Railworks 3 to be released in september

[Vern]

It will indeed be interesting to see what is eventually released. It's always hard to know from screenshots. Whatever improvements they've made, hopefully it will be another solid step forward for the railroading market.




Very little? Certainly native mode has been around for years now, so it's not like we didn't give plenty of time for the faulty content to be repaired. We've also instigated the DLS repair program to ensure that faulty content created by people who have gone inactive for one reason or another can be repaired. There will always be some loss of compatibility whenever major changes are made, and that goes for all products not just ours- but I'm pretty happy with the level of effort that we've put into compatibility.

Q: Will Trainz Simulator 12 include all the content from previous editions?​

A: Not in the box. The installer is two DVDs worth with just the TS12 content, and much of the content carried over from previous versions is starting to show its age. We do understand that everybody has their favourite route or other content from the earlier games, and to prevent disappointment we'll be uploading nearly the entire back-catalogue of included content onto the Download Station for TS12 users. The most notable exceptions here will be the TS2010-specific routes and dedicated payware packs.​

- TS12 FAQ, 12th April 2011.​

Hardly "relenting" when we say exactly that in the product FAQ





Thank you for your support, we appreciate that. I think that we're pretty comfortable with our products and our plans for the future. We welcome the competition.

cheers,

chris

Thanks for responding Chris. I should add that the release of RSC-TS12 is not going to stop me enjoying the things I do enjoy in Trainz such as the recent German narrow gauge routes which I downloaded into TS2010. I wouldn't rule out building a route in TS2010 either. As stated previously, I enjoy dabbling with all the train sims as each has something to offer but there are certain aspects (such as the tunnel splines and automatic rendering of points/crossings) that have been left untouched for so long and really need addressing in any train sim looking to the future.

 

[sniper297]

Obscure commands

"I know Jim (Sniper) curses the AI/signalling in RW/RSC-TS12 but at least I can create a player scenario which has the game calculate and set the route for me and follow a timetable without resorting to obscure commands"

How about it, all the commands are obscure to me. One thing that might help if I could figure it out;

Got a tool in here to set the junction direction, so to get what you want just set all the switches to a default position for the path you want the player train to take! All set, let's try it ingame!

Nope, wrong way. :'(

If there was some documentation on how this stuff is supposed to work it might help, assuming it actually works at all - edit route, edit session to edit route, am I in the session layer or the route layer and who goosed the moose and why does this thing sometimes insist I need to save as new route and session when I want to overwrite the existing route and/or session? What layer is the default junction direction supposed to go in, can you or can you not have different default switch settings for different sessions in the same route to set different paths, and what's the trick to get your settings to actually stick? RW has an "initial settings" file for each scenario which governs that, is there something similar for Trainz or is this one of them features they never got around to actually debugging and finishing? They're working on the TS12 patch right now, but TS2010 still needs more patches.

One more item, RW updates are always free - yeah, railworks update to railworks 2 got you a set of Fisher Price controls, I bought rail simulator when it first came out, yes we will have a US version coming soon with a (one, count 'em 1) US route and some US trains. Hmmm, thinking about this a little more, here's the US expansion pack, $29.95. The US version is the same price as the original European version but leaves out one of the routes, along with all the assets unique to that route, but it's "compatible" if you buy the York Newcastle expansion, $29.95. Meanwhile back at the ranch anyone downloading my route who has only the US railsim version is missing half the track and some key bridges;

http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread.php?266973-RS-PO-amp-N-NA-patch

But we'll finally get it all together, but now it's called railworks instead of rail simulator patch mark 3, and it will cost you extra.

So Auran/N3V ain't alone in this, Kuju/F4G/RSDL/RSC also keeps changing their name to duck the bench warrants, and they have charged money in the past for upgrades.

 

[SantaFebuff]

The new upgrade is called Railworks Train Simulator 3 just like Railworks 2. Also the night sky and moving sky has been with the game since rail simulator. There is a lot of stuff going on over at Railworks america as in free files we are getting there but slowly.But at one good thing is that Railworks dont charge for every upgrade like trainz does. They care about there people.

