Bossman Games Stanier Class 5 (Black Five)

[Tom5305]

Hi,where can I find this update patch for the Black 5 please?
Thanks.Peter.

It should download from Steam automatically.

Kind regards,

--Tim

Daft questions usually elucidate information that helps..... so here goes - How do you know the patch has downloaded and installed? I am still
getting unexplained issues with the Black Five which is a real disappointment now. High water warnings repeating themselves (11 in total visible
rh side of screen) which you cant close. They stay on for varying time periods and then vanish. Really taken the edge of this excellent addition
for me!
Sent BMG an e-mail which they have seen but not responded to, and whilst I know they are busy guys some suggestions as to what may be the issue
would help?
Tom5305
Doncaster

[jstange]

Hello Tom,

I have not experienced any of the issues you describe. Could it be because I do not use any of the higher levels of assist while you do?

I don't think the update addresses any of the problems you describe. In any case you can check if you have the update by going to <TS_folder>/Assets/BMG/Black5Pack01/ and there you will find the file named Black5Pack01Assets.ap, Display its properties and if the creation time is in June, you have the update.

[jstange]

Hi
If you go to steam you could always get the Somerset and Dorset,that was jointly run by the LMS\Midland Region and the Southern\Southern Region
Most of the Locomotives and Coaches were supplied by the LMS\Midland
So the Bossman Black 5 will be ideal for the route

If you're talking to me I actually already have S&D and as far as I remember I've never used it! I think I got it automatically as part of TS2012. So thanks for the reminder!

[jstange]

Would anyone know how to turn on the cab lighting in the BR version please? Nothing seems to work...

[Tom5305]

Hello Tom,

I have not experienced any of the issues you describe. Could it be because I do not use any of the higher levels of assist while you do?

I don't think the update addresses any of the problems you describe. In any case you can check if you have the update by going to <TS_folder>/Assets/BMG/Black5Pack01/ and there you will find the file named Black5Pack01Assets.ap, Display its properties and if the creation time is in June, you have the update.

Thanks for your reply - Which brings me back to the initial point - patch or no patch the loco dosn't function correctly still!
I can get assist levels 1,2 & 3 to show a prompt rh screen which deletes on clicking the X - press for 4 &5 and no additional prompts appear confirming assist
level 4 & 5.
The loco is without doubt excellent i.e. the model itself, steam/smoke animations, sound, varying views around the cab, and all the little 'extras' and I wonder
if that is where the real issue lies - it is a model of complexity - too much for the core game which is really 'old hat' now?
Sadly my experience with the BMG Black Five means I won't be subscribing to the Jubilee for fear of similar issues. BMG and Dovetail in my opinion failed in
not providing a proper switch to a simple mode as per JT and I do wonder how many prospective customers they really lost?
Tom 5305
Doncaster

[metrobus]

Ben is away for the next few weeks (and has been for most of this month, except a few odd days), no fixes can or will be made until he gets back.

kindest regards

Edward

[Tom5305]

Ben is away for the next few weeks (and has been for most of this month, except a few odd days), no fixes can or will be made until he gets back.

kindest regards

Edward

Hello Edward
Thanks for your reply which explains the lack of response from BMG. I want to make it abundantly clear that I am not 'sniping' at BMG
or any of the guys involved in this addition to TS. The Black 5 is without doubt an excellent product as I have already alluded to.
I hope that maybe, just maybe it will be possible to address remaining issues. If it would help I can PM Ben on his return with my observations
and the problems I am still encountering.
I hope it might be possible to provide a 'proper' simple mode run using the HUD in it's entirety as per other producers? There are folk on here who
for many reasons, particularly disabilities of varying kinds who find the full driving mode just too much.
Look forward hopefully to a solution!
Regards
Tom5305
Doncaster

[jstange]

And another question from me please... are you also getting this red glow beneath the loco (from the firebox?)? Is it prototypical? Seems rather too intensive to me...

[metrobus]

No simple mode will be done as it simply isn't practical to do so, through fault of my own the Black five/G2 scripts weren't written in terribly great way which makes doing a simpler mode a practical impossibility. A simple mode effectively would require a full rewrite of the script... which given the G2/Black Five script effectively is the cumulation of about 3 years of work... probably won't be happening any time soon. Indeed the following 2 locos after the black five (Stanier 4MTT and Jubilee) will be exactly the same in this respect, and quite possibly something after that. Not ideal and probably not the answer you'd like and not the answer I exactly like either, but there you go, effectively this particular aspect of these 3/4 locos will remain in perpetuity, as it is simply not viable both time wise or financially to do something which will have basically no or very limited returns.

kindest regards

Edward

[Tom5305]

