Deciding between TRS 2019 Platinum or North American Edition

[sparkyinak]

I'm seriously considering taking the plunge but debating between TRS 2019 Platinum or the North American Adition. I'm mostly interested in the Surveyor portion of the programs because who don't want to build a model railroad but don't have the space and or available resources?

I'm leaning to the North American Edition mainly because I don't think I need all the bells and whistles (train humor) that comes with the Platinum Edition. I would like to be able to custom number my switches and track names/numbers. I would like to automate many trains to run automatically.

What, if any differences is there between the two when if comes to the Surveyor portion program? I see the graphics are better but don't necessarily need flowing grass which I'm sure takes a bit more memory in my computer.



Thank you in advance

 

[hiawathamr]

With Trainz's usrveyor (that's the world editor), you can make whatever you want, however you want, without any limitations (just your imagination will be your limit). You can make a fictional route, a model railroad, a route from the real thing, etc.



Here are some quick run downs on the editions you are looking at:

The NA edition is basically a watered down version with the content that comes with the game (except the core version).
You'll have the traditional quick drive, the launch driver from surveyor, and back to surveyor, and the classic camera modes (cab, chase view, trackside, and free roam), and the traditional DLC downloader for any purchased DLC's.

The Platinum edition just by its name comes with comes with 4 new camera modes (carz (ride with the cars on the roads), walk, fly, and drone), the new DLC content store so you can install, update, uninstall DLC's, the new surveyor / driver mode so you can switch without having to leave driver and vice versa (can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN7Hea2x5qo ), and of course, more content.


Personally, the Platinum edition will give you the best deal for the asking price as you get tons of features and content that would cost you want more when buying each item. Of course you don't have to install any of the content that comes with it, but should you ever do, you'll be able to. The surveyor / driver feature has been a big help to me, as I can be testing some speed limits, find out its either too slow or too fast, so I can just quickly switch back to surveyor without interrupting my driving, do the changes needed, and then switch back to driver and continue where I left off.

Cheers

 

[johnwhelan]

The other thing to consider is many routes on the DLS will be built using the built in content and sometimes they will use content such as a house or scenery object from the Platinum edition even though it is a North American route.

So I'd go Platinum.

Cheerio John

 

[1611mac]

You need to think 2 ways... TRS19 "Features" (bells and whistles in the app) and also "Content" (Routes, Sessions, Loco's, Rolling Stock, etc) Know also that there is tons, tons, and tons, of free content too on the DLS/Content Manager. A big part of Trainz is user created content. User created Routes can be as good or better than Payware (paid from store) routes, though there are some nice Payware routes.

And just to cover all the bases I assume you know that you could go with a subscription model also. When you compare know that if you download a lot you will need an "FCT" (First Class Ticket) to upgrade your download speed so when you compare remember that some programs include FCT which you'd want anyway so factor that in. At the bottom of this page is a chart, comparing products.
http://www.trainzportal.com/pages/trs19-faqs

Note the last 3 items under "Features" - Camera Options, Unified Driver/Surveyor, Content Store. Those represent the newest features to TRS19. North American edition is a "Regional" edition which would be the second column (SP1, Regional). Note that Platinum gives you those features plus the content shown in Plat column. Plus includes a FCT plus a quarterly "feature" update. Silver and Gold add access to all content (everything you see for sale in the store). If you enjoy beta testing the plus provides a "beta stream" update stream with which you can download and try beta releases.

Plus, Silver, and Gold are subscriptions. If you ever leave the program the content and features go away. But if you find you are "buying out the store" and you are in until you "don't care" about losing content then the subscription models give you all current and all future apps, features, content, etc.

If you prefer to "purchase to own" then Platinum is for you.

And in case I made a mistake, study the chart carefully. Don't depend on my words. And with Trainz, things can change at any time.

 

[Overshoe]

I bought the North American version and enjoyed it until I began to download freeware and found missing assets galore. Live & learn. Now I have the Platinum version and it was well worth the asking price. I'd recommend Platinum all the way.

 

[Forester1]

Throwing my $.02 in here as well. For the few dollars difference, you get a lot more with Platinum. You may not want it now, but it does open a whole world of possibilities, both in assets and in routes to enjoy. Even if you never leave North America, I can't see why anyone would want to buy limited software for the sake of a couple of bucks. You'll save more than the difference in additional routes right off the bat.

 

[Lancelot01]

............. And just to cover all the bases I assume you know that you could go with a subscription model also. When you compare know that if you download a lot you will need an "FCT" (First Class Ticket) to upgrade your download speed so when you compare remember that some programs include FCT which you'd want anyway so factor that in. At the bottom of this page is a chart, comparing products.
http://www.trainzportal.com/pages/trs19-faqs

..............

Plus, Silver, and Gold are subscriptions. If you ever leave the program the content and features go away. But if you find you are "buying out the store" and you are in until you "don't care" about losing content then the subscription models give you all current and all future apps, features, content, etc.

If you prefer to "purchase to own" then Platinum is for you.

And in case I made a mistake, study the chart carefully. Don't depend on my words. And with Trainz, things can change at any time.

Thanks for the information you supplied regarding the differences and benefits, the link to the chart was the perfect info I needed. On this, I made My choice and purchased the Platinum (downloading as I type).
Next stop, an oily old rag.....