Route stability enhancement pack from AP

https://www.armstrongpowerhous…ct/product&product_id=182

Price £2.99

From the product page;

What is the purpose of this pack?
One of the biggest issues with Train Simulator is its 32-bit 3.5GB 'memory' limit. Once you hit this limit, you will receive a 'dump' message and crash out of the simulator. With more and more rolling stock arriving at a higher quality than ever before, this strain has never been felt so much so this pack seeks to make routes more efficient so as to:
Reduce the chance of a crash
Provide the ability to include more rolling stock in a scenario
Improve the chance of being able to use 'full' graphic settings where previously, scenarios advise against it
How is this achieved?
After extensive investigation, we have identified one area where we feel there is a disproportionate amount of memory used compared to its benefit and that's ambient audio. Since around 2013, routes have seen an explosion in the size of ambient audio files used and we have discovered this adversely affects performance, in some cases significantly. As a result, this pack removes most, if not all, ambient audio.
As well as that, we found a handful of very large textures files which have been reduced in size, to a more economic level, with minimal visual impact.
Is anything else included?
Whilst not strictly related to memory issues or stability, this pack provides a good opportunity to make other improvements:
Removal of default 'track bed rumble' sounds which stem from the early days of Train Simulator where rolling stock didn't feature their own 'run' sounds
Standardised reverb when in a tunnel or under a bridge - using our own custom settings. This only applies to parts of routes where reverb is already present.
Which routes are supported?
Please see below for a list of the routes supported, including the memory saving that has been achieved.
DTG Chatham Main Line: London - Gillingham (156MB)
DTG East Coast Main Line: London - Peterborough
DTG Great Eastern Main Line: London - Ipswich (459MB)
DTG Liverpool - Manchester
DTG London - Brighton (95MB)
DTG London - Faversham High Speed (459MB)
DTG Midland Main Line: London - Bedford (459MB)
DTG North London Line (488MB)
DTG North London & Goblin Lines (534MB)
DTG Riviera Line: Exeter - Paignton (495MB)
DTG Settle - Carlisle
DTG South London Network (208MB)
DTG South Wales Coastal (203MB)
DTG South Wales Coastal: Bristol - Swansea (221MB)
Please note that the memory saving stated is the total amount of files that have been removed or reduced in size and may not necessarily reflect the total saving seen in-game. Not all files will always be loaded at once and the greatest benefits will be seen over the course of a scenario which covers the full length of a route.
For any routes not listed with a memory saving, these are already economical in their use of memory and only benefit from the 'track bed rumble' & reverb modifications.
Disclaimer
We make no guarantee that this pack will stop you from experiencing crashes or 'dump' messages. Memory is not the only reason the simulator will crash, though it is by far the most common. It will still be possible to hit the memory limit; this pack simply offers more breathing room before it happens.

But if you are not confident in the editor then it is a bargain. Not everybody enjoys looking under the bonnet of TS2017.

Either back up the routes, or if you don't like it on a particular route, un-tick on steam, then once the route is gone re-tick and you only download that route, extra scenarios should remain.

Not everybody enjoys looking under the bonnet of TS2017.

Zitat von linusf

sure but in my mind that doesn't justify removing part of the game, then claiming it might not do what it's supposed to and then having to reinstall it manually (which does kinda takes a bit of tinkering with steam). AP is essentially just selling a *.bat file for 3 pounds. I think that is absolutely ludicrous. I am not with AP on this one.

As you say this is in your mind, all it claims is to ease the burden, not completely negate it, because if for instance you put 15 Railright class 40's at 100 mb each in a scenario, you are going to have problems regardless. Also some elements such as track rumble are no longer relevant as trains have their own sounds now. Whilst you may think it ludicrous there are plenty who do not and have posted their satisfaction, many of them wouldn't know a .bat file if it hit them in the face, many more would but lack confidence to create one and more still would rather click once and then get on with driving trains. Personally time is my enemy, I could modify the routes myself, but then I would have even less driving time, I haven't bought this, I may do in the future or I may just take another route. Choice is the key, you have made yours, others may make a different choice as is their right. I always think it is ludicrous to buy bottled water in this part of the world, but plenty do, again their choice.

"I have nothing against the pack. I have something against selling the pack. Something as minor as this is just not worth any money."

A product of any type is worth as much as somebody is willing to pay for it.

"I feel like they are taking advantage of users who dont know the sim."

You see it that way, others see it as giving a helping hand. Some users don't want to know the sim, they simply want to drive. Ultimately AP is a business and they need to earn money, same as DTG, who have done some things I would regard as far more dubious. In reality long as there are buyers our opinions don't really count for much.