Anyone still use MSTS?

[nathanmallard]

Note to mods- I am not trying to start a "which sim is best" flame war, just asking a genuine question

Hi,
Recently, I have dived back in to the world of MSTS. Despite it being over 14 years old, I still consider it an extremely decent simulator, even if the graphics are somewhat lacking (Although this is kind of a blessing in disguise as I have not yet found a computer that doesn't run MSTS smoothly). Even then, some of the more recent routes look extremely good- Glasgow to Carlisle, Lynton & Barnstaple, Woodhead etc. I personally consider the physics extremely realistic too; perhaps better than TS12. There is more variety, too- if you can think of a (British) locomotive or multiple unit, chances are it is available for MSTS.
Of course, the biggest let down is the ridiculously complicated route/activity/consist editor, although third-party options are available in this regard. I'm not keen on the steam effects either, and some steam locomotive models look extremely simplistic, although they have certainly been getting better over the years. Here are a few screenshots:

(BTW these shots were selected at random- it is complete coincidence that they are all electrics!)
So, does anyone else here use MSTS, besides purely nostalgia? If so, for what reasons?

 

[hminky]

There is a new route editor being developed for OpenRails/MSTS.

OpenRails runs the old MSTS stuff great.

I run OpenRails/MSTS because of all the prototypical routes available and Activity Generator which makes operational scenarios easy.

Harold

 

[cascaderailroad]

What are the major MSTS Forum links ?

I suppose they have a completed Horseshoe Curve route from Altoona to Johnstown (Not that they were ever any actual big terminals, as Conway and Enola were).

 

[clam1952]

OR Version one just crashes here, previous one was okish haven't bothered to investigate as too busy trying to get the TANE version of my route finalised.

Missed that route editor though when did that appear?

 

[hminky]

What are the major MSTS Forum links ?

I suppose they have a completed Horseshoe Curve route from Altoona to Johnstown (Not that they were ever any actual big terminals, as Conway and Enola were).

The PRR Eastern Route has the Horseshoe and goes east.

The Horseshoe route runs west from Altoona to Sang Hollow.

Have been running OpenRails from X360 of five years ago to the newer experimentals and none have crashed.

OpenRails has a weekly experimental to download as the sim progresses.

Harold

 

[teddytoot]

Message deleted as hminky has corrected my incorrect out of date information.

 

[hminky]

Route editor discussion:

http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread.php?323507

Route editor download:

http://koniec.org/tsre5/TSRE5_v0.610.zip

http://koniec.org/tsre5/TSRE5_v0.611.exe


Harold

 

[clam1952]

Thanks Harold, that looks interesting!

 

[ktain.ny]

Msts dose have a lot of options.... They have every up steam engine...

 

[hminky]

There is also a Blender/MSTS exporter:

www3.telus.net/wacampbell/downloads/BlenderToMSTS.zip

Harold

 

[nathanmallard]

I also love the activities in MSTS, there is a real sense of achievement when you complete one! Bit off-topic but does anyone know if a Class 380 has ever been made for Trainz? I could swear I saw a sketchup conversion once.

 

[cascaderailroad]

I looked at some videos @ 2011 of the Horseshoe Curve, and it appears that it majorly lacks the realizum of Scratchy's route

I picked up MSTS at a yard sale for a couple bucks, but I really don't see me getting involved with it, as I see Trainz as more realistic, and easy to use in surveyor

 

[hminky]

Note to mods- I am not trying to start a "which sim is best" flame war, just asking a genuine question

I looked at some videos @ 2011 of the Horseshoe Curve, and it appears that it majorly lacks the realizum of Scratchy's route

I picked up MSTS at a yard sale for a couple bucks, but I really don't see me getting involved with it, as I see Trainz as more realistic, and easy to use in surveyor

Wondered how long before someone would begin "I don't like MSTS"?

Guess some people can't read the title of the thread or the original post. Who cares if YOU don't like MSTS that isn't what the thread is about.

MSTS/OpenRails have things that other sims don't have and are fun. Running Yoder's Horseshoe in OpenRails is more dynamic than running either Trainz or Railworks, like real physics.

Harold

 

[Matt3985]

I used to be a huge fan of MSTS when the it first came out and enjoyed it until the announcement of the cancellation of MSTS 2. While it was a great game to drive trains in, that's all it was good for, sadly though new routes were a bit slow to come by while rolling stock and engines were plentiful.

 

[ATSF854]

I used to play MSTS exclusively before I picked up TRS 2006 (the last copy too) at walmart. It's still fun to play every now and then. I don't care much for open rails sometimes, it's made a bunch of locomotives go bonkers.

Anybody else remember the seaview railway route? I thought it was the coolest thing in the world at one time.

 

[pdkoester]

I have it, ran it a bit last year, haven't reinstalled. Collecting dust for now...

 

[UnumProvident155]

Even though I play TS 12 a lot more than MSTS I do still play that game sometimes

 

[benjaminw]

The newer stuff for MSTS is really good, it amazes me that there is at least one group that still creates payware for it. But it looks AMAZING, and MSTS runs very smoothly on every computer I've put it on. The only letdown it has is it doesn't have the Surveyor and flexibility of Trainz. Oh and the graphics are a bit dated, but Open Rails fixes that, even though the steam engine smoke in OR is even WORSE than in MSTS. (Which wasn't all that bad TBH)

-Ben

 

[Vern]

I've got MSTS installed and even started a couple of attempts at route building. However it lacks the finesse of the later sims in that respect and still as buggy as it ever was - swing the camera the wrong way and track disappears, requiring a track database rebuild. White knuckles while that going on in case you get vector errors or similar. From the UK POV there have been some excellent route releases over the last twelve months, notably Mid East Plus 3.0 which is essentially the ECML from Kings Cross to York plus most of surrounding Eastern England. Midland Main Line from St Pancras/Moorgate to Nottingham is also another excellent title. With the huge selection of UK locos and rolling stock from various sources, there is pretty much nothing left uncovered.

I haven't dabbled much with Open Rails as currently there are a few issues how it handles specific aspects of UK rail operation, notably semaphore signalling and (I think) vacuum braking. I'm also just a little lairy after what happened with Open BVE that the whole thing might not just suddenly fold in on itself and any time invested would be lost.

Once I've got a TS2010 or TS12 project under my belt, I would like to take a firm crack at a MSTS project, if only to celebrate 15 years since release, in July this year.

 

[cascaderailroad]

I wish Microsoft did not close down their video gaming department ... I was very excited that MSTS2 was to include every (major) rail line, in the entire world ... then the rug was pulled out from under us, the game was mothballed, and all the ACE's team laid off ... Bummer !