Derek & Adam Keep in Touch

[Acorncomputer]

Many of you will be following Derek & Adam's blogs already but for those who are not yet doing this, you will find more about what is going on with RailWorks from these than you will from official sources. Interesting reading it is too!

Thanks to Derek and Adam for keeping us informed this way.

Derek blog - http://dereksiddle.blogspot.com/

Adam blog - http://gaugeirregularities.blogspot.com/

I think we can rely on these two gentlemen to give us honest information on what is going on.

[SuperTux]

Its all well and good saying what they have said, but honestly we need something more substantive than what could be construed as smoke and mirrors. Firstly, do they even acknowledge the poor AI even being an issue? Secondly, if they do are they planning on doing something about it?

Posts about adding content, while good to know really isn't the main issue right now imho.

Matt

[AndiS]

As someone already asked "what's this all about", I guess Adam opened a fat book on UK engines and typed in all the technical data, in the blueprint editor.

If this comes with sample (dummy) models in 3DCanvas, or at least concise instructions how to build the models to go with the blueprints, this can be a big help for the freeware community.

If it is just the blueprints alone, I would not be as enthusiastic, because the main problem is getting the bogeys connected with the engine and things like that, the total mass and power of the engine are quickly entered, if you only need to do it for you one engine -- for all engines in UK it must be a major effort, of course.


Regarding Derek's update, I think we must leave these people some slack. Derek always made it clear that he is an artist, nothing else. Therefore, I do not put any weight into the fact that improvements of the core come third in his ad-hoc mentioning of things to come. If we do too much exegesis on these blogs, they will stop, too.


Rather than putting the pressure on Derek and Adam, I would strongly hope for clear words from the CEO, after the "proc error" got sorted, what the priorities of the rest of the year would be and how he sees the overall development of the product(s?) of his company. Maybe in an email to the registered users, then it will be clear that this aims at the hardcore supporters, without whom they could go home, like he said, and not to the general public, who might in fact have a different focus.

Firstly, do they even acknowledge the poor AI even being an issue? Secondly, if they do are they planning on doing something about it?

Long time ago, they acknowledge that the AI is a major problem and that they are having a meeting with Kuju to see what can be done. So we are currently waiting for information on item two.

[longbow]

It's also well worth signing up to the RSS feed on the RW Wiki as there seems to be a considerable amount of new stuff going into there. I actually found an answer in the Wiki to a problem that I couldn't solve here at uktrainsim. That's more than I ever got from the rather messy RS forums.

http://www.railsimdownloads.com/wiki/tiki-index.php

[longbow]

Its all well and good saying what they have said, but honestly we need something more substantive than what could be construed as smoke and mirrors.

Do give the lads a break, these are their personal blogs and not official RS news channels.

[SuperTux]

As someone already asked "what's this all about", I guess Adam opened a fat book on UK engines and typed in all the technical data, in the blueprint editor.

If this comes with sample (dummy) models in 3DCanvas, or at least concise instructions how to build the models to go with the blueprints, this can be a big help for the freeware community.

If it is just the blueprints alone, I would not be as enthusiastic, because the main problem is getting the bogeys connected with the engine and things like that, the total mass and power of the engine are quickly entered, if you only need to do it for you one engine -- for all engines in UK it must be a major effort, of course.


Regarding Derek's update, I think we must leave these people some slack. Derek always made it clear that he is an artist, nothing else. Therefore, I do not put any weight into the fact that improvements of the core come third in his ad-hoc mentioning of things to come. If we do too much exegesis on these blogs, they will stop, too.


Rather than putting the pressure on Derek and Adam, I would strongly hope for clear words from the CEO, after the "proc error" got sorted, what the priorities of the rest of the year would be and how he sees the overall development of the product(s?) of his company. Maybe in an email to the registered users, then it will be clear that this aims at the hardcore supporters, without whom they could go home, like he said, and not to the general public, who might in fact have a different focus.

Firstly, do they even acknowledge the poor AI even being an issue? Secondly, if they do are they planning on doing something about it?

Long time ago, they acknowledge that the AI is a major problem and that they are having a meeting with Kuju to see what can be done. So we are currently waiting for information on item two.

All true, and Derek is definitely a very accomplished artist for sure! Its just salivating to think on how things would be if RS.com managed to get the AI behaving like AI, although its still early days yet with regards to RW.

Matt

[CaptScarlet]

It's also well worth signing up to the RSS feed on the RW Wiki as there seems to be a considerable amount of new stuff going into there. I actually found an answer in the Wiki to a problem that I couldn't solve here at uktrainsim. That's more than I ever got from the rather messy RS forums.

http://www.railsimdownloads.com/wiki/tiki-index.php

I agree, I don't really understand the angst over the RS forums not being there. The main support came from users as it does on any official forum and it was without doubt the worst forum software I have seen in terms of functionality so I don't see it as a great loss. But it does mean that if a user has a problem /question / suggestion it has to be done via email which isn't as handy.

