Derail Valley News

Hi everyone!

The new update is out, introducing a brand new steam locomotive to Derail Valley, as well as many bug fixes and improvements!



[h2]S060[/h2]

Due to its small size, the new locomotive has very different characteristics from S282, making it quite a unique new experience. In terms of hauling capacity it sits somewhere between DE2 and DM3, and can sometimes be found in small industries, such as forests. The new locomotive can be accessed in sandbox mode without unlocking too.



Besides the new locomotive, there are many other notable improvements made in this update, such as updates to coal firing and economy, many new water towers, VRAM optimizations and more. Check out the changelog below for more information.

[h2]Changelog[/h2]

[h3]Stability[/h3]

• VRAM optimization
  • Reduced VRAM footprint of dynamically generated textures
    
  • Reduced VRAM footprint of some large assets
    
  • We’re working on texture streaming, to drastically reduce VRAM usage
    • It’s currently in the testing phase. To enable it use console command:
      
    • Graphics.StreamingMipmaps.Active 1
      
    • This is still in development and may not be flawless
• Fixed career progress corruption bug
  • Hardcore sessions were able to pull in saves from other sessions when auto-saving on game exit. It was possible for this to ruin one’s career progression
• Fixed small memory leak caused by the window droplets system
  
• Improved lag-spike optimization when printing out papers
  
• Fixed brake sound getting stuck when stopped (introduced in #94)
  
• Fixed shadows cast by terrain disappearing when turning around (introduced in #94)

[h3]Train Simulation[/h3]

• Added S060 locomotive
  • Small steam shunter, great visibility, high torque and medium range
    
  • Similarly to DM3, it’s more likely to spawn in smaller industries, like forests
• Simulated efficient coal management during accelerated steam engine startup
  • Halves the amount consumed
• Made partial shovel unloading possible
  
• Reduced cost of coal by 75%
  
• Reduced DM3 mechanical powertrain damage from engine running by 40%
  
• Fixed cylinder cock steam particles being out of sync with the piston cycle on S282
  
• Fixed reverser changing headlights orientation if the paired remote is off or in inventory
  
• Made some tweaks to Auto Headlights logic when using the “Direction” setting
  
• Removed accumulation of water in cylinders when the steam vehicle is in motion
  • IRL the tiny amount of condensing water gets expelled with each piston cycle
• Fixed S282 fire not going out when coal is exhausted
  
• Fixed firebox temperature not returning to boiler water temperature when fire is out
  
• Adjusted S282 so it doesn’t go over 120 km/h
  
• Reduced price of S282A/B subsystems (and thus repair costs)
  
• Added a new, heavier, wheel rolling sound for locomotives
  
• Fixed water in cylinders being audible at large distances
  
• Lowered dynamos sound volume
  
• Fixed exploded S282 retaining red valves and labels
  
• Added numbers to S282 sand gauge
  
• Allowed adding coal to firebox via the driving UI when the firebox doors are closed

[h3]Misc[/h3]

• Added 9 new water towers to the map
  • Pass-through in FF, OWC, FM, GF, MF, FRC, FRS, MB
    
  • Non-pass-through in CSW
    
  • Maps have not been updated with new tower locations yet
• Made improvements to coal/water towers
  • Added alert sounds indicating steam vehicle alignment with chutes/faucets
    
  • Improved sound placement and volume, when using the towers
    
  • Fixed the water jet effect clipping through vehicles and taking too long to end
• Reduced intensity of cab lights in locomotives
  
• Fixed locomotives being able to despawn if coupled to an active order
  
• Fixed steam engine controls not resetting when paying fees (fire, injector, blower, etc.)
  
