Is this the game for me?

[Dr_Watson]

Hi

I have Trainz 2006. Played it for a few hours but remember the routes were short, lots of bugs etc.

I am looking for a train simulator for driving ONLY. I like UK routes, steam especially but diesel and electric are also nice. I am looking for routes that are long enough for an hours run for instance.

I see there is a 2009 version out "2009 World Builder edition".

- What comes with this package. What additional packages are available for UK routes. I see the Settle Carlisle looks really interesting, 87 miles, wow!

- I also see 2010 advertises "preorder now". When is the release likely and should I wait for it or go for 2009.

- Is Cabon City an addon or seperate game, I also really like the tram runs with many short stops in cities.

- If I buy digitally, should I buy from ts2009 site, then buy addons from Just trains.

- On Just trains, are all addons for "*train simulator" compatible with Tranz 2009 or am I getting all confused??

- I don't see many steam loco's. Are these less popular?


- Finally, I have a good PC, C2D 3.6ghz, GTX260 ( I normally play flight sims) and a 12mb connection.

Thanks for any info. Sorry for so many random questions, I want to be sure of what I'm buying before I part with my cash.

 

[john259]

Dunno if it's of interest to you but the Razorback layout that comes built-in with TRS2006 has over 150km of track. It's a long way from Lewisham to Port Hunter, or from Apollo Bay to Norris Green.

John

 

[FootplatePhil]

If your mainly interested in driving you may be better of waiting for 2010, which is meant to be available in a few weeks. TS2009 was mainly aimed at content creators. It does not contain much new content above 2006, which you already have. As you have noted, since the release of 2009 there have been 3 add on packs announced which add new routes. Apparently these work just as well with 2010.

Having said that, one of the biggest strengths of Trainz, and what has always set it apart from the other railway simulators out there, is Surveyor mode. Surveyor is a great tool for creating your own routes. If you judge Trainz as a simulator alone you are missing half the story.

Phil

 

[itareus]

I would go for TS2010 and the Settle and Carlisle 2009 add on.

If you want you could get the S&C now and install it as a "Stand Alone" Driver only package and then when 2010 comes along you can re-install the S&C as part of 2010. The S&C has some good British steam (and diesel) locos, MK1 coaches and good stock.

The Auran 2010 website has just been updated. Check it out - link http://www.ts2010.com/

Personally I always buy direct from Auran.

HTH

Chris

 

[Ferngren]

"Driving only, steam, UK routes etc." Sounds like TC3 would be something for you. A very stable version indeed. I ordered mine from Auran site, DVD came on the fourth day after. I just like having the physical DVD.

I've read if you buy from Just Trains, you have to run it with the DVD in the drive - with the Auran version you don't. (someone correct me if I'm wrong)

Cabon City you purchase from Trainzland. I haven't got to that myself yet but been running Modula in TC 1&2 and in that one you can drive trams for hours. Cabon City is bigger. I think CAB's trams are the best to drive ever, simple mouse-controlled acceleration/deceleration stick, very smooth.

My 2 cents...

 

[airtime]

"Driving only, steam, UK routes etc." Sounds like TC3 would be something for you. A very stable version indeed. I ordered mine from Auran site, DVD came on the fourth day after. I just like having the physical DVD.

My 2 cents...

Yes I have to agree with Ferngren on this, Trainz Classics 3 UK would be probably the best Trainz program for driving steam/diesel locomotives over long distances, there are various routes in the game including the express route from Settle to Carlisle, it takes about an hour to get through, but the route is busy and will keep you alert for most of the journey. You also get surveyor with this to make your own routes, surveyor in trainz is much easier to use than Railsim/Railworks which I will come onto next...

As mentioned above, there is another simulator called Railsim or Railworks, made in the UK, and I prefer this as a driving program more than any other part of it, it's surveyor part is so hard to understand, that you need a degree or two to use it, but it's routes are well made, it includes a steam route and also the London Paddington via Reading to Oxford route and features trains and rolling stock of today, the route takes about 40 minutes to complete, so not as long as the Settle to Carlisle route in TC3, but it gives you some realtime running.

Please note that you'll need a very good computer to run Railsim/Railworks, I have a high spec computer, but the frame rates in this can be a bit stop/start at times, especially around empty goods yards. Where as with trainz, the frame rates are much better all round, and that includes when your in or around goods yards empty/full. You can also get low poly wagons to run in trainz, these keep your frame rates low, so no stop/start in trainz, you don't get low poly wagons or anything in Railsim/Railworks.

