Suggestion re Assets

[Basherz]

Quite honestly, unless something similar to the "Download Centre" is set up "soonish", then the situation is only going to be getting worse.

Whilst I agree that the DLC was a bit of a pain in Trainz, when was the software designed? These days, and with far better connections than we used to have and generally more reliable computers, this surely is the way to go.

[theokus]

I don't agree with this, why should we pay for DVD's of FREEware assets when we are already paying for a premium subscription? As has been suggested, asset creators should come forward and allow route builders to include their assets with the route, as long as it remains freeware and due credit is given.

And as I did say 232,5 times before: we need more generic scenery
And to be included in railworks.
How many bridges we have, fitting in the country side?
In the editor I would like to see a pre-view of the assets.

But perhaps first things first...>> The scenario tools are in the works.

[Gavin-D]

Hi, this is a barmy idea why should we pay for FREEWARE assets, i like others wouldn't pay for them what is needed is an agreement between authors so freeware assets can be used in routes, putting them onto a DVD is not the way to go at all.

[Basherz]

All this requires is for the freeware authors to remove any constraints (apart from inclusion in Payware without permission, or alteration to the released object) - this way, route creators can happily package up a complete route without having to worry.

This also negates the requirement for any DVD, except on request from those people with awful connections, of which thier are a few.

[GavNormandale]

hi, i think a central database would be the best idea, but would need someone willing to manage it, would be full time job though, would need a search engine where users could search for different parameters and possibly links to the content at its relevant site, think best idea is for route creators to resupply the free-ware content with the route but there could be content accidentally included this way,

cheers

Gav

[Darpor]

Surely it could be verified and checked though Gav?

[GavNormandale]

would people be that careful though, i'm sure most would but i'm sure accidents would still occur

Gav

[Darpor]

Yes, I suppose there is an element of risk involved but no more than when people package up things like payware reskins. At the end of the day, it is all about knowledge and for me, the only way forward is to have assets included with a route resulting in a one click installation.

[dipper6]

Sometime early last year I suggested that programmers could put the assets required in with the routes though it was not received too well.

I suggested in this thread that DVDs were a good idea (words to that effect) because of the previous suggestion I made.
If the method of including the assets were included in the download that would easily be the best way to do it, if its not
accepted then a DVD is the next best method, for those who dont want to pay for a DVD, a DVD costs literally pence
so that excuse is out the door as it were. And consider that all the assets in UKTS should fit into a DVD, also consider
the time used to find the assets and get them downloaded, then there is the problems that can arise with routes with a load of assets that must be downloaded and then the assets may well be changed or whatever as happened lately in a large list of files.

Anything is better than the present situation. And, its been known for people to remove their assets and that leads to big
problems when people try to find them for the route or scenario or whatever that they are trying to install, its happened to me.
For a DVD or the assets are included with the route/scenario then that is fixed because they will be on the DVD or in the package.

[Darpor]

Hi Ian

For that to work, we then have to get all uploaders to agree to allowing their assets on to the dvd in the first place. This is a method of re-distribution no different to having selected assets included in a route so that is the biggest hurdle I can see. If we cannot get asset builders to allow assets in a route, what chance do we have of getting them to allow them on a dvd?

And, its been known for people to remove their assets and that leads to big
problems when people try to find them for the route or scenario or whatever that they are trying to install, its happened to me.
For a DVD or the assets are included with the route/scenario then that is fixed because they will be on the DVD or in the package.

Another good point and not without problems. Are all people who agree to having assets placed on a dvd going to have to agree that their work can still be used if they ever pulled their stuff of UKTS due to disagreement? I cannot see it working in that context, at least if the assets were in a route, the route download could be immediately pulled in order to have the offending assets removed and not distributed.

[nobkins]

I think the UKTS downlaod library is excellent. It is already searchable and is a database so I don't think another alternative should be set up. For those that don't like paying the premium memerbership I think they need to think carefully about the amount of time and effort Matt and his family put in to running UKTS and the significant benefit to our train sim community.

UKTS provides a centralised searchable database that can be accessed as much as you like for a year for around £20. A bargain I think.

If UKTS did not exist then users would have to go to many different sites to download all the assets which would be much worse than the present system.

I think we need to focus on how we improve the existing system and how we can allow routes builders to use other peoples assets in their routes. Anybody who creates an asset has the right to refuse others to modify / redistribute it. Although many (including myself) feel that this is not in the spirit of our community, it is there choice not ours.

What we need to do is to have a system to clearly identify which assets can be used by route builders and distributed etc. This can be easily achieved by a change to the UKTS database so that users when uploading an asset are asked to mark the asset as licensed under a GPL (or similar). Then route builders can easily select the assets that they wish to use that are marked as GPL.

In my opinion we should concentrate on positive feedback and look at ways of improving on what we have rather than trying to start a completely new system. A few small changes could have a big impact.

[AndyM77]

Another good point and not without problems. Are all people who agree to having assets placed on a dvd going to have to agree that their work can still be used if they ever pulled their stuff of UKTS due to disagreement? I cannot see it working in that context, at least if the assets were in a route, the route download could be immediately pulled in order to have the offending assets removed and not distributed.

Perhaps to avoid MSTS type incidents like the above, perhaps have some sort of disclaimer that once you've made something available to UKTS, content can't be removed unless it's "copyright infringing". If the author of the Assets then has a "Hissy Fit" and demands that his / her stuff is removed, you could then point them to said disclaimer showing them that once it's on the site it's in the public domain and won't be removed.

Or something like that!

[nobkins]

Perhaps to avoid MSTS type incidents like the above, perhaps have some sort of disclaimer that once you've made something available to UKTS

If we had just a check box to mark the asset when uploaded by the use as licensed under a GPL license. Then if a route builder downlaoded and added it to there route whislt the object was udner GPL this was fine. If the user changed there mind and removed the GPL or asset completely the route builder could still use the asset as ther version they downloaded was under GPL.

We don't want to put people off uploading assets and a disclaimer that there upload can never be removed might put some off. With a GPL checkbox option per asset that the user can change at any time it covers all bases with a simple single checkbox.

Jim

[AndyM77]

Well if that is an answer, then I'm all for it..

[keithmross]

There's an aspect to all this which is being overlooked.
UKTS is not the only source of freeware assets.
My personal route release problem relates more to obtaining assets from other community sources - Germany, France, Spain, Italy etc etc.
I actually think it's a poor reflection on the community if it seems too much bother to download a long list of assets from one source (UKTS) - where items are very well categorised and identifiable by an individual reference number. The UKTS bit is easy - surely?