It is disturbing to see N3V employees referencing their Trainz product as a game. I view the current Trainz TS12 product as a simulation. The reason is - it is a very complex product that, in my humble opinion, would not appeal to people who are strongly aligned with "games". If the new product is referred to as a game, and marketed as a game, I would be very disturbed. I am sure some will claim that it will continue as a complex simulator and be marketed as a game. Unless they have hard information I am fearful about the value of the new product to the existing community of users.
If the product is "split" in a way that a simplified usage is possible (game mode), there is a possibility that development will be directed toward the most profitable market - games. The cost of enhancing and maintaining a game should be less than a simulator. The potential number of customers should be higher for a game than a simulation. A rationale that has kept a competing product alive and has a successful evolution from a simulator to a train driving game. I am sure that strategy has not gone unnoticed by N3V.
By carefully marketing the new product as a "simulation", but with obvious gaming attributes, N3V can stretch the potential market.
If N3V decides, in contrast to the competition, to use the new assets, routes and sessions happening on the simulation side to enhance the "game" side then we will have a solid future. The competitive product is now seeing this but they no longer have the talent to make the technical changes needed to entice train simulator innovators. If N3V adopts this "balanced" strategy upfront everyone wins.
If the product is "split" in a way that a simplified usage is possible (game mode), there is a possibility that development will be directed toward the most profitable market - games. The cost of enhancing and maintaining a game should be less than a simulator. The potential number of customers should be higher for a game than a simulation. A rationale that has kept a competing product alive and has a successful evolution from a simulator to a train driving game. I am sure that strategy has not gone unnoticed by N3V.
By carefully marketing the new product as a "simulation", but with obvious gaming attributes, N3V can stretch the potential market.
If N3V decides, in contrast to the competition, to use the new assets, routes and sessions happening on the simulation side to enhance the "game" side then we will have a solid future. The competitive product is now seeing this but they no longer have the talent to make the technical changes needed to entice train simulator innovators. If N3V adopts this "balanced" strategy upfront everyone wins.
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