A convincing demo for starters

[ToddGuy]

This game developer's first step is only to offer a convincing demo here on Steam before Trainz would even be given consideration from me. I do have Trainz Engineers Edition and it is complete rubbish. A waste of money for me. It's up to the developers for this game to show me that Trainz has changed into a stable and fun to play game. I seen all these nice pictures before. Deep Silver have N3V Games present to us a working playing demo to see for myself that you are all worth another chance over at N3V Games inc.

[LordBT]

According to Steam, I've been playing T:ANE for 1,500 hours total now. I started out long before SP1 took over, so I been through the buggy era up to now. I can back this up and say great improvements been done to T:ANE since its launch.

[ToddGuy]

That's good to see but I will need to try their game for myself with either a free weekend or a demo from them before any exchange takes place.

[Jackson]

I never played it early on... AND I'll admit I'm a fan of TS much more than Trainz tho they both have things they are better at. Without getting into a review, all I can tell you is that at least one of the tutorials is so buggy it's tough to get past. That was a turn off for me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. As that's one of the first things new players see, it's pretty unimpressive... Likely if they do give you a free weekend, you'll run into that : /

[ToddGuy]

Originally posted by Jack:

I never played it early on... AND I'll admit I'm a fan of TS much more than Trainz tho they both have things they are better at. Without getting into a review, all I can tell you is that at least one of the tutorials is so buggy it's tough to get past. That was a turn off for me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. As that's one of the first things new players see, it's pretty unimpressive... Likely if they do give you a free weekend, you'll run into that : /

OK, I see now. I'd rather know about the game beforehand than becoming real dissatisfied with it again and have to refund. Jack, with my appreciation thanks. I am sure they would rather have me as a happy customer this time. :)

[KiwiGal]

Originally posted by Jack:

I never played it early on... AND I'll admit I'm a fan of TS much more than Trainz tho they both have things they are better at. Without getting into a review, all I can tell you is that at least one of the tutorials is so buggy it's tough to get past. That was a turn off for me. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. As that's one of the first things new players see, it's pretty unimpressive... Likely if they do give you a free weekend, you'll run into that : /

If you have found a bug in the tutorial, you can always submit a bug report explaining what is happening. If you do not let the devs know about it, how are they expected to know of it. Plus that bug could very well be only effecting a few people.

How long ago did you fire up T:ANE.? The steam build is 88460 now. Currently there is a SP2 hotfix beta patch (non steam) being tested. You can read what is happening at the official forums.

If it is only the buggy tutorial that has put you off Trainz and you have not delved deeper then you really have not seen what else trainz has to offer But that is your choice.

[Jackson]

That was the only bug that put me off. I did put more time into it after that. I think I've got ~200 hrs in. It just isn't as good as TS to me, in all honesty, tho there are a few things it does better. The graphics are too bright and unrealistic imo. It looks great if you imagine it being a model railroad. Some of the cars/engines look so brand new they're shiney. If they JUST rolled out of the shop they'd look right. But they'd also look right if they were a model train. These are all prefeneces of mine. There's nothing wrong with it per se. There's a myriad reasons why I think Train Simulator is better, but I'm not here to try to convince anyone. I'm guessing most people here like Trainz better and have tried both :)

As far as bugs, I have had some experience reporting the many bugs in Trainz 12. In general, the Trainz staff were rude (once I was told almost word for word "Sorry, we're very busy, we may get around to it someday", took longer to get back to me than Steam or Origin (two of the times they took more than 4 weeks) and were never helpful.

[KiwiGal]

Agree, we do all have our preferences and that is a good thing.

If you alter the environmental settings to your liking it will look no where near so bright. :) Unfortunately some route do show as being far too bright and can be off putting, I do understand that.

Oh, that is not the best reply from the helpdesk. I have not had a response like that at all and normally get a reply within 24-48 hours and has been very professional. Was it a while ago now that you received that?

I liken the "model railroad" heading to something like the table top route (1 or 2 baseboards). One of my custom routes at present is close to 200 boards and the other 300+ , Is fun, but at times needs some head scratching as to what to add along the track line to make it "interesting" viewing along the way, when more baseboards get added.

