Were older versions of Trainz better than the modern versions?

[AV3]

So this is a question I've been wanting to ask for a while now.

To the Vetarans of legacy versions of Trainz that are still with us. Would you feel that your experience with versions such as Ultimate Trainz Collection, Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004 and 2006, (Just to name a few) was better than your experience with more modern versions of the game such as Trainz A New Era, Trainz Railroad Simulator 2019 & 2022?

 

[pdkoester]

I miss the content manager ability from TS12.

 

[dangavel]

I miss the content manager ability from TS12.

But NOT the three hour database rebuilds that could not be stopped, the times I started that version wanting to spend a few hours editing only to have to wait around until all my spare time had gone were countless. !

 

[pdkoester]

But NOT the three hour database rebuilds that could not be stopped, the times I started that version wanting to spend a few hours editing only to have to wait around until all my spare time had gone were countless. !

I do remember it was always more busy.

 

[pware]

Humans tend to look back through rose coloured glasses. "Things were better/easier/simplier back then" is a common claim but we often overlook the problems and limitations that came with the better/easier/simplier.

Whenever a new version of Trainz was released and installed I would almost immediately delete the previous version and I have never looked back through those rose glasses.

 

[KotangaGirl]

I ran TS2009 which I loved at first sight and then TS12 after that for ages before shifting over TS2019 and then later stepping back to TANE when I got fed up with TS2019. I didn't have any real problems with the database rebuilds in TS12 as I was running Trainz on a monster of an HP dual processor Xeon computer that sorted out database rebuilds pretty quickly. Overall I found TS12 to be good and it just did what it said on the tin. I was regularly running several trains at a time on AI over a fairly large Uk layout and once I learned how to tame the AI and get it to do what I wanted things could run for hours without any glitches.
TS2019 though (as it was known back then) just about got binned in the first ten minutes of me buying it and trying it out for the first time. The awful blazing harsh Australian desert environmental lighting was a nightmare and continued to be so for far too long. Cutting back the blue channel and painting the sun charcoal mostly worked and things were more or less Ok after that and the early version of TS2019 could be made to run well. Or at least things were good until N3V started messing around with bright ideas that weren't that added unnecessary complication and creating patches and 'updates' that broke more than they fixed. I run TRS19 now, but only because it will never never never receive any 'updates' ever again and it's finally reasonably stable. Don't get me started on TRS22...

 

[wilts747]

There was less to go wrong, our expectations were fewer and if I recall correctly Trainz was probably a little more tolerant towards Windows. If only the same could be said today. Peter

 

[ajrf]

I miss the content manager ability from TS12.

You mean the Content Creator Plus?

 

[hiawathamr]

I want to say the older versions (from my experience) from Trainz v1 to TS2010. TRS2006 was my favourite version of Trainz and it was stable until I installed DLS content which then caused the game to lag terrible (probably had something to do with Windows 7 as it didn't do that on Windows Vista).

TS12 was pushed to the limits that it couldn't handle which resulted in the poor performance and its updates didn't help any but IMO made it worse that I downgraded back to my default installed version from the disc.

TANE was interesting to say the least. TANE SP1 HF4 made it stable but SP2 and its HF broke things. SP3 made things back stable again. SP4 I didn't use much as by that time I upgraded everything to TRS19.

With the update experiences with TANE and TRS19, I've now do a control update as I'm not after the fancy features that each update might bring but stability (only for content development builds). I was on TRS22 SP1 for a year or two before SP5 came out which introduced new stricter script checking which caused content to not have script errors to have script errors so I updated from SP1 to SP5. Everything still seems to be stable as I haven't had any issues with it.
SP6 and its HF I'm not updating to as there is no reason. Only my testing testing builds are updated to the latest to verify that everything works.

I will say, with the Auran JET versions of Trainz, they where stable for majority of the times but since TANE it seems its a hit or miss with updates :/

cheers

 

[grazlash]

I definitely prefer the modern TRS22 version, with far better graphics and less database rebuilds, also a lot better performance. Content Manager Plus was clunky to use compared to the current one and having the Content Store on the launcher is a far more convenient way to download DLC.
I ran T:ANE last week and was shocked at how flat the graphics were compared to TRS22. We've come a long way since TRS2006 - my first version.

 

[H222]

No.

You just had lower standards for your programs.

 

[Lewiscc65]

I think the earlier versions where far easier to use but the assets did not have the realistic look that they do now.

 

[marmalade32]

I think the earlier versions where far easier to use but the assets did not have the realistic look that they do now.

exactly. Give us the older version's simplicity and the newer asset realism (maybe better physics in realistic mode) and i'll be happy

 

[PortLineParker]

I was first introduced to Trainz in 2007 when I received a copy of TRS2006. I wouldn't say the older versions were better; the newer versions are much more stable, make use of newer technology (64 bit for example with TANE), have far better graphics and generally, I find, better in every aspect. Sure, old versions always have nostalgia but I'd never install TRS2006 again as it would fall far short of the modern versions. I suppose asking whether something is 'better' depends on what aspect you are thinking of when you ask the question.

Remember too that different user's experiences will vary on their hardware/software etc. My hardware setup won't be the same as everyone else's so what may not be a problem for me may be a problem for someone else. Not a fault of the software but some may not see it that way and therefore rank older versions as 'better'.

Cheers,

PLP

 

[IsambardKingdomBrunel]

In a word no and i go back to the CE edition.

Mike.

 

[afe_uy]

I first encountered Trainz through the 2006 version, and spent a couple of years learning everything about it, until I finally got the 2009 version and was able to play (and fight with it)... then TS12 arrived and everything was wonderful.
When TANE was announced as new and different, we rushed towards it ... ... Although I'm on TS22, I do almost everything with TS19, undoubtedly my favorite today. And here I'll stay, most likely ...
Generally speaking, I think Trainz has evolved just like us ... some improvements and some setbacks, but we're still here .