London Brighton Express, first impressions / queries

bhyde · Post by **bhyde** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 10:19 pm

oh, its OK, just found it!

AndyUK · Post by **AndyUK** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 10:48 pm

That start point is for the MPV activity, it starts near the end of the track - so any other train is too long to fit there. Sorry about that.

O.K. Alan - that makes sense now.

Yep, it will add it to your current subscription. Do it now and you can grab the patch!

Thanks. Registered, got the patch, lock-up fixed, membership extended!

- Andy

AndyUK · Post by **AndyUK** » Wed Jul 23, 2003 10:51 pm

seaeagle wrote:1. A repeatable lock-up a few miles south of Haywards Heath on the down line - video freezes but sound continues. I see something similar has already been reported. Sometimes the Microsoft "phone-home" dialog box pops up and the situation is recoverable other times I have to re-boot

On the subject of the Premium membership, is the system clever enough to recognise I've already got Premium membership (about 2 weeks left) and add the free month on to the end or will I end up with 2 concurrent memberships if I register now?

1. Try turning off your headlights after leaving Haywards Heath, It worked for me.

2. System added a month to my premium membership no problem.

Thanks for your reply. The patch solved the problem and my membership was extended.

- Andy

diddydeltic · Post by **diddydeltic** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 8:08 am

Excellent Route

found a few things:

"Thameslink Night city Flyer Service" when i reach Patcham tunnel from there the headlights flash on/off.
Passenger View (5)
when passing rolling stock a open patch runs through the coach and some tree branches appear in the coach.
still bloody excellent though
cheers
diddy

isambardkingdombrunel · Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:14 am

If you want to open the route in RE ,run Compact Route in RR which is what i did,thus creating a .ref file.You can also use one of the Ref File Utilities on train-sim.com.If a job's worth doing....................................

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:37 am

AndyUK wrote:A couple of suggestions for a future patch, I think the others have already been covered elsewhere:

1. A proper EMU "ding-ding" rather that the "O.K. to proceed"

2. Better cab views - I think this is my biggest disappointment. The lack of detail, innaccurate controls in the 319 and overall "fuzziness" in 1024 x 768 could do with some attention to meet the standards being set by some other developers. The side views in the 319 are odd as well.

To clarify some points..

1. Yes possibly, but as that sound effect is route specific it would mean it only be correct for 1 type of rolling stock, and not for everything else.
If we did that someone else would mention it and make a point of it. But I do understand. Maybe it would be better to have that than the default.

2. I am not sure I agree with this, I have not seen any fuzziness that I recall. Not sure what res I have been running, but I know I tested at levels which would make both the required images display.
The master image was built at 1024x1024.
Maybe you can mail me a screen shot to show this ?

Can you explain what you feel is inaccurate regarding the 319 controls ?

The side views are an interesting issue also.

If we'd done the left hand side from the exact view point you'd get from the seat would have been rather dull in all honesty.
There is no real view out of the side all you would see is an extreme close up of a panel. The choice was made to move the view point to provide a somewhat more interesting view.

The proper view would be something more like this

<IMG width="480" height="640" SRC="http://album.atomic-systems.com/showPic ... deview.JPG">

Not the most interesting view in my opinion.

chazcozens · Post by **chazcozens** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:43 am

Have only driven the Brighton Bell activity as far as Three Bridges so far, but I am most impressed with this route! There is so much to look at from the cab that I have (for once) rarely felt the need to use the outside views.

Have to say that the near miss with the oncoming unit at Battersea Park makes for an interesting time though!

All in all on first look I am very impressed guys! I love the little details as well- the unit that hoots as you pass it, the "have you registered" and UKTS posters, all excellent stuff!

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 11:48 am

The patch should resolve any cross over incidents that there are.
This was an unintential issue, not something to make it more 'interesting'.
I'm sure our commercial partners (TOC's) would not be impressed with designed in gameplay like that !

AndyUK · Post by **AndyUK** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 8:34 pm

buffy500 wrote:
AndyUK wrote:A couple of suggestions for a future patch, I think the others have already been covered elsewhere:

1. A proper EMU "ding-ding" rather that the "O.K. to proceed"

2. Better cab views - I think this is my biggest disappointment. The lack of detail, innaccurate controls in the 319 and overall "fuzziness" in 1024 x 768 could do with some attention to meet the standards being set by some other developers. The side views in the 319 are odd as well.

To clarify some points..

