Don't see anything new in Trainz 2009!

[lewellan222]

I just got Trainz Simulator 2009 (ordered from the UK to the USA with the packaging from "Just Trains" whoever that is)...and, well, I see VERY little difference from Trainz 2006!

The Trainz 2009 website shows highly detailed tracks and a detailed SD40...so I buy the game thinking it will feature highly detailed trains. Well, besides the one SD40 there are NO OTHER detailed locos or cars, the tracks look as crappy as they did in the 2006 version (which, incidentally, has 1990s quality graphics) and I see marginally better scenery.

Am I missing something? I see no options to update. This version is 38869. The package doesn't say "World Builder" or anything. Did I get duped into buying a hack version?

 

[Relick]

I just got Trainz Simulator 2009 (ordered from the UK to the USA with the packaging from "Just Trains" whoever that is)...and, well, I see VERY little difference from Trainz 2006!

The Trainz 2009 website shows highly detailed tracks and a detailed SD40...so I buy the game thinking it will feature highly detailed trains. Well, besides the one SD40 there are NO OTHER detailed locos or cars, the tracks look as crappy as they did in the 2006 version (which, incidentally, has 1990s quality graphics) and I see marginally better scenery.

Am I missing something? I see no options to update. This version is 38869. The package doesn't say "World Builder" or anything. Did I get duped into buying a hack version?

I too am disappointed with TRS09.

UPDATES ARE HERE

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?p=478087#post478087

cheers

 

[john259]

Just Trains is the UK distributor for Trainz. Their editions of TRS2004 and TRS2006 require the original uncopyable disc to be in the drive whenever the program is used, I don't know if the same is true with TS2009. The Auran web site doesn't have SP1 for the Just Trains edition of TRS2006, instead it has to be downloaded from the Just Trains web site. Again I don't know if the same is true with TS2009.

John

 

[johnwhelan]

I just got Trainz Simulator 2009 (ordered from the UK to the USA with the packaging from "Just Trains" whoever that is)...and, well, I see VERY little difference from Trainz 2006!

The Trainz 2009 website shows highly detailed tracks and a detailed SD40...so I buy the game thinking it will feature highly detailed trains. Well, besides the one SD40 there are NO OTHER detailed locos or cars, the tracks look as crappy as they did in the 2006 version (which, incidentally, has 1990s quality graphics) and I see marginally better scenery.

Am I missing something? I see no options to update. This version is 38869. The package doesn't say "World Builder" or anything. Did I get duped into buying a hack version?

These days Auran makes the game engine and relies on content creators to build content. So look at the DLS for new content. TS2009 moves more of the processing over to the GPU, uses DXT texture compression and can make use of more than one cpu core. So basically it can give better frame rates than previous versions and can handle bigger texture files for more detail. There is more use of Normal Mapping but that has been there for some time, its just we can now do this using a free content creation tool Blender, GMAX did not directly support this. Translation look at the shadows on Normal Mapped wagons etc. you get the same effect as lots more polys without the machine load.

What you have is TS2009 WBE edition, technically there is little difference in making content for TS2009 and TC3, other than TS2009 can handle more polys. If you have a dig on the DLS there is some recent content by vinnybarb, S301, that is more geared towards TS2009 than earlier versions, also my recent work is again more suited to TS2009 than earlier versions.

If you are into UK content then I'd suggest buying the S&C content pack for TS2009, pre order now and you get a free tree pack.

For the price that TS2099 is selling for in the UK around $11 on Amazon I think it's not over priced and by the time Amazon and Just Trains have taken their mark up there isn't much left for Auran.

If you want better content etc from Auran then basically you need to put some cash into their pockets. Don't forget they went bankrupt with Fury so aren't flush with cash at the moment.

Cheerio John

 

[lewellan222]

Thanks for the reply! I kind of gathered from the incredible support from the public that this sim is very much an "engine" that lets serious enthusiasts build what THEY want from a sim. A great idea.

But I am new, and though I am impressed with the incredible customizable options of the sim, was kind of hoping for a more polished sim in buying 2009.

I could not find any updates for the JustTrains version of Trainz 2009. Not on their website, anyway. I downloaded SP1 from the Auran site, but it will not work with my version of the game.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the sim's assets, but I just thought I'd be seeing a lot of new detail "out of the box". Let's consider the detailed tracks...the tracks that have detailed ties. Is that not "built in"? How do I get these better tracks? The official website implies they are the "default track", but I sure don't see them. That's what made me think I had a "lesser" version of the sim than, say, the US retail version.

 

[johnwhelan]

Have a look at the build number. These days TS2009 has auto update so leave it connected and it should update itself.

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=45299

This forum is a useful place to find out information, but I'd also have a look here:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz

TS2009 is quite a complex product and to get the most out of it takes time and some effort. One problem is finding decent content. Many routes were built with the older track, the newer high detailed track does exist but picking it out of all the other tracks available takes time.

