Is Trainz 2012 appropriate for a beginner?

[ewsg]

Hi,

I received Trainz 2012 as a gift, from a friend, and loved all that I saw and read about the game. But, I have not yet started to play, because I'm afraid of the game. I'm afraid it be very complicated to someone who never played any train/rail simulator.

Can I start to play and learn the basics, for myself? Is there some tutorial, beginners guide, etc?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[fran1]

If you can use 2010 which you have ( you say you've never played a simulator?) 2012 is exactly the same.

 

[ewsg]

Hi,

Yes, I have 2010, but played just the tutorial. I stop to play in a few minutes.

I have already played simulators, but none of this type.

 

[oknotsen]

Hi and welcome to Trainz (12),

I am sure that if you play the tutorials and have a healthy patience, you will be able to learn and enjoy all the aspects of the game.
If for whatever reason you dont understand something, search the forum and/or ask; the community is (in general) very helpfull if you are willing to supply the imput we need to answer your questions.

 

[ewsg]

Hi and welcome to Trainz (12),

I am sure that if you play the tutorials and have a healthy patience, you will be able to learn and enjoy all the aspects of the game.
If for whatever reason you dont understand something, search the forum and/or ask; the community is (in general) very helpfull if you are willing to supply the imput we need to answer your questions.

Hi!

Great. I'll try. Thanks for your words.

 

[martinvk]

The first thing you need to understand is the Trainz, any version, is not a game in the sense that there is a goal to attain nor is there something that you have to do. What it is, is a simulation of a railway and all that is connected to it. From a blank baseboard you can build you own fantasy world or one based on real life. If you've always wanted to create a world, this is a lot of fun. Otherwise you can open an existing route created by one of the many talented route builders. If you open the route directly, you have to place your own trains. If you open one of the associated sessions, also made by those same creators, trains will already be available along with instructions to do something. This is about as close to a traditional game as it gets.

Once you're comfortable with the sim, you can start to modify existing sessions or create your own. What you want the trains to do is totally up to you. If it is based on a real route, you could try to duplicate prototypical train movements. A fantasy route should have the activities based on some sort of logic. Passengers and freight need to go somewhere for a reason. Of course you are free to just drive around for fun.

As I mentioned, creation is a big part of Trainz. From routes and sessions to the objects that you find in a route. For some people, object creation is THE fun part of Trainz, actually driving a train is done just to see the created objects in the the sim.

Whatever you like to do, have fun and don't be shy about asking for help. We all started there.

 

[fran1]

Hi,

Yes, I have 2010, but played just the tutorial. I stop to play in a few minutes.

I have already played simulators, but none of this type.

Please note most of the tutorials have faults so if you get stuck it's not your fault, as Martin said have fun and relax.

 

[JCitron]

There's so much to do and learn, that you'll spend hours and hours, and months, years, and then some using the "game". As Martin says, this is not like the shoot-em-up and advance to the next level type of game.

If you're interested in model trains, and railroads, you'll like this because you can build a world the way you want it, as detailed as you want it, or as complicated.


In many ways this is a virtual version of a model railroads. The baseboards are the tables that you would put the track and the scenery down on. The scripts are like the wiring, and the models are like the building kits you place on the trainboard. The things that set the virtual world apart from the real, train-on-the-table, model railroad is there's no mess or waste. If you don't like something, delete it and start over. You didn't waste any kits painting them incorrectly, or getting glue all over the window sheets. If you want to put in a switch, go for it. There's no rail that pulled out from the sleepers, or crimped track ends that need to be filed.

I started with Trainz in late 2004 and I haven't stopped since.

John

 

[Questor9]

This is like having a model railroad in your house, but it does not take up as much room.

 

[KenGreen]

I started with TRS2006 so I might be biased but the manual that came with that version was brilliant I must have read it three times, if you can get hold of a copy of that you will find that it is very good at explaining the basics. Most of the surveyor basics are the same in the later versions. I would get used to TS2010 before moving on to TS12 as there are more routes/sessions and you also have compatibility mode which can allow older content to be used.

Ken

 

[itareus]

Just to add that you can download lots of extra free content (locos, wagons, buildings, cars, planes, complete routes etc.) from the Download Station using Content Manager. There are download speed and amount limits on the included version but you can buy a "First Class Ticket" to get unlimited downloads and much faster speed, if you want this, at any time.

Enjoy !

 

[martinvk]

This is like having a model railroad in your house, but it does not take up as much room.

With the added advantage that you can be working on multiple routes at the same time. Unlike physical models which lock into one layout unless you have a barn. So if you get tired or bored with one route, go to another or another etc.

 

[oknotsen]

Another big advantage is that your wife or mother or yourself or who ever does the vacium cleaning around your house aint able to excidently eat that little critical tiny asset of that engine you had opened up for maintenance.
Downside is that you need a PC which also aint free.

 

[Konni]

Hi,

Another big advantage over a model railroad is that you can create all kinds of custome assets like houses, traincars or locomotives by yourself, without needing an extensive workshop and without being a trained watchmaker or mechanic.

As to learning what you can do with trainz, the latest version 2012 is certainly the best. By the appearance of 2012 the older versions have become obsolete, as this versions eliminates a lot of the bugs which have been plaguing the users of older versions.

Cheers,

Konni

 

[JCitron]

Another big advantage is that your wife or mother or yourself or who ever does the vacium cleaning around your house aint able to excidently eat that little critical tiny asset of that engine you had opened up for maintenance.
Downside is that you need a PC which also aint free.

This goes right along with the tiny springs that fly off into another room somewhere. They usually end up in the shag carpet in the dining room, even if you don't have shag carpet.

I had a dog that used to steal the tiny screws if they were dropped on the floor. Try looking for that tiny screw and can't find it, but instead see the dog chewing on something very small and shiny.

John

 

[mity22]

I would say No but it depends how fast you learn. Me I am happy staying with 2009 as my favourite I cant keep adding new versions its great but could blow my Mind a little.

 

[NickieFoenshauge]

Of course TS12 is suitable for a beginner. I'm a beginner and I use TS12. I'm not saying it's easy, far from it, but there's no need to shy away from it. You can't break anything and you'll learn as you go along.

 

[ewsg]

I would like to thank you all for all your help and words. I can't wait to start my own work on Trainz 2012. I'll start to play today night. Your words have encouraged me a lot. It's great to know that the game has such potential. I love to create things, so, I think I'll love Trainz.

 

[jjanmarine3]

when you start dreaming about missing kuids and dependencies depending on dependencies you must know you are hooked.

 

[Euphod]

I wouldn't recommend 12 to a beginner, unless they bought the Anniversary edition with the nice manual.