Tuesday 31 December 2013

DPSimulation - New Steam Group

DPSimulation Steam Group Started

As something for the New Year, and with the amount of add-ons from DPSimulation constantly increasing, I have decided to start a Steam Group.

When a project is released, feedback is often scattered over all corners of the internet. Sometimes, issues are related but people cannot identify if the problem is theirs alone, or others are seeing the same thing. I am hoping that having this group, along with the relevant discussion/help boards will allow people to post and investigate these issues. Having all of this information in one place is vital to me as a developer, I can see in an instant whether a problem is only affecting one person, or is an overall issue that needs to be addressed.

The group can be found at: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/dpsimulation Hopefully plenty of users will join and be able to share ideas, along with having friendly discussion and help with issues.

DPSimulation Prize Draw - Results

The winners of the first prize draw have been chosen, at random. All those with qualifying donations were assigned numbers, in some cases extra numbers were given to those who had donated multiples of £5. Congratulations to the winners, who are:

1st Prize: Gareth Johns - £25GBP of gifted Steam Add-ons or £25GBP Steam Wallet Funds.
2nd Prize: Sander Noordhoff - £10GBP of Steam Wallet Funds
3rd Prize: Dan Keat - £4GBP of Steam Wallet Funds

I have contacted two of the winners with the email addresses provided when donating, however, the winner of 3rd prize has an email that is bounding back with a mailer failure. None of the three winners has ever come forward for early access, so I cannot inform via Steam. If you see this message Dan, can you either reply here, or fill in a contact form at the DPSimulation website. http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/contactus.html

Thanks.

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from DPSimulation. Thankyou for all of your support throughout 2013.


East Coast Main Line: North East - Dec 24th Update

I have just released a further update to the East Coast Main Line: North East route which now has all textures replaced throughout the route with the newer and more expansive GEML texture set.

As this replacement is done in one go, and cannot be done like for like, it means that some textures are now out of place in some areas along the route. For instance, where tarmac was previously used in urban areas, the corresponding GEML texture in the blueprint is actually a form of grass. Equally, the ballast replacement texture was a form of rock. This has meant that I have had to completely repaint the trackside ballast texture along the full length of the route.

Remaining mismatched textures will be updated in due course over the coming weeks. Thankfully, from a driving level they are not that apparent.

Sunday 22 December 2013

East Coast Main Line: North East - Service Update

There will be a small update to the route later today in order to address some issues that had arisen with doors not opening at certain platforms, namely Durham P1 and both platforms at Northallerton. The platform at Durham is certainly fixed, as is P1 at Northallerton, however, P2 at Northallerton still causes an issue depending exactly on where you stop.

The update will also see the start of the yards around York being re-instated, with both Klondyke Yard and the Thrall Europa Works being included. Although Klondyke Yard is unlikely to be widely used by scenario creators, the Thrall Works are used as a stabling point for RHTT traffic, meaning there are new scenario opportunities there.

The route should download automatically for all subscribers, providing you are not using TS2014 at the time. Any update also means a fresh download of the route, so if problems are encountered then please follow the troubleshooting steps.  http://dpsimulation.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/east-coast-main-line-north-east_21.html

Saturday 21 December 2013

East Coast Main Line: North East - Now Available

The first public version of East Coast Main Line: North East has now been released on the Steam Workshop. The route is a complete overhaul of the original East Coast Main Line (Newcastle to York) route and although currently still a work in progress project, it is possible to drive the full length of the route including to and from various freight points, with overhauled scenery, stations, revised speed limits, catenary and signalling to reflect the prototype.

Early access still stands, and those who have this access will still receive upgrades in advance of any public release. This will include the continuation of route development, route extensions and new scenarios. This will also apply to new extensions of both Edinburgh to Glasgow, City Lines and future projects.

More information can be found at the following links:





East Coast Main Line: North East - Troubleshooting

If for any reason the route crashes when trying to load elements such as Quick Drive, please try the following. This usually fixes any issue in the majority of cases and is normally down to a corrupt download.

1, Unsubscribe from the route in the Train Simulator 2014 Steam Workshop.

2, Navigate to Program FilesSteam\steamapps\common\railworks\Content\Routes and if the route folder has not already been removed, remove it manually. The folder to delete is: 1359ac56-1fdc-4f44-9983-b7621ee29eed

3, Go back to the DPSimulation workshop and re-subscribe to the route.

