[FEEDBACK] My 200 Hour Review

[Machete.Panda]

This will be mostly short. Been playing 200 hours single player "Company Mode" and love it. However Ive hit a road block... time. The content is weak, which is totally fine this early. But the content does look good... which is important. Content looking good and working right is more important than the amount. And when the game is opened up more so people can participate in the workshop, you can mostly go on cruise control with content.

Sound needs a lot of work. One issue I had is the ambiance sound effects. Its just general and in your ear no matter how far from nature you are or no matter what direction you are facing. I would recommend tying to trees and fields and bushes. Maybe certain grass has the cricket sound effect for fields drop a few of that type of grass in a field. Maybe certain bushes have small bird sounds. Maybe certain trees have owl sounds at night, and chipmunk chirp sounds in day. All this helps out with stereo sound when you turn your camera.

Needs more trains… specifically passenger trains. For steam something like the Baldwin S-2 found on Penn railroad. The Duplex Drive T-1 would be really cool, but not too realistic on a railroad like this. For Diesel Something like the EMD E Unit (1937) like the Baltimore & Ohio. Just to throw us a bone while we wait for the full release. 😊

Game mechanics are probably the biggest issue. Especially in Single player. I actually restarted the game, because I expanded to Sylvia too soon and it was really hard to progress (there just isn’t enough industry down there to make money and turns into a grind). But this new game I have expanded to Andrews. The problem? Im not at the point where to complete a in-game day takes me 6 hours of game time.

I dont have a lot of time so that is about 4-5 days of gaming. I need better tools where I can give a series of commands or check points to an AI, tell it what to do at each check point (move to switch flip switch, connect to train, pull train to here, flip switch, drop car 1 here, pull train to here, flip switch, drop car 2 off there, return to yard). Then I can set them all up and manage them.

Ive actually been playing while in meetings up until it became too much work. I enjoyed that… just managing my little railroad in between work and letting the engines go off and do what they do and check in on them every once in a while.

Long story short, I enjoy the game greatly. But it hits a point in single player where it become unmanageable. And I hope you are also going to focus on single player. I enjoy playing with other people. But if its on their server, you need ot do things the way they want. If its on your server, you have to check in that people are doing things the way you want. So my main enjoyment with out the headaches comes from single player.

Keep it up. I look forward to the games release on workshop and being able to add my own features to the game. I know there are free lance mods right now, but thats just not my thing. Thanks.

[Imperial Strikeforce]

Did you turn the time from 2:1 to 1:1? I haven't got much of the map unlocked yet but I already know when I unlock most of the map I'm going to have to switch time to real time, or freight will just have to sit multiple days until I get around to delivering it. I might lose the bonus, but I don't think I lose the general delivery fee no matter when I deliver it. As in real life, sometimes freight has to sit in a yard for an extra day or two. Don't assume it needs to be delivered the same day it's given to you.

[Machete.Panda]

Originally posted by Imperial Strikeforce:

Did you turn the time from 2:1 to 1:1? I haven't got much of the map unlocked yet but I already know when I unlock most of the map I'm going to have to switch time to real time, or freight will just have to sit multiple days until I get around to delivering it. I might lose the bonus, but I don't think I lose the general delivery fee no matter when I deliver it. As in real life, sometimes freight has to sit in a yard for an extra day or two. Don't assume it needs to be delivered the same day it's given to you.

Yes, its at 1:1, but that doesn't change the fact that it still takes about 6 hours to complete the runs. The train speeds dont get faster. But if I want the bonus... I need to get it done in one day. and if I dont, the rail cars pile up anyway.

[sbmarauderman03]

Originally posted by Machete.Panda:

Originally posted by Imperial Strikeforce:

Did you turn the time from 2:1 to 1:1? I haven't got much of the map unlocked yet but I already know when I unlock most of the map I'm going to have to switch time to real time, or freight will just have to sit multiple days until I get around to delivering it. I might lose the bonus, but I don't think I lose the general delivery fee no matter when I deliver it. As in real life, sometimes freight has to sit in a yard for an extra day or two. Don't assume it needs to be delivered the same day it's given to you.

Yes, its at 1:1, but that doesn't change the fact that it still takes about 6 hours to complete the runs. The train speeds dont get faster. But if I want the bonus... I need to get it done in one day. and if I dont, the rail cars pile up anyway.

Just like real-life operations, eh? Isn't that interesting....

