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Post by chrisd on Feb 15, 2009 7:37:27 GMT -5
Hi all you train simmers who have been talking about the train sims & got me interested. I see that there are 2 main sims MSTS & Trainz. My question is - which one should I go for? Both have good fan bases & freeware, but with MSTS not being updated is Trainz a better long term bet? My PC runs FS9 OK unless I ask too much of it when it goes into slideshow mode. Your advice & opinions much appreciated.
Regards ChrisD
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Post by ashaman on Feb 15, 2009 8:09:56 GMT -5
I only own MSTS, and can tell you that it doesn't ask much under the CPU power point of view. It is a program published in 2001, so, with a PC bought after that date, it should give you no problems. With my old rig, an AMD Athlon Xp 2600 - 1Gb - Gefo 6600GT, it never gave problems even maxing out the details.
It remains an eight years old program though, and its graphical detail, though not bad in itself, is not up to par with newer projects. Keep this in mind.
As for it being compared with Trainz... never tried this last train sim, so can't really speak about it.
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 15, 2009 8:25:13 GMT -5
There is KRS Kuju Rail Simulator) as well, I own both but not tried Trainz.
I like both MSTS & KRS, I find myself leaning toward MSTS mainly for ease of handling the files, I'm getting in to it a bit now, I've only had them for a few weeks but enjoying them.
One of the main problems I have had was installing new routes, some are very large downloads only to find they don't run, some though have worked first time, it isn't like FS where you can fly anywhere, you are restricted to what ever route you are on.
Some go on for miles other are short, but that can be good because if you don't feel like a long journey then take a short route.
At first I downloaded lots of engines & rolling stock only to find I hardly use them, so be picky there are lots out there.
I'm sure others will add more comments.
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Post by johnfromoz on Feb 15, 2009 19:14:38 GMT -5
Yes, Col summed it up. I found it best to download the new route first, as the designers usually list what engines and wagons were required.
The only thing of course is that, eight years down the track (so to speak) some of the resources for downloads have come and gone, but I found all I needed last I looked.
Graphically, when MSTS came out, I think it was very good. Since you only see the world from the railway track, there's no need for detail which is never seen (unlike FS where the user can fly anywhere). Thus, they put in quite a lot of detail close to the track, then further out, structures were merely "cardboard cutouts". They serve their purpose well though.
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 16, 2009 3:19:58 GMT -5
Hi John,
Funny you mentioned scenery, I downloaded an Alpine route yesterday for KRS, I gave it a quick run and the graphics were very good, I mentioned this in the other thread but I think KRS has the edge on MSTS as far as graphics.
I haven't been on KRS for a few weeks and I forgot about the moving people on the platforms, one of them reminds me of someone I know, when ever I see him walking on the platform I say to myself, "There goes Terry."
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Post by qxtoolman on Feb 16, 2009 5:04:07 GMT -5
Everyone is right in what is being said. But here's the catch, KRS is extremely popular in Europe, but here in the States not so much. It's understandable because KUJU who makes KRS is based in Europe. The amount of add-ons for US RR's lags way behind. Kinda like the real world, where most of the world is way ahead in railroading. So it depends on what you are simming. If a US Railroad is what you are looking to run MSTS is probably the better bet, but if Europe is your area, then I think KRS might be the way to go.
Now if the US is what you are going after, I strongly recommend The Clinton Sub by Craig Hatlestad, based on part of the old CNW Kate Shelly "400" route in Iowa. It's easy to learn, fairly flat, tons of sidings. Now the route that comes with a bunch of activities etc. and a mix of flat & Mountains then the ADFRR is a good choice. Once you download one of these freeware masterpieces, you will never want to go back to the original MS Routes. Now the best pieces of eye-candy routes are the Whitefish 9 or the GN High Line / Marias Pass 4. Those routes are extremely challenging, long, and make you want to become a tourist, instead of a engineer. I hope you find this info is of help in making your decision.
What ever you decide, here's wishing you "Clear Tracks Ahead"!
All Aboard!
