Train Simulator - PC Review

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By Robert and Patrick Scoble

Founders of The MSN Microsoft Train Simulator Fan Site ...

We first got a chance to get up close and personal with Microsoft's Train Simulator at the NMRA (the National Model Railroad Association's National Convention and Train Show in San Jose on August 4-6, 2000) and recently we received a press beta of Microsoft's Train Simulator since we run the MSN Train Simulator Fan Site at ... This was the first time that Microsoft had publicly shown Train Simulator (they say it'll ship in "Spring 2001"). "I want a copy," six-year-old train buff Patrick Scoble says, "they need to finish it."

That about sums up both of our responses. We couldn't wait. We're not usually into games or simulators, but we +are+ train nuts. The Train Simulator has us hooked and we suspect it'll have you hooked too. We're finding as we spend time with the simulator that even folks who don't appreciate trains as much as Patrick and I really are having a great time playing with Train Simulator as well.

First off, driving trains around with a simulator might sound boring, but I guarantee you it is not. This is from the same team that brought us Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Train Simulator will include six trains and tracks based on REAL LIVE RAILROADS. The simulation includes entire tracks over the Marias pass in Montana, for instance -the other tracks are explained on Microsoft's "Features Page."

One of the activities in the simulator lets you drive a BNSF train going through Marias Pass in Montana. (There are nine engines and six different tracks -all modeled on real world engines and tracks). The Microsoft Train Simulator will let you drive a simulation of the same train on the same tracks. Microsoft has tried to keep everything as accurate as possible. (Obviously simulation technology isn't as good as the "real" thing, but with Train Simulator it is darn close). This means that you could play with Train Simulator for six hours (on just one of the six tracks) and not see the same scenery. Switch to a different track and you get more hours of not-seen-before fun. Not to mention that it makes a great screen saver (you can leave it running on your desktop and the computer will take you on a tour of any one of the six rail lines that the programmers have built). The Simulator also doesn't force you to drive. You can stand at the side of the track. You can fly overhead in a "helicopter" mode. You can sit inside a passenger train and enjoy the view. Or you can sit in the cab and drive with realistic controls. This is a blast! If you were working on the Whitefish line, you'd start your six-hour trip over Marias pass in a Dash-9 in the Whitefish, Montana train yard. In Whitefish's train yard, the simulator would let you move your engine around on any of the 10 tracks, pick up other engines and cars, and hopefully refuel (many of these features were not demonstrated yet). Everything is realistic. Hey, think the simulator would let my wife visit her favorite antique store which is right near the track? I don't think so, but maybe that's something that we can build on later since Microsoft will give us the ability to add on new buildings and things to Train Simulator. The tools to build new things are quite nice, and already you can trade things with other Train Simulator users. This thing feels and sounds real. Particularly if you have a good 3D video card and a speaker system with a subwoofer. Here's a rundown of some of the features.

VIEWING: You can view the train from outside at any angle. You can "fly" around the train -at any time (you have complete control of the camera angle and can zoom closer or back off for a wider angle view).

You can sit inside the cab and "drive." All the controls are authentic and you'll have full displays -the same ones the real trains have.

You can stick your head outside the window and see the view (and you have complete control of the view. Forward, back, tilt, all just like if you were on a real train). This alone is unbelievable technology.

If you are carrying passenger coaches you can sit in back like a passenger. There will be other passengers to watch, supposedly (the "pre-Alpha" was empty). You can just sit there and watch the scenery go by, just like a real passenger.

You can switch to a mode that represents someone standing on the track and watching the train go by. I wonder, can you take a picture of your train?

Oh, did we mention the sound? The sound is VERY good and accurate. The product manager tells us that they actually went on location and did extensive recordings of the sound of each train. The sound changes depending on your perspective, too. If you are inside the cab, it sounds like that. If you are standing by on the side of the track, it sounds just like that too (although we didn't get hit by any flying stones like we did one time when we were trackside). The track noise is realistic and will change based on sections that have concrete ties with welded rails -trains running on older track will have the familiar clickety clack.

You can switch trains and run them on any of the six tracks (I don't know that I'd want to take the 100+MPH Acela over Marias Pass, but I'm sure I'll try it just for fun).

In helicopter mode you can view each car one-by-one. You can tilt, pan, and elevate the camera position. You can fly over the train. Around the train. Through the train (almost).

The sound is awesome -it better be, they digitally recorded real trains on location. Blow that whistle. (it's the space bar).

This simulator has one of the best uses of 3D technology I've seen so far. It's well worth the money and if you're into trains it'll blow your mind.

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Kuju entertainment developed this game for Microsoft, and it lives up to its name. You can explore six different historical railroads, including Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, Burlington Northern's Marias Pass route, and a section of the Orient Express in Austria. Two Japanese lines and the Flying Scottsman are also available. The graphics are beautiful and the sounds are faithfully reproduced. Microphones were mounted on various areas of each engine to capture the sounds of accelerating, braking, etc. The steam trains thunder and wheeze, the diesels hum, and the electrics quietly click along. The scenery includes trees, bridges, roads, moving automobiles, and tall mountains that actually look appropriately scaled -a rare feat with today's computer games.

