Scenario Packs
Circumnavigate - Creating The Midland Main Line Scenario Pack
We talk to the development team about creating The Midland Main Line Scenario Pack in Scenario Productions: Circumnavigate Scenario Pack
We are joined by Sam and Dan who are developers at Scenario Productions. And Dan Williams who has been working with Scenario Productions to help with train services and train loco numbers for Scenario Productions: Circumnavigate Scenario Pack.
Sam has this been your first time included in a big project like this?
Sam: Yes, I have been contacted by Scenario Productions to add AI trains and make the sidings and depots to look more lively like there is stuff going on at those depots/sidings.
Before I was contacted by Scenario Productions I mainly liked to create real working scenarios and old workings scenarios.
I work with Scenario Productions to bring rolling stock allocation and livery records for use on their scenarios.
Before I was contacted by Scenario Productions I mainly liked to create real working scenarios and old workings scenarios.
I work with Scenario Productions to bring rolling stock allocation and livery records for use on their scenarios.
How long does to roughly take to produce a scenario?
Sam: It roughly takes about 5-7 days to produce a scenario due to our standards. Our first thing we do after we think a scenario is ready for the public it has to go through testing first by our testing team. If there were issues founded when testing that will get report back to the development team, for the development team to fix. After the development team fixed the issues then it will need to go back into testing by the testing team again. Now this process normally takes about 3-4 days (Sometimes takes longer due to the size of the scenario) then after the scenario is ready to release we add it to Alan Thomson Sim and then needs to be reviewed by the Alan Thomson Team (This usually takes around 24-48 hours). Then once the Alan Thomson Team and reviewed the scenario/scenario pack the whole process would by then have taken 5-7 days.
Image of London St Pancras and London Kings Cross simulated in Train Simulator 2021
What kind of services are you planning on having with The Midland Main Line Scenario Pack?
Dan: We are planning to include the newly added EMR Connect services with the British Rail Class 360 EMU's, Thameslink/First Capital Connect Class 319 EMU, Thameslink Class 700, East Midlands Railway Class 222 Meridian, the VP185 engined Class 43 & associated Mk3 coaches and EWS Class 66 diesel locomotive, along with PGA stone wagons, PCA bulk powder wagons, FSA/FTA container wagons on the Midland Main Line Scenario Pack.
When players play this scenario pack what are you hoping their expectations be like?
Dan: We are always hoping players will have high expectations with our scenario packs as we use archive working timetables, rolling stock allocation and livery records, and other research to create engaging scenario packs which aim to be as true-to-life as possible.
And new for this scenario pack: Experience some of the challenges faced by real-world drivers, such as train failures, weather-related issues, signalling problems, engineering works, and speed restrictions.
And new for this scenario pack: Experience some of the challenges faced by real-world drivers, such as train failures, weather-related issues, signalling problems, engineering works, and speed restrictions.
When you create the Player train and AI trains what does the timetable look like?
Dan: This is what are timetable looks like. With the timetable you have to make sure that the trains are in the right place at the right time.
Are you able to use the underground platforms at St Pancras?
Sam: Looking at the image above you will be able to use the underground platforms at St Pancras. Also say for instance that you are waiting to depart at Platform 3 there will be AI trains arriving and departing the Underground platforms even though you are above the platforms.
How many AI services do you like to add to your scenarios?
Sam: We like to add as many as there are in real life, For real life working in the present day we use RealTimeTrains and we add as many trains as shown in RealTimeTrains.
If I am only interested in this scenario pack will I be able to separately purchase this scenario pack?
Dan: No, unfortunately not. Due to the amount of resources we are using to create this Scenario Pack we would not get close to the amount of money used to create this scenario pack. So if you are interested you will need to purchase the entire Scenario Pack for £24.99 at release.
Is this Scenario Pack simulated properly to real life workings?
Dan: Yes, like we said earlier use archive working timetables, rolling stock allocation and livery records, and other research to create engaging scenario packs which aim to be as true-to-life as possible.
Sam what has been highlight of creating this Scenario Pack?
I think my highlight of creating this Scenario Pack was creating the workings of the High Speed Trains (Class 43). They were fun to create and the High Speed Train was my favourite train when I was a kid and being able to drive it inside of a computer game is awesome!
I love routes that include a bit of history like this route for example, like London St Pancras looked nothing like it does now as it was refurbished between 2004-2007. To become the terminal for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link/High Speed 1/HS1.
To finish this article off here is a photo of London St Pancras before refurbishment in 2004-2007.
I love routes that include a bit of history like this route for example, like London St Pancras looked nothing like it does now as it was refurbished between 2004-2007. To become the terminal for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link/High Speed 1/HS1.
To finish this article off here is a photo of London St Pancras before refurbishment in 2004-2007.
Images displayed in this article may depict content that is still in development. The licensed brands may not have been approved by their respective owner and some artwork may still be pending approval.
© Scenario Productions 2021
© Scenario Productions 2021