New BR Mk1 coaches - thanks N3V!

This has been raised before, ie. should N3V have a clearly defined product life-cycle for their DLC? I can understand them wanting to offer benefits to those who subscribe, but I'm not sure that works for stuff that's years old. There should be a critical path that leads to:

(a) beta and RC versions available to Trainz Plus beta subscribers [t-3 to 6 months]
(b) initial release to Trainz Plus (at discount) or Gold subscribers (free) [t=0]
(c) release to TRS19/22 owners (payware) [t+6 months]
(d) release to DLS (freeware) [t+5 years]

In this way you are incentivising each tier of your membership as well as ensuring that your product has an 'afterlife' that will last beyond the immediate release. Offering models only to subscribers - as well as creating a two-tier Trainz membership - risks models becoming very 'niche' and only known to a small fraction of the Trainz userbase. Also, of course, such models cannot be used in Sessions that are designed to be uploaded to the DLS for the whole community.

Of course, if N3V wish to fully embrace SAAS - which is their right - then the next version of Trainz should be subscriber-only and not available to buy and install.
Unfortunately, N3V Games already have a Trainz game that is subscriber-only and not actually available to purchase and install, not that I care since TRS 2022, 2019, T:ANE, and 12 still exist. Trainz Plus is that Trainz game. Like, I can understand dlc having issues and needing to be subscriber-only for a few months, however it's been at least 3 years and the Budd RDC-1, A1 Tornado, BR HST, Amtrak Superliners, and New Haven Industrial dlc haven't been made purchasable at all, which pisses me off, because I'd really like to purchase that dlc and make use of it, I don't want to pay monthly just to be able to use that content. This is not how dlc is supposed to work. And they're even doing this with Santa Fe Needles District 2.0 and mind you, Approach Medium made SF Needles District. It's just ridiculous at this point. I have no issues with the subscription, except locking features behind paywalls, which is a big no-no when it comes to video game development, but locking dlc behind a subscription is just ridiculous and a huge dong move.
 
This bump of my thread has reminded me that these coaches came out exactly three years ago and they're still not available to purchase as DLC for non-subscriber versions of the game. Bearing in mind these coaches (in blue and grey) are absolutely essential for anyone modelling British Railways from the 60s to the 90s, I think it's clear that Trainz is now really a subscription-based service. Perhaps they should say so?
 
This bump of my thread has reminded me that these coaches came out exactly three years ago and they're still not available to purchase as DLC for non-subscriber versions of the game. Bearing in mind these coaches (in blue and grey) are absolutely essential for anyone modelling British Railways from the 60s to the 90s, I think it's clear that Trainz is now really a subscription-based service. Perhaps they should say so?
The same with other stuff, including the Budd RDC-1 pack, Amtrak Superliners Pack, BR HST Pack, Datsun Junction, and New Haven Industrial, all of which have been out for 3 years and are still locked behind a ridiculous subscription wall. I know N3V Games is a small team of devs, but one of the worst things to do as a game developer is lock things behind unnecessary paywalls. Locking features behind paywalls is also a no-no. If I buy a game, I should be able to access the updates and new features that come out, not pay for them, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms I don't feel like opening.
 
Suffer or pay.
That's pretty much the best way to describe it. Hell, I would gladly pay for the dlc I mentioned in my reply (as well as what the user who replied to me mentioned in his reply), but I can't because that content can only be access through a subscription, which is a no-no from other Trainz users and I. Pretty crappy thing, it is.
 
This bump of my thread has reminded me that these coaches came out exactly three years ago and they're still not available to purchase as DLC for non-subscriber versions of the game. Bearing in mind these coaches (in blue and grey) are absolutely essential for anyone modelling British Railways from the 60s to the 90s, I think it's clear that Trainz is now really a subscription-based service. Perhaps they should say so?
It might be worth checking out what pilotwoo and dundun intend with their BR coach project. Seems like what they are doing will be better than N3V's tired old lot.
 
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And on that theme can I give a plug to their new BR Mk1 non-gangwayed stock? The first pack is available at https://store.trainzportal.com/collections/dlc/products/br-mk1-suburban-coaches-pack-1. The coaches are superb and the attention to detail stunning. I think there will be blue ones along in due course. And only $14.99!

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