MSTS: Is anybody out there?

It appears over at UKTS that there hasn't been any MSTS activity whatsoever in the past few days. The last release for MSTS at UKTS was on 18th March, but that was just the Updated Cabviews. For now, it is all but deserted.

In the days before Rail Simulator and Dovetail Games Train Simulator (formerly RailWorks), we have lots of MSTS stuff in the pipeline all the time. But I do understand that we all have real lives, and that there is more to life than MSTS, just like every other hobby.

When will MSTS pick up it's popularity again?

So far, I'm busy with the passenger rolling stock for fictional Borawian Railways at the moment.

Cheers
Alistair Cowell

As I see it, there are several UK routes either waiting for checking before download or almost complete. Activity creation appears to have stopped.

I believe that there are still plenty of us "out there", but not necessarily active on either TSSH or UKTS. For myself I am still beavering away on LYR Wagons, Bulleid Coaches, LNWR Coaches and Hawksworth Coaches - well still trying to create the latter!

As David has said if and when NWE3 and DC6 are released I suspect that interest will increase, but certainly activity creation is not as popular.

Alec, Withered Arm should be added to NWE3 and DC6 as waiting for pre-release checking to be completed.

Hi all,

I still have an activity I have yet to finish as well as sorting out my Hastings DEMU works set/s as well as the Midhants Route I am working on. But I haven't been feeling particularly well since the weekend (Having caught my daughters nasty cold), but things are happening or going in the right direction! So juggling work and family life as well as these activities as time allows......
Don't forget Danny's South East Route should probably be added to the Route list.....

Hi all,

Having completed the updated cabviews I have returned to activity creation, this time at Niall's request for some on his Glas2Car Route. One is effectively finished, just needing the finishing touches. A second is proving troublesome as I'm trying to get it to work in both MSTS and OR - easy in a passenger activity but not in a long freight activity. Still its nearly there and should be ready at the weekend, hopefully. I have the basic idea for a third which should be much simpler. No doubt there will be one or two more as well.

Regards,

Stephen

dforrest wrote:Alec, Withered Arm should be added to NWE3 and DC6 as waiting for pre-release checking to be completed.

Following up on this (and in accordance with the topic title!!!), has anyone heard of the progress on the release of these three routes? They have been in the "pre-release checking" phase for many months.

Well David,I'm certainly still "Out There",and as the saying goes "It"ll be out when its out".But it does seem to be a long time,coming. regards roger

With reference to The Withered Arm this was the latest news HERE.
I'm not sure where NWE V3 or DC V6 are in terms of release, but as it is dependent on the checking of a significant volume of information/data, then . . . .

Hi,

I stiil have acts in the works. just having a break at present.

Hi
The 3 routes mentioned are with Peter at UKTS for testing and he is the only person who tests the final pre release routes,and he has the final say whether it can be released or not.
My self I'm beavering away testing loco's and rolling stock for MES,and Mick is adding more steam era items to it.

Mike

I'm not sure that the level of MSTS activity can be measured by looking at the number of releases on UKTS.

My distinct impression is that Peter Peddlesden is the only one doing any testing these days and even John Lewis is not involved in testing any more.  That has created a real bottleneck and Peter Peddlesden has publicly stated that he has "better things to do".  The problem is that Peter Peddlesden insists on checking everything in great detail himself, even things that have already been thoroughly tested by a non-UKTS very competent team.  MEP was a good example of that and NWE3 is an even more glaring one.  The delay with NWE3 (and DC6) can be measured in months and is a disgrace. IF Peter Peddlesden's intent is to discourage MSTS content creators, then these inordinate delays are one way to accomplish that. The thoroughness of Peter Peddlesden's checking, in quality if not in the amount of time taken, can be judged by the number of errors that have appeared in previously released Community Disks, e.g. SCP.

I suspect that if a more user-friendly outlet was available for MSTS content the amount of activity would pick up.

I must emphasize that these views are my own and don't necessarily reflect the views of TSSH management.

