Microsoft Train Simulator
| Train simulator | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Studio | Kuju Entertainment | ||
| Publisher | Microsoft Game Studios | ||
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
 May 31, 2001 August 31, 2001 |
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| platform | Windows | ||
| genre | Railway simulator | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| control | mouse and keyboard | ||
| system advantages preconditions |
Windows 95 or newer, 266 MHz CPU , 32 MB RAM , DirectX -compatible graphics card, 500 MB HDD, DirectX -compatible sound card | ||
| medium | 2 CD-ROM | ||
| language | German | ||
| Current version | 1.2 | ||
| Age rating |
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The Kuju developed and Microsoft sold Train Simulator is a railway - driving simulator for the PC , which in 2001 was brought to the market. The common abbreviation for this program on the Internet is MSTS .
In contrast to train simulators of earlier generations such as Railsim , the Train Simulator is based on a spatial, three-dimensional vehicle and landscape model. The driver's cab itself is simulated in two dimensions ; all actuators are taken from snapshots of spatial models, so that hardly any difference to three-dimensional models is noticeable.
Routes and rolling stock
In the commercially available version, the Train Simulator contains the following routes and rolling stock:
- Innsbruck – St. Anton, with the classic Arlberg-Orient-Express and the steam locomotive Gölsdorf 380 as well as the Austrian form signals of the time
- The route between Settle and Carlisle in North West England around 1930 with the LNER No. 4472 Flying Scotsman and around 1980 with the Class 50 Vailant diesel locomotive and British form signals of the time
- The North American Northeast Corridor , which can be traveled with either the Acela Express multiple unit or trains hauled by the HHP-8 electric locomotives (the signals usual in the Northeast Corridor are available)
- Maria's Pass in northwest Montana , a route on the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad , on which freight trains can be driven with the diesel-electric locomotives Dash9-44CW , GP 38-2 and SD 40-2 (classic electrical signals)
- The Odawara line of the Odakyū Dentetsu with the electric multiple units of the series 2000 and 7000
- The Hisatsu Line excursion train on the Japanese island of Kyushu , which is used by the KIHA 31 diesel-hydraulic railcars customary there .
Views
In the main view, the player is in the driver's cab of a locomotive and moves a train through a landscape that is modeled on the natural landscape. Further views allow a view from the outside of the locomotive, the last car, the train standing next to the line, from inside a passenger car or from above onto the front or rear coupling for coupling further cars or locomotives. With many locomotives, it is possible to lean out and have a seamless panoramic view from the side window.
Simulation of the locomotives and rolling stock
In principle, almost all locomotive technologies and wagons can be simulated using a large number of parameters. These include the various types of compressed air and vacuum brakes, different clutches, peak signals, tractive forces, clutch disconnection in the event of overload, skidding of the locomotive, boiler parameters for steam locomotives, parameters of the dynamic brake, if the locomotive has them. Tenders can be charred and filled with water. Important operating elements of the steam locomotive such as the steam jet pump , the auxiliary blower and the cylinder taps are available and work. The slip of the drive wheels changes when the sand is operated ; some modern locomotives have a drive slip control .
Acoustic simulation
The acoustics of the locomotives and trains and the environment are simulated with the help of so-called samples . An acoustic limitation of the simulator is that the exhaust beat of the steam locomotives is not speed-synchronized, but is changed in stages (cross-fading). The free add-ons very often fix deficiencies in the original simulator. The acoustic simulation is not load-dependent, however, so that, for example, with a steam locomotive with regulator position 0 and many exhaust blows, you roll into the station.
Man-machine interface
The MS Train Simulator is basically operated with the keyboard or the mouse . It has no interface for joysticks or external displays such as the MS Flight Simulator . External control elements that can be purchased read out the screen display and emulate a keyboard via the USB connection , the RailDriver is an example of this . Free additional programs such as Joy2Key or Joystick2Mouse allow keyboard commands to be emulated using almost any input device such as joysticks and gamepads. For example, the train can also be controlled with a digital Logitech WingMan joystick.
Software error
The current version 1.2 of the MS Train Simulator contains software errors. Examples:
- On the Marias Pass route and on a few additional routes, trains tear apart at certain points for inexplicable reasons.
- Dynamic brakes on the locomotive only work in one direction of travel. The dynamic brake of an electric locomotive is displayed incorrectly in the optional overhead display and can therefore not be operated via external control devices.
- If derailment is activated in the simulation, the trains derail immediately before they reach the permitted line speed.
- Error in the signal or block system: computer-animated trains occasionally drive into occupied blocks.
