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more fun and less easy than you would think

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 16
Date: June 13, 2001
Author: Amazon User

In response to some who said "It's just a train on a track, how much fun can that be?": There is so much in this sim to keep you busy, even on the simple electric trains, that you will find it a challenge from the beginning. To the reviewer that said that it bores his 4.5 year old: I would hope so!

There are speed limits to contend with, time limits, passengers that cannot be jostled around, etc. Starting and stopping these beasts is an art form. The first time that you don't make it from one station to another without penalties, and in time, you won't be able to keep the smile from your face.

The graphic requirements are low on the box. However, to see some spectacular scenery you need a much more than 233 mhz and a 4mb video card.

If you have even a passing interest in trains, you owe yourself to try this one out.

Great Trainsim!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 18
Date: November 19, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I bought this simulator about a month after it came out which was in july I play it everyday. I think this is a must have for anyone who wants to experience operating a train. imagine your self sitting in a cab of Burlington Northern Sante Fe's most powerful diesel locomtives while pulling a 6000 ton train up Marias Pass, or cruising along at 125mph in the Amtrak Acela picking up and dropping off passengers in the Northesat Corridor, or for steam lovers there is the Flying Scottsman steam train, as well as other routes. there are downloadable upgrades on the web, such as new routes, other types of loco motives, railroad cars, activities, and lots of other things

Awesome simulation experience!(get the latest video drivers)

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 15
Date: June 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I have been waiting for a while for the release of MSTS - have been hearing good things about it - but mainly only from train junkie type sites. The rest of the online world seemed to be oblivious of such a game - especially for a game from Microsoft!

That said, I just picked up a copy from EBX. It does consume a whopping 1.8GB as others mentioned. My system is a P4/1.7Mhz, 128MB RDRAM, GeForce2MX with 40GB. With enough of everything to spare, I went for the complete install. I got choppy framerates, and the simulation would pause for a few milliseconds for every couple of seconds. I got a little mad, but a quick visit to nvidia's site got me the latest drivers for my card.

This is when the sim really took off - I was running at 1024x768x32bits - with smooth framerates. This was with almost all the graphics options turned on. However switching the anti-aliasing in the card also really slows things down. But I guess this really isnt the game's fault (or is it?)

Im writing this review after taking the orient express (with a royalty aboard) thru it's normal course using a flying scotsman - with the automatic fireman turned off - I havent had this much fun in the near past - you got to shovel the coal, keep the boilers all fired up right, the steam production vs. consumption - all the while trying to enjoy the view. And you got to keep looking out for speed limits - it aint good when your train comes to a jolting stop because you were speeding. You lose points when you "exceed passenger comfort levels". Also you want to make sure that you dont accelerate and decelerate too fast, because that'll eat up more coal and water. Keeping the ride smooth is also very important (remember the royalty aboard?).

Pretty cool simulation - hope to play it for a long time to come!

Cool Simulation Experience

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 19
Date: June 14, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Microsoft Train Simulator is very cool. Keep in mind that it is a simulation experience.

I like to drive from the view of looking straight out from the engineers seat; exploring different tracks, honking the horn and stopping at the stations.

Some aspects could be better, but all software is designed that way; so that new versions can be sold which boast improvement on the prior version. For example, in the engineers room, you can look straight (the best!), left oblique, or right. I would prefer full visual control in the engineers compartment (like the way Lara can look around in Tomb Raider). Outside the train, it is possible to spin the external camera view around.

I can understand some people finding the game to be boring. It is not intrinsically boring, or interesting. It is a train driving simulation, and that concept probably either interests you or it does not.

Personally I enjoy sitting in the engineers compartment of an electric or diesel engine, looking mostly straight through the front window, and doing a whole run on a line, making all the stops, while in the explore (unscheduled) mode. And then backing up and exploring other tracks which I didn't turn off on, (you can switch the track switches you approach while driving, by pressing G).

To do a full line run may take awhile; an hour or more depending on various factors. You can pick the locomotive, and as well what the locomotive is hooked up to (*there may be some limits to the combinations--I am not yet sure). You can choose what line you drive on, and from where to where. You can choose to drive with certain objectives to be completed, (such as: hooking up and moving trains; operating a passenger train on schedule; etc) or you can just use the explore option, and drive the tracks of a line at your own pace and whims, changing tracks, backing up, stopping at stations, passing them, whatever.

There are few opportunities for a non-train-professional to drive a train. In a simulated way, this is one such opportunity.

And by the way, if you are thinking or idea searching, I have found that driving a train in this software is sort of a white activity which facilitates thought. A fun non-urgent activity, which makes me feel as if I am there, driving in the privacy of the mountains, or busier areas too.

Great for enthusiasts

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 15 / 16
Date: July 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Train Simulator is an enjoyable game, but I think train enthusiasts will really get the most out of it. Others will probably find it interesting, but won't find it worth the investment.

