Should I switch to Steam for Trainz 22?

[Nethog61]

I have always purchased Trainz directly from the Auran/N3V website starting with TS 2009 WBE in 2008, TS 12, TANE, and lastly TRS 2019 Platinum. I have been waiting to purchase Trainz 22 Platinum but frustratingly I have never seen a sale on the Auran site since 2022, and the current price is $70 US. Meanwhile I seen many Steam sales for Trainz 22 Platinum since the game released come and go, and just noticed today there is a steam sale for Trainz 22 Platinum listed at $16.44 US!!! I am thinking of moving over to Steam Trainz and abandoning purchases from Auran. Is there any downside to moving to Steam Trainz?

 

[PC_Ace]

Recommend register for their N3V newsletters at a minimum to stay up to date with current (fairly numerous) offers. Also, always check out this official site: https://store.trainzportal.com/
I'm a keen Steam user, but much prefer to keep my Trainz Railroad Simulator software strictly non-Steam to ensure that I always have the latest and greatest offerings, with no delays on updates or new offers. Steam adds overhead and unnecessary delays/ complexity.

 

[Nethog61]

Thanks. I have been signed up on the N3V website for years but have not recieved any sales emails for Trainz 22P

 

[wreeder]

As a veteran Trainz user, March 2002, and a Steam user with several versions of Trainz purchased from Steam. I feel I am qualified to answer your question.

The downside includes the following:
1. Steam only allows one copy to be installed on your computer. The retail version can be installed into different folders so you can have more than one version of TRS22 PE installed.
2. Steam forces updates to the latest version upon its release. You can choose to delay updates to the retail version. Sometimes nasty bugs sneak in and make a update have serious problems.
3. Most modern versions of DLC sold on Steam while it downloads from N3V servers will only work with the TRS22 PE you buy from Steam. You can't install it into older versions of Trainz you bought from N3V. That is just how DLC works on Steam. So if you buy the TRS22 Bundle then the DLC included will work with Steam version of TRS22 PE but it won't be able to be installed in TRS19 if you own that already. Always buy DLC from the Trainz Store not from Steam to avoid this issue.
4. Steam is facing some legal issues at the moment from the EU Commission. Laws are changing that could force games that have in game chat function to add age verification to protect children from online predators. Trainz has a chat function and Steam may dropped it from its platform if N3V refuses to comply with the law. Of course, if N3V refuses to comply they could be banned from selling the game in the EU itself. So one would hope they would do something. Just removing the chat feature from the game would be the easiest fix.

 

[Nethog61]

Thanks for the useful information Wreeder. Regarding your bullet #3, are you saying any DLC purchased directly from N3V can be installed on both NV3 and Steam installations, but DLC purchased on Steam can only be installed on the Steam installation?

 

[wreeder]

Yes, that is correct. It is a limit that Steam puts on all DLC sold on their platform. Saying that, N3V has been known to add the DLC purchased from Steam to your MyTrainz account as if you bought it from them once they verify the purchase from Steam. You have to submit a ticket to the helpdesk to ask them to do it. I have no idea if they will still do that though. It was a few years ago. You should remember that N3V only makes 70% of what you pay on Steam for an item. If they do what I said above, they really are doing you a massive favor. I wouldn't be surprised if the policy has changed.

 

[Nethog61]

Regarding your comment that they only make 70% of their products sold on Steam - I am a little surprised that they aren't putting Trainz 22 at the same time that Steam puts it on sale. They are literally losing money for no reason. I would have gladly rather purchase a discounted Trainz 22 from their website than on Steam even if were a bit higher in price, but come on, $70 US vs $16 US for the same product! They leave me no choice. Like I stated earlier I have never recieved an email from them for Trainz 22 sales if they even offered any. But each time the Steam Trainz 2022 went on sale I checked the N3V website and the price was always $70 US. Rather dumb marketing on N3V's part in my opinion. Thanks again Wreeder, you have been very helpful.

 

[wreeder]

They do have sales which are normally announced in the newsletter. The sales have pretty good discounts, somewhere between 50% and 80%. Selling on Steam is about volume. With 120 million members worldwide and around 30 million users logged in at any given moment, Steam delivers a lot of exposure for a small company like N3V. I'm pretty sure N3V sets the price on Steam sales so they know what they are doing. I assume with TRS22 being more than 3 years old and TRS22 PE being 2 years old, that new product is on the way shortly and creating a buzz and making some money is the idea.

