Looking a gift scenario in the mouth

[OldProf]

Having purchased Railworks Scenario Shop's 5-pack of scenarios for Ohio Steel 2, I had no qualms about accepting their "free" scenario for the Industrial Interactive route. I downloaded both the standard and default versions, fortunately, since only after examining the readme file did I learn that the standard version requires 10 additional downloads. Otherwise this is what shows up instead of the scenario:



Note that these additional, required downloads are not mentioned on their website's download page, with the exception of a by-blow reference to the EMD SW 1500 add on.

The situation doesn't end there, however. The IIR (latest version) has its own problems, among them the bulk freight loaders. Here's a shot of one of these loaders with some bulkhead flatcars stationed in front of it, waiting to be loaded:



Note the beautiful glow-in-the-dark effect, which certainly saves the company from lighting their dock areas. The load has just materialized: as you can see, it's near end overhangs the dock and the forklift is partially buried in that load.

In this picture, the bulkhead freight car has been loaded, but the shipper isn't going to be happy and the shipper's client is going to send this load right back after examining the damage caused by dragging the package along the tracks.



This route, the bulkhead freight cars, and the animated loading docks are all from 3rd party creators, who certainly deserve praise for their willingness to create and share, but also merit criticism for the actual quality of their products. Members of this and other RW-related forums constantly deride RSC products, but seldom make the same kind of comments about independent products. Granted, RSC's work is payware while the errors I've noted here occur in freeware, but do freeware providers merit a free ride?

[Toldrabald]

That glowy thingy comes from the use of 'old' RW2 shaders which now with TSX behave different than they did before. So it is probably just an old asset which was forgotten to update, I've seen more of these in several older routes. If the loader animation also broke because of the update or if it didn't work correct before I can't say.

Not listing additional requirements for a scenario is no-go though, noone should do that. While I think it does not need to be visible in detail on the homepage, there should always be a readme which clearly shows what items to get. On the homepage I think it's sufficient to say "requires payware A, B and C plus (x) freeware downloads" and then the readme with a complete list and download links.

[NDORFN]

Personally, I think the forklift driver should've stopped loading after the first crate fell through the deck. Typical

[charliechan]

Good Morning:

So how is the Railworks Scenario Shop's 5-pack of scenarios for Ohio Steel 2. Is it worth the money.

Thanks for all you do for the hobby.

Chandler

[Hawk]

Not listing additional requirements for a scenario is no-go though, noone should do that. While I think it does not need to be visible in detail on the homepage, there should always be a readme which clearly shows what items to get. On the homepage I think it's sufficient to say "requires payware A, B and C plus (x) freeware downloads" and then the readme with a complete list and download links.

Additional requirements for any download should always be made known prior to download, especially with payware, IMHO.

[artimrj]

Michael fixed the Thrall cars from dropping their load on the track. I do not know if he published but he gave the modification to me. If you use the geo file from the NERW Thralls in the MS collection I uploaded here that will stop happening. The glow in the dark can be fixed using RW Tools. I already did that on the NERW route's loaders as I used the same ones.

[charliechan]

Good Morning:

Thought that I would try this since I am a sucker for not missing a download. Sure enough it seems to be working fine.

screen 1.jpg

Redownload the file from GreatNorthern web site and it seems to be working.

Chandler

[OldProf]

Good Morning:

Thought that I would try this since I am a sucker for not missing a download. Sure enough it seems to be working fine.

screen 1.jpg

Redownload the file from GreatNorthern web site and it seems to be working.

Chandler

Thanks for the tip, but what exactly did you re-download? The entire IR route or bits and pieces? It's nice to see the loading docks not imitating night lights, but they still aren't deep enough for the load. In response to someone else, the dock glow was new to me, but their function has always been a bit weird. I don't recall who made them, but I do remember that he washed his hands of them at one point and declared that getting them to work properly would be someone else's job.

[OldProf]

Additional requirements for any download should always be made known prior to download, especially with payware, IMHO.

