Trainz MSTS

Merry Christmas Everybody !I want to buy a trainsimulator. The main thing I want to do is to drive trains myself. Steam, electric. diesel, freight, passengers, etcetera and perform some taks while doing that.I looked around the WWW and it seems there are basically two options:- Trainz (Auran)
- Train Simulator (Microsoft)Please comment on these options. What are their pro's and con's ? Which one is your favorite, and why ?Thanks in advance- D -

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RE: Trainz MSTS, georgi55_activated, Dec-26-04, 10:49 PM, (1) RE: Trainz MSTS, Drebbel, Dec-27-04, 04:36 AM, (2) RE: Trainz MSTS, renevanh, Dec-27-04, 05:32 AM, (3) RE: Trainz MSTS, Drebbel, Dec-27-04, 06:09 AM, (4) RE: Trainz MSTS, cyclone1234, Dec-27-04, 08:55 AM, (5) RE: Trainz MSTS, csxac44_69, Dec-27-04, 11:57 AM, (6) RE: Trainz MSTS, Drebbel, Dec-27-04, 07:15 PM, (7) RE: Trainz MSTS, plainsman, Dec-27-04, 10:02 PM, (8) RE: Trainz MSTS, Drebbel, Dec-28-04, 07:08 AM, (9) RE: Trainz MSTS, bnsf1959, Dec-28-04, 07:12 AM, (10) RE: Trainz MSTS, westerngy, Dec-28-04, 12:47 PM, (11) RE: Trainz MSTS, LRC_lover_9th, Dec-29-04, 06:40 PM, (12) RE: Trainz MSTS, P42number1, Dec-29-04, 07:26 PM, (13) RE: Trainz MSTS, Vern, Dec-30-04, 03:35 AM, (14) RE: Trainz MSTS, CGW409, Dec-30-04, 06:07 PM, (15) RE: Trainz MSTS, Drebbel, Dec-30-04, 07:32 PM, (16) RE: Trainz MSTS, CGW409, Dec-30-04, 11:02 PM, (17) RE: Trainz MSTS, Drebbel, Jan-01-05, 09:33 AM, (18) RE: Trainz MSTS, dgauci, Jan-01-05, 03:16 PM, (19) RE: Trainz MSTS, Yardmaster, Jan-02-05, 10:35 AM, (20)

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MSTS is about $10, Trainz 2004 (make sure you get 2004 version, not UTC or 1.3, etc)
is about $20~$30, so I think you should get both since they both have different pros and cons,
most of people on here paid $50 for each so $30~40 for both is a bargain.

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>MSTS is about $10, Trainz 2004 (make sure you get 2004
>version, not UTC or 1.3, etc)
>is about $20~$30, so I think you should get both since they I want to buy only one. Am a dedicated guy and want to go 100% for one sim.>both have different pros and cons, Now that sounds interesting. Please eleborate on that.

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The difference between trainz and MSTS...MSTS:
Pro's: Many controls, realistic, many pay- and freeware addons.
contra's: instable software (esspecially the route builder), not easy to know and use all functions (many of them), no boarding passengers or loading/unloading cargo.Trainz (I only played the demo):
Pro's: stable, but not easy, loading/unloading cargo.
Contra's: few controls, no keyboard shortcuts (as far as I know), trains are realistic, scenery is a bit less.Without doubt, others can add some thing to this.
The best thing is, to download some demo's, and just try...
However, there isn't a demo for MSTS, but there is one for trainz. You can find it at http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_trainz_downloads.html (and many other sites...).Also, look for some screens. Not from the producers, but from users. Search for some recensions, and so on.Good luck with your decision!Regards,René-----------------------------
Don't take life to serious, You won't survive it anyway...

www.mstssite.tk

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TnxI played MSTS at a friends place the other nigth and tried Trainz demo yesterday. Wasn't really fond og Trainz. At the moment MSTS is at the top of my list.

