Trainz 2012 is absolute sh1t!

[neodoughnut]

Trainz 2012 is really bad

Once upon a time, I used to be a massive fan of Trainz 2004 and 2006 and very much enjoyed using it and created many different scenarios and routes.

Since I bought Trainz 2009, the AI has become stupid and has put me off the game entirely,

I recently bought 2012 and still the same problems arise.

Can someone please explain to me how to set the AI to drive continuously and so that the points change automatically as they did in 2004 and 2006? This has been driving me crazy!

I'm really frustrated as there is alot to like about Trainz and would love to get back into it but since the changes to the AI it has really put me off.

Not to mention to performance issues I'm having!

I work in IT so I know when I can see a badly programmed and very inefficient program

I have:

* 2 x X5680 6-Core/12-Thread @ 4.2 Ghz each* 24 GB RAM
* 2 x AMD HD 6990 in Crossfire

I can run games like WatchDogs and Battlefield 4 max graphics 100 fps + but this runs at 5-10 fps when I'm in Newcastle on the ECML on Train 2012!

Any help would be much appreciated.

​

 

[JCitron]

Well your system will surely support TS12 for starters.

So I'm not going to mention too much regarding your hardware except the video cards. TS12 does not support Crossfire technology. The next version is supposed to... With ATI cards, ensure you are running in DirectX mode and not Open/GL. ATI cards vehemently hate Open/GL and run very poorly and ruin water by making it look like broken glass...

What version are you running. Ensure you have updated to the current build of 61388. This has some graphics and performance improvements in it.

Regarding the program its self, there are some things worth mentioning. First I suggest that you turn on an option to view the database processes. This will allow you to see if there are things being done while you are using Trainz TS12. This is set in your Options from the Launcher screen under the Developer's tab with a checkbox. Once you start the program, you will then see some command consoles appear. Besides being able to watch the background processes, this will also serve as a way to confirm when to shutdown or restart your computer should this be necessary while running Trainz. When these processes disappear, after closing TS12, then it's safe to shutdown.

It's also worth mentioning here that if you see an undo amount of stuttering and poor performance, check that assets aren't being validated. Validation has been an issue for some of us, including myself, and should this occur, your performance will go down the tubes. I have narrowed mine down to some compatibility issues with Windows 8.x, and now run the program in Windows 7 compatibility mode with little or no apparent loss of performance.

You mention that have difficulty with running the trains themselves. Yes, the AI scripting has been updated, or downgraded depending upon how you look at it. The biggest culprit here is signaling and track marks. I'm sure you are aware of that as they do work now and more so than before. Many, many signals have been updated so ensure you are using the latest versions. They have newer scripting in them and this can affect your AI operation.

In my not so distant past, I worked in IT for over 15 years with 10 years prior spent in hardware and MIS. Regarding the poor programming.... Don't get me going on this. Hopefully the new version TANE will be much better. We are directly involved via the Kickstarter and have been very, very verbal regarding problems with TS12.

As a retired moderator here, I highly recommend editing your post and updating your title. That was somewhat on the harsh side, while understandable, is not quite appropriate for the forums here.


John

 

[neodoughnut]

John,

Thank you for your helpful reply.

I'm a System Admin and I used to program C, VB and a few other things when I was younger

If you are using AI, can you explain to me step by step if there is anything I might have missed in Surveyor and especially in Drive mode, what I need to select? Previously I selected Drive To TrackMark, but now there is only Navigate To and it does not seem to work in the same fashion?

I have seen TANE and I will be getting it as soon as it is out too, I hope that along with the much improved graphics they will also improve the performance in general.

Thanks again

 

[AntonyVW]

Drive to is still there though you have to select it. To do that - at the top left of the screen there are 4 small round buttons - click on the second from left. On the menu that comes up - select the second down (it looks like a traffic light). Then select the rule you need (make sure its ticked), then click on tick at bottom right and again to close the other window. You should now have access to the drive to command.
hope that helps.

 

[bentrain14]

ECML? Dear lord, Im surprised your Computer hasnt crashed running that route.

 

[WestSideRailways]

if you are interrested in Intellegent AI give this a try......

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/show...ike-to-try-SCS2013-for-TS12&highlight=scs2013

 

[Chris750]

It's also worth mentioning here that if you see an undo amount of stuttering and poor performance, check that assets aren't being validated. Validation has been an issue for some of us, including myself, and should this occur, your performance will go down the tubes. I have narrowed mine down to some compatibility issues with Windows 8.x, and now run the program in Windows 7 compatibility mode with little or no apparent loss of performance.



John

Hi John; What exactly do you mean when you say ensure assets are not being validated? I run in Win7 and get stuttering all the time, even on the routes I am building that has little of anything on it, so this comment got me wondering.

Thanks.

 

[JCitron]

Hi John; What exactly do you mean when you say ensure assets are not being validated? I run in Win7 and get stuttering all the time, even on the routes I am building that has little of anything on it, so this comment got me wondering.

Thanks.

Hi Chris,

If you check the database processes, you will see TADDaemon validating assets. The messages counts down from some number down to a smaller 2-digit number that varies to about 33 assets. Why it doesn't go any lower is beyond me. When this occurs, which seems to happen after installing third-party CDP files, or if the database has been repaired which is to be expected, the process is so I/O intensive that the menu selecting and performance is in the level in the basement somewhere!

Stutters in Driver, can also happen if the assets being used are poorly created such as some of the SketchUP assets and some older ones that lack LOD objects, and if there are way too many objects for your computer to handle. This is especially apparent in built-up areas such as yards and city areas, and there are all kinds of techniques that help with this. Hopefully the new version won't have these problems as bad.

John

 

[deneban]

A graphical analysis of AI prowess vs. Trainz version:

 

[9000DOLLAR]

I say that Trainz Simulator 2012 is just fine. I'm sure the NV3 team would agree.
I havn't seen any problems with AI, but I have seen that a few things left out, and that's slightly annoying, but it doesn't completely ruin the game.

 

[Chris750]

Hi Chris,

If you check the database processes, you will see TADDaemon validating assets.

John

Thanks John. When you say check the database you mean the surveyor statistics that you can view on screen that shows worst KUID etc? I see TD running in my processes, but not in trainz itself in surveyor, only this:

Thanks for the reply.

 

[JCitron]

Thanks John. When you say check the database you mean the surveyor statistics that you can view on screen that shows worst KUID etc? I see TD running in my processes, but not in trainz itself in surveyor, only this:

{Image removed from quote}

Thanks for the reply.

Hi Chris,

Not this which can be helpful, but this instead:

At the launcher, click on Options, then developer tab. There's a checkbox to show these.




The process will open a command console (CMD prompt) which will have constant text running in it. You can't close this windows as it's a subprocess of Trainz TS12. This will show you what the TADDaemon is doing all the time. At other times, you'll see other prompts kick in and disappear. These are the TrainzUtil doing its thing and usually these kick in when downloading, and when the database is being verified.

John

 

[Chris750]

Ahh, that is awesome. Just tried it, thanks so much.

I just caught your stuff on ATI cards too, I think I have mine on OpenGL, will switch to DX.