Amen! And that's what I'm saying, too. In fact, if it isn't already, I think it should be forum policy, Hawk.

Regards,

[Hawk]

Amen! And that's what I'm saying, too. In fact, if it isn't already, I think it should be forum policy, Hawk.

Regards,

Do you mean File Library policy?

There's really no way I can monitor that for submitted files. I have no way of knowing if a submitted file includes links, or mention, of any required other files.
That really should be up to the downloaders to check by reading the read me before downloading, but even then you don't know if the read me is accurate and/or complete, in which case a simple post on the forums (in a non-derogatory fashion) stating that such and such file does not include a list of required other files. That would let other prospective downloaders know in advance, and hopefully bring to light that it was overlooked by the uploader.

[artimrj]

Tom, you need to redownload the 65 ft Thrall flats from Golden age of railroading, Michael stephan's site to get the loads correctly on the flats. Two people that I know of made loading docks, JB Fried and Michael Stephan. Michael's come with the route and also his other routes and JB Fried I beleive are in the file library here. But I do not know if they havve been fixed.

[charliechan]

[/quote]Redownload the file from GreatNorthern web site and it seems to be working.

Chandler

Thanks for the tip, but what exactly did you re-download? The entire IR route or bits and pieces? It's nice to see the loading docks not imitating night lights, but they still aren't deep enough for the load. In response to someone else, the dock glow was new to me, but their function has always been a bit weird. I don't recall who made them, but I do remember that he washed his hands of them at one point and declared that getting them to work properly would be someone else's job.[/quote]

Sorry for that, I did not know that you could download the platforms from Michaels site. What I meant was that you could redownload the 65 ft Thall cars and reinstall and the loads shouls be fixed.

Chandler

[OldProf]

Do you mean File Library policy?

There's really no way I can monitor that for submitted files. I have no way of knowing if a submitted file includes links, or mention, of any required other files.
That really should be up to the downloaders to check by reading the read me before downloading, but even then you don't know if the read me is accurate and/or complete, in which case a simple post on the forums (in a non-derogatory fashion) stating that such and such file does not include a list of required other files. That would let other prospective downloaders know in advance, and hopefully bring to light that it was overlooked by the uploader.

Actually, Hawk, I was thinking particularly about payware advertisers whose ads do not mention that additional downloads are required. Naturally, I wouldn't want to burden you with reading every submission and then checking the appropriate website for accuracy, but, as you mentioned, when someone reports an omission, that advertiser could be, perhaps, admonished at first and then, if necessary, banned.

Just thoughts ...

[gwgardner]

It's my experience that anything from Michael Stephan and the Golden Age of Railroading unfailingly states in the readme files concerning any third party or payware requirements.

With regard to glowing assets or other problems, fixes are a matter of long-term process. I recall Michael graciously providing free Cimarron & Pacific skins for some of his rolling stock. Then RW3 came out, and the problem of the glowing textures was discovered. Over time Michael upgraded those textures. 'Time' is the critical word.

Just contact Michael with the problem you've noticed and my experience is that he will promptly respond and offer a solution.

As for the query concerning 'do freeware producers deserve a free ride,' in my opinion emphatically YES! Unless the freeware asset or package actually does damage to your system or software, it deserves a total free ride. Again, any problems, just inform the freeware producer.

To use my own freeware route as an example, I certainly would not expect or appreciate any criticism that I had somehow failed end-users because of problems with the route. I would expect and appreciate any information with problems that I could correct to make the route better.

[Hawk]

Actually, Hawk, I was thinking particularly about payware advertisers whose ads do not mention that additional downloads are required. Naturally, I wouldn't want to burden you with reading every submission and then checking the appropriate website for accuracy, but, as you mentioned, when someone reports an omission, that advertiser could be, perhaps, admonished at first and then, if necessary, banned.

Just thoughts ...

With that thought, wouldn't it be better for the end users to vote - with their wallet - to try and get the message across?

The folks that advertise on RWA donate for the space. That's about all the donations I get anymore.