Message Areas - "What is in 4.1, anybody know?"

Train-Sim.Com Message Areas

"What is in 4.1, anybody know?"

Email this topic to a friend
Printer-friendly version of this topic
Bookmark this topic (Registered users only)
Previous Topic | Next Topic Conferences Train Master (Protected) Original message
derekmorton (58 posts)
Jul-01-01, 10:14 PM (EST) "What is in 4.1, anybody know?" anybody Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
Table of Contents

Subject Author Message Date ID RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? jeffmorris Jul-02-01 1 RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? flarrfan Jul-04-01 2 RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? krola Aug-07-01 3 RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? jimmccarthy Aug-08-01 4 RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? krola Aug-08-01 5 RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? jimmccarthy Aug-09-01 6 RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? krola Aug-09-01 7 RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know? jimmccarthy Aug-09-01 8

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic
Messages in this topic
jeffmorris (154 posts)
Jul-02-01, 09:58 PM (EST) 1. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" I visited Trainmaster's web site but I didn't find what's new in TM 4.1 and you have to buy TM 4.1 on CD-ROM because it's too big for people to download it. They promised editors and tools that let you create new routes and objects for TM but they couldn't compete with MS after MSTS was released. Jeffrey. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
flarrfan (206 posts)
Jul-04-01, 01:15 PM (EST) 2. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" Thought I was going batty...couldn't find anything on the site to tell me why I should order the 4.1 update. I would love to support TM but they just shoot themselves in the foot sometimes...the virus last spring with their e-mail, the price reduction after selling many full price, and now selling an update without telling us why we should want it. If it fixes the tunnel bug eastbound on the Moffat route, I'll get it, but wish they would include one or two new routes with it. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
krola (20 posts)
Aug-07-01, 06:19 PM (EST) 3. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" I downloaded the two updates (on a 56K modem the whole thing took less than a half hour). You don't have to buy them! I haven't noticed many changes in the train files (it does say on the website that the headlights and some other minor changes in tunnels have been made). In the track files there are a few improvements (at least on the RF&P sub). I notice better speed limit info and an "upcoming station" alert that is more noticeable. The nice thing about these folks is that they're accessable and care about the product. I've sent e-mails to them and have gotten immediate responses to problems and suggestions (unlike a large company in the Seattle area that produces a certain operating system and games that almost work). It's good to support the competition. MSTS is a nice picture with terrible handling physics. TrainMaster has always had great physics (even in the old two dimensional version), but lacks the wazoo graphics. Give them time, they listen to all of our input. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jimmccarthy (118 posts)
Aug-08-01, 01:28 AM (EST) 4. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" I am in complete agreement with you Krola re:Trainmaster. I too, have asked them questions and received prompt answers. I have the new update too. Paid $6.00 for it. Now the speed limits agree with the limits in the tables in the manual. In some ways, I prefer their earlier version 3.2, which I have with all the additional track disks and their Train Builder accessory. It shows a profile of the train and the track with the speed limits prominently displayed. It also allows one to print out very detailed track records that show up to four different speed limits for freight and passenger trains, degree of curvature, gradient, mileposts and names.
I have Microsoft train sim and enjoy it. It is a very fascinating toy, but not much of a simulator. Trainmaster sims are far closer to reality. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
krola (20 posts)
Aug-08-01, 08:47 AM (EST) 5. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" Likewise. I have operated TrainMaster since its inception and have been very happy with what was even then a very rudimentary, but satisfying product because it acted "like a train". I too wish that they had included the track profile print out and because we have no "depth perception" in the 3D program, the running milepost readout that 3.2 had, was really helpful in gauging where you were versus the new mileposts that "pop-up" for a moment in the data line and then leave again. It's a little thing, but in the scale that is presented in the view window, very helpful. TM4 was a big undertaking for these guys with what (at the time) was a relatively small audience of "train nuts" (my take on the whole thing anyway). I'm glad they're out there and given the mojo that MicroSoft has, I don't doubt they actually would have beat the pants off of Train Simulator with overall quality. In the discussions that I've had with them, they plan to incorporate a lot of the things we've discussed (down the road) and make available their track building and train building programs for version 4. I would rather they moved slowly and did it right, then rushed the darn thing. Everybody's in this thing for different reasons and I would be willing to bet that the majority of first time MSTS buyers get bored with the program. The folks out here on the forums are in a development frenzy right now because they've got a tool that let's them be creative. Let the TM people turn their development stuff loose and perhaps some of the same enthusiasm will occur. TM may never have the following that MS seems to have, but I suspect it will always be crafted "just a little bit better". Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jimmccarthy (118 posts)
