Ohio Steel -- Very low frame rates

[DonR]

Thanks for the update, Duncan. Rich's work is top notch. I'm really looking forward to the new Ohio Steel 2....

Thanks
Don

[dcushing]

You may want to check out Rich's website www.allaboardrails.com and read his new news message. Very Interesting.

Duncan

[arizonachris]

Holy Crap! 30 Standard scenarios, plus free roam AND 8 more scenarios from Doug (Heavy Chevy) ??????????? OMG!

The only thing that concerns me is not building this route upgrade to TS2012/ RW3 spec. But knowing Rich, I'm sure he has his reasons. Legacy mode is fine with me. Heck, I can install RW2 outside of Steam and install this there. Looks great!

[Chacal]

I'm confused by the news on the site. Do I understand correctly that there will be only one Ohio Steel route, and that will be "Dover and Massilion"?

[Griphos]

I corresponded with Rich about this today, and I hope he won't mind if I share that those who have the original Dover Steel will be able to upgrade at a reduced cost if they buy Ohio Steel 2 from the same place they got the original. I just got the original a week or so ago in anticipation of this expansion, so when I learned that it will replace rather than build on the original, I was concerned. I'm glad that there will be a way of moving to the new version without having lost the money invested in the original. And, yeah! 30 scenarios, and more on the way from both Doug and Rich! :-)

[Griphos]

Okay, something is wrong. Just ran scenario 2 with TSX off (legacy mode) and I got about 4-5 FPS. Even the F4 controls seemed to be responding slowly to mouse inputs. Jumped out and fired up another scenario on another route (switching in a yard) and was locked at 30. So, given what others have said, even though Ohio Steel may be a bit more demanding, I think something is wrong with my install. Can I delete the route and then verify cache and have that reinstall the route? What would you recommend to fix this problem, because there's no way 4-5 FPS is right.

[johnmckenzie]

I agree with you - I ran a scenario last night and was getting a framerate of 18-20 with TSX on. I know that's not great but it's playable - certainly what you're experiencing isn't. I wonder why?

Did you buy the route through Steam?

[Griphos]

Yes, through Steam. I used RW_Tools and checked the route for missing assets, and it showed good. So, last thing before I went to bed, I let Steam verify my cache. It downloaded 106 files. Not sure if any are related of course. I've installed a lot of freeware and all the payware 3D Trains stuff and a lot of free and pay scenarios in the last week. Maybe something to do with that.

Have to go to work now, but will test again this evening.

If anyone has any ideas about what to try to fix it, though, if it's still the same, I'd be very interested to hear them. Do you think the delete route and verify idea is any good? Would I just delete the route? Or use RW_Tools to do so?

[johnmckenzie]

Yes, I think deleting the route and verifying cache is a good idea - Steam will automatically download it again for you (Occasionally takes a couple of attempts, mind you so be patient)

Another thing that springs to mind is to keep the number of asset tick-boxes selected for this route (rather than for each scenario within the route) to a minimum, maybe this might help. I know that ticking more boxes for a route increases the loading time, maybe it slows the framerate as well? Any ideas, guys?

[OldProf]

Holy Crap! 30 Standard scenarios, plus free roam AND 8 more scenarios from Doug (Heavy Chevy) ??????????? OMG!

Excuse me for introducing a note of reality here, but as I read that announcement, Doug's scenarios will be a separate (payware) package, not part of the expanded route. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Tom Pallen

[glenn68]

I just did a fly around (8 key) with the frame rate counter on, the low fram rate is only in the yard. As soon as I move away from the tracks towards the buildings to any side of the yard, the frame rates jump to 29. I have my frame rates locked at 30. I feel the low frame rate in Dover yard has to do with one or a few assets with high poly counts, Possibly the yard tower, Sanding facility, Loco shead or the re-fuel point, the turn table or the old building at the end of the yard. If you do this experiment also turn the camera away from the yard or point it to the sky to see the changes in frame rate. In the yard mine sits around 15 FPS.

[Griphos]

Okay total noob question. Where do I find the asset tick boxes?

[johnmckenzie]

Aha! If you don't know where they are then you can't have altered them in the first place! That suggests to me that this isn't your problem.

I'm terrible at explaining these things - but in either the world editor or scenario editor screens there is a flyout panel on the left hand side which has a blue and yellow box in it. Select this box and a flyout panel is accessible on the right hand side of the screen with tickboxes selectable under the name of the vendor/software co/software creator. To be able to add any asset (rolling stock or scenery) to any scenario you have to tick the box so for example to put an RSC SW1500 in a scenario you have to tick the box in Assets > RSC > SW1500pack01...

Sounds good? Too many ticks however slows things down and makes assets difficult to find in the list of what's available.

I think that's clear. Maybe!

[arizonachris]

Excuse me for introducing a note of reality here, but as I read that announcement, Doug's scenarios will be a separate (payware) package, not part of the expanded route. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Tom Pallen

You are probably right, Tom. I didn't think I said Doug's scenarios were free or included, just that he is planning 8 of them. And since I know Doug's scenarios are worth every penny and are very inexpensive at that, I will be buying them.

[glenn68]

I have been checking the steam website to see if the route is ready for purchase. Rich is showing more news of the expansion on his website about Brewster Ohio yard. That is ran by the W&LE.