New Train Related Software?

P

perry_weekley

New member
It's 2011 and we now only have one new train driving and world building simulator.

Railworks 3 was just recently released but that's the only direct competition with Trainz in terms of new products being produced in this vein.

There are rumors that the old Microsoft Train Simulator 2 team are working on a new simulator game that involves trains in someway but will it compete alongside Railworks and Trainz for the consumers dollar?

And from there we are once again at a roadblock.

There have been no new Railroad Tycoons for many years, the train driving, or toy train layout games seem to have become much smaller in terms of software released, and new franchises are far and few between.

So I propose to the community, what new train related software has been released? Are there any hidden gems out there hidden from our eyes? Maybe a Facebook game that is hidden in the folds.

Did the genre of train sims really dry up so badly over the last few years?
 
Zusi 3 is rumoured to be nearing beta stage, but it has been in development for so many years I'm still inclined to believe it when I see it.

The guys from MS/Aces who were working on the new MS Train Sim set up their own company Cascade Game Studios, but not much has been heard from them as to whether a serious train sim is in the works.

Open Rails has some promise but, in this 64 bit day and age, is not really going to be viable while it is so dependant on old MSTS.

BVE (and OpenBVE) is still going strong but still seems to be wracked by the clash of personalities, allegations of plagiarism and juvenile delinquency that led Barney and I to shut down the Crotrainz forums 10 years ago!

For something a bit different check out this site http://www.railrover.co.uk/ for "bashing" i.e. haulage games Hellfire and Scottish Rover.
 
"The guys from MS/Aces who were working on the new MS Train Sim set up their own company Cascade Game Studios, but not much has been heard from them as to whether a serious train sim is in the works."

They're being coy about exactly what they're working on, but it seems to me it's more of a "tourist/explorer" simulator than anything else. Travel around the world, walking climbing mountains driving cars, trains, boats, off-road vehicles, snowcats, etc. Half Life 2 is a good example of the misunderstanding - it's a first person zombie shooter. It has a lot of trains in it, but it's not a train simulator - it's a first person zombie shooter. It has a sequence where you drive an airboat, but it's not an airboat simulator - it's a first person zombie shooter. It has a sequence where you drive a dune buggy, but it's not a dune buggy simulator - it's a first person zombie shooter. It's a very GOOD zombie shooter, I'm still playing it and people are still making mods for it 7 years after the initial release, but it doesn't simulate the physics of trains, air boats, or dune buggys very realistically because that's not the main focus of the game. That's what Cascades is working on, except without the zombies and weapons. If it does have a train or two you can drive, anyone looking for a realistic train simulator will be severely disappointed because not much of the programming time is going to get very detailed about any one vehicle type when they're simulating everything from flying airplanes and riding bicycles to roller skating and riding zebras.
 
Last edited:
Vern said:
Zusi 3 is rumoured to be nearing beta stage, but it has been in development for so many years I'm still inclined to believe it when I see it.
Click to expand...
Fair enough :). And once published for German railways it will take even more time to adapt to other railways systems. The discussion on creating the assets, signalling in particular, to support Austrian and Swiss has already been opened.

Open Rails has some promise but, in this 64 bit day and age, is not really going to be viable while it is so dependant on old MSTS.
Click to expand...
At the moment, OpenRails is a runtime environment only. And currently it can only process MSTS heritage content. However, the new code basis has nothing to do with MSTS at all. What I have been told, once they start developing a new route editor we may see a lot of deviations from the old MSTS approach, like replacing Goode Homolosine with UTM etc. The MSTS way of doing things is not carved in stone for OpenRails.
 
Bring on Railroad Tycoon 4. I can't believe there isn't one on the horizon :(
Sid Miers Trains was ok but nothing like RRT3.
That game rocked.
 
I'm still hoping for good things from Zusi 3 even if it means building UK or US routes initially with German signalling. In the meantime Trainz will do for building and driving after the disaster that seems to be RW3 (but seems we are no longer permitted to discuss that as the last thread got locked in short order, despite RSC's fail potentially being to N3V's advantage?).
 
It was Simudrive where it started from me. All the excitement reading the advert in the railway press (no Internet back in 1994) only for it to drain away quite rapidly on being presented with a text screen.

Birmingham New Street
Ready To Depart
Next Signal GREEN
​
And no sound to boot. Got to admit, the physics were pretty darn good. I still reckon if the guy who coded that, along with the other early authors (Train Driver 3, Jens Schubert Railsim) had collaberated together they could have produced something really special.​
 
It seems that Microsoft Trains Simulator is a bit hard to come by, and on E-Bay, Amazon.com, and other sites, they want astronomical prices for (supposed) new in box versions $299 ... although I did see a used MSTS for cheap.

I was wondering if MSTS is the same as Trainz ... if you buy a secondhand/used/pre-registered disc ... the disc is either uninstallable, or certain aspects of the game cease to work ?

Is this true in MSTS ?
---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ74HEFC1VY&feature=results_video&playnext =1&list=PL3F893B7E0F3D14AC <---
 
@ cascaderailroad

Specially for you :p I have just blown the dust off an original copy of MSTS. No box but I have the other documentation and the original disc sleeve, no sign of a serial number anywhere, so my guess is that RRSignal is right.

But Microsoft's later policy, from around 2002 onwards, at least for business software was to have the Product Key on the disc "container" (CD case or cardboard sleeve). Depending on the date of the 2nd hand version it may require a product key.

I have no idea if updates for early versions are available though.
 
I got a copy of MSTS for £2.50 from a Bargain bin at a local shop, just to see what it was like, ok for the age of the program I guess and no serial required.

Wonder if it's made oldversion.com yet?
 
So even a used copy of MSTS, in fair to acceptable condition, would work, just as well as high priced new factory sealed in box disc, and be able to play the MSTS Horseshoe Curve route ?
 
Yes, you get a serial number but it's only for support, not to load the program. It tells you that number during installation just in case you need it.

Dave.......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Does anybody here have trouble with the run around train command?
Replies
8
Views
715
pware
P
U
Realistic electric train sounds
Replies
2
Views
890
ajrf
A
n3v_laurence
  • Locked
Trainz Plus Beta TLR Phase 2 - 127161
Replies
19
Views
2K
n3v_laurence
n3v_laurence
n3v_laurence
  • Locked
Trainz Plus Beta TLR Phase 2 - 127542
2
Replies
35
Views
4K
n3v_laurence
n3v_laurence
A
It’s true… NCTD Finally Bought New Cars
Replies
7
Views
947
AFdude06
A
Back
Top