4, Once downloaded, start Train Simulator 2014 and clear the cache via the settings>tools menu.

5, Restart Train Simulator 2014 and the issue should now be resolved.

East Coast Main Line: North East - Updated Information

[DPS] East Coast Main Line – North East

What is 'East Coast Main Line - North East'?

The route is a clone of the original East Coast Main Line route, formerly known as Newcastle to York. The original route is set in the late 1970's and is probably starting to show it's age given it originates before the release of Rail Simulator in 2007. This project from DPSimulation is an effort to modernise the route to reflect the route as it currently stands in 2013 with full electrification, accurate speed limits, track rationalisation, complete resignalling and scenery improvements throughout.

What requirements do I need?

The original East Coast Main Line route is required, this was available to all users of Train Simulator prior to the release of Train Simulator 2013. Anyone who purchased a copy of Train Simulator after that release would need to purchase the route from Steam. Great Eastern Main Line is also a requirement as this provides the foundation for the track, track rules, catenary and large portions of foliage and buildings.

What changes have been made?

The current changes, as of release date are as follows:

  • Complete track rule swap with the GEML track to incorporate the new track rule and allow electrification using the new catenary tool.
  • Complete track swap to GEML track, replacing the washed out effect that was present with the original ECML track.
  • Route resignalled using the GEML colour light and LED signals. All signals are numbered correctly as per official diagrams.
  • Track rationalisation/removal throughout the route to reflect modern day. This includes new platform allocations at Newcastle and York, plus removal/rationalisation of freight points along the route.
  • Speed limits changed to reflect prototypical working in the present day.
  • Catenary added to utilise the new catenary tool with both sagging and zig-zagging wires.
  • All nearside trees and bush lines bulk swapped with the relevant newer variations provided with GEML.
  • Scenery changes have been implemented throughout the route in order to reflect the modern day prototype more closely.
  • Bridges along the route either replaced or raised to accomodate the catenary. In some cases, these bridges have been completely swapped with the newer GEML variants along with occlusion to project shadows and block rain. Occlusion has also been added to the stations at Newcastle, York and Darlington in order to block rain.
  • The end points of the route have been completely reworked so that they now match the correct location in real life. As well as being prototypically correct, this now means that the route is set for future extensions.
  • Quick Drive has been implemented with start points at key locations along the route. These include York, Newcastle, Dunston, Holgate Yard, Tyne Yard, Low Fell Royal Mail Terminal, Saltburn Line at Darlington.
  • Milepost replacement along the full length of the route to depict the more modern yellow posts. These are also now in the correct locations with the starting origin at York.



What is to be done to the route?

As of release date, it is possible to drive the full length of the route between Newcastle to York. It is also possible to perform freight operations between key points such as Tyne Yard, Holgate Yard and Low Fell Royal Mail Terminal. The main reception sidings at Tyne Yard are complete, but there are still several sidings that need to be included. Likewise, York Yard still has to be completed and will be included in a future update. Scenario creation is entirely possible and any future additions will not have an impact on scenarios.

Another possible option is a complete texture replacement using the more extensive texture set provided with GEML. This would provide benefits such as a better ballast blend and greater variation in field texturing. However, any texture replacement would require the route to be stripped back to a base colour and completely repainted from scratch so is currently just slated as an option.

It is also entirely possible that the route may receive extensions to provide greater operational ability. These extensions could take the form of an extension north to Morpeth including Heaton Depot, west to MetroCentre and east to Saltburn.

What cannot currently be done?

At this point, super-elevation is not viable on the route due to the track not originally being laid with easements. The only current solution would be to completely replace the track and this is not viable mainly due to the timescales involved. In addition, not all gradient transitions have had smoothing integrated due to issues when using the newer gradient smoothing tool which created various kinks in the track. Options to work around this are currently being investigated.

Many people have asked me about the possibility of custom assets but unfortunately, the Steam Workshop will not support this meaning I can only use assets originally available with Newcastle to York and also GEML as the requirement. This means I have to place an emphasis on creatively using these objects to achieve the desired effect.