Bob.

Following consideration of the content with others I have reinstated this post.
Alec

Hi
DC6 can be measured in years,it was sent to Peter a good 2 or 3 years ago,it's problem is it has 500 avtivities to test.

Mike

Whilst I understand that we all want new routes to enjoy and which could stimulate new MSTS content, I don't believe that we are in a position to comment on the way that UKTS checks and prepares a route for release. Unfortunately we are all encumbered by events outside of train simulation which have a habit of interfering with MSTS et al. I myself suffer from the inability to string enough time together in one go due to SWMBO's list and walking the dog to name but two.
Please maintain the usual level of patience, and don't forget that there are numerous routes out there which can be explored, both here in the UK and overseas. Don't forget that there are some 3000+ activities available for download from UKTS.
Perhaps there are some MSTS users that could offer assistance to UKTS in the testing process?

Hi
The Withered Arm is just the route and it's down load only,Peter said in October it will only be a few weeks,that was at the peterborough show,and at the,and the last post on the UKTS site Peter said about The Withered Arm, With only documentation to finish for Withered Arm, it will hit the street before February rolls in to March,and that was posted on the 16th of February.

Maybe the best thing is not to give release dates until they are actualy ready to be released.

Mike

Hi Mike,
Apologies, mate, but I removed my reply to Bob Latimer's post as a follow-up to Alec's (rufuskins) edit.

Cheers,
Ged

Alec,

I did offer my testing services to UKTS (before "The Big Blow Up" and following the release of SCP) but was told I wasn't needed.

Bob.

Hi all,

I understand that we all have other things outside of MSTS. I hope this thread isn't becoming heated!? We are not that kind of Forum to have heated debates.....

I too juggle, work, Dog Walking, Family Life and MSTS is a side thing and although I have done quite a bit today on my Route adding to Alresford Station and extending the line past Medstead & Four Marks, putting in all the sidings etc, the line is now extending towards Alton.. But this can only be done in my spare time. And, as I am the only one making items for the Route, it will take some times; possibly years to get anywhere near to being close to Release.

But, we have a lot to look forward to in the future with OR on the Horizon as well.

Cheers

Andy

Hi All,
As Bob's post has now been reinstated, this was my reply to it :

I respect, and can understand, Peter's desire to ensure that any CDs/DVDs issued by UKTS are as bug-free as is humanly possible, but if he is the only person testing the routes and activities, as Bob has mentioned, then the task would soon degenerate into a mind-bending chore. This leads to Peter's comment that "he has better things to do". Unfortunately, this doesn't help the MSTS Community.

For those routes, like the "Withered Arm", which, I assume, don't include any stock or activities, maybe the system used by trainsim.com should be implemented; they only check the files for viruses / malware.

By your mention of "a more user-friendly outlet", Bob, do you mean downloads? Unfortunately, there are some members of our Community who are averse to downloading add-ons and prefer the convenience of a CD or DVD.

Here's hoping that at least one of the long-awaited routes makes its appearance soon

Cheers,
Ged

Ged,

I wasn't restricting my suggestion for a more user-friendly outlet to just downloads. It would be good to include CD/DVDs as well.

Bob.

Hi Bob,
Thanks for your reply

Ged

Gents

I apologise in advance if I'm stretching the house rules here, but this is obviously a discussion that is important to us all as UKTS is our primary repository. I hope that I'm neither raising the temperature of the debate nor provoking others into raising it.

If I may add my voice to the more experienced comments already on here, looking at this from a high level, all the average user sees is a daily stream of the other sim files whilst MSTS items appear to languish in the queue. They would therefore be forgiven for believing that nothing was happening on the MSTS front.

