TSW Beta 9 first impressions?

[gtrtroger]

Thanks for the pictures and for trying! I appreciate the attempt. Something to look forward too in Feb/Mar I guess.

[buzz456]

Can some one post a summary/pic or outline of the file structure of the TSW as its installed on your hard drive?
Thanks

Is this what you are looking for?

TSW path.jpg

Thanks much. Can you open up the WindowsNoEditor folder - to show the structure of the game files?

TSW NoEditor.jpg

[jalsina]

I was running the Service scenarios last night. Was getting 42 FPS, then I went through the Sandpatch tunnel and it went down to 14-16 FPS. At that it was still smooth, very strange. Under 20 fps the fps counter turns red.

I also noted a strong reduction of fps in the tunnel. It is as if it was reading all objects across the walls.

I am also noting fps reduction with passing trains, even if those are behind or not in the player view field.

[Ryan93]

Too much in and out of the cab during switching for me. Would like to be able to operate the loco from the ground as well.

After taking control of a locomotive, you can use the 8 key to enter free camera mode. This allows you to move to your desired position and you still have control over the locomotive. You can still operate junctions in this camera mode as well. I hope that helps.

The functionality and freedom in TSW is exactly what I had wished for years ago when I played railworks for the first time. What a major leap forward. Clearly there are plenty of kinks to be worked out (as expected) but I cannot wait until the full release.

On another note, the beta did not automatically appear in my steam library. After submitting a support ticket and sending a copy of my Pioneers edition purchase receipt, DTG sent me a code this morning to Activate it on steam via the "add game" function. Hopefully this will help anyone else that still doesn't have the beta in their steam library.

[Angelo]

I sure am enjoying the BETA.

Check out my quick Engine Startup Video.

https://youtu.be/rz5B5-zANwk

[buzz456]

Too much in and out of the cab during switching for me. Would like to be able to operate the loco from the ground as well.

After taking control of a locomotive, you can use the 8 key to enter free camera mode. This allows you to move to your desired position and you still have control over the locomotive. You can still operate junctions in this camera mode as well. I hope that helps.

The functionality and freedom in TSW is exactly what I had wished for years ago when I played railworks for the first time. What a major leap forward. Clearly there are plenty of kinks to be worked out (as expected) but I cannot wait until the full release.

I don't quite understand what you are saying. Using the HUD in 2017 you have always been able to run the locomotive after using the 8 key to get you wherever you wanted to stand somewhere stationary to watch the action. I like Mainelines am a lazy engineer and don't want to be jumping on and off the locomotive all the time. That's what in my fantasy world I have my fantasy conductor for.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Perhaps in future multiplayer mode another player can be hired as a conductor or switchman for XP points? Without a working "9" map, one does need to get off the train to throw switches, and without a remote control, back into the cab to drive to the next switch, then the next one after that, and so on. I wonder how long that "first person" mode will last, nice for a tutorial, but quickly turning into a aggravating nuisance when working a switching scenario.

Anybody noticed the working mirrors, sort of? When folded back and with your head out the window (2 view), they reflect the trackside quite clearly, when opened, they turn opaque?

[dgallina]

Well, it IS certainly very beautiful and more interactive.

Performance is very poor around sand patch summit and tunnel, as other noted. On my few month old desktop VR system with 16gb skylake i5 and 6gb GeForce 1080 I'm seeing around 10fps. Weirdly, choosing and applying the other video options never adds more than about 6fps to that. Really needs to improve if that's indicative

The minimal HUD is an interesting choice. I support the idea but think they maybe went too far since we cant feel grades, don't have years of experience to know where speed limits change, where stations are, etc, IMO it'd be nice if they provide an optional HUD that adds those items without adding a full-on ts2017 style easy mode.

Think the ridiculously short semi public beta is a little silly. They'd get more useful long term help if they chose a smallish subset of testers that are really dedicated to filing reports for the duration of development,

Diego

[buzz456]

+1. I think this is more hype than serious beta testing.

[tagsdm]

Think the ridiculously short semi public beta is a little silly.

+1

It'll take me 12 days just to get it sorted out a bit. Right now, I'm seeing the same stuff as you guys. The visuals on higher settings are amazing, it seems much more immersive than the existing TS2017, but I don't have nearly the PC horsepower to run it in any but moderate to lower settings. At that I'm sort of missing the point. Also, I'm a train watcher more than a driver. I'd rather sit at trackside than climb around flicking switches, coupling hoses, maintaining specific air pressures and throttle responses. I just wanna watch the trains go by, pace them in a car etc. I can do that with TSW, but again I seem to be missing the point. If you like the immersive engineer/conductor/brakeman experience, you'll probably like this.

tagsdm

[Ryan93]

Buzz, I didn't know he was talking about the throttle and reverser missing from the HUD. With the first person dynamic, I'm not sure how you could climb off of the locomotive using the E key, walk around and still have control of the engine. Once you climb out of the cab, you don't have control of that locomotive anymore.

I am simply saying that while operating a locomotive, the free camera (8 key) allows you to move around outside. Even though your camera view is outside, you are still in control of the engine because you haven't left the cab with your character. Therefore, the locomotive controls are still active & accessible from the keyboard and the HUD is still visible on the screen.

[buzz456]

Confused.

[MaineLines]

Apparently in "fly" mode you can throw switches while operating the locomotive but I don' t think you can uncouple cars.

[Ryan93]

You can, you just have to find the coupler lever on the freight car.

TSW Free Cam Coupler.jpg

[MattW]

So how are the physics? Are they much improved over the previous sims?