Mar 24, 2019

Locomotives 4-2 (The Rabbit) and 4-3 (The Chief)

Train Valley 2 - flazm

Hello, history lovers! We continue our chronicle and today we will continue to discover the fourth generation of diesel locomotives. The German and American diesel locomotives are waiting for us, very important guys in their generation. These workhorses are not chilling in museums, unlike most of their steam ancestors. Let's go!

DB Class 218

This locomotive is a familiar sight for all German train lovers: the definitive (and most numerous) revision of the most popular family of diesel locomotives in Germany, it became the backbone of the West Germany diesel-powered train fleet from the 70s up to the reunification. The DB class 218 had a B’-B’ wheel configuration (two bogies with two powered axles under the unit). Its main feature in comparison with its predecessors in the V 160 family was its more powerful engine that allowed for a single engine to provide tractive power and electrical train heating, thanks to an attached generator (while the DB Class 217 needed a separate engine for heating).

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Almost 400 of these locomotives were produced during the 70s. Thanks to its high power and speed (topped at 140 km/h), its ability to work in multiple with engines from other classes, and a low-speed gear capable of pulling heavy freight trains, it quickly became the most important locomotive in West Germany. With the increasing electrification of railway lines and the popularization of diesel multiple units (trains that have the engines incorporated and therefore do not require separate locomotives), the DB Class 218 progressively focused mostly on freight trains. Also, after the reunification of Germany, it proved useful for the still unelectrified lines in East Germany. For one reason or another, even if they are slowly being replaced by more modern machines, these veteran engines are still in use!

The Class DB 218 was revised in the 80s with the addition of two new exhaust devices, two chimneys that granted the new 218s the nickname of “rabbits” because they looked like, well, two floppy ears. Our in-game version (which has the same name), however, is more inspired by the first version of this locomotive. It keeps the distinctive solid and bulky shape, as well as its small windows – a machine that states clearly that it is 100% ready for any kind of hard work!

EMD F40PH

Amtrak, the operator of most intercity passenger trains in the USA, introduced the EMD SDP40F – a diesel-electric train intended to replace the aging diesel locomotives inherited by the company when it was founded, and therefore to become the most important engine for passenger trains in the US. However, in just a few years several derailments started to break the confidence of the company in this locomotive. The weight of the steam generators used for heating, the vibration of baggage cars – whatever the reason, this machines derailed one time after another, and railroads started banning it for good until Amtrak decided to move on to another diesel locomotive that was in use on short-distance lines: the EMD F40PH. With its B-B wheel configuration, a high power output, and a maximum speed range of 166 to 177 km/h, it rose to the challenge so well that the F40PH were in production until as late as 1998.

(Photo from Wikipedia)

The EMD F40PH is still in service in commuter railroads, especially in Canada, where they are the main pillar of the Canadian railway company Via Rail long-distance trains – up to the point that it was featured in the Canadian $10 bill! More than 500 of these engines have been produced (including variants), and its longevity has led to all kinds of conversions, additions, rebuildings, and customizations. They have been used mostly for long-distance trains, but also in short-line and freights. The Trains magazine estimated that each of them has traveled 282,000 km per year on average!

In its in-game cousin (his name is The Chief) you can find the strong lines of its front and the curved windows that make it look, if not angry, at least starkly determined to get to its destination no matter what. A serviceable and powerful train that picked up the gauntlet when the opportunity came, The Chief rose to the challenge and became a staple for trains in North America.
With this locomotive, we end the diesel era. As we will see in the next post in this series, in the 80s the most important railway lines started to be electrified, and with that, the new electric trains started to become the standard. We’ll discover this new era in the history of locomotives next week – until then, enjoy the ride! :tv2conductor:

Mar 24, 2019

Meet Emily Hales!

The Uncertain: Light At The End - G.R.E.A.T.

Friends, it's time to get you closer to the characters of The Uncertain: Light at the End. We'll start, of course, with Emily.

Age: 24 years.
Height: 171 cm
Weight: 60kg.

Emily has worked as a space designer in the past (a sophisticated version of a 3D Visualizer Modeller, with emphasis on VR and AR) and by virtue of her profession she knows the city very well. In a band she often acts as a guide or takes part in trips to the area. Emily is interested not only in personal survival, but also in the whole group. During the outings she always tries to find useful things that can help someone.

