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Summary: Wow this is probably the most boring game i've ever played
Review: Don't get me wrong I love trains, but I think that this game is just terrible. The graphics are merely ok, nothing amazing. Microsoft in my opinion tried to make this game way to realistic, where it goes beyond fun and becomes a job. Also TS gets so boring and dull after about 20-30 minutes that you will most likely wish to return it. Overal, the game in MY OPINION is a disaster, but if you are a HARD CORE SIM FAN maybe you will enjoy MTS.
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Summary: Well, Microsoft has just about redeemed themselves.
Review: This is a great simulator. Realizing it is in its infancy, there are a few bugs, but Microsoft is usually fairly quick to add patches as needed. They have seemed to come back from the general farce that FS2K was when it first came out. But is it a great game, I highly recomend it.
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Summary: If you like trains....
Review: ...and have a decent computer, I don't think getting MSTS is an option - it's a must. The main reason being that no other train program currently on the market comes even close. In fact, with nothing really to compare it to, objectively reviewing the product is a bit difficult. Suffice to say, the game lives up to and surpasses all the screenshots and movies you might find on Microsoft's webiste. The environments are detailed and beautiful to behold with pleasant ambient sounds to complete the experience. Birds tweet in the forests, crickets chirp in the grass, and polka tunes play in the Alpine houses. The game can be played from the easy relaxed postion of a passenger or as the highly demanding job of an engineer/fireman of a steam train, pulling delicate coaches up and down winding mountain passes with a tight schedule to keep. Many different tasks are available to choose from or you may use the editor to make your own activities. The sim also allows you to freely explore any line for as long as you wish, with plenty of different internal and external views to gaze at the scenery from. As with FS2000, I expect the freeware, shareware, and payware communities that are sprouting up to enhance the game considerably. Several repaints of engines and boxcars are already available for free on some sites. MSTS includes tools to create routes, as well, and I hope to see an add-on Tehachapi route in the not-too-distant future. Performance seems to be pretty good on most machines. MSTS runs well with highest detail on my Athlon 950, 512mb pc133, geforce2 ultra 64mb, soundblaster xgamer. I've also tried the game on my AMD K6-2 500, 128mb, vodoo 3 and was pleasantly surprised by the results. No glitches for me so far. (Knock on wood.) No, however, the game is not perfect. I've seen several posts in various forums of folks having troubles with Turtle Beach sound cards and other issues. I belive the game demands that your dx drivers are all up-to-date. As mentioned earlier, the manual is on disk and not very explanatory on some critical issues, including the editors. To date, I'm still battling with the activity editor. Several bugs in the program have also been noted, such as excessive brake penalties and car durability issues on some routes. Some gates have been seen not operating and the AI trains may leave something to be desired. BUT, regardless of any complaints, the game is a long-awaited masterpiece for train-lovers. I, myself, have no right to complain about any bugs or shortcomings, because I was one of the restless, impatient masses who anxiously awaited this game. We all begged and pleaded for Microsoft and Kuju to release MSTS as soon as possible, so if the game is a bit buggy, we might be to blame. No matter. I have my copy, and it has held me spellbound since I bought it. My hat's off to Kuju and Microsoft. If you like/love/admire/enjoy trains, get it asap. If you don't, why are you reading this?
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Summary: Microsoft Train Simulator
Review: This is the best, by far, simulation of train operations. I am a RR professional, and have to say, the realism here is incredibly solid along with great sound and graphics. I hope this program will bring on generations of add-ons like FS2000. If you don't appreciate Railroading, you will still be amazed at the detail and replay value of this program.
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Summary: Won't run on ATI Rage Mobility Video Card
Review: Microsoft Train Simulator will not run on a computer using the ATI RAGE MOBILITY -M video card. I spoke with Microsoft and HP, but there is no fix to this problem. (OmniBook 6000, 256 RAM, 800 Pentium III)
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Summary: Cool! Read on...............