The game is nicely put together. The tutorials take you through learning how to drive each of the train types and give you enough information to get started without having to touch a manual. Once you learn the basics of getting a train moving there are a variety of tasks you can perform, such as moving freight or running a short distance passenger train. The tasks are pretty challenging and will challenge how well you handle a train and understand the processes surrounding train operation.

The graphics are another selling point of this product and they don't disappoint. The scenary and external views of the trains are all very nice and well detailed. At first I found myself just watching the scenery (some of which I actually recognized) and listening to the sound effects. On the downside, I found that the graphics in the "passenger car view" weren't that great. Some of the trains attempt to make this view look very elegant, but the graphics are generally flat and unimpressive.

As I said above, overall Train Simulator is an interesting game. I think most people would enjoy going through some of the tutorials to learn about basic train operation, but beyond that I think most people wouldn't find the game too captivating.

Simulating a premature release...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 13
Date: June 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This would have been a great simulator if it had more time to bake. It is out of the oven too soon and Microsoft's development vendor, Kuju, has taken a number of wrong turns development-wise. A blatant example is that this Microsoft program does not use the standard Microsoft Windows window gadgets from their own operating systems, but rather "faked-in" window gadgets (which do not scale to your display size). Reading the release text, popular OEM graphics cards, such as ATI, are clearly designated as unsupported by Train Simulator. My IBM PC Aptiva has graphic problems with this Microsoft-published software, despite my toying with a "troubleshooting" program, enclosed in a revision and lacking a real explanation. Still my pointer endlessly flickers and some fonts are unreadable.

Kuju's simulation editors are so arduous, quirky and buggy, Microsoft has declared they will not tech support them. Dedicated, steadfast and resilient power-users spend countless, family-free hours a) writing new programs to make the simulator configuarble, b) making the simulator more accurate, c) gathering tables and spreadsheets for recognizing objects, track sections, and explaining files and formats, and d) preparing web sites to educate and tutor what MS and Kuju have failed to communicate to the users (despite a folder of incomplete Tech Docs bundled with the simulator). Otherwise, you would not know that "A1t7mStrt.s" means a 7 meter straight track section.

There has been little if no attempt to explain the mandatory display options settings for the game, whose button is amusingly labeled as "Advanced", as if one did not need to use it to get the best performance verses graphics compromise.

There are mathematical problems in the physics of the simulator such as: a) actual speedometer going in the opposite direction predicted by the projected speedometer, b) couplers breaking when trains couple too slowly and c) locos getting "stuck" between two railroad cars not being able to push their way out.

There are severe logic problems or just plain laziness with the simulator's programming: it is unable to accept a closed-loop circuit (i.e. that circle around your Xmas tree)and cannot handle an activity that goes out-and-back using a loop.--Strike that, it actually is able to make loops, but it will result in your PC crashing without warning. In fact you are swayed into the direction of crashing your PC by the supplied information: The on-line editor help uses a model railroad (minitature train layout) as an analogy to explain many of the concepts presented, but blatantly omits "do not run the track into a circle or else the simulator will fail"-yet there is at least one closed-loop in most model railroads.

I often feel I make more progress building my actual model railroad than building with this simulator for a given evening. Editor and Simulator cannot be loaded simultaneously, so one can spend countless hours loading and unloading these in trying to figure out what is causing an unpublished problem.

The strength of the simulator is the presentation of the 8-supplied routes. These are striking, particularly the secondary Japanese route and the Austrian route. But the English route is poor, mere grass and viaducts, no infrastructure to support the astounding amount of vehicles waiting at grade crossings - again showing as "rushed out the door".

Add-ons are difficult to incorporate because Kuju has conceived so many needless files and interdependancies that you may need to be a computer scientist to add your typical on-line-available engine. The simulator takes up gobs of disk space because each object needs to have an identical copy of itself on disk for every route that it appears in.

In summary, unless you are captivated by trains, don't buy this. If you like trains, you will be entertained for a time running the supplied scenarios. If you want to change around the simulation, you will pull your hair out first. A second release is really needed to make this good software.

Completely unrealistic train operation!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 18 / 22
Date: August 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Does anybody really think that a 40 car train can accelerate "uphill" under "idle" conditions with the dynamic brakes fully applied on both diesel power units? Well...apparently the Microsoft developers of this game think so! Very plainly put...the controls, especially the braking controls, do not work the way they do in a real locomotive! When looking out of the cab windows (F1) or outside view (F2), the terrain will often look as if the train is indeed going uphill but the speed indicator shows a runaway condition which requires full application of the brakes to prevent exceeding speed limits. There is no indicator anywhere as to the actual track grade situation...positive (uphill), zero (level track), negative (downhill). So so scenery, what there is of it. But there is absolutely no other activity in this world except the occasional passing train! Terrible oversight by Microsoft considering the huge (1.7 gigs) required to install this game completely! Terrible bugs in the game, very difficult to keep running on computer without crashes that require a hard boot to get out of! Read some of the other negative reviews before you decide to put down your hard earned cash for this dud! I've played for only a couple hours and am already bored with the poor performance! Too bad there isn't a "zero" rating available here!!!!!

