Steam version of Trainz 12

[buggs45]

Hi People
I have used steam for 4 years now and now i am regreting it.
The build I have on steam worked fine until a few weeks ago. The problem is withSteam not updating to the correct build.
I worked for weeks on a layout only to have half my content renderd unusable.
Because of this I will no longer buy any DLC from steam if a day after purchace I can't use it

 

[shaneturner12]

Hi buggs45,

Quite a few users have also found that the Steam version causes more trouble than it's worth.

I cannot see a patch being released at the current time, and I know that some of the affected users have now purchased the version direct from N3V.

Shane

 

[kenneth18278]

Hello buggs45'

I had the same problem with the Steam version, and I bought another copy direct from N3V and have never regretted it. It is far, far superior for patching etc.

And, I think, at the moment TS12 is 50% off in a sale (check the forums Home page, top left)

Ken

 

[cheechako]

I bought 2010 through Impulse (now Game Stop) and wound up buying it direct from Auran because of the patching issues.

However, I am quite satisfied with all of my Steam purchases. I recently got a new computer, and it was a breeze to grab stuff from Steam.

I think Auran is at fault here. I doubt Steam stole the product. So since Auran authorized the sale, Auran should support it. They have to be the worst company I'm willing to support.

 

[shaneturner12]

You do not have sufficient evidence to point the finger at this point.

There are well known issues that affect Steam versions of games, not just Trainz.

N3V have little if any control over when a patch can be released for a Steam version. Steam do not allow the vendor to directly patch the game. Even if N3V do send Steam a patch, there's a good chance that Steam will fail to put it onto their download system.

Shane

 

[cheechako]

Trainz is N3V's product, not Steam's or Impulse's. Trainz users are N3V customers. It really doesn't matter if the fault is with Steam or Impulse or any other on-line vendor.

I bought 2010 from Impulse. I wound up with a broken and un-patchable version. I bought it again, direct from N3V, not out of loyalty but because I want to play the damn game! I learned my lesson, though, and bought TS12 direct.

Yet TS12 is available on Steam and Impulse (now Game Stop). I learned my lesson, why hasn't N3V? If these vendors have a history of selling obsolete versions and not releasing patches in a timely fashion (or at all), why does N3V continue to put out new releases through them? Is this their business model - hook customers through the on-line vendors, and get more sales through second-purchases? Hey, it worked on me!

I did not torrent Trainz. I purchased it legally, and I believe I deserve the same level of support regardless of the vendor I used. If N3V cannot give me that because of problems with a vendor, they should pull their product from that vendor or require the vendor to warn users that the product has limited or no support. It is N3V's choice to use these vendors or not, so they really should not pass the buck.

For the record, I own a dozen or so Steam games, and I will buy from them in the future - just not Trainz.

 

[JCitron]

The issue is, and this has been mentioned a few times by Zec Murphy from N3V, as well as few other forum members, is Steam requires that patch binary files be bundled in a particular way using a special program. This makes the patches difficult to release for the Steam versions, and makes any patches that do come out for those versions to be much farther behind then those released directly from N3V.

You might be lucky with your other Steam games, but there are many people who have problems with the services. I for one would never go near them due to issue I had a few years ago.

John

 

[Mouse84]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why isn't the version being sold by Steam and whoever else, the same version being sold by N3V? Why does N3V allow different versions to be sold? It actually could hurt their sales if someone new would by from Steam or another vender, then get tired of the non-compatibility with the N3V version, so they just turn away from Trainz totally.

 

[shaneturner12]

It's how regional distributors work, not just Steam.

The build numbers are different (probably to distinguish where it's bought from).

Shane

 

[Mouse84]

Who cares where it's bought from, it should be the same. Is the version that JR is selling a different version than N3V? Nice way to split up the users. That's like saying that the version that I buy from WalMart is different from the version that I can buy down the street at BestBuy or Target.

 

[shaneturner12]

I agree it should be the same, but regional distributors quite often add content that is specific to the country they are based in, which usually means that a different build number is required.

Shane

 

[RRSignal]

--never mind--

 

[Mouse84]

I agree it should be the same, but regional distributors quite often add content that is specific to the country they are based in, which usually means that a different build number is required.

Shane

They should be forced add the extra content by way of an additional CD. Why mess with the build and end up screwing the customer out of updates?

 

[ZecMurphy]

In the case of Steam, these needed to have changes made to allow it to work through Steam. These changes required a different build number.

If an update is released for software sold via Steam, then it can only be released using Steam's update/patching system, and hence our standard updates would not work. As such, the build number must be different so as to ensure that an incompatible update isn't installed.

In regards to other publishers, this is generally due to needing to have the language changed. Simply changing the language (or at least the 'default' language) does require a new build number, and hence the release will have a different build number. This also prevents English language only updates being installed into non English language versions.

From memory, JointedRail is selling the 'international' edition of TS12 (this is the edition sold from the Auran.com website as well), and as such the standard updates should install in this one.

Regards

 

[JCitron]

Thank you Zec, for stepping in here and clearing things up. I thought I had some of the facts in the right place.

John