Railworks America

Hi,

Not really a TSW question (even though it is) but I thought I would post in here to keep out of the way. It is a general question as to how multi-player works in an open universe? With something like Run8, it is a closed world - no third party add-ons (to my knowledge) no third party reskins etc. That way, everybody is playing with the same set of toys. If TSW is open to reskins, third party add ons etc, how does that work for multiplayer if other members of the session don't have the specific third party addition. Do you just see a train roll past with no loco or with missing cars? How does this sort of thing work with other multi-player titles?

I am going to need an expensive tech upgrade before I think about it, and steam will need to make an appearance, but I was just interested in how it works. Also interested in the broadband net connection requirement as to whether that si required for general play, or MP some point in the future

and happy "TSWing"

I would guess that the multi player will require "stock" equipment and can check through a check sum, just like you can't mod a Career Scenario.
They'll most likely require the session to use only equipment that comes with the particular route.

Construction Simulator 2015 has a great multiplayer mode. Like TS2017, it is distributed through Steam, and most mods are distributed through the Steam Workshop, but you can still use other channels for distributing your own mods.
Multiplayer mode is started by a player who becomes the host by opening his current game session on-line, so that other players can join.
Let's see how they did it:
(from the CS2015 discussion board on Steam)

Mods in multiplayer games - active and available Mods

In multiplayer games we distinguish between active and available mods.
An active mod is a mod that is currently used, e.g. a mod vehicle that is "bought" (in the game) or a mod mission that is started.
An available mod is a mod that every player in this multiplayer game has subscribed to.

If a player wants to join a multiplayer game that contains active mods, the games needs to make sure every new player will have this mod too. If you try to join a game with mods you haven’t subscribed to, a dialog will ask you whether the missing mods should be downloaded. If all mods are installed, you can join the game.

In the game only available mods can be used, so if one player hasn’t installed a specific mod the others want to play, this mod can’t be started. If the host clicks on a mod (e.g. start a mod mission or buy a mod vehicle) he will be informed which players don’t have the mod and whether this players should be notified. The players then will get a message that asks them whether this mod should be installed. When the mod is installed, it is available for the host.

Mods without steam – local mods
If you have a mod file (e.g. from one of our mod editors) you can test it with your game without subscribing it in Steam. We call this a local mod. These mods are only available in singleplayer games, because it is hard to find out if every player has exactly the same file. Therefore, if you start a multiplayer game with an active local mod mission, this mission will be aborted. Any active local mod vehicle will not be loaded during the multiplayer game, but will be restored if you play a singleplayer game next time.

Farming Simulator also has multiplayer and is awesome.

The host sets the map and the equipment when he opens the session.
Clients check wether they have the required map and equipment before joining and are offered to download the missing tractors and machinery.
The host can set a maximum number of players for his session.

General, there is a problem with trolls ruining your fields or wrecking your equipment in completely open sessions.
So most of the serious farmer cooperatives are closed groups because it is still labor intensive and time consuming to tend to large maps with lots of fields and different crop types, or when there are lots of animals to feed and muck out.

Completely open Run8 sessions also have trolls, but there they can be booted, reported and blocked.