Train Simulator from Microsoft

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: April 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Train Simulator gives anyone with even the smallest interest in iron horses the ability to drive one of nine powerful locomotives; ride as a passenger along six detailed, real-world locations, and design custom-built tracks, routes, and driving scenarios.

The nine rail cars in Train Simulator fall under three category types that follow the evolution of locomotion, and each cab has its own unique controls and complexities. Among the steam-powered trains are the legendary 4472 LNER Flying Scotsman from England and the Gölsdorf 380, a train famous for its travels along the Orient Express, which ran from Innsbruck to St. Anton. The diesel-powered trains include the freight-bearing General Electric Dash 9, the General Motors GP38-2, and the Japanese passenger car KIHA 31. Covering the electric train category are the Odakyu 2000 and 7000 LSE passenger locomotives, as well as the new Amtrak HHP-8 and Acela Express, both of which are bullet trains capable of going up to 135 and 165 mph, respectively. Each locomotive has been licensed for full inclusion in the game, complete with their authentic markings and unique color schemes.

In addition to its authentic trains and textures, Train Simulator offers six different, highly detailed travel routes spanning four countries and covering over 600 miles. In the U.S., players can haul freight through the 152-mile Marias Pass in Montana, or shuttle passengers along a 133-mile portion of the Northeast Corridor between Philadelphia and Washington D.C. In the Japanese locations, would-be engineers can travel through a portion of the bustling Odawara Line from Tokyo to Hakone, as well as drive down the scenic Hisatsu Line. Finally, the two steam engine trains find their natural surroundings in Europe, with the Settle & Carlisle Line in Northwestern England, and the Innsbruck-St. Anton route through the Austrian Alps.

For train fans who just want to ride the rails without a specific assignment, there is an Explore Route mode for each location. Players can customize which type of locomotive to drive, what sort of trains (or "consist") are attached, and the starting and heading locations. Other global configuration options include the time of day, the season, and the weather, which encompasses clear skies, rain, and snow. There are also various realism options you can assign before starting a run, such as derailments, alerting monitors, and simple or realistic controls. Any explore route or scenario can be saved and loaded at any time, so players don't have to ride a long route in one sitting.

Train Simulator also comes bundled with a powerful editor and tools program that allows you to build new terrain, construct your own routes, create new scenarios, and design custom train cabs. It's also possible to edit the existing tracks and trains, create new hazards, more traffic, or even add custom fuzzy dice to the dash of your Acela Express. The track designer features are most likely to grab model train builders' attention, but the sim's manual only covers the editor in passing, noting that the tools are unsupported and for "experienced computer users only." There are, however, comprehensive online help files for the editor and tools; reading them before tackling the editor is a must.

My all time favourite PC purchase

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: December 23, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I can't explain what this game/simulation has brought to my PC game experience. Once I popped the CD into the drive and began the game, I suddenly felt this was the game I was waiting for, what my PC was waiting for in fact!

OK, enough of that flowery talk, in simple terms this is a superb train simulator, the best. It allows you to drive a various selection of engines (diesel, electric, steam) and trains (passenger, goods) along real life routes and tracks, with great detail paid to scenery and rolling stock. There are many enjoyable activities to keep you immersed for the forseeable future and I can see you playing this one for a long time to come, particulary with the subsequent add-ons giving the game an unlimited amount of shelf life.

This simulation will appeal to both serious train enthusiasts and the casual train admirer. Many may think this simulation is for and aimed at trainspotters, nothing could be further from the truth. It's got a wide appeal from the young to the old. Added to that, by driving on these routes, it also teaches you so much about foreign railways and the geography of foreign towns and cities.

Just perfect, a great gift for at anytime of the year!

Love the game but ...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 12
Date: March 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is the first version/edition of the game so it's a little bit buggy. The Marias Pass route, in particular, has a notorious spot where the train comes uncoupled every time. Otherwise it's a must for anyone who loves railroads.

This game is a lot of fun. Drive passengers on a high-speed rail route, or sort out freight cars and drop them off at sidings. Deal with rain, snow, speed restrictions, other traffic on the line, and more. Drive an electric, diesel, or steam locomotive. If you're up for a real challenge, drive a steam locomotive and act as your own fireman.

You can go along for a ride, or take a tutorial lesson in driving a train. Explore the route on your own or try one of the activities. For more advanced users, there's the capability of building new routes and adding activities.

Best of all, there are some excellent online sites where fellow Train Simulator enthusiasts offer their own add-ons to the game or where help and suggestions are always available.

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