Getting Rid of the 'White Hills'.

[wad53]

I suggest you read the explanation given by Max in this thread http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 1&t=139225 - complicated, but it does explain why this happens and how to fix it.

Thanks Alan, I had previously read that thread, and I've since read it a couple more times. Unfortunately, given my rather limited experience with TS2014 / TS2015, it looks a bit too complex for me at this stage. I was hoping it was a fairly quick (2 minutes) fix, as suggested by gptech, but it certainly doesn't look like it, for me at least.
Like a few others, I'll have to wait for a DTG fix or maybe something simpler from the community.

Cheers,

Warren

[gptech]

Has anybody tried replacing the files for a weather pattern that doesn't work with a suitably re-named copy of one that does?
As long as the game finds files of the right name, in the right locations it's going to be happy and it would eliminate scenario editing.

[gptech]

I was hoping it was a fairly quick (2 minutes) fix, as suggested by gptech,

I was only repeating longbow's post, so blame him not me.....
Being slightly more helpful, which scenario was it that you tried editing and how exactly did you go about the editing?
Knowing which one it was would allow some of us to try ourselves, and knowing what you did could show us if you went slightly awry.
It's all dependant on the issue being purely at the scenario level of course, there may be route factors involved too so the best way to determine that is by as many as possible experimenting and posting their findings.

[gptech]

Either these updates are backward compatible or they aren't, and if they aren't all users, not just the few in the know, should be able to opt out. If they are, and I believe they are intended to be, then the onus is on DTG to fix things that get broken.

There never has been a guarantee that everything would work post any upgrade, only a stated intent to make as much as possible backwardly compatible. Given that we can still use Train Simulator content in TS2015, so far RSC/DTG have done a pretty good job on that score.

[AndyUK]

Either these updates are backward compatible or they aren't, and if they aren't all users, not just the few in the know, should be able to opt out. If they are, and I believe they are intended to be, then the onus is on DTG to fix things that get broken.

...only a stated intent to make as much as possible backwardly compatible. Given that we can still use Train Simulator content in TS2015, so far RSC/DTG have done a pretty good job on that score.

If not making sure that a significant number of their own earlier scenarios show the scenery correctly in the new version is 'doing a pretty good job' then my and your definitions of that phrase differ quite widely. However seeing that apparently they've said they're going to fix it I'll bail out of this discussion for the time being and await the outcome.

Andy L

[gptech]

There never has been a guarantee that everything would work post any upgrade, only a stated intent to make as much as possible backwardly compatible.

If not making sure that a significant number of their own earlier scenarios show the scenery correctly in the new version is 'doing a pretty good job' then my and your definitions of that phrase differ quite widely

We agree on one point at least

Whilst the white horizon/hills look naff the scenarios still work, so it can't be classed as a 'fatal error'.
We're all looking at this update as 'a move toTS2015 with all our older stuff bolted on' but if you strip it back to just TS2015 it works/looks pretty much as it should. Lack of proper testing perhaps with regard to older stuff, particularly RSCs own, but as these problems are more route specific rather than core game (which is what the upgrade was about) then addressing them as separate *fixes* makes sense---certainly makes the core upgrade much simpler to roll out.
As noted, they're aware of issues; have produced a bunch of fixes to be rolled out shortly and are asking for any more reports to be sent through the Steam forum. The more cynical would say that's more marketing and PR than a real committment to fix things but if you take it as *true* it does demonstrate that RSC will take notice of reported faults and glitches.

[wad53]

I was only repeating longbow's post, so blame him not me.....
Being slightly more helpful, which scenario was it that you tried editing and how exactly did you go about the editing?
Knowing which one it was would allow some of us to try ourselves, and knowing what you did could show us if you went slightly awry.

I think I need to apologise to you gptech, if I suggested your advice may not work. I've since spent more time trying to get it working, and your advice (or longbow's) does seem to help fix the problem (probably no surprise there, hey ).
I had noticed that my main settings menu didn't have Dynamic Clouds ticked, and after enabling that, it seems ok now after editing. I also made sure to clear the cache after the edit too, not sure if that made any difference. Sooo, it does indeed seem like a 2 min max (temporary) fix to clean up the white backgrounds, albeit, some of the weather effects will be slightly different.

For what it's worth, here is what I am doing:
The worst offenders are some of the London to Brighton scenarios, including those that came with the Route. Here are a couple - LB Seaside Express; LB South Downs Splitter. The one that was originally giving me problems was a Workshop scenario (but the issue was identical). As soon as you leave Victoria, the white background is very obvious.
I opened the scenario with the game editor, opened the pop up window (right hand side top), opened the scroll list for Weather, and changed the default option for the Clouds (picking the closest 3D Cloud option to the default one), and saved it.
So, after testing three or 4 scenarios, the white background is much better, or gone. In one case, the weather went from late afternoon dusk to night time, but still better.

So, looks like even a newby like me can work around the problem for the time being, thanks for your help.

Warren

[gptech]

I think I need to apologise to you gptech, if I suggested your advice may not work

Not at all, no offence taken (I'm old enough, big enough and certainly ugly enough not to be offended easily) but as you've now got it working I'm happy if we just forget longbow's input and agree it was all my idea

Back to being serious.....clearing the cache after editing is something I do often, though it has been stated that it's not as compulsory as it once was I'm a creature of habit; besides, it only takes a minute of two and does no harm.
Many thanks for posting exactly how you went about it, that and maxtedrew's sterling detective work in http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic. ... 1&t=139225 can only help to de-mystify the situation and provide a number of viable methods of getting round the issue until an *official* solution is provided.