TS13

[jjanmarine3]

A refreshing and rare thing in todays world. :Y: Try to hold on to that! :hehe:

I second that.
Would like to say though that blowing opposition out of the water can also mean - no opposition- , which can also not be good sometimes.
Some people call me a pessimistic optimist , I suppose there are also optimistic pessimists

 

[Vern]

I've told about z7-xPath... It works close to the same. But in every case you have to specify the group of routes where the train have to proceed. For each station. And you have to specify the time of arrival/departure also for every station. This is boring, but this is already exists in trainz. Also in this area thainz has little benebit - it is possible to attach "solutions" of choosing this paths to session variables. And the variables to any other events of the game .

Where abouts does this exist in Trainz? If it's via some obscure rule which takes hours of head scratching to work out, that's not really what I want to see. The Zusi editor does it via a 2D editor and is quite quick and easy to use. Even if something that complex isn't possible in the core game at least give us an Activity Editor equivalent to MSTS for Trainz, where we can allocate a pre-planned path (avoiding conflicts) to all trains which the AI signaller can despatch and monitor.

The lack of being able to easily set up structured timetabled activities is still the biggest thing (aside from TS12 chewing up my last route) deterring me doing more for Trainz. Just driving back and forth, manually setting points as you go serves no real purpose. I actually found that with my last route release and haven't touched it since, just seems entirely pointless (not helped by the AJS stations not working correctly). You might get away with it for a non-signalled US shortline but certainly so far as British or European practice is concerned, IMHO the programme needs that leap to what the competition already provides (in the case of MSTS has provided for the last ten years). Otherwise it doesn't matter what strides have been taken to improve the appearance, physics and other aspects to allow prototype length routes - it still feels like you are driving that model railway same as in Trainz 1.0 all those years ago.

 

[Euphod]

I can't speculate on much else, but I do know that several of the authors of several of some of the "sure to be wildly popular" routes are not pleased with the terms offered by N3V. I won't name names, but have had E Mail communications with these creators. I dare say they will release their routes, but not as DLCs.

 

[TRam__]

If it's via some obscure rule which takes hours of head scratching to work out, that's not really what I want to see.

First, it isn't single rule. It is a set of rules, driver commands, and "path controlling box". Their list is here. And it doesn't pre-allocates paths. It allocates paths "on the wings" in driver mode, as i've told, according to rule events (as you know, using "time check" rule it is possible to make time events, but it exists variety of other rules ), to driver commands or to path interfaces (http://trainz.org.ru/mediawiki/images/9/90/Браузер_элементарных_маршрутов.jpg). It can't pre-allocate the hole path for the train from the beginig station to the end station, it allocates the paths only from one signal to the neighbour signal (shunt paths from signal to signal of the same station). The configuration "when and where to apply paths" is up to user. Of cause, in it you can ask (configurate a rule/ a driver command to ask) to set path not only "from signal A to signal B" but "from the signal in front of the train with red light, set a path through a free track with lowest priority not lower than 3 and not higher than 5" (in the case you have set those priorities for all paths of this signal).

By the uninitiated view, it looks like this -

It has no graphical interface, and it demands time to setup signals (they have to be allocated into station and block groups, only one signaling system supports this), correct position of some junction levers (they have to be placed in front of the track spline points), generate "train paths", set priorities for those of them, that are "automaticly chosen" by commands or rules, and finally configure sets of driver commands for "traffic" (multiplicated combination of "set path from signal with prioriries ..."+"wait for time"+"drive to next signal with speed **" for exapmle) and sets of rules for "player activity". It is uncomparable with clicking in the 2D scheme "here we want to see a startup position of the traffic train # 4 in 6:30 a.m., and here we want to see its final position in 7:55 a.m." by its difficulty. But here you can add "a train beyond the shedule", configurate it for different set paths according the time (not to interfere with shedule traffic trains) and finally add a random time of departure . This is much more interesting then "I see the same train in the same time in the same position".

