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Train Simulator Classic

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RailWorks
Developer(s)Dovetail Games
Publisher(s)Dovetail Games
Producer(s)Paul Jackson
EngineProprietary game engine, PhysX (physics)
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8/8.1
Release12 June 2009
Genre(s)Simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

RailWorks, later simply Train Simulator, is a train simulation game developed by Dovetail Games, formerly known as RailSimulator.com.[1] It is the official successor to Rail Simulator, and was released online on 12 June 2009 and in stores on 3 July 2009.[2]

Compared to Rail Simulator, RailWorks contained new rolling stock, tools that previously had to be downloaded separately, graphical advancements such as modification of the existing content, bug fixes, backwards compatibility and the ability to trade elements from the virtual world with other users online. The first release of RailWorks contained all of the five real-world routes of the original European and North American releases of Rail Simulator, and added three new fictional routes: a large UK goods yard, a route set in the Alpine region and a route based around Denver, Colorado.[3]

It is a Steamworks title, which means it uses and requires Steam to activate and to deliver core game updates. Steam is also used to deliver additional routes and locomotives in the form of DLC. The core game has received several free updates since release, including major new versions RailWorks 2: Train Simulator in 2010, RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012 in 2011, Train Simulator 2013 in 2012, Train Simulator 2014 in 2013 and Train Simulator 2015 in 2014.

Releases

The first major update to RailWorks was RailWorks 2: Train Simulator, released on Steam on 18 October 2010 under the name RailWorks 2. Retail versions were released later that year. The new version contained a range of new features and enhancements, including enhanced menus, the new RS Cab Control driver interface and new RS Career System scenarios. Players could now earn Steam Achievements for completing scenarios, as well as compete and compare scores online via Steam Leaderboards. It also featured level crossing animations, among other improvements.[4] RailWorks 2 featured the same routes and content as the original game, and only one new route: TestTraK, based on the Test and validation centre, Wegberg-Wildenrath, a German testing facility owned by Siemens Mobility that is used for technical acceptance tests and approvals of locomotives and rolling stock.[5] Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of the original RailWorks received a free upgrade to the RailWorks 2 core technology via the Steam platform.

File:Railworks 2012 Hedborough North.jpg
Screenshot of Train Simulator 2012 showing British Rail Class 37 diesel locomotive on Hedborough North.

RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012 was released on Steam on 23 September 2011 under the name Train Simulator 2012. Retail versions were released later that year. It contained a number of improvements and new features, including a new user interface, action-oriented loading screens, the new TSX game engine with multi-core and FXAA support and many graphical improvements (including extended draw distance, improved lighting and shadows, enhanced sky and water effects, new depth of field camera focus effect and particle effects – e.g. rain drops – on locomotive windows with working wipers), superelevation to allow simulation of curved tracks, improved track unevenness and cab camera movement increasing with speed, improved editing tools and others.[6][7] The base package contained nine routes,[8] and those who purchased from Steam or purchased the retail Deluxe Edition, also received the Horseshoe Curve route.[9] Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of RailWorks 2 received a free upgrade to the TS2012 core technology via the Steam platform.

Train Simulator 2013 was released on Steam in two editions. Standard Edition, available for a limited time, was released on 20 September 2012.[10] Deluxe Edition was released on 10 October 2012.[11] Retail versions were available from October that year. New features and improvements included Xbox 360 Controller support, Relay Play mode allowing for users to combine efforts to complete scenarios (removed since Train Simulator 2014), new menus and control options (including the new Quick Drive mode), updated HUDs, improved 2D task map and a new community download centre by Steam called Steam Workshop where players can share and download free user-created scenarios. It also featured enhanced graphics and performance improvements. A route included with the previous versions, Hagen–Siegen, was heavily updated and renamed to Ruhr–Sieg Line. Routes included with the Standard Edition were Sherman Hill, London–Brighton, Northeast Corridor and Isle of Wight. Deluxe Edition included Sherman Hill, London–Brighton and Munich–Augsburg.[10] Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives.[12] Owners of Train Simulator 2012 received a free upgrade to the TS2013 core technology via the Steam platform.

