TS2015 is here.

[t9express]

It's that time of year again and after a 3.2gb (I own all the routes already) download I've fired it up.
A few first impressions:
I quite like the new menu and love the option to switch off the video intro. Seems to be images missing from routes though.

Not only am I missing the images, I'm missing the routes unless I search for them. So clicking through the pages only shows the "official" routes (all minus thumbnails). But if I search for "midden" for example, THEN the Middle Holland (Midden Nederland) route shows up.

Same for selecting trains - none of my add-ons show up in the default list unless I search for them.

So they've changed something in the preload, and of course, given the 3rd party developers zero info on what that is.

Also : what's the little funnel / no-entry icon under the route and train selection? Anyone figured that out?

they may did nothing to preload...the update just delete the image.png in route information folder...

[USRailFan]

Hmm...
Seem to have lost the thumbnail or whatever one shall call it for a lot of routes (the screenshot that shows up for the route on the scenario list) - including for routes I know definately had them previously, such as GWML (Oxford - Paddington), WCML North, etc...

[fourletr]

Some first impressions. Computer used - ASUS X52F laptop (I'm away from home base so don't have access to my desktop machine) Windows 7 Home Premium, 4 GB Ram Intel i5 2.53 Ghz

Test scenario - West of Scotland line - The Port road - Settings 2014 - Lowest Graphics, TSX on. Settings 2015 Lowest Graphics, Dynamic Lighting on (presumably this is a new name for TSX)

Performance - 2014 perfectly acceptable 2015 Totally unacceptable and unusable - Incredibly unresponsive and slow

Other comments...

Menu System A disaster! Cluttered , difficult to navigate, unfinished and why oh why do these "modern" programmers insist on using pale grey for text? What's wrong with BLACK at least you can read it

Switched to Windowed mode, no better! Now the controller doesn't work, can only be reactivated by re-booting.

Seems to me that DTG are playing the old "good enough software" game and let the punters beta test it, or should that be Alpha?

Very disappointed !!!

[ashgray]

No third party routes available on my menu, unless I use the search function, and that's somewhat "hit and miss". I'm not a fan of the new menu system but I guess I'll get used to it, but I do wish there was an easier way of getting out of one scenario to play another on the same route.

Ash

[jennings]

First impressions are not good - Menu too slow and clunky to navigate around - the old menu worked fine why change what works perfectly fine? Loads of missing thumbnails too ...

FPS even worse than in TS2014 - Running on a it-4770 3.4GHZ / 2GB GT770 / 16GB Ram and performance still leaves something to be desired on a 'Gaming' spec desktop - That's on highest settings; Adaptive bloom, DoV etc all off but with shadows and clouds on and FXAA + 8X MSAA. Have to say that on each update with these new features added there seems little to be done in the background to improve performance and bring this sim up to a standard where it is actually playable - I would be curious to know DTG machine specs / Settings so I know as a benchmark to what is possible to achieve and work out what needs improving.

Academy sounds a good idea though not tried it yet to see what it is like.

Can't comment on routes as owned 2 out of the 3 already though FPS on them both appears lower than before. Nice to see a Steam Edition again but no sensible price offer for those who want the additional content (Will wait for it to be in a sale and pick it up as need 1 of the routes anyway).

On a final note nice to see a Flash sale on DLC though not so good is the lack of a sale on any items in the core TS2015 content (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, NEC, ECML, Pacific Surfliner additional content specifically). Not great if you own majority of it all ready as on what I am missing will be cheaper to buy TS2015 than to buy separately at those prices.

All in all could have been and should have been better in my view this upgrade for such a large download there seems little overall improvement if not its taken a step backwards.

[coppo]

The thumbnails issue is a curious. If you go to your "Profile" and select either routes or loco's the thumbnails are there... Well, the ones for the official DLC are there, I still can't find 3CCR and IoW V7, and all the other routes that I bought outside of steam...which is most annoying...

[Traveller54]

Haven't we been here before?

Loaded up TS2015 v48.0a this morning and all was fine. Did the 'verify' as suggested regarding the 'Academy' issue (see Facebook) and now when I load up it hangs at 'Synchronizing with Steam Workshop'?

