Well I guess I've gone all in now. Nothing like the pressure of failing and the entire world knows right? I wanted to be certain this time that this was what i wanted to accomplish. Then a few things came together. My drone flights and looking at some images made me realize that I could achieve better resolution than Google.
This concept has actually been on my mind since the days of Freight Yard Manager. The big exception is I had a different vision of what potential it could become. Not so much in the huge network that it was and still is today, but what can go on between the yards and after hours when nobody is around.
I wanted something first and foremost that could be run single player, and feel part of a system. A system that lives, breathes, and acts like a railroad. Whether you want to take the role of dispatcher, mainline crew, yardmaster, just sit back and watch the trains run as a fan, or anything in between.
I didn't want to spend weeks, months, and years building complex scenery. What I have found though is I love to fly my drone. Right now is winter in Canada so the air is a bit too cold to run every day. But now I have a new purpose of some scenic flights. Go 30 or 40 meters above the mainlines and look straight down and keep shooting. Get every detail of ballast, grass, etc. in the best imagery possible and use it as a canvas.
From there take the canvass that spreads across main lines through yards, sidings, industries, and entire subdivisions. Allow an intelligent AI dispatching system to route prototypical trains with loads, tagged for various industries, interchanges, and other destinations. To be worked on in the yard by other AI systems, or if lucky let the player take control while the AI brings you into the sim.
Eventually I do want to include the possibility of MP, perhaps 45 degree side angles to show off more drone scenery and digital art representing the engines and consists. But for now an absolute looking straight down at the track with enough detail to read upcoming signs, signals, and grade crossings. No it's not the 3D cab we all love, but it is the top down view of a living breathing railroad in as much detail as I can show. All images filmed with my drone to represent a complete network from end to end.
With the name yes I hope to release the first version in 2021. I wanted to produce something this year. Short term goals include getting some preliminary test images of Southern Yard on Niagara's Stamford Sub to try some switching concepts as well as possible AI routines. As the program begins to develop further include up to date imagery of summer like conditions. I'm hoping for a fall release and this will include 30 miles of CN's Stamford Sub with additional interchanges planned with CP at Southern Yard, PCHR at Feeder, and NS as Fort Erie. Staging will be provided for Niagara Falls at Clifton along with Black Rock at Buffalo NY (though imagery will not be provided of the crossing of the US border as well as a few miles inside the city of Niagara Falls part of the Niagara Falls NO FLY ZONE).
My site is below along with YouTube channel. I can take any comments, suggestions, ideas, etc. here privately, on twitter, or in the suggestions section of my site.
Looking forward to an awesome 2021.
Thanks
Sean