My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2

For those interested I would like to convey my experience in contacting Microsoft about the major issues with MSTS 1 and about the release of MSTS 2 (which was my real motive in contacting them). I post this without opinion. Let each reader form his own.First, I contacted Microsoft through their trouble shooting web site and posted my concern. I did not bash them, I did not blame them, I did not accuse them, I did not complain. I simply and cordually stated factual information and asked questions. I didn't really expect to hear from them.Tonight I got a personal phone call from Vinay, a Microsoft Product Services Support rep. He indicated he had tried to send me an e-mail response but that his e-mail returned with an "unable to deliver" notice. He asked for my e-mail which I gave him and he indicated he noticed his error and would send his e-mail response. A few hours later I checked my email and found a long response from him responding to all of my questions and concerns. I've omitted all of his suggestions about MSTS 1 (quite lengthy) and only show the portion of his response to my question about MSTS 2 (below).I have contacted numerous other software vendors about problems with their software. The most recent was Pinnacle about their video editing software in which the audio looses sync with the video. After several months I never got a reply from Pinnacle of any sort.I got a personal phone call and a personal, lengthy e-mail from Microsoft. You draw your own conclusions. Here's the reply from Vinay about MSTS 2. I'm encouraged by the reply and the reference web site.=====================================================================
Regarding the release of Train Simulator 2
---------------------------------------------------

At this time, the exact release dates for Train Simulator 2 have not been
confirmed. If released the relevant information should be posted on the game
insider website.

You can check the following website for more information on Train Simulator
2.

http://microsoftgameinsider.com/trainSimulator/default.htm

Information on the game release and any similar events should be posted on
this website. So, please do check this website at regular intervals for more
information on Train Simulator 2.

I hope that this information will be useful to you. Please do let me know if
so.

****************************************************************************
****

Please do reply to me and let me know if this information has been useful to
you.

If you have any other questions or clarifications in this regard, please
feel free to mail me, I will be glad to be of further assistance.

I hope that I was able to help you with this information and will look
forward to your response.

Regards,

Vinay
Microsoft Product Support Services
http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms <http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms>

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RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, Boweavel, Jan-20-04, 05:16 AM, (1) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, OTTODAD, Jan-20-04, 08:56 AM, (2) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, Dep, Jan-20-04, 11:46 AM, (3) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, CajunRon, Jan-21-04, 00:01 AM, (4) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, Dep, Jan-21-04, 00:14 AM, (5) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, Richard, Jan-21-04, 00:21 AM, (6) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, Stooopid_person, Jan-21-04, 01:58 AM, (7) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, Dep, Jan-21-04, 10:00 AM, (8) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 %, TimHarvey, Jan-21-04, 09:16 PM, (9) RE: RE%3A My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS, OTTODAD, Jan-21-04, 09:43 PM, (10) RE: RE%3A My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS, Dep, Jan-21-04, 10:03 PM, (11) RE: RE%3A My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS, CSX_CW60AC_GregMarck, Jan-21-04, 10:51 PM, (12) RE: RE%3A My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS, OTTODAD, Jan-22-04, 08:10 AM, (13) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, CWA13000, Jan-23-04, 07:14 PM, (14) RE: My Experience Contacting Microsoft about MSTS 1 & 2, CajunRon, Jan-26-04, 08:17 AM, (15)

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You call that long ??? He's basicaly told you what any search engine would tell you if you punched in 'MSTS 2' !I am amazed you actually had a response tho, and a phone call to boot ! You should go buy a lotto ticket after that Catchya

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Aron,the "Lengthy Response" Vinay refers to was in reply to other questions he asked Microsoft and not MSTS-2.I too never had a response from PINNACLE after finding loads of problems buying Version 7.But I could call MICROSOFT U.K. before and get similar answers like Vinay got. Microsoft's Marketing guys will let the cat out of the bag as soon as they get the GREEN light from the MSTS Development team, after I hope exhaustive BETA testing ! My call to Microsoft U.K. yesterday got diverted to, judging by the accent of the person replying, an Eastern Call Centre. Never heard of MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR and after putting me on hold for what seemed ages, I got fed up and hung up !!!I think we can now assume with some certainty that there will be another MSTS, but my guess is not until the end of 2004, ready for the Christmas Trade ? O t t o

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LAST EDITED ON Jan-20-04 AT 11:47 AM (EST)

Ron: First let me say I'm glad MS responded in a prompt fashion. Way too many software developers release stuff and then cut off all communication with the consumer.But I have to ask...you say:
"I've omitted all of his suggestions about MSTS 1 (quite lengthy) and only show the portion of his response to my question about MSTS 2 (below)."I'm curious if you asked about the front coupler problem and what his response was? I've been running MSTS for a few weeks now, and I've gotten really good at uncoupling the front coupler on the first try.
I think that problem is way overblown by MSTS detractors who have to find SOMETHING to complain about. But I wondered if there was any fix for MSTS 1 couplers in the works (doubtful I suppose...considering they already released a fix and it didn't really improve things), or if installing MSTS 2 (I am assuming they are aware of the problem and WILL fix it in MSTS 2) would also fix the problem in MSTS 1 (that is probably wishful thinking too)?Anyway, I'm interested in the feedback from MS, if you asked about front coupler concerns.Thanks in advance,
Dep

We want MAPS in MSTS2!!!!
Dep and Otto

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LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-04 AT 00:10 AM (EST)

Yes, I did ask about the front coupler issue. He confirmed that there is a problem with the front coupler, indicated he can replicate those problems on his end and he described each problem in full detail. He thanked me for bringing it to his attention. He didn't have any solution beyond those we already know about. (Back away very slowly, turn off derailments realism, uncouple the train in parts (due to the F9 window not showing the whole train) and try to avoid using the front coupler). The "between the lines" message I got was yes they're aware, no there is not anything more we can do about it in MSTS-1 and they will fix it in MSTS-2.Boweavel, I printed out Vinay's e-mail to me. It was 5 printed pages long. I call that a "lengthy" reply.

