Microsoft Train Simulator

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Microsoft Train Simulator
Microsoft Train Simulator retail box.
Developer(s) MSTS 1: Kuju Entertainment
Train Simulator 2: Microsoft Game Studios
Publisher(s) Microsoft
Distributor(s) Microsoft
Designer(s) various persons, mainly Rick Selby
Version 1.2
Platform(s) Windows
Release date 2001
Genre(s) Simulation
Mode(s) Single player
Rating(s) ESRB: E (Everyone)
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. Requirements will change depending on the active map. Big and complicated maps requies 1Ghz+ processor, 512 MB or more RAM, and 64MB or better video card to run.
Input methods 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 Train Simulator 2 based on the Microsoft Flight Simulator X platform.

Contents

[edit] Original version features

[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. 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.[1]. The game is also somewhat unstable with a tendency to crash.

[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] Add-ons

Many commercial and non-commercial add-ons for MSTS are available. These include route, activity, scenery,locomotives and rolling stock addons to the game. Some of these are listed below:

[edit] Commercial route add-ons

[edit] Non-commercial route add-ons

  • Dorset Coast – by Dave Corfield
  • Thames-Mersey – by Dave Corfield
  • North West England – by Terry Cunliffe
  • Glasgow – Carlisle – by David Carmont

[edit] Locomotives and Rolling Stock add-ons

[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. It is also distributed in Bratain by Xpplosiv and sold comparitivly cheaply

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 than the standard content.

[edit] Successor

[edit] Microsoft Train Simulator 2

On May 7, 2003, Microsoft Train Simulator 2 was announced,[2] and it was first demoed to the public at E3 on May 15.[3] Seemingly its main improvements were the addition of people to the game (e.g. passengers waiting at the stations, people operating the new locomotive roster, etc.), more realistic crashes and other accidents, and turntables. It was being developed by Kuju Entertainment, the original MSTS creators. Due to restructuring efforts at Kuju, the project was however handed over to Microsoft Game Studios on August 18, 2003.[4] However, this project was ultimately cancelled, as the following statement from Microsoft confirmed.

April 24, 2004As 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." [5]

[edit] Project relaunch

However, on January 19, 2007, Microsoft announced the relaunch of the Microsoft Train Simulator project. This time the game is being made in-house by ACES Game Studio (Microsoft Game Studios) known for its long line of Microsoft Flight Simulators, as a part of the "Games for Windows" initiative. The game will use the Microsoft Flight Simulator X graphics engine and it will be released for Windows Vista and Windows XP. A post on the 'The Little Wheel Goes in Back' blog, written by one of the developers, on August 23, 2007 appears to suggest the working title is now 'Train Simulator 2'.[6]

Microsoft demoed Train Simulator 2 on August 25, 2007 at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, and released an official press kit which includes several "in-game visual prototype" images, asset renders and two videos. One video indicates that the game's terrain will cover the entire planet, similar to their modern Flight Simulators, with global rail network data available to route builders.[7][8] Little else is currently known regarding the title. Backwards compatibility with MSTS 1 is unlikely as this is a completely new product having only the name in common with its predecessor. Initial information can be found from Microsoft's official Train Simulator website.[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links