upload our own marketing materials and see what they would look like when they go onto the Trainz store. Another feature that we had to wait for N3V to do for us on the older system.
The bad:
- After beta testing, you go into the queue which can be anywhere from 3 month to what feels like years.
- Zec will fail your package if he spots one issue instead of continuing with testing the DLC to report other issues. So instead of reporting issue 1, issue 2, etc and fixing issues 1, issue 2, etc, you must keep resubmitting and waiting 3+ months before you know if your package is good or not.
The ugly:
- I've had it when Zec signed up to beta test my DLCs and progress never proceeded with no message. Industrial Switching was one of those forgotten a year later so a new SC number had to be applied and resubmitted.
- The beta testers... where to even start? I know there some very few that'll beta test but majority of them use it to gain early access to the DLCs rather than beta test. This is where I loved it when N3V handled the packages they had a set of beta testers that beta tested and gave you feedback. Beta testing in this new system is a joke and useless when the beta testers don't submit their feedback nor report issues. I've added bugs to my packages to see if any of them would report them and no one did so I've had to remember to take out the bug before pushing it to N3V. Then when its released that's when purchasers report issues and an update has to be submitted because none of the beta testers reported them. Again, beta testing is a complete joke and a waste of time.
Overall, I'd prefer TCCP v1.0 over TCCP v2.0 as a lot more things got done when N3V reviewed and had their set of beta testers test your DLC package. I’ve got way more feedback and issues fixed within the 2–3-week period than I get done with the current 2-week period with the new system. What I would like to see changed is maybe having someone hired just for the DLC branch or something.
So yeah, that’s my review on the system as a content creator and my two cents worth.
Cheers
The good:
- I really, really, really love having the ability to build and test our own packages. This was one of my wishes with TCCP v1.0 and I was happy to hear this. I can now easily see what the final size of my DLC packs will be without having to guess it all. No longer must wait for N3V to build the package for us.
- I like that we have control over what we consider featured, what we could consider payware. This was something we had no control over, and I don't think N3V did either from when talking about the older system.
- I like that we can upload our own marketing materials and see what they would look like when they go onto the Trainz store. Another feature that we had to wait for N3V to do for us on the older system.
The bad:
- After beta testing, you go into the queue which can be anywhere from 3 month to what feels like years.
- Zec will fail your package if he spots one issue instead of continuing with testing the DLC to report other issues. So instead of reporting issue 1, issue 2, etc and fixing issues 1, issue 2, etc, you must keep resubmitting and waiting 3+ months before you know if your package is good or not.
The ugly:
- I've had it when Zec signed up to beta test my DLCs and progress never proceeded with no message. Industrial Switching was one of those forgotten a year later so a new SC number had to be applied and resubmitted.
- The beta testers... where to even start? I know there some very few that'll beta test but majority of them use it to gain early access to the DLCs rather than beta test. This is where I loved it when N3V handled the packages they had a set of beta testers that beta tested and gave you feedback. Beta testing in this new system is a joke and useless when the beta testers don't submit their feedback nor report issues. I've added bugs to my packages to see if any of them would report them and no one did so I've had to remember to take out the bug before pushing it to N3V. Then when its released that's when purchasers report issues and an update has to be submitted because none of the beta testers reported them. Again, beta testing is a complete joke and a waste of time.
Overall, I'd prefer TCCP v1.0 over TCCP v2.0 as a lot more things got done when N3V reviewed and had their set of beta testers test your DLC package. I’ve got way more feedback and issues fixed within the 2–3-week period than I get done with the current 2-week period with the new system. What I would like to see changed is maybe having someone hired just for the DLC branch or something.
So yeah, that’s my review on the system as a content creator and my two cents worth.
Cheers