Derek & Adam Keep in Touch

[Acorncomputer]

Is it a game or is it a simulator? (hint - Rail Simulator).

Sounds like the topic for another thread

[paulz6]

A reasonable two way dialogue?.. sorry but you had the chance and blew it.

Are we talking about the vendor or the client here?

A well respected member of the route building community is already complaining about thinly veiled barbed comments against him when I think he is trying to help use is experience and put some very valid comments about how the core software could be improved.
I assume that since it has been blogged that Hedborough North was knocked up in 5 days, that that is another thinly veiled barbed comment about the rest of us content creators?

As Sly knows himself, it is possible, if you know what you are doing, to knock up a very good representation of a locomotive within the space of 24 hours. It is the cross-referencing of information which takes the time to produce an accurate model. This is why the perfect class 56 is already available, with cab and sounds. Funnily enough, it applies to route building as well.

The major complaint, as far as I can see, is that in the eyes of the vendor everything is perfect; and it us, the client, who are doing things wrong. To a certain extent, there is a case that some people are used to doing things in a certain way. That doesn't mean there is another way which is more efficient, or a more accommodating way of differing styles of production.

Is it a game or a simulation? That is an interesting question. It is too complicated to be a game, and not in-depth enough to be a simulation. Various people could be accommodated by the selection of simple/intermediate/expert controls, but as discussed on another thread, this is implemented rather badly.

The success of RW can be measured by the number of people who are still starting new developments in MSTS, as a simulation. I guess if it is supposed to be a game then you compare it with Railroad/Transport Tycoon.

[paulz6]

Is it a game or is it a simulator? (hint - Rail Simulator).

Sounds like the topic for another thread

Perhaps the mods could start a poll to send a message to RS.com of the direction in which we would like to see RS/RW develop? That would be an alternative to listening to those with the biggest statement of requirements.

[phill70]

You lot are missing the point, they know what needs fixing.

[paulz6]

You lot are missing the point, they know what needs fixing.

Good. Unfortunately they are not communicating that with us, and hence the level of angst.

[Acorncomputer]

RSDL knew from day one what needed to be done but did not have the resources to do a great deal. I was a champion of RSDL and felt that the team did a great job with Rail Simulator considering the situation and we did know quite a lot about what was going on. This enabled us to have confidence in what they were doing but with a good knowledge of their limitations. The approach was an honest one.

The approach to RailWorks is completely different. If RS.com want to inspire confidence in them, it would help a great deal to have some idea of what they are planning to do and how long they expect each improvement to take before it is completed. They do not need to tell us their business plan but some sort of assurance that they actually have one would help.

I have to say, and this is only my personal opinion, that they do not have a plan (of product development) for more than six months down the line but I would like to be proved wrong.

In another thread, there is speculation about the staff at RS.com but the key person has been omitted from the list, the person who I think is really in charge and is looking for a good return from this 'product'. Derek and Adam do have to be very careful about what they say.

[CaptainBazza]

That is an interesting question. It is too complicated to be a game, and not in-depth enough to be a simulation.

Game + simulator NO
Gam(e +sim)ulator NO
Gam + ulator YES
It's a gamulator.......note, that word is now copyrighted, my rates are very reasonable.

Cheers Bazza

PS Boy, oh boy, raisins are good brainfood.

[sniper297]

I patented that one long ago, Cap'n, but I'll grant you the Antipodes license for it.

Acorncomputer;

Is it a game or is it a simulator? (hint - Rail Simulator)

Try that again.

Is it a game or is it a simulator? (hint - Rail WORKS)

They took the "simulator" out, altho they should have left that in and taken the "Rail" out, since it still makes a pretty good nature simulator.

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/showth ... p?t=283253

[stephenholmes]

Hello everyone
Apologies for going slightly off topic
Paul makes reference to a class 56 being available?
Is there a Class 56 available for RS?
I was aware of a Class56 Work In Progress for RS
Kind regards Stephen

[AndiS]

Re. raisins, they work best if preserved in rum.

Re. business plan, every company has it and it is not our concern, and even knowing it would not answer our questions.

Re. Rail Works, I like it, just because it is at least something somewhat new. The whole exegesis of the word simulator is getting a bit boring. It has been established a while ago that any simulator always simulates but a fraction of reality.

So the question is not "is it a simulator" but "which part of reality does it simulate". Jim found part of the answer already. Detailed models of rolling stock must be added to the list. And with a little help from route planning, you can simulate signal aspects to some extend, as long as the train does not change direction, or the user does not something spontaneous (like using the track when it is clear, without knowing in advance when the shunting is done -- get yourself a second track to run the AI on, in good old Europe, we have double track, precise timetables and next to no trains, thus much less moaning than those overly mercenary US folks with their still not abandoned single track).

Anyway, I believe that the only way to find the truth is to observe the development further. It would be fun if they would give us details of their plans, but I am pretty sure this will not happen in a public form, because there is always more complaint than praise for any detail anyone gives away, and not one company ever wants that.

[Acorncomputer]

AndiS wrote -

get yourself a second track to run the AI on, in good old Europe, we have double track, precise timetables and next to no trains, thus much less moaning than those overly mercenary US folks with their still not abandoned single track).

This is a good point and one of the considerations I would have in building a new route is to effectively build two routes within one. One set of track for AI and another set of track for the player. They would both have to be linked somewhere to complete the single network but running player and AI track together or going over/under each other might work. Whilst the player would have to have access to the AI track, there would be no need to go on it.

This is something for route builders to consider right from the start of any route and whilst it does not fix the dispatcher problem, it would probably help to build a more functional route.

[RSderek]

Hello.

Anyone wishing to contact RS.com can email Support@railsimulator.com
The email will get read and an action will come from it.
Mostly an update in the Wiki or FAQ.

regards

Derek

[Oldpufferspotter]

Hi all,
There is a very interesting post in the General Discussion section of the 'railworksamerica dot com' forum as to why RS and RSDL were renamed. It has renewed my confidence in RW etc.
regards Ted.

[emrhd01]

Hi Ted,

Couldn't agree with you more, what a breath of fresh air to get away from all the 'negativity' being talked about RW.

It is still early days yet with RW (and RS) and if we give them some breathing space then some people may be pleasently surprised with what transpires, given time.

That Post was well worth the read (if a little on the long side) and as it's written by Rich Garber that's good enough for me.

The link to it is:
http://railworksamerica.com/forum/viewt ... 72&start=0

[Darpor]

It was a very enjoyable piece to read, as others have said already, a breath of fresh air.