N3V — Ability to sell soundpacks

EverTrainz

Electric Blue
I read in the content creator/vendor agreement that sounds cannot be sold on their own.

I find this a bit confusing, as SteamSoundsSupreme and Armstrong Powerhouse make some excellent soundpacks for Train Sim – quite fairly priced at a few dollars. It would be a more compelling argument for them to port and sell their products (which, from experience, are quite a bit harder to get right than 3D modeling and texturing) if they could do it “officially”.

I’m hoping that this exclusion is only because the team hopes to upgrade the sound system so that it’s more fluid and capable in the future, since a lot of things that have been developed for their soundpacks rely on pitch and volume modulation. Also separate in-cab audio files and a somehow blended output between interior and exterior views (when cab windows are opened) are done in TS.

Of course, it would be important for their business that the WAV files are encrypted and locked, something I think is not currently possible?

Any team input or clarification would be nice.
 
I agree wholeheartedly that soundpacks are in theory a great idea but aside from anything N3V do/think I can immediately see two other issues:

Not enough people will fork out for payware for Trainz.

I think anyone who sells content for DTG simulators agrees that they will not supply content to any other simulator.
 
I know that Trainz' generally known for its freeware but with standards for content creation and content in general moving rapidly upwards the freeware and sounds of past years are getting a bit long in the tooth. There are probably a few people that might pay for the soundpack and I don't think, suppose, AP would have to undergo any extra costs to do this, since they've already recorded the sounds and prepared them. It's only a matter of sticking them in a file and adding a very basic config.

I did also think in the past that DTG creators were bound to not sell for other simulators but some examples like JR/searchlight Simulations collaborated to bring Trainz stuff to the other simulator - also I don't think AP sells through DTG's store so they can't be held to DTG's contracts. Other examples as well but I can't remember exactly. As for whether they will want to, that's another story. I guess the only way to find out is to convince them that the end result will be better, and create models that blow theirs out of the water ;)
 
While this is great for those that like to tinker, changing a sound asset in an asset is not for everyone. In addition there are also implications of packaging and sharing for payware and for the DLS because many people would require purchasing these asset packs if they are a required dependency for content in a session.

There's too much baggage to go with them whether it's support for the less informed users, or for users seeking out these as dependencies, which would become worse than it is now.

So with that said, I can see why N3V doesn't want to allow sound-packs for sale.
 
Maybe some sort of auto-obsolete? Not really sure about swapping it out, maybe someone can write a script that changes the KUIDs in the loco config?

I think that’s what Armstrong Powerhouse does with the soundfiles in the other sim, it automatically overwrites the files in the native soundset.
 
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While this is great for those that like to tinker, changing a sound asset in an asset is not for everyone. In addition there are also implications of packaging and sharing for payware and for the DLS because many people would require purchasing these asset packs if they are a required dependency for content in a session.

This is the single biggest hole I see in the plan of selling dependencies as a standalone package. Unless the entity selling the sounds on their own is partnered up with the group or individual whose sounds are being replaced and has permission to release an obsoleting / kuid2 revved copy of the sounds, there's no clean way for distribution. Some people have enough trouble as it is installing 3rd party content with their dependencies located on the same page...
 
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This is the single biggest hole I see in the plan of selling dependencies as a standalone package. Unless the entity selling the sounds on their own is partnered up with the group or individual whose sounds are being replaced and has permission to release an obsoleting / kuid2 revved copy of the sounds, there's no clean way for distribution. Some people have enough trouble as it is installing 3rd party content with their dependencies located on the same page...

This is one of the biggest reasons for the restrictions on asset types for DLC packs through the Trainz Store, as well as to avoid having a bucket load of 'dependency' DLC packs being in the store. The TrainzStore DLC system is intended to be as easy to use as possible, especially with the introduction of the Content Store, and as such we would prefer to avoid situations where players need to modify/alter content to use the DLC pack.

One option might be to team up with another creator to release a suitable locomotive along with the sounds, or to upgrade an existing loco to more modern standard and to release this with the sounds.

We are always open to discussion if you do have an idea for a pack that may be restricted or not covered for the Trainz Store though, but this should be on the understanding that we do still need to be mindful of how users will need to use those DLC packs.

Regards
 
With reference to sound pack enhancements packages for locomotives as mentioned above.
I also have the Steam TS2020 rail simulator installed on my computer.
I recently downloaded a Class 158 DMU repaint job from a private supplier for the Steam TS2020 (Liverpool to Manchester route) product.
When downloaded I found that the DMU Class 158 train repaint asset package requires an enhanced sound package (as mentioned above) for a price from a private 3rd party vendor.

You know this is getting a very costly game and once adding up all the payware downloads the train-simulator hobby is costing myself a fortune in enhancements.

Sound quality enhancements are superb but should only be an optional component to any online train simulator product.
 
Compared to a flight sim Trainz is cheap. I have the receipts to prove it. Many enhanced areas cost. Specialized airports cost. Better trees cost. Each geographic region costs. Enhanced weather costs. Tony would love to have the dollars I spent to pretend I could fly.
But I am now ready to take control if the pilot dies. :udrool::( But, it works in a reliable manner. Reliability and accuracy allow it to be used by several FAA authorized flight schools.
 
Swapping in a new sound effect is usually just a case of changing a line or two in the config. I've done that myself for some DMU's that were aliased to the carp Auran 2001 default Alco sounds.

So any payware sound enhancements would need to be sold with that caveat, also the perennial issue I guess if you're changing an existing payware item you cannot edit it or even clone to amend the config.

For this to work then, probably need N3V to change both their copy protection and business model.

As suggested, the solution might be for vendors to offer the complete train pack with the enhanced sounds. AP do a very nice Class 205 "Thumper" for DTG TS (something we lack in Trainz, the closest we have are the more specialised Hastings units) and I would more than likely pay to have that available in Trainz.
 
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