Railworks 3

[bri2808]

Hi Folks;

I have been on this forum for several years, but rarely post, just refer back when I need help or advice.

Now with all the information about Railworks 3, I have a few questions and hopefully someone wouldnt mind assisting with the answers

So, I have RW2, and to be honest my set up is a mess. So I propose to dump everything I have and wait till Friday when RW3 is released, my questions are as follows.

When I log in to Steam, will the update take place straight away and is it free?

And also, when I uninstall RW2, is there any pitfalls I should watch out for when it comes to uninstalling, i.e: hidden files that dont get taken out etc.

Hopefully this makes sense and someone is able to help...

Thanks

[prairie4566]

The update will begin as soon as it's ready, hopefully any time throughout next Friday. A good idea therefore to be logged into Steam as soon as possible. If not, no worries, I believe it'll still update when you do start Steam. It is indeed free

If you want to uninstall RW2, perhaps Add/Remove Programs should remove it. How is it a mess exactly? If you want to start afresh maybe just let RW3 install without a backup, though it's assumed nothing will be lost. You can check if anything is left behind within your Program Files/Steam/Steamapps/Common/RailWorks folder.

In all respect I don't know why people want to uninstall RW, if there's errors a verification of the game cache through Steam should fix it.

[AndyM77]

In all respect I don't know why people want to uninstall RW, if there's errors a verification of the game cache through Steam should fix it.

The only reason for a clean install is to make sure that there is no "Orphaned" Railworks 2 files left on the system. Whilst the Steam delivery system is excellent at checking an installation is uncorrupted, any files that are no longer needed are not always removed from your system by Steam. This is especially important if you really want to be sure that you've a perfect installation and to create a known 'good' Steam Backup that you can always restore to when things go up!"

Besides, if you've got a good broadband connection / unlimited broadband, and a few hours to spare then there is no harm in starting it afresh.

P.S You don't need to use the "Add / Remove programs" to uninstall a Steam game - simply open steam, go to the library page, bring up the "Properties" of the game you wish to uninstall and simply choose 'Delete Local Cache / files' - this is all you need to do

[davejc64]

There is no need to un-install RW2, RW3 will just replace it, in fact if you un-install RW2 you probably won't get the update to RW3.

[Darpor]

hopefully any time throughout this Friday.

I have amended that for you.

[bri2808]

Hey there, thanks for the swift replies and advice...

Its a mess because I cant remember what I do and dont have and as such I just want to reorganise and start from scratch so to speak. I have purchased lots from Steam, Armstrong Powerhouse, Just Trains etc and really cannot remember what I do and dont have anymore

I am probably the only idiot that cant get to grips with RW Tools, but if there is a way that I could obtain a list of what I do and dont have then perhaps that may stop the need for a reinstall... Ideas welcome

[crumplezone]

There is no need to un-install RW2, RW3 will just replace it, in fact if you un-install RW2 you probably won't get the update to RW3.

Lets not scaremonger people, its been stated multiple times everyone who has RW2 gets automatically updated to RW3 since aswell as being a new game its also a core update. Its not a "log in friday or you won't get RW3" situation.

There is no point in uninstalling RW2 for RW3 since its applying just like a update, plus if you do so your wipe all the dlc and have to reload it all + rw3 ontop which will take a fare amount of time on friday since the content server area allocated to Railworks will be hammered by the users updating on friday. Uninstalling won't really change a thing and if you are concerned about your RW2 being fudged run a full verify cache(as in, it takes a long while to hit 100%, not instant) as that defaults the install and adds anytihng missing.

The update probably won't drop to a minimal of 4pm or later on friday evening since steam doesn't "wake up" so to speak untill then, though there could be a possiblity steam activates it thursday midnight but the chances of that are low.

Crump

[nigeltouatievans]

The only reason for a clean install is to make sure that there is no "Orphaned" Railworks 2 files left on the system. Whilst the Steam delivery system is excellent at checking an installation is uncorrupted, any files that are no longer needed are not always removed from your system by Steam. This is especially important if you really want to be sure that you've a perfect installation and to create a known 'good' Steam Backup that you can always restore to when things go up!"

Steam will definitely not remove / change non-Steam controlled files when doing a verify cache. However I think that the Steam backup facility will also only backup those files known to Steam - i.e. you could get a 'clean' install without re-downloading everything by doing a verify cache, then getting Steam to do a backup, then delete local content + remove the railworks directory, then restore the backup.

[AndyM77]

rw3 ontop which will take a fare amount of time on friday since the content server area allocated to Railworks will be hammered by the users updating on friday.

