October has been an important month in the Farming Simulator franchise. As it has historically been the month in which the new version of Farming Simulator has been released. Farming Simulator 11 was released on October 29, 2010, Farming Simulator 13 was released on October 25, 2012 and Farming Simulator 15 was released on October 30, 2014. Unless Giants runs into delays, we should expect Farming Simulator 17 to become available this coming October. That’s less than 8 months away. WOW….can you dig it?
Here’s my Top 10 List of improvements/enhancements I’d like to see in Farming Simulator 17.
Better Wheel Support
Of all the things I could think I would be interested in seeing in the new FS17, better wheel support was on the top of my list and I would almost be willing to bet that it is probably near the top of your list too. Especially if you use a steering wheel to enhance your FS15 game play.
FS15 was my first entry into the Farming Simulator franchise. I have absolutely no experience with FS11 or FS13. But it is somewhat apparent (at least to me), that Giants really, really, REALLY missed the boat with regards to wheel support in FS15. While it is very much possible to do everything that needs to be done with a mouse and keyboard or like a XBox stile controller, this is a simulator. If Giants is to be serious about calling this game a simulator, then it truly needs better wheel support in FS17. I’m not suggesting a little bit better….I mean a lot better. If FS17 isn’t on par with that of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and/or American Truck Simulator (with regards to wheel support) then in my mind, I don’t see the need to upgrade. Period!
Considering one of the more popular wheel units (Logitech G27) has been available since 2010, and only a small portion of the buttons work in FS15 and even the wheel and pedals is very problematic at the best of times in FS15 suggests to me that Giants didn’t take wheel support serious enough with FS15.
Final thoughts about wheel support and FS17. Yes…Giants did team up with Saitek and co-developed the Farming Simulator wheel, pedals and console controller. Before I purchased my G27 (spring 2015) I debated on waiting until this unit was available. I’m so glad I didn’t wait. I’ve watched plenty of YouTube “Unboxing” videos and the lack of quality really shows with this controller. While it is “Plug and Play” and automatically configures itself to the FS15 game…I’m really, really glad I own the Logitech G27. But just because Giants partnered with Saitek shouldn’t mean they should only care about Saitek users. Time will tell….
Better First Person or “In Cab” Experience
I almost rarely drive any of the equipment from inside the cab or in first person view. The reason for this is because the first person view along with functional mirror use is seriously lacking in FS15. While I hate to keep comparing FS15 to games like ETS2, but considering ETS2 was released in 2012 and features a wonderful first person “in cab” experience with functional mirrors and it’s a year older than FS15, it just proves that FS17 needs to really step up their “game” in this area.
Vehicle Mechanics
I personally think it would be cool if the equipment needed to be serviced. I’m not necessarily calling for a “Car Mechanic Simulator 15” process….but something better than what we have in FS15. So in FS15 we pay a price per day for equipment maintenance. This is automatic and we’re not required to do anything. The only maintenance we are required to do is re-fuel and occasionally wash the vehicles. I think this should be expanded into more. For example, (referring to ETS2 or ATS) over time our trucks develop a certain amount of “wear and tear”. This can be caused by crashing our truck into something or it can also just be from driving. In ETS2/ATS we are required to drive our truck to a repair shop or dealer for this repair work.
In FS17, it would be great if this type of function could be implemented. I’d suggest two different approaches. First, initially all work would need to be done at the dealership and at a higher price. Then, a good option for a placeable object would be a repair shop. Let’s face it, most farmers are extremely good at being self-sufficient. Then in purchasing a placeable repair shop, the work done would still have a cost (oil, filters, tires etc.) but the cost would be lower as the work would be handled by the farmer.
TrackIR Integration
I’m going to call out TrackIR integration as an area I hope Giants puts into FS17. While it is true you can get TrackIR to work with FS15 through their mouse look emulator, it’s not the same as what we enjoy with other simulation games. I believe with a better first person experience AND TrackIR, it will truly make Farming Simulator 17 a great simulation game.
