There's a new train a coming

I would hope someone will come out with a more Realistic train game.

Its the old problem - do we want more realism or greater usability and flexibility? Up till now it has been one or the other with different sims going in different directions. Greater realism has often meant that it becomes more of a game than a sim. But I agree that with the steady improvements in technology, if they continue, the possibility arises of us having both.
 
It's all ifs, buts and maybes at present. However I'm fairly certain as noted a couple of pages ago, DTG's No.1 priority will be selling DLC for the new platform and that catering for the hobby end creator will not be high on their priorities. We have seen that to some extent already with their existing TS20xx product, moving away from a standard "default" product to one where the base routes change each year, undocumented "improvements" to the editors which leaves those outside the inner circle of creation using trial and error to figure out how to use the new features.

All Trainz really needs is a decent timetable and scenario editor for the player train, combined with AI control of signalling and route setting - as I said earlier without complex use of scripts or commands, it could still keep the edge especially with the easy to use sandbox. Get away from the Trainz CE and UTC era of the player having to switch points and figure out the route as they go along. If the current programmers can't figure out how to do it, bring in people who can. Make a route - whether freeware or DLC payware - for TANE equal to if not more appealing than its opposite in TS20xx or the new TSW. While the base platform for running trains remains weak, despite the ease of building, when it comes to playing trains I opt for TS20xx or increasingly these days old MSTS routes in Open Rails. Despite my initial scepticism and a few ongoing issues, the latter is proving to be a very useful and competent sim.
 
Last edited:
I agree with most of what Vern says but I find TANE quite nice in terms of visuals. It is also very powerful because of its extensive rules and the DLS. The purge of old stuff seems near the end. Documentation is lacking for the rules which are totally disorganized. The DLS and Rules are the key elements that differentiate TANE.

The Dovey stuff will always be a game. Sir Paul Jackson is a gamer. He will make the program look pretty but there seems to be little chance he will adopt a DLS and Rules system to court a small group of people. He will release a "new" program that will look better and perform better but it will not offer customers the flexibility to create their own railroads in a realistic manner. Remember, to put food on his table, he has to SELL routes not support homemade routes. Pretty buildings, will be tolerated but trains and routes, by others, cut into his revenue.
 
Remember, to put food on his table, he has to SELL routes not support homemade routes. Pretty buildings, will be tolerated but trains and routes, by others, cut into his revenue.

Not forgetting that he will have to pay Epic for use of the UE4 engine, something like 5% if I remember correctly.
 
Does a common rail sim forum exist ?

Is there a rail sim forum, other than this one, where the different sims can be discussed and compared freely? That's not meant to be a rhetorical question... I am looking for a common forum where rail sim users congregate.

Thanks
 
Is there a rail sim forum, other than this one, where the different sims can be discussed and compared freely? That's not meant to be a rhetorical question... I am looking for a common forum where rail sim users congregate.

Thanks

I believe you'd like to see trainsim.com - they have sections for Trainz, Railworks/Train Sim 20xx, MSTS, etc.

Cheers,
SM
 
Will it be a train driving game or a "comprehensive" train simulator. No one knows until February.
 
Will it be a train driving game or a "comprehensive" train simulator. No one knows until February.

No-one knows until March, it's been delayed.

My quick look at the beta suggested it's still just a driving simulator, but who knows what the future releases may bring.

Is it fair to say Crosstie can be crossed off?
 
Railworks America also specialises in discussion of DTG product(s) but can be a bit of a minefield if you want to post something critical.
 
No-one knows until March, it's been delayed.

My quick look at the beta suggested it's still just a driving simulator, but who knows what the future releases may bring.

Is it fair to say Crosstie can be crossed off?

Nah, I'd just say on the back burner, taking in all the other elements to be better than the rest ;)
 
Back
Top