Rail Simulator

Rail Simulator (later as Train Simulator 2015)
UK Rail Simulator box cover
Developer(s)	Kuju Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Electronic Arts
Distributor(s)	Electronic Arts
Engine	Proprietary game engine, PhysX (physics)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows XP and Vista
Release date(s)	EU October 12, 2007 NA January 16, 2008
Genre(s)	Simulation
Mode(s)	Single-player
Distribution	DVD

Rail Simulator (Kuju Rail Simulator) is a train simulation published by Electronic Arts (EA).^[1] It was produced by UK based Kuju Entertainment, the company which developed Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) with Microsoft. After release of the EU version, EA's support and further development of the title was taken over by Rail Simulator Developments Ltd (RSDL), who continued to provide updates, fixes, official expansion packs and new content to players. RSDL has also released a much anticipated sequel to the first game called RailWorks, both online and on DVD-ROM.

Features

Steam, diesel and electric traction trains, keyboard or mouse control of throttles, brakes and switches with three control modes for varying player skills. A variety of scenarios are available as well as an exploratory style free roam mode. Cargos and passengers are animated, and weather changes dynamically with time.^[2] The game has been criticized by reviewers for not providing enough help for newcomers to train simulation, and lack of complete instructions in the guides.^[2][3]

Routes

The game contained four routes on both the European and North American releases, with one exclusive route on each one.^[4]

Route name	Image	Featured Train Companies	Rolling Stock	Terminal stations	miles	km	Set in	Co	EU	NA	Notes
East Coast Main Line		British Rail	BR Class 43 BR Class 47 BR Class 55	Newcastle to York via Durham and Darlington	89	143	1978		Yes	No	N/A
Great Western Main Line		First Great Western Freightliner	BR Class 43 BR Class 166 BR Class 47	Oxford to London Paddington	60	97	2006		Yes	Yes	N/A
Somerset & Dorset Railway		British Railway	Black Five 7F 2-8-0	Bath Green Park to Templecombe, including Evercreech Junction	N/A	N/A	1955		Yes	Yes	N/A
Hagen–Siegen		DB	DB 101 DB 294	Hagen to Siegen via Finnentrop, including Siegen roundhouse	N/A	N/A	1998		Yes	Yes	N/A
Cajon Pass		Union Pacific	ES44AC SD40-2	Barstow to San Bernardino, California via the Cajon Pass	81	131	2005		No	Yes	N/A

Locomotives (EU/NA)

Locomotive	Image	Type	mph	km/h	Built	Country	Route	Livery(s)	EU	NA
Black Five		Steam	70	112	1934		Bath-Templecombe	BR Black	Yes	Yes
7F 2-8-0		Steam	70	112	1914		Bath-Templecombe	BR Black	Yes	Yes
BR Class 43		Diesel	125	200	1975		Newcastle-York Oxford-Paddington	BR Blue (EU) FGW Barbie FGW Neon	Yes	Yes
BR Class 47		Diesel	95	153	1962		Newcastle-York Oxford-Paddington	BR Blue (EU) Triple Grey	Yes	Yes
BR Class 55		Diesel	100	160	1961		Newcastle-York	BR Blue	Yes	No
BR Class 166		Diesel	90	140	1992		Oxford-Paddington	First Dynamic Lines First Link	Yes	Yes
DB 101		Electric	140	225	1996		Hagen-Siegen	DB Red	Yes	Yes
DB 294		Diesel	60	100	1963		Hagen-Siegen	DB Red (Railon)	Yes	Yes
ES44AC		Diesel	70	112	2008		Barstow-San Bernardino	Union Pacific	No	Yes
SD40-2		Diesel	70	112	1972		Barstow-San Bernardino	Union Pacific	No	Yes

Editing tools

A complete tool suite is also available to customise content, allowing terrain modeling either by hand using provided tools or via the import of DEM data from NASA; track construction based on a system of straights and arcs, allowing infinitely possible junction configurations, and scenery placement. A scenario editor allows the creation of tasks such as picking up passengers, hauling cargo and shunting wagons around yards.^[2] These tools also allow players to build unlimited sizes of layouts, create their own scenery and rolling stock and modify the provided content by adding features or re-skins.

Reception

Since release, Kuju Rail Simulator received generally positive reviews from reviewers. IGN awarded 7.0 out of 10, praising the title's attention to its source material. Some jagged graphics were criticized (with foliage going through the cab instead of bouncing off the windshield, for example) and the fact that only true rail fanatics could ever get any fun out of KRS. The lack of any in-game tutorials was mentioned, with "members of the community ... making video walk-throughs, while lamenting the lack of a thick, fully printed manual."^[5]

Rail Simulator Developments Ltd (later RailSimulator.com Ltd)

With the release of Rail Simulator in October 2007, Kuju Entertainment finished development and disbanded the RailSim team turning its attention to the next project. Knowing the potential of the RailSim engine, and with backing from Fund4Games who owned the rights to the simulator, a new company was set up from some of the core members of the initial development team with the specific aim of fulfilling continued development of the brand and supporting users and third-party developers with add-on projects.

RSDL produced two patches to the core simulator (Upgrade Mk1^[6] and Mk2^[7]), developed and released add-ons, helped the release of third-party products, and visited exhibitions to promote the simulation and provide support for users via several community websites.

In April 2009, a take over of RSDL was announced,^[8] with the development switching to a new version of the software called RailWorks which would be released on Steam. This change heralded a break from EA being the publisher in Europe and rights over the source code for Rail Simulator being transferred to single ownership by RailSimulator.com Ltd.^[9]

RailWorks

RailWorks is the official successor to Rail Simulator, announced by Tim Gatland on 26 March 2009 on the official Rail Simulator website. The game was released on Steam on 12 June 2009 and in stores on 3 July 2009 in DVD-ROM format.^[10]

RailWorks is an upgrade to Rail Simulator, containing new rolling stock, tools that had to be separately downloaded, significant graphical advancements such as modification of the existing content, bug fixes, backwards compatibility and the ability to trade elements from the virtual world with other users online. RailWorks is a universal platform containing all content from the original European release and North American release. RailWorks also makes use of Valve's Steam platform to simplify the processes of support and upgrading the product.^[10]

References

External links

• Official website