[bfcmik]

I too have just passed 200 hours playing. I recently did a complete restart using the lessons I learned from my 1st start. I have time at 1:1 after the yard is served, then 2:1 after I've dropped off the freight, then often 4:1 or even 8:1 to fill those passenger cars during the day, though I usually drop that right back down once the freights start to be ready for return to Whittier.

I prefer to get all my freights dropped off ASAP but I also run regular passenger services. I haven't bothered doing the fuel pumps this time and added the observation coach on day 1 because it adds it's bonus whether trailing or leading. No need to turn the train!
I generally have environment sounds off because they annoy me and, I'll admit, run with no trees or detail just because I grew up in the Pennine uplands of northern England where there is similar scenery to what's on my screen.

The game is a good mix of strategy (what contracts to take, do I rush milestones, where do I expand) and fun running trains. It's like a personal on-screen interactive model railway(road). Well thought out graphics, the locos are just what you'd expect for a line such as this in the era represented, full of hand-me-downs and cast-offs in reality.

I find I really look forward to future development of the game and many more enjoyable hours playing.

[bfcmik]

Originally posted by Machete.Panda:

Originally posted by Imperial Strikeforce:

Did you turn the time from 2:1 to 1:1? I haven't got much of the map unlocked yet but I already know when I unlock most of the map I'm going to have to switch time to real time, or freight will just have to sit multiple days until I get around to delivering it. I might lose the bonus, but I don't think I lose the general delivery fee no matter when I deliver it. As in real life, sometimes freight has to sit in a yard for an extra day or two. Don't assume it needs to be delivered the same day it's given to you.

Yes, its at 1:1, but that doesn't change the fact that it still takes about 6 hours to complete the runs. The train speeds dont get faster. But if I want the bonus... I need to get it done in one day. and if I dont, the rail cars pile up anyway.

I agree about the delivery times being important. Real rural rail companies had to serve their freight customers rapidly as that was the main revenue source. This game is allegedly based in the late 40s or early 1950s and road transport was making huge efforts to take freight off the rail companies with fast delivery times that were door to door.

I rarely complete a full day (once you get past day 1) in 1 session. The save game works well, I find, at least with my current level of expansion.

[Machete.Panda]

Originally posted by sbmarauderman03:

Just like real-life operations, eh? Isn't that interesting....

Yes, like all the other train games currently out there. Need to make this playable for professionals. Its an option or feature that anyone who wouldnt like it, could turn off.

[Machete.Panda]

Originally posted by bfcmik:

I too have just passed 200 hours playing. I recently did a complete restart using the lessons I learned from my 1st start. I have time at 1:1 after the yard is served, then 2:1 after I've dropped off the freight, then often 4:1 or even 8:1 to fill those passenger cars during the day, though I usually drop that right back down once the freights start to be ready for return to Whittier.

I prefer to get all my freights dropped off ASAP but I also run regular passenger services. I haven't bothered doing the fuel pumps this time and added the observation coach on day 1 because it adds it's bonus whether trailing or leading. No need to turn the train!
I generally have environment sounds off because they annoy me and, I'll admit, run with no trees or detail just because I grew up in the Pennine uplands of northern England where there is similar scenery to what's on my screen.

The game is a good mix of strategy (what contracts to take, do I rush milestones, where do I expand) and fun running trains. It's like a personal on-screen interactive model railway(road). Well thought out graphics, the locos are just what you'd expect for a line such as this in the era represented, full of hand-me-downs and cast-offs in reality.

I find I really look forward to future development of the game and many more enjoyable hours playing.

Same here. Its one of the more promising looking train games to come out! I really enjoy the management focus. But I'm just at a point in single player where running the actual trains is taking up too much time. I believe thats the biggest problem for them. People that are out there working, dont have time to run every train. I know they have something in the works, for AI to be more advanced; so I am hopeful. If they get it right, would probably buy every DLC that comes out. lol

[Machete.Panda]

Originally posted by bfcmik:

I agree about the delivery times being important. Real rural rail companies had to serve their freight customers rapidly as that was the main revenue source. This game is allegedly based in the late 40s or early 1950s and road transport was making huge efforts to take freight off the rail companies with fast delivery times that were door to door.

I rarely complete a full day (once you get past day 1) in 1 session. The save game works well, I find, at least with my current level of expansion.

