What's Marketplace content and how does it work?

[Purno]

Some items in the Marketplace look interesting to me, but since I don't see them listed as DLC on Steam, I wonder how this works? I'd like my stuff being coupled to my Steam account so it automatically installs & updates. Does Marketplace content work similar to DLC or does it differ in functionality?

[Growler]

They are DLC, and are added to your TS game collection in exactly the same way as more 'traditional' DLC items. These assets for the game are simply very badly tagged by DTG & Steam in the Steam Store, therefore unfortunately do not display with all the other immediately visible DLC (i.e. main routes & locos) in the Steam Store. It does sadly mean that many players seem to overlook these products (some of which are fantastic, & many very goood value for money), they're very hard for the average player to find in the Steam Store. It's been pointed out to DTG this is a real problem, and they must be losing out terribly on sales of these items, but crazily they don't seem to listen or do anything about it. If I were a 3rd party creator of such items for the game, I'd be furious at the inaccessibily of these items to the traditional Steam market.

But in full answer to your key question. Once purchased they will automatically install as DLC in the correct folder/file location in your game. The chief use of them is traditionally for the game's Steam Workshop (WS) creations, mostly scenarios but some routes also. If you get to know the WS content well, you'll soon realise that quite a large proportion of the better (more realistic) scenarios require at least once such market place item. Yes, as well as being installed automatically, you can uninstall them (if desired) in exactly the same way as any other TS DLC, via Steam Propetries. You can also add the marketplace items to your own scenarios (in the Scenario/World Editor) just like any other game DLC asset. You can also swap-out existing rolling stock items for marketplace items in any existing scenarios should you so wish.

There are cetainly some real gems in the Marketplace including the various Fastline Simulation wagon packs, and many of the recent German rolling stock (coaches, and wagons) which are produced by the fine German 3rd party creator virtual Railroads. Note though, one word of warning many marketplace items do not come with instruction manuals; so it does require some basic understanding of game assets to best make the most of them in your TS. Hope that helps give a little insight into how they work.

[Purno]

Thanks for the explanation, but I've got new questions now. In the ingame Marketplace shop, there's the 'BR Standard Class 4MT Add-on Livery', which catched my eye. I've searched for "4MT" in the Steam Shop and found the 'BR Standard Class 4MT Loco Add-On'.

1. Is this the same thing? If so, why is it named differently?
2. How do I know if this add-on comes with a loco? The ingame shops says "livery" after all, and the description doesn't really clearly state it.
3. Why does Steam Shop recommend to buy this through the ingame shop, rather than via Steam? Does it make a difference?

[Oz Gaming]

As far as #2 goes, if it's just a livery it means you must own the original loco to use it. It's really just a skin or repaint of the original loco.

[Purno]

Originally posted by Wichmann:

As far as #2 goes, if it's just a livery it means you must own the original loco to use it. It's really just a skin or repaint of the original loco.

So the 'BR Standard Class 4MT Add-on Livery' in the ingame Shop is a different thing than the 'BR Standard Class 4MT Loco Add-on' in the Steam shop? Both items have the exact same description and price, and I cannot find any other add-on when searching "4MT".

[Growler]

In answer to your questions:

1. Yes it's exactly the same thing. Why the diference between the Steam Store and what is shown in game, I'm assuming is pure sloppiness by DTG in their description within the game. They've made a mistake here, unlike the majority of loco related marketplace items which are liveries (rather than the full loco base model) the BR Standard 4MT is the whole loco [note it's the tender version of the 4MT rather than the Tank). But what you want is what you're seeing in either (it's the same Steam Store DLC); I've copied the direct link below just in case of any possible confusion i.e. this is what you want, if you're after the full loco:


http://store.steampowered.com/app/295162/?snr=1_7_7_151_150_2


2. As per my answer in 1. You simply have to trust me, I've bought the item, and can reassure you it's the full loco. Plus if you ignore the misleading ingame mention of livery, the Steam Store description does suggest it's the full loco. You basically get the BR Standard 4MT with tender in the one livery (black as indicated in the store illustrations). Don't worry about the negative store reviews unless you're a perfectionist. It's actually a pretty well modelled version of the loco, and very good value at the £3.99. It's doesn't have extra advanced driving features, and the sounds aren't the best, however, IMHO perfectly acceptable given the low price. Again personally I think this is a very under-rated DLC, probably because most players don't know about it!. If you really want an all singing dancing version of the loco with the most advanced driving/modelling featureas and improved sounds there's always the very good Just Train's Standard 4MT Advanced with Mk.1 coaches (see link below), but comes at a signficantly greater price of £14.99

http://www.justtrains.net/product/standard-4mt-advanced

Plus also if it's the tank version of the 4MT you're after rather than the tender version, Digital Traction is the place to find such a model.



3. DTG have strongly encouraged the purchase of marketplace items through the game store (which only redirects to the relevant Steam Store page), to try and avoid players buying marketplace loco liveries, when they don't have the base DLC version of the relevant loco which is most often essential to use the extra liveries; the game store is supposed to warn players that they need to buy the base DLC first before buying such an add-on livery. Quite a few players (especially newbies), not realising the default base loco required, have been caught out; accidentally buying a marketplace livery and then unable to use it becaue they didn't realise they needed the base loco pack, leading to frustration. So in theory a good idea of the game in principle as a safeguard mechanism to avoid this scenario happening, however, to the best of my knowledge this supposed functionality has never worked properly. Hence most players simply buying DLC directly from the Steam Store rather than via the game. Of course known of this applies to this particular item, since it is a full loco rather purely an extra livery for a base model.

Anyway hope that reassures you that if you want a cheap & cheerful version of the full loco (tender veresion), then that's what you will get buying this particular item. All the best.

[Purno]

Thank you for your answers. I guess point 3 may also be why Marketplace content isn't in the DLC list on Steam.

I'll add the 4MT to my wishlist. Considering the Steam Summer Sale is near, I better wait a few more days, I might get lucky :)

[Axe]

Here is the full link to the Marketplace items if this helps:

http://store.steampowered.com/search/?snr=1_7_7_151_12&term=train+simulator+marketplace