ECML merge - out now

[rosschris10]

From what I can make out on this post it seems to be “locked in” to subscribers only. So a freeware “mod” is technically payware as you need to subscribe to get it. And there is no way I am laying &29,99 a year to subscribe to content that should be freely available to everyone

For the record, the annual £29.99 gives you early access to certain freeware (such as the ECML merge), one free AP product from a selected list of 6 products (including the Sky & Weather EP, and the Class 31 EP, both priced at £11), a free copy of RW Enhancer, and 10% off payware products through the site (it's carrying a range of JT products and others). The free AP product offer expires March 10. He has also stated that ther will be other discount offers etc through the year.

But there is no obligation to pay a subscription . . . the significant majority of the site is true freeware including solid developers like VP and the former TSD stuff; registration is required but not a subscription. And yes, Alan Thompson has stated that the early access products like the ECML merge, will become true freeware once development is complete. So a subscription is actually giving you early access to being a quasi-tester and guinea pig!

I'm not promoting it, just setting the record straight, as there seems to be some misinformation flying around.

It's quite ironic that a couple of months before Alan Thompson even announced his subscription site, I took a load of flack (the forum won't allow the first word I used there!) on his FB page from several teeny boppers (and not-so-teeny boppers), for suggesting that they might pay the modest one month fee for access to the UKTS library when they were complaining of slow free downloads and queues on UKTS. I was denounced as a UKTS fanboy, and none of them would dream of paying anything for what should be free downloads, LOL!

How the worm turns for the Alan Thompson fanboys when the boot is on the other foot

your last paragraph hit the nail on the head. The fanboys always exlucde a certain developer and now AT from any kind of argument they make else where for example when you said about the monthly £3 fee for UKTS you got trolled yet here Alan Thompson is doing exactly that and its all perfectly acceptable. Funny that.

Sadly i am still not signing up i wont sign up for something that is going to be free i am not paying ANYONE be it Alan Thompson or whoever to be a beta tester that is not how train sim works and never has and i am certainly not doing it now.

hope your well chris

[TransportSteve]

The fanboys always exlucde a certain developer and now AT from any kind of argument they make else where for example when you said about the monthly £3 fee for UKTS you got trolled yet here Alan Thompson is doing exactly that and its all perfectly acceptable. Funny that.

Yeah, but, many of us don't pay £2.50 a month, I haven't had a UKTS subscription since before Christmas, I only pay for one about 2, or, 3, times a year, when there are some things available that appeal to me and I can obtain several items all at once and install them into my game, which I'm happy to do, but, because I pay irregularly throughout the year I rarely pay any more than £7.50 over a 12 month period, at the times that suit me best which is a major factor as well as cost, so, £29.99, for me, is too much and you are tied in for every month anyway if you do so, it might be financially viable at the moment as he is building up his library, but, when things get quiet there'll be nothing to download, then what?

So, is this the way forward then, folks will be putting what we would consider as freeware content onto an overpriced subscription based site, so, yet again, some of us have to go without, just like we have had to go without stuff from these Facebook sites for the last few years, the Trainsimming community has destroyed itself and there is no fun in it any more really.

Cheerz. Steve.

[gptech]

This thread is veering towards a padlock, so before that happens should we stick to the point?
alanthomsonsim.com's *unofficial marketing department* has posted that the route is available, which is great news if you don't mind paying and like longer/merged routes.
Personally they don't do anything for me, I just don't have the time, nor the attention span, for a 2 hour (or even longer) scenario so probably 50% of the loaded route data is just using memory and of no use to me. That of course doesn't mean that everybody who likes that sort of route is wrong so if you fall into that category, enjoy it!

Has anybody actually got it?....the opening post (like others helpfully informing us of developments from alanthomsonsim, even though I'd guess most of us are actually watching quite closely) doesn't indicate he's actually tried it.
The *important* questions are...
Does it look OK?
Does it load and run OK?
In other words, does it live up to the billing? (and make up your own minds about which definition of "billing" I'm using )

[bigben5051]

Its a shame its not steam era with water troughs.

