A-Train (game series)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A train
developer JapanJapan Artdink
Publisher United StatesUnited States Maxis
First title A-Train (1985)
Last title A-Train PC Classic (2016)
Platform (s) Amiga , PlayStation , PS2 , DOS , PC , Mac OS , Xbox 360 , NES , PC Engine , NDS , Nintendo 3DS , PC-88 , PC-98 , Sharp X68000 , FM-7 , FM Towns
Genre (s) Economic simulation

A-Train ( Japanese A 列車 で 行 こ うA Ressha de Ikou ) is a Japanese computer game series that was developed by the developer Artdink from 1985 onwards . Some parts were distributed by Maxis in the US and Europe . There were implementations for Amiga , PlayStation , PlayStation 2 , Windows , DOS , Mac OS and the Xbox 360 . Versions for the Nintendo Entertainment System , PC Engine, and Nintendo DS were only released in Japan.

In the winter of 2011/2012 the German PC version, A-Train 9 , was also released in Germany as Der Bahngigant . A fan extension is available for the German version, which supplements the only 14 existing trains in the German version to 200 vehicles from the Japanese version.

Game content

In this game, the player takes over the management of a railway company . There are no rival companies and the outcome of the game is open. The goal is to make as much profit as possible; In the first step, this can be done by transporting passengers or selling building materials. The building of factories is a prerequisite for the production of building materials and the associated growth of cities. The factories and the built warehouses have a certain area of ​​influence - no buildings can be erected outside this area. With the money earned and the material produced, the player can buy his own land on which he can build buildings such as hotels and shopping centers, which bring him an additional monthly profit. Furthermore, the player can also invest the money in stocks in order to benefit from rising prices.

In addition to building profitable railway lines, the player can build a road system on which trucks can carry goods and buses can carry passengers. Railway stations and stops are used by the respective vehicles as loading and unloading points. All stops and train stations can be modified in detail. It is thus possible to turn vehicles around or to let them pass through at certain stops or to limit journeys in terms of time.

implementation

The A-Train series is very popular in Japan. Motivated by this, Maxis published various games for the PC (DOS), Macintosh and the Amiga - with moderate success. The game AIV: Evolution Global for the then relatively new PlayStation 1, which was released in 1996, could not establish itself in the western world either. One save occupied a complete memory card, which at the time was quite expensive at 45 euros.

In contrast to the similar game principle of SimCity , A-Train does not take into account any social issues such as school education, crime and health care, as well as fire hazards, environmental pollution or water supply.

In addition to the ready-made scenarios, some games in the A-Train series have an editor with which the player can create their own game worlds. Furthermore, some versions are provided with a camera mode with which it is possible to experience the landscape in a 3D view while traveling by train or bus.

Publications

  • A Ressha de Ikou (12/1985, FM-7, PC-8801/9801, X1Turbo, MZ-2500, MSX2 ( Pony Canyon ), Famicom) Japan
  • Railroad Empire ( Take the A-Train II ) 1988, PC-9801, X68000, 1989 DOS
  • A-Train ( A-Train III ) 1990 PC-9800, X68000, FM Towns, 1992, Amiga, DOS, Mac, later other platforms NEC, SNES, PS, Virtual Console, DS
  • Take the A-Train MD (1992, Sega Mega Drive)
  • A-Train IV (1993 PC-9801, FM Towns, 1995 DOS)
  • A-Train IV Evolution (1996 PSX)
  • A-Train IV Evolution Global (1997 PSX)
  • A-Train 5 , also known as CEO , AIV Network $: Ticket to Ride to Success , AIV Network $ and A4 Networks (1995, DOS)
  • A-Train 6 (2000, PlayStation 2)
  • A-Train 7 (2005, Windows)
  • A-Train HX (2006, XBox 360)
  • A-Train 8 (2008, Windows)
  • A Ressha de Ikou DS (2009, Nintendo DS), only published in Japanese
  • A-Train 9 (2009/2010, Windows)
  • Der Bahngigant (2012, Windows) German version of A-Train 9
  • A-Train 9 Version 2.0: Professional Edition (2012, Windows) contains the content of the 2 extensions previously published in Japan as well as bug fixes and additional objects and trains such as B. Overhead lines and steam locomotives
  • A-Train 3D: City Simulator (2015, Nintendo 3DS), only available as a download from the Nintendo eShop
  • A-Train 9 Version 4.0: Masters Edition (2015, Windows)
  • A-Train PC Classic / み ん な の A 列車 で 行 こ う (2016 Windows)

Web links