Better Camera Support
While this may be available from mods, I’d like to see better camera functionality in FS17. We should have the ability to pre-set various camera views which can either be selected by keyboard or controller button assignment or simply cycle through the list. If you are familiar with Flight Simulator X (FSX) or Prepar3d (P3D) and the add-on called EZDok. EZDok is a 3rd party application (mod) which allows the user to establish a series of camera views (internal or external). You might have one view setup from the pilot perspective, another view of the CDU, a wing view etc. etc. Unfortunately the camera view in FS15 tends to have a mind of its own unless you correct that with a mod.
Better Game Physics
I think we all hope to see improvements in this category with FS17. I’d like to see the issues which causes a tractor to leap off the ground when connecting an implement be a thing of the past. Also, I’d perhaps enjoy forestry work if the logs didn’t jump around as if they were possessed.
More Crop Types
While mods certainly offer us a “sky is the limit” experience regarding crop types. For those who enjoy this game on the console platform, I’m sure they would love to have more crop types from the standard barley, canola, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets etc.
More Animal Types
Like with crop types, I hope FS17 brings us a bigger variety in the animal husbandry department. Having the opportunity to raise elephants, giraffe and the occasional monkey should be at the top of Giants list of priorities. Of course, I’m joking…I’m just checking if you are paying attention. I suppose with exception to goats, horses and perhaps emu/ostrich…most typical barnyard animals are represented in the FS15. I’d like to see Giants enhance the visual textures and perhaps offer a wider variety of textures. I’d love to raise Longhorn cattle on my farm/ranch.
Better AI Traffic
OK…I’ll admit that AI traffic is a pain in the backside in all areas of simulation based games I enjoy. To me this is a very low priority as I’m happy to just leave my AI traffic turned off. Yes, this means I don’t see other cars/trucks driving around…but then again, most maps I play I’m more focused on the actual farm aspects of harvesting, planting and raising my livestock and don’t really care about seeing other cars. But I know some people really are hoping for better AI traffic, so I’ve included it on my list.
Better Textures (Ground/Dirt especially)
Of course there is a fine line to walk with regards to just how much can be done and not seriously sacrifice computer performance. For the most part the crop textures look pretty good in FS15. But the field/dirt could use a bit of a upgrade. But as far as I’m concerned there are much bigger areas of need and the reason why I’ve listed this one last on my list.
Well….What do you think? Is this a valid top 10 wish list? Or is this a pipe dream?
While baling hay or straw, do you wonder just how many bales you’ve made? Wonder no more with the Bale Counter mod. This mod is super simple in both its approach and function. It’s so simple, this will likely be one of the shortest blog postings I’ve written.
Once the mod has been installed you’ll notice a small change to the HUD in the lower right corner of the screen. The addition of two new icons which resemble bales of hay will appear and a count.
In the example above, I had been baling and accumulated a total of 8 bales from the field.
If you want to reset the count, just click the “R” key and that will reset the count on the left side. The count on the right will remain to indicate the total number of bales created.
How can I get this mod?
The bale counter mod is available here. I have personally downloaded, installed and tested this mod. The mod works and I use it on all my maps.
I’m going to write a series of mod reviews for Farming Simulator 15. While I would almost imagine everyone already fully understands how to install mods in Farming Simulator 15, I figure I’ll just go ahead and quickly write this for anyone that may be confused.
First, if you are playing Farming Simulator 15 on a console platform, then you should already know that mods are not supported. So this “how to”, as well as the mod reviews will basically be for PC users. I’m sure there are many reasons to own and play “some” games on the console platform…but FS15 really isn’t one of them.
Most mods are available in one of three formats (listed and explained below)
1. Self-contained Executable File – While perhaps not as common as the .zip format (described below) many mods do come in a self-contained .exe file format. Like any other application, you just double-click to launch the .exe. It will automagically detect where your Farming Simulator 2015 is installed (Documents > My Games > Mods) and add the mod. Word of caution, if you use the Mod Commander mod to manage and keep your mods separated based on map, then you’ll need to move the mod (once installed) into the appropriate map directory.
2. ZIP Format (Most Common) – Depending on the map I’m playing, the number of mods I run can be anywhere from just a few to a dozen or more. The most common form of mod I run across is the .zip format. Depending on what the mod is and how complex and large it is, you may need to open the .zip file and extract a portion of it before adding it to your mods directory. However, in most cases…the .zip file will be ready to just copy into the mods folder. But how can you tell?
