Microsoft Train Simulator

The Train Simulator developed by Kuju and distributed by Microsoft is a train driving simulator for the PC, which was launched in 2001. The usual abbreviation for the Internet, this program is MSTS.

In contrast to previous generations as Zugsimulatoren RailSim the Train Simulator is a spatial, three-dimensional vehicle and landscape model is based. The cab itself is simulated in two dimensions; all actuators are taken from snapshots of spatial models, so little difference to three-dimensional models should be noted.

Routes and rolling stock

In the version of the commercially Train Simulator includes the following tracks and rolling stock:

  • Innsbruck- St. Anton, with the classic Arlberg -Orient- Express and the steam locomotive Gölsdorf 380 and the Austrian semaphores of the time
  • The distance between Settle and Carlisle in North West England around 1930 with the steam locomotive LNER no. 4472 Flying Scotsman and around 1980 with the Diesel Locomotive Class 50 Vailant and British semaphore signals of the time
  • The North American Northeast Corridor, which can be either the Acela Express trainset or trains, which are covered with the electric locomotives HHP -8, drive on (the usual in the Northeast Corridor signals are present )
  • Can be driven Marias Pass in northwestern Montana, a distance of Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad, on the freight trains with diesel-electric locomotives Dash9 - 44CW, GP 38-2 and 40-2 SD (classical electrical signals )
  • The Odawara Line of Odakyu Electric Railway to the electric multiple units of the 2000 and 7000 series
  • The excursion train Hisatsu line on the Japanese island of Kyushu, which is traversed via the existing local diesel-hydraulic railcar type KIHA 31.

Views

In the main view, the player is in the cab of a locomotive and a train moves through a landscape that is modeled on the natural landscape. Additional views allow the view from outside the locomotive to the last car on the train off the track standing out from the inside of a passenger car or from the top to the front or rear coupling for coupling other cars or locomotives. Many locomotives lean, or a continuous panoramic view from the side window is possible.

Simulation of locomotives and rolling stock

Basically, almost all locomotive and wagon techniques can be simulated on the basis of a large number of parameters. This includes the various types of compressed air and vacuum brakes, different couplings, peak signals, tensile, tear-off in case of overload clutch, spin the locomotive, boiler parameters for steam locomotives, parameters of the dynamic brake, the locomotive has it. Tender can be bekohlt and filled with water. Important controls of the steam engine as the steam jet pump, the auxiliary blower and the cylinder valves are present and functioning. The slippage of the drive wheels changes during operation of the Sandens, some modern locomotive has traction control.

Acoustic simulation

The acoustics of the locomotives and trains and the environment is simulated with the help of so-called samples. An acoustic limitation of the simulator is that the exhaust stroke of the steam locomotives is not rate synchronously, but stage is changed ( Fade). In these free add- ons are often deficiencies of the original simulator resolved. However, the acoustic simulation is not load-dependent, so that you roll for example, a steam engine with fader set to 0 and many exhaust blows into the station.

Human machine interface

The MS Train Simulator is basically used with the keyboard or the mouse. It has no interface for joysticks or remote displays such as the MS Flight Simulator. Read buyable external controls the screen display and emulate a keyboard via the USB port, an example of this is the Rail Driver. Free additional programs such as joy2key or Joystick2Mouse, make it possible to emulate the keyboard commands through almost any input devices such as joysticks and gamepads. This allows the train, for example, also control with a digital Logitech WingMan joystick.

Software errors

The MS Train Simulator also contains the current version 1.2 software error. Examples:

  • On the route Marias Pass and on a few additional routes tear at specific sites trains inexplicably apart.
  • Dynamic braking of the locomotive only work in one direction. The dynamic brake of an electric locomotive is displayed incorrectly in the optionally visible overhead display and is not operated by external control units.
  • If derailment is turned on in the simulation, the trains have derailed just before reaching the authorized line speed.
  • Error in the signal or block system: computer-animated trains from and to go into occupied blocks.
  • With a lack of computing power not loadable files (usually objects or textures) erroneously appear to be absent.

Because Microsoft in the past spent no more resources for the Train Simulator, was not to be expected that these errors will be corrected.

