Microsoft Train Simulator

From Free net encyclopedia

Image:Train simulator.jpg

Microsoft Train Simulator is a train simulator for Microsoft Windows.

Contents

[edit]

Original version

[edit]

Contents

Developed by Kuju, the original game featured the following lines:

The original models were criticised for being inaccurate. However, as with Microsoft Flight Simulator, people started building and distributing their own models through websites. The quality of these is often very much greater than the originals. New routes, trains, sounds, cabviews, and other MSTS accessories are available now on the internet.

[edit]

Editor

Included with Train Simulator was the Editors & Tools program, which mainly allowed the user to build railroads, or "routes", as they were called in MSTS. Users could also create activities for any route, create custom cabviews, or edit the default ones.

[edit]

Bugs

The original version contained many bugs, for example the "front coupling bug" and the "white void bug". There were also issues with the signalling.

[edit]

Version 1.2

Later, some more stock was added, including: Drivable SD40-2 with BNSF Heritage I paint, a Class 50 British Locomotive, new British Passenger Cars, a few new US freight cars, and a US caboose with a special "caboose view".

Version 1.2 also includes a few new activities for the new train equipment.

[edit]

Additional content

There is a wealth of freeware and commercial addons available for Microsoft Train Simulator, most of which are vastly superior to the original content. See the links section below for some sources. Access is generally under a subscription model in order to pay the running costs.

[edit]

MSTS Today

Microsoft no longer owns the rights to MSTS in the United States. They were sold to Atari in 2005, and the game is now distributed in the US as by Atari as value software. In the European Union, the game is now distributed by Empire Interactive and Ubisoft. Ubisoft also distributes MSTS in small quantities in Australia.

Many talented people have created new locomotives, rolling stock, and routes for this game. There are also a lot of people who make activities. Activities, in Train Simulator, are very realistic runs with traffic and other features. The player might have to setout or pickup cars, or run a hot intermodal train. Routes are another feature of MSTS, and are like real railway lines. Some MSTS addon developers are sufficiently talented to charge for their work, which is generally found to be of a better quality.

In 2005 the TML-Studios created the "Berlin Subway", providing a new graphic engine to Microsoft Train Simulator 1. The addon redesigns the immersive simulation with special light effects and a technical "wrap" around the original game. A further development by TML Studios, including a new career mode, is now published with Line 51 "The Golden Twenties". Both products are outstanding from other addons previously distributed within Train Simulator 1 due to the new Art and Graphic Systems.


[edit]

Microsoft Train Simulator 2

Image:TrainSim2.jpg Microsoft Train Simulator 2 was proposed, and was even demoed to the public. Seemingly its main improvement, was the addition of people to the game (i.e. passengers waiting at the stations, people operating the new locomotive rotator, etc). However, this game was cancelled, as this statement from Microsoft confirms.

As you know, every business segment within Microsoft is responsible for continually evaluating its strategy and investments in all areas of the business to achieve operational efficiencies. At Microsoft Game Studios (MGS), we must continually evaluate our portfolio strategy and investments to ensure we are achieving our most important objectives of creating successful, platform driving titles for Windows gamers. In addition, Microsoft Games Studio must streamline game development operations to be more efficient and critically examine all projects in development to position the business for long-term success and profitability.
Microsoft Game Studios has cancelled the Windows-based game "Train Simulator 2.0." The decision to cancel "Train Simulator 2.0" was made some time ago and was based on a long, hard and difficult look at our business objectives and product offerings. We remain focused on the simulations category with successful, platform-driving franchises such as "Microsoft Flight Simulator." [1]
[edit]

Kuju Rail Simulator

In light of the now-cancelled MSTS2, the original design team at Kuju started work in 2005 on a new product called Rail Simulator. Scheduled for release some time during 2006, Kuju Rail Simulator, or KRS, is set to draw upon the experiences of the original software team and the thriving train simulation community. Several major developers and forum sites have been working with the development team on the new game to try to ensure that some of the comments and gripes about MSTS are addressed in this new product. Kuju have broken from Microsoft for this title and instead will be publishing it with Electronic Arts.

[edit]

External links

[edit]

References

fr:Microsoft Train Simulator pl:Microsoft Train Simulator

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Microsoft_Train_Simulator"