Two REALLY Dumb Things I Noticed with 2009

[ecarfar]

Just got it yesterday, installed it and got rhe Raildriver to work..then I started snooping around and 2 things struck me as being just plain stupid. first, I really like switching scenerios and went to the last itme on the Driver menu where there are four switching scenerios from past editions. Every time I try and start one, the program tells me it's missing a component and it shutting down the scenerio...what's with that? You'd think they would include all the necessary items if they're going to put a scenerio on the main menu!

The other thing that kinda put me back, was when I went to print out the PDF manual on the disc....it's for the 2006 version! Huh??????????

 

[johnwhelan]

Just got it yesterday, installed it and got rhe Raildriver to work..then I started snooping around and 2 things struck me as being just plain stupid. first, I really like switching scenerios and went to the last itme on the Driver menu where there are four switching scenerios from past editions. Every time I try and start one, the program tells me it's missing a component and it shutting down the scenerio...what's with that? You'd think they would include all the necessary items if they're going to put a scenerio on the main menu!

The other thing that kinda put me back, was when I went to print out the PDF manual on the disc....it's for the 2006 version! Huh??????????

The content that comes with TRS2009 is basically TRS2006, TRS2007 etc content, there are some issues with it you need the EE edition to get the native TRS2009 content.

The WBE edition is a work in progress, the 2006 documentation isn't perfect but does include much of what you need to know about TRS2009, think of it as an evolutionary product.

Cheerio John

 

[ecarfar]

The content that comes with TRS2009 is basically TRS2006, TRS2007 etc content, there are some issues with it you need the EE edition to get the native TRS2009 content.

The WBE edition is a work in progress, the 2006 documentation isn't perfect but does include much of what you need to know about TRS2009, think of it as an evolutionary product.

Cheerio John

The EE edition of what program? 2006? 2009 (which doesn't exist, yet)? I have 2006 and 2004 but you have to look at this from a "normal" person who will buy this program and want to just pop it in their computer and start playing. I don't tihnk anyone expects to have to sit in fornt of a computer for hours on end trying to find files to make the program work....I don't think it would've been too hard for the programmers to simply click on each scenerio and see if it worked and if it didn't, put the stuff in the program to make it work...if not, remove it.

 

[john259]

One of the saddest things about this situation is that new purchasers gain a dreadful first impression of the creators who made that content. Content which very largely worked perfectly in previous versions of Trainz.

John

 

[ecarfar]

One of the saddest things about this situation is that new purchasers gain a dreadful first impression of the creators who made that content. Content which very largely worked perfectly in previous versions of Trainz.

John

Thanks John, I was as big user of 2004 and 2006 a few years ago and when i got this version it didn't seem too much different than the old ones. If the exclusion of files preventing a scenerio to run is indicative of the program as a whole, I think a lot of customers are going to be turned off Auran might suffer the consequences.

 

[crohakon]

I think it is about time that Auran starts coming up with ways to filter content and what it is compatible with... I for one am sick of downloading a layout only to find out I cannot run it because I own 2009 and not 2006 or 2004. Honestly, had I known that this was going to be an issue I would have bought 2006 instead and waited until 2009 was stable. I am a new user. I never owned a copy of Auran software until now. So this has left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to Auran. However, with that said, I trust in the many people who support Auran for 2004 and 2006 and for that reason, and that reason alone, I will continue to support this product and will consider buying the engineers edition when it comes out in hopes that Auran kicked its own butt into action to fix this mess.

 

[johnwhelan]

I think it is about time that Auran starts coming up with ways to filter content and what it is compatible with... I for one am sick of downloading a layout only to find out I cannot run it because I own 2009 and not 2006 or 2004. Honestly, had I known that this was going to be an issue I would have bought 2006 instead and waited until 2009 was stable. I am a new user. I never owned a copy of Auran software until now. So this has left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to Auran. However, with that said, I trust in the many people who support Auran for 2004 and 2006 and for that reason, and that reason alone, I will continue to support this product and will consider buying the engineers edition when it comes out in hopes that Auran kicked its own butt into action to fix this mess.

2009 contains all the built in content for TRS2004 and TRS2006, you may need to visit the DLS to pull in a few dependencies but that's all.

Cheerio John

 

[VinnyBarb]

2009 contains all the built in content for TRS2004 and TRS2006, you may need to visit the DLS to pull in a few dependencies but that's all.

