CD 163 Initial Feedback

[BigVern]

Okay, purchased and had a quick drive.

Note I initially loaded up the tutorial but couldn't get past the section which tells you to change radio channels. Tells you to do it, but doesn't actually show how. And using the keyboard shortcuts didn't do anything.

There's no new scenarios in single player and while you can substitute on existing ones no point until the save game is working properly.

So I was able to drop in a service on a MP server. Loco and cab look nice but good god, that awful constant buzzing noise when under power or braking is too insidious. It's like the constant torture of white sound. Maybe it is like that in real life but for the sim it is making driving unbearable. Please either reduce the level or mute it out altogether.

[rutgerluiten]

The radio is different, the shorkeys doesn't work, I think. I wonder what kind of tricks the drivers perform in real life. But because of the sound I'm more cautious with the traction and let the train roll out more. I really like the controlls is so different.

[mateusz424]

There is something you can do about everything.

For radio managment description - scroll down this page: 

https://wiki.simrail.eu/Vehicles/Poland/Trains/Locomotives/71E

In each default SinglePlayer @Eridor scenario you already can choose Škoda ČD 163 in menu after scenario start.

This is the singing of thyristors 🙂 Go to Settings -> Sound and set low (e.g. 20%) effects volume.

Edited Sunday at 07:56 PM by mateusz424

[BigVern]

Thanks Mateusz, I will try that tip with the effects, though of course it will also affect sounds we might want to hear. Some of the Steam reviews are already suggesting the thyristors are somewhat louder in the cab than real life. So I still think the developers need to make it more of a background noise.

The radio looks quite complex to operate, all the more reason why it needed more in depth in the tutorial.

Edit: Well reducing Effects just changes all the loco sounds including the traction motors and horn so that's not a solution unfortunately.

Edited Sunday at 09:32 PM by BigVern

[BigVern]

If the thyristor sound level was reduced to about 25% of what it is now, then it would be tolerable.

The developers also ought to have considered what the outcome of including a constant white noise effect like this could have on people with hearing issues, such as tinnitus. At the least the Steam description should be rewritten to include a warning that some people might find the effect uncomfortable.

Or better still, as I suggested reduce the level or have it fade out as the loco gathers speed.

[lewnemejski]

7 minutes ago, BigVern said:

If the thyristor sound level was reduced to about 25% of what it is now, then it would be tolerable.

The developers also ought to have considered what the outcome of including a constant white noise effect like this could have on people with hearing issues, such as tinnitus. At the least the Steam description should be rewritten to include a warning that some people might find the effect uncomfortable.

Or better still, as I suggested reduce the level or have it fade out as the loco gathers speed.

https://youtu.be/oZVLXEsCPk4 here is a video and you would see/hear that game is realistic. If someone don't like the sounds - refund is possible or you can change settings as mateusz already mentioned. 

[mateusz424]

14 godzin temu, rutgerluiten napisał(a):

The radio is different, the shorkeys doesn't work, I think.

Shortkeys are working. But when you're changing the radio channel - don't look at R7 indicator. Because R7 is... the radio volume level indicator 🙂 The radio channel indicator is the two digits to the left of R7. As you wrote: it's a different radio.

[BigVern]

1 hour ago, lewnemejski said:

https://youtu.be/oZVLXEsCPk4 here is a video and you would see/hear that game is realistic. If someone don't like the sounds - refund is possible or you can change settings as mateusz already mentioned. 

Lowering the effects also reduces the sounds you want to hear like the traction motors and horn so not a solution. It also means going in and out of Settings every time you go back and forth between the 163 and another train.

in this case realism should have been tempered with adjustments to the levels to offer a tolerable playing environment. This as I said could easily trigger tinnitus or similar in people who suffer from it, quite apart from the fact exposure to white noise for any length of time is not exactly healthy. At the end of the day, there are plenty of precedents for adjusting the sound heard in the cab - in TSW or TSC, locos like the Class 31, 45 and 47 give you the external “thrash” (stack talk) sound in the cab when in reality you would hardly hear any sound at all. Or in flight sims, you get the full roar of the jet engines when again the flight deck would be fairly quiet.

So I’m not asking SimKol to remove the thyristor sound, just have a bit of consideration for players and make it slightly more pleasant for players and others who might be in the vicinity of the PC. And refund is not an option, as I’ve probably already exceeded two hours of play while evaluating the product.

[Averrnor]

Hello @BigVern

Did you menage to complete tutorial?

On wiki, you can find instructions how to use the radio:

https://wiki.simrail.eu/Vehicles/Poland/Trains/Locomotives/71E

In my opinion, description of each component is very nice.

By the way, in tutorial you will make two circles. During second circle you will learn how to use cruise control.

Best regards!

[BigVern]

56 minutes ago, Averrnor said:

Hello @BigVern

Did you menage to complete tutorial?

On wiki, you can find instructions how to use the radio:

https://wiki.simrail.eu/Vehicles/Poland/Trains/Locomotives/71E

In my opinion, description of each component is very nice.

By the way, in tutorial you will make two circles. During second circle you will learn how to use cruise control.

Best regards!

I didn't go back to it, just used the substitution pop up to replace the default loco in a SP scenario.

[broniewskijarek]

@BigVern You have MIDI panel close to your left knee

 

Turn motor disconnector to PMI and... you have silence in cab.

Not my trick - from Czech users.

Edited 12 hours ago by broniewskijarek

[BigVern]

1 hour ago, broniewskijarek said:

@BigVern You have MIDI panel close to your left knee

Turn motor disconnector to PMI and... you have silence in cab.

Not my trick - from Czech users.

You sir are a saviour. I was about to refund it, but this has saved the day.

[broniewskijarek]

9 minut temu, BigVern napisał(a):

You sir are a saviour. I was about to refund it, but this has saved the day.

Have fun! I guess cd163 loco is strong enough to drive with only one motor.

[jeroezie]

11 hours ago, mateusz424 said:

Shortkeys are working. But when you're changing the radio channel - don't look at R7 indicator. Because R7 is... the radio volume level indicator 🙂 The radio channel indicator is the two digits to the left of R7. As you wrote: it's a different radio.

Maybe their would have been less confusion, if the true meaning of the R*, as volume setting, is widespread. It could be included in the tutorial. Maybe an idea to add to the wiki @Moooritz?

[BigVern]

10 hours ago, broniewskijarek said:

Have fun! I guess cd163 loco is strong enough to drive with only one motor.

True though on a short train I didn’t notice the loss of power. The only other downside to this, hopefully temporary, solution is that you lose some of the traction noise in the cab and for me the horns stopped working. However the occasional loss of 50 XP is a small price to pay for my aural sanity. Of course this is not the first time we have had this issue of realism versus compromise for useability. Over in TSW the older German electric locos -103, 110 and 111 have very loud traction fans which run continuously above Notch 8 or 9 and muffle all the other sounds. The developer claimed this was realistic but it does not make for a fun experience playing a game.