If the mod developer is smart, he will name the .zip file which needs to be uncompressed something like “UNZIPME_ChoppedStraw_15_0_05.zip”. This should immediately tell anyone that the contents in this .zip file first needs to be extracted. In this example, you can see from the image below the .zip file contains a compressed .zip file named ZZZ_ChoppedStraw.zip along with several .txt files. One smartly named “README.txt”. This file is name this way because….well….YOU SHOULD READ IT!!! What you need to know will be explained in that .txt file. Funny how that works huh?
I typically always open each .zip file I download. First, if the file is corrupt…then it probably won’t open and will need to be downloaded again. But also you can quickly see if the .zip file needs to be further extracted or just copied to the mods folder. In the example below, this .zip file just needs to be copied to the mods directory as it is.
3. RAR Compressed File (Least Common) – Of the compressed file formats, the RAR compressed file is the least common. These will always need to be uncompressed to reveal the enclosed .exe or .zip files stored inside.
A quick note about archival/compression utilities. I use and recommend 7Zip. 7Zip will unpack RAR files and also compress and decompress .zip files. It works extremely well and is free. WinRAR is also available for those who prefer that utility.
Again, I’m almost certain that anyone playing the PC version of Farming Simulator 15 will already know this information. If this has helped you, then it was worth my time in writing the piece.
If you are a fan of Farming Simulator 15, then you’ve probably already heard about the new DLC which was released on Thursday, 10 March for PC. I had mixed feelings about this new DLC when I heard about it. First, while I love the JCB DLC pack that came out last year. I was really disappointed in the IT Runner DLC. So much so, I initially passed on the New Holland DLC pack (I still need to review them here) but did finally purchase as I felt I could/would use them on my farms. But as I began hearing about the Holmer DLC and seeing pictures of them I did jump to conclusions and in my mind immediately compared it to the IT Runner and sort of decided I would give it a pass. After all, I really didn’t need another DLC pack of equipment collecting dust. Plus with FS2017 coming later this year….well, you get the point.
This morning as I was getting my Thursday morning off to a roaring start in the office, I decided to quickly check YouTube and see if any of my favorite farming YouTuber’s had released a video review of the new Holmer DLC. Low and behold, BradM73 had released a fantastic review showcasing the new DLC. As I enjoy harvesting sugar beets and also want to better utilize the massive amount of liquid manure my farm has accumulated, I decided to purchase the Holmer DLC. I’ll give it a proper test this evening and will certainly provide an update on my overall experience in the coming days.
Until then….please enjoy this wonderful video review from BradM73 and you can decide if the Holmer DLC is something you’ll add to your collection.
I know some have been anxiously awaiting the next version of Farming Simulator from sometime shortly after FS2015 was released in the fall of 2014. As a matter of fact, I began seeing postings in the forums asking this very question within only months after the release. Yea, it’s safe to say that Giants Software really has a hit on their hands with this franchise. I would even go as far to say the popularity and success of Farming Simulator very closely rivals that of what Microsoft had with Flight Simulator. Time will only tell if Giants repeats the mistakes Microsoft made. But that is a different story for a different article.
Am I looking forward to the new version? You betcha! Farming Simulator 15 was really my first experience with a simulation style game that WASN’T Flight Sim based. So this will be my first experience with making the transition from an older version to a new version and all the pains that may be part of that process. Like in the example of Flight Sim, when moving from Microsoft FS9 to FSX, nothing really worked initially. It took some time for the add-on community to begin to make the transition and I’m sure the same will apply for Farming Simulator. I wouldn’t necessarily expect many of the FS2015 mods to immediately work in FS2017. I suppose DLC might be a different story. But then again, I’m really not sure. The only FS15 DLC I currently own is the JCB pack. But I find it somewhat interesting that we are perhaps less than 6 months away from the release of FS2017 and Giants is taking pre-order purchases for their Holmer DLC. Will the Holmer DLC purchased in March 2016 be usable in FS2017 when it is released later this fall?
