Derail Valley - Train Simulation

SolKutTeR · 8. Februar 2017

Derail Valley von Altfuture
Der erste Train Simulator für die Vive, dass ganze soll im 2. Quartal 2017 released werden.
Wer sich vorab schon mal ein Bild machen möchte, der findet auf Steam eine erste Demo.

Derail Valley is a train simulation made for VR. Tasked to reposition cars on a tight schedule, you might find yourself grabbing the controls in panic. The thought of running off the rails will run through your mind, and in all likeliness that's exactly what will happen. No worries - next time you'll do better!

While still early in development by a three-people team, Derail Valley already brings some key advancements to the train simulation genre:
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Made for VR
You can drive a train with your own hands! Derail Valley lets you move freely in the cab, being embraced by nature and then derailing off a cliff. It is designed right from the start for VR in terms of optimizations, controls and UI.

Fun and dynamic gameplay
Getting a train to move in Derail Valley is simple, but to accomplish complex maneuvers on time requires a lot of skill. You will plan your route, switch junctions and move cars between trainyards, all while racing through corners on the edge of derailment. The game is aimed to be fun and challenging to both hardcore train veterans and players new to the genre and VR in general.
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Decayed railway simulation
Rails aren't just perfect mathematical lines. They are pieces of metal that are imperfect, sometimes buckled by temperature changes, jointed together with wood and rolled over by other pieces of metal. We want players to really feel the track and be able to adjust their driving according to that feeling.

Derailment physics
Derailments are serious. They are unpredictable, massive, and sometimes oddly spectacular. We want them to feel as realistic as possible, and as such the whole game revolves around that concept.
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Immersive audio
Sound effects are not just recordings that play in the background. They are individual bits and pieces, set in specific positions, that each react to some stress or force. Train wheels in Derail Valley will squeal differently depending on the force they endure, and passing every track joint will cause the cabin to shake.

Abandoned natural environment
The world of rail transport is imperfect and in Derail Valley we want to let players experience that imperfection - be it through old rusty tracks, worn-out rolling stock set in beautiful nature, or a bunch of paperwork on your desk.
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Future plans:
Our goal with Derail Valley is to bring something new to train sim and VR games simultaneously. Many upcoming additions are planned to significantly differentiate the release version from the free demo, such as procedural shunting missions, NPC traffic and more car variety! These and more updates will be regularly showcased as they come, so stay tuned for more news as we get closer to the release! Please see Early Access information for more details.

In the meantime, you can try the demo which comes with one multi-trainyard 4km² map and one fictional diesel-electric shunter locomotive. If you have any questions, comments and feedback about the game please feel free to post on our Steam forum!
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axacuatl · 8. Februar 2017

Genau genommen ist es ein Entgleisungssimulator, wie der Name ja schon andeutet und die Beschreibung klarstellt

Aber ich muß zugegeben, wenn man das Video sieht, bekommt man fast schon Lust, einen normalen Eisenbahnsimulator so zu spielen. Naja, halt nur fast. Am Ende ist es mir vermutlich immer noch zu viel da sitzen und zuschauen...

SolKutTeR · 21. März 2018

Kleines Statusupdate und bevorstehende Roadmap.

Status report & Roadmap
Last December we wrote about getting funded for the Early Access development of Derail Valley. Since that day nearly all of our work involved various paperwork, hiring, getting an office, installing internet, buying furniture, assembling PCs, setting up software...

A few weeks ago we were finally done with most of it and dove back into development. It’s not just the two of us anymore - we are now a 4-member team, joined by a new artist and a programmer (Syberia and Forsaken Box on Discord, respectively). If you're a programmer in Belgrade, we still have one open position![www.derailvalley.com]

The steam locomotive is in the works
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What's next?
Our immediate focus is on resuming regular updates to the beta version of the game and reaching the initial Early Access release as soon as possible. This also includes increasing awareness of the game, so you can expect us showing more of the game content as things get done.

Shunter dashboard has been redesigned to show all the needed information
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Roadmap / what’s coming at launch:
As promised, here’s our roadmap for Derail Valley!
ROADMAP LINK[www.derailvalley.com]

Note that it is a subject to change (in fact it’s likely to change a lot eventually, depending on circumstances), but it will give you an idea of what we’re aiming at, both for the initial release and the full release later down the line, given the available resources and timeframe.

Separated into several phases, the roadmap also shows our planned pricing level, which will be $15.99 at launch (or Steam-suggested equivalent in your country), increasing gradually up to $27.99 as more content and features get added during Early Access.

Let us know what you think about our roadmap! Feel free to discuss it on our forum, or Discord[discordapp.com]!

[www.derailvalley.com]
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Beta status?
Beta has stagnated for some time, but now we’re focused again to releasing beta builds every week. As soon as some basic things get implemented (we are working on some terrain tech improvements), we will start expanding the beta team with our favorite testers from the now huge list of applicants.