Stefan
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Post by jonbuck on Feb 16, 2009 11:04:51 GMT -5
Well, being a long-time Train Sim fan let me add a couple of cents worth of comments here. What has been said is correct. I chose MSTS over Trainz at the time because Trainz was very limited in what it could do if you wanted to add routes and rolling stock...which is exactly what I wanted to do. I think MSTS would be your best bet if you are located in North America. Just remember that it was devised some years ago on a test basis to see if it would become a commercial success like FS. The default version was intended to appeal to kids and RR fans alike and later on MS would make a decision on whether to upgrade/update or not. By today's standards, it's old and cranky and full of little glitches...kinda like me at this age!  Turned out to be not as big a success as they had hoped so an update decision was delayed for too many years. Now the shutdown came just as they were ready to release one. Terrible timing!  But it did build up a big world-wide following, a very active forum like you see with FS fans, and lots of add-on rolling stock and routes. Thanks to the die-hard fans, many solutions and 'work-arounds' have been devised to overcome it's shortcomings and you can take advantage of a vast library of 'fix-its'. We fans in our enthusiasm have pushed MSTS way beyond what the designers had envisioned for a marketing test program with our route and stock add-ons. It still will crash or lock up and refuse to run unless you do things just right, (not unlike the FS which has it's own idiosyncrasies) but when it runs properly, it can be a lot of fun. Getting rather hard to find the disks these days but not impossible. I'd say go for MSTS and then have a good look through the Train-Sim.com forum. They'll help you get it set up and running. Jon B  |
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 16, 2009 19:09:39 GMT -5
Thanks Jon B, another rail fan.
@johnfrom oz,
I downloaded Whitefish 9 as you suggested, I've been on it all evening, I set up a logging train and took it the full route, I was pleased the route loaded straight away without the pop-ups saying it couldn't read this or that file etc.
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Post by johnfromoz on Feb 17, 2009 22:32:34 GMT -5
Thanks Jon B, another rail fan. @johnfrom oz, I downloaded Whitefish 9 as you suggested... Twasn't me - qxtoolman I think! But since we are talking retro - good to be on a forum where people say "thanks" like they used to when we travelled on propliners and steam trains! ;D |
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Post by qxtoolman on Feb 18, 2009 2:26:24 GMT -5
Thanks Jon B, another rail fan. @johnfrom oz, I downloaded Whitefish 9 as you suggested, I've been on it all evening, I set up a logging train and took it the full route, I was pleased the route loaded straight away without the pop-ups saying it couldn't read this or that file etc. You're Welcome! Glad you liked it... Now go to the BLW (Belanger Loco Works) website and download their fine GN "Empire Builder" or NP's "North Coast Limited" which although did not run on the Marias Pass, it's still looks pretty much at home there in the Rockies. The BLW stuff is Payware, but it's I think $12.99 USD, and worth it. Enjoy, Stefan |
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 18, 2009 4:24:56 GMT -5
Sorry for the mix up Stephan, thank you.
I downloaded the GN route if it's the same one from Train-Sim.Com but I couldn't extract it from the zip for some reason, I'll look at the site you posted, thanks again.
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Post by jesse on Feb 18, 2009 10:56:13 GMT -5
I tried Trainz when it first came out but I was a bit disappointed with it so I passed it on to a friend. I have been using MSTS since its inception and have been quite happy with it. I have quite an assortment of commercial programs and I guess my favorite two would be the Donner Pass route and the Storm of '52. I am attaching a small scene during a mild snow storm along the Donner route. ;D Jesse  |
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Feb 18, 2009 14:08:13 GMT -5
Ah, the Feather River Canyon has shut down, and the WP has been re-routed over Donner. Nice.  |
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Post by chrisd on Feb 19, 2009 4:06:08 GMT -5
Hi to all of you train simmers & thank you all for your excellent & very useful advice on which train sim to buy. So yesterday I bought MSTS. Ran it for a short time & was very impressed for a program that is now 8 years old. My not so new PC ran the program with everything maxed out, but I reduced the resolution to get a better frame rate. One thing that did impress me was the moving road traffic near the tracks! The price here in my local supermarket was £5.78 for the 2 disc 1.2 version. I did see Trainz in Asda (Wal-Mart) for £7 but the minimum specs were nearly up to my PC specs, & this coupled with the comments from yourselves put me off. I shall split my time between flying John Howard Whites Constellation & exploring MSTS. What a shame they can't be combined into 1 program! Thanks again for your help. ChrisD
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 19, 2009 5:16:47 GMT -5
Chris,
To get the best from it don't forget to download the latest 'BIN' file which is an update, then you will need a few more add-ons like Xtracks, ConBuilder, ConText & RoutRiter.
You can download them all, they are very useful tools to make the sim even better.
I use ConBuilder a lot to make the engines appear in the sim, some come with a Consist already but a lot don't, a consist is a bit like an air file for the aircraft, it's easy to use.
I forgot another one, New Roads.
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