Downloading Routes

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 8:58 am

Highworth is going to be released on CD. Originally it was going to be downloads but this has changed for several reasons:

1) 3 locos will be issued with the route that won't be available elsewhere
2) A bunch of wagons ditto, mainly coal opens and some GW opens and various horse boxes
3) A bunch of other stock that is suitable for the route, which is all you will need for all activities on it
4) The route is quite a quirky little thing and so has mostly niche value really, hence I do not expect huge volumes of interest
5) A CD will allow the inclusion of a bunch of period photos of the actual route so users can compare the simulation to it, plus a set of timetables and historical documents on traffic workings, rolling stock, etc that will allow activity writers to create activities that resemble actual trains that used the branch, rather than having to guess.
6) I can include a full set of photographs from the three field trips we took to the remains of the route showing what is left today and the countryside it runs through, which the period shots don't usually show. There may be a set of Then and Now shots showing period images, today images and MSTS route images all taken from the same location/perspective.

richardparker · Post by **richardparker** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 10:22 am

I for one dont have the mideast cd although i no off the high quality of this route.I have noticed certain scenery items from this route being available foe download which is a very nice idea.Its it possible that more will become available for example peterborough or lincoln cathedral and a modern diesel shed,just a request really if possible Tim.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 10:53 am

I love being able to download stuff, purely because I have a broadband connection and want to make the most of it. But, when I discovered that MidEast was going to be distributed on CD (a few weeks before the download became available, or so I thought) and that there would be extra stock, I bit the bullet and sent my cheque off.

I'll admit to being supremely lazy too here... I put off ordering because I was waiting for Matt to install a way of paying by credit-card, because I'm too lazy to write a cheque and walk to a postbox!

But as that wasn't going to happen before the first postings, I got my cheque off PDQ. When the CD arrived, it was a pleasure to have it actually in my hands. I know I should put all my MSTS stuff onto CDs before I have a HDD crash, but at least I have the MidEast now.

And I intend to buy any other MSTS stuff that's CD-only if it takes my fancy. Honestly, Â£4... it's about the same as I pay for a round of drinks for Mrs Fodda and myself... and lasts a whole lot longer.

Cheers for getting it all sorted out and ready for us Tim, and making sure that the install works properly and that all the activities were working. I'm sure you could've touted this to a commercial software house and made quite a bit of money from it... I'd have still paid Â£19.99 for the same product in a DVD box.

You do what you want in distributing the route... all your arguments above make perfect sense to me, and I'll never criticise anybody's wanting CD distribution only.

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 12:46 pm

Is the green 03 going to be on the route CD? (especially as it was done by request for it!). I will certainly be adding the route to my collection when its available as the quality of the screenshots was awesome.

basildd · Post by **basildd** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 12:47 pm

Is the green 03 going to be on the route CD? (especially as it was done by request - or do you want another CD only one done for it?). I will certainly be adding the route to my collection when its available as the quality of the screenshots was awesome.

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 1:03 pm

I was only planning to put the pre-BR stuff on there as to go into the 50s would require the inclusion of all the BR wagons, and the route has a decidedly period feel to it.

But, yes, the green 03 might be there if the author is happy for it to go on (I need to chase up a few rolling stock authors to get their OK). But it's obviously not one of the 3 'specials'. I'd quite like to have a green 08 on the route CD too... Don't know what the 03 can haul, passenger-stock wise, other than Ian Morgans suburban Mk.1s which isn't strictly correct as the GWR B set built in 1939 soldiered on in use on the line until closure.

As an aside it's a fairly sobering thought that the 4-wheelers, some of which dated from around 1894 were not withdrawn until 1941-42. I wonder what kind of condition they were in by then?

Timcourt1 · Post by **Timcourt1** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 1:38 pm

Martin,

Since your relese is "themed" pretty much the same as Mideast, why not add a "bonus stock" folder, this is good for stock thats not included in any of the activities but is applicable to the route and possibly out of period.

Thanks for the comments guys, i do take in all this feedback since mideast was the product of much of it, the idea being that you can keep the CD's for the exclusive stock even if the route itself gets superceeded, any updates for mideast will include the relevant path updates too so all the activities will still work.

Matt charges 4 pounds for the CD which I thought was good value- another good thing is that deciding to give you as much as I possibly could for the value means I maxed out the CD with additional stock etc so you would hav eplenty to run and not just have the route since many are re orders from owners of ecml 3

yourdomingo · Post by **yourdomingo** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 2:33 pm

i just want to say that i think paying Â£4 for a route is not bad at all, and i get it in physical form to cherish forever.

obviously it'd be even better value for free, but i don't have the time, or a reliable enough computer to make huge downloads on a 56k. so keep on with the CDs, and my newish 40gig will soon be brimming. i'm already deleting routes that either have no activities or i don't use...

bigvern · Post by **bigvern** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 3:07 pm

One other thing to mention (perhaps slightly indulgent on my part) is that I do get a great deal of satisfaction out of sending the route out on a nicely labelled up CD. It adds a professional touch which makes me feel quite proud!

geoffhocking · Post by **geoffhocking** » Tue Sep 24, 2002 6:20 am

The CD for Mideast UK is the best way. Simple to install and as Tim says everyone gets the same setup. This route is incredible and is worth in the region of Â£20-Â£30 or more, never mind the Â£4 only that is charged. So get it, you will not regret it.
It is also nice to see activities coming out for it using only the default stock on the CD giving everyone even more pleasure.
I have fast access at work for downloading (400-500 kb/sec), but still prefer the CD method. (as long as they are simple install)

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Tue Sep 24, 2002 8:40 am

Timcourt1 wrote:Martin,

Since your relese is "themed" pretty much the same as Mideast, why not add a "bonus stock" folder, this is good for stock thats not included in any of the activities but is applicable to the route and possibly out of period.

Good point, Tim. I'll borrow this idea if you don't mind.

BigVern wrote:One other thing to mention (perhaps slightly indulgent on my part) is that I do get a great deal of satisfaction out of sending the route out on a nicely labelled up CD. It adds a professional touch which makes me feel quite proud!

Ditto. There is something ephemeral about a download whereas a CD gives you a physical end product you can point to and say "I did that". Or in the case of Highworth "We did that", since the route would not exist without the other 75% of the team who have really brought the place to life with local buildings and the correct rolling stock.