SimRail

[seagoon]

.... for a playtest that is free for us.

I doubt they would get too many takers if they blatantly charged for play-testing.
(As it is, with the vast majority of Steam's "Early Access" stuff we are actually play-testing and paying for the privilege.)

[NorthernWarrior]

I don't feel too much sympathy for the devs on this. The game has been in development a long time and they decided it was ready for a wider playtest. You don't design a multiplayer game without seriously considering all the things that can go wrong, not bugs but how the system can get abused by the malcontents. This should have been anticipated and steps in place. Even allowing for the Christmas break they have been very selective about what they respond to on the official forum. They are not answering questions about the save game or why there is no bridge reverb etc. either. If they are frantically working on bugs less than two weeks from release, that tells me it isn't really ready for release.

[haverfordwest]

Smacks of DTG and N3V to me. Answer the easy questions and avoid the difficult ones.

Mike.

[SurvivorSean]

Yet in many ways including many on their forum they say it already is better than TSW. Not bad for something not even in early access. They had a Q&A not too far back and I'm not sure as I wasn't part of it but they asked plenty of questions where they simply said NO. I don't know what their business structure is. Who is the developing team. They have a forum in at least 2 languages as well as a Discord.

I'm mostly pleased about the playtest and their attitute so far. I'm disappointed that single player doesn't have anything beyond tutorials and that it's going to be likely scenerio based. That right there makes single player not an option.

As for the MP they fixed a major issue in the latest update where trains would be sent to the wrong locations. It too early to see what the impact is but I'm going to go on to their forums and servers shortly to see. I think they still have issues with people who want to role play or have certain crap they introduce to the server just because two dispatch desks agree on it and screw the people driving. This is why they need alternative servers (and no I'm not going to be one of them).

Thanks

Sean

[haverfordwest]

Wouldn't take much to be better than, TSW, TSW2 or TSW3, Sean

Nothing wrong with SimRail, but for me the SP part has to be a fully realised game.

Not an after thought to MP, buddy.

Mike.

[SurvivorSean]

I understand, but if done right you wouldn't even notice the diffrence. There are many times I could have a 2 hour run driving or dispatching and barely notice that other humans are around without hitting the tab key or hearing them honk (not everyone does it).

As for the save I thought about this more as the map of lines for the full version was posted on the forum today. I understand there is 500KM planned but I'm not sure if that would represent a full run. The line slplits off into what is known apparently as a bypass route that starts from the wye at SG and eventually turns north rejoining the main off another line in the rural areas.

I think the longest run might be around 350KMS or 230 miles. Most freights are reduced to 80KMH some passenger to 125KMH where as others can go faster (not sure of the top speed).

Personally I don't think a save is planned nor are they going for a world save option unfortunately. I too would like to see a world save option where you could just run your own server or at least a single player world.

But it's the human reaction time for me that makes MP the best option. Not the goofy role playing that some have tried. If it is protected properly I believe it would be a very rewarding experience as actually feel much more realistic. Just my 2 cents, not trying to sell you on something as I have no skin in the game here. If Railroader comes out tomorrow I will be playing that for the majority as it's more my style. If Run8 could provide a nice DLC region that a single player with the potential help of a small group manage then I'd be back in that in no time.

The cool thing for me though is this has plenty of unique features and potential much like Railroader and Run8 does. I could in theory for the first time be running 3 sims on a regular basis. To be honest I've never done 2 as I simply come back to Run8 when things get interesting.

Thanks

Sean

[seagoon]

I understand, but if done right you wouldn't even notice the diffrence............

.......Personally I don't think a save is planned nor are they going for a world save option unfortunately.

There is a big difference between MP and SP if - and I emphasise IF - the SP has a save capability.

I cannot sit at a PC playing a game for two hours without being able to save the state of play at some point, so MP has very little attraction for me. Doesn't matter what the game or genre is; if I can't save then it loses points.

So if SimRail in single-player mode does not provide a save function then it's goodnight Josephine as far as I'm concerned.

[haverfordwest]

Blimey no need to leave a woman over a train game, Bruce

Mike.

[seagoon]

Blimey no need to leave a woman over a train game, Bruce

Mike.

Paraphrasing the apocryphal "Not tonight, Josephine!"

[NorthernWarrior]

After starting my playthrough of Mass Effect 1 last night I felt a strange complete lack of compulsion to fire up any train game, even the good quality new stuff I bought for TSC over Christmas.

Sometimes you need to be entertained with a story.

And Happy New Year to everyone.

[seagoon]

Happy New Year to you too, Vern....and to everyone else, of course.

[haverfordwest]

My seasons greetings are in the TSW thread.

Vern...............once upon a time there were three bears, daddy bear, mummy bear and baby bear. Entertaining enough for you, young man

Mike.

[haverfordwest]

You can't bamboozle me with posh words Bruce. I was educated like proper, Neyland Juniors, Milford Haven Central Secondary and Langley Secondary. Now what the hell does apocryphal mean

Mike.

[SurvivorSean]

Perhaps you should have got a room on New Years Eve?

[haverfordwest]

No need Sean, i have two main rooms, kitchen and entrance hallway, downstairs. Three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs

Mike.