Help understanding the Trainz offerings

[Silvis]

I'm confused - Can someone help me?

I'm thinking of buying Trainz 2009 but am confused about all the different offerings.
There is Trainz Simulator 2009: World Builder Edition, then there is TS: Settle & Carlisle, TS: Classic Carbon CIty, TS: Murchison 2, TS Classics Volume 3, Trainz Collection, and others. Then there's something called Trainz First Class Ticket.

Very confusing!!!

I suspect the starting point is TS 2009: World Builder Edition and for $30 that's not bad. But what does that include? Will I have any routes I can run trains on or any scenery to use in building my own routes? Or will I have to shell out another $30, $50, $100 or more to get something to run trains on.

Can someone shed some light on this for me?
Thanks

 

[PatrickTaylor89]

Well, let's see if we can sort this out.

First off, the First Class Ticket is not a game of any kind. It provides you with higher-speed access to the Download Station (DLS). You can access the DLS without it, but at a slower speed.

Trainz Simulator 2009: World Builder Edition is the most recent full version of Trainz. It comes full of content from all previous versions, including many routes.

TS: Settle & Carlisle, TS: Classic Carbon CIty, TS: Murchison 2 are what you might call "spin-off" products from TS 2009. They include only the route mentioned in the title, and do not include the Surveyor module (where you build & edit routes). I believe they can be integrated into the full version of 2009: WBE if you wish to do that, but of course, you'd have to own it.

Trainz Classics 3 was the release prior to 2009. It is a full version of Trainz (including Surveyor), but includes only one route (in this case, it's the Settle & Carlisle route) and only the content required for that route. Because of that this, problems can arise if you download other routes that require built-in content from, say, Trains 2006.

As for Trainz Collection, I believe that is a collection of numerous prior versions of Trainz, from the original up to at least Trainz 2006. I'm not 100% sure about that though, so perhaps someone else can confirm.

Hope that's all accurate and that it helps.

Patrick

 

[Silvis]

So, if I read you correctly, if I buy TS 2009: World Builder Edition that is the starting point. That will get me the ability to run trains on several routes and also allow me to build my own scenery and routes if I want.

I can then use the Down Load Station to obtain other scenery, locos, cars, routes, etc.

Is that correct?
Thanks for your help.

 

[john259]

Yes that's right, plus a number of Trainz fansites also offer additional content, some free some payware.

However, there's considerable debate as to which is the "best" version of Trainz, as a browse around this forum will quickly reveal. For example, you might like to read this thread (not that I'm assuming you're seven years old of course!).

HTH, John

 

[Rusty1955]

So, if I read you correctly, if I buy TS 2009: World Builder Edition that is the starting point. That will get me the ability to run trains on several routes and also allow me to build my own scenery and routes if I want.

I can then use the Down Load Station to obtain other scenery, locos, cars, routes, etc.

Is that correct?
Thanks for your help.

You will be able to run a few routes that come preinstalled on 09. When I got 09, I also bought a FCT for a year. Now I don't have a limit on how much I can download and it doesn't take as long to get it!

Have a good day!

 

[tomurban]

I'm confused - Can someone help me?

I'm thinking of buying Trainz 2009 but am confused about all the different offerings.
There is Trainz Simulator 2009: World Builder Edition, then there is TS: Settle & Carlisle, TS: Classic Carbon CIty, TS: Murchison 2, TS Classics Volume 3, Trainz Collection, and others. Then there's something called Trainz First Class Ticket.

Very confusing!!!

I suspect the starting point is TS 2009: World Builder Edition and for $30 that's not bad. But what does that include? Will I have any routes I can run trains on or any scenery to use in building my own routes? Or will I have to shell out another $30, $50, $100 or more to get something to run trains on.

Can someone shed some light on this for me?
Thanks

I Think Patrick has done an excellent job of explaning the various editions of Trainz for you. However my personal recommendation would be Trainz ver 2006. Trainz 2009 is still a work in progress with kinks and bugs still to be worked out. Also, make sure you have the computer horsepower to run Trainz as it is a very memory and graphics intensive program. I initially tried running Trainz on a then 5 year old laptop with less than satisfactory results. Thanks to assistance and recommendations of forum members, I was able to acquire a desktop computer with the proper specifications. The main lesson that I learned is that built in or on board graphics are usually inadequate to run Trainz, especially the CMP, (Content Manager) component. A separate graphics card (nvidia) with at least 256MB of DDR memory is recommended.