Review: The review of the gamer from limerick is surely pathetic. Everything this guy says is not true! I'm one of these guys who likes to collect car, sports and flight simulation games only. But now i have the chance to experience trains aswell. The gamer from limerick said wrong information. He gave a two star to this game saying that it will be boring sitting around and doing nothing while riding a train but i surely don't think its true! This game isn't made for you to just sit around and ride the train to your destination, but it's also made to teach how to handle your train. For example: You should make sure that you drive your train carefully or else you might crash into another train near you! You should also reduce the train's speed when you're driving it through the railway tracks. There are lots of things to do that doesn't waste your time when you're playing train simulator. The first time i've bought flight simulator i thought that you just fly the plane and do nothing for the next 3 hours but i was wrong. If i do this then my plane will have serious technical problems without me knowig it. And the same thing goes for this game aswell. I'm anxiously waiting for my game to arrive and i'm very pleased that microsoft finally had the brains to do this game. And now, it's time to get onto the real information. As flight simulator, you have a different variety of planes to fly and as for train simulator, you've also got the chance to pick your own train and carefully ride it on your track. Microsoft gave us a chance to pick an airport of our departure in flight simulator 2000 and the same goes for this. You won't just pick your train but the train station you wan't to leave. There are many trains and many train stations you can select from. Now, flight simulator had a selection of different varieties of weather you can choose and well, i don't really know about train simulator but i think its great to pick your weather and sky visibility, or you can simply download real world weathers. These information describe the game itself and what the game should have. I am really glad that microsoft thought of a great thing to do and i'm still anxiously and nervously waiting for this game to come. If you're still not convinced and if you don't believe my comments, then read other people's comments and check the screenshots. As i've checked the screenshots, i've spoted real tracks and real trains with wonderful real life graphics and real time detail aswell. For system requirments, i recommend you guys to check the top of this web page for more info. but i surely recommed you guys to have the latest system requirments in your computer or else i don't think the game will run well and it would probably run slow that you guys will start to hate it. My advise is you readers have to atleast have a pentium 3 winows me millenium edition computer. Once again people, i'd like to wish you the best on this game.
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Summary: This game is already out
Review: Hey, guess what... Microsoft train simulator is already out. I bought it this weekend at Electronics Boutique. you can also buy it at ebgames.com. Anyways, this game is really fun to play. most people just think you sit there and watch the scenery go by, but theyre wrong. you have to pay attention to signals and rigorous time schedules. this game is definetly worth buying.
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Summary: Would give it 5 stars if better documentation...
Review: I received my copy yesterday and initially had some trouble getting it to work on my PIII 533. I highly recommend you spend some time online and download all the latest drivers for your video and audio systems before you install Microsoft Train Simulator. Folks with the latest drivers seem to have the least install trouble with this. Be sure to check the Readme file on the CD-ROM... there is a long list of issues, most of which can be cured by downloading new drivers. There is virtually no printed material included with this software, and the online help and operators manual only contain very general information. You will just have to tinker with this software for a few hours and figure some things out. If you have no knowledge of the controls on a railroad locomotive, the game has tutorials which will walk you through the basics. One thing the online docs have which is nice... descriptions and illustrations of the mechanical workings of the various locomotives, and the braking systems. I'm assuming the strategy guide will contain much more detailed information about actually playing the game. The software allows you much control over the graphics and sound settings, so you can customize the gameplay to suit the capability of your system. While you certainly have the option of just blasting down the mainline with a stack train or the Acela Express, don't think that's all there is to this game. The real fun (and the challenege) comes in the Switching Activities, and Roadswitcher Freights which assemble trains from mixed up strings of cars in the yard, or deliver cars to nearby industries. This software also comes with the tools to create your own switching or mainline scenarios and trade them over the internet, and also allows you to create new landscapes and routes. For this reason, you can expect many more routes and activities to be available in the future. Also the sound quality is very good, especially if you have a subwoofer. I make my living riding freight trains around, and it's cool to see Microsoft come out with a whole game about my job! This software is by far the best and most realistic thing out there simulating the operation of a freight train.
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Summary: More info, better computer, i'm ready!
Review: Yesterday at BestBuy.com I saw that they said they "had" Train Sim, with 5-7 day shipping. They DO NOT have the game, they say they do, but think it will be out in 5-7 days so then they can ship it. They do have the minimum requirements, here they are. Pentium II Processor w/ 350mhz, Windows 95/98/2000/Millenium Edition/or ME, 32 MB system memory for 95/98/and ME, 64MB for 2000, SVGA 16-bit color monitor supporting 800-600 reseloution, DirectX 7.0a or higher-compatible 4MB videocard capable of 800-600 reseloution in 32k colors, sound card:DirectX7.0a or higher-compatible, CD-ROM 4X drive speed, compatible Microsoft mouse or pointing device, DirectX 7.0a or higher, and speakers or headphones. I'm no longer worried about my system performance, because I just ordered a Pentium 4 with a 32MB video Card. But now that the requirements are up, you guys can check your systems.
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Summary: train simulator
Review: I think Microsoft Train Simulator is one of the best and funnest games I have ever tried, because it is so realistic, and I think the more closely related a game is to real life the more fun it will be.
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