Quick Drive currently does not support AI operations. This is due to the need for custom blueprints to be created for AI to be implemented, and as such the workshop will not support this custom content. It is possible that AI will be implemented in the future and made available as a file via the DPSimulation website.

Current issues?

Due to the complex track layout at the northern end of Newcastle Central, a simplified layout at the northern end is currently in place due to the inability to form correct slips and double slips. This, like the gradient smoothing is currently under investigation as it should not be happening.

Due to the issues mentioned above with regards to the gradient smoothing tool, there is an element of rough riding over certain sections, the same that were present in the original ECML route. Also, due to the track following the same alignment of the original route, but with higher speed limits in some locations, this also presents an issue when taking curves at speed, not that there are any chances of derailment, but it doesn't feel right at times.

Scenarios

As with all projects on the Train Simulator 2014 Steam Workshop, scenarios are not supported from the outset whilst the route is still in development. A dedicated page has been set up at DPSimulation which will feature scenarios for the route, both from me and the community. http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/scenariosecmlne.html

Where can I obtain the route?

The route will be made available, to all in the next few days from the DPSimulation workshop for Train Simulator 2014. As with other routes from DPSimulation, it will be provided in incremental versions and updated regularly.

As with the initial development of the route, early access is still available and any future updates will be provided in advance to those who donate, or have donated to DPSimulation as a way of thanks for helping offset the costs incurred in running the website. Following a period of feedback from these users, these updates will then be rolled out to all users.

If you have previously donated to DPSimulation, then please send a feedback form at http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/contactus.html stating your Steam username. Equally, if you wish to make a donation to DPSimulation, please send us the same form after donating in order to be added for early access.



Friday 20 December 2013

East Coast Main Line North East - Coming Before Christmas

Yes, that is right. East Coast Main Line - North East will be released before christmas, completely free with the last development version to be released later today.

A further update of East Coast Main Line – North East will be released later today for those who have early access, this will be V1.7. This is intended to be the release candidate, barring any unforeseen problems this version will then go live, to everyone, for free sometime before christmas.

Early access will still be available and those already receiving it will still be able to take advantage of it. Likewise, those who wish to donate to help out DPSimulation can still do so, and early access priveleges will be given.

This future early access will consist of updates to this route, where extensions are planned, and others. What will happen after the full release of this route will be that any future development will be done on separate clones of each route, so they stand alone from the original product. This allows changes to be made, and checked before all modifications are transferred and released fully to the public whilst also allowing those with early access to see and experience the new updates first.

Last but not least, I will be creating a dedicated scenario page on the DPSimulation website for East Coast Main Line – North East for scenarios that are not compatible with the workshop. If you want to submit any scenarios in time for the full release, then please get in touch via the 'Contact Us' section of the website. http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/contactus.html


Friday 13 December 2013

East Coast Main Line - North East - Development Version 1.5 Released

This evening I have released the latest development version of East Coast Main Line - North East to those with early access. The following changes are included:

Tyne Yard arrival/departure sidings.
Re-modelled western end of the Newcastle to Carlisle line to include Dunston.
Low Fell Royal Mail Terminal.
Tollerton Sidings.
Thirsk Sidings.
Thirsk Station including electrification.
Northallerton Station including electrification.
Furnished Newcastle station with signage, seating, clutter etc.
Komatsu Plant Birtley.
Removal of Dunston Staithes.
Electrification of York Holgate and scenery additions to QD start point.
Several minor fixes to signal sighting and AWS ramps.
Fixes to track directionality to enable better scenario pathing.
Expanded Quick Drive from the new freight points, new paths are suffixed with [F] for freight.
Removed encroaching foliage between Northallerton and Skelton Bridge Jcn where the track spacing was widened.


Screenshot Of The Day - 13th December



Wednesday 11 December 2013

East Coast Main Line: North East - Tyne Yard

As work progresses on the route, more places of operational interest are being completely rebuilt from the ground up. As the project is a modification of the original Newcastle to York route, set in the late seventies, Tyne Yard is one of the areas that is being scaled back to reflect operations today.




Screenshot Of The Day - 11th December


Saturday 7 December 2013

New Third Party Scenarios Uploaded

I have just uploaded four scenarios which have been passed on to me by the author Peter Marples, otherwise known as 'Peterat49' on UKTS. Peter was a prolific scenario creator for MSTS and has decided to try his hand at scenarios for TS2014, with excellent results.