Go...now.

Cheers,
Joshua

 

[sniper297]

They care about their people!

Thanks for highlighting that, he says it so often I keep blipping past it without really seeing it.

Well, I got two versions of railsim and one railworks, I'm a paying customer, so they care about me, right? :hehe:

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=314&t=116294&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=165

Derek's response about halfway down the page;

"If you don't enjoy it, really you should look to spend your time else where.
If you want RWs to improve then great, we improve it with every update.

If it does not do what you want it to do, then play something else till it does what you want it to do, we'll still be here."

Is the same answer I got for 3 years from RSDL/RSC employees, translated it means "It already does what WE want, who cares what YOU want". If it does not do what you want it to do then play something else, okay here I am, great customer service. :wave:

 

[wholbr]

Hi Everybody.
No company or organization can survive for very long without being in tune with what their customers want and expect. Rupert Murdoch and News International have just found that out over the last 10 days here in Britain at great cost to their reputation and balance sheet.

Bringing the above into context, both NV3 (Trainz) and Rail Simulator (Railworks) have been around for a few years now, therefore in many ways they must be reaching the aspirations of their customers or the foregoing would not be the case.

Owning both simulators I find both have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to realism, ease-of-use and overall satisfaction. I find Trainz surveyor to be streets ahead of the Railworks equivalent world Editor. Having said that, I find the actual driving experience of Railworks is always more appealing than Trainz. Producing sessions or scenarios in Railworks is fairly easy and the AI consist perform much better than many on this forum would give credit for, although is not perfect.

As I stated in an earlier posting the big drawback for me with Trainz is the manual patching and all the problems that can go with it. Not least, I do not wish to leave the PC on all night just to download a patch. Railworks has the ability through steam to do this quickly and without disturbance to what else I may be using the computer for while it is going on.

As someone who does not have a lot of free time of recent I find myself slowly gravitating towards Railworks as I can setup scenarios (settings) fairly quickly and run them in the limited time I have. However, should I eventually fined myself with more free time I will probably move back towards Trainz and continue development of my North Devon branch lines route.

In short, I believe both simulators have the ability to keep their individual users satisfied with their particular requirements either through a long-term hobby with many hours spent in the development of content, or as I am at present someone who has limited time and just enjoys a few minutes driving or setting up of a scenario.

Each to his own.
Bill

 

[Vern]

What's needed in Trainz in lieu of a proper despatcher is to set the point/switch direction for the player train movement at the session level/layer, rather than defaulting to how they lie on placement in the route layer. AI movements can always switch them if necessary before or after passage of the player train but they will always return to what the player has specified in the session.

 

[jointedrail]

We welcome the competition.

Where? I don't see any competition... As far as I am concerned, they are in the rear view mirror covered in dust, where they belong.

Mike

 

[wholbr]

Where? I don't see any competition... As far as I am concerned, they are in the rear view mirror covered in dust, where they belong.

Mike

As someone with a vested interest in NV3 (Trainz) being a payware supplier, no one would have any doubt that you would say that.

More neutral minded users of both simulators would have a much more "balanced outlook" on the attributes of the simulators.

Bill

 

[spikesignal]

Where? I don't see any competition... As far as I am concerned, they are in the rear view mirror covered in dust, where they belong.

Mike

I don't see any competition...

Maybe open your eyes? :hehe:

WindWalkr is right with the competition.

 

[jadebullet]

Yeah, I agree. I don't see much competition for what I use trs for. (route building.) Also, the ai in RW is horrible.

 

[wholbr]

Where? I don't see any competition... As far as I am concerned, they are in the rear view mirror covered in dust, where they belong.

Mike

Further to my earlier posting, as a thanks to Railworks for their forthcoming free upgrade and the download free of a free Scottish route they sent to me without request two months ago, I have tonight purchased £30.00 (British sterling) of payware content as thanks for the above.

