Fix for Colton & Northern, Rascal & Cottonwood skybox defect

[Crunch Berries]

Two years ago I logged a defect with RSC (now DTG), describing an issue with the skybox for Colton & Northern and Rascal & Cottonwood, where the skybox texture (clouds) tilts at a funny angle, revealing the empty sky. DTG's work is so sloppy, you can even see the issue on the R&C screenshots on the Steam product page and on the route thumbnails in TS2016. Anyway, I got an automated reply for my trouble and never heard anything else about it (big surprise). So, last night I spent an hour resolving the issue, and a couple more hours testing a fix. Keep in mind, I had only modest prior knowledge of the underlying architecture, no access to the source code, and I have never created a workshop item for TS. Nevertheless, what DTG couldn't do in two years (surely for lack of concern and effort), I did in one hour. There was a workaround that the Steam community found back in January 2013 (I was active on that thread), and this solution is similar. Here's my fix, which updates the two routes to use the more recent sky and clouds:

https://www.sendspace.com/file/jamitd

Place the file in: Steam\SteamApps\common\RailWorks\Assets\Allaboard\Trackplans\TemplateRoutes

I suggest you save your old file somplace, in the event you wish to undo my fix.

I tested this fix on lots of scenarios, seasons, and times, and I'm pleased with the results.You may notice that the old vegetation models for these routes look a little flat using the dynamic lighting at certain times of day; if that bothers you, turning off dynamic lighting makes it look much better (I think these routes were designed before there was dynamic lighting in TS).

Oh, and thanks for nothing, DTG.

[CrazyGecko]

I think there's been a few times that involved simmers fixing up DTG's screw ups.

[Jackson]

These routes are not made by DTG and DTG does not edit/modify 3rd party items. Updates are up to that party exclusively. (As stated by DTG people)

I've fixed some up myself. Turned them into career (that's what I like) and added some of the nice new weather systems we have now.

[LeadCatcher]

Seriously folks - this constant bashing of DTG gets bothersome - Not that they are a stellar support company by any means but in this case Jack is right

- the routes in question are not the IP of DTG - in the world of IP, the act of modifiying them would be questionable legally especially if they were to continue to offer them for sale for profit. As it is they are distributing them for the original IP owner. It is up to those authors to make sure they are working properly.

This would have been a fantastic thread if the OP has made the fix available to the community without the editorial against DTG at the end.

[Crunch Berries]

I refuse to accept pure speculation on the buisness agreement between RSC and All Aboard as an excuse for RSC not fixing what they broke with the TS2013 release. If one considers how many defects DTG introduces with each release and are left unresolved, as well as the slipshod quality of their own DLC, it does not require a leap of faith to conclude that they could have fixed this particular issue but couldn't be bothered with the one hour of required work, again for lack of concern and effort, not for ability.

Don't get me wrong: I love this sim, but it is with the multitude of instances of poor production and service that DTG has earned all the bashing they receive; the number of thumbs-down reviews on the product page from veteran users speaks for itself.

[LeadCatcher]

I could care less what you chose to accept or not - we are talking about a wold different kettle of fish - fixing a route where they do not own the IP and the core of a simulator where they do own and should fix the problems -

[jalsina]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Jack:

These routes are not made by DTG and DTG does not edit/modify 3rd party items. Updates are up to that party exclusively. (As stated by DTG people)
.......

Początkowo opublikowane przez LeadCatcher:

Seriously folks - this constant bashing of DTG gets bothersome - Not that they are a stellar support company by any means but in this case Jack is right
.......

TS2016 Negative Energy = (# of Negative Posts) x (Speed of Light) ^2

[Crunch Berries]

Początkowo opublikowane przez LeadCatcher:

I could care less what you chose to accept or not - we are talking about a wold different kettle of fish - fixing a route where they do not own the IP and the core of a simulator where they do own and should fix the problems -

Again, pure speculation on the nature of contractual obligations between two parties from an individual belonging to neither.

[Greenback]

Don't know if you read this on justtrains
Please note that if both Rascal & Cottonwood and Colton & Northern are installed at the same time then you must install Rascal & Cottonwood first, ahead of Colton & Northern. This is due to the fact that Colton & Northern updates the sky used in the earlier route from AllAboard, and causes problems with the sky flickering.

[Jackson]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Crunch Berries:

I refuse to accept pure speculation on the buisness agreement between RSC and All Aboard as an excuse for RSC not fixing what they broke with the TS2013 release. If one considers how many defects DTG introduces with each release and are left unresolved, as well as the slipshod quality of their own DLC, it does not require a leap of faith to conclude that they could have fixed this particular issue but couldn't be bothered with the one hour of required work, again for lack of concern and effort, not for ability.

Don't get me wrong: I love this sim, but it is with the multitude of instances of poor production and service that DTG has earned all the bashing they receive; the number of thumbs-down reviews on the product page from veteran users speaks for itself.

Pretty sure All Aboard is out of business. DTG doesn't fix things that are 3rd party. The reason doesn't matter, they don't. That means it won't be fixed.

[jalsina]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Jack:

Pretty sure All Aboard is out of business. DTG doesn't fix things that are 3rd party. The reason doesn't matter, they don't. That means it won't be fixed.

Jack.
All Aboard seems to be on business. They keep their site and you can buy anything there provided you have a Paypal account. And probably Richard Garber must be available through his contact email.

EDIT:
There are several threads in RWA dealing with problems in these two routes. I recently fixed a serious problem in Ohio Steel 2. The solution was given by Buzz one of the RWA administrators.

[Crunch Berries]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Greenback:

Don't know if you read this on justtrains
Please note that if both Rascal & Cottonwood and Colton & Northern are installed at the same time then you must install Rascal & Cottonwood first, ahead of Colton & Northern. This is due to the fact that Colton & Northern updates the sky used in the earlier route from AllAboard, and causes problems with the sky flickering.

I've seen that thread; it is describing a different issue. I tried the workaround just in case it would also resolve this issue, but it didn't, unfortunately.

[Jackson]

I've fixed them myself by opening them up in the editor and changing them to a modern "3D" sky. Looks soooo much better! Also the route that lists everything as 120 min.. fixed those too. (The length of the scenarios - They're actually 10 to 30 min)

[jalsina]

There is more than one. I have not read them because I do not have any of these routes.

[Mavadelo]

Firstly, thanks for your fix, it is much appreciated

secondly, and take this advice from another newbe "fixer"
Present your fix with the least amount of "negativity" in your post regardles if they are valid points or not. This way the topic will be about your fix and people will tell you if it worked for them or not in the process providing information for others that might be looking for it and now not hae to weed through a discussion about how you wrote it down. ;)
you are doing a service to the community keep it that and not make it a "free for all bash" topic

thank you, keep up the good work :)

[Crunch Berries]

Thanks Mav! "Negativity" - I love it! :)