Hope this helps

Joe Airtime
My number one choice is trainz

 

[LieLestoSbrat]

I think TRS2010 with S&C addon would be your best bet. 2010 comes with 1970's era KX - Doncaster ECML, add in S&C and you've got 2 long UK routes, further more you can use the locos etc on both routes.

Rob

 

[Mike10]

Just to add some more info;

TC3 website: www.trainzclassics.co.uk

Look in the 'Game Info' section on the left menu for details of what is included.

TS2009:S&C website www.settleandcarlisle.co.uk

Use the 'Overview' on the left menu for details of what is included.

Mike.

 

[Johnk]

Hey Doc,

Welcome aboard, but.............

Have you taken a moment to read anything in these forums before asking?

Why on earth would you want to purchase TS2009 when TS2010 is being released in a matter of weeks?

Every question you have asked has also been answered in these forums a thousand times plus in the last few weeks.

Sorry to be rude, but you are allowed to read a few posts before asking so many questions.

 

[Dr_Watson]

Hey Doc,

Welcome aboard, but.............

Have you taken a moment to read anything in these forums before asking?
I looked through many of the threads but didn't see any with the questions I wanted answered.

Why on earth would you want to purchase TS2009 when TS2010 is being released in a matter of weeks?
You tell me! Is it always the case where the latest version is the best???

Every question you have asked has also been answered in these forums a thousand times plus in the last few weeks.
I don't have time to read thousands of threads, sorry.

Sorry to be rude, but you are allowed to read a few posts before asking so many questions.
Yes, you are being rude, apology accepted.

Thanks to all the rest who gave me some really usefull info, the links to some addons are great. For someone new, this game(s) are pretty confusing with all the version, addons etc.

 

[Originalwelshborder]

Have a look at the Merchison set up by Sir Gibby (see links from the Payware forum, and his promotional thread). Not UK but superb driving scenario, and there is an up to date stand alone version that provides ample different driving experiences.

The various versions of Trainz are indeed confusing, you'll find a fair number of people with the view that 2004 was better than 2006. Then there's the Trainz Classics mini series that has developed as a parallell universe....but, subject to what 2010 delivers, this is my personal favourite to date. Follow Mike 10's website!

 

[johnwhelan]

Hi

I have Trainz 2006. Played it for a few hours but remember the routes were short, lots of bugs etc.

I am looking for a train simulator for driving ONLY. I like UK routes, steam especially but diesel and electric are also nice. I am looking for routes that are long enough for an hours run for instance.

I see there is a 2009 version out "2009 World Builder edition".

- What comes with this package. What additional packages are available for UK routes. I see the Settle Carlisle looks really interesting, 87 miles, wow!

- I also see 2010 advertises "preorder now". When is the release likely and should I wait for it or go for 2009.

- Is Cabon City an addon or seperate game, I also really like the tram runs with many short stops in cities.

- If I buy digitally, should I buy from ts2009 site, then buy addons from Just trains.

- On Just trains, are all addons for "*train simulator" compatible with Tranz 2009 or am I getting all confused??

- I don't see many steam loco's. Are these less popular?


- Finally, I have a good PC, C2D 3.6ghz, GTX260 ( I normally play flight sims) and a 12mb connection.

Thanks for any info. Sorry for so many random questions, I want to be sure of what I'm buying before I part with my cash.

You could spend a few hundred hours digging through the forums to find out the information you desire.

My opinion would be welcome to the forums, TS2010 is the same as TS2009 except it has Speedtree added and more content. This means no major changes / testing and it really should be out very shortly. TS2009 was not about content so basically the same content as TRS2006.

Buying directly from Auran helps their bottom line, depending on the deal they get about 20% of the price through a distributor.

Steam is better supported in TC3 onwards but you may have to adjust the config.txt files for earlier locos. UK steam go for S&C add on, Murchison 2 add on is worth getting as well.

Oh and get a first class ticket, there are some 100,000 assets on the DLS at the moment including quite a few steam locos.

Cheerio John

 

[nawlins]

Hi, Dr_Watson.
One thing you should be aware of is that you can run TS2009/2010 in two modes.
The 'compatibility mode' allows you to run previous versions of routes and assets with very few issues. In other words it has 'backwards' compatibility. There are many UK routes on the DLS that you can download and run in compatibility mode.

The 'native mode' is very restrictive and will not display assets with errors indicated in Content Manager. It also doesn't like earlier versions of trees and some splines, like power lines. However, it has features that allow creators to produce finer looking models, among other things.
Routes are gradually being added to the DLS for TS2009

Cheers