Railworks America

I have uninstalled TS13 for a few months due to video card issues with any games I played. Now everything is back to normal, so I decided to re-install TS13 and I even bought many new addons such as Marias Pass, SD40-2 BN pack and other stuff. Now it says I need 34'900 something MB of free space and I have 803'500 something MB available ... no problem, I guess. When I install, it says only 14.9 GB need to be downloaded. Why? I downloaded it all once before (yesterday) and, as suspected, the game didn't run. Last time I installed TS13, 28'900 something MB were required and 25.6 GB were downloaded. This doesn't make sense at all. Can anyone help? :(

I thought you only needed 2GB? How much did it take before?

Before the 14.9 GB I have to download now, I used to download almost 25 GB for a cumplete installation. And now I haver over 2 GB more of addons, so it should be more, not 10 GB less to download ... and now it's always stopping right before the end, I click "continue" and it's downloading a few megabytes, then stopping again, and I always have to manually continue the download. This is so annoying, I'm considering to never even try to install the game again, even though I had just bought addons worth 175 euros for the time I didn't play the game (half a year almost) due to all the issues ("something bad happened" error came every second time etc).

PS: After trying to download the last few bytes again and again, I just started the game to see what would happen, and then there is a new error message coming up I already had yesterday when I downloaded the full 14.9 GB (translated from German): Unable to start the game, there was an error while writing files on your hard drive. I downloaded the 14.9 GB twice now, and I won't do it a third time. I expected a 28 GB-ish download anyway, and then I'm quite sure it would have worked. It's because of the suddenly smaller amount ... I guess due to all the addons I've accumulated in all that time, it's no longer possible for the installer to recognise all the files I would need. So basically I have wasted the 175 euros for London-Faversham, Marias Pass, SD70-2 BN pack, Class 465 and the Heritage GE loco packs ... it's a real shame. I won't buy a new computer or re-format my hard drive just to play TS13 again, that's not worth the effort. I have had nothing but error messages in this game since I had first bought it, then there was a time when it ran smoother and I started to have fun, and now it's back in stonehenge time.

Janine wrote:Before the 14.9 GB I have to download now, I used to download almost 25 GB for a cumplete installation. And now I haver over 2 GB more of addons, so it should be more, not 10 GB less to download ... and now it's always stopping right before the end, I click "continue" and it's downloading a few megabytes, then stopping again, and I always have to manually continue the download. This is so annoying, I'm considering to never even try to install the game again, even though I had just bought addons worth 175 euros for the time I didn't play the game (half a year almost) due to all the issues ("something bad happened" error came every second time etc).

PS: After trying to download the last few bytes again and again, I just started the game to see what would happen, and then there is a new error message coming up I already had yesterday when I downloaded the full 14.9 GB (translated from German): Unable to start the game, there was an error while writing files on your hard drive. I downloaded the 14.9 GB twice now, and I won't do it a third time. I expected a 28 GB-ish download anyway, and then I'm quite sure it would have worked. It's because of the suddenly smaller amount ... I guess due to all the addons I've accumulated in all that time, it's no longer possible for the installer to recognise all the files I would need. So basically I have wasted the 175 euros for London-Faversham, Marias Pass, SD70-2 BN pack, Class 465 and the Heritage GE loco packs ... it's a real shame. I won't buy a new computer or re-format my hard drive just to play TS13 again, that's not worth the effort. I have had nothing but error messages in this game since I had first bought it, then there was a time when it ran smoother and I started to have fun, and now it's back in stonehenge time.

Sorry if this might seem a silly question, but have you contacted RSC support about it? (support@railsimulator.com) There were some changes to file structures some months ago as well as the introduction of something called Steampipe that was meant to optimize downloads, and all that might explain the difference in download size (although it's only my guess).

