June Roadmap

[Leaf85]

I have to admit I was hoping for a bit more and found this one in particular rather...limp. The only thing somewhat interesting is the remaster of the Cathcart route. US and DE fixes (and core fixes) coming 'soon'. The 'expert' BR 101 is coming (not sure it's on the same level as a DCS study aircraft) and might well be a lot of fun trying to figure out, just have to remember to RTFM. Most of this is still in the 'down the road' category. Glad I have Run 8 for my American content.

[NorthernWarrior]

Very bland and disappointing roadmap. DB 218 the only glimmer of interest but nothing on any new UK route. San Bernardino for the US just another take on what we got last year for Metrolink and seems likely it will be the big summer title, either for TSW5 or their “bundle”, whichever it is.

The Cathcart makeover looks nice but you could argue that’s how the route should have looked in the first place. Class 380 of little interest, another one handle modern EMU with a narrow slit cab window.

Class 104 DMU seems to be sinking without a trace.

[Leaf85]

I know I'm going to sound like one of those insipid apologists for a moment, but I can somewhat understand DTG's reticence to post up firm dates or what's actually coming down the pipe from them and the 3rd party developers; given the seemingly steady downhill roll those announcements take into 'reeeee-ing'... mind you that seems to be the way of most game dev forums these past few years. The problem where attempting to take the path of least resistance is, simply, that it comes across as wishy-washy and leads to more angst from the base. Personally, I think that's the wrong approach but I have no solution. Perhaps the community manager(s) have to take stronger stances, or at least not say stupid things like 'new, fun, stuff' that will just gee people up.

There is nothing, save maybe the Cathcart remaster that grabs my attention route-wise, and I agree about the 218. San Bernardino...well, okay *shrugs*, fodder for the Steam Sales. The plastic, one handle driving, the 380 offers must be the 'new, fun stuff' Alex was mumbling about. Stuff disappearing without a trace seems to be a fairly common thread, or at least that's the impression I get. The unresponsiveness of the 'team' to fix their DLCs seemingly hoping the 'whingers' will go away is a poor showing. The steam traction fixes, route fixes, signal and bug fixes, etc., that are needed to solidify the product seem to get some lip service but rarely appear. "We have no clue how to fix the steam traction physics...it's all about the physics, eh and our proprietary simu-graph eh, so we're fixing the bounciness of the suspensions instead..." Really!? I personally don't spend my driving time out the cab window watching the trucks...so I'd rather my steam loco worked at least somewhat properly...

Endless excuses as to why things aren't finished/done/fixed is the impression I'm left with. That said I still enjoy the 'sim' as a game but I'd hazard my enjoyment would be much more should that 'stuff' get done.

[NorthernWarrior]

Rather than start a new thread, just to report the 218 is now out and as expected from a TSG add on absolutely superb. The choice of Hamburg to Lubeck as the loco’s main route is rather poor as quite an old piece of content and not updated. But when you wind that TB11 up to Notch 15, by god does it sound sweet. Plenty of scope to spawn on foot in other routes and add this with a driveable consist for a magnificent thrash.

[haverfordwest]

Not Polish though Vern...................... during the war Rodney 🤣

I watched Schnauza's review of it on YT last night.

Nice loco in a rubbish game.

Mike.

[Leaf85]

I have to agree, the 218 is very well done and a lot of fun to drive, especially after you get the hang of operating the tap changer with a view to the oiling of the transmission-- I'm finding I really have to pay attention to the upcoming speed changes so I don't foul the drive system. The tutorial was pretty thorough although the bit about changing the secondman side lighting to ON WHITE was a headscratcher lol (hit left arrow to change to a top down view, then you've free access to the switches near the top of the tap changer). Once I got the gist of the braking system the loco was pretty smooth to operate. I can see why it was popular. The sounds are top notch (only glitch I heard was a slight pause in the looping of the parking brake on release). Probably the single best DLC I've picked up.

[NorthernWarrior]

A typical half baked tutorial as it actually tells you to change back after you switch on the headlights but not before to bring up the sub screen. The throttle wheel totally obscures them and I ended up standing and contorting my avatar round to try and reach!

It certainly sets a new standard for the likes of Rivet and Skyhook, even DTG themselves when it comes to detail and quality.

But it needs a decent "proper" DB diesel main line like Obereruhrtalbahn from Zusi to be at home on.

[Leaf85]

I'd run Zusi 3 more often but my German is...lacking ++. Maik's work on the 218 has been sublime, especially given the limitations hardcoded into the sim by DTG itself. I've only managed half a dozen runs with it- 5 on Lubeck and one on MentalBahn. Good times indeed.

[NorthernWarrior]

I fired up Zusi 3 last night to compare the 218’s but it is so frustrating.

Menu system is like trying to navigate a spreadsheet.

When you do find a run that takes your fancy, seems to take forever to load. Then you need to timeskip to the start time of your train.

I use timeskip for a later train to get to an intermediate time/location of an earlier service where I left off but even with the “cheat” clock on, it doesn’t display while timeskip is on, so easy to overshoot. If you do hit the sweet spot and choose the alternate train, then the whole route has to load again.

Think out of my 45 minute session I spent 30 setting up and less than 15 driving, particularly as the sim locked up when I tried to call up the help screen.

Great sim, rotten interface.