"New Technologies" to be announced by RSC in the next weeks

[Samwolf]

Pretty much this. I love trains and digitally collecting them just as much as the next buff, but I'm not spending $200 on a controller when my keyboard/mouse work just fine. Alternatively, I own an xbox and have several 360 controllers, so it'll be interesting to see how well they work

I may be wrong, but my understanding of the Raildriver problems is mainly a lack of communication from RSC to P.I Engineering. P.I. Engineering needs data that RSC is not providing to be able to come up with "programming" for raildriver. I have no problem with RSC adding the option of a gamepad. I use a combination of keyboard and raildriver and will continue to do so after they add gamepad support.

[GeorgeT93]

i believe the main reason behind not fixing the raildriver problem is this, for the average consumer, what is the price difference between a $30 xbox controller and a $200 raildriver desktop controller? yup, the big pricetag. i think they thought that people would be more attracted to the cheap controller than the one that will cost you an arm and a leg.

I would agree with this if neither was supported, and they had to choose to add support for one or the other. The fact is, the raildriver worked very well before they updated the game engine from RW2 to TS2012. Their upgrade broke compatibility with a device that (at least in my case) was purchased exclusively for use with their game/sim. In all the months since the release of TS2012, the issues their engine upgrade have created with the raildriver have not been addressed. Now all this time later, they announce support for a gamepad. Again, I don't fault them for adding support for other controllers, as everyone should be entitled to play their own way, with whatever controller they choose. But ultimately, RS.com broke compatibility with a device that was working, and have done nothing to fix it or to assist PI Engineering in fixing the issues. At the end of the day, RS.com doesn't get a dime from hardware sales, so I'd think that fixing something that they broke for existing users, should have been higher on their priority list than adding support for new hardware. Of course, this is just my opinion.

-George

[Chacal]

RSC's post is only about new technologies.
I understand the need to fix the flaws in the existing code and data, however fixing old technology does not constitute new technologies.
These are two separate and non-exclusive activities. RSC has not stated that it will stop fixing existing flaws.

[Chessie8638]

360 controller / ps3 controller I could care less about. Obviously RSC doesn't know there are freeware programs out there to config a controller to a game that doesn't have some pre-set options built in.


On the other hand, the new 'task map' is a feature that can come in handy! And hopefully won't just be enabled if a controller is plugged in.

[GeorgeT93]

On the other hand, the new 'task map' is a feature that can come in handy!

That's something I really liked in the announcement myself. :)

-George

[MattW]

The only silver lining I can really see in this from strictly the simmer's side, is if the new gamepad compatibility somehow includes an API that either allows RailDriver to work better, or allows us to interface our own devices and build cabs just like flight simmers build flight decks: http://www.rogerdodger.net/images/GA_ho ... ebaddy.jpg https://thebilgebucket.files.wordpress. ... ockpit.jpg

[Shortliner]

Not Impressed

NEW TECHNOLOGY COMING SOON! RailSimulator.com continues to drive train simulation forward by continually developing and improving our technology. This is a preview of joypad driving, a new way to select and drive trains in comfort with a standard Windows-compatible game controller. Joy paddriving offers precise control in the palm of your hand: operate throttle,reverser, brake and all driving controls: switch and pan camera views: view and navigate the in-game map: uncouple wagons, pick up passengers, change HUD settings and more. Joypad driving moves the action to your living room,bedroom, basement or wherever you want to drive -- no keyboard or mouse required. Keep watching for the next RailSimulator.com technology update.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzPRTRnEUfs

I'd have to agree with you, I'm not impressed either.

When are they going to work on the simulator aspect of this game?

[PapaXpress]

Interesting point...

http://dereksiddle.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

[Machinist]

I may be wrong, but my understanding of the Raildriver problems is mainly a lack of communication from RSC to P.I Engineering. P.I. Engineering needs data that RSC is not providing to be able to come up with "programming" for raildriver. I have no problem with RSC adding the option of a gamepad. I use a combination of keyboard and raildriver and will continue to do so after they add gamepad support.

