Railworks America

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/thread ... ion.55902/

DTG found it necessary to add a Pringles competition instead of fixing the growing list of bugs ...

So TSW2 is turning into a locomotive control desk game more and more instead of rail transport simulation? Poor and weak console players see only overpowered shortened trains with tweaked physics for 'equal game play'?

As long as companies sponsor their products by advertising in a game's virtual world and the konsole kiddies remain happy and content and will buy every new level at full price to keep the franchise afloat, we should be happy?

AFAIK, only PC users have Steam of Dovetail's store discounts and can play unofficial DLC and/or modded DLC?

And there is still an unofficial editor slowly progressing for PC users to hack into their game?

A new set of licensed decals has been released to some painting feature for the only artistic license with the game: to paint your trains for yourself, since you cannot share your creations legally?

Had no idea I was playing Pringles Sim World. That is one of the most ridiculous novelties I think I've ever seen in a video game.

Latest update notes, including the for DTG''s commercial income most important "Pringles Campaign":
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Train Sim World 2 - Update Notes - 7th July 2022
After the announcement of the new Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 Add-on from Rivet Games that will be coming on July 19th, we’re sharing information on the accompanying free upgrade to the original Isle of Wight route
which includes updated water textures used in Rivet’s West Cornwall route, audio tweaks and various graphical fixes.

Note: This update will release later than other platforms for PlayStation


Isle of Wight: Ryde - Shanklin Route Add-On

Class 483:

Just like the hills across Shanklin that go up and down,
we’ve upped the flange squeal audio to be louder and turned down the volume of the door warning audio.
Gangway door hitbox reduced to prevent it getting in the way when opened.
Added emergency break toggle on backspace.
Reduced player camera rotation.
Passengers will now move more easiily in and out of trains.
Removed Guard Panel cameras.

IOW Gameplay:
All passengers will now unload at Ryde Pier Head, where this train terminates.

Fixed red lights so player should now be able to proceed.

IOW Route:
Updated water texture to the sea and lakes from West Cornwall Local route.
Improved texture on planter found at Ryde Pier head station
Removed ability for players to walk through telegraph poles, signal poles and adjusted fence on the Lake Station to stop players from being able to climb up. Get down from there!

Fixed various bugs, snow and terrain issues

Other Improvements

Great Western Express
Moved static 1972 stock away from the buffer stops at Ealing Broadway.
Sitting in the driver's seat no longer causes derailment.

Arosa Line
Removed SBB Signage branding from the top of the station, due to licensing feedback.

Pringles Campaign
Adjustments made to Pringles posters and machines, including translated posters in Köln-Aachen route for German players.
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the red line had me in stitches, so much for DTG's outsourced QA ...

Meanwhile, on the DTG forum, rumours about TSW3 in the works have leaked, and all the worries over compatibility, speculations over new features, wishful thinking and well wishing to the developers have taken another turn.
Five years into the franchise, major core issues are still outstanding and the fanbois are already dreaming the UE5 will solve all previous woes ...
Console players and the consoles limited resources and power are turning into the standard and measure of all things regarding DLC development.

Meanwhile on a more serious note, dedicated individuals keep improving what DTG fails to see, cannot implement due to 'licensing feedback' and more of such considerations resulting in bland and unbranded rolling stock.
Work on the unofficial editor is also progressing slowly.

talbenziman wrote:Had no idea I was playing Pringles Sim World. That is one of the most ridiculous novelties I think I've ever seen in a video game.

There will be more "sold advertising space" in the future. This is an underutilized source of income in games. Be on the lookout for name branded vehicles that may be more photo-realistic and bill boards with even more advertising.

Fair warning: small rant coming up.

It's bad enough that there's no good way to escape advertising in our daily lives, but personally I'm terrified that this is now also encroaching into my beloved train sim games. Which are of course a form of escapism from the trials of daily life... a time to wind down, relax, switch off the brain and think of nothing but signals, speed limits, and stopping distances.

I don't want to see advertising in my game at all, and I especially don't want my PC game to remind me of companies which I well and truly detest for what they're doing, for their very business model. I'm not here to discuss business politics, that's not the right place here, but I will say that I truly hope that DTG will keep "novel" features like in-game advertising strictly as an opt-in feature if they must be there at all.

Cheers,
Michael

GreatNortherner wrote:Fair warning: small rant coming up.

It's bad enough that there's no good way to escape advertising in our daily lives, but personally I'm terrified that this is now also encroaching into my beloved train sim games. Which are of course a form of escapism from the trials of daily life... a time to wind down, relax, switch off the brain and think of nothing but signals, speed limits, and stopping distances.

I don't want to see advertising in my game at all, and I especially don't want my PC game to remind me of companies which I well and truly detest for what they're doing, for their very business model. I'm not here to discuss business politics, that's not the right place here, but I will say that I truly hope that DTG will keep "novel" features like in-game advertising strictly as an opt-in feature if they must be there at all.

Cheers,
Michael

I agree totally.

GreatNortherner wrote:Fair warning: small rant coming up.

It's bad enough that there's no good way to escape advertising in our daily lives, but personally I'm terrified that this is now also encroaching into my beloved train sim games. Which are of course a form of escapism from the trials of daily life... a time to wind down, relax, switch off the brain and think of nothing but signals, speed limits, and stopping distances.

I don't want to see advertising in my game at all, and I especially don't want my PC game to remind me of companies which I well and truly detest for what they're doing, for their very business model. I'm not here to discuss business politics, that's not the right place here, but I will say that I truly hope that DTG will keep "novel" features like in-game advertising strictly as an opt-in feature if they must be there at all.

Cheers,
Michael

Adding to this, commercials are age, region and culture specific. Some brands aren't available worldwide or have a different name in different parts of the world.

It perhaps explains the predominance of modern day commuter routes in the DLC collection, where the potential exposure to 'online in game' advertisements is maximum.

In any case, it is a very fine line for DTG to thread upon, and I do think in the end it doesn't bring that much. And compulsory 'opting in' should be out of the question.

One can always block the advertising server in the router or in your computer's firewall as last resort.

We'll see how it goes, what kind of improvement it brings. It does give a clue as to where DTG's priorities are.

GreatNortherner wrote:Fair warning: small rant coming up.

It's bad enough that there's no good way to escape advertising in our daily lives, but personally I'm terrified that this is now also encroaching into my beloved train sim games. Which are of course a form of escapism from the trials of daily life... a time to wind down, relax, switch off the brain and think of nothing but signals, speed limits, and stopping distances.

I don't want to see advertising in my game at all, and I especially don't want my PC game to remind me of companies which I well and truly detest for what they're doing, for their very business model. I'm not here to discuss business politics, that's not the right place here, but I will say that I truly hope that DTG will keep "novel" features like in-game advertising strictly as an opt-in feature if they must be there at all.

Cheers,
Michael

Seconded!