OpenBVE Metropolitan Line (For Real)

My development team are pleased to announce that we have commenced work on an openBVE Metropolitan Line route. The route will initially start at Baker Street. 

Screenshot when ready will be posted here. 

However, me and SP1900 cannot agree on how to release it once we get to a certain point. Would you rather have segmented release, with a nice teaser route from probably Baker Street To Wembley Park to begin with (then to Harrow, then Moor Park, then Amersham, and then other branches), or would you rather wait until the entire route is finished for something to be released?

Dexter Montague 
Founder of BVETube

Nice
I think something in between will be the best option. Short beta (which is also teaser) which isn't too short, like Baker Street to Harrow, then a terminus-to-terminus version (Baker St to Amersham), then an update with branches.

Excellent idea. I must also thank you for your massive help with the A60 Stock. It'd be a dream if you joined us, but I know that you are too busy.

Dexter Montague
Founder and Director of BVETube

I am actually willing to start the route at Aldgate for a full trip because, to be honest the current route is very old and needs updating a lot. We need as many people to help as possible whether it’s texture gathering, object creation of helping assemble the route all help will be greatly appreciated

So for new readers, what would you rather: demo to Harrow or wait for full route?
And second question: Wait for Aldgate to reach or start from Baker Street first?

Dexter Montague
Founder and Director of BVETube

As for me, the Aldgate portion is important too, but doesn't have to be in a beta (unless it's something like Aldgate-Wembley).

The road to hell is proverbially said to be "paved with good intentions", it's probably also paved with bits of incomplete / unfinished BVE routes as well. I've seen so many that have been promised, and so few of them delivered. The only other sector with a worse record on promises are the politicians!
I would say only release a partly finished work only once there's enough of it to make it worth driving.

While I really esteem your views highly, Gray, I'm on team Dexter here: Better to release a beta at a reasonable stage. There's always some good chance of valuable feedback coming in.

I think you guys are right. We will release a good section of route as a test. We got a few scenarios all based in different eras as well but the main focus on this project is to cover the area that the previous Metropolitan Line route has not covered yet. If you live in London and/or live near the Metropolitan Line and wouldn’t mind getting photos for us to use and to build the route or if you have something to contribute to that would help greatly.

Being  "on the ground" with a camera / phone is ideally best. If you can't be there you may find that google streetview can help, at least on the surface and with determining distances. Obviously, in the tunnels it's another matter! I get some funny looks when I stand there taking pics of fixtures and fittings, posters and signs, (and specially lying on the floor of a 2700 rail car to get the ceiling texture**) but its all worth it.

** On that occasion, while in the station , the driver walked down the train and I could see he thought he had a nutter on board. I explained why and what I was taking the pics for and fair play to the guy, he let me take a couple of cab pics. I doubt that would happen in UK, but you never know

graymac wrote:Being  "on the ground" with a camera / phone is ideally best. If you can't be there you may find that google streetview can help, at least on the surface and with determining distances.

Thanks for the advice. I’ve been doing that. Though I also get funny looks due to the high tension going around in the UK. I’ve been threatened to be reported a couple of times as well though LT officials really don’t care. Unfortunately I live in Cambridge which doesn’t make it easy especially if you’re making a route From a place where you have limited access due to high fares and bad rail infrastructure around your area. I’m most likely gonna have to take to google earth and google street view.

Our current plan is to have the initial demo release to be from Baker Street to Harrow-on-the-Hill. After that, we are unsure of what to do. Should the second release go to Rickmansworth or Amersham? (if Rickmansworth, the third release will be Amersham)

Movingmillion wrote:Our current plan is to have the initial demo release to be from Baker Street to Harrow-on-the-Hill. After that, we are unsure of what to do. Should the second release go to Rickmansworth or Amersham? (if Rickmansworth, the third release will be Amersham)

My advice would be not to think too much about a second release and just get on with the first part of the route, then decide what you want to do and post once you have something to show for it.

Seen so many routes announced in a blaze of glory and then never completed/started.

Sorry if this sounds a little negative.

Dexter wrote:

It is not about teams, at least for me. :-)

Of course it isn't ;-) It's just a less complicated version of "while there are really good arguments for both approaches, I'm tendentially inclined to rather give weight to the arguments speaking for partial releases, which have been brought forward by Dexter"

First project update:
Some rails to start with have now been created.

Second project update:
The basic rail models have now been completed.

Looks really good!

Some more development photographs courtesy of our new Director, Jeff. 

That looks so nice and detailed that make me worry slightly for performance
On the other hand I'd add some texture to the bottom of the light instead of solid yellow

In all honestly most of these models created are for another simulator so I'll have to clean them up in BVE.

What simulator was it originally made for by chance?

This is looking decent, it is great to see people are cooperating to create something nice.