Yes, you’ll most likely find me purchasing FS2017 the day it is available to download via Steam. Yes, you’ll also most likely hear from me via this blog (and perhaps via Twitch) regarding my first opportunity to play FS2017. Of course, we are still several months away from all this. But the good news of course is Farming Simulator 17 is coming….
While I’ve known about “other” farming base simulation games such as Pro Farmer and Farm Expert…and I’ve watched YouTube videos showcasing these games…I didn’t see them as competition for Giants and their Farming Simulator franchise. But competition (real competition) is about to come to the virtual farming world.
In addition to the news from Giants regarding FS2017, we are also learning about a brand new entry into the “all things farming simulation” genre with a new simulation game titled Cattle and Crops. You can visit their website here. They also have a Facebook page here. Cattle and Crops is due to be released sometime this calendar year (2016) and boasts the following (and I must say impressive) list of features:
Simulation – Detailed machinery and realistic harvesting techniques.
Management – Your employees will help you take care of your farm, your animals and your estate.
Vegetation – Plant growth and health depending on multiple ground conditions.
Weather – Advanced weather system influencing your farming strategies.
Brands – Supported by our license partners in the industry.
Multiplayer – Join your friends in conquering the maps.
Modding Support – Enhance the game with your own vehicles and maps.
Made with Passion – By Gamers – For Gamers
You can view a short “pre-alpha” video which was released a few weeks ago below
In closing, like me…I’m sure you have many questions regarding the new release of Farming Simulator 2017 and of course, questions about the new Cattle and Crops simulation game. With FS2017, I think we sort of know what we can expect from them. With Cattle and Crops, well…this truly excites me. While the jury is still out, my opinion is that the folks behind Cattle and Crops have been listening to many Farming Simulator users and have taken many of the requested enhancements which Giants may have been slow to implement (or not wanting to implement at all) and are planning to provide what we all want into the new game. But again, the jury is still out. But I say competition is good…and competition will help bring us forward.
When I first built my current gaming machine, I purchased and installed the GTX 780Ti (3GB) GPU. At the time I believe more powerful GPU’s were available, but they were also well over $1,000. Two years ago, the 780Ti was approx. $600. My previous gaming machine had the GTX 460 (1GB) model, so I felt the 3GB model would be fine. At the time I was only using my gaming machine for Flight Sim. Both FSX (and P3D) are more CPU intensive programs and really anything over 3GB would be overkill.
But then I began to play other simulation based games such as Farming Sim 2015, Euro Truck 2 and in the past few weeks I’ve been burning up the highways in California and Nevada playing American Truck Simulator. My 780Ti began to show its age with both ETS2 and the new ATS. I really had to dial down the graphics settings to keep my frame rates high enough for the games to be playable. Things seemed to get worse with a recent update to ATS when they introduced the new Kenworth W900 DLC. I’m not the only one that noticed the loss of FPS.
Now having spent so many years flying FSX and now P3D, FPS rates in flight sim just aren’t the same thing as it relates to other games. Gamers may demand FPS rates well above 60 FPS (or even into the 100+ range) with many games. We’ve just never been able to experience that in FSX/P3D. Especially when flying the more complex, payware aircraft (like PMDG) and using add-on scenery, weather etc. etc. etc. But at times when I would drive through the city areas (like LA, SF etc.) my FPS rates would drop into the teens. It was especially noticeable when turning. It was like watching a bad slideshow.
I was able to keep FPS rates in the low 20’s with some tweaks using the Nvidia Inspector. This of course is an old trick we would need to do to get more from FSX. But it still wasn’t to my liking. Plus, when monitoring my GPU, the GPU was running constantly at 99%. The more I thought about it, the more I was leaning towards upgrading my GPU.
Well…I finally pulled the trigger and purchased the GTX 980Ti SC+. This beast of a GPU offers me 3x the performance and 3x the memory of my old 780Ti and it really shows when playing both ATS and ETS2. With max graphic settings, the GTX 980Ti SC+ works at less than 50% capacity. My FPS rates are steady at 60 FPS (even in cities). I’m very pleased.
At the moment I know I’m mostly playing ATS, ETS2 and FS2015. I will return to P3D and I’m hoping for even better performance and visuals with that application.
