|
Post by Jimi on Sept 2, 2019 13:40:44 GMT
We just successfully tested the install procedures on a range of systems with no prior install of VDL, or a V1 install; plus differing Virus protection products. Following are some observations and notes so you know what to expect when running the installation of Phase II.
The kit (right now) is 600MB (Route, Assets, Stocks, Scenarios, etc.). Seems a lot until you realize that the JT LA/Met route is over 2.5GB, and the JT S8 alone is about 145MB.
It is a single executable running an install procedure requiring only a few mouse clicks. It will auto-discover your TS install location. FWIW install time on my system (albeit a very fast system with SSDs) was just over 2 minutes after answering the preamble questions.
Be aware that the install procedure will DELETE any prior VDL installation (route files, scenarios, assets, stocks, etc.) before it copies in all the new stuff. We can not possibly maintain/support systems with multiple disparate installs of VDL and its scenery and stocks assets. The key message here is backup anything you want to preserve before installing Phase II. Old scenarios you created MAY work, but are not guaranteed due to extensive changes to trackwork and signals in Phase II. Better off to go with the all new route and contents. Mods you may have made to the stocks may no longer work.
There are a few 3rd party route pre-requisites that are listed during the install preamble, including URL links to their providers if needed. These are also listed on the Backdated TrainSim VDL Download page - so please check these so you are prepared to install VDL Phase II ahead of time. No - the download buttons are not live - yet.
Installing on a system running Windows Defender (in-built Win10 virus/security) ran cleanly with no issues, and no need to make adjustments to Defender standard settings.
Installing on a system running Norton Antivirus demonstrated the NEED TO DISABLE Norton prior to installing, else the file copy procedures will fail. You can re-enable Norton once the install has fully completed. Please make a note of this if you run Norton.
The installation includes the whole new Phase II route, new scenery, new 3D tracks and juice rails and all new LUL/NR signals; a total of 7 trains or locos in multiple variations, with consist files; QuickDrive scenarios with realistic AI traffic; 18 authored scenarios including stocks and route training, and normal and timetabled scenarios of varying degrees of difficulty. And almost 100 pages of well-illustrated route and stocks documentation!
As part of the install, 2 PDF documents are copied to <TS location>\Manuals\EN - the VDL Route Guide and the VDL Stocks Operator Manual. You will need Adobe, Edge or your favorite PDF viewer to read these - and we strongly encourage you to do so.
Welcome to Phase II. More news and info very shortly...
|
|
|
Post by Jimi on Sept 2, 2019 20:12:47 GMT
And for anyone online this evening, Alan Thomson has been live streaming Phase II on his Twitch channel. He will continue on Twitch after Tom finishes the JT Met stream. Go to the ATS twitch channel to view...
Alan will also be creating several "first look" videos early this week, hopefully by Wednesday.
And more things are planned...stay tuned.
|
|
|
Post by Eddie on Sept 3, 2019 11:36:31 GMT
Yes, lots more planned folks. I felt very sorry for Tom on the JT channel. It must have been heartbreaking to see the stream feed breaking down like that. If any of you made it over to Alan's stream afterwards, thanks for the support. We did discover a bug in the Assets/Kuju/Inputmappers folder that slipped through our net. We are fixing that now , so the release version will catch it. Beyond that, the stream last evening showed how solid the route and trains are. We were delighted. Roll on Wednesday's stream, and I think Alan will be streaming the VDL again on Sunday evening for us.
|
|
|
Post by Jimi on Sept 3, 2019 12:50:13 GMT
Alan's Twitch stream of Sept 2 2019. Phase II content starts at about 0:30:00.
|
|
|
Post by Jimi on Sept 5, 2019 11:39:10 GMT
Note that Alan kindly acted as the first external field test of the installer and route/trains. As a result we discovered two small glitches in the install, and a few typos in the scenarios which have been fixed, and updated kits passed to our streamers/testers.
We have additional streams planned by Alan and by Thomas Harrison (TrainSimTV_Tom) this week, and this will also serve as final external test of the kit. Doing these tests, and running these streams ahead of release, has guaranteed you all a VERY solid install procedure and route/trains.
Thank you for your patience, and expect special events on Friday (Tom), Saturday (secret) and Sunday (Alan).
