Microsoft Train Simulator

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Microsoft Train Simulator
Microsoft Train Simulator retail box.
Developer(s) MSTS 1: Kuju Entertainment
MSTS "X": Microsoft Game Studios
Publisher(s) Microsoft
Distributor(s) Microsoft
Designer(s) various persons, mainly Rick Selby
Latest version 1.2
Release date(s) 2001
Genre(s) Simulation
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: E (Everyone)
Platform(s) Windows
Media CD-ROM (2)
System requirements Microsoft Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP, 266 MHz CPU, 32 MB of RAM for Win 95/98/Me; 64 MB for Win 2000/XP, 500 MB of HD space minimum (1.5 GB for full install), CD-ROM drive, DirectX 7.0a or later compatible 4 MB video card
Input keyboard, mouse, RailDriver (optional) and other input devices that simulate train controls

Microsoft Train Simulator (known in the Train Simulator community also as simply MSTS 1) is a train simulator for Microsoft Windows, released in July 2001 and developed by UK based Kuju Entertainment. On January 19, 2007 Microsoft informed the community about the development of a new Train Simulator based on the Microsoft Flight Simulator X platform.

Contents

[edit] Original version

[edit] Routes

The original game featured the following lines:

These original models were criticised by many people for being inaccurate. However, as with Microsoft Flight Simulator, people started creating and distributing their own models and other content through websites. A lot of the time, the add-ons have a better look than the original routes. New routes, trains, sounds, cabviews, and other MSTS accessories are available either as freeware or payware from various websites and companies.

[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", where the locomotive's front coupler would not work, the "white void bug", where the route scenery disappears, leaving a white void, and the "end-of-the-line bug", where the locomotive, if it crashes through the last buffers on the route, would fall into an empty void. There are also issues with the signalling and AI dispatching. However, through the work of people in the community, some of these bugs were either removed or avoided by applying "unofficial" patches to the program. The remaining frequent crashes stay accepted, though.

[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

Screenshot from Microsoft Train Simulator 1.
Screenshot from Microsoft Train Simulator 1.

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

[edit] Non-commercial hardware add-ons

  • A British Rail Class 89 locomotive was produced as an add-on to raise money to save the only real class 89 from being scrapped. Thankfully the ACLG managed to raise enough funds to save the locomotive, and it is now stored at Barrow Hill Roundhouse.

[edit] Hardware controller

A desktop cab controller called RailDriver is available, which is compatible with Microsoft Train Simulator.

[edit] Routes

Many commercial and non-commercial add-ons for MSTS are available. These add a route, some activities and more locomotives to the game. Some of them are listed below:

[edit] Commercial route add-ons

[edit] Non-commercial route add-ons

  • Dorset Coast V4.0
  • Mersey Railways V4.1
  • Fife - Edinburgh
  • Westvale V1.0
  • Mideast UK V2.0
  • Fairly Up to Date England V1.2
  • Harwich-Manningtree Branch Line V1.0 [Beta]
  • Yorkshire Coast Railway V1.51
  • Wupper Express V10.0
  • Woodhead V2.2
  • The Tunnel V1.1
  • London Underground - Piccadilly Line V1.1
  • London Underground - District Line V1.1 [Beta]
  • Talyllyn Railway V2.0
  • Making Tracks Springfield V1.0
  • GWR-Toddington V1.0
  • North West England V2.1
  • Blackpool Tramway V1.3
  • Modern City Underground V1.0
  • Modern England V3.0
  • Blackpool Tramway Illuminations V1.0
  • Scottish Central V1.0 [Stage 1]
  • Mountain Pass V2.0
  • Glasgow - Carlisle V2.0
  • Northrail V1.0
  • Valley Railway V5.0
  • Lydbrook Junction V1.0
  • NWTrains - Settle - Carlisle / Carlisle - Workington V1.3
  • Midland Railway - Butterley (Donationware)
  • Russian: Malohitovka www.trainsim.ru
  • Russian: Demitrov www.trainsim.ru
  • Russian: Stepanki www.trainsim.ru
  • Russian: Fastov-Kiev www.trainsim.ru
  • Russian: Lesnogorsk www.trainsim.ru

[edit] MSTS 1.0 today

Microsoft does not publish MSTS1 in the United States anymore. This is done by Atari since 2005, and the game is now distributed in the US by Atari as value software. In the European Union, the game is now distributed by Empire Interactive and Ubisoft. Ubisoft also distributes MSTS1 in small quantities in Australia.

Many 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 realistic runs with traffic and other features. The player might have to set out or pick-up cars, or run an inter-modal train. Routes are another feature of MSTS1, and are like real railway lines. Some MSTS add-on developers are sufficiently talented to charge for their work, which is generally found to be of a better quality.

[edit] Successor

[edit] Microsoft Train Simulator 2

The original Train Simulator 2 (cancelled) box art.
The original Train Simulator 2 (cancelled) box art.

Microsoft Train Simulator 2 was proposed, and was even demoed to the public. Seemingly its main improvements were the addition of people to the game (i.e. passengers waiting at the stations, people operating the new locomotive roster, etc.), more realistic crashes and other accidents, and turntables. However, this game was cancelled, as the following statement from Microsoft confirms.

April 24, 2004 – 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] Project relaunch

However, on January 19, 2007, Microsoft announced the relaunch of the Microsoft Train Simulator project. It is being made in-house by Microsoft Game Studios as a part of the "Games for Windows" initiative. The game will use the Microsoft Flight Simulator X graphics engine. Little else is currently known regarding the title, but backwards compatibility with MSTS 1 is unlikely as this is a completely new product having only the name in common with it's predecessor. Initial news can be found from the website here.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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