• Fixed text on comms radio sometimes getting stuck until put in inventory (introd. in #94)
  
• Aiming at locked vehicles in sandbox now notes that they need to be unlocked in career
  
• Tweaked audio mixing so the sound is less bassy in cabs
  
• Fixed hotbar mousewheel scroll direction being inverted
  
• Fixed main menu build badge button not leading to the news link on click

[h3]VR[/h3]

• Fixed some inconsistencies with Trigger/Grip usage (introduced in #94)
  
• Fixed Vive wands not using Trigger to interact with buttons (introduced in #94)
  
• Fixed held items being offset in left hand on some devices (introduced in #94)
  
• Fixed log getting spammed on some devices (introduced in #94)
  
• Improved interaction with rotary switches, notably the S282 exterior valves
  
• Removed recenter button in main menu, should only appear in-game
  
• Fixed carabiner slots resetting rotation on game load

[h3]Tutorials[/h3]

• Fixed “vehicle must be stationary” false-positives when auto-starting quick tutorials
  
• Fixed vehicles attempting to start quick tutorials when the player isn’t licensed for them
  
• Fixed multiple softlock issues around the coupling phase of career tutorial
  
• Fixed multiple softlock points involving picking up money in the wrong moment
  
• Fixed tutorial not recognizing movement and rotation in VR for some devices
  
• Added the career tutorial step teaching how to crouch before coupling
  

We hope you'll enjoy this update. Thank you and see you soon with another!

-Your DV team

We just released a quickfix making teleport work again on the Reverb G2 VR headset, which broke with the #94 update.

More improvements soon!

Hi everyone!

It's great to finally talk to you from the other side of the Simulator update!

First of all, thank you all for the enormous amount of feedback, support and help following the release date! We read all your messages, and are adjusting our plans accordingly, even if sometimes we can't reply.

The 94% rating of Derail Valley and the 2600 simultaneous players peak at launch have topped all the current train driving sims on the market. Given our very humble beginnings, this really is the dream come true. The update release has been a great success so far, and we're hyped to bring you a lot more content and features to Derail Valley in the future!



Given the size of the update, naturally it didn't come without some issues. We'll be addressing them in the next couple of months. Today, we've released the first proper patch in the series of important fixes. Due to priority shuffling no new vehicles were added just yet, but the upcoming S060 steam locomotive is receiving final touches and will be released by the end of next week.

[h2]Changelog:[/h2]

[h3]Stability[/h3]

• RAM usage optimization
  
  • Drastically reduced the buildup of RAM usage from traveling around
    
  • Reduced RAM usage for sounds
    
  • Should help alleviate many crashes
• Slight FPS improvements
  
  • Drastically optimized the rendering of lit windows at night (affects low-end PCs)
    
  • Fixed brake sound systems being active on stationary and distant trains
    
  • Simplified some checks in the audio playback system
    
  • Optimized the Doppler effect system
    
  • Fixed terrains out of view being able to cause lag
    
  • Fixed text rendering being able to cause stutter in certain situations
    

[h3]UX NonVR[/h3]

• Fixed UI receiving unwanted input from unsupported controllers
  
  • This may have affected your language selection screen, save manager, etc.
• Fixed being unable to save custom key bindings in-game
  
  • Go to Settings > Advanced page
    
  • Click “Remap Keyboard Controls” to open the preferences.ini file
    
  • Make changes to key controls, save the file, close the window
    
  • Back in the game click the “Update Keyboard Controls” button
• Fixed RMB zoom not working while space-to-dismiss tutorial prompts are on
  
• Fixed a bug with the bad coupler selection when using the Coupling UI panel
  
• Fixed escape button not working in pause menu if closed by [X] without applying first
  
• Made inventory slots 11 and 12 mappable (default keys - and = on QWERTY)
  
• Temporarily allowed Keyboard Driving in Realistic difficulty mode
  • Will be restricted to being in cab only when finished
    

[h3]UX VR[/h3]

• Fixed being unable to go past the “turn around” step in career tutorial on Reverb G2
  
• Fixed tutorial not addressing the needed VR input actions correctly, on certain controllers
  
• Fixed held items being offset for certain platforms/controllers, especially on Oculus SDK
  
• Disabled automatic touch interaction with buttons
  
  • This will be vastly improved and added back as a setting in a later build
• Fixed interaction with most buttons being Grip instead of Trigger
  

[h3]Train Simulation[/h3]

• Reduced S282 resource consumption (coal, water) by 20%
  
• Reduced S282 blower power and steam consumption by 75%
  
  • Mostly noticeable with the startup time
• Increased S282 coal consumption when the fire is lacking air
  
  • Indicated by dark chimney smoke
• Increased S282 indicated firebox temperature at low combustion rate
  