I tend to agree with Bob's views here. Everybody has a real life outside MSTS (some of us multiple ones). However, if you provide a service to people, whether it is your job or your hobby, then there is an expectation that you behave honourably when providing that service. If you get to the stage that you feel that you have "better things to do" then perhaps, as Ged says, we need to encourage Peter to accept the offers of help from people who are willing to give it. Clearly stuff is being approved as all of Stephen's work on the cabviews has gone live, but I presume that they are easy to check. Constantly putting off large scale work to get the easy stuff through must be frustrating to those who have submitted it.

Having said that, Alec is right in pointing out that there is a substantial amount of content already out there. There is more than I can handle at the moment but I can appreciate that the more veteran amongst us would appreciate new stuff to be made available.

If I may be bold for a moment, I personally would have been more productive of late if my computer had not deiced to give up on me. The resulting repairs (a new motherboard) took a while and when my computer was returned it only lasted a week before the windows install failed. Add to that my last set of MSTS files were held hostage by the computer repair person. I have nearly finished installing windows 8.1 and the needed drivers and programs to bring the computer back up to a “production” state.

Having said that I have started working a new job which gives me less downtime at home during the week.

Regarding the “alternate host site”, I do have ideas for this however as always time and finances raise issues. Prior to the crash of my computer I was getting ideas together for this project, so I haven’t given up on it.

As for the file checking, I have a vague feeling that the “file uploads” are just checked for viruses and that they are in zip files ready to go, having uploaded some problem files myself (by accident which I then fixed) I don’t think there is too much checking that gets done on the uploads. However I may be proven wrong. But in terms of the community CD’s I can see why Peter may be a little hesitant and want to check things over, after all it is branded as UKTS Community CD’s and he is the head of UKTS. Any major problems and most people would blame him first rather than the person who created the fault.

As for the whole release date issues, I agree with the idea of “No release date till you are ready to release”. Not that I don’t want to build hype over releases (I do announce new projects that I work on) but in some way I enjoy a surprise launch of a new item.

Justin

I hope I am not giving away any secrets, but I am currently testing some superb Southern Railway coaches built by Darwin Smith. If work of this quality is still being prepared, MSTS is till very much alive. Roderic

Hi,

I've still got some activities in progress; however suffering a little due to a major(ish) computer failure and looking for a replacement for that machine at present. GPTech over at UKTS is giving me some good assistance on that front.

Other real-life pressures are in the way as well.

I don't really want to get into the debate about testing; but I will say that DC has been with UKTS since 2011; which was the reason why I eventually uploaded the final "era switcher" back in 2013!

Since 2011 !!!???

Hi
I've given up with Dorset Coast now, if it comes out I will get it,in fact even though I'm helping with MES,I wonder if it will ever be released,when it's finished.

Mike

"Wed Feb 08, 2012 12:43 pm

Yes - that is the plan last time I heard. Timescale ? Well Rome wasn't built in a day."

A quote from one of the last posts about DC I can find (from a moderator).

It seems that routes for DVD are stuck in a log jam, but: Nialls route was released about 5 days after his post that it had been uploaded....... so hopefully not all is lost.

Clive

I am preparing an activity pack for the Eighteen Inch Route, together with Andrew who is making some route and stock updates.

mikehendle wrote:Hi
I've given up with Dorset Coast now, if it comes out I will get it,in fact even though I'm helping with MES,I wonder if it will ever be released,when it's finished.

Mike

I suppose that any of these routes could be made available as downloads if split into enough parts to meet typical download speeds, or even sent to trainsim.com or similar. This does of course beg the question over permission issues, where people may have specified that their items can only be uploaded to UKTS. Another possible method could be through Dropbox or similar.

Unfortunately we are always dependent on the goodwill of others for producing available freeware stock or in the case of UKTS DVD/CDs the goodwill of their management in creating them.

I don't believe that there's anything to gain by pushing this particular subject further, other than to stress that for we happy few MSTS is definitely NOT dead!

rufuskins wrote:

mikehendle wrote:Hi
I've given up with Dorset Coast now, if it comes out I will get it,in fact even though I'm helping with MES,I wonder if it will ever be released,when it's finished.