Cheerio John

I don't think you get the point here, this is from the perspective of a first time user. You and I know how to rectify this but what about "Jonny come lately", the new boy on the block who bought TRS for the first time and who expects a game to play reasonably after buying it. What impression of AURAN would he get? Just count the posts here of one or another problem some of us face and have with TRS09!

As someone above posted, AURAN should have thought of this as soon TRS09 was available to buy. I do have some issues too with one instance of patching TRS09, I usually know how to get around problems or know how to fix these. What about any person that is a "computer illiterate"?

I try to support AURAN too wherever I can, I bought most of their TRS and other games releases over the years, some of the TRS versions even several times. I also create content for most versions of TRS. But lately I get the impression/conclusion that AURAN either rushed out TRS09 too soon or this is only a way to keep them afloat. The later is OK with me as without money AURAN can not exist but not the first one (rushing out too soon).

Please NO explanations this is only a WBE for content creators to start creating, it does not wash with me as TRS is still obvious very buggy and faulty and hardly any good for creating and on top of it no reasonable guidelines for TRS09 creating exist except scattered all over the DEV Wiki pages with important informations still missing or perhaps not known at this stage. Just check the posts here or head over to the Dev web site and you will see what I mean.

I am not here to rubbish AURAN but I call a spate a bl##dy spate as I see it and so far I am very disillusioned, disappointed and fed up with quite a few things in TRS09 as they stand at the moment.

Now how to rectify all this? Well, that is the $64.000 question and I do not have an answer as I do not run AURAN and your guess is as good as mine. As I notice here in this forum a lot of the "old" (as in being here a long time) content creators are either not posting anymore, have moved on to some other web sites (TPR and others for example), wait for some guidance for content creating or perhaps what is very sad, gave up creating for TRS altogether.

What also riles me is the deafening silence of the powers that be not to inform us re the state of what is happening and how to address the issues facing us (another reinforcement that TRS09 was rushed out too soon). Except saying, another patch is in the pipeline and will be released soon (TM).

A very disappointed

VinnyBarb

 

[johnwhelan]

I don't think you get the point here, this is from the perspective of a first time user. You and I know how to rectify this but what about "Jonny come lately", the new boy on the block who bought TRS for the first time and who expects a game to play reasonably after buying it. What impression of AURAN would he get? Just count the posts here of one or another problem some of us face and have with TRS09!

As someone above posted, AURAN should have thought of this as soon TRS09 was available to buy. I do have some issues too with one instance of patching TRS09, I usually know how to get around problems or know how to fix these. What about any person that is a "computer illiterate"?

I try to support AURAN too wherever I can, I bought most of their TRS and other games releases over the years, some of the TRS versions even several times. I also create content for most versions of TRS. But lately I get the impression/conclusion that AURAN either rushed out TRS09 too soon or this is only a way to keep them afloat. The later is OK with me as without money AURAN can not exist but not the first one (rushing out too soon).

Please NO explanations this is only a WBE for content creators to start creating, it does not wash with me as TRS is still obvious very buggy and faulty and hardly any good for creating and on top of it no reasonable guidelines for TRS09 creating exist except scattered all over the DEV Wiki pages with important informations still missing or perhaps not known at this stage. Just check the posts here or head over to the Dev web site and you will see what I mean.

I am not here to rubbish AURAN but I call a spate a bl##dy spate as I see it and so far I am very disillusioned, disappointed and fed up with quite a few things in TRS09 as they stand at the moment.

Now how to rectify all this? Well, that is the $64.000 question and I do not have an answer as I do not run AURAN and your guess is as good as mine. As I notice here in this forum a lot of the "old" (as in being here a long time) content creators are either not posting anymore, have moved on to some other web sites (TPR and others for example), wait for some guidance for content creating or perhaps what is very sad, gave up creating for TRS altogether.

What also riles me is the deafening silence of the powers that be not to inform us re the state of what is happening and how to address the issues facing us (another reinforcement that TRS09 was rushed out too soon). Except saying, another patch is in the pipeline and will be released soon (TM).

A very disappointed

VinnyBarb

I'm not disagreeing with you, I don't think TRS2009 is ready yet for the masses. I don't agree with Auran taking the line it is up to Content creators to fix content so it works with TRS2009.

I do wonder if the present system is the best way to work. Would open source be any better? Could we buy out Auran? The wife is very much of the opinion that Auran is basically selling other people's work for free. The DLS and forums are useful but even the DLS is getting more expensive these days when I understand the cost of the internet and servers is decreasing.

Dunno what the answer is but currently we seem to muddle through.

Cheerio John

 

[Euphod]

The wife is very much of the opinion that Auran is basically selling other people's work for free.