If you’re planning on applying to beta now, take into account that due to a big backlog of already selected testers, we will be only accepting testers with exceptional motivation, communication skills, presence on Discord, and knowledge about trains or train sims.

The new WIP tanker car in the wild
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When’s the release planned for?
The last months spent on the funding definitely took a toll on our release date, but it will pay off immensely in the months to come. While our full release is scheduled for 2019, the Early Access release will come notably earlier. We’ll let you know the date closer to release.

First we want to make sure the game is fun and playable, as well as having a proper awareness in the train sim and VR communities. Spreading the word of Derail Valley would greatly help us right now!
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SolKutTeR · 5. Oktober 2018

Nach langer zeit mal wieder ein Lebenszeichen und Release des Early Access im Q4 2018.

Teaser trailer, new world, locomotion, missions & completeness
As most of you probably know, we’re nearing our newly-announced Q4 2018 Early Access release (exact date TBA). While a huge amount of work has been done on the game already, there’s still a lot remaining to be done, and we want to keep you guys up to date with general status:

Derail Valley is an upcoming train simulation game from the developers of Switchcars. More info and free demo on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/588030/Derail_Valley/ Discord:...
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Revamped world tech:
Over the past year we completely revamped the world tech, due to the need for more control over terrain sculpting. The world now features rivers, gorges, viaducts and tunnels, which were missing in the previous iteration. Needless to say, graphics improvement has also been significant!

You can travel anywhere in this world by train, or even climb a mountain if you enjoy a good view. As stated in the past the size is 256km2. After the revamp it turns out to offer a lot more room for railways than we originally anticipated, so for now we will be sticking to this world size, even though technically the game supports a much bigger size if need be.

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Complete train simulation, damage and servicing:
With the two locomotives planned for release (shunter and steam) all planned train simulation features are now complete. The aim is to make them enjoyable to both newbies and veterans. Taking into account the remaining development time available, we distilled the essence of train driving into various individual features, without going too deep into details.

For example, to drive the shunter you’ll have to start its engine first. Running the high RPM will heat the engine up, and if it overheats it could shut off or cause damage, which will then cost you money to repair. The engine will cool down faster if you are getting air through the radiator.

Going uphill while pulling heavy cargo might require deploying sand, or the wheels will slip and potentially get damaged. Fuel and oil levels need to be monitored too, and you will need to refill your locomotives at service stations. Make sure you don’t hit something hard, because apart from damaging the engine and wheels, you can also break the windows!

The steam locomotive will have you shovel coal, light up fire, regulate water level and generate steam with optional help of blower and draft valves. The cut-off will regulate ratio between power and top speed. We aimed for a fine balance between the steam locomotive being realistic and fun, with simple instructions to players who are not familiar with the inner workings. Veteran skills will make your trips more efficient, but everyone should be able to drive the steam locomotive.

To gain access to the steam locomotive, you’ll need to earn it first. Completing train driving jobs will earn you money, with which you can buy an appropriate license to unlock the locomotive. This will also apply to the other three post-release locomotives that we’re cooking.
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Teleport, Smooth Locomotion & Non-VR controls:
We put a lot of effort to make controls feel right in Derail Valley. Being a VR game, we opened up a number of options to play it, and for each we aimed to make it as high quality as we could.

Quick showcase of smooth locomotion in Derail Valley. Bonus jump at the end! Free demo on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/588030/Derail_Valley/ Discord:...

With the combination of teleport and smooth locomotion, you’ll be able to play in very tight, seated playspaces, as well as standing, room-scale, teleporting or strafing, or using both simultaneously, with optional comfort tunnel and snap rotation. Finally, a non-VR option will allow you to play the game without VR, in case you don’t have a headset yet (more on that in the future, as it is still in development).
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Missions (jobs) and career:
Design and technical basis of missions (or rather jobs as we call them) are complete. To get a job you’ll walk into a station office and pick one up from the table. Currently we have shunting and freight haul jobs, each clearly describing the steps to be taken in order to be completed. Completing a job on time will no longer be a requirement, but only a money bonus.

The jobs will earn you money that you can spend on licenses. As you acquire licenses for heavier trains, you will unlock more difficult jobs as well. Eventually during Early Access this will progress further into passenger transportation.

The game world now features a specific cargo chain of cities and industries, which will generate all the missions through supply & demand (more on that in a future post, as this too is still in progress).
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Pushing the limits - the genre’s, and our own:
Making Derail Valley is tough. We ran into countless obstacles, some of which we’ve overcome and some of which still remain. Pretty much all of them are bound to us needing more time, but the time is up. That said, it feels the timing is right to explain why we are doing what we’re doing, and what our concerns for the launch are.

Back in 2012, as a couple of friends, we used to play train sims. While initially it was a lot of fun, as time passed by they didn't seem to age all that well in our eyes. A point came where we found ourselves wishing for what they could be, rather than enjoying them for what they are. Dated graphics, physics, limited gameplay and complicated manuals made us think that even we could make a better game.

