My Updated Site

[eric]

I'll look into that. Where do I start?

OpenRails.org has the downloads including the applications and a free starter route.

That opens up just about anything in the MSTS or ORTS library located here.

You'll find a few of us here who create content (routes, rolling stock) and can help get you started, but ElvasTower.com is where the ORTS development team hangs out, as well as some of the more serious content creators. In addition to Blender for creating usable models, there's a new route editor created by one of the community members (also open source, but not crowdsourced as far as development goes).

It might not be as good as some aspects of TS/RW, but being a developer myself, being open source mean that there's the potential for the game components to live on well past the original company's profit-driven commitments.

I've always been impressed by the editors and graphics on the RW/TS product, but could never get around being dependent on Steam. There's something borg-ish that I could never get past with having them control what I could do...

[scottb613]

I'll look into that. Where do I start?

Hi Scott,

Join Elvas Tower and dive into this project - "City Point 1864". While Civil War railroading is not my niche - this is by far the most detailed and historically accurate railroad ever built for ORTS. Every detail is made to exacting standards and pushes the envelop in every direction illustrating what's possible with the sim. This includes all the models, the route, rolling stock, and textures.

http://www.elvastower.com/forums/ind...roads-of-1864/

Regards,
Scott

[BlackDiamond1964]

Thanks for the info on ORTS and Elvas Tower. I am a member there, I was posting about one of my projects. But between all the switching back and forth between rail sims it never got very far.

[BlackDiamond1964]

"
That's not entirely true. Minerman146 has created a masterpiece without using any payware and just a lot of kitbashing and creativity. His route is available on the Steam workshop and it's a beauty.

Actually, your statement is not true. I looked into this route. In order for me to use this route I would need to buy two of the three recommended routes needed for scenery. At $19.99 per route, I wouldn't call this route "a masterpiece without using any payware".

[BlackDiamond1964]

For wacampbell who deleted his post...I guess when he found out I was banned from RWA. I still received the email notification.

You mentioned two routes that didn't need any payware.

Pennsylvania Steam
G-TraX Maine Maritime Switching Route

I did download and try the Pennsylvania Steam route...anything "Pennsylvania" catches my attention. However, the ground textures were missing. I tried to look for the original route files but they are no longer available on Steam.

I will take a look at the second route all though it doesn't sound like my cup of tea.

[rt35ge]

" I found that If I commit to making something in Railworks, a user potential user that would want to enjoy my work will have to possibly buy more routes and locomotives."
That's not entirely true. Minerman146 has created a masterpiece without using any payware and just a lot of kitbashing and creativity. His route is available on the Steam workshop and it's a beauty.

Well, I was told by a few people on RWA and on the Steam Forum that anything for the workshop MUST USE DTG content. So what exactly are the requirements? If my only choice is DTG, don't look for me downloading a thing to the workshop.

[BlackDiamond1964]

Well, I was told by a few people on RWA and on the Steam Forum that anything for the workshop MUST USE DTG content. So what exactly are the requirements? If my only choice is DTG, don't look for me downloading a thing to the workshop.

It's what it looks like...a money grab. You will be forced to buy stuff that you don't want just to get custom made routes. It's just like when the folks over at Trainz purposely slow their download speed down to a crawl so you will forced to buy a first class ticket. Is anybody in for the hobby anymore?

[buzz456]

It's what it looks like...a money grab. You will be forced to buy stuff that you don't want just to get custom made routes. It's just like when the folks over at Trainz purposely slow their download speed down to a crawl so you will forced to buy a first class ticket. Is anybody in for the hobby anymore?

We would be pleased to host things done not by DTG at RWA where we are in it for the love of the hobby and not for the money.

[BlackDiamond1964]

We would be pleased to host things done not by DTG at RWA where we are in it for the love of the hobby and not for the money.

Yes, we need more of that. What I think needs to happen is a generic starter pack that comes with basic textures, tracks and roads as well as a track rule that would be supported by Steam.