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Ron: Thanks for the details. Like I said...it's just a slight inconvenience for me now that I've learned the trick.Dep

We want MAPS in MSTS2!!!!
Dep and Otto

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Maybe news might not be that far off, the original train sim web site has changed? http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsimulator/ They might be leading up to some long awaited news, fingers crossed

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>Maybe news might not be that far off, the original train sim
>web site has changed? I now notice a small screenshot of the Train-Sim.com forums on that new page!
Maybe there really are M$ people here...

-----You are reading my signature now, don't waste your time reading it!-----
Or probably, maybe you should waste your time reading it.
Eh, where did my signature go?
Oh, here it is, the one you are reading right now? Can't you see it? I know I know, it's probably too bright to see it.
Hey, look at my avatar, nice right? I drew it with my own hands holding the mouse in Paint, with the pencil tool(and the Filling tool!)!
It's a picture of me in Planet Stooopid, where everything is the same as what you call "Earth" except that we are called "aliens" in your planet.
Anyway, I warned you not waste time reading my signature! You have just wasted probably about 30 seconds reading it, where you could have spent the time doing better things, like maybe reading the next post below if there is one...

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>>Maybe news might not be that far off, the original train sim
>>web site has changed?
>
>I now notice a small screenshot of the Train-Sim.com forums
>on that new page!
>Maybe there really are M$ people here... Hey yeah!!! I see it in the middle "Feature" under Train Sim Forums.
cool!They also give us a nice write-up:
------------------------------------------
Who's on first?"One of the first major forums to arrive, Train-sim.com, was actually an outgrowth of one of the Flight Simulator forums, FlightSim.com. Train-sim.com has several forms today including the following:
General—General railroading forum, for topics not specific to any one simulator
Microsoft Train Simulator—General forum for MSTS
MSTS Locomotive Design—Tech forum for people doing 3D design for locomotives, railcars, and trainsets
MSTS Engine and Livery Skinning—Tech forum about repainting locomotives and cars
MSTS Route Design—Tech forum for route designers
MSTS Activity Design—Tech forum for activity designers
MSTS Cab Design—Tech forum for cab designers
MSTS Sound Design—Tech forum for sound designers
Traction—Discussion for traction and trolley railways"Maybe they ARE here in lurk mode? Dep...waving frantically at MSTS2 designers....Maps!...we need realtime MAPS of the routes!!!

We want MAPS in MSTS2!!!!
Dep and Otto

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LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-04 AT 09:39 PM (EST)

A friend has told me that the ESRB have already rated train sim 2... I would have thought this means it's not very long until release?According to http://www.groovgames.com/new/releaseDates.cfm it's supposed to be released in July.

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Tim,that is Old Hat now. It was released when Microsoft showed the then MSTS-2 at the E3 show in May 2003.Since then KUJU the creators of MSTS-1 have pulled out of the Franchise and handed MSTS back to Microsoft who are now faced having to re-design it for DirectX-9 and the latest Graphics Cards from ATI and nVidia.TRAINZ also released their Train Simulator 2004 since, featuring much MSTS is lacking, such as MOVING MAPS, being able to change Trains in an Activity and drive a Loco or Trainset from either end Driver Cab.O t t o

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LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-04 AT 10:03 PM (EST)

Otto: Moving maps is the ONLY thing I found of value in TRS2004.
Folks here are right...it's a TOY train simulator. There is much wrong with TRS2004 that could fill pages, as you already know
I'll wait for MSTS2 and enjoy MSTS1 in the meantime

We want MAPS in MSTS2!!!!
Dep and Otto

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You're very lucky, I wish I others (myself included) would get those kind of responses.I remember my first and only contact with m$. It was at the St. Louis NMRA Convention, and I was one of the 'representives' of the ole MSN Community. I went up to the guy with a list of questions, and asked him the first one: "Do you plan a patch to fix the bug at Cutbank? Where the trains uncouple from each other?" His response : "The Train-Sim community has already came up with fixes to that issue." I should of told him that I was the community. After that, I skipped the rest of the questions and said thank you. It proally wasnt that big of a deal, but my line of thinking was the 'I just bought your program for 50 bucks that doesn't even work right, and your telling me I have to fix it myself'.Anyway, theres my 2 cents.
Greg
HighV0lt6ge - AIM/AOL
gregoryis411@hotmail.comRIP Irvin Favre 12/21/03

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There is a lot of this in Computing, Greg, Hardware as well as Software not working "Out of the Box" ! You buy something and when it does not work are being told to download the latest drivers, other updates or service packs, alter settings, which in many cases is outside the competence of the customer. If you are lucky and Voice or Online Tech.Support guys can answer your questions ! I am still waiting for an answer from SYMANTEC, MSFS MEGASCENERY and a U.K.Online Computers supplier, I asked months ago ! O t t o

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"I've omitted all of his suggestions about MSTS 1 (quite lengthy) and only show the portion of his response to my question about MSTS 2 (below)."Is it possible that the answers are good enough to post in the other forum? I feel it would be uplifting to hear some official comments about our game.ThanksWild Willy the Wacko

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The answers are pretty much the standard stuff. Clean boot, lower resolution, no anti-aliasing, lower detail etc. The length of the note is because he goes into lengthy detail on how to do each one. Since there's some on this board that make it a second hobby of bashing Microsoft. My hesitancy in posting it because they would most likely turn it into food for their fodder.

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