Difference between TSW 1, 2, 4 and 5?

[consolepcgaming]

Erm I fail to see what differences there are between TSW1 and all the others? The frame rate still stutters on TSW5 even on an RTX4090 and I cant see any obvious change to make to worth the price of a NEW game? Someone help me out here ? Please let me know as I cant for the life of me see why they keep selling a new version

[GenX-Gamore]

TSW3 gave Cajon Pass and a few new routes the lighting did not get much of an update but the weather did get a decent update, TSW4 gave the option to use a mini hud, and ToDv4 lighting, but mostly the same, the weather got volumetric Fog Woo Hoo, TSW5 is not very different from TSW4, you can use all the mods from TSW4 in TSW5, but some did get an update and some needed to be updated, the ToDv4 seems to have been updated but that is subjective. The 390 and WCML are new and the Antilope line "San Bernadino" got an update sort of, which should have been in TSW4.

US freight Cajon pass gets layered into "San Bernadino", TSW1/2020 is IMHO much better looking and the UI is more elegant, if what was put into TSW3 -> 5 was done in TSW2020 but kept the UI as it is now, I honestly think everything would look better and more work went into optimization. I seemed like more effort went into TSW1/2020 than in TSW4 & 5 even though TSW3 was better looking than TSW2 and that ugly UI, and still TSW5 is not supporting -DX12 officially.

You have given me an idea...

[Echo Kilo]

Originally posted by GenX-Gamore:

TSW3 gave Cajon Pass and a few new routes the lighting did not get much of an update but the weather did get a decent update, TSW4 gave the option to use a mini hud, and ToDv4 lighting...

Actually, the ToD v4 lighting came with TSW3. TSW 4 only added the volumetric fog to it. The biggest thing (for me, at least) in TSW4 was the mini-hud. That was a very welcome addition.
As far as TSW5 goes... not so much major improvements in my opinion. They added the 'Guard Mode' and route hopping, plus for the first time for TSW, DTG decided offer the core game for free, enabling existing users to upgrade with no cost.

[Echo Kilo]

Originally posted by consolepcgaming:

The frame rate still stutters on TSW5 even on an RTX4090 and I cant see any obvious change to make to worth the price of a NEW game?

You can get the TSW5 core game for free. If you have any of the previous versions, all compatible routes and locos will be automatically added to your free copy of TSW5. So essentially, what you're paying for, is the bundle of new routes and locomotives.

[GenX-Gamore]

Originally posted by Echo Kilo:

Originally posted by GenX-Gamore:

TSW3 gave Cajon Pass and a few new routes the lighting did not get much of an update but the weather did get a decent update, TSW4 gave the option to use a mini hud, and ToDv4 lighting...

Actually, the ToD v4 lighting came with TSW3. TSW 4 only added the volumetric fog to it. The biggest thing (for me, at least) in TSW4 was the mini-hud. That was a very welcome addition.
As far as TSW5 goes... not so much major improvements. They added the 'Guard Mode' and route hopping. Plus for the first time for TSW, DTG decided offer the core game for free, enabling existing users to upgrade with no cost.

I stand corrected, The only reason I took for granted ToDv4 lighting was not in TSW3, was because of the many mods that were made with and are still using ToDv3/3.5 for the older routes. Some mods were even made to add ToDv4 to routes that were not using it.

But yes, the Mini Hud is the most desired by many and probably the best to come from TSW4. It did correct the way the camera slides up and down in the cab on some routes, like the NA/CA freight routes, which was first introduced with the MML/EMT route.
I just ran this scenario again in TSW3 and that camera slide is still there.

To the trains → Choose A Route → Cajon Pass → Timetable → BNSF SD40-2 → BNSF SD40-2 Cajon Pass → Barstow Yard Switching 22 - Start at 1439 – Length 01:09

"shameless plug"
And yes, this was mostly corrected, and many patches went into this route. It still has its share of unfinished parts but it is much better and runs better.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2967168553

[Rudolf Jan]

You don't need to know the details. There are a lot of improvements. The stutter will be far less if you play a route several times. It has to do with the graphics card that needs to load shader caches. Also the newer routes are more resource demanding, though performance is improved a lot. There are many changes since the game was created originally. It has far more features and quality has improved, though it is not yet perfect and never will be. If it is worth it, is up to you. You can get the free upgrade to TSW5 ("Buy"the free starter pack). So you can try. Also you still can play all old version sif you need a drect comparison.

[N Quarter]

Each year is 100% not worth a "forced payment to continue". This "free" update should be permanent, not timed.

This is DTG, they will try and squeeze every cent out of their customers with little to no return.

[GenX-Gamore]

Originally posted by N Quarter:

Each year is 100% not worth a "forced payment to continue". This "free" update should be permanent, not timed.

This is DTG, they will try and squeeze every cent out of their customers with little to no return.

This is true, The FREE Starter should stay, but they also need to fix what is broken and that includes the older routes as well, but it seems they rather rely on the FREE work being done on the Re-Masters.