[rt35ge]

Yes, we need more of that. What I think needs to happen is a generic starter pack that comes with basic textures, tracks and roads as well as a track rule that would be supported by Steam.

A generic starter pack.... I doubt DTG would do/allow a generic starter pack when they can go for as you put it, the money grab. This will set off the DTG fanbase. DTG is in it for the money pure and simple. I haven't uploaded any of the items I've made and if I do, I'll do it thru a website I control or on RWA.

[BlackDiamond1964]

A generic starter pack.... I doubt DTG would do/allow a generic starter pack when they can go for as you put it, the money grab. This will set off the DTG fanbase. DTG is in it for the money pure and simple. I haven't uploaded any of the items I've made and if I do, I'll do it thru a website I control or on RWA.

Well, one way for them, (DTG) to look at it is it will increase their fanbase by bringing in more users. Especially American users.

[rt35ge]

Well, one way for them, (DTG) to look at it is it will increase their fanbase by bringing in more users. Especially American users.

Sorry to sound so negative towards DTG, but for them to pursue a venture that users might like and makes good business sense is beyond DTG's mental capacity. Yes, I pan DTG, but yet I still buy their products knowing what the good, the bad, and the ugly, might bring. I can fix a route I purchase. Basically for me, I know full well a DTG route will be a reclamation project. Not everyone shares this viewpoint and that's fine, and not everyone can go in an edit a route using the route editor, and again, that's OK as well. Everyone has their own special talent(s) in the train siming community much like in model railroading.

[BlackDiamond1964]

Sorry to sound so negative towards DTG, but for them to pursue a venture that users might like and makes good business sense is beyond DTG's mental capacity. Yes, I pan DTG, but yet I still buy their products knowing what the good, the bad, and the ugly, might bring. I can fix a route I purchase. Basically for me, I know full well a DTG route will be a reclamation project. Not everyone shares this viewpoint and that's fine, and not everyone can go in an edit a route using the route editor, and again, that's OK as well. Everyone has their own special talent(s) in the train siming community much like in model railroading.

No need to apologies. I agree and I feel that N3V is the same way. The fact that they need to keep making money to keep their jobs outweighs the hobby itself. I can understand that, however the problem I have with it is that it's becoming so obvious now a days. If you even attempt to mention that, you are shunned to some dark dungeon where no one can here from you ever again. They don't seem to even care what their users think! It kind of makes you regret downloading anything anymore. I've had my post removed here (in the Trainz section) just for speaking the truth about N3V. You can't win. As I said many posts ago...I wish I got into it sooner.

[geepster775]

I've had my post removed here (in the Trainz section) just for speaking the truth about N3V. You can't win. As I said many posts ago...I wish I got into it sooner.

People can speak the truth around here. Balance matters. And I've read comments here where people were encouraging you, channeling you towards a productive direction. But that seems to be lost, as most of what I've read from you was anger over 'sim homelessness', woulda coulda shoulda, airing of old grievances, settling old scores, 'winning' by responding to deleted posts, and going after people/forum owners who wronged you/ignored you/failed to assist. Comments like that seldom survive.

[NorthernWarrior]

Yeah this forum is pretty open compared to some. The best of the rest surprisingly is DTG's own forum which is actually quite good and they are tolerant of other sims being mentioned in comparison and constructive criticism. It's actually superseded UKTS (which I recently rejoined) as the central place to discuss Dovie related stuff. The only downside is the Suggestions forums are full of the most ridiculous and outrageous ideas for routes that will never get built, especially in TSW, together with a seeming penchant preference for more modern stuff when it comes to the trains. Guess I'm a bit of a luddite when regarding the British Class 158 DMU (introduced in 1989) as a modern train!

The official N3V forum ebbs and flows, much like the product itself especially in TRS19 which has so many different levels and versions its hard to keep track. It has its uses for building model railroad style layouts but that's about it compared to what we can enjoy in just about any of the other sims. Input from N3V themselves is relatively rare and they can't even put in basic moderated posting for new members to kill off spam threads.