Okay, that might explain the download size being reduced. I have restarted the cumputer and Railworks eventually started. I was even able to do three activities in a row (ICE 2 on Augsburg to Munich, BIG422 on London to Brighton and the Class 377 blue color addon also on London to Brighton). Then I tried the SD45 in red-black livery for the Donner Pass route addon, and guess what ... "something bad has happened". Then I tried to restart the game, and it said it couldn't do so. I had to shut down Steam cumpletely, restart and then I was able to at least restart the game. I guess the download size has been optimized, but the faulty downloads illness is still spreading and alive. I am so sick of having to run the Steam control tool if all files are verified etc. because it generally never works and stops right after starting, etc. etc.

I just hope I can try out Marias Pass some day and also London to Faversham, since those are the two most important things I wanna see and they cost me the most in all the new downloads. Donner Pass revisited is "bad happened" blocked again as it was before, butt at least I was able to explore the route once in free roam mode. I will probably have to try the same with Marias Pass and London to Faversham. Running activities without a single error message is a miracle nowadays.

PS: I generally don't talk to support as it usually never helps. All the issues I managed to solve somehow was from help in this forum here or from a friend's help. Support didn't even answer my last ticket a few months ago.

Perhaps also a silly question, but have you verified the local cache? I sometimes have to do that several times before it no longer acquires files.

It's like praying the Amen in the church, I do that daily, because the game is so bugged. I verify all files on a daily basis, I clear the model cache on a daily basis etc. etc. First it told me 71 files couldn't be sent, then 89, and then it was fine several times, but the download always stops at the last file.

http://abload.de/img/stiemfehlerk1fbi.jpg - This is the error message I get now every time I wish to start the game. It claims my hard drive files cannot be read. This is a bunch of whatever (insert here), all other games work perfectly, all applications run smoothly, my PC has no issues with anything related to the hard drive. On the contrary: Since I play TS13, I often have to run CHKDSK before booting the OS, I guess the game is doing this to my files, not the other way around. I will try once more, if it doesn't work, I will uninstall this game for good. I am really sad about this, all the money for addons wasted. I spent a total of over easily 500+ euros on all the addons in this game, alone 175 in the last 3 months. I could use barely half of the stuff I bought, and if it worked, it worked maybe for one or two days and then "something bad happened" as usual.

PS: I uninstalled Microsoft Security Essentials, I deactivated the maintenance center of my Windows 7, I uninstalled any sort of toolbar, antivirus, antispyware, firewall whatever software. All because of this game. And it didn't pay back at all.

Janine wrote:It's like praying the Amen in the church, I do that daily, because the game is so bugged. I verify all files on a daily basis, I clear the model cache on a daily basis etc. etc. First it told me 71 files couldn't be sent, then 89, and then it was fine several times, but the download always stops at the last file.

http://abload.de/img/stiemfehlerk1fbi.jpg - This is the error message I get now every time I wish to start the game. It claims my hard drive files cannot be read. This is a bunch of whatever (insert here), all other games work perfectly, all applications run smoothly, my PC has no issues with anything related to the hard drive. On the contrary: Since I play TS13, I often have to run CHKDSK before booting the OS, I guess the game is doing this to my files, not the other way around. I will try once more, if it doesn't work, I will uninstall this game for good. I am really sad about this, all the money for addons wasted. I spent a total of over easily 500+ euros on all the addons in this game, alone 175 in the last 3 months. I could use barely half of the stuff I bought, and if it worked, it worked maybe for one or two days and then "something bad happened" as usual.

PS: I uninstalled Microsoft Security Essentials, I deactivated the maintenance center of my Windows 7, I uninstalled any sort of toolbar, antivirus, antispyware, firewall whatever software. All because of this game. And it didn't pay back at all.

I'm at a loss as to what it could be. I was about to suggest CHKDSK /F but you're already doing that. I wonder if it has anything to do with it being the German language version (Steam or Railworks). Perhaps it's getting confused with different language files. I think you should give Support one last try, insisting on how much money you've spent so far ... see if that makes them pay more attention. You could also try posting on their facebook page. I've seen them take notice of that before.

