MSTS, Expectation management, is it the mutts nuts or is it smeg?

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"MSTS, Expectation management, is it the mutts nuts or is it smeg?"

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ianm42 (79 posts)
Jul-16-01, 01:14 PM (EST) "MSTS, Expectation management, is it the mutts nuts or is it smeg?" LAST EDITED ON Jul-16-01 AT 01:16 PM (EST)A lot of things have been said about MSTS, good and bad. It seems to be a Marmite thing, you either love it or hate it. This is how I see it, and hope it may help people decide which side of the fence they belong.It is undoubtedly very fussy about the equipment it will install onto, and what versions of drivers, directX, etc it will work with. Making sure everything is properly in place and working correctly before trying to install MSTS can ensure a problem-free installation. However, a computer novice is not going to be able to check all these things, especially if the only guidance is the minimum requirements list on the side of the box. This is a big problem for Micro$oft and they will have to get their support act together to deal with it, or they will get a lot of returns.Once past the installation hurdle, the game itself is pretty spectacular. Yes there are little problems here and there with mystery uncouplings, bits of scenery in the wrong place, etc, etc, but nothing in itself that makes the game unuseable, and people are starting to find ways round most of the problems now. When you consider the size and scope of the game, the bugs are very minor.Beyond the game, the subject of most of the complaints are the flakey, unsupported editors. To this, I would say that as I find out more about what is involved in setting up the 'user defineable' features, I am amazed at the depth, scope and power of this simulation. To make a route with activities and stock you will have to become an expert in 3D modelling, a computer artist, a sound engineer, a terraformer and GIS expert, track engineer, signalling expert and dispatcher. My conclusion is that if you can't cope with using a flakey editor, you probably would not be able to cope with the things you were planning to use the editor to do in the first place.Back in the seventies I had a little car that would get me from A to B, usually, and could do 70mph, nearly. I could open the bonnet (hood) and tinker around under there to try and keep it going. Now I have a newer car and I can do 120mph down the German autobahns in comfort, and it always gets me home. I have not got a clue what all the gubbins under the bonnet are. I don't blame the manufacturers for making the engine too complex for me to work on, I just leave that to the experts and enjoy driving it. I think its the same with this game. Leave the clever stuff to the experts, or expect to have a lot of learning to do.So, Micro$oft need to do some expectation management. Be more specific about the system requirements, get their act together in supporting people trying to install it, and make it clearer that making your own routes and stuff is possible, but very very complex.Ian M.
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: MSTS, Expectation management, i... Skarthi Jul-17-01 1

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Skarthi (4 posts)
Jul-17-01, 07:49 AM (EST) 1. "RE: MSTS, Expectation management, is it the mutts nuts or is it smeg?" I like Marmite by the way but I think the problem is that there are two many niggly bugs which MS never sorted, people become frustrated and then hit out. Basically an excellent product produced by the wrong uncaring company. Incidentally, what's a hood? (chuckle) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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