My Reveiw of KRS To TRS

[chrisracer8903]

My Reveiw of Rail Simulator To Trainz 2006

I know people have been compairing Kuju Rail Simulator to Trainz 2004/ 2006, but I want to give my personal reveiw of Rail Simulator to how it is to Trainz 2006 on my PC. I got KRS when it came-out and excited to try something new. I installed the game, even though it did not create a short-cut on my desktop (An issue there). I inserted the Rail Simulator CD which is required to play (Not the best idea) and even though the CD tended to not load the game and need to retry again; I still had interest. The game has great graphics, but the sounds of the ES44DC are the same as the SD40-2 (Major inaccuracy) and a generic train horn insted of a real Nathan K5HL horn; also the fact that the trains on the Cajon Pass route were way too short of 10-15 cars insted of the 80-120 car trains on the real line. They even got the Union Pacific paint scemes inaccurate, but British content is really accurate; that's unfair for North American buyers. I did find that the game tended to crash often; so I let the game "Collect alittle dust" for a month and came back to it. I installed the MK1 upgrade that was not really a difference. I'm still waiting for some good US content for the game, but then I found this cool PO&N route with scenarios that I downloaded. It seemed like fun; but the game crashes everytime I tried to play a scenario which really questions if this game supports 3rd party content properly. As for the surveyor; it's ok, but more complicated than it should be. I understand that it's new and takes time to get used to, but 2 hours to put a river and bridge with 2 segments of track is too long compaired to the fact I can do the same scene literally in 5 minutes in Trainz 2006. I got too frustrated with how the track segments splitted and broke many times doing a yard and wouldn't stay straight and the "Weld" button doesn't even work half of the time!

So my conclusion about Kuju Rail Simulator: They really need to do alot more testing on this game for Windows Vista; It crashes way too much in odd places and even more when running 3rd party content. Trainz 2006 + SP1 on my Windows Vista has worked almost FLAWLESSLY and even CMP is really, really responsive and never had a crash playing Trainz 2006 so far. Back to KRS: they should spend alot more research on US routes and trains insted of focusing on British stuff and slapping a bunch of "Half-accurate" US content just to sell to North America; and have the surveyor alittle more easier to work with and be creative with. I know KRS is still new, but there is still alot of stuff that needs to be fixed that should of easily been seen when it was in BETA (Especially on Windows Vista). So far the graphics are great, but that's about it. Trainz is still better because of all the content you can make and be creative with without a large "Learning Curve". Auran still needs to really value this game series and keep it going (Like they are right now) because there is something about this game that is just plain "FUN". Graphics and sound don't make a great game; it's what you make out of it is what makes a great game. So that's why Trainz is so great, but Rail Simulator still has alot of bumps to go through where it can be to "par" with Trainz as far as content and enjoyment. So I'm still with Trainz (As you have seen in the last few months) and not going anywhere anytime soon because Trainz is still the best series! -Chris

 

[zatovisualworks]

Chris,

More or less what we have been telling since its inception. Nothing essentially positive has changed for 5 months. They are still driving in the dark, blindly in the night (like their trains)

Stay trainzy and you will avoid going frenzy (= state of temporary madness or delirium.) :hehe:

The frenzy side of Alberte :wave:

 

[Vern]

There is an issue with the track and other "lofted" object tool in KRS since Upgrade 1 where, if you're not careful, it lays numerous micro small sections in advance of the main piece.

Having now spent more than a few hours in the KRS Route Editor, I would have to agree Surveyor is still King, *apart* from laying curved track which is still horribly imprecise even trying to follow templates.

The Copy and Paste function in KRS is rather limited - you can't copy terrain texture mixes from one part of the route to another. You can only do very crude copy and paste of objects, these can't be rotated prior to pasting nor are they placed at terrain height. You need to reselect then adjust. Right PITA especially when trying to create forests on steep slopes. The arrangement in KRS for doing water is quite the strangest I have seen consisting of either Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 style river pieces, or large decals which need to be stretched to size for flat water, but then encroach on the selection of other items that might lie on top where the decal is under the land.

The graphics in KRS are not hugely better than TRS, largely achieved by having bump mapped terrain textures and the game engine capable of displaying many more objects per tile. Unfortunately these all need to be individually placed, there are no shortcuts making route building every bit as time consuming as TRS and KRS. So why have I currently switched to KRS from TRS for route building? Well first I want to at least have a go - if I try, then fail, it will not be for want of effort. Second, I did have a substantial route project underway for TRS in the latter part of 2007. However the problems at Auran and the constant ups and downs of the DLS meant I reluctantly decided to suspend any future creation until the situation stabilises.

 

[jeffmorris]

When RSDL released "How to Create an Engine" document a few days ago, I tried to create a NYCTA subway car but there are errors in the documents such as "level" instead of "lever" and being asked to create SIX axle/wheel sets for a wagon that uses two axle/wheel sets. I got the NYCTA subway car working in KRS after working with the engine and simulation blueprints but I had to make it a diesel-electric instead of electric.

 

[IsambardKingdomBrunel]

post deleted

 

[Vern]

Must admit, I'm tempted to resurrect the Flam branch for TRS2006, but the physics can't cope with the 1 in 18 ruling grade - would have to insert a few spiral tunnels that aren't there in real life!

However the dilemna at the moment is either build it with mostly default items, in which case it can be uploaded anywhere, or continue to draw on the wide range of third party items and hope the DLS is still there when it comes time to upload!

 

[martinvk]

...