- If the computer performance is insufficient, files that cannot be loaded (mostly objects or textures) are incorrectly displayed as not available.
Since Microsoft did not spend any more resources on the Train Simulator in the past, it was not to be expected that these errors would be fixed.
Degree of reality
A realistic simulation operation is not possible without compromises if train control systems are used as an example . However, the Train Simulator offered a better representation of the landscape than other train simulators of the time.
Subsequent versions
The version 2 announced by Microsoft was originally supposed to be released in July 2004. However, since the development company Kuju got into financial difficulties and did not deliver the desired quality, it was not possible to complete the version. As a result, development was canceled even though the project was almost complete. Screenshots and videos of an almost finished version have already been published on the Internet. Microsoft did not see initial plans to complete version 2 on its own as promising. The product was subsequently released in 2007 by Electronic Arts under the name Rail Simulator . After the product was taken over by Dovetail Games, the product is now again called Train Simulator . Its operation is reminiscent of Microsoft Train Simulator, but its structure is much more complex and is completely incompatible with it in terms of routes and rolling stock.
Microsoft announced a new train simulator in 2007. However, this would have nothing to do with the MSTS 2 discontinued a few years ago in cooperation with Kuju, but represent a completely new program, developed by Aces Game Studios . The experience from the flight simulator games should help. With MSTS 2, different natural influences, such as fog, should influence the player's driving style. There should be a new type of artificial intelligence for computer-controlled traffic on the routes and trains, for example, should be able to recognize the signals and follow them. It was also planned to build slightly elevated curves in MSTS 2. Elevated curves are slightly inclined so that they can be negotiated faster. A new rendering engine should be developed based on Flight Simulator X. According to Microsoft, Train Simulator 2 should have appeared on the market around Christmas 2009. Due to massive financial savings on the part of Microsoft, it was announced in January 2009 that the MSTS 2, which is now well advanced, will not be completed. Aces Game Studios as part of Microsoft Game Studios has been closed.
System requirements
The Train Simulator requires at least an Intel Pentium II with 266 MHz, 32 MB RAM (under Windows 2000: 64 MB) and a 3D-capable graphics card with 4 MB memory. The more complex three-dimensional models or computer-controlled train traffic are simulated, the higher the requirements. The manufacturer originally specified Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000 as compatible operating systems, later Windows XP was also officially supported. Operation on Windows Vista or newer systems is not supported by Microsoft. With the help of Wine it is possible to get the simulation running under newer Windows systems or macOS or Linux .
Extensions
There are now a large number of additional packages, called add-ons , for Train Simulator , both as commercial software and as open source / freeware .
railroad
Commercial extensions
Several companies have established themselves in the field of German commercial add-on manufacturers: German Railroads with the series German Railroads (routes, tasks and rolling stock) and German Trains (tasks and rolling stock), Aerosoft under the name Train-World with various add-ons on series, Halycon Media, as well as the largest German-speaking MSTS add-on provider Blue Sky Interactive with the ProTrain and TrainSim Pro series and a total of over 50 published add-ons for the Microsoft Train Simulator. As far as the quality of the individual manufacturers is concerned, opinions sometimes differ widely.
Open source / freeware
According to users, some of the free additional packages exceed the quality of the software purchased. Many routes, objects, locomotives and tasks can be downloaded free of charge from the Internet.
Trams and subways
Urban transport routes have been neglected in the Train Simulator, since the limited engine of the Train Simulator did not allow large numbers of objects. Nevertheless, some track builders managed to deal with these limitations after a while and built corresponding tracks. The network and vehicle fleet of the Cologne Stadtbahn are particularly well implemented , with a large part of the route network being rebuilt over several routes. The freeware routes built by users were even well received by the officials of the KVB and are presented to visitors to the museum as "everyone's simulators".
Program patches
In addition to two official updates from Microsoft to version 1.1 and 1.2 (actually 1.4), a first version of a series of free, privately published and unofficial patches for the basic program, which were officially not legitimized by Microsoft and which are entitled MSTS Bin the target, was released in May 2006 to add new functions to the application or to correct existing inconsistencies.
Similar programs
- Similar programs can be found under Railway Games .
Web links
- www.trainsimulator.ch - Swiss TS Community with downloads and forum
- Freeware with a focus on Austria
- Train Simulation TS Community with downloads and forum
- The-Train TS Community with downloads and a forum
Individual evidence
- ↑ Microsoft shuts down its Aces Studio But the company did say that there would be no future versions of Train Simulator. From a spokeswoman: "I can confirm that development on future versions of that franchise will not continue."
- ^ Microsoft: system requirements