She survived the incident thanks to a simple coincidence: she fainted while in the laundry room at her home and the police robots did not find her. When Emily woke up, she found that all the people had disappeared. When she returned to her apartment, she saw her bot, who had gone mad and carried some nonsense about the disappearance of humanity many years ago. She went to the house where her sister lived, but she found no one inside. When Emily realized that what was happening was the work of the robots themselves, she was forced to leave the city center because of the increased police activity in the area. Over the months, she hadn't met many people, changed a few shelters and groups, and fortunately, until she was caught by the cops or managed to escape the chase.

Emily is a strong and determined girl, but sometimes she can also get depressed, after which she needs some time to get back to normal. Emily is an attentive person, always trying to be kind to others, but sometimes behaves a little cynical, especially if she faces injustice. However, some questions she has hastily resolved in order to focus on her own thoughts as soon as possible. It is also worth noting that Emily's actions often depend on the choice of the player, which imposes an additional layer on her character, making it unique for each pass.

As a creative person, Emily is a thoughtful but impulsive person. Can sharply answer the most banal question, or can patiently explain something nervously screaming Alex. In communication, Emily is quite free, does not hesitate to ask questions and say what he thinks. Always quite active, but can suddenly freeze to death admiring the beauty of a half-destroyed house against the backdrop of sunset (in the game we mostly transmit it through a holographic clock). Loves and feels sorry for animals that are left on their own, without their owners.

In the English localization of the game Emily will have a British accent.

Mar 24, 2019

Version 2.25.1 released

Empires Mod - thexa4

Our work this month has resulted in a new release of Empires! Changes this patch include:

Scripts

Added jeep turbo courtesy of Reznov.

Features

CVs no longer die in one hit during sudden death but take 10x increased damage.
Games are limited to 90 minutes.
Sudden death countdown is now 200 seconds.
Default artillery recoil is now 0.1.
Default tickrate is now 66.667 ticks per second.
New steam friends XP leaderboard.
Added hit markers
New cyclopean skybox.
Main menu layout courtesy of Oktay.
Per team stamina bar colors.

Bugfixes

Mismatched script asserts no longer pop up on the client, servers are still required to run vanilla values for the properties that pop up asserts.
Fixed missing materials due to capitalization issues.
Fix for missing palmbay resources.

Full changelogs can also be viewed on the wiki: https://wiki.empiresmod.com/Version/2.25.x

Mar 24, 2019

Meet Emily Hales

The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day - G.R.E.A.T.

Hello, dear friends! We'd like to tell you more about characters of The Uncertain: Light At The End. Let's start from Emily Hales.

Age: 24
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 133 lbs.

Emily is a former spatial designer (it's a more complex profession than a 3D modeler and visualizer, focusing on VR and AR). She knows the city very well because of her profession. She may act as a guide in a group or go out on reconnaissance missions. Not only she is interested in survival—she also deeply cares about the whole population. While on a mission, she's always on the lookout for things that others may need.

She survived during the incident by coincidence: she passed out in a laundry room at home, and the robot cops couldn't find her. She came round to find out that all people were gone. She returned to her place. Her bot went mad. It was talking nonsense about the disappearance of the humankind years before. She went to her sister's home but didn't find her. Emily realized that all of it was the work of robots, so she was forced to leave the city center and hide from their increased activity in the area. She didn't meet so many people over long months. She changed several shelters and groups, but luckily, never got caught by the cops and always managed to get away from the chase.

Emily is very powerful and determined, no stranger to sadness—and it takes time to get back to normal. Kind and considerate, she may get cynical if she has to fight injustice. Some issues are dealt with hastily, and Emily gets to concentrate on her own thoughts. Emily's actions sometimes result from player's choice, which adds another layer to her character, making it unique during every new game you start.

A creative person, Emily is reflective but impulsive. She can give a snappy retort to any ordinary question, but at times you can find her patiently explaining something to the anxiously yelling Alex. She's not uptight, never hesitates to ask a question or speak her mind. Always in motion, she may freeze for a moment to enjoy the beauty of a ruined house in a sunset (we can see that in the game via the holographic watch). She's a pet lover, she always feels sorry for the strays.

In the English localization, she's got a British accent.