Will Kuju now make their project more global

mikesimpson · Post by **mikesimpson** » Fri May 19, 2006 11:31 pm

With TMTS now out of the picture, will Kuju be focussing the project on a more international audience, rather than just a UK/German focus.

Surely now is the time for U.S. and Australian routes as well?

Mike.

seern1 · Post by **seern1** » Fri May 19, 2006 11:40 pm

Hear, hear!

tydev417 · Post by **tydev417** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:16 am

Agreed 100%, I can understand their actions at all why they would shaft the US far, far to the side.

ForburyLion · Post by **ForburyLion** » Sat May 20, 2006 1:45 am

If the UK/German version is near completion then please release it!

The team can then focus on making US/Other routes and include them in a new version for the US or elsewhere - those who don't have the content can download them from the website (Similar to MSTS where the revised edition had the class 50 and other stock).

GenmaSaotome · Post by **GenmaSaotome** » Sat May 20, 2006 5:43 am

Has Kujo every explained why they intend to limit their product to European routes? And does that imply limited to sales within Europe only?

Would appreciate any pointers to the facts of the matter.

samuelbennett · Post by **samuelbennett** » Sat May 20, 2006 5:57 am

at the moment they are funding by a new system so its to costly to research routes in usa and japan. but saying that the following quote is of the FAQ:

Kuju have suggested further routes outside of Europe may be created after the main product release, perhaps available online.

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Sat May 20, 2006 6:54 am

I have heard noises about a US route that's been under development (but kept quiet) for some time now, so I think Kuju are in a position to appeal to a global market at fairly short notice.

Martin

lateagain · Post by **lateagain** » Sat May 20, 2006 8:43 am

ForburyLion wrote:If the UK/German version is near completion then please release it!

The team can then focus on making US/Other routes and include them in a new version for the US or elsewhere - those who don't have the content can download them from the website (Similar to MSTS where the revised edition had the class 50 and other stock).

ABSOLUTELY NOT

No personal offence here Forbury old chap.

It's just that we got the "flawed diamond" that MSTS turned out to be because of commercial pressure to release (?) and what KUJU are now coming up with is a whole new sim. WHY put pressure on them to bodge the job. A good thing is worth waiting for.

I do understand the frustration for modellers in wanting to tackle stuff for the new sim whilst not knowing what this will involve but even if Kuju could release a "Developers Pack" it would be like shooting in the dark until they see the sim.

Lets take stock. If you've recently had to reinstall MSTS and took the trouble to run it with NO patches, tweaks or additions, you'll know that against what the community has developed over the last five years it's a bin job. No one would tolerate or bother to keep it nowadays. Judging by some of the tools that KUJU are developing they have development very much un mind. Let them perfect it, or at least get most of their design targets up and running.

NO ONE TOOK MSTS AWAY! What am I getting at? There's a whole world of routes out there for MSTS. People ARE still developing upgraded routes as I type. Berlin Subway has shown some stunning scenery. Hopefully Rail Simulator will be a huge improvement and many frustrations will be removed, but not if they're forced to dumb down the specification to meet commercial demand.

As for the number of routes in the original. Only two good routes were included in the original and BOTH were US routes. Protest as much as you like about that statement but have you actually played the unmodified sim lately.

I have.

Pat Daltons S&C is the only European development that has anything to do with the original and that's practically a new route. Hopefully back soon (?) as it's still one of the greatest routes out there. MP has been developed and "made over" several times and the "Great Northern" Project continues this into yet another era. NEC V4 is arguably the best US route in terms of type of traffic and scope of activity. European Routes have developed into some of the best out there but have nothing to do with the original Austrian route and Japan seems to have shown the least interest in the Sim altogether despite it's extensive rail system.

I'm sure the add-ons will come. If the route building is easier they may come quickly, but I'm sure that as always the quality ones will take longer. No one ever "knocked up" a brilliant model railway. They are the result of care, research and attention to detail. The same goes for Simulated Routes.

AS FOR EUROPEAN SALES ONLY....... since when have sales been restricted nationally. Don't you people buy online? I've bought stuff trouble free from around the globe. The very fact that Microsoft is global means that software by definition is too.

Patience brings rewards.

Geoff

MuzTrem · Post by **MuzTrem** » Sat May 20, 2006 9:14 am

Well said Geoff!

supergoods · Post by **supergoods** » Sat May 20, 2006 10:56 am

The choice of the initial routes is a commercial matter better left to Kuju.

What is important is that the platform is designed so that it does not prevent routes from other countries being properly built by the aftermarket because the signalling is, for example too rigidly coded.

For example, about a mile from my house is one of the major transcontinetal US lines, it is 19 miles from the centre of one of the largest cities in the country, yet it is single track with passing sidings.

It is radio dispatched from a remote centre and has signals only at the passing sidings

Passenger trains are limited to three per week in each direction, inevitably running late.

It is so different from a European line that apart from the gauge of the track there is little in common.

As long as it is possible to develop a route with these very different charecteristics, then there may be dissapointment initially, but all will eventually be fine.

Ian

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Sat May 20, 2006 11:38 am

Hope Kuju concentrate on that which they promised and can deliver being professionals.

The failure of TMTS isn't good news in that their were many posts on this forum poured scorn on KRS as second best and suggestions it didn't exist. KRS didn't exist?! The truth will out.

No doubt there'll be any number of reactions. One will to be to support and attempt to turn Kuju into what they've lost and another will be those that will blame Kuju and possibly try to wreck it. There's been some wierd posts in recent days.

In the words of the song I'd say to Kuku 'Keep on doin' watcha' doin' '

Cheers

John

TomB · Post by **TomB** » Sat May 20, 2006 11:41 am

Hmm - given that there was huge emphasis on US content in MSTS, and they didn't complain abou thtat....

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Sat May 20, 2006 11:53 am

And a huge amount of Oz content in Trainz.

The UK, home of railways, leading the way and others adapting to it, makes a pleasant change

Cheers

John

lateagain · Post by **lateagain** » Sat May 20, 2006 11:58 am

TomB wrote:Hmm - given that there was huge emphasis on US content in MSTS, and they didn't complain abou thtat....

I know where you're coming from Tom, and their parochial attitude to the rest of the world can be infuriating BUT.... there are plenty of US train sim fans who ARE interested in Europe just as there are people like those of us who regularly post on the North American Forum here are interested in Railroads. In reality I think that those of us with that wide an interest are in the minority though?

The fact is that European and American rail practice have always been very different. Ians point above IS important. The sheer size of America has dictated that together with their short history. Don't forget railways were introduced into an already developed Europe where much of America developed around the Railroads.

Some of the comments on TS.com seem just downright SULKY! Personally I will be staggered if no US content arrives from Kuju or 3rd Party Developers eventually, but getting the core sim working first is THE priority and NOT ignoring factors of American operations would seem obviously part of that.

Geoff

PS my main concern is that the wonderful S&D as one of the initial routes might suffer from being just that.

johndibben · Post by **johndibben** » Sat May 20, 2006 12:16 pm

lateagain wrote:Some of the comments on TS.com seem just downright SULKY!

Have to say I don't blame them as probably feel they've been badly let down and left with nowhere to go.

Having said that it won't hurt them to realise they're not the centre of the universe.

Cheers

John