Yes, and as yuo progress, its not a matter of missing out on bonus... its a matter of being too burdened with returns to be able to get them all to fit on the interchange. Which turns into a snowball effect. lol

[Guernica]

My strategy is to primarily focus on clearing the interchange and getting those cars to their respective yards (Whittier, Bryson, Alarka). From there, I have shunt locos to haul them to their final destination and pick up the return cars to move back to the yard. I do 2 freight runs per day (Sylva to Alarka Jct/Robinson Gap) with different locos (the first is usually somewhere in the Alarka area when the 2nd run is pulling out).

While the bonus is great, it is just that, a bonus. The real money is made in the deliveries themselves. My daily operation wraps up with the 2nd freight run returning to the interchange. If something hasn't been delivered, so be it. I'm not going to spend 15 minutes IRL shoving a car a mile down the track and back for an extra $10. I'll have plenty of time to do that waiting on the first freight run the next morning.

The goal is to maximize deliveries. The faster you can move the freight down the line, the faster you can turn over the next day for more. It's all about what maximizes your revenue/hour IRL.

[Machete.Panda]

Originally posted by Guernica:

My strategy is to primarily focus on clearing the interchange and getting those cars to their respective yards (Whittier, Bryson, Alarka). From there, I have shunt locos to haul them to their final destination and pick up the return cars to move back to the yard. I do 2 freight runs per day (Sylva to Alarka Jct/Robinson Gap) with different locos (the first is usually somewhere in the Alarka area when the 2nd run is pulling out).

While the bonus is great, it is just that, a bonus. The real money is made in the deliveries themselves. My daily operation wraps up with the 2nd freight run returning to the interchange. If something hasn't been delivered, so be it. I'm not going to spend 15 minutes IRL shoving a car a mile down the track and back for an extra $10. I'll have plenty of time to do that waiting on the first freight run the next morning.

The goal is to maximize deliveries. The faster you can move the freight down the line, the faster you can turn over the next day for more. It's all about what maximizes your revenue/hour IRL.

Deviating from my post being about feedback, I have a system of mainline, Local Line, Yard Engines. I havent bought the Sylva Line yet, so I dont need to worry about that yet. But, the larger engines pull out the deliveries in the morning dropping them off at the Andrwes Siding for the mills own switcher which is shared with Andrew yard, Drop offs at the Alarka Siding, for the Local engine that services Alarka and the mines(May have to get two engines there soon). Drop offs at Bryson for local engine, Drop offs at Whittier which is serviced by the passenger train on its next time through.Then DRop off at Whitter which a switcher for Whitter acts as both the local engine and yard engine. Then they pull their empties back to those at the end of the day and the mainline engine grabs the returns with one difference being it picks up pulp wood to drop off at the Mill. The the system I'm using. Doesnt change the fact that it is too manual. Need a lot more automation.

[Bobby]

Fantastic reviews and feedback. I’m on the fence -like a lot have said- about time and work.
If it gets too tedious I give up as I only have 2 days per week to play.
The idea sounds fantastic, I mean I’ve played all the Trains sims to date and transport management sims as well.
At least the AI runs the management sims!

Keep an eye on this and hopefully better AI implemented later.

Cheers

[yvesmarielaot]

The AI "as is" is fine, 'just needs to be tended as it's not completely autonomous (and thank goodness for that... what would be the point of having a game that just played itself!?) If one is struggling with time constraints as a solo player then you can always moderate/scale-back your contracts until you have what seems to you to be a manageable amount of freight traffic...

[Bobby]

Originally posted by yvesmarielaot:

The AI "as is" is fine, 'just needs to be tended as it's not completely autonomous (and thank goodness for that... what would be the point of having a game that just played itself!?) If one is struggling with time constraints as a solo player then you can always moderate/scale-back your contracts until you have what seems to you to be a manageable amount of freight traffic...

I can imagine though if you put this down for a few weeks/months and go off and play other games. It would be impossible to pick up where you left off?

I find a lot of management sims expect you to just play them and never have another game in your library. Devs can be very tunnel visioned that way, as (obviously) they are working on there own product!.
The good ones ‘self manage’ them selves and ‘tick over’ enough for you to pick up where you left off after a few hours.

Anyway, the OP has raised very good points.

[DorniNerd]

Thanks for your thoughts!

[yvesmarielaot]

Originally posted by Bobby:

I can imagine though if you put this down for a few weeks/months and go off and play other games. It would be impossible to pick up where you left off?

not at all! the save game function works just fine and the switch list (to say nothing of the CTC) is great for keeping track of things, so the only limitation there is one's own focus and retention of what's what upon return after a pause.

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/2416832826722622104/C8190B1C0BC1CC019150AF2E5A3776F82840646D/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false