The scenarios comprise of two for WCML North, one for East Coast Main Line and one for The Woodhead Line so there should be something to interest everyone. The scenarios can be downloaded by following this link.





Friday 6 December 2013

East Coast Main Line: North East - Development Screenshots

Just a few screenshots that have been taken over the last couple of weeks since the original announcement.......









Saturday 23 November 2013

Development Version Now Available

The first development version of East Coast Mainline – North East has now been uploaded and can be found via my Steam Workshop page, visible to those who have donated only. It requires both the original ECML and GEML.

If you have previously donated, or wish to make a donation then please follow this up via a 'Contact Us' form through the DPSimulation website, stating your Steam username.

Screenshots are permitted to be shown of the route on here or other forums such as UKTS in order to spread awareness before a full release. However, should you wish to show a screenshot, please take into account this is a route in development and try to show a completed area or something that looks particularly nice. :)

[DPS] East Coast MainLine - North East

[DPS] East Coast Main Line – North East

What is 'East Coast Main Line - North East'?

The route is a clone of the original East Coast Main Line route, formerly known as Newcastle to York. The original route is set in the late 1970's and is probably starting to show it's age given it originates before the release of Rail Simulator in 2007. This project from DPSimulation is an effort to modernise the route to reflect the route as it currently stands in 2013 with full electrification, accurate speed limits, track rationalisation and complete resignalling.

What requirements do I need?

The original East Coast Main Line route is required, this was available to all users of Train Simulator prior to the release of Train Simulator 2013. Anyone who purchased a copy of Train Simulator after that release would need to purchase the route from Steam. Great Eastern Main Line is also a requirement as this provides the foundation for the track, track rules, catenary and large portions of foliage.

What changes have been made?

The current changes, as of 23th November 2013 are as follows, all track, signal and catenary related improvements currently relate to the section between Newcastle and Darlington:

  • Complete track rule swap with the GEML track to incorporate the new track rule and allow electrification using the new catenary tool.

  • Complete track swap to GEML track, replacing the washed out effect that was present with the original ECML track.
  • Route resignalled using the GEML colour light and LED signals. All signals numbered correctly where information was available.
  • Track rationalisation/removal throughout the route to reflect modern day. This includes new platform allocations at Newcastle plus removals of things like Gateshead Depot, Tyne Yard, Darlington DMU depot etc.
  • Speed limits changed to reflect prototypical working in the present day.
  • Catenary added to utilise the new catenary tool with both sagging and zig-zagging wires.
  • All nearside trees and bush lines bulk swapped with the relevant newer variations provided with GEML.
  • Bridges along the route either replaced or raised to accomodate the catenary. In some cases, these bridges have been completely swapped with the newer GEML variants along with occlusion to project shadows and block rain.

What is to be done to the route?

As of 23rd November 2013, it is possible to drive from Darlington to Newcastle under full catenary, speed limits and replaced signalling. The next task will be to perform the same modifications to the section between Darlington and York.

Future updates will then include the remodelling of key points along the route such as Tyne Yard along with improved lineside foliage, buildings and other changes to scenery that have taken place in the last 35 years.

Another possible option is a complete texture replacement using the more extensive texture set provided with GEML. This would provide benefits such as a better ballast blend and greater variation in field texturing. However, any texture replacement would require the route to be stripped back to a base colour and completely repainted from scratch so is currently just slated as an option.

It is also entirely possible that the route may receive extensions to provide greater operational ability. These extensions could take the form of an extension north to Morpeth including Heaton Depot, west to MetroCentre and east to Saltburn.

What cannot currently be done?

At this point, super-elevation is not viable on the route due to the track not originally being laid with easements. The only current solution would be to completely replace the track and this is not viable mainly due to the timescales involved. In addition, gradient transitions are currently un-changed due to issues when using the newer gradient smoothing tool which created various kinks in the track. Options to work around this are currently being investigated.

Current issues?

Due to the complex track layout at the northern end of Newcastle Central, a simplified layout is currently in place due to the inability to form correct slips and double slips. This, like the gradient smoothing is currently under investigation.