I love Auran, they have been a big part of my life for some time now, but as I have said countless times before; content creation and management is the Achilles Heel of the operation.

 

[ckthomson]

One of the saddest things about this situation is that new purchasers gain a dreadful first impression of the creators who made that content. Content which very largely worked perfectly in previous versions of Trainz.

John

Even more unfortunately, people like myself avoid blaming the content creator and realize VERY quickly that they paid out good money for something that's nowhere near past the beta stage.

Why they "went gold" with 2009 so soon I will never understand.

 

[ajho]

2009 contains all the built in content for TRS2004 and TRS2006, you may need to visit the DLS to pull in a few dependencies but that's all.

Not true. The Autopilot Rule is missing for starters, not to mention the UK, Germany and Switzerland regions.

 

[johnwhelan]

Not true. The Autopilot Rule is missing for starters, not to mention the UK, Germany and Switzerland regions.

If you'd like to go and report them as bug in Trainzdev we may even get them added back in. Some scripts are broken which to me is a different issue.

Cheerio John

 

[Euphod]

One of the saddest things about this situation is that new purchasers gain a dreadful first impression of the creators who made that content.

Unless it's something I made, then they are correct....

 

[osq7]

Think I'll keep off of 09 for a while...

Upon hearing this, I definitley will not be buying 09 any time soon. If it's a work in progress, I won't get it if it has things that don't work.

 

[johnwhelan]

Upon hearing this, I definitley will not be buying 09 any time soon. If it's a work in progress, I won't get it if it has things that don't work.

Trouble is some things work better in TRS2009 than in earlier versions. I have some rolling stock that is fine in TRS2009 but has issues in TRS2004. You pays your money and takes your chances.

Cheerio John

 

[martinvk]

One of the saddest things about this situation is that new purchasers gain a dreadful first impression of the creators who made that content.

Sad but true. Unfortunately Trainz is not your everyday game. It requires much more involvement from the user than the average game.

Content which very largely worked perfectly in previous versions of Trainz.

John

Here I have to disagree. It's an ongoing myth that when there was no visible error, that content was working perfectly. There were a lot of problems caused by faulty content but Auran in its wisdom, decided to keep things under the covers and not flag then publicly. It worked well enough to keep things quiet and create a huge fan base but now that it is coming back to bite them in the rear, was it really such a good idea? I've never known a process where ignoring a small problem early on would not create more and bigger problems later. Be that as it may, it's all water under the bridge now. What they should have and could have done is in the past. It's what Auran will do in the next six months that is important.

One thing that might be possible. On the DLS there are check boxes to limit the version of Trainz objects that are returned by a query. Perhaps Trainz should also be able to limit the objects it uses to specific versions with clear warnings that any past version that is used might cause problems. We all know that warnings are often ignored and people will still complain but ...

 

[bbrown86]

new user too

I bought TS2009 at a model train show after seeing it demonstrated on a computer screen. At home though, I can't seem to figure out how to run a route with an actual "job" to do. I thought I would be able to get orders from a "dispatcher" and go deliver the freight. Hopefully, I just missed the page in the manual on how to do that!! Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[martinvk]

I bought TS2009 at a model train show ...

Congratulation and condolences. You've just entered into a world that few have been able to leave. Be prepared to spend untold hours in front of your screen. :hehe:

I thought I would be able to get orders from a "dispatcher" and go deliver the freight. Hopefully, I just missed the page in the manual on how to do that!! Any suggestions? Thanks!

You are the dispatcher unless you are running a session that has already been set up in which case the person who built it is the dispatcher.

Remember this is not a game in the traditional sense where in you have to do something to gain things, points, lives, etc. In Trainz you can do as much or as little as you like. You can build your own worlds from the ground up or just ride around in someone else's world.

Welcome and happy trainzing

 

[falcon500]

If TRS2009 is a work in progress what was the point of releasing it, to raise money? The same could probably be said for the 1st version of TRS2006, that could also be called a work in progress. That must have left a bad taste in lots of mouths! I've bought all editions of Trainz except 2009. Recently I bought a copy Trainz Collection as a more convenient way of installing 2004 and 2006. The version of 2004 Build 2370 has no Content Foundry, contacted Helpdesk about this still no reply. The point that anyone new to TRS wouldn't know about these kinds of problems or how to fix them is good one, how many actually register their game and register for the forum? I notice that content sent to DLS can be used by Auran and that royalties may be paid, I wonder if anyone has actually got any? Whenever there is any hard questions about Auran's software staff seem to be conveniently absent.