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"TM4 revisited"

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flarrfan (151 posts)
Jun-09-01, 09:26 AM (EST) "TM4 revisited" While still awaiting pre-ordered copy of MSTS, I played with TM4 a few times this week. Sure, there are no external views, train handling is not modeled, and scenery leaves something to be desired, but hearing about bugs and editor learning curves in MSTS, the fact remains that TM4 runs, puts you in the cab quickly, allows a 2-hour plus experience that's fun, doesn't derail or uncouple in realistic operation, and includes a couple of DRGW routes that I really enjoy. Ran the Potash line last night and enjoyed TM's scenery masterpiece, the Utah desert and the Colorado River canyon country. Anyone with MSTS care to compare the sim experience with TM4? Is putting up with the bugs in MSTS worth the additional features? Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
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Subject Author Message Date ID RE: TM4 revisited BrandrB Jun-11-01 1 RE: TM4 revisited Robber Baron Jun-12-01 2 RE: TM4 revisited flarrfan Jun-13-01 3 RE: TM4 revisited landnrailroader Jul-28-01 4

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BrandrB (2 posts)
Jun-11-01, 10:11 AM (EST) 1. "RE: TM4 revisited" I've been using the Trainmaster Software for about five years now, and this past week (after much anticipation) I purchased MSTS.In terms of scenery, routes, and views, MSTS simply blows TM4 away. The scenery of TM4 is really lacking, and when a company such as Microsoft invested in MSTS the end-user just knows that the scenery will be spectacular. I also really enjoy the various views (from inside the cab, the passenger view, and the outside views). As for screen rates, I've never experienced problem with them in TM4. With MSTS graphics turned up to the max I'm finding it hard to get more than 14 fps (which is manageable), however when I graphics are set to a medium level (which still looks terriffic) I'm getting fps rates into the forties. Another major appealing factor of MSTS is its future expandability, with more routes and trains. Within 6 months there will be so many available downloads that I can't see how MSTS will loose its playability.MSTS's major problem, for many, is that the game keeps freezing and crashing. I've updated all my drivers, reinstalled MSTS, and have done everything imaginable and yet the game still freezes. For me, it is very rare to get past five minutes of playtime without the game freezing, which means that I need to save often. As for TM4, I think that some of the train physics (especially with braking) are more realistic than that of MSTS. I've also never had TM4 crash on me!
For now, I'll continue to use both TM4 and MSTS. Once Microsoft creates a patch to fix the problems described above (which is probably several months away), the game will truly be jaw-dropping amazing. I feel sorry for those at Trainmaster Inc, because with the release of MSTS I can't really see any trainsim novice purchasing TM4, which lacks all the bells and whistles (no pun intended!) of MSTS.
Hope this helps,
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Robber Baron (53 posts)
Jun-12-01, 06:07 PM (EST) 2. "RE: TM4 revisited" I'm not sorry I purchased TM4 one bit. Even though I now have MSTS and am thrilled with many of it's aspects, especially the visuals, there are still a few of what I consider to be glaring errors. I don't understand why they would go through all the trouble of modeling slack action and then make the train brakes so unrealistic. With TM4, I have learned a great deal about how heavy freight trains are controlled (It's a shame you couldn't actually see the train). On the other hand, I love how you can model and skin rolling stock in MSTS. But I will still use TM4 from time to time, at least until someone does a Horseshoe Curve or Denver to Winter Park in MSTS AND the brakes get fixed. Who knows? Maybe there'll be a TM5 too with better graphics... Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
flarrfan (151 posts)
Jun-13-01, 10:41 PM (EST) 3. "RE: TM4 revisited" >I'm not sorry I purchased TM4
>one bit. Ditto. I love the DRGW routes.>I now have MSTS Mine came yesterday. Wife probably thinks I left her.and
>am thrilled with many of
>it's aspects, especially the visuals,
>there are still a few
>of what I consider to
>be glaring errors. Visuals are fantastic but there appears to be some selective compression of routes per discussion on the AvSim forum and some major modeling errors as to prototype performance.Maybe
>there'll be a TM5 too
>with better graphics... Well, we can hope, but I'm afraid their customer base relative to MS and Trainz will likely be too small for a major advancement. I'd settle for a few more routes for TM4.
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landnrailroader (3 posts)
Jul-28-01, 08:31 AM (EST) 4. "RE: TM4 revisited" Could not agree with you more. It took a good 30' to load MSTS on my system (mainly system's fault though), and then I noticed a lot of what to me are "bugs", although the program runs fine and does not lock up or crash.The cutest "bug" I found (and I sent a message to the MSTS developers about it) occured because the only route I had room to load was the Japanese mountain line. However, I noticed that there was a full complement of trains available to run on it - INCLUDING THE BNSF STUFF - so on a whim I loaded the BNSF. It runs fine and I sure wish CSX had elastic tunnels-----Note that the Japanese line is probably meter gage, so BNSF power is in error and the double stacks are several feet higher than the tunnels, but still get through them fine ------landnrailroader
(retired from CSX, also in FL, Jacksonville) Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top

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