Where to begin?

[Jaxster]

Hello Tranz fans,

This is my first day here, and the first time being exposed to this simulation.

I am quite overwhelmed. I could use some very fundamental advise on where to begin.

I have not purchased anything yet, and was wanting to learn and explore to see if this is a good fit for me and my father in law.

We are both huge train fans, but we live in different areas of the state of California, so I thought this would be a great way for us to share our love of trains.

So any good sound advice would be appreciated.

Thanks so much.

 

[shaneturner12]

Hi Jaxster,

Welcome to the forums.

You will probably find that quite a few users will have differing opinions on what version to get, but it does depend on what your computer can support. Trainz Simulator 2010 and Trainz Simulator 12 both support Multiplayer (although Trainz Simulator 2010 requires a particular patch to do that).

It may be worth posting details about your computer to help with the advice.

Shane

P.S. When (and if) you do get a copy, you will probably find my advice useful when it comes to setting up and patching the game.

 

[RRSignal]

Well, first of all, whatever you do, don't buy from any other source but Auran.com. The Steam and Gamersgate versions, to name a few, are loaded with trouble (DRM and patching issues), and you probably won't save anything anyway.

That said, if you want to go cheap, I recommend buying TS12 as a digital download from Auran. You should be able to get TS2010 too. TS2010 has more routes built-in, though TS12 is newer and a bit better (visual distance, Doppler effect, etc.) If you are willing to hawg-wild, there is a "bundle" which includes the download of TS2010, the boxed, Anniversary edition of TS12, and 3 or 4 DLC content packs for, last time I saw, $99AUD. You could probably give your Father-in-Law one of the versions and you keep the other. Whatever works for you.

It's a great sim. By far the best train-related one. And, if the money concerns you, here's a tip: Last Friday I went to an NFL game. The tickets were $150 each+$340 for the clubhouse. That's for a game that lasted about 3 hours. Wifey and I can spend $70+ at a club or bar for a night out. TS12 is, what, about $43 US now? I get 100 hours of play out of each route not counting making my own! Actually, now that I think about it, I think I've paid less than 1 cent an hour for the use I've gotten out of the sim!

 

[Jaxster]

Thank Shane,

I'm viewing this forum and replying on my Chromebook, but have a PC I would be loading the sim on.

It's been awhile since I dove into the config on my PC. What would be the easiest way to show what my PC is made of? Any particular file I can open and just cut and paste the info in the forum?

 

[sniper297]

Start, Run, type in dxdiag and hit enter, tells you the whole story.

Other option, Shane's utility;

http://trainz.shaneturner.co.uk/tutorials/index.php/utilities/system-info-utility

Bottom of the TS12 page lists the minimum and recommended specs:

http://www.auran.com/shop/display_product.php?PID=362

Note that it's a 6.1 gig download, so the first requirement should be a high speed cable connection if you're getting the download version. You mentioned you and your father in law live in different areas, so if you both meet or exceed the minimum specs, I would suggest buying one copy of TS12 for each of you - then you could play multiplayer games with each other over the internet. There's options to start a TS12 multiplayer game as a public session where anyone anywhere else in the world is invited to join, or start it as a private session where only the people you give a password to can join.

I'm an old model railroader who gave up S gauge and HO trains for virtual railroading, there's unlimited room to build your own layouts and as many different layouts as you want. If either of you was ever a model railroader you're gonna love this.

 

[Jaxster]

Time of this report: 8/28/2012, 17:26:02
Machine name: JACK-4FDC29D2BC
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.120504-1619)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Precision WorkStation 690
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A03
Processor: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU 5130 @ 2.00GHz (4 CPUs)
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 595MB used, 3342MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode


---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00CD&SUBSYS_029B10DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0012.7565 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/6/2011 17:42:00, 4202112 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 7/6/2011 17:42:00, 12779904 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-438D-11CF-E36E-972203C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x00CD
SubSys ID: 0x029B10DE
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Revision ID: 0x00A2
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A



-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SB X-Fi Audio [CCE0]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_10031102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1144 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 11/8/2005 05:15:38, 439680 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 1, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 128, 128
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 128, 128
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

 

[sniper297]

Video might be marginal, it calls for 128 and you got 256, but it's really happier with 512 or better. Rest of your specs are okay, should be able to run it with no problems.

 

[AntonyVW]

Welcome from across the pond. First off let me just say that Shane's last comment in his first post is no boast. He really is a mindful of gold when it comes to this game. A very helpful chap. (dont worry Shane you can pay me later ) seriously though he is very helpful.
Now as to the game. I echo other comments above. Buy it direct from Auran/N3V. Its less hassle. Ive never tried the multi play so I cant comment on that, but if you are into creating your own routes etc then this is the place to be. Run a few routes that come with the game - download more. But for me the fun is building my own. The game covers everything from from the earliest days of steam to present time so you should find something that you like. And if you cant find it - juist ask. Someone somewhere will help out if they can.

 

[Scottbe8]

I would make sure there are no updates for you graphics driver before proceeding. The first thing that runs when you install Trainz is the Trainz Diagnostic Tool which determines if your system meets its minimum specifications. It complains loudly if your graphics driver is out of date.