No doubt, the purchase will further strengthen my growing commitment to Railworks as I shall use it for content on the Scottish route.

Not bad selling strategy for a company covered in dust.

Bill

 

[jointedrail]

As someone with a vested interest in NV3 (Trainz) being a payware supplier, no one would have any doubt that you would say that.

More neutral minded users of both simulators would have a much more "balanced outlook" on the attributes of the simulators.

Bill

Nice try Bill, with all due respect I keep up on what's going on outside of TRS. I just don't see them as much competition. We have created content for RW, and we are very limited in what we can do. TRS offers us much more as far as scripting capabilities. One major thing for me is the ability to create routes with ease and flexibility. I have RW, it makes a great drink coaster... :hehe: I own copies of multiple sims, and always went back to TRS. Being a payware provider has nothing to do with it as we could create payware for any sim. We want to be able to do the latest and greatest and so far TRS is the only sim allowing us to do that. From what I gather they are pretty far ahead as far as UK stuff, however we have more of an interest in the US stuff and there doesn't seem to be much going on there. Each sim has it flaws as well as it's strong points, and really it depends on the end user's preference in the end.

My $.02

Take Care,

Mike

 

[wholbr]

Nice try Bill, with all due respect I keep up on what's going on outside of TRS. I just don't see them as much competition. We have created content for RW, and we are very limited in what we can do. TRS offers us much more as far as scripting capabilities. One major thing for me is the ability to create routes with ease and flexibility. I have RW, it makes a great drink coaster... :hehe: I own copies of multiple sims, and always went back to TRS. Being a payware provider has nothing to do with it as we could create payware for any sim. We want to be able to do the latest and greatest and so far TRS is the only sim allowing us to do that. From what I gather they are pretty far ahead as far as UK stuff, however we have more of an interest in the US stuff and there doesn't seem to be much going on there. Each sim has it flaws as well as it's strong points, and really it depends on the end user's preference in the end.

My $.02

Take Care,

Mike

I agree Mike that you can create routes much more easily in Trainz than Railworks. However, in either simulator route creation does take up a lot of time if you wish to make it look realistic with all of the scenery.

As you point out also, Railworks is much more inclined towards British routes and content which is what I am interested in. Trainz seems to me to be swinging towards American content which you and others create very well. That could be the reason I have moved somewhat away from Trainz but the shortage of free time for route building is the main reason.

I have tonight started a scenario on the Scottish route in Railworks which should be completed in a couple of hours over the weekend. That to me is the advantage of Railworks when it comes to scenario creation.

apologies if my original reply seemed a bit curt
Bill

NB:-the reason I am so short of free time, is because in a country of supposedly two and a half million unemployed I cannot find someone with the skills necessary to work alongside of me and therefore I am having to turn work away.

 

[nikos1]

Any updates on this? I saw the shots when they were first poste and it looked very promising but was hoping there would be updates by now.

Realtime shadows projected by any object, lighting, moon phases and stars, realtime weather, seasons, DEM created routes, satellite photographs auto-texturing the terrain (not just decals but real textures) with LODs and the abillity to re-texture by hand, superelevation of tracks and a lot of things i don't remember right now (damned tequila on a wedding) ... well all of this is featured in our own rail sim we are developing. Eye-candy, i know, but having learned from all errors made by the actual rail sims, the AI is not going to be a mere "run-around but don`t interfere"
So nothing that the next Railworks offers is new to us. Shouldn`t N3V and RSC take note of this? In development by the smallest (i think, we are two) rail sim creator company. Graphically, years ahead. Operationally, to be confirmed.
Take a look at it:

http://www.quattrostudios.net/foro_qds/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=46

 

[martinvk]

I agree Mike that you can create routes much more easily in Trainz than Railworks. However, in either simulator route creation does take up a lot of time if you wish to make it look realistic with all of the scenery.

