Updated 5/29/2014: To go on you must read and click agree on the bottom of this page.
This page will explain what it takes for a route to get a good/bad grade on my site. It goes category by category like the real reviews do, and there is an overview section before those on this page. If you want your route to get a good rating, read on!
Overview:
- I will mainly review fictional desert routes, but will review other fictional routes and prototypical routes if they come to my attention also.
- If I feel there is something wrong that deserves to have deducted points, but does not fit into a specific category, then I will say why I am deducting points right before I give the overall rating. To date, the only route I have done this on is South Bay Commuter Express.
- To determine the overall rating, I add up the number of points given in each category, multiply that by two, and subtract deducted points if there is any.
- Effective 8/31/13, I will no longer give out a free 10 points if a category does not apply. That is why the lowest grade I have ever given is a 46. Instead, I will change the category to something that DOES apply, such as signaling or roads.
- To date, I have only given one 0/10 rating.
- I will be completely honest in my reviews. Yes, like Simon Cowell...
- This page will be updates when necessary.
Landscape:
- This category includes textures and trees, buildings, etc.
- If HD textures are not used in routes built in TS2009 or later, 4 points will be deducted. I will be lenient if you use scrub textures on desert routes.
- Despite the lag differences, if no 3D trees are used, 3 points will be taken off. Use Pofig Trees, there is lag, but not much. The best 3D choice by far.
- Using crappy built in buildings (ex. PB) will take away 2 points.
Stations:
- This category only includes passenger stations
- Too many stations will result in a deduction of 1-5 points, depending on severity.
- If the station is not well put together (ex. No people, no shelter, no ads, nothing) then that will result in a deduction of 1-5 points depending on severity.
Crossings:
- The category I enforce the most and am toughest on.
- Automatic 5 points taken off for no ATLS. That is a full letter grade on the overall rating. This is LENIENT.
- If the route was released before 7/25/13, any of BNSF50's or Maddy25's ATLS crossings are acceptable.
- If the route was released on or after 7/25/13, then SAXRT's crossings must be used, with a few exceptions, provided they are hooked up to ATLS:
-HP Trainz's newest crossings.
-YARN or YARNish crossings.
-BNSF50's overhead crossings.
-YARN or YARNish crossings.
-BNSF50's overhead crossings.
- If roads cross the track but no warning devices are used at EVEN ONE CROSSING, unless it is intended on a prototypical route, will result in an automatic 0, two letter grades down on the overall rating, lowering the highest possible grade from 100 to 80.
- If Auran's crappy crossings are used, then the category will be given 1 point for little effort.
Industries:
- Only applies to freight industries
- Pretty much same rules as stations.
Track:
- I will only give a 0, 5, or 10 on this category.
- 5 points will be taken away if the layout is bad.
- 5 points will be taken away if the track is not HD. If the route was built in TS12, then the track MUST BE JR TRACK.
PLEASE only click agree if you agree...