Rolling Line News

The Eastern Euro Comp is complete! There were so many absolutely amazing entires, and here are my personal favourites. As with all the comp events, I played through every single entry and there was so much cool stuff to see. This was a really good event I hope everyone enjoyed it! I highly recommend going on the Steam Workshop and having a look at the entries yourself too.

Firstly, the winner of the best overall map is:


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3272855158&searchtext=

The winner of the best fantasy map is:


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3279036649&searchtext=

And the winner of the best mini-mode map is:


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3279061167&searchtext=

All 3 of the above winners get a game key for Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator, and I'll get in contact asap to give that to you!

But that's not all! There's still some honourable mentions:


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3273390775&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3270601915&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3278532413&searchtext=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3267661823&searchtext=


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3266794754&searchtext=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3263017375&searchtext=

There are still so many other maps that deserve a shout-out, so I highly recommend having a play of a bunch of maps from the comp yourself too. There were 79 total maps submitted, and thank you so much to everyone who took part!

[h2]Features in this update[/h2]

This update also includes a few features too, and these are:

• You can now rotate bounds boxes! They are no longer locked to 90 degree angles:
  
  
• The bulk move tool can now copy-paste! This works between different save files, so you can copy a group of props in one map, then load a different map and paste it:
  
  
• Fixed issue where wires (both power lines and electrical circuits) did not move correctly when using the bulk move tool.
  
• Fixed snapping issues with bounds boxes when they are scaled quite small.
  
• You can now exit transform edit mode by pressing Escape (as well as pressing F as usual).
  

And that's everything for this update!
I hope you have fun trying out the Eastern Euro comp maps!

Here's something special people have been wanting for a long time!
You can now copy-paste multiple props & track in one go, and move entire sections of your map around. This can all be done with the new bulk move tool!

I've written a guide on how to use this new tool, and you can find that here:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3271187876

[h2]Moving sections of your map[/h2]
Have you ever wanted to shift things around in your layout? Well now you can move, rotate and scale an entire segment of your map (or even the entire map!). This is extremely intensive for your PC though, since it involves enabling editing on large sections of your map all at once.



[h2]Copy-paste groups of props[/h2]
As well as moving a large section of map around, you can also use this feature to duplicate sections of your map as well! This is perfect for if you have a detailed custom-made building (using lots of smaller props) and you want to create multiple copies of it.



[h2]The Eastern Euro Comp end date is extended! [/h2]

The end date is now extended to the rest of the month, so submissions now close on July 1st.
There's already been a ton of great entires on the Steam Workshop!

For this competition there will be 3 different winners, each of which will get a free game key for Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator.

The categories for each winner are:

[h3]Best overall map[/h3]
Pretty simple! This goes to the best overall map, which includes creativity, detail, design, etc.

[h3]Best fictional railway/location[/h3]
This category is especially for a fictional design, whether you want to create your own fantasy railway line or just make a map set somewhere that doesn't exist in the real world.

[h3]Best use of miniature scale mode[/h3]
This is for a map that makes use of the miniature scale player physics, like being able to walk around in detailed streets & buildings, or exploring a world designed to be viewed on-foot in miniature scale.


But of course you can make any kind of map you like! These categories are not limiting factors.

As usual, i'll also be posting a ton of shout-outs to my favourite entries at the end of the event! (not just the winning ones).


In other news, I've also recently uploaded my own example entry for the competition, which is a small map based in the industrial city of Norilsk, and uses circuitry tools to mimic a simple RPG video game dialogue system!

You can find this map here:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3266766472

This update adds custom livery support for the newly added VL80 locomotive, as well as a bunch of other minor fixes & features.

The Eastern-European comp is still running until June 25th! And it's amazing to see entries already showing up on the Steam workshop. You can find more info about the competition here:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/754150/view/4143953771616864523

Remember one of the categories you can win is for "Best fictional railway/location" and now that you can make your own liveries for the VL80 you can design your own fictional Eastern-Euro inspired railway line!

[h2]Creating your own liveries[/h2]

Making liveries is easy! All you need is basic image editing software (even MS Paint is fine).
There's a guide here on Steam that explains how to make your own liveries!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1405658466

Just as with all the other liveries, you can find the templates in the "Rolling Line -> Modding -> templates -> livery templates" folder:



[h2]Downloading shared liveries[/h2]

You can find other people's shared liveries simply by going to the Steam Workshop and using the “livery type” drop-down list:



[h2]Other features[/h2]

This update also includes:

• The VL80 now has a new horn sound, plus a whistle!
  
  
• The shading on the model for the VL80 has been improved a lot
  
• Fixed the horn sound effect point for the VL80
  
• You can now press the left + right bracket buttons to control the front & back pantographs individually. There is also a custom binding for this in the "controls" menu:
  
  
• There is also a new binding to use the alternative horn sound for trains that use it (like the Sprinter and VL80):
  
  
• Fixed a bug where snap points on track would not be updated correctly when placing a group of track on the ground
  

The livery in the thumbnail is this one made by Skull4786:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3261350018&searchtext=

That's everything for this update!
And I'm excited to see all the things people are working on for the Eastern Euro comp!

