RS Respond to Donner Pass Feedback

[Marleyman]

and I quote

RailSimulator.com
Donnner Pass.

As hopefully you all know by now, we value your opinions on all aspects of our products and community including feedback on the additional content we make for Train Simulator 2012. We have received some feedback on the recent Donner Pass add-on, and it is clear that a few things have snuck pass our testing processes. We're going to fix these issues as soon as possible.

We will do these fixes in two stages. First, this weekend we will work on the visual errors that crept in. Then, later in December, we will fix the issues reported in the tracks (we need a bit more time to check these fixes as there is a potential to require rework of the scenarios and follow on testing).

We appreciate your patience and understand the frustration caused when products don’t meet expectations. Rest assured that we're working to improve our testing so we make the best possible add-ons for Train Simulator 2012.

I am pleased with the response, you can view that on their Facebook Page, now I hope the fix is as good as the response.

[dcushing]

I have seen several people saying how they refuse to buy the route until RSC fixes all the problems. It would seem to me that paying 19.99 for the broken route now and waiting for the fixes (and it will get fixed, I'm sure) is better than waiting for the fixes then paying full price later. I mean 20 bucks is 20 bucks.

Duncan

[Dan]

The thing that strikes me as interesting is RSC compared to Rockstar. At least we are getting feedback and response from RSC which is not what is happening with people who bought L.A. Noire. So although not ideal, at least there is some communication and acknowledgement of the problems from RSC and also evidence of a plan to fix the problems.

[philmoberg]

... It would seem to me that paying 19.99 for the broken route now and waiting for the fixes (and it will get fixed, I'm sure) is better than waiting for the fixes then paying full price later. ...

That's the way I figured it. I've found them to be very responsive to my comments, especially given that they're a small shop. Given the way they've been continually improving their product, I'm quite confident they will come through on this one as well.

[krellnut]

I bet you I'll buy the route on a Christmas sale on steam for the same price, and fixed up too.

[Csxgp38-2]

That's why I keep buying things from RSC, I complained to the makers of Bus Cable Car simulator- San Francisco about some detail defects and they basically told me "We don't feel like any more updates, there will be none. The code was written for 1 vehicle so we had to make the others unrealistic so we didn't have to write a new code.: When someone emails RSC about major detail defects, they get along the lines of: "Thanks for your comment on this addon, we are very busy but are greatful you expressed your concern to us and we will fix the errors as soon as we have time." A swift response that says "We value our customers opinion!" Which is what a good company should always do. Looking forward to this update and hoping RSC will continue to listen to us and fix our problems.

[MontanaRails]

They have a very respectable attitude toward this. I must admit, I wasnt sure how they'd respond to the feedback, but I'm content with the resolution they're offering!

[ozinoz]

I have a feeling they are extremely embarrassed by all of this.

Not being derogatory, but RSC farmed out a part of the route creation to a team in India (and that process with some fine tuning may prove beneficial in getting a greater volume of DLC created in the future) and I think lost oversight and supervision of the output. While it looks good, operationally and visually up close, there are issues. When you compare this to HSC which was most likely done in house over a longer time frame, there is no comparison. I am all for added DLC, but there are no favours being done if it is not up to prior standards they have already set themselves - it gets their customer base off side and only means more productive time is then wasted having to revisit and repair. DP was an ambitious project and I certainly commend them for undertaking it and I am certain after a little polish all will be good... It is a great sign that they have acknowledged the issues and have taken very prompt action to redress them. A great big to Paul Jackson and his team for doing so...

My



G

[Chessie8638]

Glad to see this when I checked FB today. Now to play the waiting game.

[Samwolf]

I have a feeling they are extremely embarrassed by all of this.

Not being derogatory, but RSC farmed out a part of the route creation to a team in India (and that process with some fine tuning may prove beneficial in getting a greater volume of DLC created in the future) and I think lost oversight and supervision of the output. While it looks good, operationally and visually up close, there are issues. When you compare this to HSC which was most likely done in house over a longer time frame, there is no comparison. I am all for added DLC, but there are no favours being done if it is not up to prior standards they have already set themselves - it gets their customer base off side and only means more productive time is then wasted having to revisit and repair. DP was an ambitious project and I certainly commend them for undertaking it and I am certain after a little polish all will be good... It is a great sign that they have acknowledged the issues and have taken very prompt action to redress them. A great big to Paul Jackson and his team for doing so...

My



G

Well said.

[OldProf]

I have seen several people saying how they refuse to buy the route until RSC fixes all the problems. It would seem to me that paying 19.99 for the broken route now and waiting for the fixes (and it will get fixed, I'm sure) is better than waiting for the fixes then paying full price later. I mean 20 bucks is 20 bucks.

Duncan

Yes, Duncan, that's completely logical, but following your sound financial advice would then prevent those same folks from complaining about having to pay full price for the route after it has been "fixed" to their standards!

Tom Pallen (who already bought the route at the bargain price and is enjoying it thoroughly)

[DonR]

This is software... a 1.0 release. There are going to be issues. Some people don't buy 1.0 releases... but again, most companies don't discount their software on initial release... heck... some of them never discount their software. I get a good vibe from RSC. I will keep buying their stuff as long as it is interesting to me. Keep up the good work, Paul & co.

My

Thanks
Don.

[hminky]

I thought RSC made a big leap forward: Longest route ever and snow.

So it had problems, RSC still made the leap.

I liked it because I am not an SP modern guy fan. Sure it coulda been better but 140 mile route with a new game engine. Gutsy.

They are still the best TrainSim available. I fired up RailSimulator a while back when the Asset Editor didn't work and they are light years ahead of that now.

Kudos RSC
Harold

[micaelcorleone]

Fixes coming today!
Now that's what I wanted to see.

Tonight we are releasing the first of a number of patches designed to address the issues raised by our customers about the Donner Pass. While this patch addresses many of the glitches and terrain issues it by no means solves all the issues raised. We will let you all know when the next patch is ready in the near future. We would like to apologise sincerely for any disappointment caused by issues with the Donner Pass. After the patch is released this evening you may need to verify your cache. If you need to know how to do this, please email support@railsimulator.com

Fix List:
• Fixed Floating Scenery at Truckee
• Fixed Floating Scenery at Colfax
• Fixed Tunnel Mouths around Donner Summit
• Cascade Bridge fine tuning
• Emirgrants Gap Improvements
• Added Casino / Arcade Signs to Reno area
• Checked all tunnels have correct cutting through terrain
• Fixed Floating buildings at Verdi
• Fixed gap in scenery north of Truckee
• More detail added to scenery south of Truckee
• Removed trees over roads near Donner Summit
• Added a missing bridge
• Added more weeds near Tunnel 29
• Improved scenery between Tunnel 28 - 23
• Added missing bridge at Auburn
• Fixed floating scenery at Auburn
• Improved Newcastle tunnel mouths
• Fixed floating scenery at Newcastle
• Added more scenery north of Tunnel 1
• Fixed floating scenery in the Rocklin area
• Improved Rocklin station area
• Fixed floating buildings east of Roseville Yard

source: http://www.facebook.com/railsimulator?sk=wall

[Dan]

This is software... a 1.0 release. There are going to be issues. Some people don't buy 1.0 releases... but again, most companies don't discount their software on initial release... heck... some of them never discount their software. I get a good vibe from RSC. I will keep buying their stuff as long as it is interesting to me. Keep up the good work, Paul & co.

My

Thanks
Don.

Well said. Can anyone think of a piece of software that has worked perfectly straight out of the box? I can't.

The point about discount is also interesting, normally you pay top whack to get the first version of most software games or have to wait 6 months for the price to reach an affordable level.