Rating: 
Summary: A great idea but....
Review: I should have heeded the warnings of those before me, but the idea of having a train simulator put out by the same people who did such a fantastic job with the flight simulator, and combat simulator was too much for me to resist. I'd hoped to be one of the lucky ones who wrote the five star reviews, but alas, I wasn't so lucky. I've had nothing but problems...most of them already described in previous reviews. As badly as I wanted this program to work, I finally (and sadly) gave up and got my money back. I think this is a wonderful idea, and I look forward to seeing an improved version with some of the bugs worked out in the near future.
Rating:
Summary: Do Not Buy This Product
Review: This simulator is classic Microsoft m.o. Rush a product to market, do not adequately test or quality control it, issue patches and hope for the best. My hardware configuration is more than adequate for loading the game and I have purchased and loaded games from EA Sports and Jane's Simulations with great ease and success. Here however is Micro-garbage which will simply not load successfully no matter how one customizes (i.e. minimizes) the install. Please see other reviews for corroboration. I have very much looked forward to this item but please buy any one of the competitor's products for train simulation. Do not patronize MS on this one. You WILL be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: MS Train Simulator Review
Review: One word...FANTASTIC! I grew up in Glendive Montana, a railroad town, listening to the old steamers noisily chuffing and rolling around the yard and along the main line day and nite, and found engineering the steamers a long longed for experience, nearly real, particularly the Orient Express engine. THe BNSF mountain run through Montana was equally as stimulating. Way to go Microsoft! Sure I could pick it apart...nothing is perfect...but I won't...'cause it's a great package...I am one satisfied customer!
Rating: 
Summary: What the hell?
Review: I have no idea if this game is good or bad, but I was honestly confused when I saw the title of this game. Maybe Microsoft can spend more time on fixing buggy operating systems and less time on random train simulators.
Rating:
Summary: Be ready for a bunch of headaches
Review: It sounds like a cool idea, it looks like a cool idea, and after numerous attempts to get it run, re-installing and re-installing and fooling around with error messages, I'm looking for my money back. I never did get it to run and I'm through fussing with it.
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: I love it. I have always liked trains. I have a train layout. But Train Simulator is great! I have not done any activities yet, but getting ready. This is a must have for ANY train aficianado!
Rating:
Summary: Noch 8 goes Microsoft on this one
Review: This game is out of sight. With good graphics and realistic operation. This game is for train lovers and people who don't really like trains. This game has almost everything to drive and work trains. You can do anything from running the summer express on the Northeast Corridor. To switching cars in the yard on Marias Pass. To managing a short passenger run on the Tokyo-Hakone electric line in Japan. This game has everything you need to know about becoming a railroad lover.
Rating:
Summary: Great for enthusiasts
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A Big Loser from Microsoft
Review: One of the first things you do when you begin serious development of a general-market software product: consider the system configurations that it could work with and make it compatible with as many of those as possible without sacrificing tons of features. That isn't how Microsoft did things though when creating the Train Simulator software. This product just won't run on my relatively new PC -- which was designed for high performance gaming. Even after repeated attempts to work with Microsoft Support, no luck. And after hearing and reading several other users' difficulties, I'm convinced that Microsoft made some basic mistakes on the development of this product. Despite their claims to have designed this for a wider audience than the hardcore gamer, Microsoft has released a product that does require more configuration twiddling than should be performed when installing a PC game. And purchase of a new video or sound card shouldn't be a requirement for getting a product like this to work either. It is a shame too. Because this simulator seems to have so much to offer. I was really hoping to have hours of fun with this...but I'll have to wait for a more robust product from someone else.
Rating: 
Summary: It's a fun game but somewhat plain
Review: I have enjoyed playing this game although it seems to scream out "I'm a basic game without any special features." I commend Mircosoft for producing this game although I feel that some more animation and sharper graphics could have been included. I still can't get over looking at the train from a third person view and not seeing anyone at the controls. The complete lack of people is a bit unnerving and if included would have dramaticly added to the feel of playing this type of game. I found that once I've worked out how to drive the train and perform the tasks of getting to the staion and leaving on time, each of the different scenario's are basicly the same; the difference is the type of train and how it looks. It does play smoothly and the sound was done very well. The price is a [...] for what you get with this game. I would recomend you wait until the price gets down to around [$] before buying it. I also hope that Microsoft comes out with an expansion pack to add to the graphics detail, add some animation and offer a variety of possible scenarios. All in all it's fun but definately not a rush.
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