The invention of the wheel (circa 3500 BC) was an incredible turning point in the history of civilization. The edition of the Logitech G27 setup has also been just as incredible with regards to my game play with Euro Truck Simulator 2. As I had previously mentioned in this blog post, I recently ordered the Logitech G27 steering wheel and TrackIR both arrived from Amazon and I wasted no time in getting the G27 setup. As I had used the Logitech Xbox type controller (F310) for several weeks accumulating over 30,000 km driven, 35 deliveries, over 35 real hours playing the game spanning some 59 virtual game days….I wanted to first get used to the G27 controls before I installed and started using the TrackIR.
The unboxing, install/setup of the G27 was quick and easy. If you don’t already own a Logitech device, you’ll want to make sure you install the Logitech software available here. I also found this YouTube video to be extremely helpful and saved time in getting everything setup and working as intended. The G27 requires one USB connection to your gaming PC and requires a connection to AC power (via the supplied AC power adapter). The accelerator/brake/clutch along with the gear shift console all plug into the base of the wheel. Once you get all the cables connected, the wheel and gear shifter consoles then clamp down to the desk surface. The setup in ETS2 couldn’t be easier. Refer to the YouTube video I mentioned earlier.
While I certainly enjoy the extra immersion factor this setup provides, the main benefit I’ve found is much smoother drive/steering control than what I had experienced on the Logitech Xbox type controller I had been using. With the Logitech F310 controller, I would steer with my left thumb but found the act of turning was not natural in look and feel and very choppy. With the G27, the action of turning is smooth and the same experience as in driving any vehicle (car, truck etc.).
The great thing about the G27 are all the programmable buttons. I’m using the right/left paddle shifters to control right/left turn signals and have programmed the smaller buttons on the steering wheel to handle cruise control functions. Finally I’ve setup the many buttons on the gear shift device to handle other frequently used options such as headlights, wipers etc.
I’m also enjoying the manual shifting options this setup allows. Again the immersion factor this setup provides to the simulation is fantastic. As I’ve previously held a class A CDL (commercial drivers license) and have driven large trucks, I can say that while the G27 shifting setup is not that of a large diesel truck…it is the best setup for the price. Of course, you can also setup ETS2 for automatic transmission driving.
Again, I plan to spend a little more time with the G27 setup before I introduce my new TrackIR. I’m also looking forward to configuring the G27 with Farming Simulator 2015 as well.
If you have been thinking about adding a steering wheel controller to your ETS2 game play, the Logitech G27 is a great choice and I believe you’ll enjoy it.
While the Courseplay mod is perhaps the one mod I almost could not live without, it is not without its share of issues which lead to frustrations “Down on Jerry’s Farm”. Several weeks ago I provided a somewhat detailed review of the Courseplay Mod and pointed out some of the issues which we all must deal with if you desire to use this wonderful mod. Yes, I do use the words wonderful, extraordinary etc. to describe this mod at the best of times.
As you know by reading some of my recent blog postings, I’m currently playing on the Ringwoods Farm map. I truly love this map and even with all the trees, fences and gates….Courseplay does a pretty darn good job managing the tasks I assign to it. Or should I say, the Courseplay hired workers do a pretty good job managing the tasks assigned to them. With almost every field owned and planted on this map, there is no way I could keep up with the demand without Courseplay.
In the earlier posting I touched on the issues we all experience when using Courseplay. I don’t fault Courseplay (or the brilliant development team behind the CP mod) from running a tractor/tipper into a tree from time to time. After all, Courseplay only knows the interior dimensions of the fields. It does not know the proximity of fences and gates to the field. Likewise, Courseplay is not something one can simply setup, start and leave unattended with 100% results each and every time. At least not with all functions/tasks. But before I proceed further, allow me to provide some information on how I’m using the Courseplay mod, what works really well and what challenges I face.
What I use Courseplay for?
For the most part, I’m only using a small percentage of the overall Courseplay functionality. While I realize CP can (and will) do much, much more…I simply just haven’t incorporated everything into my farming practices at this time as it has never been my intention to fully automate my farm.