Degree of reality

A realistic simulation mode is partly due to a lack of train control systems (eg LZB, PZB ) is not possible without compromise. However, the Train Simulator offers for a better representation than other landscape Zugsimulatoren his time.

Subsequent versions

The announcement by Microsoft Version 2 was originally to be released in July 2004. However, since the developer Kuju company ran into financial difficulties and had not delivered the desired quality, it was not possible to finalize the version. Therefore, the development was canceled, although the project was already almost completed. It already screenshots and videos of a nearly finished version was published on the Internet.

First plan is to finish the version 2 on its own, Microsoft looked at as not promising. Some Lokbauer, who contributed to the MSTS2, used some elements in their own projects on.

Microsoft has announced a new Train Simulator 2007. This would have nothing to do with the set a few years ago MSTS 2 in collaboration with Kuju, but represent a completely new program. The experience should help from the Flight Simulator games. Based on the X version of a new rendering engine should arise.

According to Microsoft, the Train Simulator 2 should be in time for the 2009 holiday season on the market. In MSTS 2 should have different natural influences such as fog, influence the driving style of the player. There should also be a novel artificial intelligence for the computer-controlled traffic on the routes and trains for example, be able to recognize the signals and obey them. It was also planned to incorporate slightly raised curves in MSTS 2. Excessive curves are slightly inclined, so that they can be negotiated quickly.

Because of massive financial savings on the part of Microsoft was announced in January 2009 that completion of a very advanced MSTS 2 will not take place. The ACES Game Studios as part of Microsoft Game Studios were closed.

In practice, as a result version is now developed by Kuju and Electronic Arts distributed Rail Simulator are considered, which is here reminded of the operation of the Train Simulator, but built much more complex, many errors of the Train simulator fixes this but regarding the routes and is the rolling stock completely incompatible.

System

The Train Simulator requires at least an Intel Pentium II 266 MHz, 32 MB RAM ( Windows 2000: 64 MB ) and a 3D - capable graphics card with 4 MB memory ahead. The more complex three-dimensional models or computer-controlled trains are simulated, the higher are the requirements. The manufacturer originally Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000 were reported as compatible operating systems and later Windows XP has also been formally supported. However, the simulation also runs on Windows Vista, 7, 8, and various Windows server systems, each on both 32 -bit and 64 - bit systems. With the help of WINE, it is even possible to bring the simulation to work under Linux.

Extensions

Meanwhile, there is a large amount for Train Simulator add-on packages, called add-ons, both as commercial software as well as open source / freeware.

Railway

Commercial extensions

In the German, commercial add-on manufacturers, some companies have established: 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- on- rows, Halycon Media, as well as the largest German -language MSTS add-on provider Blue Sky Interactive with the ProTrain and TrainSim Pro series and a total of 50 published addons for Microsoft Train Simulator. As far as the quality of each manufacturer, the opinions differ sometimes far.

Open Source / Freeware

Some of the free add-on packages surpass user information on the quality of the purchased software. Many routes, objects, traction units and tasks are available free on the Internet for download.

Streets and subways

Urban transport routes have been neglected in Train Simulator, since the limited engine of the train simulator did not allow large numbers object. Still managed some distance Bauer after some time to deal with these limitations and build appropriate routes. Implemented as particularly well the network and the fleet of light rail Cologne apply, in which on several routes distributed a large part of the route network was reconstructed. The built by users freeware routes found even in the Official KVB appeal and visitors to the museum are presented as " Every man simulator " there.

Program patches

Besides the two official updates from Microsoft for versions 1.1 and 1.2 (actually 1.4) was released in May 2006, a first version of a series of free, does not officially legitimized by Microsoft, private out given and unofficial patches for the basic program, which is under the title MSTS Bin the target set to extend the application with new functionality or to correct existing inconsistencies.

Similar programs

  • Similar programs can be found at railway games.
Kuju Entertainment Video game publisher Microsoft Studios Publication DirectX CD-ROM Two-dimensional space Orient-Express GE Dash 9 Series EMD GP38-2 EMD SD40-2 Injector Wine (software)
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