Crawling AI Trains.

[RSderek]

I think you'll find I have been on a number of forums. However I do not disagree that the RS ones do need to be changed.

regards
Derek

[Acorncomputer]

Hi James (Petts)

Another analysis from you but what is the point you are trying to put over in a few words?

[jamespetts]

Hi James (Petts)

Another analysis from you but what is the point you are trying to put over in a few words?

I'm not sure that I understand the question - why do you think that there needs to be a point other than the conclusion of the analysis itself? What kind of point had you in mind? Why can the analysis, or its conclusion, not count as a point? What do you mean by "point" here, exactly?

[Retro]

Retro,

the package manager will help for content updates, but most of the critical issues are fundamental problems with the code, not problems with the assets. It is noteworthy of itself that such a high proportion of fixes so far have been fixes to assets rather than basic code, which gives some idea of the balance of expertise in RSDL.

Hi James,
I agree with you that a lot of the issues are down to code. RSDL staff have had a productive meeting with the Kuju Code Experts according to another topic and I seem to remember reading in yet another topic that a fair proportion of MK 2 was to do with the Code. I found this quite encouraging, however I can't find the relevant topic ATM. Matt pointed out some time ago what he considered the major issues and you have mentioned some of these in your posts.
I still believe that RSDL can sort out the vast majority of these problem. I think it is the time period involved in doing this that will become the critical issue here. Your point about resources is valid but I for one am not sure what resources RSDL have in any detail.
Regards James.

[CaptScarlet]

Hi James (Petts)

Another analysis from you but what is the point you are trying to put over in a few words?

Basically James's opinion is that parts of RS are broken and that RSDL don't have the resources to rectify those parts he has issue with. This then will lead to it's demise if these issues aren't fixed asap. But in the end he basically doesn't think it can or will be fixed.

Personally I think James ruins his good points with a lot of conjecture and assumption about RSDL's viability and what he thinks can or cant be fixed by them.

Sorry if my summary is wrong.

John

[jamespetts]

Personally I think James ruins his good points with a lot of conjecture and assumption about RSDL's viability and what he thinks can or cant be fixed by them.

I'm afraid that it's not conjecture - I have arrived at the conclusion on the basis partly of the professed resources of RSDL, but mainly on the lack of progress towards dealing with the critical issues in the quite considerable time that has now elapsed since release, and the lack of acknowledgement in the official RSDL announcements and the posts by their staff on this and other boards of how fundamental that the issues really are, the implication usually being given that the problems are minor and/or that they can be solved in a superficial way, or avoided with workarounds. That is not the approach of an organisation that not only realises that there are fundamental problems, but is working hard to fix them, and knows that it has a good chance of succeeding.

[RSderek]

Good to have you back James.

regards

Derek

[CaptScarlet]

Personally I think James ruins his good points with a lot of conjecture and assumption about RSDL's viability and what he thinks can or cant be fixed by them.

I'm afraid that it's not conjecture - I have arrived at the conclusion on the basis partly of the professed resources of RSDL, but mainly on the lack of progress towards dealing with the critical issues in the quite considerable time that has now elapsed since release, and the lack of acknowledgement in the official RSDL announcements and the posts by their staff on this and other boards of how fundamental that the issues really are, the implication usually being given that the problems are minor and/or that they can be solved in a superficial way, or avoided with workarounds. That is not the approach of an organisation that not only realises that there are fundamental problems, but is working hard to fix them, and knows that it has a good chance of succeeding.

James, you may have arrived at that "opinion" based on your interpretation of what has or hasn't happened thus far but that doesn't necessarily make it true and or realistic. Just because they may not be working to your idea of when,how or what should be done doesn't invalidate the work they have done or will do in the future to improve the areas of concern.

You have said on numerous occasions that you think that various parts of the core sim are broken ( eg the dispatcher ) and that you don't think it can be fixed by them, well that is just quesswork on your behalf as the only people who know what can and cant be done to "fix" it are the programmers at RSDL and Kuju and unless they actually say there is nothing they can do ( which I would expect them to admit to if that was the case ) then I will believe they can.

One can argue about the priorities that they have set for the work to be done as I think that's fair game but on the other hand everyone wants their pet peeve fixed asap which isn't always possible and so we get incremental patches fixing various things as is approriate.

John

[jamespetts]

Derek,

thank you

John,

there is a great difference between, on the one hand, conjecture, and, on the other hand, lack of complete certainty. The views that I have expressed above are neither conjecture nor are they certain to be correct. I have explained the reasoning that I have used to arrive at my conclusions above. It is more than guesswork.

I should be very happy if events proved me wrong, but, the more time that passes without the critical issues being engaged with, let alone fixed, the less likely that that becomes.

[RSderek]

Nows not the best time to respond.
not after the day I've had and now that i've cracked open the old glenmorangie.

regards

Derek

[GavNormandale]

sorry but seems to me theres too much reading between the lines here, as a user who has spent a lot of time playing with trainz, i have seen how a company can take a lend of its users, releasing upgrades as payware, id like to say how i appreciate the continued support from RDSL. Derek and Adam keep working hard replying to these gripes, even at 00:10 long after work hours, im sure it must be frustrating for them to carry on when they're obviously working so hard to make things work, along with the rest of the team, just for people to say its not good enough and they're not up to it, i dont think this discussion will help the sims evolvution in any way.

Gav

[Acorncomputer]

Just got 24 signs into my developer folder. Two and half weeks ago I did not even know what a TgPcDx file was.

Its Laphroaig for me Derek...hic

[AndiS]

I'm afraid the only thing that helps is a little stepping back for everyone.
It is true that the operational deficits are horrendous, it is true that the rate at which they are fixed is frustrating, but it is also true that many people care less about these thing than James and me (and a few others who vanished). And even I must admit that putting the dynamic brakes to work is far more crucial for the US market than anything else.

I myself did not find a single wish fulfilled by Mk2, but there is the promise of Mk3 and RSDL working on the AI (although there is no promise linking the two yet, would be too early now). Of course, I am not a happy bunny, but I ran out of gas for my flames somehow. In this state, I can see people happily importing their models into KRS and it is clear that supporting these people has a high priority. Some parts within me even consider joining in, modelling something and looking at nice scenery, if that is what works best in this programme. But of course, this would not mean to obtain insight, it would be a case of giving in. Or stepping back a little.

[Acorncomputer]

Hi Andis

The expectation from this simulation obviously differs from person to person. The wide range of activies associated with a simulation of this kind (Scenery Modelling, Rolling Stock, Locos, Routes, etc,) and the huge range of skills of those people using it from seasoned expert to beginer means that it is in fact impossible to please everyone. If experts are frustrated that does not make the simulation rubbish. There are many people who are hugely satisfied with the results they are achieving.

I do not like to say this, but we all have to avoid demonstrating an arrogant attitude if we can. We all know a little more than someone else but that does not make us right.

I would ask everyone to be a little more tolerent and help us all to make this a top simulation by pooling our knowledge and expertise.

[Blackpatch]

@ Andis and Geoff - very nicely put. Indeed we are where we are. I myself feel I have enough to keep me occupied and RS works sufficently well for my interest, although I'd prefer to have the option of lots of Al to busy things up. The fact that RSDL have had a meaningful discussion on improving some of the core problems with Kuju illustrates that things continue in the right direction. The timeline for such improvements will never satisfy everyone, but I wish RSDL all the best in their tasks.

BP