Aug-09-01, 02:16 AM (EST) 6. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" Krola, I've continued to support the Trainmaster people in the hope that they can survive and go on to produce something that is really attractive to people with some knowledge of the physical properties of trains in motion. They will probably never attract the kind of clients who are interested in a cute toy train that the Microsoft people seem to want to attract.I understand that the MSTS has been designed by a British group, KUJU. Even the language in the .eng files is taken from British railroading practise. Having tried some of the activities that come with the sim, I can't believe that the designers would seriously consider sending this simulator out to be sold if they had just once tried out their product. Just about all the activities I've tried are impossible to complete. Train brakes work more like automobile brakes than train brakes. When a train enters a higher speed zone, the speed is immediately allowed to go to the new higher speed rather than waiting until the tail end of the train is within the new speed zone. Any similarity to the real Marias Pass route is purely coincidental. It just seems like the designers made no real effort to produce a true simulator.Microsoft is keeping hands off on the tools that accompany the sim, they proclaim that they offer no support for the editors. This really mystifies me.In spite of all this, I enjoy occasionally starting up MSTS and going for a train ride and enjoying the wonderful scenery. I've been a user of the Microsoft Flight simulator too for years and watched that since it was produced by another small group who sold their rights to MS. As a licensed commercial pilot, I get a kick out of flying that simulator, even though I find it harder to fly than a real plane due to the lack of clues that normally our five senses pick up in real flying.I do thank MS for rekindling my interest in my old Trainmaster version 3.2, which I have been using quite a lot lately.As a kindred soul, I enjoy reading your notes Krola.Jim McCarthy Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
krola (20 posts)
Aug-09-01, 03:37 PM (EST) 7. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" LAST EDITED ON Aug-09-01 AT 03:38 PM (EST)Your note about the British development team is well taken. I find it interesting that although certainly the United Kingdom and the US probably lead the world in rabid rail fans, just the size of the consumer base here would have dictated a little more attention to both steam and diesel in the United States. I'm sure that somewhere in Japan there are hoards of folks happily plying their way along the Japanese routes, but from a development standpoint, perhaps a little more in the way of routes and equipment (the lack of US steam is particularly vexing and I'm a diesel guy) based on the literally hundreds of thousands of miles of trackage that are existant or have existed in this country would have been appropriate, not to mention (as we have over and over) the horrendous out-of-the box performance (and may I say from the bottm of my anal-retentive heart that looking out of the correct cab window at the track on the GP38 would have been a step in the right direction). I'm still running TM 3.2 on an old steam driven laptop that I carry on layovers and I wish that either of the designers (TM or MSTS) had taken the time to put any railroading out of Chicago (the acknowledged rail capitol of the world-thank you) in the simulation. TM already had the old Alton trackage running south from CUS to St. Louis and it would have been a natural since they had much of it coded. Oh well, this wish list continues. I have suggested out on the MSTS forum (can't remember where, but in one of the rant sections aimed at MS developers and their ever anxious need to know what we want) that the editors allow an option to convert (through the miracle of computer software no less) from metric to English measurement when developing routes, power, rolling stock, etc. Since we aren't Napoleanic and don't subscribe to metrication (for good or ill), it would simplify matters if I chose to develop a route in miles and feet (they are MILEposts, aren't they) as opposed to meters. Likewise a God's eye view for route development (like Train Dispatcher's Track Builder) would make it easy for even computer newbies to hack out a playable route in no time. Enough, I'm off to rant about train physics and massive train starting traction, etc. Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
jimmccarthy (118 posts)
Aug-09-01, 09:17 PM (EST) 8. "RE: What is in 4.1, anybody know?" Thanks for the chuckles Krola as I read your note.Thank you for your explanation over on the Brakes topic. Its just what I thought Richard meant, the automatic bailing applies to the locomotive brakes and not the dynamic brakes.I stopped by the Trainmaster web site this afternoon. They now have a forum there too. Of course, I had to add my 2 cents worth there.Thanks again for the chuckles.Jim Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

Lock | Archive | Remove

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic