Update, please!

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Update, please! 12/05/2012 at 08:48 #32269
MrSuttonmann
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265 posts 		Yes I know the old saying, but after reading the forum posts in this section,m I can't help noticing that there has been no mention of anything for over a year.

So, is there any update or progress with this sim?

Cheers
(Formerly known as manadude2)
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Re: Update, please! 12/05/2012 at 10:27 #32271
Peter Bennet
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5360 posts 		It's sitting on the metaphorical shelf - but I've not been idle as I now have others on the same shelf or thereabouts.

Peter
I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 06:20 #32290
Didcot
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41 posts 		While we are on the subject of Updates can anybody give any info about the re release of the
Sims with the "Pause " function reinstated.
Thanks
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 06:39 #32291
Stephen Fulcher
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2026 posts 		All past and present sims have the ability to pause the game.
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 09:28 #32293
Steamer
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3923 posts 		" said:
All past and present sims have the ability to pause the game.
I think he's talking about the feature on some of the new Sims that prevents clicking signals and answering phones while paused.
"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
Last edited: 13/05/2012 at 09:28 by Steamer
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 09:55 #32295
outofsection
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149 posts 		Well I guess having such a facility available in the sims is "sort-of" cheating as there's no "pause" option available in real-life!

HOWEVER, would it be possible programming-wise to have the facility available only in say "beginner" difficulty mode (as say an extra tick box near the difficulty setting or as an option on the "Simulation Options" screen just for beginners and those like me who need some extra time to think & plan before committing to setting the signalling path for a certain train! To me that would REALLY useful - and a great brain-ache saver! The tick box could be greyed out for higher difficulty settings.

Just a thought!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 10:33 #32296
Danny252
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1461 posts 		Simple way to change your "difficulty level" - don't use the pause button!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 11:52 #32299
sloppyjag
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480 posts 		" said:
Well I guess having such a facility available in the sims is "sort-of" cheating as there's no "pause" option available in real-life!

HOWEVER, would it be possible programming-wise to have the facility available only in say "beginner" difficulty mode (as say an extra tick box near the difficulty setting or as an option on the "Simulation Options" screen just for beginners and those like me who need some extra time to think & plan before committing to setting the signalling path for a certain train! To me that would REALLY useful - and a great brain-ache saver! The tick box could be greyed out for higher difficulty settings.

Just a thought!
On the flip side to that there is no facility in real life to speed time up to 20 times normal speed during a boring shift with no trains, so perhaps that should also be removed as that is also "cheating"?
Planotransitophobic!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 11:54 #32300
Stephen Fulcher
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2026 posts 		I personally think not being able to do anything paused is a good thing, and off the top of my head can think of no computer game that allows you to play whilst it is paused, so why should a signalling simulation, which is after all supposed to be as close to reality as possible allow you to do it.
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 12:20 #32302
Didcot
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41 posts 		It was Stated a long time ago that the pause facility would be reinstated to the new sims.
For those who think the pause should not be there, try using the sims as a single player with
some failures built in,you might then change your mind.
My original query has not been answered.
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 12:21 #32303
CAP.
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24 posts 		The ability to set routes while paused is a really nice feature and it makes both the smaller and bigger sims better playable in solo games.
As a beginner this helped me start to play sims like Southampton or Gloucester, untill I did not need the pause button any more :-)
In the bigger 6-7 panel sims the 'set routes while paused' gives you better control. I admit this is not possible in real life, but in real life we also do not see 6 or 7 panels being run by one signalman, during the rush hours ;-) !!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 12:28 #32304
Peter Bennet
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5360 posts 		" said:
While we are on the subject of Updates can anybody give any info about the re release of the
Sims with the "Pause " function reinstated.
Thanks
" said:

My original query has not been answered.
Possibly because no one knows the answer, I certainly don't.

Peter
I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 12:33 #32305
Stephen Fulcher
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2026 posts 		In reply to the first question, I have managed to play in single player mode without having to resort to setting routes with the game paused, it is simply a case of setting a slow enough speed and having a methodical method of working.

I am sure Peter will know better than me, but I would imagine that such a change would be a part of the core code, and as such it will not apply retrospectively to sims that do not have this capability unless they are refreshed with a later version of that core code, so any sim released already with this level of realism, will not become unrealistic again until they are refreshed.

