any opinions on Railworks2??

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Must admit I did chuckle when someone commented they could do with more of these discussions. Oh really?! Where has he been considering this is around the fifth reincarnation? (!).However I must in the terms of wide opinion accept that the repeated repeats of what becomes mundane is part of the chat. The need to constantly bring such back is beyond my reasonable gey cells (thanks toe Hercule Poiret). After the third thread I sighed with relief but I did so too soon!

Well what I meant was simple, way too many threads seem to get into "I know better than you do" or "this is a serious conversation" or "railworks is better than Trainz or vice versa" or "fill-in the blank here."

This could have spiraled into that type of thread, but it remained rather lighthearted with give-and-take on both sides.

As someone who's been around this forum for very long time (and one who has left multiple times over the years) it's nice to see a thread that can go back and forth, veer off-topic occasionally, impart information on both sides, and just be a little fun, without having thread killers come in and complain, whoops too late:hehe:

I'm sorry if the topic is one that you get tired reading. Believe me there are plenty of topics that I get tired of seeing, I just ignore them and go on.

Some are like train wrecks however and you just can't resist taking a look.

In essence I don't know what to tell you, you don't like the topic, you don't have to come in…
 
I own RailSimulator, MSTS and Trainz.
For route building, I prefer Trainz. RS is a close second because I like the track tools, short of the split and weld game. I wish Trainz would pick up some of the track aspects of RS. 10 years and we still don't have decent turnouts? It's a train simulator. You wold think tracks would be important. How about the ability to lay multiple track splines at a correct offset with decent curve tools? I like that feature in RS.
Operationally, it's a toss up with Trainz and MSTS. I like the AI in Trainz, but use it more for a railroad simulator. Kind of cool to build routes I could only dream of and set up complex operating sessions. For actual (simulator wise) running, I still like MSTS. Just something about it I like. The route editor is a mess and making a scenario is a pain. Who wants to run something you spent days making? Still, scenarios from others are fun in it.
As far as "Why RW?". I think it's great to talk about them all. I would like to see the track tools from RW into Trainz. Wish they would have went that route before content. Graphics wise, TRS2006 had the ability to look every bit as good as RW. (Mezzoprezzo's screenshots bear that out) I just wish Trainz would address the track issues at this time. Still find the two a wash graphics wise with the right content
I spend my free time equal with Trainz and MSTS for different reasons. Build the perfect model route and operate it in Trainz, MSTS for it's own reasons. Again, my personal tastes. I think if Trainz could get the track tools and turnouts straightened out, they could take up the majority of the train sim community.
Oh, and Blackwatch, another OLY fan. E3, 14-54, 50-200 and EC14. Need to sell some Canon gear for a 150 2.0. Anyone need a 40D and 24-105L?

Dave......
 
Actually, the first calm, and not aggressive poster who plays and defends RW, it Theo, even if his game is wrong

Jamie
 
How about the ability to lay multiple track splines at a correct offset with decent curve tools? I like that feature in RS.

RS/RW can't deny its predecessor MSTS, including track geometry. The prototype uses straights, circular arcs and transition curves (easements, sprials, clothoids). Transition curves are the challenge. And here the makers of RS quickly gave up. Lack of expertise, lack of skill? I don't know. The main difference to MSTS from a geometry point of view seems that you no longer have do deal with the preset kit of radii.

The initial approach in RS towards transition curves was there, but integration probably turned out to be too difficult and the concept sank into oblivion. Reminds me of Zusi1 (more eye candy in RS/RW, though). But Zusi1 already had cant.

Trainz cunningly avoided to fiddle about with those painful and laborious transition curves by using splines instead. Now, without proper understanding of spline behaviour, track geometry in Trainz can become an ugly mess. However, for the more experienced track layer, the spline can approximate any geometry, even a clothoid. OK, Trainz doesn't have cant either, and the generic turnouts don't look appealing at all.

But - and this shows the power of splines - you can take any prototype track layout plan (drawn to scale) and transfer it 1:1 to Trainz, even automatically.
 
But - and this shows the power of splines - you can take any prototype track layout plan (drawn to scale) and transfer it 1:1 to Trainz, even automatically.

:eek: How can you do that? I am only aware of an experimental software by RPearson to import CadRail files into Trainz, but as far as I know it was never released... unfortunately.
 