No simple mode will be done as it simply isn't practical to do so, through fault of my own the Black five/G2 scripts weren't written in terribly great way which makes doing a simpler mode a practical impossibility. A simple mode effectively would require a full rewrite of the script... which given the G2/Black Five script effectively is the cumulation of about 3 years of work... probably won't be happening any time soon. Indeed the following 2 locos after the black five (Stanier 4MTT and Jubilee) will be exactly the same in this respect, and quite possibly something after that. Not ideal and probably not the answer you'd like and not the answer I exactly like either, but there you go, effectively this particular aspect of these 3/4 locos will remain in perpetuity, as it is simply not viable both time wise or financially to do something which will have basically no or very limited returns.

kindest regards

Edward

Oh dear Edward that is very disappointing news, but thanks for being honest with your reply.

Regards
Tom5305
Doncaster

[fireman44]

No simple mode will be done as it simply isn't practical to do so, through fault of my own the Black five/G2 scripts weren't written in terribly great way which makes doing a simpler mode a practical impossibility. A simple mode effectively would require a full rewrite of the script... which given the G2/Black Five script effectively is the cumulation of about 3 years of work... probably won't be happening any time soon. Indeed the following 2 locos after the black five (Stanier 4MTT and Jubilee) will be exactly the same in this respect, and quite possibly something after that. Not ideal and probably not the answer you'd like and not the answer I exactly like either, but there you go, effectively this particular aspect of these 3/4 locos will remain in perpetuity, as it is simply not viable both time wise or financially to do something which will have basically no or very limited returns.

Thanks for being frank.

How much business has been lost in the process is completely unquantifiablle, but quite possibly larger than you may think because forums like this tend to draw the advanced users (and comments sometimes make the less advanced users feel embarrassed to speak out).

The impression I get generally (quite possibly wrong) is that many third-party developers make their models the way they think we should all be playing, instead of appreciating it is a game designed to be used at all sorts of levels and catering for all.

Personally I would have thought it would have been very easy to produce a simple version as a separate model alongside the complex one (which would be good for AI use too) but I am not a qualified modeller of course. It wouldn't be the first. But I do understand that once published there is no money to be made by doing so and that future projects will be moved on to. Hopefully that might be considered for the Jubilee.

I'm sorry to say this Black 5 was the first purchase I have ever returned for refund, but I would reconsider buying it again in the future. I was prepared to accept I couldn't use it as the player loco but I also found it impossible to re-position in scenarios as AI and I haven't seen any indications that issue has been resolved. Such a shame as it is probably the type of steam loco I was most familiar with in days of old.

[IronBidder]

Why all the whinging about no simple mode? It's clearly sold as a complex model. You've ordered a complex model, they've delivered a complex model. You've got what you ordered. OK, you're allowed to change your mind about what you want, but you can't fairely blame Bossman if the product doesn't now meet your reduced requirements.

If you want a simple mode Black Five, there's already a perfectly good one in TS already, with an inexpensive add-on pack from SSS if you want to improve sounds and particles.

[gptech]

My only complaint about this Black 5 is that it isn't an early diesel, or DMU, or electric loco.......why cant payware providers just look after me?

[Tom5305]

Final comments from me regarding the Black Five after which, unless or until continuing issues are resolved, my loco sits in a siding 'not to be moved'!

The response I got from DTG when I raised a ticket regarding the issues with the assist level was not what I expected - their response was along the lines
of "It says it's an advance loco - you bought it knowing that" and there was no suggestion of a refund for a product which clearly wasn't of merchantable quality?

Whilst they are not responsible for the production they surely had a duty to ensure the loco was fit for release (indeed 'fit for purpose"?)
It is perhaps expected to have an odd glitch with any new model but if they can't be resolved should they continue to be sold?

Edward has set out very frankly the future of this model and the next 2/3 to be produced - advanced mode take it or leave it so I am precluded from adding
them to my collection (maybe one customer doesn't matter?)

The Industry needs to really consider all the TS users and as I have said before particularly those who suffer varying disabilities that prevent them from being
able to use an advanced mode model.

Back to the SSS Riley Black Fives for me !

Tom 5305
Doncaster

[metrobus]

The assist level thing is an amusing case of exactly why this script being a pain in the neck, in this particular case it was trying to prevent the popups from being spammed in the first version and solving that problem... but in doing so it accidentally caused a completely separate bug to be revealed in the process, which causes the popups to spam in a different method but one which isn't always immediately apparent hence why it wasn't noticed. I know the cause of this one now thankfully and have solved it on the other related engines, but until Ben gets back it can't be applied to the Black five and well getting an update through DTG does take some time

kindest regards

Edward