The suggestion above as to having the capability to play around with things paused on beginner mode is a good one, but I personally would prefer to see things remain as they are on difficult etc. as I like the realistic aspect of it.
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 12:40 #32306
Forest Pines
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525 posts 		" said:
I personally think not being able to do anything paused is a good thing, and off the top of my head can think of no computer game that allows you to play whilst it is paused, so why should a signalling simulation, which is after all supposed to be as close to reality as possible allow you to do it.
Off the top of my head also: Railroad Tycoon 2 did allow you to lay track, build stations etc whilst the game was paused. I found it the only way to compete with the computer AI player, who otherwise had the advantage of being able to build its network instantaneously!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 12:54 #32307
CAP.
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24 posts 		" said:
In reply to the first question, I have managed to play in single player mode without having to resort to setting routes with the game paused, it is simply a case of setting a slow enough speed and having a methodical method of working.
Slowing down the speed is not possible in real life too :-) Whether you let the game continuously run at for example half speed to stay in control and set all your routes, or run real life speed and pause every now and then to set a few routes, it's a similar way of cheating ;-)
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 13:03 #32308
Stephen Fulcher
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2026 posts 		Slowing down isn't, but by slowing down I meant 1:1 speed really as I typically run at 2:1 or faster. Can't recall ever needing to go slower than real time.
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 13:13 #32309
Signalhunter
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177 posts 		" said:
The ability to set routes while paused is a really nice feature and it makes both the smaller and bigger sims better playable in solo games.
As a beginner this helped me start to play sims like Southampton or Gloucester, untill I did not need the pause button any more :-)
In the bigger 6-7 panel sims the 'set routes while paused' gives you better control. I admit this is not possible in real life, but in real life we also do not see 6 or 7 panels being run by one signalman, during the rush hours ;-) !!
Don't forget that, as well as the 6-7 panels, there would also be a Shift Signalling Manager. Then, there is N.R. control, the various T.O.C. control offices, and to a smaller extent being a "driver" (eg. when you "reverse direction" via F2), if making an untimetabled move, for some reason. All these, being done by one person!
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 14:03 #32311
Didcot
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41 posts 		I have spent almost an hour going through the old postings to find the remarks made by Geoff
Mayo that this facility would be reinstated.Can anybody throw some light on the posting ?
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 14:31 #32314
Steamer
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3923 posts 		I think this is the page you're looking for.
"Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q)
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 14:34 #32315
Ray
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211 posts 		Coming from Aberdeen, I take some interest in this long awaited simulation. I certainly enjoyed the TT on the one day it was released ! Hope the developer will be able to fix the program core on this sim soon.
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 14:36 #32316
Stephen Fulcher
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2026 posts 		http://www.SimSig.co.uk/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=view&catid=14&id=21308&Itemid=145

This thread seems to be what you are looking for, although no firm commitment was made as to a timescale, and in my experience when Geoff or Clive says they will modify the core code they do so, and where necessary this has been quickly - for example when Brighton was first released the core code at the time prevented the call-on routes from working and it was corrected within about three days if I remember correctly.

Differing views aside, I am sure there are modifications that are far more worthy of their time, this is after all a somewhat trivial issue. The notion that a sim is unplayable due to effectively not being able to "cheat" is exaggeration in the extreme. Why not simply pause, have a look around and then unpause and do the signalling.

I feel obliged to point out that I find when hosting multiplayer sessions that people not being able to set routes with the sim paused was a major advantage. The number of times people when relinquishing a panel would set routes when the game was paused for a panel swap and cause chaos with wrong routes or wrong regulation as a result was significant at one time, now it cannot happen.

I feel a little bad in making any suggestion to change something that does not need changing given the developers time constraints, especially as the latest code with the new system works well, but how about a "tick box" on the simulation options at startup to either enable or disable panel operation whilst the game is in a paused state?
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Re: Update, please! 13/05/2012 at 17:44 #32317
Peter Bennet
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5360 posts 		" said:
" said:
While we are on the subject of Updates can anybody give any info about the re release of the
Sims with the "Pause " function reinstated.
Thanks
" said:

My original query has not been answered.
Possibly because no one knows the answer, I certainly don't.

Peter
" said:
I have spent almost an hour going through the old postings to find the remarks made by Geoff
Mayo that this facility would be reinstated.Can anybody throw some light on the posting ?
That seems to be a slightly different question and one I can answer: yes the facility was restored to Core Code some time ago and any future release will have it.

The one I don't think anyone can answer, possibly not even Geoff at this time, is what plans there are to (re-)release anything; old or new.

Peter
I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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Re: Update, please! 14/05/2012 at 05:53 #32322
Didcot
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41 posts 		Thank You Peter for the posting re the reinstating of the pause facility.
Am I right in assuming that their is no plans to do the modifying required and the subsequent
re release of those Sims involved.?
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Re: Update, please! 14/05/2012 at 07:53 #32323
postal
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5190 posts 		" said:
Thank You Peter for the posting re the reinstating of the pause facility.
Am I right in assuming that their is no plans to do the modifying required and the subsequent
re release of those Sims involved.?

" said:
The one I don't think anyone can answer, possibly not even Geoff at this time, is what plans there are to (re-)release anything; old or new.
“In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe
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Re: Update, please! 14/05/2012 at 08:21 #32324
GoochyB
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222 posts 		" said:
Thank You Peter for the posting re the reinstating of the pause facility.
Am I right in assuming that their is no plans to do the modifying required and the subsequent
re release of those Sims involved.?
That will depend on who is currently responsible for each sim, what other sims they have on their shelf at the moment, how much effort would be required to update elements of the sim for other core code changes since it was last produced, what their priorities are, how busy their life is in the real world, whether they regard SimSig in general & code updates to any particular sim as a high priority, if their SimSig time is busy with other things that we don't yet know about..........

As has been said many times in the forum, the individuals who develop and maintain the sims do so in their own time and the sims are made available for free. We shouldn't expect anything from them, but are very grateful when something new, unexpected or updated appears.
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