While the role I play “Down on Jerry’s Farm” is the owner and boss of the farming enterprise, I’m still very much willing and enjoy rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty. So at the present time I’m using Courseplay to handle the process of moving the silage down at the BGA and also moving silage in a small bunker near my dairy cows. Courseplay also handles the transport of grains and fruits from my main storage silos to market. Courseplay also handles field work tasks like cultivating, sowing and harvesting.
What Courseplay does well?
The movement of silage down at the BGA is without a doubt the best work Courseplay does “Down on Jerry’s Farm”. Considering the ROI (Return on Investment) benefit of selling silage down at the BGA, CP (and the fine workers) do this task very, very well. Even paying the hourly wage (which I do), it is money very well spent and provides nice profit. Review this blog article I wrote a few weeks ago about “Getting Rich Quick”. If you want to generate some cold, hard cash and do it quickly then remember this equation of Corn –> Chaff –> Silage = $$$$ down at the BGA.
In addition to the movement of silage, CP handles the movement of all my grains and fruits from storage silos to market without any issue (most of the time). Oh, a few times I left a tractor parked in the middle of the main farm yard which blocked the path of my truck/trailer rig…but that is a self inflicted problem and not the fault of Courseplay.
Finally, I would give CP solid marks on how it handles the cultivating and sowing tasks I assign it. While I did mention that Courseplay was not really designed to be setup, activated and forgotten about. The tasks which I’ve just described, CP will perform them until YOU stop it or until the work is completed. Unless of course you forget you’ve parked a tractor in the path.
Courseplay Struggles
Again, I’m fully aware that Courseplay is not designed to be setup, activated and forgotten about to operate a process without any guidance or supervision. This is where our role of farm owner/boss comes into play. Like I described earlier, I am the owner of my farm. The Courseplay function is really just driving the employees I’ve hired to assist with the tasks on the farm. As owner and boss, it is my responsibility to make sure these workers are doing what they should be doing. However…
Courseplay will simply struggle with regards to the occasional collision between tractor/tipper and a tree, fence or gate. As I’ve already stated, Courseplay only knows the interior dimensions of each field. CP does not know how close a tree, fence or gate is to the field so therefore the occasional collision will happen. The best solution to assist in avoiding these collisions is to setup the combine to harvest at least two headland cuts. Depending on the header size, this should provide ample room for your tractor/tipper setup to maneuver without coming into contact with an obstacle. Another suggestion is to slow down the tractor/tipper setup. With the overall drive physics being what they are in FS2015, slowing the tractor/tipper down to a field speed of 15-18 mph will help tremendously.
But wait….there are more struggles and unfortunately I can’t really understand why they occur.
Collisions between combine and tractor
I simply just can’t understand why this occurs. From my limited understanding of how CP handles the harvest function, I believe CP fully knows where the combine is (and with precision) on the field. Likewise, I believe CP knows where the tractor/tipper is (how else do they interact with each other) so why the occasional collision? As I somewhat described the combine and tractor/tipper relationship in my earlier blog posting by referring to the combine as the master or boss, there really should never be any collision between the two of them. The combine knows where it is within the course of the field and the two should be able to steer clear of any collision between them.
Spinning round and round and round (tractor and tipper)
I often notice the tractor/tipper just doing donuts in the middle of my fields. Round and round they go, without any purpose or plan until I stop them. In each and every example this occurs (and this occurs fairly regularly) the combine is less than 50 feet away and is stopped. The very best I can figure out is the tractor/tipper continues to circle in an attempt to lock onto the GPS coordinate which would allow it to pull alongside the combine. While I understand this, why doesn’t CP intervene at some point and send the tractor/tipper on a slightly different course then redirect it back in again? Of course, keeping in mind the location of the stationary combine to avoid any collision.
Distance and Line of Sight Issue
I’ve perhaps saved the best for last. The very best I can understand the possible issue is a distance and/or line of sight issue between combine and tractor/tipper. I mostly see this issue on the larger fields. The tractor/tipper and combine have been working together just fine. At some point the combine instructs the tractor/tipper to wait (it’s not full yet) and the combine continues to do its thing. Then as the combine and tractor/tipper are almost at opposite ends of the field, the combine issues the “drive now” command to the tractor, but the tractor just sits and sits and sits and sits. Eventually the combine is full and it stops. But without intervention from me, the two will never come together again.
