MS Train Sim 2 several months ago released its first in-game video footage, which is quite exciting insofar as it shows the kind of scenery on offer and the fully manipulate-able cab. If you've not seen it yet, it's here:

http://tsinsider.com/Articles/WorkInProgre...tVideoLook.aspx

For those unfamiliar with the Train Sim franchise, it began in 2001 with the release of MS Train Sim, developed out-of-house. This is, to my mind, still the best train sim for mid-level players like me (i.e. not total enthusiasts but with an interest in trains.)

Anyway, it sold reasonably well, and development on Train Sim 2 started. However this was then cancelled.

Now, though, there's a new version of Train Sim 2 in the works, and interestingly enough it's based on the Flight Simulator X engine. More interestingly yet, it uses the same globe, so you can technically cover the whole world on rails: there would, in theory, be nothing to stop me from taking a train from Greenock all the way down to the Eurotunnel, and then across Europe and Russia all the way to Vladivostok.

Of course it would be impossible for the developers to provide accurate scenery and track running for the entire world, so what will be included are a few "high detail" areas, one of which is shown in the video above. There are only going to be a few of these - four or five - but just like with MS Train Sim the game will be fully edit-able, so there will be both commercial and free upgrades.

In terms of rolling stock, there aren't many details available, but like in TS1 there will be support for diesel, electric, and steam trains.

That sounds brilliant! I want this game!

It'll be out in just over a year's time, if all goes to plan.

In the meantime MS Train Sim 1 costs like, a fiver, I think.

Swampy, have you played Kuju's follow up game? Kuju, for those too lazy to click on that link, were the writers of the original Microsoft Train Sim, however they moved on and developed one of their own, the rather uninspiring and confusingly entitled Rail Simulator.

It took what they had learned with MS Train Sim and improved it. Things like the 3D driver's cab and the camera angles and the like. The only problem with it is the amount of trains and tracks you can go on.

Here's an example of it running..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoQJms6Q0Mc

Even more geeky, Kuju's Rail Simulator supports the.. "rail driver controller"



Now all you need is a peaked cap and a whistle...

Im seriously close to closing this thread.

There is a line, people

Its the strangest thing, but I have no interest whatsoever in Flight sim and all that, but Train Sim sounds as sexy as hell. I'd love it if it had the underground, so you could do simple driving on that, just ploughing through the darkness, peridodically emerging into the light. Magic!

Flight Sim is alright, but it's a bloody heavy learning curve. FSX also took a beast of a machine to run it well. I have FS2004 installed here and while it's a good simulator it suffers from problems of reality in terms of the graphics. At least with train sims you have trees and bridges and the like. Get up in the air in FS2004 an the world is flat with no cityscapes or random buildings.

Oh, and..



..that sounds like my sex life..

Booo spoilsport.

In all seriousness, I really want that game. It's the same reason why I got flight simulator...



As a result, I'm now confident that in the event of a 1970's disaster style scenario unfolding on my plane trip, I would be able to step in the pilot seat and safely guide down a 747 and or a crappy Cessna. View it rather as a survival training software than a geeky game for Billy no mates.

I love that argument. It's the same one I gave to the idea I could fly an Apache 64 Gunship after playing the Microprose game, and as much as I would love to believe it, we all know that if we took over the controls of something as complicated as an aeroplane, the survival rate of all those aboard would drop drastically, all because we had played FS at home..

True, look at those guys who tried to rescue a plane a few years back after the pilot was out of action. They had done a bit of flight sim, took over the controls, and ended up crashing into a building in New York. What made things worse was that another group of people tried the same thing on a different plane, and it all went horribly wrong for them too!

Poor wee buggers.

If I didn't know better I could have sworn that was you trying your hand at comedy...

Rumbled!

I haven't played it because I am primarily into the scenic/mission aspect of train sims and I decided that it wasn't really for me based on a review I read. However if I see it cheap somewhere I might try it out.

Looks good, but as Ric says, if its on the flight sim engine, its going to be a nightmare to run, even on my super dooper rig, i would struggle with flight sim.

It's not going to be out until next year by which time it will be less of a monster in terms of the computers people are using.

Only ever had Hornby VR but these games are great even for planning for real layouts.

Edit: That footage is fantastic!

There are missions, but they tend to consist of go here, pick up that, deliver it there, all the time not derailing yourself.

You do get to drive a steam train though which I don't think you did in MS Train Sim.

Surely thats a given, rather than a mission goal

I should point out that is harder than it looks, you also need to set up signalling to enable you to get onto the wrong line.

While I realise I am hardly going to convince you, it's actually not that bad a game, just not very exciting.

Keeping a train on the tracks is a hard thing to do? So its a truely accurate sim then?

Mixed with gradients, different loads, different weather and specific time slots on when you can and can't go on bits of the rail network (for example freight trains on the main intercity lines), then yes it can be quite hard.

As I say though, it's far from exciting and would only appeal to train buffs.


btw, I was thinking about this and the first train sim I can think of was Southern Belle, published by Hewson, in the old 8-bit days.

http://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=2382

Thats as far as I got before falling asleep

I kept getting a cunting for reversing on inclines.

It's currently quarter to twelve on a Friday night and I'm watching a video on YouTube of a virtual train's windscreen wipers in operation.

I remember I liked hijacking the 'Brown Streak' train in San Andreas when I had a 6 star wanted level, and drive it backwards at 90mph into SWAT vans, police cars, and Army trucks with helicopters chasing me. Then I'd derail the big fucker on a tight bend, leap out as all the carriages fell off a bridge and go down in a blaze of bullets and rocket propelled grenades.

This game anything like that?

<-- you

Just for you xbl..

http://www.aerosoft.com/cgi-local/re/ibosh...gi?showd,,50176

The e-chat forum was always going to end with this thread.

All I'll hear when I read your posts will be 'CHOO CHOO!'

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