Enjoy your sim. :) :)

[ToddGuy]

KIWI,GAL, My disscussion is not about reporting bugs and/or calling customer service on a help desk request. My discussion IS only about the developer N3V Games Inc. providing a convincing demo and/or a free weekend to show me, a past dissastisfied customer of Trainz, that Trainz is for me. So again, I will only purchase when the devolpers proivide to me a good convincing demo or a free weekend of the this game. Only N3V Games Inc needs to do the convincing. If there is nothing to hide then should be a problem. WhistleBlower attacks are not part of my disscussion. He didn't mention any sort of problems that did not happen before with Trainz. Again, I want to see a demo for myself. Then I will decide from myself on where this game stands.

[Jackson]

KiwiGal, yea it was a while ago that I had the customer service issues. That's good to hear if they've fixed that problem!

Toddster, there won't be a demo. Doubtful there'll be a free weekend. If they were going to do all that they'd have done it when the game was new in order to pull in more people to buy it when it cost more. I believe they've already started on the next version/game.

It's so cheap, just get it and try it - that's my advice. If you don't like it, no great loss. Costs a heck of a lot more to take a date to a movie (which might suck).. And that's only 2 hrs entertainment :)

Edit: Obviously buy on a sale. I picked it up for $10 a while back to try it. If you spend $40 for it, it's probably not much less than a date at the movies ;)

[KiwiGal]

@Toddster. You really need to reread what I have written and not be so self entitled. Jack has commented on some really interesting subjects for which I replied. I have no interest in trying to convice you into buying Trainz. That is a decision only each person can make. However I will try to help folk if I can.
Want to try trainz, buy it when it is on sale or do not buy it that is up to you.

[Sharpey™]

Originally posted by Toddster:

KIWI,GAL, My disscussion is not about reporting bugs and/or calling customer service on a help desk request. My discussion IS only about the developer N3V Games Inc. providing a convincing demo and/or a free weekend to show me, a past dissastisfied customer of Trainz, that Trainz is for me. So again, I will only purchase when the devolpers proivide to me a good convincing demo or a free weekend of the this game. Only N3V Games Inc needs to do the convincing. If there is nothing to hide then should be a problem. WhistleBlower attacks are not part of my disscussion. He didn't mention any sort of problems that did not happen before with Trainz. Again, I want to see a demo for myself. Then I will decide from myself on where this game stands.

So why tell us? No one here works for N3V games and wont be able to offer you a demo. You don’t like the game, okay cool story?
I would suggest emailing or contacting N3V Games and explaining your situation. They may offer you a demo which is mostly unlikely or you could give the game another chance when it’s on sale and refund it if you play under 2 hours and don’t like it.

[ToddGuy]

@KIWIGal. Ok, all good. I am not looking be engaged into a timely dispute with anyone when they will never honor my request given a new Trainz upcoming. Indeed, I have more than what was looking to find at this time. Is will never be any try before a buy for this game.

[ToddGuy]

Originally posted by Sharpey:

Originally posted by Toddster:

KIWI,GAL, My disscussion is not about reporting bugs and/or calling customer service on a help desk request. My discussion IS only about the developer N3V Games Inc. providing a convincing demo and/or a free weekend to show me, a past dissastisfied customer of Trainz, that Trainz is for me. So again, I will only purchase when the devolpers proivide to me a good convincing demo or a free weekend of the this game. Only N3V Games Inc needs to do the convincing. If there is nothing to hide then should be a problem. WhistleBlower attacks are not part of my disscussion. He didn't mention any sort of problems that did not happen before with Trainz. Again, I want to see a demo for myself. Then I will decide from myself on where this game stands.

So why tell us? No one here works for N3V games and wont be able to offer you a demo. You don’t like the game, okay cool story?
I would suggest emailing or contacting N3V Games and explaining your situation. They may offer you a demo which is mostly unlikely or you could give the game another chance when it’s on sale and refund it if you play under 2 hours and don’t like it.

I have seen developers come out on the forums before in steam. I do know that some developers check to mainly to get useful feedback because have been witness to seeing this on steam's forums. I don't know if they come around in this game but they do in many others.

It's not that don't like the game but only that had a terrible experience with previous Trainz in the past. Being completely let down in the past, I would like to see them do what other companies do today. In that would be to offer either a free weekend or a small demo. It is not going to happen and now it's known to me. Ok no problem. A new game is coming and will be looking for the new game. I could do the two hour try guess this is an option. I am not really the kind that likes to return games. I think this raises costs for everyone. Well, good advice on writing to them so thanks.