It just seemed logical that a train simulator could be built in a modern engine, with more immersive controls, graphics, sounds and seamless, fun gameplay. It could have proper derailments and a simple interface with clear instructions that everyone would understand.

Then VR happened. It showed great potential, but missing lengthy games, that could be played for hundreds of hours, allowing you to get lost in a large world to explore and have something new going on every time you play it.

Throughout the past two years that we’ve spent developing Derail Valley, our aim remained to do all that. Very ambitious, but we went for it because we wanted to make train sims and VR better for everyone.

Many features in Derail Valley, though seeming logical to exist, have never been done before. There was no rulebook on how to do them, nor a comparable game to look upon, not to mention coming from a country where serious game development is only just picking up. Hence, we constantly learned, evolved our plans and vision, and it was difficult to keep everyone informed of the latest ongoings, especially after having secured funding about a year ago. Now that we’re nearing the release, some of our concerns are getting firmer and we think it’s a good time to let you know about them:
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1) Our funding ends in January
In the past, we wrote that our funding will last us through Early Access. That is no longer the case. Initially the aim was to release a much simpler game to Early Access earlier, and that we’d spend the rest of the time going toward full release. However, having learned more about people’s expectations, we realized that a lot more under-the-hood reworks should be done immediately, and as a result postponed the release.

A lot of the said work will save time on updates during Early Access. Many features, content or designs planned for Early Access are partially done already. That said, once the game is out, we will not have the funding to back us up, and thus depend on the launch success financially. We will look into the possibility of getting further funded from another source in the meantime, to be able to complete the game to its full potential without depending on early release.
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2) Pricing change
We’re thinking of launching at $19.99 USD (rather than the previous $15.99). This comes after reassessing the current situation, with the game including a lot more work done at launch than we originally anticipated, and considering that some players expressed concerns that previously planned price increase in several tiers during Early Access would not work out well. With this initial price, we would aim to probably increase it only once later on when it is complete. Please let us know your thoughts on this.
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3) Completeness at launch
With the release date coming, we’re aiming to focus on polishing what’s already in the game, rather than adding new content. That said, there are still a few major features remaining to do: completing the railway network, non-VR controls, inventory, career-progression and NPC trains.

We don't know if all of them will be completed without hurdles in the weeks prior to release, but either way we’ll make sure that the game is fun at launch, playable and that it runs as well as we can make it.

Of course, being in Early Access, there will surely be some imperfections and bugs. During the previous year we made a good track record of releasing new builds to testers almost every week. We plan to continue doing so after release, providing fixes and new features on a regular basis.
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Finally, we are so happy seeing how many of you share our vision of Derail Valley, and it’s a pleasure to have read and heard so much feedback from everyone over time. We read every single comment and email we get!

In the next period leading to the release we will be posting new media content daily (or almost daily), including screenshots, short videos and not-so-short videos!

See you soon with the next update!
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SolKutTeR · 11. Januar 2019

Jetzt aber,.. Early Access soll nun am 18. Januar auf Steam und sogar Oculus Home starten.

We have a new Early Access trailer. Check it out!

In the following days we will publish a VR gameplay video, as well as one played using non-VR controls. Feel free to subscribe to our YouTube channel to not miss those, and further contribute to the community unlocks[www.derailvalley.com]! Since we started the visibility program, amount of subscribers has more than doubled!
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(Thumbnail scheint zu fehlen.)

axacuatl · 11. Januar 2019

Sehr hübsch gemacht, finde ich - da werde ich sogar schwach, obwohl Modell-Eisenbahnen mich nie besonders fasziniert haben, aber das ist schon nett, wenn man da in dem Führerhäusschen eine alte Dampflok bedient ! Und nutzt damit Roomscale VR natürlich auch sehr schön.

SolKutTeR · 11. Januar 2019

Ich bin auch recht angetan und finde die neue Ausrichtung, im Bezug auf Story & Aufgaben wirklich Positiv.

marty29ak · 30. Januar 2019

Neues Update, jetzt lässt sich der Zug auch beladen gut fahren und nach einem Unfall kann man sich direkt zur nächsten Station versetzten.
Schönes Spiel, hoffe die Entwicklung läuft weiter wie bisher....
https://steamcommunity.com/games/588030/announcements/detail/1751240173390237262

komisch · 24. Dezember 2019

Weiß jemand wie man bei Derail Valley ganz von vorne starten?
Ich habe die ersten Aufgaben ziemlich verbockt und würde ganz gerne komplett neu anfangen.

marty29ak · 24. Dezember 2019

Dann am besten die Savegames löschen.
Code:
C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Derail Valley\DerailValley_Data\SaveGameData 

Derail Valley - Train Simulation

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Derail Valley - Train Simulation

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