1. Yes possibly, but as that sound effect is route specific it would mean it only be correct for 1 type of rolling stock, and not for everything else.
If we did that someone else would mention it and make a point of it. But I do understand. Maybe it would be better to have that than the default.
Point taken ref other rolling stock but that american voice does get on my nerves!

2. I am not sure I agree with this, I have not seen any fuzziness that I recall. Not sure what res I have been running, but I know I tested at levels which would make both the required images display.
The master image was built at 1024x1024.
Maybe you can mail me a screen shot to show this ?
Perhaps "overall" is an unfair description but the buttons etc, in the 377 especially, are a bit rough round the edges. It's the speedo and non-working brake gauge that really don't come out well on my system. I've e-mailed you a couple of jpegs that hopefully show what I'm talking about.

Can you explain what you feel is inaccurate regarding the 319 controls ?
Again "controls" plural is a bit unfair as AFAIK the limitations of MSTS prevent the 7? step Westcode brake which I believe is fitted to the 319s being correctly modelled. On the other hand I think that in common with most/all EMUs the 319s have a 5 step, OFF 1 2 3 4, power controller which gives the driver a choice of 4 pre-determined power settings. The way its modelled here doesn't appear to reflect that - hence my statement. If I'm wrong then I apologise. On the other hand the 377 combined controller is, as far as I know, an accurate representation of reality.

The side views are an interesting issue also.

If we'd done the left hand side from the exact view point you'd get from the seat would have been rather dull in all honesty.
There is no real view out of the side all you would see is an extreme close up of a panel. The choice was made to move the view point to provide a somewhat more interesting view.
The proper view would be something more like this

Not the most interesting view in my opinion.

If you'd done the "exact" view point then I've got to agree with you - it would be very dull indeed! But how about a view though the drivers door window?

- Andy

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 9:22 pm

But then it would have been not correct and therefore open to someones opinion of what is the correct view .

AndyUK · Post by **AndyUK** » Thu Jul 24, 2003 10:05 pm

Dave,

Apologies for the badly formatted reply to your response to my original post, it looks like my attempt to use the "quote" system didn't produce the desired effect. I answered your other questions as well but my replies are rather lost in the one big quote box.

- Andy

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:04 pm

Thanks for the update, I didn't notice all the other responses !

AndyUK wrote:Point taken ref other rolling stock but that american voice does get on my nerves!

Yes, probably better than leaving the default.

Perhaps "overall" is an unfair description but the buttons etc, in the 377 especially, are a bit rough round the edges. It's the speedo and non-working brake gauge that really don't come out well on my system. I've e-mailed you a couple of jpegs that hopefully show what I'm talking about.

Got them thanks.
Honestly I am not sure how to make the dials clearer, they appear to go fuzzy when make aces or resized. But we have a plan for the next ones.

Again "controls" plural is a bit unfair as AFAIK the limitations of MSTS prevent the 7? step Westcode brake which I believe is fitted to the 319s being correctly modelled. On the other hand I think that in common with most/all EMUs the 319s have a 5 step, OFF 1 2 3 4, power controller which gives the driver a choice of 4 pre-determined power settings. The way its modelled here doesn't appear to reflect that - hence my statement. If I'm wrong then I apologise. On the other hand the 377 combined controller is, as far as I know, an accurate representation of reality.

Erm, no a case of me not doing it, or being sure how to set it up. Will investigate.

If you'd done the "exact" view point then I've got to agree with you - it would be very dull indeed! But how about a view though the drivers door window?

Possibly, but an editorial choice was made, possibly not the best one.

JamesC · Post by **JamesC** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 8:19 am

I purchased the route yesterday, Iâ€™ve installed it and added the patches and all works ok!

Just a few things Iâ€™d like to point out, I did a run using explore mode starting at Brighton, on approach to entering one of the tunnels the train appears to hit the side of the tunnel, in reality the train would have crashed.

At some stations the platforms seems to be to near the track and when the train passes through, the train looks like its cutting into the platform.

Thatâ€™s the only errors Iâ€™ve noticed, I looked on the cd cover and manual that there appears to be a 10min video but I cant see that anywhere on the cd, I run the cd but it just takes me through the installation process of the route.

asalmon · Post by **asalmon** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 8:38 am

To get to the video you need to use windows explorer, or right-click on the cd icon and choose "open" rather than the default "autoplay". You should then be able to find it easily.

-Alan

JamesC · Post by **JamesC** » Sat Jul 26, 2003 10:48 am

asalmon wrote:To get to the video you need to use windows explorer, or right-click on the cd icon and choose "open" rather than the default "autoplay". You should then be able to find it easily.

-Alan

Thanks Alan