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-27-04 AT 08:57 AM (EST)

Trainz acually has alot of keyboard shortcuts..Trainz
Pro's: Really easy to create and edit routes, you can see the cars being emptied and unloaded, and people gettin on and offa the train. 3rd Party Content is rather easy to install, all you need to do is click a few buttons and it is instaled.
Con's: Hard to just start up and run a train, you have to physically go into the route editor and place the train.MSTS
Pro's: Defenetley more realistic in terms of physics, and slightly more realstic graphics.
Con's: Very hard to use route editor, no visible cargo unloading or loading, (sometimes) harder to install 3rd Party Content (i.e. MSTS doesnt have a built-in installer, unlike TRS2K4)I use TRS2K4 more than MSTS, but I personally think both programs are overall fine at what they do (simulate trains !) *EDIT* Spelling

Glenn
www.cyclonetrain.com
info@cyclonetrain.com

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Hey man, Just get both. There's no reason to be dedicated to one sim. I have both installed and I play one or the other depending on what I want to do.As for realism(like train handling, etc..)--TRS2004.. Try stopping a 80 car train in MSTS.. It stops on a dime. Try doing the same thing in TRS.. It takes a while. As for scenery -- I'll have to vote for TRS on this one too just because of John Bethuy's routes(grogstop) .. He has outstanding scenery in his TRS routes. Search for his shots on the auran forum or the screenshot forum here. The only thing I hate about TRS is the missing doppler effect.It's your choice man, the smartest choice would be buying both. (an extra 10$ for MSTS isn't going to kill you )-csxac44_69

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Thanks for the insight.What about the two different language versions that MSTS comes in (German and English) ? Are they the same ? Do add-ons work on both ?

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-27-04 AT 10:02 PM (EST)

I think I would dispute your arguement about train handling. With proper modifications, MSTS can get much more realistic train handling than Trainz. I agree ease of use goes to Trainz, and Trainz does have some interesting appearance features, but I run a train simulator to simulate train operation over realistic routes, and I think a well setup MSTS wins that battle hands down. Now don't try the out of the box default equipment, get locomotives with at least V4.5 physics (you really need V4.7), and at least V4.6 physics on all the rolling stock, and the performance will be very realistic, in many cases, the varation in temperature and altitude will be greater than the performance variance from typical prototypes and MSTS. Also, you will need good routes like Crawford Hill, Raton Pass, and Marias Pass 3.1, but MSTS can be very realistic.
Bob Boudoin

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Those physics (what ever that is) and routes you mention are they free downloads or payware ?

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>Those physics (what ever that is) and routes you mention are
>they free downloads or payware ? What Bob said is most of it is in the file library and it's free.
Ken Plaza

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First I had Trainz once looked at it and took it back as the first version looked like a model train set.TR2004 I understand has many improvments to it so its unlike its early version.
MSTS- Now if you want to go grey fast then run MSTS.At first it is an ugly friend but you can work with it,if time is taken to learn it.What Bob"Plainsman" mentions is only the tip of the iceberg to what can be done but again take the time to learn it.You'll need an editor like ConText or wordpad anything unicode to edit most everything as there has been no set standard as to physics yet so most items made come as well,who knows.
I've firends that are engineers that use MSTS and they enjoy it but again it has limitations. The choice is yours to what you purchase.
Just Rollin Down The Tracks

Dale

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I have both, and here are my pros and cons.MSTS:
Pros: Extensive routes, higher speeds, more downloads and add-ons, both Pay And Freeware
Cons: Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery picky, hard to use route editor, hard to use cab editor, extremely hard to use Route Geometry Extractor, larger downloads, unrealistic default locomtives, cabs and sounds and hard to repaint stuffTrainz:
Pros: Easy-to-use route editor, extensive (and fairly realistic) default stock, more realistic physics, easy to repaint stuff and smaller downloads
Cons: Hard to just run one train then quit (you have to place it in the route editor), harder-to-install downloads-Andy the LRC lover
EMD all the way!!

