Release plans. I guess it is time to break the ice, it´s been 14 days now.
Over the last few months we have been talking with the CEO of N3V Games about having our route included with base game of Trainz 22.
Both sides agreed and set the date for the inclusion and release at 1st March, alongside worlwide release day of Trainz 22.
What happened?
- 14 days ago the route was uploaded onto the TCCP (Trainz Content Creator Program), so it could be included in the next Trainz release. However, due to the errors I posted here, we were unable to move to the 2nd stage of TCCP and that is BETA Testing. I informed N3V about the issue and few days ago I got a reply that they are looking into the issues.
Why do the days matter?
- In order for an asset (package) to finish 2nd stage on TCCP, the route needs to go through 14 days of testing by various users. Stage 3 is Trainz Team (N3V Employees) testing the package afterwards, which also takes a few days. Stage 4 is release.
Tomorrow it will be 14 days until planned release date. However, I do not know whether N3V will be able to fix their TCCP issues in time. So from tomorrow, each late day is adding a day to the release, +10 days so N3V can check the package. So, the release date has already been shifted to 10th March, but even this date will definitely change.
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How does our route fit into TRS19 and 22?
ZiuT has done some amazing and interesting research, comparing the current built-in routes with ours.
In the screenshot are some of the built-in routes and as you can see, Central Europe Mini is the most modern route out of them all. We are also utilising all available options to make performance as good as possible. Using LODs, low amount of polys, low amount of textures and low amount of drawcalls. The content yuz6099 and ZiuT helped create, along with Euromodeller, Mika and GnatzED , is easily the most modern and most optimized content released for the game in the last several years by any European community, and I dare to say better than majority of American and some Russian content too.
Now you may be thinking, okay, what about TRS22 routes? Screenshots only show TRS19 routes. However, quick research with the help of an American friend from NARM shows the same picture. CEM has the most new assets out of all the routes included in TRS22.
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What lies ahead?
We don´t know properly what will happen after the release of CE Mini.
Long time ago we said that development of the main Central Europe route had to be stopped because the game is too unoptimized to load long and big route projects in a good amount of time. As a result, most of the development has been stopped, however some members of the team want to at least try and finish certain mainlines like Brno - Praha and Žilina - Košice.
I myself still want to finish the Fictional High Speed route I started long time ago, but current events and development has drained my motivation and creativity.
There have been talks by some members about "Mini Germany" or "Scandiavia Mini".
Some want to create something completely different. 2 real life lines have been talked about. "Lipno" in Czechia and "Bratislava - Brno" on a border crossing Slovakia / Czechia.
There also have been talks of creating a route inspired by Modula City.
So, a lot of ideas on what next, but nobody is sure what will happen. We know that we will still remain a team, helping each other out and outphasing old content with our releases on the DLS.
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Will CEM be forgotten about after release and drop support?
- No. I do not plan on abandoning the route after release. You never know when something might break and we will have to fix it. We are also still making new content, so seing that in sessions or placed on the route would be a nice update once in a while. However, the route itself is finished and will not be expanding with new areas.
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DLS Misconceptions And Rumours
I would also like to add a bit of a clarification (with a small touch of personal wording because people annoy me a lot with this) to one very popular and stupid misconception that has spread across the European communities.
If you upload your terribly unoptimized low quality asset on the DLS and it appears as part of a DLC, N3V did not "steal" your content and does not "make money" out of it. Your content is still on the DLS available for free for everyone. N3V is not selling your asset, they are selling the route, sessions and game. And if that tiny kuid change (making your asset go :1 up in version) is making you angry and spread stupid rumours just because you "heard it" or "wanna show them" or "made it up on the spot", you should read through the license and terms of service again, and also get anger therapy. You are not hurting N3V and DLS in any way, you are only hurting your credibility and your entire community.
Not only are there EU laws against them "stealing" your content, N3V is fully aware of these laws and obeys them.
And the monetary things listed in their "terms of service" refer mostly to First Class Tickets, so that they can keep the DLS servers up and running.
