Spot the difference

[lateagain]

Well maybe it's just me but having studied graphic design there's a very close similarity between the use of the font in Railworks latest incarnation and MSTS? You can't copyright the use of a font but one has to question why a title that has now become known as Railworks suddenly Blazens across it's latest version Train Simulator 2012 ....in almost exactly the same font as MSTS?

Homage to the master Sim? Desperate attention grabbing?

Why do they feel that Railworks 3 is inadequate as a title?

It does seem an odd thing to do doesn't it? I don't want to hear any pontless flames. I've got both .....but I do wonder why they made the decision to do that. A shot across the bows of Cascades games foundry is the only logic that I can come up with but then they must know something I don't? Open Rails is the only other alternative at present and Open Rails seems the ideal title for that softwares concept.

I hope that UKTS will stick with Railworks because otherwise the file library will become rather confusing!

Geoff

[slipperman12]

Hi Geoff,

there's a very close similarity between the use of the font in Railworks latest incarnation and MSTS

I had to do a double take when I first saw it
It does seem a little puzzling, but I hope it doesn't turn out to be confusing to new-comers to our hobby!

Cheers,
Ged

[lateagain]

In fact here Railworks is dropped altogether!
http://www.railsimulator.com/microsite_ ... index.html
Now if this was a soap powder I think the corporate lawyers would be ordering their new Porches as we speak?

To say that I'm unimpressed would be a slight understatement.

Geoff

[NiallGray]

Glad I'm not the only one who thought the choice of name was odd!

[jp4712]

[Trainguy76]

.

I agree.

[ashgray]

Playing "devil's advocate" for a minute, if I were responsible for RSC's marketing strategy, I'd be thinking that the title "Railworks" doesn't exactly hit the mark, in terms of informing the uninformed potential new customer that the product they are advertising is, in fact, a train simulator. "Railworks" isn't exactly the most naturally descriptive or obvious of titles.

Given the age of MSTS, and notwithstanding the fact that there's plenty of life in the old dog yet, I see no reason why RSC shouldn't maximise potential sales by choosing a title that properly reflects what it actually is/does.

"Railworks", to new customers = ?
"Train Simulator" = full understanding of what's on offer.

Attention-grabbing? Odd? Possibly only to those that see things in such terms. However, I really do take your point about the UKTS file and library and forum structure Geoff!

Ash

[lateagain]

Well you're entitled to your opinion but I think you'll find the leagal profession wouldn't be on your side ...not that I'm carrying a shield for them

Frankly "Cheap shot", "Naughty", "Mischievous" and "Deliberately misdleading" all spring to my mind.

Copying a logo has caused many a lucrative storm in a tea cup for those who make a living from litigation and as this site meticulously defends copyright perhaps we need some guidlines as to where "teacups" kick in? Personally I think I know the answer but that response may confuse some?

To be clear in the context of THIS site, where does plagarism become breach of copyright? I don't want an answer but frankly "Storm in a teacup" shouldn't be a response.

[jp4712]

"Storm in a teacup" shouldn't be an official response.

It's not.

Paul

[lateagain]

"Storm in a teacup" shouldn't be an official response.

It's not.

Paul

Too quick off the mark

[casperdog]

Before this post gets locked

Clever marketing. Newcomers see 1 sim marked blah, blah, and another marked 2012. Which one do you think they will buy? It won't confuse those of us using MSTS, but..........................

Of course the present owners of MSTS Train Simulator now have an excellent opportunity to release a 2012/2013 version, with the possibility of pumping up sales, using free advertising, and Microsoft Train Simulator is re-born.

How many hours before the lock . Taking bets now.

Clive

[theorganist]

Not sure what the fuss is about to be honest. I would have thought that RS.Com would have checked out any legal issues if they thought it was necessary.

The fact people are talking about it means that it is probably a shrewd marketing move!!

I am a keen user of both sims so have no axe to grind one way or the other!!

I do wonder who is really guilty of "desparate attention grabbing" though!

Regards,
Peter.

[lateagain]

Not that clever Clive because once you put a date on a tiltle it has an inevitable way of becoming ....out of date

Even number don't work. FS2004 a.k.a. FS9 SOUNDS ancient nut is still a succesful and supported title. FSX was better because ....well I can't remember when that was released. FLIGHT moves the genre on and clearly differentiates from earlier titles in the series.

There was a very interesting case on the radio this afternoon about using logo's. Bottom line is that it can be an offence if it deemed that someone deliberately sets out to confuse. Of course by "dating the title" they sidestep that one but it stills seems totally unimaginative and a very odd choice to me to use the exact styling as MSTS.

Geoff

[Acorncomputer]

It is interesting that the font used in TS2012 is just about identical to that of the Microsoft Train Simulator box cover.

Paul Jackson told me himself that the general name for the product will be RailWorks 3 but it will be promoted as Train Simulator 2012.

It would indeed be adventurous for RW.com to use this approach without knowing their ground and Paul has many years of experience in the games industry so I think we can assume that this approach is not going to result in problems for RS.com.

I know nothing more than what Paul told me about the promotion of TS2012 but there are a many new interesting questions that come to mind, particularly as to why RS.com are so sure that they will not find themselves in a stew over this.

[lateagain]

My point is not whether RS have covered their action. They'd be brain dead if they hadn't ....and I'm sure they're not?

Merely that it's a pretty NAFF thing to have done. Imagination : Nil Pointe, Creativity : Nil Pointe, etc. etc. IMO it's VERY NAFF, and of course you're welcome to agree, disagree or be totally disinterested in that...

Are they so dissatisfied with their efforts so far that they want to distance themselves from their work so far?! It might have it's critics but it ain't that bad!!!! From a personal choice I'd always be more impressed with a title that developes and improves. Shiny new boxes always strike me as cynical manipulation. It's a policy that bought Trainz a LOT of criticism. Whether that was justified or not it seems an odd model to follow?

I have to say that many things that folk have asked for seem to be in this upgrade and it may awaken interest in those unconvinced the first time round. Good to see it's a free upgrade. Just unhappy with what I see as a very lazy title HiJack.

Geoff