Good Luck, tomurban

 

[johnwhelan]

TS2009 has the most built in content and needs the least powerful machine to run. It needs a new type of tree to work best in native mode. It also has the new steam loco support introduced with TC3.

TS: Murchison 2 is one of the best routes available for Trainz and if you pre order you get the Auran tree pack thrown in which works in native mode TS2009.

If you try it and like it then go with the First class ticket to be able to download without limit from the 100,000 assets ion the DLS. You can download without it but there are limitations.

Cheerio John

 

[PatrickTaylor89]

I should add one more thing...If this thread hasn't made it abundantly clear, whatever version of Trainz that you get, it is a program with a fairly steep learning curve - at least in order to get the most out of it!

Be patient! In my experience, Trainz is a program you can enjoy for years and still learn new stuff about even after all that time.

Patrick

 

[Mick_Berg]

The main lesson that I learned is that built in or on board graphics are usually inadequate to run Trainz, especially the CMP, (Content Manager) component. A separate graphics card (nvidia) with at least 256MB of DDR memory is recommended.

Good Luck, tomurban

With respect, that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I don't see how CMP, which is basically a database, sophisticated certainly, but with almost no graphics requirement, can put any significant load on a computer's graphics system. But Trainz itself, that's a whole different matter!
I would recommend that the video card have 1gb of memory. If you're going to buy a card, spend a few extra dollars on one that will do the job properly.
And, as I found out, don't bother with Crossfire or SLI, it does nothing for Trainz.
Mick Berg.

 

[john259]

Trainz is a program you can enjoy for years and still learn new stuff about even after all that time.

Very true. This page on the Trainz wikibook has a list of some of things you can do with Trainz.

John

 

[Silvis]

Thanks for all the comments.
I am going to buy something - either 2006 or 2009.

Thanks again.

 

[tomurban]

With respect, that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I don't see how CMP, which is basically a database, sophisticated certainly, but with almost no graphics requirement, can put any significant load on a computer's graphics system. But Trainz itself, that's a whole different matter!
I would recommend that the video card have 1gb of memory. If you're going to buy a card, spend a few extra dollars on one that will do the job properly.
And, as I found out, don't bother with Crossfire or SLI, it does nothing for Trainz.
Mick Berg.

I did not want to get too technical. I was indirectly referring to need for openGL

tomurban

 

[mjolnir]

I think in the earlier post in the thread, John Whelan did not quite mean what he wrote

TS2009 has the most built in content and needs the least powerful machine to run. It needs a new type of tree to work best in native mode. It also has the new steam loco support introduced with TC3.
Cheerio John

While it is true that TS2009 includes the most content (and I'd say that the content is included with the purchase, as it's not technically "built in"), the fact is that TS 2009 will need the most powerful machine to run. Before you purchase, check the specifications of your machine against the specifications needed to run TS2009. If your computer meets those specifications, purchase 2009; while there are bugs, and while there are new types of trees, a large quantity of the old content works reasonably well. If your computer won't handle the minimum specifications, then get 2006 for now, and plan to upgrade.

ns

 

[john259]

The difference of opinion regarding how powerful a computer is needed for TS2009 might be due to the difference between Compatibility Mode and Native Mode.

In Compatibility Mode, TS2009 requires at least as powerful a computer as TRS2004 and TRS2006. Most assets work in this mode but not all. It only takes a single asset to not work to prevent an activity or a layout loading, and beginners especially won't have the advanced skills needed to fix the problem. The same activities and layouts often work perfectly in TRS2004 or TRS2006.

In Native Mode, TS2009 requires a less powerful computer (or put another way, it runs faster on the same computer). However, there is hardly any material available for this mode yet.

IMHO TS2009 is ideal for cutting edge 3D model creators who want to explore the new techniques it offers, but it is not yet suitable for beginners.

John