Due to the issues mentioned above with regards to the gradient smoothing tool, there is an element of rough riding over certain sections, the same that were present in the original ECML route. Also, due to the track following the same alignment of the original route, but with higher speed limits in some locations, this also presents an issue when taking curves at speed, not that there are any chances of derailment, but it doesn't feel right. Solutions and workarounds to this are currently being investigated.

Where can I obtain the route?

The route is to be released, for free on the Steam Workshop in the coming weeks. As with other routes from DPSimulation, it will be provided in incremental versions and updated regularly. As stated previously, early developments of these projects will be provided as a way of thanks to those who donate to DPSimulation with the first development version of ECML-NE released later today (23rd November).

If you have previously donated to DPSimulation, then please send a feedback form at http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/contactus.html stating your Steam username. Equally, if you wish to make a donation to DPSimulation, please send us the same form after donating in order to be added for early access.









Wednesday 20 November 2013

November Donations, Site News & Incentives

It's approaching that time of the month again, with server fees due in the coming days. November so far has been a record month for both site visits and downloads, with the latter up by about 7% on October. Much of this traffic has been arriving directly from the workshop, where I always provide a link on every workshop upload and with this exposure available to the whole TS2014 userbase, traffic is increasing rapidly. One downside of this increased traffic is the increase in outlay on my part to keep the site free and with high speed downloads so we still unfortunately still require donations in order to help with this.

As well as having a bi-monthly competition as an incentive to those who donate, I have also decided to add a further incentive. Users who donate will now have an opportunity to take delivery of our workshop projects earlier than anyone else. If you donate, or have donated in the past then simply send me confirmation via a feedback form at http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/contactus.html and you will then have the opportunity to add DPSimulation as a friend on Steam, enabling you early access to our uploads. The first incentive in this program will be a development version of my new ECML project which has been shown in screenshots recently, this development version will be made available in the coming days. Please be aware that this version of ECML requires both the original ECML (Newcastle to York) route and the Great Eastern Main Line DLC. Further incentives will feature new extensions to Edinburgh to Glasgow, City Lines and our range of scenarios exclusive to the workshop.

I realise that times are hard, I'm feeling it just as much as anyone! But any donations are appreciated, contribute directly to the costs incurred through hosting and aid research and development of projects both now and in the future.

Monday 18 November 2013

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 18th November

All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 15th November

Steam Store

Class 87 Locomotive  -   30% off -  £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 19th November

Class 325 EMU  -   30% Off - £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 20th November

Munich to Augsburg   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 21st November

Friday 15 November 2013

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 15th November

All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 15th November

Steam Store

DB ICE 1 EMU  -   30% off -  £6.99   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 16th November

DB BR 143 Locomotive  -   30% Off - £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 17th November

Munich to Augsburg   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 21st November

Thursday 14 November 2013

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 14th November

All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 14th November

Steam Store

DB ICE 1 EMU  -   30% off -  £6.99   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 16th November

CN SD40-2 Wide Nose Locomotive
  -   30% Off - £5.59   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 15th November

Munich to Augsburg   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 21st November

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Steam Workshop - FEX4: 'Tarmac Through Traffic'

I have just uploaded a new scenario to the Steam Workshop entitled 'Tarmac Through Traffic', a fourth installment of my 'Freight Experience'.

You can either visit the Workshop in Train Simulator 2014 itself by using the 'Collection' screen, or you can alternatively visit my Workshop page by clicking here.

FEX4 - Tarmac Through Traffic

Description: In what can be described as typical Autumn weather in the south of England, a mixture of the rain and seasonal leaf fall means you will have to carefully navigate your heavy train from Three Bridges to beyond Clapham Junction. As ever, traffic is busy so you will have to maintain full concentration at all times.

Briefing: Following the short journey from Crawley New Yard to Three Bridges, you have already ran around your train and are now awaiting your path towards Clapham Junction....

Notes: The maximum speed of your consist is 60mph. Failure to adhere to this could mean the player arriving at key points in the scenario at the wrong times, thus affecting playability.

Duration: 60 Minutes  


Requirements:  London to Brighton, Class 66 EWS V2, First Capital Connect 377

As ever, the scenario utilises all traffic from the real timetable so being a busy line, there are in excess of 50 AI movements which may cause issues for those with a lower end system.


Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 13th November

All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 13th November

Steam Store

BR Class 50 Locomotive  -   30% off -  £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 14th November

CN SD40-2 Wide Nose Locomotive
  -   30% Off - £5.59   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 15th November

Western Lines of Scotland   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 14th November


Vizzart

A sale will start at 12:00GMT today and run until 12:00GMT tomorrow. Click here to visit the site, or wait until after midday when I will post the discounted product(s).

*Update

The sale has now started at Vizzart and the product on sale for 24 hours is the BR 429 'Flirt'. It is available for only €2.95 and the product page can be accessed directly by clicking here.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 12th November

All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 12th November

Steam Store

BR Class 50 Locomotive  -   30% off -  £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 14th November

Amtrak F40PH 'California Zephyr'  -   30% Off - £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 13th November

Western Lines of Scotland   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 14th November

Monday 11 November 2013

IHH - ECML Diesel Chapter 1 & 2

Iron Horse House have once again decided to release two 'chapter' based packs which provide fantastic value, this time based around the East Coast Main Line. Both packs are priced at £19.99 and they can be purchased by following this link. Each pack contains the following:

ECML Diesel - Chapter 1

Class 55 'Deltic'
Class 31
Class 45
Class 08
Mk2 AC
GUV
CCT


ECML Diesel Chapter 2

Class 56
Class 47
Class 20
Class 118
HAA
HCA
HEA



Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 11th November

All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 11th November

Steam Store

BR DP1 Deltic Locomotive   -   30% off -  £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 12th November

Amtrak F40PH 'California Zephyr'  -   30% Off - £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 13th November

Western Lines of Scotland   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 14th November

Just Trains

For the following deals, use the discount code 'Weekend' for 60% off the following products. Deal ends at 14:00GMT on 11th November.

Class 3700 with City Of Truro (Download) 

Newcastle to York 'Modern' (Download)  

Sunday 10 November 2013

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 10th November

All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 10th November

Steam Store

BR DP1 Deltic Locomotive   -   30% off -  £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 12th November

DB BR423 EMU   -   30% Off - £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 11th November

Western Lines of Scotland   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 14th November

Just Trains

For the following deals, use the discount code 'Weekend' for 60% off the following products. Deal ends at 14:00GMT on 11th November.

Class 3700 with City Of Truro (Download) 

Newcastle to York 'Modern' (Download)   


Saturday 9 November 2013

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 9th November

I'm going to try and keep track of the daily/weekend/weekly deals on the blog from now on, basically so you don't have to. All prices shown are in GBP, click on the product name to head to the relevant page.

Train Simulator 2014 Deals - 9th November

Steam Store

LMS Class 3F 'Jinty'   -   30% off -  £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 10th November

DB BR423 EMU   -   30% Off - £8.39   -   Available until 08:00GMT on 11th November

Western Lines of Scotland   -   25% Off -  £18.47   -   Available until 14th November

Just Trains

For the following deals, use the discount code 'Weekend' for 60% off the following products. Deal ends at 14:00GMT on 11th November.

Class 3700 with City Of Truro (Download) 

Newcastle to York 'Modern' (Download)   



Friday 8 November 2013

DPSimulation Prize Draw

A reminder that DPSimulation are now holding a bi-monthly prize draw to all users who make a donation to help towards running the website, keeping downloads free and at high speed without the need for registration. For every £5 donation given, the user will be given one entry into the draw, so £5 = 1 Entry, £10 = 2 Entries and so forth.

The prize will be an item of Steam DLC up to the value of £25, gifted to the winner of the prize draw. If a Steam sale is running at the time of the draw, the winner can choose more than one item of DLC up to the £25 value. This is not restricted to Train Simulator 2014 content, any Steam content can be chosen up to this value.

The winner of the first draw will be announced near the end of December. Good luck to all who take part.

Wednesday 6 November 2013

SteamGifts - Free Games From DPSimulation

DPSimulation has now joined SteamGifts and is currently giving the opportunity to win three games! Hurry though, the three current giveaways only have less than three hours to run!

SteamGifts is a free to join and very popular website that allows users to create competitions for Steam based games, whether it be by new/unwanted keys, or by trading. Simply link your Steam account to SteamGifts and enter the giveaways that suit you best, you receive one entry point for every new giveaway created.