 

[Vern]

I do see your point, TRam. However please bear in mind this thread is primarily about what we would like to see in TS13, not necessarily in the form it can be done now, but something easily accesible at a basic level of use as we already enjoy in MSTS, RW or Zusi. Even OpenBVE, if you want to create a fresh schedule you can simply copy then alter a csv file.

Back on a more general note, still no reply from N3V, even to give their much loved "Announcement soon (tm)" message.

 

[oknotsen]

this thread is primarily about what we would like to see in TS13

Erm, no, not really. Thats what people taking it off-topic has turned it into.
The OP wrote this as topic: "What is in the pipeline ? I don't see much talk about the next version, would like to know about any news."

For what you would like to see in a next version, N3V created a complete forum; the Suggestion Boxcar.

I am surpriced that nobody of N3V has jumped into this topic to lock it for simple reasons already posted by a few people: Announcing a new version will kill the (sales of the) current version and any to early announcements will only help the competition.

 

[Vern]

So who made you a moderator/censor, Oknotsen?

Why on earth lock it, it's not UKTS or RWA here for goodness sake? Discussion will inevitably wander slightly from the original topic and part of the debate is what would actually make it worthwhile N3V doing a new version not necessarily a wish-list. I was simply illustrating a few points that might make me interested in buying a new version. In any event, the Suggestion Boxcar is also all but ignored by Auran/N3V these days, at least one post I submitted there recently was ignored/rejected without even an explanation why.

As regards an announcement affecting sales, well that hasn't stopped them in the past and I would figure most people who are going to buy TS12 will have done so by now anyway. Likely to be dribs and drabs of casual sales by now, maybe a few dozen copies a week at best so if there is a new PC version in the immediate future it might actually be good PR to start telling people about it.

 

[TRam__]

what we would like to see in TS13, not necessarily in the form it can be done now

here we should be careful, beause while introducing something new, we are destroying something old. For example introducing hard link of traffic trains motion to time (like in MSTS or RW) destroys unpredictibility of them. As well as my system

 

[martinvk]

Since my viewing privileges don't extend into the N3V boardroom, I have no idea what they are actually working on but I do hope the next version will have some real improvements along the lines of what Vern mentioned: automatic frogs and guardrails at junctions with user selectable options of type, simple to use timetable and a dispatcher with some authority. With enough rules and hard work, most of this doable now but I would like to keep this activity fun. I get enough work at the office.

PS. We know for sure one thing they have been working on. Considering the market trends, a logical development but I still hope they haven't forgotten the PC.

 

[oknotsen]

So who made you a moderator/censor, Oknotsen?

Just simply adding 2 and 2 together m8. No need to be a moderator for that.
This topic went from his original topic to a semi-discussion about new features. As with loads of topics about something there is already a topic on, it gets locked eventually. In this case there is even a complete forum about the "new" topic of this topic.

 

[trev999]

Trainz is such a versatile platform that meets the needs of thousands of users, only a few of whom actually use the multi-player feature.

When Multi-player made its appearance a fork in the road ahead was formed. Those who like multi-player games took one branch and those who did not took the other, with some users possibly switching between the two.

My hope is that the two branches will continue to thrive instead of the solo branch wilting and shrivelling up like the previous versions have. Those old versions are still very good games and it is a shame that they are relegated to vintage status when they perform so well on the newer hardware.

There is room for both versions as separate packages but combining them was probably the only choice that could have been made at the time.

So, N3V, don't neglect a large proportion of your user base who would rather have a superb single-player simulation than a less-than-perfect game that is able to operate in multi-player mode.

Regards - Trevor

 

[WindWalkr]

When Multi-player made its appearance a fork in the road ahead was formed.