Seem to remember this was an issue when TS2014 was upgraded?

Any know the 'tempory fix' that overcame that please?

[david1]

Upgrade completed, a couple of new files added, now the big job copy all backup files of routes and assets over to my renamed file leave that to copy for a few hours while in work, disappointed with TS2015 as frame rates are low on all routes now had to downgrade setting from Highest which worked on everything in TS2014. Having to downgrade to high setting is a bit of a backward step, on the plus side the graphics look a bit sharper and brighter than before, but not sure wether this is worth the downgrade in settings, time will tell the verdict is still out on that one might get used to it or might revert back to TS2014

[sundog]

For what it's worth, and no real biggy - just irritating - using the Brightness slider seems broken. Once the value is changed, to change it again the game needs to be restarted to take effect. I was fiddling around quite a bit last night trying to get a balance, all as it seems, related to the new 3D cloud option/values. Anyone else found this? If not as I said it's not a biggy. Everything else seems ok though.

Ken

[smartie38]

performance certainly has dropped on the more complex/highly populated routes compared to ts2014, almost as bad as ts2013 was!

Haven't made my mind up as to whether I'll continue with this game or wait for the unreal engine and just hope and prey that they get it right and use the new engine properly.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[push2play]

I didn't exactly have much in way of expectations so I can't say I am either disappointed or pleasantly surprised. What does worry me is the tangible drop in performance on some routes, especially on routes where I had previously enjoyed very good framerates. A 20fps drop on some sections of the ECML is not something I can just hand-wave away as a minor annoyance. I hope DT will take some time to optimise this engine further, however with the impending move to the Unreal Engine I have some doubts about that.

[Trev123]

Just started up TS2015 and had a 64mb update after the 2.6gb update this morning.
All my routes show up. The ones from JT, China Clay, Ay Valley etc. I actually like it. Only driven one scenario with the Duchess of Sutherland which I purchased today on the S to C route. No problems. Funny driving the Duchess of Sutherland though at 22% regulator and 20% reverser you are doing 60mph on the flat.

[749006]

Still having difficulty accesing some routes as they don't appear in the collection unless a DTG loco is used on the route.

It was easier when you could look at the routes and then decide which scenario you wish to run instead of picking a loco/unit and then the route.

Peter

[Traveller54]

Haven't we been here before?

Loaded up TS2015 v48.0a this morning and all was fine. Did the 'verify' as suggested regarding the 'Academy' issue (see Facebook) and now when I load up it hangs at 'Synchronizing with Steam Workshop'?

Seem to remember this was an issue when TS2014 was upgraded?

Any know the 'tempory fix' that overcame that please?

Found the 'old' temp-fix for TS2014 - it was to use an loder version of plugins/gamamanger.dll - DOESN'T WORK THIS TIME!

Even tried blocking the Internet connection via the Firewall and completely disconnecing my cable connection without success? Also I usuallu run with Steam off-line - tried on-line with no luck there either?

Others seem to be OK so looking for some confirmation that it isn't just me altough I will keep bashing away trying to find a solution.

[DocklandsProject]

I'll start with the good points Really liking the scale option for assets in the editor, that will give some excellent variation. Since when did trees all grow to be the same size after all. The visible selection of assets is a superb addition and long overlooked- a pity that it stopped working after the first time I used it and just displayed empty boxes. I presume if I left it running it would load up into some sort of buffer for quicker future access but I'm guessing there.

As many have mentioned, the menu system has been completely messed up and overdone. Someone at Dovetail redesigned it and someone at Dovetail said that's great. Both should be sacked. So many missing routes and trains thumbnails.... surely only sheer planned incompetence could have arranged that. The continued elbowing out of third party routes and assets is a deliberate act by a bully. All routes and content bring attention towards their game, they should embrace it not try and hide it.

Overall - they should have left the menu alone and squeezed in the extra editor features with a small upgrade without the usual annual fanfare. Seems to have been a lot of hot air, forced into a round balloon for the sake of having a new square balloon.

I don't often criticise Dovetail because I'm a big boy and I chose what I purchase from them very carefully. This free upgrade finally convinces me that certain people at Dovetail seem fairly.... how can I put this, at odds with common sense?