Mike

I don't believe that there's anything to gain by pushing this particular subject further, other than to stress that for we happy few MSTS is definitely NOT dead!

Sorry Alec, but I cannot be considered one of the "happy few" while this remains unresolved.

dforrest wrote:
Sorry Alec, but I cannot be considered one of the "happy few" while this remains unresolved.

I'm not sure that a resolution is available until such time as UKTS can confirm that a DVD/CD release can be made. It's my personal opinion that the only person who can legitimately query the status of a route is the route's author. Perhaps there are people out there who could offer assistance to UKTS, although bearing in mind my own MSTS tasks and of course SWMBO's list I won't be making such an offer myself.

Gents

Forgive me for asking the obvious question but I don't know all of the history. Has this been discussed on the UKTS forums recently?

Anyone who raises the issue of the inordinate delays in releasing these route runs a real risk of a temporary or permanent ban from the UKTS forums. Peter Peddlesden will not put up with any kind of criticism.

Thanks Bob.

Then perhaps Justin's idea of an alternative distribution point may be a way forward. Which is sad to a certain extent. You never want to see a community divided over the action (or inaction) or one person.

slipperman12 wrote:Hi All,
As Bob's post has now been reinstated, this was my reply to it :

I respect, and can understand, Peter's desire to ensure that any CDs/DVDs issued by UKTS are as bug-free as is humanly possible, but if he is the only person testing the routes and activities, as Bob has mentioned, then the task would soon degenerate into a mind-bending chore. This leads to Peter's comment that "he has better things to do". Unfortunately, this doesn't help the MSTS Community.

For those routes, like the "Withered Arm", which, I assume, don't include any stock or activities, maybe the system used by trainsim.com should be implemented; they only check the files for viruses / malware.

By your mention of "a more user-friendly outlet", Bob, do you mean downloads? Unfortunately, there are some members of our Community who are averse to downloading add-ons and prefer the convenience of a CD or DVD.

Here's hoping that at least one of the long-awaited routes makes its appearance soon

Cheers,
Ged

Also I have heard that there will be no UKTS Live Roadshow for the foreseeable future With only Pete to check the CDs / DVDs now, it appears that UKTS might have scaled down that it was in the past. UKTS has been quiet lately, only activities for Train Simulator 2015. Also, file approvals are not always done on a daily basis.

Therefore, this could mean UKTS could fold one day in the near future.

Alistair Cowell

[/quote]

Also I have heard that there will be no UKTS Live Roadshow for the foreseeable future With only Pete to check the CDs / DVDs now, it appears that UKTS might have scaled down that it was in the past. UKTS has been quiet lately, only activities for Train Simulator 2015. Also, file approvals are not always done on a daily basis.

Therefore, this could mean UKTS could fold one day in the near future.

Alistair Cowell[/quote]

I hope not!! What would happen to all of the file downloads if that were to happen?

Cheers

Andy

Now here's a thought that may or may not appeal to MSTS users expressed over on UKTS - see HERE towards the bottom.
However I'm not sure that it would happen as it would be in direct competition to the other sim. It's still a very scary thought though!

Andy\Alistair,Hi,I've been thinking that for quite a while.I don't know anything about the conflicts between UKTS and some of our members,but I do think that UKTS is in a downward spiral which is very sad for all concerned.Peter has always been fine with me on the few occasions we have had any contact,but maybe its all just too much for him now and he see's MSTS as at a dead end !
Without UKTS I see no future for MSTS excepting some of the foreign sites-which sadly are not for me.But this is all just conjecture at this point in time. Hope (for once) I haven't upset anyone....Neanderthal

neanderthal wrote:Andy\Alistair,Hi,I've been thinking that for quite a while.I don't know anything about the conflicts between UKTS and some of our members,but I do think that UKTS is in a downward spiral which is very sad for all concerned.Peter has always been fine with me on the few occasions we have had any contact,but maybe its all just too much for him now and he see's MSTS as at a dead end !
Without UKTS I see no future for MSTS excepting some of the foreign sites-which sadly are not for me.But this is all just conjecture at this point in time. Hope (for once) I haven't upset anyone....Neanderthal

Hi, I totally agree with you. It would be a very sad time for the train-sim community if UKTS does close down, and I'm afraid to say that MSTS would also be dead as well. This will happen one day, but nobody knows when this will happen, but one thing is certain.