MLT Lives!

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BVE is a free simulator. More can be found in the BVE Fourm towards the bottom of the index.

Matt Repino
Philadelphia, PA

*bing* Scenic Road...

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Trainz vs MSTS tends to generate most of the heat on train simming forums as each programmes have support ranging from extreme fanboys (girls) to those who take a balanced look at both.If you are looking for prototype routes/operation then I have to be blunt and say go for MSTS. It does this side of things much better, not least because of the activity editor which means it is easy to set up structured runs and run to a timetable. The equivalent in Trainz requires you to understand and use a scripting language, which means you are restricted to placing your consists on the route/layout in the Editor (Surveyor) and effectively just exploring the route. TRS2004 has added things like interactive industries and commands you can issue to AI trains, but it's still a bit of a conceptual mess.Trainz Surveyor is an excellent route building package - within certain limitations. It is much harder to get real world data in there, e.g. DEM or scanned contours or to trace out markers for the course of the route. As a grizzled veteran MSTS route builder I have to say it's not as bad as reputation makes it, once you understand certain processes. The ideal route editor (& sim) would combine the best of both.As regards BVE, well that is one of several freeware/shareware programmes available. Again it does certain things very well but not exactly mainstream and certainly nothing like the massive support and user base that MSTS or Trainz can offer.

Chief Track Welder

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Dreb
I'll leave Trainz(the original varient) out of this since by Auran's own addmission it was a model railroad simulator and instead focus on MSTS vs Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004(from here on refered to as TRS04)
By my experience MSTS with all it's drawbacks(most corrected by the good folks here)is still more prototypical than TRS04 in lighting and physics.
TRS04 also wants a fairly high end system(my 3 year old system could not handle it) it now sits on my harddrive in my new computer gathering gathering virtual dust while the old work horse MSTS keeps getting a workout.My advice go with MSTS you'll be happier in the long run.Gary S

43 year old future curmudgen(Hey you kids get offa my lawn!!)

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Thanks for all the good advice. I also noticed that for MSTS there seem to be many 'routes' avaolable, complete with interesting 'tasks'. Is that also the case for Trainz.

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Dreb
One thing I've found that it seems Auran likes to keep a tight reign on third party materials through their online Download Station witch has a very odd(dumb?) search engine that is very frustrating to deal with.
After being disapointed with TRS04 I felt(at least personaly)that time spent trying to weed through the DL station would be put to better use downloading for MSTS as from what I've been able to determine there is far more third party routes,rolling stock, locos,etc. for MSTS than TRS04.Gary S

43 year old future curmudgen(Hey you kids get offa my lawn!!)

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Thanks for the great help guys.Think MSTS is the one if you just want to drive a route and do some tasks along the way. Don't wanna built scenarious or play industries at all.So I just bought MSTS and the Michigan Iron Ore add-on route as well. And I really like it.Of course I am still driving with the 'simple controls' on, lol

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>So I just bought MSTS and the Michigan Iron Ore add-on route
>as well. And I really like it. The Michigan Iron Ore route from MLT also has an awesome FRED that you can use on any route. People who bought their Cascade Crossings got the same FRED also.

"Boycott Michael Moore and his friends in France"

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I rarely comment on a topic like this--I'm usually just asking a question for which someone always has an answer--but I thought I'd give it a try.
I'm an MSTS addict. MSTS is one of the few computer games/simulations that I haven't lost interest in soon after acquiring it. I bought it several years ago and haven't been able to put it down since. As several people have noted its complexity is a challenge. You have to know a lot just to tinker around with it which is just about what I'm able to do. It is certainly worhtwhile, however.
I've thought about acquiring Trainz 2004 because of the demise of MSTS 2, and these comments have been helpful. I'll probably getr it but won't give up on MSTS yet.John

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