I doubt there'll ever be steam-related content on AT's website, as I don't believe there's a lot of interest in that particular area of the community. I was asked if I would like to sell BMG add-ons on their site, but the 30% cut they wanted was not at all viable, when there is zero steam-related coverage.

[jpvdveer]

The "unofficial marketing department" indeed has not tried it yet. The department does note however that the route has, at the time of writing, been downloaded 266 times already, so quite a few people do seem to be signing up to the subscription service. Perhaps at least someone here might have it? I would also be interested in early impressions.

[gptech]

the route has been downloaded 266 times already, so quite a few people do seem to be signing up to the subscription service.

Do the sums.....

[FrankJ]

I don’t think I have ever read such a load of sour grapes and rubbish. It’s just another site which you can subscribe to if you wish or you can ignor it but you don’t have to slag it off just for the sake of it

As far as the Merged ECML route is concerned I am very impressed with it an thoroughly enjoyed driving from Kings Cross to York

[SkylineBoy]

Do the sums.....

If that is a true figure then the sums are quite staggering.

Then when you consider DPS released a statement (now removed) last week confirming that permission was never sought or given to use their routes in this merge to make money and that they also had not tried to make money from their work themselves then this seems like making money on the back of others. Its none of my business but that just doesnt seem right.

[FrankJ]

As I said sour grapes

There are many examples of routes being made by this site and others that provide enhancements to existing payware routes. As I’ve already said you have a free choice in the same way you can subscribe and support this site or you can choose not to.

[gptech]

As far as the Merged ECML route is concerned I am very impressed with it an thoroughly enjoyed driving from Kings Cross to York

What are the frame rates and smoothness of game play like?--remember that much of the "quality" of the route building you'll see is from the original, separate, routes.

[SkylineBoy]

As I said sour grapes

Sour grapes for supporting the community? What a strange concept. No wonder the hobby is the way it is now.

Its made my mind up anyway as i had considered subscribing at some point but that is increasingly unlikely and i will stick with the original routes. At least i know that donations i have made actually went to those who created the content in the first place.

[FrankJ]

As far as the Merged ECML route is concerned I am very impressed with it an thoroughly enjoyed driving from Kings Cross to York

What are the frame rates and smoothness of game play like?--remember that much of the "quality" of the route building you'll see is from the original, separate, routes.

My frame rates are never that good but I am getting low 20ies in the south and up to 65/70 approaching York The routes are essentially the same but with track and texture enhancements to give a more single developer feel to the whole route. If you add the Peterborough York enhancement kit (free from ATS) to the original Creative labs route you will get some idea of what to expect although the merge is actually better

[gptech]

Frank, the sticking point is not that the site has a subscription option per se, but that some content is unavailable until a subscription is taken---the argument you make regarding choice falls over at that point.
Yes, there are many reworks of commercial routes available but as freeware, the authors aren't stipulating that monies are exchanged. In the case of DPS routes becoming a "pay for" download it gets even messier---thats freeware routes being sold by someone other than the creator.

Back on topic though....do you have frame rates in the 20s in the stand alone version of the southern end?

[rosschris10]

As I said sour grapes

There are many examples of routes being made by this site and others that provide enhancements to existing payware routes. As I’ve already said you have a free choice in the same way you can subscribe and support this site or you can choose not to.

Yes and we read your comment the first time you don’t need to post it again every time someone makes a post you don’t agree to. It’s called an opinion. Others are entitled to voice theirs just as you are.

[SkylineBoy]

There are many examples of routes being made by this site and others that provide enhancements to existing payware routes. As I’ve already said you have a free choice in the same way you can subscribe and support this site or you can choose not to.

I did not notice you had edited your post and am baffled. How can you equate a series of free enhancements that are available for all to taking someone else work and charging for it?