Phase II is imminent...
|
|
|
Post by Jimi on Sept 6, 2019 2:15:03 GMT
You might be thinking the team is sitting around idle, but far from it. Alan's most recent stream highlighted that I'd referred to National Rail as "NL" instead of "NR" in 3 scenarios, and I'd compounded the felony by doing the same in multiple places in both route and train docs. So a bunch of search/replace done there. Today we were "walking the tracks" and areas nearby and spotted a few more vehicles that were refusing to obey gravity, like the buses seen in Alan's first stream. And even though in an area you might not see from the train, they got fixed. As did a small section of the WB platform at PBR that was failing to cause the train doors to open. Which means edit, fix, re-test, build new kit, etc. But that appears to be it, and I feel we've tested this all out as much as can be done. Despite which, Murphy's law says someone will find something we didn't on day 2! I can only tell you we've done our best to bring you something of quality, so you can focus on enjoying it.
None of this work impacts any planned activities, or release, so sit back and enjoy what is coming. And thanks again for all your support and kind comments.
|
|
|
Post by Jimi on Sept 6, 2019 13:25:50 GMT
Thomas will be streaming today on Twitch from 7:30pm UK time.
He says VDL will be second and he'll be running the C Stock.
|
|
|
Post by Eddie on Sept 6, 2019 23:51:35 GMT
Well, tonights stream from Thomas was an excellent view of the new content in Phase 2. Thomas made the point that the route was well up to payware quality. That was a huge compliment, considering we started building this some 9 years ago.
We've had to keep abreast of changes in TS that had broken it time and time again. To actually get to this point has taken a huge effort over the last two years from every single team member who all had to deal with family and personal issues during that time, and still are.
The C-Stock train will become a firm favourite I'm sure and yet fate dealt it a number of blows which we thought it would never recover from.
Richard lost his original 3DC Canvas files for his original model in a hard drive crash. Which meant that all we had was an exported model in the sim. It had no animated wipers or doors, a makeshift cab, and yet SOMEHOW, don't ask me how, the train guys managed to resurrect it and glue it all together, wire it up so it was better than it was before.
And what a train it is. Our definitive model, one of the best, with a truly outstanding cab. These guys had to fix thousands of faults and issues along the way, but they never gave up on it.
So it was really nice to hear Thomas say he loved it............ We do, and so will you. The train that time nearly forgot.
|
|
|
Post by benwright on Sept 7, 2019 14:12:15 GMT
Cannot wait for this! Top work by you lot, am really looking forward to this
|
|
|
Post by Jimi on Sept 12, 2019 17:03:13 GMT
DAY 4 OF PHASE II
Some update news, to keep you all in the loop as to what we're doing. We currently intend to issue a single update - likely as a separate update installer exe and also update the full kit installer. That way those with the initial release just need a small update (relatively speaking), and those yet to download Phase II get all the updates included. The stocks pre-refurb repaints will very likely be included in that kit, not as a separate download.
We are still working on fixing and testing the periodic failure of the C69 to initialize fully. This appears to be a TS issue whereby the cab animations do not fully initialize correctly, and we are testing different solutions which will then be applied to all the stocks so our Cab animations loading, Initialize and Update LUA Engine and Sim code is consistent. This is the highest priority right now.
In addition the following updates and fixes are being included: C69/D78 separation of destination and set number in the RVNumber script processing so the set number is not affected by destination changes. - done Updates to route and stocks manuals - in progress
C69 Underground Roundel glow fix - done Tweak scenarios to add more via points to avoid incorrect routing by the dispatcher - done Track fix at signal WD32c to allow move from WB fast to WB slow on approach to HAM - done Terrain fixes near WKN - done Check and fix AI pathing in some QD scenarios - done Add QD scenarios for Met-A loco - done I'm sure everyone reading this has a favorite or two from that list that they would like to see NOW and not wait for it all to be done. Sorry. We released only 3 days ago and since have been busy almost non-stop helping folks, answering questions and dealing with issues. And working on the above list successfully as you see. We are not aware of any show stoppers preventing you from enjoying running the District and creating scenarios - there are a few annoying QD and pathing niggles we've fixed. The closest thing to a show stopper is the C69 Init issue that we are heads down working on.
Please have a little patience and enjoy what you have. We will keep you informed., and we are as keen as you to get it finished. Thanks.
|
|