I don't have Facebook, and I'm not planning to get it, lol. :) Well, yeah, one final try with support might maybe work, butt I've really gotten disappointed so deeply in all this time I've been "trying" to play this game at least 50% normally. I would be in luv with this game if it worked just 80% of the level other games work.

Janine wrote:I don't have Facebook, and I'm not planning to get it, lol. :) Well, yeah, one final try with support might maybe work, butt I've really gotten disappointed so deeply in all this time I've been "trying" to play this game at least 50% normally. I would be in luv with this game if it worked just 80% of the level other games work.

I'm going to send you a private message with contact details for someone at RSC who says he'll look into this for you.



Mike

That's meowst kind of you, Mike. Thankies! :)

PS: The more I think about it, the more I think RSC has nothing to do with these issues. It's Steam always messing up with the installing process. Why did RSC have to release this game through Steam only? :( If they had released it directly, it would have been a lot easier. But that's the new way of distribution: Origin here, Steam there, etc. etc. more and more companies and parties involved, less and less direct for the user and if there is a problem, who to ask ... both try to put the responsibility on each other or on the user to make things easier.

Janine wrote:That's meowst kind of you, Mike. Thankies! :)

PS: The more I think about it, the more I think RSC has nothing to do with these issues. It's Steam always messing up with the installing process. Why did RSC have to release this game through Steam only? :( If they had released it directly, it would have been a lot easier. But that's the new way of distribution: Origin here, Steam there, etc. etc. more and more companies and parties involved, less and less direct for the user and if there is a problem, who to ask ... both try to put the responsibility on each other or on the user to make things easier.

You have a pm

Well, I got no reply from the RSC employee you hinted, butt I guess he's quite busy. That's fine. Steam gave me no answer anymore, and I don't expect them to do so later.

A small miracle happened, after about 20 times of restarting the download, it eventually successfully finished and I was able to start the game again. To my surprise, most of the routes worked almost without any problems. Marias Pass however is still a mistery. The first small 10 minute activity (snowing, green loco and long train to Whitefish yard) worked. The one with the orange BNSF loco (same length of activity, very easy difficulty) is always crashing, no matter how often I run the verification of files and no matter how often I clear the model cache. I haven't tried the other ones yet, as I usually go one by one, shortest to longest.

London to Faversham worked almost perfectly, and for that I'm happy. Donner Pass still has it's bad moments, the other routes work so-so. Overall, it's back the usual 50% work, 50% fail rate. Not perfect at all, butt at least "playable" again.

Janine wrote:Well, I got no reply from the RSC employee you hinted, butt I guess he's quite busy. That's fine. Steam gave me no answer anymore, and I don't expect them to do so later.

A small miracle happened, after about 20 times of restarting the download, it eventually successfully finished and I was able to start the game again. To my surprise, most of the routes worked almost without any problems. Marias Pass however is still a mistery. The first small 10 minute activity (snowing, green loco and long train to Whitefish yard) worked. The one with the orange BNSF loco (same length of activity, very easy difficulty) is always crashing, no matter how often I run the verification of files and no matter how often I clear the model cache. I haven't tried the other ones yet, as I usually go one by one, shortest to longest.

London to Faversham worked almost perfectly, and for that I'm happy. Donner Pass still has it's bad moments, the other routes work so-so. Overall, it's back the usual 50% work, 50% fail rate. Not perfect at all, butt at least "playable" again.

Yep, Matt is very busy ... he doesn't always have time to answer my messages to him.

I'm glad to hear that the situation has improved to the point where you can at least play the game, more or less.

cheers!

Mike

The funny thing is now: I'm glad that the file verifier works much better and takes longer to cumplete. Butt now it's "always" giving me files that couldn't be read or retrieved. Sometimes it's just 2 or 3, butt just before I had almost 50 again ... in the beginning it was in the high 70's and 80's, then it sank to a few (2-3 mostly) and now 48 (4.5 MB of data) ... there never was a clean run through. On one side, I'm glad it's eventually noticing the corrupted files, butt on the other side I'm worried so many files are STILL corrupted after so many runthroughs of verifications.