You can use the TS2009 filters to cut out much of the unwanted items, for example set minimum build number to 2.9 (TS2009) and category to track in CM2 and it will show you just the new TS2009 track. "Auran Track TS2009" is the one you want.

TS2009 UK version is the same as the US retail version. I'd suggest grabbing a First Class ticket http://www.auran.com/auran/store/ then having a dig in at the DLS. I know some people who have managed to download the entire DLS for free but it's a lot easier with the FCT.

Remember it can take a couple of years to build a decent route so routes with TS2009 content may take some time to appear. http://www.trainzproroutes.org is probably worth a visit.

Cheerio John

 

[john259]

If you download a service pack manually:

You must first discover your current build number. This is displayed on the main menu when the program starts. It's also very useful to quote your current build number here when asking for help.

Each Trainz service pack installation file has two numbers in its filename. The first number must match precisely with your current build number. The second number is the build number which will result after installing the service pack.

When applying service packs, be sure to follow the instructions precisely, and with TS2009 allow anything up to 48 hours for the installation procedure to run. (Yes, really, it can take that long)

John

 

[Lewiscc65]

You are right on John but what really gets me is that I should not be required to pay Auran for a tree add-ons’. They put out all this hype then after I bought it I am told I have to run in compatibility mode or pay more for add-ons’ to work in Native mode. I could have stayed with 2006 and had the same look as 2009 compatibility.

 

[klambert]

After all the mentioned points TRS09 sounds quite tempting. I wont be buying it just yet though. The complete S&C sounds good.

 

[john_goddard]

You are right on John but what really gets me is that I should not be required to pay Auran for a tree add-ons’. They put out all this hype then after I bought it I am told I have to run in compatibility mode or pay more for add-ons’ to work in Native mode. I could have stayed with 2006 and had the same look as 2009 compatibility.

You are not forced to buy them, creators such as Jankvis and TNM are well on the way to building acceptable 2009 native trees, John.

 

[lewellan222]

My build version shows as "38869". That isn't listed anywhere in the SPs. In fact, I see no references to that number at all.

Odd...I don't seem to be able to find anything on the Just Trains site either.

 

[SuperFudd]

A forum "seach" for "38869" found this:

The texture compression issue is a known bug, which has been fixed in Service Pack 2. However, SP2 has not been released for build 38869. This version is currently in testing, and you should see an automatic update appear when it is made available. You may also see an announcement made of the forums for it release as well.
Thank you for your patience.

Zec Murphy

Customer Support Rep
Auran Games

 

[john259]

As expected, build 38869 is TS2009 UK SP1. Sorry, I've no idea whether an SP2 upgrade is available for it.

John

 

[Lewiscc65]

You are not forced to buy them, creators such as Jankvis and TNM are well on the way to building acceptable 2009 native trees, John.

I know I am not FORCED to buy them. I just think that some should have been included in the original game. There is not one route that came with it that can be run in native mode, unless I missed one. Most of the routes can be fixed to that point, by the user, except for the trees.

 

[timjack]

Disapointed with Trainz 2009

These days Auran makes the game engine and relies on content creators to build content. So look at the DLS for new content. TS2009 moves more of the processing over to the GPU, uses DXT texture compression and can make use of more than one cpu core. So basically it can give better frame rates than previous versions and can handle bigger texture files for more detail. There is more use of Normal Mapping but that has been there for some time, its just we can now do this using a free content creation tool Blender, GMAX did not directly support this. Translation look at the shadows on Normal Mapped wagons etc. you get the same effect as lots more polys without the machine load.

What you have is TS2009 WBE edition, technically there is little difference in making content for TS2009 and TC3, other than TS2009 can handle more polys. If you have a dig on the DLS there is some recent content by vinnybarb, S301, that is more geared towards TS2009 than earlier versions, also my recent work is again more suited to TS2009 than earlier versions.

If you are into UK content then I'd suggest buying the S&C content pack for TS2009, pre order now and you get a free tree pack.

For the price that TS2099 is selling for in the UK around $11 on Amazon I think it's not over priced and by the time Amazon and Just Trains have taken their mark up there isn't much left for Auran.

If you want better content etc from Auran then basically you need to put some cash into their pockets. Don't forget they went bankrupt with Fury so aren't flush with cash at the moment.

Cheerio John

Look I would love to help Auran but first I must say that Ts 2009 really does not excite me at all after 2006. It appears to be the same. I am having many script errors even on the old trusty Wadalbavale Line (the details for the route pop up in German! I agree that 2009 is a complex product but I am having many troubles, eg driver mode. I too have the Just flight download version which really should work better than it currently does. I have a reasonably fast machine and all sata drives. cannot find a manual patch that will work with this product.

As an Aussie, I want Auran to do well but believe that they are very slow in updating their SP2 fixes to auto patch.

I trust that this can get sorted out soon.

timjack