However, make sure you have a mid-range system or better if you want to be able to run this game. Slower PCs, such as those of 500Mhz or under, will probably not be able to display high levels of detail without slowing the system to unacceptable levels. Also, be sure you have a capable video card. If you don't have enough system or video horsepower, you should upgrade your system before installing. Also, the full install requires 1.8 gigabytes of hard drive space -not exactly a small footprint.

Driving a train for the first time is thrilling. The game lets you look at the trains from an almost infinite number of angles, and they certainly look good! Learning to brake was also quite a challenge. Trying to stop a 30-car train on a steep grade in the rain gave me new respect for what engineers do on a daily basis.

However, after playing the game for two weeks, I must relunctantly conclude that this game is only for hardcore train fans. Once I had mastered braking and could get to stations on time, the game quickly ceased to be interesting. I'm just not interested by backing my train into a siding at 5 MPH to pick up some grain cars. I don't think it's fun to have to drive a train at 12 MPH in a reduced-speed zone for 10 minutes of real time. While this game faithfully simulates real-life railroading conditions, I'm afraid that this doesn't translate to gaming excitement.

I'm not knocking railroad fans, and I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy learning how to drive trains. But despite the excellent technological achievements showcased by this game, unless you are a die-hard train fan, I'd advise against buying this product. It simply doesn't provide enough entertainment for your money, especially since the replay value appears limited. There IS an editor included with the game, but at this writing it seems buggy and is not particularly easy to use. Perhaps that will change in the future. Additional user-made maps and scenarios would definitely help to make this game a better value.

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I received my copy yesterday and initially had some trouble getting it to work on my PIII 533. I highly recommend you spend some time online and download all the latest drivers for your video and audio systems before you install Microsoft Train Simulator. Folks with the latest drivers seem to have the least install trouble with this.

Be sure to check the Readme file on the CD-ROM... there is a long list of issues, most of which can be cured by downloading new drivers.

There is virtually no printed material included with this software, and the online help and operators manual only contain very general information. You will just have to tinker with this software for a few hours and figure some things out. If you have no knowledge of the controls on a railroad locomotive, the game has tutorials which will walk you through the basics.

One thing the online docs have which is nice... descriptions and illustrations of the mechanical workings of the various locomotives, and the braking systems.

I'm assuming the strategy guide will contain much more detailed information about actually playing the game.

The software allows you much control over the graphics and sound settings, so you can customize the gameplay to suit the capability of your system.

While you certainly have the option of just blasting down the mainline with a stack train or the Acela Express, don't think that's all there is to this game. The real fun (and the challenege) comes in the Switching Activities, and Roadswitcher Freights which assemble trains from mixed up strings of cars in the yard, or deliver cars to nearby industries.

This software also comes with the tools to create your own switching or mainline scenarios and trade them over the internet, and also allows you to create new landscapes and routes. For this reason, you can expect many more routes and activities to be available in the future.

Also the sound quality is very good, especially if you have a subwoofer.

I make my living riding freight trains around, and it's cool to see Microsoft come out with a whole game about my job! This software is by far the best and most realistic thing out there simulating the operation of a freight train.

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This is the best, by far, simulation of train operations. I am a RR professional, and have to say, the realism here is incredibly solid along with great sound and graphics. I hope this program will bring on generations of add-ons like FS2000. If you don't appreciate Railroading, you will still be amazed at the detail and replay value of this program.

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I am an avid fan of Microsoft's Flight Simulator. While playing the game, I often wished that the ground was more detailed and realistic. Train Simulator delivers this wish. Previous reviews at Amazaon indicated that some found it boring.. Not even! Sure, if you want Quake 3, but if your looking to explore a whole new world that is absolutely real.. get this game immediately. I do love trains, but I truly believe that anyone.. white or blue collar will enjoy the majestic beauty of the rockies, drving a commuter train (just like the el or a subway) through the heart of the outskirts of Tokyo at sunset, and powering a classic steam engine through Europe.

This game is outrageous! Cruising though the rockies in the forest along a beautiful river and suddenly your going over a bridge and 300 feet of canyon beneath you.

The tutorials are excellent, and the game let's you drive each train along each route without having to deal with a timeline just so you get used to everything. Once you've done that, the challege is on you to maintain schedules, switch tracks to pick up cargo.. you name it.

It's pretty cool to learn all of those weird train signs and be able to respond to them. 'W' means whistle... it's great to see that, blow that huge whistle and go through a street with cars waiting on both sides. Okay... I'm easily amused, but talk about fun. It's not in your face action.. but kick back, pop open a beer and enter a whole new world.

All aboard!