Maybe off the current Trainz of Thought, but I just can not wrap my head around the whole idea and theory that N3V is willing to risk losing 20,000 current users/buyers just gain 10,000 "new" users/buyers.
I "get" that 10,000 NEW users IN ADDITION TO current users/buyers is always a good thing, and profitable, but it very much seems from some of the posts that I've read, that N3V is WILLING to alienate a large portion of it's current RETURN CUSTOMERS just to gain a handful of new ones.
-In business, a "returning customer" is a hundred times MORE LIKELY to spend more per purchase than a "New" customer.
-500,000 current users/buyers MINUS 20,000 alienated customers PLUS 10,000 "new" customers is STILL a NET LOSS of 10,000 users/buyers.
--Those 10,000 NEW customers will spend less per purchase than the exsisting 20,000.
Maybe "business" degrees in Australia are different than here in the USA ( I wouldn't actually think so), but it still makes NO financial sense to "Alienate" such a large number of users/buyers/RETURN CUSTOMERS, just because you THINK you can sell a few more less profitable items, ie "Upgraded" versions with "higher standards" that make all the old DLS content "Faulty".
--Keeping in mind, the wealth of "free" stuff on the DLS from PAST versions is what makes ANY PC version of Trainz so desirable.
N3V's current path for PC products is leading to a deep dark forest of regret, in my opinion.
-I have and use TS12 v.49922
-I did download ALL "SP1" related updates and Hot Fixes
-I DID try "SP1" update, on a completely fresh/clean install of TS12
-I DID have problems and issues that were so "bothersome" to correct, that within 24 hours, I wiped the "SP1" version from my hard drive.
--IF "SP1" had been implemented better, I may still be using it, and my opinion may have ended up 180 degrees from what it is now, but they didn't.
---Perhaps BEFORE rolling out "SP1" to the public, they should have fixed ALL the Built-in and older DLS content to meet the new "minimum standard", such as; adding thumbnails, and fixing the "single color" issues, but they did not, they fixed a few specific items that they "think" people use a lot, and even that was not fixed correctly.
I feel sorry for those that purchase TS12 after all the "SP1" stuff is bundled up in the initial install, and are unable to "un-do" or roll back to 49922, as they will be left in the cold, and probably "turned off" to Trainz, reducing GREATLY the chance they'll buy a SECOND product.
--MOST "Casual Users" will NOT take the time to "fix" broken/faulty Content, they will simply move on to something that "works" right out of the box, so to speak.
-N3V really needs to re-examine their standing and loyalty to their CORE BASE and the "Returning Customer", no matter how few of us are actually "vocal" about it.
NO "In-Game Downloads" Thank you very much, I want to have the Files on my Hard Drive, to install as, and when, I see fit.