Having said that though some users do seem to have a problem with it being gone.

John

[bab7000]

RS.com have given more help/info than any other "game" that i own.

Bab

[Acorncomputer]

Information on the 'game' has been good from the start. With Rail Simulator we have ended up with something like 600 A4 pages of developer documents which have been very useful to those creating content.
Rail Simulator and RailWorks are very much more than 'games' due to this mass of helpful technical documentation.

[bigvern]

Derek always made it clear that he is an artist, nothing else.

All well and good, but that hasn't stopped the blogs being (mis)used for the odd pointed barb at users, such as over terrain painting.

And regardless of their role in the company, they are seen as the public face, so even if they don't know the answer they can at least go and ask.

We want hard facts on what RS.com regard as broken, what are seen as enhancements and what they see as irrelevant whinging plus what can be fixed and what priority the different issues are being give. Less going on about tea and biscuits so they're seen as our "mates" that we won't press too hard, more hard information about fixing up the sim. More content is only going to have a limited appeal if the thing functions as more of a landscape simulator than a train simulator.

[Acorncomputer]

Hi Vern

I do not think Derek and Adam are in the situation they are at the moment by choice, as they have both been very helpful in the last 18 months to many of us.

Bearing in mind that Rail Simulator.Com Ltd are not the same company as Rail Simulator Developments Ltd, RS.com have a different approach to marketing and 'supporting' RailWorks although it is becoming clear that the resources are not significantly improved.

Derek is a straightforward Northern bloke who really wants to help us by telling us what is going on even if this is contrary to the Company line. By doing this on his personal blog, however, he does open himself up to flak against the Company which is probably to be expected although not really fair.

If there is any criticism of RS.com then it should be directed at the Company itself although I appreciate that other than e-mail support, RS.com have closed themselves off completely from any official public/community feedback.

[dean1986]

I agree with Vern here. I do feel bad that they have to deal with all the problems on this forum but as Vern says they are the face of the company there is not anyone else we can talk to, if they dont like it dont come on the forum. I dont want to here about their love of biscuits I want to here about improvements to this sim. They have built a great sim with out of this world graphics but thats about it.

Dean

[dean1986]

[quote="


Bearing in mind that Rail Simulator.Com Ltd are not the same company as Rail Simulator Developments Ltd

Different name same mistakes

Dean

[AndiS]

I think this company (and its successor and its forerunner) needs a real spokesman, who has good communications skills and good knowledge of railways -- regarding the appearance as well as regarding the functionality -- and who has the permission and order to communicate official company positions to us in great detail. Not just "we look into the issue" but what is considered a bug and what is considered a user error.

Of course, this costs money and does not directly create revenue. But it has been said times and times again that freeware assets add value to the core product and therefore, RSC do benefit from the better understanding of the product by users on the forums.

This is not just about "read the Wiki". First, direct pointers to specific information on specific issues is always good for the productivity and the emotions of the reader. Second, the Wiki is not for policy statements like "fix AI first, then implement multiplayer" or vice versa. And what multiplayer, btw.

Alternatively, RSC (the officials, not Derek and Adam in their sparetime) can treat us a like noisy customers who make a lot of noise about a €22 article they are going to buy anyway; and create all the addons between themselves and Europeanbahn, and a few others. Finding out their company policy is the most exciting thing going on these days (and we ought to be quick before they reorganise again).

[Sly401]

Quite honestley guys... you deserve nothing, your attitude is disgracefull, rude ,insulting and immature

YOU have driven away your direct line of communication for good.
Your constructive input has been poor to non existant, there is no benefit to listening to your inncessant whining and sarcasm or trying to appease you.

The guys are bound by professional conduct that you are not, you are anonymous.. they cannot respond to your sarcasm or insults in a like manner.. if they could you might watch what you were saying.
Don't remember Mike from MSTS2 having to put up with your insults, mainly I suspect because he kept his involvement marginal... these guys tried to become involved.. not anymore

Your opinions count for zero now, purely because a few have devalued them to such a point as to make them worthless.

You don't NEED to know anything of their plans, until it is announced it is nothing to do with you.. You might like to know but that is a different thing.

As for wild speculation and conspiracy theories.. what makes you think you know the first thing about it ? ....
You know nothing period.... and that goes for all the "names" on here with the very loud voices too.

You are now getting what you deserve.... to be blanked

Well Done

Sly