:eek: How can you do that? I am only aware of an experimental software by RPearson to import CadRail files into Trainz, but as far as I know it was never released... unfortunately.

TransDem will put any spine in for you automatically, if you have a polyline defined you can make as many layers in 2010 as you want you can do one for rail, one for roadway, one for Rivers, one for fence, one for power lines and on and on and on, if it's a spline TransDem will put it in the map automatically…
 
:eek: How can you do that? I am only aware of an experimental software by RPearson to import CadRail files into Trainz, but as far as I know it was never released... unfortunately.

I have implemented this in TransDEM, probably similar to what RPearson did (we communicated about this here in the forum a few years ago).

The precondition: You have the track geometry available in 3D coordinates, in a geo coordinate system known to TransDEM, including height.

From my website: Image: Arnsberg, Germany, 3D track geometry created in Zusi and transferred to Trainz by TransDEM
 
Beat_Dead_Horse.jpg


Disclaimer: No, it isn't a dead horse, they aren't beating a horse, the guy is photoshopped

Harold
 
I prefer MSTS run from within the latest OpenRails beta to RW2.

Much more satisfying, realism wise.

Even though the physics and AI operation, are at a very early stage of development.

IKB.
 
I prefer MSTS run from within the latest OpenRails beta to RW2.

Much more satisfying, realism wise.

Even though the physics and AI operation, are at a very early stage of development.

IKB.
Open Rails make MSTS fun to operate. If you want to operate REAL North American Routes it is the only way to go. The Activity Generator from Skyline makes it possible to have unlimited activities.

Too bad it is hampered by the MSTS Route Editor "Black Arts". But then again people create massive REAL routes with the MSTS Route Editor.

The MSTS graphics are as good as those in most of the routes provided in TS2010.

Harold
 
sorry to have upset a few people by "starting yet another thread" on this topic..... I had never heard of Railworks until yesterday and just thought that people who wanted to help me with a comparison would reply to the thread, and people who were sick of reading threads like this would just skip over it rather than enter the thread they are sick of to comment about being sick of those threads.... it wasnt my intention to annoy people, i was just looking for some friendly help.....
thanx so much to all of you who have given me such a great deal of information...... I think i might buy it and have a look based on a few of those replies..... i just might not go crazy with the add-ons until im sure i like it
:)

:hehe: But the party goes on... ;)
band.gif


This reminds me of "We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel... :hehe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g

Me neither... ;)

The ever-musical side of Alberte :wave:
 
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Of course I don't have to come in but I pays my money I takes my chances so to speak. I don't want to appear overly intellectual but I do have a right to query why it is found neccessary to keep bringing up the comparison principle over and over again. We are not so much talking about internal Trainz stuff but what is good or bad about RW v Trainz. It goes without saying that if comparing two sims and someone keeps wanting to start a new thread you are just going over the same comparisons. Might give someone a pleasure to raise a thread but the same one all the time? There is a want about.
 
I dont really know why a company would make a railsim when there is already a monopoly on railsims by Auran. (I know MSTS is very large aswell but is dwarfed by Trainz ín all forms)
 
Yes,Yes,Yes....

Buy RW2 no matter what people may say about it good or bad. Your choice is the only one that counts. It's a good sim and you will like it. As far as the cost of add on stuff wait till they put stuff on sale and look for the FREE stuff they put on their site also. Don't buy everything they put out. I specialize in North American content be it for Trainz or RW2. I've spent alot of money on payware stuff for both of them because I like a variety of train stuff in the game. Some people may think that spending $150.00 for TS12 is stupid,but if I like a game money is no object and the key to life is to enjoy it. If you're a person that likes train sims then by all means buy as many as you can and enjoy them all and life. I say raise the glasses and Happy Trainzing to one and all!
:) Alco_P-A
www.bigboytrainsandhobbies.com
 
I dont really know why a company would make a railsim when there is already a monopoly on railsims by Auran. (I know MSTS is very large aswell but is dwarfed by Trainz ín all forms)

Trainz is a great program. MSTS has quite a long list of content and followers as well. Open Rails is about to expand all that. There is no monopoly in train sims. Get a copy of MSTS and go digging for what is out there. Some amazing stuff given the game limitations and age. Those guys still refuse to accept Auran or RW and continue on with the program. It is all third party now, developers left it years ago.

I prefer some operations in MSTS over Trainz to this day. They share equal time with me. Says a lot about the community.

Dave.......
 
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