To see what DPSimulation are giving away today, follow this link. More giveaways will be added as time goes on, who knows, there maybe even some TS2014 DLC to giveaway!



Sunday 3 November 2013

More New Scenarios On Workshop

I have now added two further 'Short Hop' scenarios to the Steam Workshop named 'Midnight Moves' and 'Slippery When Wet', both for the London to Faversham route. Both scenarios, though short, have been designed for the user to maintain maximum concentration at all times.

[DPS-SH03] Midnight Moves

Description:  It's now after midnight and although many passenger services are starting to wind down, there are still lots of empty stock diagrams still roaming the network.

Briefing:  In charge of an empty stock working from Ramsgate to Gillingham, you are currently awaiting a path. Once given the road, you will be proceeding through Faversham and on to Gillingham station.

Duration:  25 Minutes

Requirements:  London to Faversham High Speed

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[DPS-SH04] Slippery When Wet

Description: Following two days of incessant rain, the network has started to become affected with many delays affecting services. With the rain still showing no sign of dying off, you are surprisingly running to time, but that could change.....

Briefing: Starting at Swanscombe, release the doors to allow passengers to board. You will then be continuing to Gillingham where this service terminates. Be careful out there, there is a lot of standing water around...

Duration:  35 Minutes

Requirements:  London to Faversham High Speed, Class 465 EMU

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You can either visit the Workshop in Train Simulator 2014 itself by using the 'Collection' screen, or you can alternatively visit my Workshop page by clicking here.








Saturday 2 November 2013

New Scenarios On Workshop

Having just realised I had forgot to announce these, I'll do it now....

I am starting to add a series of 'Short Hop' scenarios to the Steam Workshop. This type of scenario is designed to last no more than around 30 minutes and use minimal requirements whilst still being engaging and exciting.

[DPS-SH01] Drama At Dusk

Description: Following a day to forget on the East Coast Main Line, things are gradually returning to normal....

Briefing: Driving the last leg of a Transpennine service, please release the doors at Durham to allow passengers to board before calling at Chester-le-Street and finally Newcastle.

Duration: 30 Minutes

Requirements:  East Coast Main Line (Newcastle to York)

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[DPS-SH02] Returning To Normal

Description: Following a night of strong winds in the South-East, many services have been disrupted this morning and are only just starting to return to normal...

Briefing: Held at a signal near Rochester due to a late running service from St Pancras, you
will be taking this Ramsgate bound service as far as Faversham.

Duration: 35 Minutes

Requirements:  London to Faversham High Speed

The 'Returning To Normal' scenario has also been cloned and uploaded separately to make use of the Class 465 DLC on appropriate AI services and can also be found in the Workshop.

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You can either visit the Workshop in Train Simulator 2014 itself by using the 'Collection' screen, or you can alternatively visit my Workshop page by clicking here.




Sunday 27 October 2013

Edinburgh to Glasgow Extension - Q&A

I've been receiving quite a few feedback enquiries through the website of late, so thought it would be best to try and clear a few things up. It's already quite a confusing process for some, and as I will explain below, this is only going to get worse.

Edinburgh to Glasgow Extension, What is it?

Available free of charge from the Steam Workshop, the Edinburgh to Glasgow Extension is a cloned version of the original payware Edinburgh to Glasgow route which is currently available via the Steam Store. Once subscribed (downloaded), the user will then have an additional version of the Edinburgh to Glasgow route placed in their install with a prefix of [DPS].

The route extension is basically a clone of the original route which has then had several additions added, at the time of writing these are a scenery extension between Larbert and Stirling, a scenery extension around South Gyle and a track and scenery extension from Haymarket to Curriehill Groundframe. The route is being constantly updated, and I plan to expand the route in various directions.

Isn't there a version on your website, is it the same?

Yes, there is a version available from DPSimulation, but this only includes the scenery extension between Larbert and Stirling, no additional track is included unlike the workshop version, there are various reasons for this. One is the restriction on the redistribution of payware content, the files for the original version on my site required me to meticulously pull out only the required tiles that were created by me for distribution. 

So will you update the version on your website?

Probably not. As noted above, the update is now to the stage where trying to distribute files would either be very difficult, or contravene the Train Simulator 2014 EULA. Not only that, trying to install files in this nature can be confusing, especially for the newer user. One advantage of the Steam Workshop is that in theory, this installation step is achieved with just one click.

