Hi All
We are currently selling the
old stock, so as to clear out this old stock. As the term 'old stock' suggest, these are old programs. Generally, this means they are either unsupported, or close to becoming unsupported.
Personally, I see long unsupported games in shops fairly often, generally at a much reduced price (generally up to about $20-$25 AU, depending on age, etc) in retail stores such as EB games. A week or two ago, I saw one that won't run on OS's after Win 98. For about $20AU if I remember right.
In regards to the end of support. We simply cannot continue to provide technical support indefinitely. In the case of older versions, some simply will not function (out of the box) under newer operating systems. Some are also not supported under current operating systems. To stop providing technical support allows us to focus out technical support on newer editions, as well as to be able to provide a faster turn around time for tickets. It also helps us to keep track of what fix is best with which version (current, I have to work with 5 editions of Trainz, plus the add-on packs, plus any regional editions of Trainz).
In regards to the Download Station. You will require a FCT ($24.99AU/year, which is about $0.07/day) to access the DLS if you
only have an unsupported edition of Trainz. If you have a supported edition registered, then you will still have free access to the DLS. If you have a FCT, you will also have access to the DLS.
However, for us to continue providing free (which would be taken as 'supported' by many people) access, we would also need to ensure that those editions are still able to 'internally' (using TDH/CMP) download from the DLS. This blocks us from making any major changes to the DLS in future (an example was the issues with TC3 and older not downloading after the server upgrade). This can cause us to not implement security upgrades. I'm sure that many users would start complaining if our download methods became insecure due to the age of the system.
As such, we have had to make the decision to stop
free access to the DLS for those with unsupported editions. At the same time, this allows us to stop support for the internal download tools for those editions, which will allow us to start looking at improving the download station itself.
Please also see my reply to another thread, which should clear some things with this up as well:
Hi All
I've just spoken with the Trainz team, and they have confirmed that support ends on the 1st of September.
This means that we will not be fixing any issues that may arise after September 1st for TRS2006 and older (both for downloading and for uploading), and as such we will not be guaranteeing that they will be able to download/upload.
As such, if you want to upload stuff with a 2.6 build number or lower, you have to do it before that date, or it may not work. You may also find that you will still be able to upload for some time after the 1st. It is simply a case of us not guaranteeing that an unsupported product will continue to operate.
For example, if we make a required security upgrade to the servers, and it blocks (say) TRS2006 from downloading/uploading, then we will not be making any changes to fix this. We would, however, make any changes to ensure that a supported product will still function.
As such, I cannot give you an exact date of when you will be unable to actually upload for unsupported versions. However, your best bet would be to upload before the 1st of September.
Although relating to uploading, it does outline what should be expected from the 1st of September.
__________________
Zec Murphy
Customer Support Rep
Auran Games
So TRS2004 will not be able to access the DLS at all.:'(
