Question and Answer session with RailSimulator.com

[Retro]

For me all the developments sound great. My only concern is backwards compatability. Having spent many hours with the Trans Pennine Route team I hope it will still work with the next version.

I think my questions are:

• Is backwards compatibility a priority for the next major update?
• Will the update be an improved RW2 or a new release (RW3)?

Very good question Jim.
My Question:- Will Freeware Routes already released need to be extensively altered to work correctly with this new Upgrade?
Kind regards James.

[Acorncomputer]

Two points (already mentioned but worth reiterating

a) Trigger events in scenarios so that an AI will only start when the player train reaches a certain point, station announcements when a train pulls into a station or perhaps the Railway Children start waving as you go past them.

b) More support for third party developer, both payware and freeware. Particularly a 'hotline' to ask technical details that are not covered in existing documentation. It can take many hours of trial and error to work out how something should be configured when an e-mail to a developer support line and a quick response could possibly provide the answer in a few minutes.

[trainfan11111]

Hi all My question is are there any plans to add new routes and rolling stock to the core game rather than as dlc?

[Toldrabald]

- Why do you never give out patch notes when there is a little update?
- Why are there so few scenarios with new trains?

[Kariban]

I have loads! but right now as it's at the front of my mind:

* Physics: are developers going to gain better control of the powertrain in the physics engine so we can limit input both pre-and post power-generation subsystem - which makes a train's reaction to the controls realistic - rather than the current limiting of output which results in issues like the HST throttle doing barely anything at 125mph, and the unrealistic rise/fall of power output of many locomotives based directly on throttle movement, rather than say engine RPM. It would probably surprise people who don't really care much about physics how different some of the existing engines would drive if you had to control the power generator rather than the output at the wheels.

* Multiple units: is each power unit in a train going to get it's own simulation?

* Dispatcher/AI: can we run trains across the player's path? is it possible for an AI train to detect loose stock now and couple to it, instead of ramming it?

[NeutronIC]

- Why do you never give out patch notes when there is a little update?

They do, but they are on Steam.

Go to steampowered.com, search for RailWorks 2, then on the info page for the product go to the bottom right and look for "View Update History" - click that and you'll see the brief release notes for each update that's been put out.

Matt.

[Toldrabald]

- Why do you never give out patch notes when there is a little update?

They do, but they are on Steam.

Go to steampowered.com, search for RailWorks 2, then on the info page for the product go to the bottom right and look for "View Update History" - click that and you'll see the brief release notes for each update that's been put out.

Matt.

Nope, the last one there is from February, but as we all know there has been an update last week...

[crazyfrogbro]

They do, but they are on Steam.

Go to steampowered.com, search for RailWorks 2, then on the info page for the product go to the bottom right and look for "View Update History" - click that and you'll see the brief release notes for each update that's been put out.

Matt.

This is not true, the last entry in steam is from feb 24 since that there was 2-3 little updates. The last was in the last week.

[AndyM77]

Will there be improved and or more efficient 'Tile Loading' in the update? (the cause of many stutters!)

Can the AI be made to behave more human? (think about using multiple paths, instead of locking a train down to a single path at the scenario creation)

Will the 'Career Mode' be made more lifelike? (I.e no longer reward for being early at time points - In real life TOCs don't want their trains to run early, they want them on time. Should be scored entirely on safety and passenger comfort and very late running i.e small penalty for 2 mins late, slightly bigger for 5 mis late and massive penalties for more than 5 mins )

(and not to do with the update)

Will 'Older' DLC releases ever see a price drop, other than in the infrequent sales?

[gege21]

Hello !

I'm a French RW2 (and RS early) user (gamer) ! I appreciate the greats improvements reached since the beginning of this game ! Thank you RS Team !

1) This simulation game become international : why the new trains DLC focus only on British materials, US materials and few German materials ? The French community would appreciate a little model too (i.e. perhaps one per year if possible ? ).

2) Many of users would superelevation on the curving track . Will it be possible in futur ?

3) The rain in the tunels is not realistic ! Can it be corrected ?

Allthought what the update give in this game will be wellcome !
Best regards
Gérard

[styckx]

My question

You mention going from 2007-2011.. Will the audio engine receive any enhancements or switched to OpenAL to combat the shortcomings and limitations of the current engine that causes it to start killing off audio channels when "too much" is going on at once.

Bill

[jaycat]

I know performance improvement has already been hinted at but can you give us some idea about how stutter will be reduced i.e. presumably via an improved tile loading method?

Flight Simulators now have virtual airlines via muliplayer setup, do you have any vision of virtual railways?


Jaycat

[wolly1380]

My question

You mention going from 2007-2011.. Will the audio engine receive any enhancements or switched to OpenAL to combat the shortcomings and limitations of the current engine that causes it to start killing off audio channels when "too much" is going on at once.

Bill

Just gave me another question Bill, could we see a move away from dav's to a much smaller in size format for sound files. ( if it's not a valid question then just disregard)

[Trainguy76]

My questions are,

Will the Shadow model be updated to where there is no need to create a "Stencil Shadow" for any object?
If it will, can it go through alpha's so a forward facing tree's shadow does not look like a square?

Will there eventually be an ability to 'hump' railroad cars. (I think that's fly switching to the UK folks.)

[pectin]

When can we expect Railworks Multiplayer??