Steam has plenty of bandwith for ALL the Railworks users to update without significant speed issues as the content is 'pushed' out from the central server to the worldwide mirrors that Steam (Valve) utilise. The only time Steam does have bandwith issues is when there is a Major sale across the whole catalogue, which is why they've recently updated the content system which is being tested with the video downloads at the moment. (.acf files instead of the traditional .ncf). Once that system is stable and properly tested slowdowns shouldn't be an issue even when it's major sale time. (50% & 75% off the entire site products).

However I think that the Steam backup facility will also only backup those files known to Steam - i.e. you could get a 'clean' install without re-downloading everything by doing a verify cache, then getting Steam to do a backup, then delete local content + remove the railworks directory, then restore the backup.

Yes, you're correct there Steam will only backup only 'Known' files - however I'm a clean freak and don't want any orphaned files to begin with

There is no need to un-install RW2, RW3 will just replace it, in fact if you un-install RW2 you probably won't get the update to RW3.

Not true at all! - Once the product is "Live" the name in the game library will change to Trainsim2012 / Railworks 3 (whatever it's going to be known as). If you uninstall Railworks 2 before the launch of the new product then you'll see the name in the library change, and then when you click "Install", Steam will simply download the new product. It's a compulsory upgrade for legitimate users of Railworks, even if you uninstall the game now and don't reinstall it in 3 / 6 / 12 / 18 months time, you'll still get the upgrade!

[ashgray]

It's a compulsory upgrade for legitimate users of Railworks, even if you uninstall the game now and don't reinstall it in 3 / 6 / 12 / 18 months time, you'll still get the upgrade!

Not entirely true - in the event that someone really does not wish to receive the update, they simply need to ensure that in future, they remain offline when firing up Railworks. This would effectively freeze RW2 in time with no further upgrades from Steam.

Can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to though, unless it turns out that PCs that can only marginally run RW2 are rendered incapable of running RW3 effectively (not that I can imagine that occurring either!).

Ash

[Darpor]

Can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to though, unless it turns out that PCs that can only marginally run RW2 are rendered incapable of running RW3 effectively (not that I can imagine that occurring either!).

Ash

I wouldn't have thought so Ash. Hasn't it been effectively said that if you do struggle with RW3, there will be advanced options that can more or less bring you back down to an RW2 level anyway.

[ashgray]

Yeah I know, but experience suggests that some members may not be happy unless they can run it with maxed out settings and might prefer to keep what they've got now instead...

All supposition, of course - I'm sure that those who can run RW to their satisfaction now will remain able to do so post-upgrade.

Ash

[AndyM77]

It's a compulsory upgrade for legitimate users of Railworks, even if you uninstall the game now and don't reinstall it in 3 / 6 / 12 / 18 months time, you'll still get the upgrade!

Not entirely true - in the event that someone really does not wish to receive the update, they simply need to ensure that in future, they remain offline when firing up Railworks. This would effectively freeze RW2 in time with no further upgrades from Steam.

Can't for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to though, unless it turns out that PCs that can only marginally run RW2 are rendered incapable of running RW3 effectively (not that I can imagine that occurring either!).

Ash

Well if they want to stick with RW2 then that's fine and good, but they'll have to go online to purchase DLC and of course if new scripting techniques are used for the stock then they'll throw up errors (or do weird things) on a stock RW2 installation.

As Darpor points out RW3 is supposed to have a 'fallback' mode to the Railworks 2 spec, so there really should be no need to 'skip' the upgrade.. well, unless you're "Oooh, Arrrrgh, Pirate scum "

[davejc64]

There is no need to un-install RW2, RW3 will just replace it, in fact if you un-install RW2 you probably won't get the update to RW3.

Not true at all! - Once the product is "Live" the name in the game library will change to Trainsim2012 / Railworks 3 (whatever it's going to be known as). If you uninstall Railworks 2 before the launch of the new product then you'll see the name in the library change, and then when you click "Install", Steam will simply download the new product. It's a compulsory upgrade for legitimate users of Railworks, even if you uninstall the game now and don't reinstall it in 3 / 6 / 12 / 18 months time, you'll still get the upgrade!

I was merely suggesting there is no reason to uninstall RW2 to get RW3, and that if RW2 is uninstalled it probably won't update to RW3 automatically since there won't be anything there to update, maybe I didn't make that clear enough, but then I forgot that you have to explain things word by word for somepeople.

[AndyM77]

but then I forgot that you have to explain things word by word for somepeople.

It's often a good idea to explain properly when it comes to Steam, as there is always an 'Anti-Steam' brigade that will leap on the slightest amount of fearmongering and make a mountain out of a molehill. Now, don't get me started on "Origin" (EA's version of Steam)