A Proper Tutorial

[King deDede]

This is an amazing and complex simulator, and I think it deserves some proper in-game tutorial explaining some of the more subtle and less functionally critical stuff, like what the driver uses the buzzer for, how hard is too hard when braking, do you honk at oncoming traffic, and all the other stuff that we don't learn by just practicing the controls. Bravo to the developer(s?) for this simulator.

[Jim_101]

I learned a lot by watching the excellent videos about the Diesel trains (BR films pinned post). They go into great depth.

For example, changing up through the gears, you should first move the power to idle, then change the gear, wait for the engine revs to drop down, then slowly return power one increment at a tme. This is to reduce wear and tear + unnecessary stress on the motor.
Practicing this I managed to get under the 100% fuel efficiency score.

Also the breaking, I learned how to apply just a little pressure and let the train slowing crawl to the stopping point. It's a bit of an art but deeply satifying when you get the feel for it.

[Lapioware]

Instead of programming a separate tutorial I'd like to keep it the way it's now: integrating as many parts of the tutorial as possible to the actual simulation. If you enable the key press assistant with realistic controls, there is a small explanation why the buzzer is pressed, although the key box disappears so quickly that it's difficult to see. I can make the key presses appear and disappear more slowly (and fewer keys simultaneously) so they're easier to read. Another new option that could be useful in learning the operation would be showing your score somewhere on the screen all the time. When you do something wrong you can immediately see how it affects your score.

[King deDede]

Originally posted by Lapioware:

Instead of programming a separate tutorial I'd like to keep it the way it's now: integrating as many parts of the tutorial as possible to the actual simulation. If you enable the key press assistant with realistic controls, there is a small explanation why the buzzer is pressed, although the key box disappears so quickly that it's difficult to see. I can make the key presses appear and disappear more slowly (and fewer keys simultaneously) so they're easier to read. Another new option that could be useful in learning the operation would be showing your score somewhere on the screen all the time. When you do something wrong you can immediately see how it affects your score.

These are already helpful, but would you consider, since you are not infavor of a in-game tutorial, to write up a technical manual?

[King deDede]

Originally posted by Jim_101:

I learned a lot by watching the excellent videos about the Diesel trains (BR films pinned post). They go into great depth.

For example, changing up through the gears, you should first move the power to idle, then change the gear, wait for the engine revs to drop down, then slowly return power one increment at a tme. This is to reduce wear and tear + unnecessary stress on the motor.
Practicing this I managed to get under the 100% fuel efficiency score.

Also the breaking, I learned how to apply just a little pressure and let the train slowing crawl to the stopping point. It's a bit of an art but deeply satifying when you get the feel for it.

I watched those too, and yes, it is good to learn that one should wait for two seconds after changing gears.

[Lapioware]

Originally posted by Suluranit:

These are already helpful, but would you consider, since you are not infavor of a in-game tutorial, to write up a technical manual?

The problem with a separate manual is that it easily becomes outdated if I change something in the sim but forget to update the manual. Later this year we'll hopefully have more trains and routes with different operating principles but documenting all of them manually can become tedious. The current integrated tutorial system automatically adjusts to all the different trains and rules so it's future proof in that way (although it still needs to be improved).

[King deDede]

Originally posted by Lapioware:

Originally posted by Suluranit:

These are already helpful, but would you consider, since you are not infavor of a in-game tutorial, to write up a technical manual?

The problem with a separate manual is that it easily becomes outdated if I change something in the sim but forget to update the manual. Later this year we'll hopefully have more trains and routes with different operating principles but documenting all of them manually can become tedious. The current integrated tutorial system automatically adjusts to all the different trains and rules so it's future proof in that way (although it still needs to be improved).

Alright... I just feel like there should be more explanation on some of the more subtle things. I don't think the in-game tutorial tells us to wait before throttling after shifting gears?

[Lapioware]

Originally posted by Suluranit:

Alright... I just feel like there should be more explanation on some of the more subtle things. I don't think the in-game tutorial tells us to wait before throttling after shifting gears?

I guess it doesn't really... Then again you won't be penalised for not waiting -- if you were, the evaluation would show and explain it, so by this logic it all makes sense :)

[Limmin]

Yet...if you watch the (automated) motions of shifting and throttling you'll see there is a distinct pause, as if waiting for the revs to go down, though it's closer to 1 second than 2. ;)

[King deDede]

Originally posted by Limmin:

Yet...if you watch the (automated) motions of shifting and throttling you'll see there is a distinct pause, as if waiting for the revs to go down, though it's closer to 1 second than 2. ;)

I see... Perhaps I was not observant enough. I use the "watch" mode really to just get "templates" of new routes to base my driving on.

[King deDede]

Originally posted by Lapioware:

Originally posted by Suluranit:

Alright... I just feel like there should be more explanation on some of the more subtle things. I don't think the in-game tutorial tells us to wait before throttling after shifting gears?

I guess it doesn't really... Then again you won't be penalised for not waiting -- if you were, the evaluation would show and explain it, so by this logic it all makes sense :)

Well, that's my point. There is no immediate danger in not pausing after shifting. It's just one of those nuances that helps the realism.

[Lapioware]

Originally posted by Suluranit:

Well, that's my point. There is no immediate danger in not pausing after shifting. It's just one of those nuances that helps the realism.

I'll change the evaluation to give a small penalty for shifting too quickly at some point, that'll make it more noticeable

[King deDede]

Originally posted by Lapioware:

Originally posted by Suluranit:

Well, that's my point. There is no immediate danger in not pausing after shifting. It's just one of those nuances that helps the realism.

I'll change the evaluation to give a small penalty for shifting too quickly at some point, that'll make it more noticeable

That's one way of doing it.
I read the RPS interview with you. Thanks again for this amazing simulator!

[Aaron]

does need more tutorials very complex

[Lapioware]

Originally posted by Azza33:

does need more tutorials very complex

Point taken! It'll be a while though before I can do much about it since the editor stuff is a higher priority for now

[King deDede]

Originally posted by Lapioware:

Originally posted by Azza33:

does need more tutorials very complex

Point taken! It'll be a while though before I can do much about it since the editor stuff is a higher priority for now

I think I should close the thread so that people don't keep commenting here...