I second Sam, the problem of Raildriver is the lack (to not say omittion, or attention's lack) of RSC, and I'm combining keyboard where RD is failling.

I just wanna let clear that I don't care if RSC is providing joypad compatibility to the game, I just found weird doing this before making the most famous train consoler works fine. All of this, as Hawk mentioned (and I've been noticing this since a long time also), to survive or keep sells in a desired level RSC is making a choice for a game of train, instead for a train simulator (despite of game's name).

If more money in the cash will make RSC grow and bring new and good "simulation" features to the game, making hard core trainsimers (like me, 12 years long now) happier, applauses! otherwise let's see what market will offer to us. RSC is doing a choice, I'll do mine as well, as when I moved from MSTS to Trainz, and then from Trainz to RailSImulator.

Looking forward the other new "technologies"... notch by notch.

Doc.

[ArcticCatZRT]

While this improvement is not for everyone, it will help them branch out more, who doesn't want them to do that? Branching out means possiblely more customers, the more customers, the bigger the company gets, then even more improvements/DLC.

I really don't understand what you guys are complaining about. First off it will not affect keyboard controls, nor replace them, they are also not forcing you to use the controller. Its the first darn tech annoucement, do you think they would let the best cat out of the bag to begin with? Plus if RSC feels the need to go in this direction, then there is probably a good reason for it, they wouldn't do it on a whim. Just because a person doesn't like something doesn't make it completely worthless, or wrong, some people will find use of it...LIKE ME!

Also to reply about raildriver, while I own one as well, I generally just use the keyboard, we have to remember that a windows xbox controller is about 40 bucks compared to about a 200 dollar raildriver. The controller would get more use in my opinion because it is significantly less expensive and thus easily accessible to more people.

[fecrails]

This announcement seems to indicate a direction toward a more "mass market" approach to their long term vision for RW, most likely on a gaming console. The move will most likely be essential to keep the product viable long term as the ancient technology of the PC fades into the past along with the slide rule, dial phone, and optical disc. Look around, no one under 35 sits at a desk and uses a "tower" anymore. What we do here is a niche market (read not profitable). If joysticks keep the product alive for our niche hobby to continue, I'm all for it! Will I ever use one? I don't plan on it, but I learned a long time ago .... never say never!

[ArcticCatZRT]

The problem isnt that they have a feature for controllers. Its the fact that they are making it obvious that they care more about how many customers have than how many are happy. The-sim-is-broken. Stretching couplers, botched physics, the list goes on. They never speak up on those flaws, all they seem to care about is how many oblivious fool's wallets they can dip their fingers into.

I understand were you are coming from in that regard, and I do agree with you, but I also see where RSC is coming from, and understand their busniess decisions. Until they see a massive response about these issues, such as what happened with DP, things will be busniess as usual. Right now in my opinion there are not enough people making noise about these issues to warrent a response, even though I agree these issues need to be fix. Like the old saying, "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." We aren't squeaky enough with it!

RSC is a busniess just like everything else in life, until they see the dollar signs in fixing something, it won't happen.

[PapaXpress]

I am all for RCS to make money, but they need to create something I want to get my money.

Here is where I get disappointed:

...continues to drive train simulation forward by continually developing and improving our technology.

Adding a game pad, which can be done through my Logitech game center, does not improve the simulation at all. This is why I am not impressed.

[Machinist]

Adding a game pad, which can be done through my Logitech game center, does not improve the simulation at all. This is why I am not impressed.

True this improves the gametion, not the simulation.

[SMMDigital]

Well, it will simplify locomotive building. Tomorrow i'm replacing section 7 of the locomotive tut with this paragraph:

"Forget all the crap you just learned. All you need to do is make a box, paint it pretty, put some writing on it, and place a "make-it-go" button on it. You're finished. Now pick up your controller pad and crash it into the nearest stationary object."

About all that "making noise" to get RSC's attention; isn't Donner Pass still broken? Eight months later? I smell smoke and it's blowing from the East and right up my... um, it's still broken, right?