Again, the best I can understand is perhaps there is a issue with the distance or line of sight and the two (combine and tractor) lose their connection to each other. I really wouldn’t think either distance or line of sight would be a limitation for Courseplay.
Could it all be user inflicted (User Error)?
ABSOLUTELY!!!! However, before I take all the blame on these problems let me just say that I’ve seen many YouTube videos created by many virtual farmers who know a lot more about Courseplay than I do and they all seem to have one or more of these problems from time to time. Also, again I’m not looking for Courseplay to do all my farming work while I sleep or do other things away from the PC. I’m merely wish, hope, desire for Courseplay to be able to function in the areas I just mentioned without glitching.
Am I alone? Are my expectations set just too high? Is Courseplay useless as is?
Again, no I don’t think I’m alone. I follow a few virtual farmers on YouTube who frequently create content from their farming adventures and in many of these videos I’ve seen their activities (when using Courseplay) wig out just as I’ve described.
Regarding expectations? I don’t think I (or anyone else) would think our expectations are set too high for these things to work correctly. I’ve stated several times in this article that I don’t blame CP when my tractor crashes into a fence on the edge of my field. I fully understand that this is outside of the control of Courseplay. However, the other situations (combine and tractor collisions in middle of field, spinning round and round and the distance/line of sight scenarios) I believe are in the control of Courseplay and I sincerely hope these issues can be fixed.
Finally, is Courseplay useless as it currently stands? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! I repeat….Courseplay is a wonderful mod and I really couldn’t or wouldn’t enjoy Farming Simulator 2015 as much as I do without it.
In closing, this blog article is not my way of “having a go” at the authors/developers of Courseplay. Likewise, it is not my attempt to discredit their hard work and dedication to the hobby. I’m simply pointing out some of the issues I’ve experienced mainly in the hope of helping anyone else who may encounter the same problems understand that they are not alone. I understand the authors/developers of Courseplay are taking a short break. Hobbies must always come after real world commitments and I certainly don’t fault them for needing to slow things down. I certainly hope they continue to develop and enhance Courseplay. I for one would really love to see the issues I’ve discussed today get resolved. I also would love to see something like “Follow Me” added to Courseplay. While I know a separate mod exists, I would like to see that functionality built into Courseplay. If for no other reason then in aiding in moving a combine and a tractor/tipper (or two) from one location to another.
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I’m slowly in the process of starting up a new map adventure using the much talked about States v6 map. States v6 is only available from American Eagles Modding and you must be a member (it is free to join) in order to download the map. I’m not about to give up on Ringwoods Farm, but as I’ve been farming Ringwoods for the past month or so and before that had been farming the default Westbridge Hills (Ringwoods is based on Westbridge but mucho better), I felt I needed a change. So I have been looking at map alternatives and set about defining a few requirements.
First, while I have nothing against maps based in the UK, Europe etc. I really wanted to stick with a USA based map. Second, while I truly love the challenge of all the fences, gates and trees in Ringwoods…I also wanted to find a map with less fencing and gates. Third, I’m really not into the logging/forestry aspect of the game…so my map selection could certainly exclude this and I would be OK. Finally, after farming on Ringwoods and getting spoiled to some of the “bells and whistles” such as conveyors and the mixing station mod, I was looking for a map where these types of features were already built in. I also wanted the ability to raise pigs, beef and chickens for market and wanted the variety of the additional fruit types (cotton, oats, sunflower, soybeans and sorghum). I had heard about States a few weeks ago and with the recent release of version 6, I decided to give it a try.
Some fine print before I proceed. I’ve been watching a few YouTube videos regarding the soil mod. I also printed off all the documentation I could find on this mod. I’ll be honest and say upfront that I’m perhaps more confused after reading it than I was before hand. I’ve decided to leave out the soil mod (for now) and just spend some time learning the new map and farming at my pace without the needed worry about pH levels and those dreaded weeds. But understand, I said the same thing about the PMDG aircraft a few years ago. I said they were too complex to learn etc. Both the PMDG 737, 777 and 747 are some of my favorite aircraft and I rarely fly anything other than these aircraft. So having said that, I will eventually experiment with the soil mod and I’ll learn it and when I do, I’ll share it all here in this blog. But for now, I’ve left the soil mod out of States v6.