It's time for a map competition, a new locomotive, and even a collaboration with another game! (Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator)

Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator is just about to be released, and the developers reached out to me to see if we could make a Steam bundle with both games, and you can find that bundle here:
(The bundle will become available once the game officially launches)

https://store.steampowered.com/app/998400/TransSiberian_Railway_Simulator/

But why stop there! I've always wanted to add some Eastern-European content to the game, so I'm taking this opportunity to run a map making competition themed around it.

This update also adds an incredible community-made mod (the VL80 locomotive) make by Akandr:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2253493285

The mod has been expanded to have all the features of official trains, like headlights, rust & snow effects, cab controls, collision, etc.





You can find these new trains in the "Trains -> Eastern Europe" drawer:



[h2]About the competition[/h2]

Just like with previous comps & jams in Rolling Line, this is a chance for you to make a map (or mods) with a theme and then share them on the Steam workshop!

The theme here is Eastern Europe, but this is very broad. It encompasses the whole style & feel of this part of the world and isn't specifically limited to just a few countries.
In fact you can even make fictional locations and fantasy railway lines if you want!

To submit a map/mod to the competition, simply upload it to the Steam workshop and tick this option when uploading in-game:



For this competition there will be 3 different winners, each of which will get a free game key for Trans-Siberian Railway Simulator!

The categories for each winner are:

[h2]Best overall map[/h2]
Pretty simple! This goes to the best overall map, which includes creativity, detail, design, etc.

[h2]Best fictional railway/location[/h2]
This category is especially for a fictional design, whether you want to create your own fantasy railway line or just make a map set somewhere that doesn't exist in the real world.

[h2]Best use of miniature scale mode[/h2]
This is for a map that makes use of the miniature scale player physics, like being able to walk around in detailed streets & buildings, or exploring a world designed to be viewed on-foot in miniature scale.


But of course you can make any kind of map you like! These categories are not limiting factors.
As usual, i'll also be posting a ton of shout-outs to my favourite entries at the end of the event! (not just the winning ones).

This competition will run for 3 weeks, finishing on June 25th.

If you want to view the entires so far for the competition, you can view the "Eastern Euro Comp" tag on the Steam workshop:



If you're looking for more Eastern-European style content, there are even some more mods on the Steam workshop!
For example:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2260197258
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3242070671
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2253489688
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3030915840
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2187560781

[h2]Other additions in this update[/h2]
This update also includes:

• Some new cliff face and rock props in the terrain drawers
  
• Fixed the 1.0 classic version of the game (it had a bug related to SteamVR that was affecting some people). For those unaware, you can play a day-one release version of the game (just for nostalgia’s sake) by switching to the "Rolling Line 1x" beta-branch.
  

[h2]Progress on the Sierra Logging map[/h2]
There hasn't been an update for a while since I've been putting all my time towards the upcoming Sierra Logging map which I've teased at a few times in previous updates.
I'll be making a full announcement of this map in the future, but in the meantime, here's some more preview screenshots of progress!

Continuing on from the "lumber mill props" added last update, this next update adds some more props and features themed around a western town! This includes new buildings, props, and a new wooden tunnel style.

As you might have seen mentioned previously, all these updates are working towards a big map set in the Sierra mountains and the California logging industry in the early 1940s. This map is going to be Rolling Line's first ever expansion (almost 6 years after the games release). More details will be coming in the future about this expansion, but for now here's some new props added to the game while i've been in the process of making the town of Tuolumne, California!

[h2]Old western buildings [/h2]

Firstly, a modular hotel building:



A set of classic street-side shops:



And a church:



Also a bunch of props, including shop-front signs, wood planks, hitching posts, etc:



[h2]New wooden tunnel style[/h2]

This tunnel can be added from the popup track-style menu, or using the new painters in the "track tools" drawer. You can make a single-track tunnel or a double-track tunnel (by adding walls to each side on the two lanes of track). There are also snappable tunnel portals for single and double track tunnels:



[h2]More mill props[/h2]

A few new props added to the "buildings -> mill" drawer, these include a new modular water tower as well as a wooden "sand chute" building:



Other minor fixes/features also include:

• Added snapping to all double-track tunnel portals
  
• Added placement ghost arrow to all tunnel portals
  
• Improved collision on several wooden debris pile props
  
• Moved several props around to clean up drawers, there is no longer the bizarre "props -> warf" drawer, these props have been moved to "vehicles -> boats" and "buildings -> Western"
  
• Added a couple of new church window props
  

[h2]Sierra logging layout preview! [/h2]

While this is still massively work-in progress, here are a few sneak previews of parts of the map that I have been working on! There will be much more info released about this map in the future.