As you point out also, Railworks is much more inclined towards British routes and content which is what I am interested in. ...

Ah, well that is a legitimate reason for favoring one over the other. If you area of interest is not available or sparsely represented, not much point in using the sim unless you enjoy being frustrated with the lack of objects.

When I first heard about RS when it was still RS, I admit I was intrigued. But when I discovered that they think the world starts and ends on one island, with a small nod to a few other places, I lost much of my enthusiasm. My train interests are all over the world and not just one small part of it.

What really ended any possibility of using the new RW was the decision to use Steam as the only point of access. The more I read about it, the more I was convinced that it was a bad idea. Allowing a 3rd party to decide when and if I could use my own software was not going to happen. Even the enticement of always being automatically updated lost its shine when legitimate installations were reported rendered inoperative because of a bad update file. I've always been able to update without issues when I decided I wanted a new feature and not when some hand holding nanny decided. And I never understood the feature that Steam could reload the program whenever there is a need. So can I any time and anywhere I need. I have all the program installation files and all the downloaded content CDPs on a local drive or CDs.

As for the look and feel of the actual program, that is up to everyone to decide on the merits as they see them. Whatever you like to do that can be easily done is always a good choice. Since each sim is a package deal, you just have to decide if the pluses out weight the minuses. And if you have the means, nothing wrong with enjoying them all for their own pluses.

 

[Eaglefan9727]

As for the ignorance assumptions, same assumption by many railsim/railworks fans about MSTS - all them ignorant luddites should try railworks, they would dump MSTS in a New York minute. The owner of UKtrainsim did a questionnaire asking "Why not Railworks?" a couple years ago, the biggest surprise he got was that the overwhelming majority of the current MSTS developers had actually TRIED railworks and gave it a fair chance, decided it was missing something important that MSTS had, or didn't do it as well as MSTS did, and went back to MSTS.

Jim - I tried out the demo when it came out and while I thought it was good. When the real game came out. It was just junk with all the bugs and things wrong with the program. That is why I decided to stay with MSTS for a little while longer. And then when they announced Railworks was going to require steam. That is when I said, That sim will never see me again.

Now, After almost a 2 year hiatus from train simming. I have decided to move over to Trainz. Will I do a route for Trainz like I did with MSTS? I really aint that positive at this time. Would I like to create a route for Trainz? Yes I would like to at some point, But like I just said. Im not positive if I will create another route or not. Only time will tell at this stage.

All i can say is that after the news of MSTS 2 being dead. I pretty much lost all interest in train simming.

 

[IsambardKingdomBrunel]

post deleted

 

[sniper297]

Well, when you get it let me know if they unlocked them blasted switches. What really irritates me is why did they lock the switches in the first place? Answer, to eliminate the "creeping AI" problem. Did it work? Last time I looked it didn't, the AI still found reasons to get confused and start creeping. Since it doesn't cure the problem, why not unlock them again? Answer, it already does what we want, who cares what you want.

 

[randknu]

Well i already have railworks 2 on steam. So my game will update automatically. Will i try it? possibly... but i really don't think this will be anywhere close to an improvement in realism. The trains seems to "stick" as if the rolling resistance is very high. No need to use brakes, just cut the power and the train slows to a stop on its own. Even downhill.... If you DO use the brakes the application times and release times are way too fast. Trainz is very realistic here.

 

[Vern]

Of course there is a certain irony in that from now until September - and probably beyond then if there's an over-run on the release and/or any patches required - that it is simply not worth starting any more route projects in RW until the new tools are available. With my Blackpool tramway not far off release I was looking at a couple of candidates but all have features - lots of trees, distant mountains, track which would benefit from superelevation - that it is simply not worth starting anything.

So this afternoon out came Transdem and TS2010 because I reckon there's now at least three clear months in which to pursue one of the routes I've been meaning to build in Trainz. So at least in the short term, the announcement of RW3 may bring some benefit to the N3V sim!