A Question about scenarios and maps before I purchase

[cptn_lozz0]

Hi all, I've just noticed GreenManGaming has 50% off Trainz 2010. Before I buy it I have a question..
I currently have Railworks 2, and whilst I enjoy it, I am really struggling with navigation for the scenarios. For those who might not know, you are provided with a summary of what is required to complete the scenario, but where I struggle is when I need to go from station A to B, there is no indication as to which direction I need to use, or which lines I should be using.

Now that would be all well and good, but navigating the 2D map for which line to use etc is not brilliant, and along the length of a line it will only have the name in one place, so you have to scroll all the way along the entire line to find out which lines to use etc.

I hope that is making sense.. So my question is, how does it work with Trainz 2010? Is it similar? How does it work?

Many thanks in advance

 

[ct_krogen]

trainz is better than that,,, you will start in the right direction or you will get info that will send you in teh right way......if you goint to buy trainz 10 why not go to the auran online shop and but it you will get the lastest build number,,,,

 

[sniper297]

station A to B

I'm guessing you're passenger train driving, which is the one thing that Railworks DOES do well. The map doesn't have enough contrast and the path lines are really hard to see, but if the scenario is set up correctly it SHOULD set all the switches for you to get where you need to go.

I'm more of a switching (shunting) fanatic and rarely exceed 30mph anywhere, most of my time is spent backing and forthing at 5mph, but Vern has often complained about Trainz lack of automatic switch setting in sessions. The map for TS2010 doesn't have any kind of path display like RW does. Both games are similar otherwise, zoom in and out with the mouse wheel, possibly that's the scrolling problem you're having with RW. Zoom out for the big picture and to move around, zoom in for detail. Best I recall RW map is always oriented north, with TS2010 the map is oriented in the direction you're facing when you hit the M key, possibly that's an advantage.

 

[4ndylloyd]

Hello, welcome to the forums.

Trainz works in a similar way in that you get a 2D map that you can use but you can zoom in close to junctions to see which way to go. I am not a user of Railworks but have done 3 versions of Trainz and am addicted ! If you read these forums you will find that visually Railworks just 'pips' Trainz as locos and rolling stock in Railworks can throw shadows upon themselves. Some of the screenshots that I have seen of 2010 show great detail and richness to the pictures posted. One thing that is a sure winner is the surveyor mode in Trainz. It is easy to make great looking routes and the list of freely availoable assets is absolutely HUGE.

Not sure if there is a Railworks forum but this one is a great source of information and advice. There are often lots of users online and most if not all will be willing to answer a politely posed question.

Take the plunge, buy Trainz and enjoy the fun !!

Andy

 

[cptn_lozz0]

Thanks for the quick replies!

I'm guessing you're passenger train driving, which is the one thing that Railworks DOES do well. The map doesn't have enough contrast and the path lines are really hard to see, but if the scenario is set up correctly it SHOULD set all the switches for you to get where you need to go.

I'm more of a switching (shunting) fanatic and rarely exceed 30mph anywhere, most of my time is spent backing and forthing at 5mph, but Vern has often complained about Trainz lack of automatic switch setting in sessions. The map for TS2010 doesn't have any kind of path display like RW does. Both games are similar otherwise, zoom in and out with the mouse wheel, possibly that's the scrolling problem you're having with RW. Zoom out for the big picture and to move around, zoom in for detail. Best I recall RW map is always oriented north, with TS2010 the map is oriented in the direction you're facing when you hit the M key, possibly that's an advantage.

I may have misunderstood you, but I am driving the trains, not a passenger, but I generally use the outside view rather than the inside view, which I find a bit too limiting.
My main problem is having to scroll the length of the line to find out if it is the correct line. AN orientated map will help no doubt.
You mention a lack automatic switching, (I'm sorry I don't know the technical terms) do you mean as in switch between say line one and line two? I like having to do everything myself, so I would be happy with that anyway.

 

[cptn_lozz0]

Hello, welcome to the forums.

Trainz works in a similar way in that you get a 2D map that you can use but you can zoom in close to junctions to see which way to go. I am not a user of Railworks but have done 3 versions of Trainz and am addicted ! If you read these forums you will find that visually Railworks just 'pips' Trainz as locos and rolling stock in Railworks can throw shadows upon themselves. Some of the screenshots that I have seen of 2010 show great detail and richness to the pictures posted. One thing that is a sure winner is the surveyor mode in Trainz. It is easy to make great looking routes and the list of freely availoable assets is absolutely HUGE.

Not sure if there is a Railworks forum but this one is a great source of information and advice. There are often lots of users online and most if not all will be willing to answer a politely posed question.

Take the plunge, buy Trainz and enjoy the fun !!

Andy

Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement.
I came here to ask as I have been lurking for while reading through some posts and getting sold on the game!
I think I will buy it as I really like the idea of building whic hI have not even looked at in RW and other people and places have mentioned the available assets is a massive draw to Trainz.

I'm not particularly bothered about the graphics, as to me, both look amazing, and my graphics card isn't the best so that's not a massive issue.

Another bonus is apparantly it works in Ubuntu, and I only have Windows installed to play some games, Railworks being one of them!

I'm tempted to wait out the Steam Summer sale incase TS2010 comes up, but I think I'll just get it now instead so I can start the download!

Thanks again

edit: sorry for the double post

 

[sniper297]

Driving a passenger train as opposed to driving a freight train or shunter. Trainz does US freight operations and switching (shunting, sorting cars in yards, Americans call that switching) the best of all the trainsims, but Railworks does a good job for British passenger train operations since that's what it was primarily designed for.

If you have the money to spare, no real reason not to buy TS2010 and try it out, I've had all three of the major trainsims and would still play them all if I had enough room on my hard disk. My youngest son still prefers 10 year old Microsoft Train Simulator, I prefer TS2010, none of them are perfect and all three have something that they do better than the other two. That's my Holy Grail, I want a trainsim with the best features of all three, haven't found it yet. :'(

 

[cptn_lozz0]

Driving a passenger train as opposed to driving a freight train or shunter. Trainz does US freight operations and switching (shunting, sorting cars in yards, Americans call that switching) the best of all the trainsims, but Railworks does a good job for British passenger train operations since that's what it was primarily designed for.

If you have the money to spare, no real reason not to buy TS2010 and try it out, I've had all three of the major trainsims and would still play them all if I had enough room on my hard disk. My youngest son still prefers 10 year old Microsoft Train Simulator, I prefer TS2010, none of them are perfect and all three have something that they do better than the other two. That's my Holy Grail, I want a trainsim with the best features of all three, haven't found it yet. :'(

Ahh, ok I misread that then, I think i prefer the shunting and freight train stuff anyway, moving cargo and sorting cars in yards appeals.

I do like the idea of having routes local to me, Devon routes, but I want Exeter to London line which isn't available for RW.

My holy grail would actually be an up to date version of a game called RailPro which I used to play on an Archimedes, when I was around 10. It was very simple game in terms of idea and graphics. You had a number of lines, with a yard and entry and exit points, and you had to make sure trains could get through to their destination by switching the correct lines, moving trains out of each others way and doing it all on time.

Think it's time I get over and buy the game...

 

[sniper297]

I would say so. Quick look for "exeter" on the download station does turn up a route;

FER South Exeter to Joppa Junction

Might have some of what you're looking for.