You're very welcome, glad I could help.

 

[skittlekicks]

Since Trainz 22 PE on Steam was my introduction to the game, I personally have never had a problem with using that version. I paid just over $20 (incl. tax) for the game on the Plane's Trains and Automobiles sale they had last September. In fact the cool thing about Steam games is there's an option to verify the files. So if the game corrupts itself you can run that, and see if it will self repair.

Say you lose a hard drive (you know because failure is an option in computers), you can easily reinstall the game with Steam. NO hoops to jump through I don't know what happens if you lose the EXE file and N3V's policy of recovery (especially if you never had a backup). I know that Run8 Studios is VERY picky about their game. If you lost your receipt, you are SoL. One disadvantage (and I REALLY loathe this) is the online DRM. You know E.T. phone home. So if you lose your Internet connection you won't be able to properly launch Trainz (unlike most Steam's games which can play locally offline or online).

Now I know most every long time Trainzer here will swear that buying the game from N3V is the ONLY way to go, but for me in the US, it was way more expensive than the Steam sale (and yes I did a price comparison at the time.

Ultimately it really doesn't matter what we say here. It all comes down to the following:

What is the most convenient way for you to have Trainz?
What is the most cost effective way for you to purchase Trainz? (Money talks and you know what walks).

Do what you want, and enjoy the Trainz experience.

SkittleKicks

 

[PC_Ace]

@skittlekicks - If you lose your hard drive (and with it your Trainz program and local files containing all your hard work) you can easily restore both from your backup drive ( You do need to have one, right?!) and/or downloading the program files again from your N3V MyTrainz account.
Steam provides the same service, but I doubt it stores your local database folders, etc. (Nor does N3V).
@Nethog61 - Essential step for you it seems is to sign up for the regular newsletters and other promotional correspondence from N3V via your existing MyTrainz account. Recommend Log in and sign up! (Do this even if you shift to Steam for new purchases of Trainz assets)
MyTrainz subscriptions

 

[Nethog61]

Well I took the plunge and purchased TRS 22 Platinum today on Steam for $16 US. Thanks all for your comments. PC_Ace, I just checked my Newsletter subscriptions and I am already subscribed to "General Newsletter" and "Trainz Railroad Simulator News". I don't recall ever seeing a decent sale for TRS 22 since it was released, so here I am moving to Steam lol.

 

[PC_Ace]

That's really good value for that price. Congratulations.

 

[Sanek17]

As a veteran Trainz user, March 2002, and a Steam user with several versions of Trainz purchased from Steam. I feel I am qualified to answer your question.

2. Steam forces updates to the latest version upon its release. You can choose to delay updates to the retail version. Sometimes nasty bugs sneak in and make a update have serious problems.

Oh, come on, updates come out once a year, and that's at best, and it's clearly not worth paying $70 for it. The game is essentially supported by enthusiasts, not by the game developers.

 

[PhilChorusch01]

All I can say! If you decide to purchase TRS22 now on Steam it's currently on sale. Get in before the sale ends 5th August

 

[Nethog61]

Yes, already purchased, and loving it!

 

[wreeder]

I just checked my Newsletter subscriptions

Check your spam box. For some unknown reason they use Mailchimp to send the newsletter and the sender address is spoofed to look like it is from N3V Games when the sending server is really Mailchimp. This is a red flag for spam filters. Also, Mailchimp's reputation is for spamming is pretty bad.

 

[Nethog61]

I do check my spam box occasionally but may miss some. I did find one N3V email from last July but no sales

 

[Thomas_4014]

Technically, Trainz Railroad Simulator 2022 (TS22, TS2022, TRS22, TRS2022 as for short) on Steam is the Basic/Standard version. You'll have to buy the DLC from the Steam DLC page for Trainz 22. If you want Platinum, your only hope could be on the Trainz Portal Store, the one for USD $70.

EDIT: I think you can get Platinum on Steam, I do apologize.

 

[Nethog61]

Yes I purchased a steam bundle that comprised the Trainz 2022 Platinum edition for $16 US