Making freeware Scenarios and Routes - BNSF Payware Assets

[KevinWS]

For designers/builders of scenarios/routes within the USA, I am not certain how many are aware that for people outside the USA their hard work is unusable , as is, if it contains additional BNSF assets only available from DTG payware - which on Steam is only available for purchase if you are in the USA".

A lot of the great US Routes are unavailable - including Cajon Pass, Marias Pass, Stevens Pass etc, as well as any Add-On Packs for the above - if you dont live in the US.

The common thread in all this seems to be if any assets relate to BNSF.

Let me make clear I have no issue with anyone wanting to design routes or scenarios that are BNSF related or include BNSF rolling stock. I accept that these will not be available.

However, there a quite a few freeware non-BNSF themed routes that use scenery assets from the routes above, and quite a lot of scenarios that use the odd BNSF piece of rolling stock. This instantly makes it unusable if you are not in the USA.

In the case of the above, it just seems such a pity to me that all the work involved is restricted to US users - who according to recent Steam stats in the last two weeks make up 15% of users.

Remember that the balance of the 85% of users - who are largely the UK and Germany (26%), then the rest of the world (59%), will have a smaller percentage interested in or running US routes, but nevertheless, my guess is a percentage probably higher than the US %.

I am curious also - are Canadians also affected? Price on Steam is blank if you are affected.

[ChrisOnline]

I believe Canada is affected - some of the listings specifically say "This DLC is only available to purchase in the USA."

One point to make (not that it changes your message) is that owners outside the US who already owned those DLCs BEFORE the BNSF issue came up (2 years ago ? ??) still have the assets - they weren't taken away from them! So a lot will have Marias Pass and Cajon Pass in particular, though not newer users

[buzz456]

Quick question. Is the US asset pack not available to you? I thought that was all the assets from Cajon Pass. Am I wrong on one or both of these?

[KevinWS]

Thank you Chris. Interesting - I thought Canada may be included. For years I used to buy the Chrismas BNSF Ornaments from BNSF, but a few years back they changed everything and now will not sell merchandise outside the USA and Canada!

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Buzz - the US Asset Pack is available and comes free (I think) with any US routes.

But some freeware Routes do state for examples that Cajon (for example) is required as well. It's my guess people used specific scenery assets from the routes?

I realise also with Scenarios stock can be swapped out, but many users will not be able or want, to do that.

[buzz456]

"But some freeware Routes do state for examples that Cajon (for example) is required as well. It's my guess people used specific scenery assets from the routes?"

Just because it says that doesn't make it necessarily so. I'm not sure how I can verify this since I'm in the US.

[KevinWS]

Buzz - true.

If I download a Route, could I use RWTools to verify if assets were missing? Up to now I haven't used TS for a few years, so have got a bit rusty.

[buzz456]

Buzz - true.

If I download a Route, could I use RWTools to verify if assets were missing? Up to now I haven't used TS for a few years, so have got a bit rusty.

Just a friendly reminder. Anything that's in a .ap folder will show up as missing assets. Make sure the stuff you are looking for is outside the .ap. Only saying that because you said you might be a bit rusty.

[buzz456]

Just poking around here mind you I have had this since 2010 it looks like the way vast amount of assets are in the Kuju\ RailSimulatorUS. There is only about two scenery items in the RSC folder for Cajon. I didn't buy the US assets pack, somehow in one of our updates it was just delivered to me.

[KevinWS]

Hi Buzz - thanks for your interest here and advice.

The use of "unobtainable" resources is wider then I thought!

I just looked at 8 routes in random and 4 included these assets. One author mentioned "for scenery" and US Asset Packs were also mentioned specifically in two.

See below.

[buzz456]

I believe the US packs they are referring to the one that resides in the Kuju folder.

[buzz456]

Interesting article from 2015 on this subject particularly on BNSF thinking which gets us back to either making either a generic route with no mention of the dreaded Buffet Monster Railroad or just pulling all references out of the asset pack and offering it as a stand alone asset pack. Same goes for Stevens Pass.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015- ... ed-content

[KevinWS]

Buzz - the Asset Pack. I think you are right.

My Steam list also includes the Asset Pack listed as a separate route - it appeared when I bought TS2018.

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The article you provided a link to is interesting. How come Trainz/Run8 can do it?

It (the BNSF statement) confirms what I thought - and from a commercial point of view, I don't understand their stance at all.

It's not purely about copyright issues. I used to be a great BNSF fan, until they refused to sell me merchandise as I was outside the States! How weird is that! When I queried they said they did not want their logo used outside the States. On their Chrismas ornaments? Their hats? Their calendars? Weird! They seem to not understand global promotional aspect.

But the above is an aside.

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Buzz - you talk about pulling references out of packs/routes. I think this is along the same line of thought I had. Namely for, say Cajon, sell the route to all - with say three files - one common route file, and two loco/wagon files - one with BNSF branding for the US and one with fictitious or unbranded logos etc. As they load up all the extra files anyway (like the US and European Assets packs) I am sure this could be done automatically.

But I guess this will not happen, and I am really not too concerned about getting routes if they don't want to sell them outside the States.

Remember this post was to express my concern that people did work routes/scenarios and then as a result of certain asset use it only became available to a limited number of users.I used to do Schematics (some are still here) and I always wanted to get them to as many people as possible. Ditto with my Activites and Repaints.

Must get supper now - I am starving!

[buzz456]

I have a query out to one of the route builders about what agreement they have with the death star about selling asset packs for some of this stuff. When I know something I'll post again.

[KevinWS]

That you Buzz. Point out to the route builder how dramatically they are restricting their users/fan base!

[suzukisk]

I was lucky to have most of the BNSF stuff before it became contraband in Canada but i rarely run BNSF locos because of the ban.