However the dilemna at the moment is either build it with mostly default items, in which case it can be uploaded anywhere, or continue to draw on the wide range of third party items and hope the DLS is still there when it comes time to upload!

Without a DLS or it equivalant, how does KRS handle 3rd party content?

Even though the DLS is a bit flaky at this time, when it works, it provides a one stop shop for all needed objects if the creators have uploaded to it as well as any other sites they want to use.

 

[Vern]

Not many KRS routes using custom objects have been made or at least finished, that I know of. The Developer Tools include a utility to pack your own objects however at present these cannot be integrated into the route itself. I would presume these "rpk" files would need to be zipped up into a scenery pack with instructions to the end user to process into their KRS install. As regards third party items, these will have to be listed in the readme and users pointed to likely download locations (unless the third party authors allow the items to be included in a combination zipped bundle.

In short, a bit of a mess and even less practical than MSTS where at least the zipped up route folder contained the various scenery files and textures and could be downloaded in one hit.

I've now revived my TRS Flam branch (though I'm still working on the KRS version) as Surveyor is just so much easier in all respects. I'll take a chance on the DLS still being there in three or four months time!

 

[angelah]

Trainz variantz

Hello all,
I have said it before and I will say it again, so far Trainz and its variants has proved to be the easiest and most stable (now don't yell please, I know there are faults but these fade into the shadows when compared to other sims) rail simulator so far.
If only Auran would sort out these nagging little problems they would have a world beater.
And there is the enormous plus of the DLS and all for free and when you add in the option to buy further content the amounts involved are staggering!
Trainz runs well enough if the PC has sufficient power and a good graphics card and Surveyor has got to be the best construction tool of all rail sims - ever! What other sim allows you to build a complex route with full scenery so easily? It's a breeze, it takes time, but it's still a breeze.

The real snag is the way Auran have acted of late, nobody knows what the Dickens is going on and yet they expect to sell more copies of 'new' varieties of the same thing.
What is needed is a strong look at the hiccups to get those corrected and an updated 'engine' to run the program that will take into account the latest computer technology, in short Auran Jet wants a rocket stuck up it.

The other issue, with me at least, is the lack of backward compatibility with new releases. I don't expect to be able to run 2006 in 04, but a bit more of a link between the two as far as the 2006 owners go would be better and is one of the reasons I never bought 2006. Maybe I am being unfair, but that is how the situation hits me.
Having said that I still firmly believe there is not another rail sim around that comes anywhere near Trainz. I bought Trainz many moons ago but never registered that issue, then got UTC after a very short time when I saw the potential of this amazing program. That soon pushed me to buy TRS 2004 but there I stayed. I looked through the blurb for 06 but to be honest couldn't see an advantage in moving on to a newer version. As far as I could see the drive engine was the same old Auran Jet. And 04 was stable and basically still is, well, as stable as a complex program of this type can be. Yes, it has its faults (don't we all!), but on the whole it runs sweetly enough.
I did think about an alternative some time back and when I was using Trainz (original) I also bought a German sim, but that didn't have the ease of use that Trainz had nor the amazing range of scenic abilities and textures.
I was so impressed with TRS 2004 that I used to do demos at model railway exhibitions around London. Sadly I am unable to do that now.
You guessed it, I am a Trainz fan and devotee, but only because it works well and has so much ease of use - and you can't beat THAT!

Angela

 

[laika]

Hi,

i prefer Trainz because:
-alot of very good content(DLS)
-real operation of trains and signaling
-the best surveyor(very easy to make your own routes)
-great GFX(thx to the content creators that making high level items these days)
-the open system this sim has.
-The better system you have then also the peformance goes on. (FPS)
look at MSTS even with i high system you will not see any approvement. but i tested TRS2006 on a quad core system with 3gig and 2 sli 8800 gfx card and a good harddisk. I can tell you that even high detailed lay-outs run without any stutter with all options on full. So this sim has a good core.
-great and helpfull community

Only thing i dont like with TRS is the sound. The sound is awfull.

Greetz Laika:wave:

 

[lewisner]

Some people in threads about KRS and MSTS2 (when/if released) appear to use the reasoning that since it is a new thing you should try it.My reasoning is that if I try it and DON"T like it, I will have wasted money and have an unused disc gathering dust as with MSTS. I reinstalled MSTS recently out of curiosity and found that a) the UK locos looked nice, but all had completely the wrong "generic" sound , especially noticeable on the Deltics. b) FPS were great >on routes with little in the way of detail or scenery such as the Settle and Carlisle< c) I still couldn"t fathom Surveyor d) I couldn"t drive using the mouse, and I hate trying to remember which buttons to press.So,in a nutshell , if it (Trainz) ain't broke why fix it? If many KRS owners have the OPs negative experience, I daresay they"ll quietly make their way back here....

 

[QR1408]

Trainz variantz

A friend of mine in Germany has Eisenbahn a DE sim, probably the same one, extra content has to be bought as add-ons. The graphics don't look great. To an extent you TRS route into an older version of Trainz. The way I do it is create a new route in say TRS2004. Then open the required TC or 2006 in explorer and send the map file to My Documents. Rename these to match those in the new route. Then open new route in explore and drag the map file into route folder. This create a new version instantly. Some scenery objects can be used in older versions of TRS just by changing the Trainz build in the config file. One of the great strenghts of TRS is the great diversity of content available for many countries. It will be a long time if ever before any new sim can match that. Unfortunately both sound quality and variety have detiorated since 2006, the really good rumble over point in 2004 just seems to have been taken out and the track sound in TC is even more limited.
Cheers WillB
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