Custom Route Content?

Some may have noticed that included with the website version of the extension, a base platform model of Stirling was provided and on the workshop version, there is no model with only an invisible passenger loft to allow boarding/unboarding at the station. This sums up a limitation of the workshop, that no custom content can be included with the route. 

One possible way around this would be to utilise the new marketplace feature, and link it to the workshop route by providing an asset pack that would include these items, along with station signage and any other custom items that may be required. One issue here is that as far as I am aware, the marketplace content must be paid for content, and cannot be given away for free. If this was to become an option, rest assured that any charge would be very small depending on the content included. As things currently stand, this isn't an option being considered as I believe I can extend the route utilising only the assets provided with E&G for the time being.

Quick Drive

As I effectively do all development work on another clone of the original cloned route, this seems to be causing problems with Quick Drive functionality after I have copied the relevant folders over ready for publishing to the workshop. I'm looking to address this issue for the next upgrade and eliminate any errors for future upgrades.

Standard Scenarios

This is a question which is cropping up regularly, such as ' Why aren't there any?' or 'Why doesn't the route show in the Standard list?'. The answer is quite simple, and comes from another unfortunate limitation of the workshop. Other than Quick Drive, no scenarios can be provided initially with a workshop route. Although this isn't an issue for many, it does mean that users with less knowledge of the simulator will either be restricted to Quick Drive initially, or have to get to grips with creating their own scenarios, whether it be Free Roam or Standard.

Work In Progress or Final?

When a route is initially uploaded to the workshop, it is classed as a 'Work In Progress' and allows users to download and evaluate the route, think of it as an open beta. During this period, the author can choose to modify their route and provide upgrades. Once the route receives a preset amount of ratings on the workshop, the author then has an option to make the route 'Final'. This then allows scenarios to be created for the route and published on the workshop, but also means that the author can no longer modify their route. The reasoning for this is quite simple, if a route is made final and no updates can be made, every user subscribed to the route is guaranteed to be on an identical version of the route and eliminates any compatibility issues.

So when will Edinburgh to Glasgow be made final?

Very good question, and one that is causing me no end of problems. As of the time of writing, there haven't been enough ratings to allow the route to be made final. However, if I do make the route final, it's locked off completely and I can no longer modify it. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place with it.

I have two basic options. Option 1 is to make the route final, thus allowing scenarios to be published to the workshop for the route. If I then wanted to extend the route further, I simply clone/rename the final route, make the new modifications and upload it as a completely separate route on the workshop. Option 2 is to keep the route in beta for as long as possible and keep extending/modifying it. The disadvantage here is that scenarios cannot be uploaded to the workshop, but there is nothing stopping them being created and uploaded to community sites or at DPSimulation.

This dilemma isn't just confined to Edinburgh to Glasgow, it also affects the City Lines project and will also affect future workshop projects, not just for me but for other authors.

What will be added to the route in the future?

There isn't currently a set plan for the route. Recently, I've been adding in the early stages of the Edinburgh to Carstairs line and have reached as far as Curriehill Groundframe. However, even today I've also been planning and researching the Bathgate Line. I've also looked at lines in the Glasgow area, the one to Anniesland for instance, I've even weighed up the pros and cons of going south to Craigentinny and beyond.

The main issue is time and motivation, with the need to try and mix things up a little, a reason why I am currently cycling development between this route and City Lines. There are also the issues of the E&G asset base, it isn't that extensive and wasn't designed to be used for these newer areas. Take the catenary for example, the latest extension I have published takes in several miles of electrified track, but every single mast you will pass has had to be painstakingly placed by hand, none of the E&G assets are linked to any catenary tool to make things easier, there isn't even a double track catenary span, I have to place two separate single masts for every span.

For this reason, I'm likely to switch between areas as time moves on. When I have become truly sick of placing catenary piece by piece, for the following update I may well concentrate on an unelectrified section, down past Cumbernauld for instance or north of Stirling. This method would be designed to maximise productivity, keep the route fresh and interesting and most important of all, keep me motivated and interested.

If anyone has any further questions, feel free to comment below. Apologies that this post was rather long winded, but it's better for me to try and make a full explanation here that can be linked to, rather than replying to an endless stream of contact feedback forms.