We certainly don't see it that way. That would be like saying that Driver and Surveyor are two separate forks with two separate futures. In reality, they complement each other- some people may spend more time in one, and some in the other, but at the end of the day these people form part of the same community.

chris

 

[Vern]

It's at time like this I lament the moving on of the old guard - Greg Lane and John Banks. Their ambitions may have been bigger than the development cheque book actually allowed for, but they were not afraid to set out a road map for the future and interact with the community about what they had in mind. Sadly we now appear to be dealing with a largely faceless corporation but ultimately it comes down to the same thing. Without a "next" version - whatever it might contain - the money will dry up. As people start to drift away from the older versions (or they pass the lifecycle policy) subscriptions to the DLS will dry up and not everyone is going to buy the DLC. Trainz needs at least a flicker of news about the next version to keep interest in the franchise alive and ensure a revenue stream coming in.

 

[Euphod]

That's the way of the corporate world now days. I've been at my employer for 20 years, and I've seen the vice presidents and presidents come and go so many times I can no longer attach a face to a name!

 

[celje]

Is it time for alarm?
Windwalkr answered on marginal subject but don't touch the essence of this thread.
Must we be concern?
A lot of things don't work in TS12, will N3V keep the word and give us SP1

 

[WindWalkr]

It's at time like this I lament the moving on of the old guard - Greg Lane and John Banks. Their ambitions may have been bigger than the development cheque book actually allowed for, but they were not afraid to set out a road map for the future and interact with the community about what they had in mind.

A matter of perspective, I guess. We (Auran / N3V) learned a long time ago that it was better to put up or shut up. As fun as it might be to speculate on our future direction, it doesn't really help anyone when we say one thing today, and something else entirely next year. Businesses change direction to suit their market, and premature announcements can lead to disappointment when things inevitably change. That's why we leave the speculation to our users, and concentrate on the facts.

Without a "next" version - whatever it might contain - the money will dry up. As people start to drift away from the older versions (or they pass the lifecycle policy) subscriptions to the DLS will dry up and not everyone is going to buy the DLC. Trainz needs at least a flicker of news about the next version to keep interest in the franchise alive and ensure a revenue stream coming in.

You seem to be conflating "not talking about future plans" with "not having any future plans." Looking back over the history of the product, that doesn't seem a very sensible thing to do. You also seem to be focusing on a single platform, when we support several and have very recently announced support for more.

cheers,

chris

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

This is certainly one of the more interesting threads...

Is it time for alarm?

Definitely not. Windwalkr is the Lead Programmer so will generally contribute to more technical topics
N3V does still monitor the forums regularly, but certainly not with the interaction of 12 years ago when the Trainz journey stared. John Banks is actually Dr John now with his PhD in social media studies; Greg Lane hasn't been seen in public for several years; but I'm still here and indeed N3V are working hard on our future plans for Trainz.
This year we have seen iOS sales overtake PC sales for the first time and given this weeks announcement of Trainz Driver for smart phones, we will see an even higher % of non-PC sales.
That said, the PC market is still a big part of our business and in good old "Auran-speak" you'll be hearing more about those plans "soon (TM)".

Tony Hilliam

And look at that - two posts by N3V simultaneously at 7:30 on a Saturday evening... I don't think there is much need for concern.

 

[celje]

Dear Tony Hilliam and Windwalkr

It will be very good if you make the direct answer on the direct question.
Question is : ''A lot of things don't work in TS12, will N3V keep the word and give us SP1''

best regards
celje

 

[WindWalkr]

It will be very good if you make the direct answer on the direct question.
Question is : ''A lot of things don't work in TS12, will N3V keep the word and give us SP1''

I think you are hijacking this thread a little, but in answer to your question: we have released several updates for TS12 already, and we expect to release further updates in the future.

cheers,

chris

 

[Electro]

This is certainly one of the more interesting threads...

Tony Hilliam

And look at that - two posts by N3V simultaneously at 7:30 on a Saturday evening... I don't think there is much need for concern.

Hi Tony

Sorry mate now i am concern.


Poul