The States v6 map is a large map. It features wide open spaces and really is designed for BIG equipment and lots of it. It includes all the features I had desired in a new map and even some new features to try out. From the start you own four fields (1, 5, 6 and 9). Fields 6 and 9 are planted with wheat and soybean. The map is also pre-populated with 250 dairy cows and 100 sheep.
As I just stated, States v6 is HUGE. You start off with a lot of equipment including four New Holland Combines (CR10.90) with the BIG 45’ headers. You also get three New Holland T8.435’s (Trax models) along with one NH T9.565 and the massive Case Quadtrac 620 (which I sold). You also get mowers, tippers, loading wagons, wheel loader, fertilizer spreaders, sprayers, baler…and more. I ended up selling the mowers, baler and a few other pieces of equipment so I could afford the Krone Big M500 mower mod from OEB Modding. With three large fields pre-planted in grass, I wanted something with a wide working width and the Big M500 will row the grass. This will save both time and effort.
On day 1, I used Courseplay to get the Krone Big M500 cutting grass. I split the initial grass harvest between getting the cows and sheep fed and moved about 200,000 liters to the silage bunker just next to the cows. I already compacted and have it fermenting. The rest of the grass will be moved to the BGA. Also, I put one of the four combines to work in field 6 harvesting wheat and moving the straw to storage. Just as soon as the grass has fermented into silage, I’ll have all I need to mix up the first batch of TMR. The way I figure, as I already have 250 dairy cows I need to get them producing at 110% ASAP to take advantage of increased milk production as well as manure and slurry. While I don’t plan to use either as fertilizer, both can be sold to help increase my available cash.
I’m also seriously thinking about selling two of the four combines and headers. It may be some time before I can actually get all four combines working with enough tractors/tippers to support them. I really need to generate enough cash to purchase the Krone BigX and get a field of corn planted to cut as chaff to send to the BGA. Selling silage at the BGA is a quick way of generating a lot of income in a relatively short period of time. You can read my blog article titled Getting Rich Quick on Ringwoods Farm which very much applies to States v6 as well. I may also try out theRental Mod as well for a few pieces of equipment until I can get enough available cash. We’ll see how it goes…
A few weeks ago I blogged about a new map “Coming Soon and I’m Excited”. Yes, I’m talking about Black Rock Valley and if you haven’t heard about Black Rock Valley, please take a minute to visit this Facebook page. From the Facebook page you can see screen captures documenting the many weeks which went into creating this beautiful new map. And YES….this new Black Rock Valley is from the same developer who created the wonderful Ringwoods which I have been playing on for a few months. While a picture is worth a thousands words…if you catch one of myTwitch Live Streams this weekend, I will be previewing (and helping to test) this brand new Black Rock Valley map prior to the release to the general public.
However, please understand that during my Twitch live streams, bugs, glitches, gotchas etc. “might” be discovered. I will make note of any of these little critters and communicate them back to Stevie. In addition, I will most likely load up my available cash so I can afford to purchase all the fields so I can get crops planted, growing, harvested, stored, sold etc. to thoroughly test this map. Once testing is complete and Stevie releases this map, I will start over and play it the way it is designed to be played.
Please visit my Twitch page and follow. By following me on Twitch, you’ll receive an email notification when I go live and can then join the live stream.
![[IMG]](http://farmingsimulator2017.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/header-520x245.jpg)
I know some have been anxiously awaiting the next version of Farming Simulator from sometime shortly after FS2015 was released in the fall of 2014. As a matter of fact, I began seeing postings in the forums asking this very question within only months after the release. Yea, it’s safe to say that Giants Software really has a hit on their hands with this franchise. I would even go as far to say the popularity and success of Farming Simulator very closely rivals that of what Microsoft had with Flight Simulator. Time will only tell if Giants repeats the mistakes Microsoft made. But that is a different story for a different article.
The invention of the wheel (circa 3500 BC) was an incredible turning point in the history of civilization. The edition of the Logitech G27 setup has also been just as incredible with regards to my game play with Euro Truck Simulator 2. 