• Enabled body and wheels damage on S282B (Tender)
  
• Drastically reduced startup costs on DM3 and DH4
  
• Fixed S282 bad brake gauge needle alignment
  
• Fixed S282 chimney smoke clipping through the model
  
• Fixed the crown sheet sizzling sound continuing to play after boiler explosion
  

[h3]Misc[/h3]

• Refined all bird/cricket biome sounds to be more soothing rather than piercing
  
• Added “Retrieve all items” button to Lost & Found sheds
  
  • Pressing this button will retrieve all player-owned items from around the world
    
  • It will not retrieve items that are already in your inventory
    
  • Uses temporary art, to be improved
• Fixed certain cases where items would get lost when left on rail vehicles
  
• Fixed external camera being able to break the game when reaching too high altitude
  
• Fixed the DE2 quick tutorial turning on by default
  
• Fixed the possible career tutorial softlock at the “Handbrake release” step
  
• Fixed the possible career tutorial softlock at the initial “Park the locomotive” step
  
• Fixed “Manual servi” text being cut off on career manager
  
• Fixed Boombox audio stuck to the player while away, if locked to an inventory slot
  
• Fixed order validator in military offices having stuck papers and a bugged name position
  
• Changed the order of the VR category button in settings
  
• Updated some localization texts (work-in-progress)
  

Have fun and see you soon with another small update!

Quick update everyone - we've fixed the game breaking bug where trains would collide with invisible walls surrounding the tutorial depot, near the Steel Mill.

Enjoy the update and see you soon with more small updates!

-Your DV Team

It's finally here! Three years since development on it started, we're pleased to announce the Simulator major update has just been released – along with a brand new trailer:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

If you already have Derail Valley in your Steam library, it will be automatically downloaded. When you start the game your last save from the previous version will automatically convert to the new format and location used by Simulator. You'll then be able to continue from there, or start new sessions in the main menu – up to you!

[h2]What's new?[/h2]

We've made this listing so you can see what's new and what's coming soon:



For an early coverage of the new additions, check out Squirrel's exclusive preview videos! Some examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=976I6nF4tIw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY6vYX3cmq4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiGYzlmzoGU

[h3]What's missing?[/h3]

Being an enormous update, a few things remain to be done. These are notably the S060 locomotive, DE6 slug, Steam Deck input layout (it does work otherwise), RailDriver support, and a couple more smaller things. Rest assured that the mentioned two vehicles will be added very soon, in a couple of weeks.

[h3]Any news on the new steam engine simulation and VR?[/h3]

We've been making core changes to both until recently, and are happy to say that they are finished. The update features the all new S282 steam locomotive experience, as well as dynamic VR hands that naturally interact with controls and items. Support for the Pico 4 headset has also been added.



[h3]Localization:[/h3]

The update introduces 25 new languages to the game, translated by a carefully selected dedicated group of players. Apart from providing a good spirit and feedback, our translation team handled tens of thousands of words per language, and have put a lot of care into making it all fit nicely and using proper technical terms. They're absolute heroes!

We've marked the languages that we think the game is sufficiently translated to as supported on the store page itself. The rest are also available to choose from in the game, with an UI scoring element representing their completion level. Please let us know, and our translation team, how you like the translations and we'll further update the statuses.

Please bear in mind that since the tutorial translations needed to be done at the very end (today, also barring many bugs we've just resolved), they are also the least complete. Don't worry though, the translations will continue being improved after the release.



[h3]What happens with mods?[/h3]

If you've been using mods, please note that you should to do a clean install of the game. If your save file was modded, it may not convert well – it depends. Most, if not all pre-Simulator mods will no longer work with Derail Valley and will have to be updated by the community in the coming weeks and months, to become functional again. Some of that effort is already ongoing.

[h3]What's next?[/h3]

For the next few days and weeks we'll make frequent updates, fixing all the immediate issues as they arise, as well as finishing up the two vehicles and a few more things. Then we'll drop the pace a little and take a well deserved rest. For the more long-term plans, please see our derailvalley.com/future page.



We hope you'll enjoy the new Derail Valley and where it's headed, and we're looking forward to seeing your reactions in posts, reviews, videos and other media!

[h3]Thank you![/h3]

-Altfuture