Steam /DTG CRH380D versus original Just Trains Version

[Springer6]

I recently bought the Chinese Railways CRH380D in the sale from Steam and I assumed that it was the same EMU as the Just Trains version, since Steam's advert reads "The CRH380D developed by Just Trains etc......"

So far so good, I used this EMU in one quick drive scenario, driving from the cab as I got used to the speed control and in cab signalling. Only a day later , did I notice one glaring problem ! The DTG CRH380D is not the same as the Just Trains model ! The DTG version has all it's CRH branding removed apart from ( inexplicably if it is a licence issue ) the Chinese characters on the loco's nose.

My own fault I suppose, as I should have been more careful to look at the advert screen shots and read a few reviews . Nevertheless I was disappointed and felt a bit deceived by Steam's advert. Steam have refused me a refund as they say I have exceed the 2 hour limit of play with the item. It is hard to understand how they measure this, as I only used it for one quick Drive and then used TS17 for other locos until I noticed the lack of branding when I placed the CRH380D in a free roam. I'm not very happy with Steam as I am a very long term customer, who has never asked for a refund before and only did on this occasion as I felt I had been misled by the advert. Perhaps Steam should specifically warn customers , when they make deductions/changes to content as published by other providers.

Life is too short and it's not a lot of money, so I set about making the best of it. I could just buy the Just Trains version and forget about it, but I've subsequently had a look at the textures and find that DTG have deleted most of the branding by "blacking out" parts of the alpha channels and in some cases deleting the branding on the actual textures. I am sure that with a little work I can restore most of the branding .

However one part of the branding that I cannot locate the mapping area for, is the large CRH and logo that appears at the rear sides of the driver cars. Can anyone who has the Just Trains CRH380D help by letting me know where this large CRH logo is placed within the texures ? I don't need a copy of the texture, as I can produce that myself, I just need to know where the model mapping looks for this particular texture.

Any help will be gratefully received and if I can solve the issues, I will try to publish for others a branding patch for the Steam published CRH380D.

springer6

[Muggles]

sent a PM

[gptech]

Steam have refused me a refund as they say I have exceed the 2 hour limit of play with the item. It is hard to understand how they measure this, as I only used it for one quick Drive and then used TS17 for other locos until I noticed the lack of branding when I placed the CRH380D in a free roam

Because the 2 hour limit is game play, not how long you've used any particular item of DLC for.

[johnbarron]

Steam's two hour limit can be applicable only if you change your mind about a purchase. If you have a legitimate complaint about the quality of the product then there is no two hour limit and you are entitled to a refund.

[Springer6]

Steam's two hour limit can be applicable only if you change your mind about a purchase. If you have a legitimate complaint about the quality of the product then there is no two hour limit and you are entitled to a refund.

You are correct of course. My complaint did concern the quality of the product, in that I felt I was somewhat misled by the Steam/DTG advert. I think that they should make it clear when they have deducted from or changed a product from the referred to original.

However, as I said "life is too short" and even though it has taken a lot of my valuable time, I am well on the way to restoring the branding, as I saw it as a challenge. I still have to solve a couple of difficult issues, but intend to persist.

As Gptech points out. It seems that Steam measure total game play after a purchase as the 2 hour time limit for a refund. So the lesson here is to check out any new purchase thoroughly as soon as it is downloaded and before using the sim for anything else. A bit difficult when making multiple purchases of routes and rolling stock in a sale say, if you have only 2 hours to thoroughly examine them all in detail.

springer

[Springer6]

Just an update for anyone who might be interested in this particular emu.

I eventually managed to find the texture position for the main branding logo, by superimposing a numbered grid on the texture file concerned and noting the numbers that appeared in the logo's supposed position. A useful method for the future I think.

I hope to be able to produce a branding pack, using my own branding textures, in due course.

[fsafranek]

Glad you figured out a work around.

A simple comparison of the photos from JT and DTG shows the difference in the textures. DTG more often than not tends to reduce the trademarkable elements of textures.
Also if yo look at photos and video of trips on the train you'll see that DTG, without CRH branding on every head rest, is closer to reality on the interior. Blue seat cloth would be nicer though.

[Springer6]

For anyone interested in having typical CRH branding on the Steam supplied CRH380D, I have uploaded a branding pack to UKTS ( UKTS 36061 ).

For me, having branding on this excellent very high speed emu from Steam http://store.steampowered.com/app/277770/ , greatly improves the "immersion".