Also, not a lot of people just have spare time as they used to. It's just not the same as we did in the past.

I'm certainly sure UKTS will continue for a while yet. Long live MSTS and UKTS!

Cheers  
Alistair Cowell

Long live MSTS and UKTS!
I'll certainly second that.

For your information I have sent a UKTS PM to Peter asking whether he might be in a position to clarify the situation with respect to both the status of NWE V3 and DC V6 as well as the immediate future of MSTS within UKTS. I very much hope that he can find the time to issue a statement bearing in mind that the Easter holidays are almost upon us, and he's a grandfather like myself.

rufuskins wrote:For your information I have sent a UKTS PM to Peter asking whether he might be in a position to clarify the situation with respect to both the status of NWE V3 and DC V6 as well as the immediate future of MSTS within UKTS. I very much hope that he can find the time to issue a statement bearing in mind that the Easter holidays are almost upon us, and he's a grandfather like myself.

Alec, did you not make any reference to The Withered Arm?

I did not feel it was right to include a long list as I felt that for many the DVD releases were of greater importance. I was merely hoping to get an understanding of the current MSTS status as seen by UKTS, bearing in mind that this whole subject always has the potential for creating unnecessary tensions and misunderstandings.
I will be more than happy if we get any sort of response even it's only to say that things will happen when they happen!
It's not my position to defend UKTS but as is said in many threads for most people train simulation is part of their life and not their whole life.

Hi,

I've always been slightly puzzled by the Withered Arm.

Routes such as Dorset Coast, Glasgow-Carlisle made it into the library after testing by the team involved.  UKTS only scanned for viruses and checked the uploads were not corrupt as far as I knew.

Therefore why does this route need a full UKTS test?

gswindale wrote:
Therefore why does this route need a full UKTS test?

That's a question for the UKTS team methinks!

Hi folks

We had UKTrainSim website being quiet, now we had this morning's outage.
http://www.uktrainsim.com/index2.php?form_news=readreport&form_report=1816
Thankfully, the outage is solved and I missed out!

At least two acts for Glasgow Carlisle V4 were released in the past week. Also, there was an update posted yesterday for Mid Hants route at the UKTS forums, so some folk are still keeping busy.

However, I remain busy doing Borawian Railways stuff, but all UK train projects are put on hold for the time being. I will also be involved in the Class 303 project soon.

Perhaps MSTS is becoming less popular, with Microsoft Train Simulator game no longer in production and game itself not working on many Windows 8.1, perhaps the end for MSTS might very well be nigh. But we all know MSTS won't last forever.

Cheers
Alistair Cowell

From a personal point of view whatever happens with UKTS will have no impact on my MSTS activities, as everything I do is essentially for me. Although when some of my stock is complete I may make it available to those who might want it, and that could either be through UKTS or via Dropbox.

However I would say that we should be careful not to assume problems, especially through a holiday time when families may well take priority - Sunday's Easter Egg hunt in our garden was certainly hard work with six grandchildren!

Thames Trent V2 uploaded mid-day 6th April.
Available for download 8th April approx 6.00 p.m.

Hardly a slow response from UKTS.

Why all of this negativity and constant sniping of UKTS? I know some members of this group have problems with UKTS but....................getting boring now!!!!

IF a release is being delayed un-reasonably, where are the posts from the originator(s) informing the community. I haven't seen one.

Clive

Hi Clive,
Many thanks for uploading v2
I've just downloaded it, but won't be running it just yet as I've got another little job on!!

Well Done !!

Cheers,
Ged