Post by markhazeldine on Nov 18, 2021 17:39:35 GMT
Hi VDL team,
I've just done my first full run on version 3, from Richmond to Whitechapel in the D78 (Quick Drive). All I can say is this is amazing and well worth the wait! It feels "right". Really takes me back to my days commuting from Richmond to Mansion House (back in 2012-2015). I think the scenery and new stations are really great. Can't quite believe this is freeware! Thank you.
I have some thoughts on a few things that could be improved in future releases. What you've done thus far is brilliant, I just thought I'd give some ideas on a few things that could enhance the realism.
D78 stock
I know you were focusing mostly on the R49 on this release, but the D78 is where it's all at for me, as that's the train I commuted on for years. For me the sounds are both the best thing and the worst thing on this train. I love the sound of it when it's sitting in the station. The whine is just right, and the compressor kicking in is spot on. Also all the track joint sounds are brilliant. There's 2 things that bug me though. The motor sounds just aren't quite right. They sound a bit "loopy"? I don't know how you obtained them (perhaps you didn't have access to record the actual sounds, or maybe it's a mixing thing)? Whatever it is, something isn't quite right. I wonder if you might do well to ask ATS for a bit of help on this? I'm sure Alan or one of his team would give you a hand.
Secondly, I do feel like the textures both in the cab and the passenger interiors could be a little better. A slightly higher resolution of textures and a few more polygons on some of the circular buttons/lights etc. would massively enhance the quality. Also the ceiling textures in the interior when you're in the 8 view (not the actual passenger view) seem to be basically missing, which looks a bit odd.
Scenery
The stations are great. Loving the new signals. Some of the signs seem to have slightly stretched text. For example, I saw some Way Out signs that looked horizontally stretched.
At Hammersmith, I could be wrong, but I believe the strip lights in the ceiling are green on the District platforms and blue on the Piccadilly platforms. Yours are all grey at the moment.
Thank you for all your great work!
I've just done my first full run on version 3, from Richmond to Whitechapel in the D78 (Quick Drive). All I can say is this is amazing and well worth the wait! It feels "right". Really takes me back to my days commuting from Richmond to Mansion House (back in 2012-2015). I think the scenery and new stations are really great. Can't quite believe this is freeware! Thank you.
I have some thoughts on a few things that could be improved in future releases. What you've done thus far is brilliant, I just thought I'd give some ideas on a few things that could enhance the realism.
D78 stock
I know you were focusing mostly on the R49 on this release, but the D78 is where it's all at for me, as that's the train I commuted on for years. For me the sounds are both the best thing and the worst thing on this train. I love the sound of it when it's sitting in the station. The whine is just right, and the compressor kicking in is spot on. Also all the track joint sounds are brilliant. There's 2 things that bug me though. The motor sounds just aren't quite right. They sound a bit "loopy"? I don't know how you obtained them (perhaps you didn't have access to record the actual sounds, or maybe it's a mixing thing)? Whatever it is, something isn't quite right. I wonder if you might do well to ask ATS for a bit of help on this? I'm sure Alan or one of his team would give you a hand.
Secondly, I do feel like the textures both in the cab and the passenger interiors could be a little better. A slightly higher resolution of textures and a few more polygons on some of the circular buttons/lights etc. would massively enhance the quality. Also the ceiling textures in the interior when you're in the 8 view (not the actual passenger view) seem to be basically missing, which looks a bit odd.
Scenery
The stations are great. Loving the new signals. Some of the signs seem to have slightly stretched text. For example, I saw some Way Out signs that looked horizontally stretched.
At Hammersmith, I could be wrong, but I believe the strip lights in the ceiling are green on the District platforms and blue on the Piccadilly platforms. Yours are all grey at the moment.
Thank you for all your great work!