Train Simulator 2014 was released on Steam in two editions. Steam Edition was released on 26 September 2013, and Standard Edition on 7 October 2013.[13] Retail versions were available from 4 October that year. It featured a new menu system, better graphics including increased draw distance and headlight flares, a new camera system with user-adjustable FOV, improved passenger appearance and behaviour, improved editing tools, expanded Quick Drive mode and an enhanced Career mode, letting players earn points towards medals, rewards and achievements. The new Engine Driver community website was made accessible in-game. The Steam Workshop feature had been expanded to support free user-created routes, in addition to scenarios, and the new Marketplace was designed to make it simpler to share and obtain new third-party payware content. Routes included with the Standard Edition were Hamburg–Hanover, London–Faversham High Speed and Donner Pass: Southern Pacific,[14] and those who purchased the Steam Edition, also received an additional seven mile (11 km) Sheerness Branch line in Kent (an extension to the London–Faversham High Speed route) and two extra locomotives (Class 466 and SD70M). Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of Train Simulator 2013 received a free upgrade to the TS2014 core technology via the Steam platform.

The latest version of the game, Train Simulator 2015, was released on Steam on 18 September 2014 as Standard Edition and Steam Edition. Retail versions were available from 19 September. It introduces several improvements and a learning mode called TS Academy, a training area designed to introduce new players to the series quickly and easily. Routes included with the Standard Edition are East Coast Main Line: London–Peterborough, Northeast Corridor: New York–New Haven and Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen,[15] and those who purchase the Steam Edition, will also receive the Pacific Surfliner: LA–San Diego route and two extra locomotives (Los Angeles Commuter Rail F59PH and San Diego Commuter Rail F59PHI). Contents in retail versions can vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of Train Simulator 2014 received a free upgrade to the TS2015 core technology via the Steam platform.

Features

The game features steam, diesel and electric traction trains; keyboard, mouse or gamepad control of throttles, brakes and switches with Simple and Expert driving models for varying player skills. A variety of scenarios are available for Standard and Career modes, as well as an exploratory style Free Roam mode. Quick Drive mode allows to pick a train (or to put together your own by snapping together cars), choose your route and set departure and destination stations, and decide on the time of day, the season and the weather. Cargos and passengers are animated, and weather changes dynamically with time. Steam Workshop allows players to upload and download additional user-created routes and scenarios.

Routes (Rail Simulator to TS2015)

The original RailWorks base package contained eight routes, now most of which are available as legacy DLC. The three fictional routes that were originally introduced in RailWorks and subsequently withdrawn in Train Simulator 2013 (Hedborough North, Seebergbahn and Castle Rock Railroad) are not available as DLCs, but are available as free downloads on Steam Workshop as official uploads by Dovetail Games, branded as Classic Routes. In 2010, users could add the free Port Road route DLC to their Steam accounts, but it is no longer available. Set in the final years of steam operations, Port Road represents the branch line from Dumfries to Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright, part of the now-defunct Dumfries to Stranraer line in Scotland.[16]

The current version of the game, Train Simulator 2015, contains only three or four routes, depending on edition; East Coast Main Line: London–Peterborough, Northeast Corridor: New York–New Haven and Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen included with the Standard Edition, plus the Pacific Surfliner: LA–San Diego included with the Steam Edition. People who purchased Train Simulator before 18 September 2014 retained their original content, and have the option to purchase the new routes via Steam.[13][17]

Locomotives and rolling stock

The original RailWorks base package contained 16 drivable locomotives and multiple units, some in multiple liveries. The game also came with passenger coaches and freight vehicles.

The latest version of the game, Train Simulator 2015, does not come with all of these locomotives and carriages as standard, instead allows new users to buy them in legacy DLC packages. Existing users retained their original rolling stock. New users receive instead different locomotives, multiple units and relevant coaches and freight cars.[13]

Editing tools

A complete suite of tools is also available to customize content, allowing terrain modeling either by hand using provided tools or via the import of DEM data from NASA; track construction based on a system of straights and arcs, allowing infinitely possible junction configurations, and scenery placement. A scenario editor allows the creation of tasks such as picking up passengers, hauling cargo and shunting wagons around yards. These tools also allow players to build unlimited sizes of layouts, create their own scenery and rolling stock and modify the provided content by adding features or re-skins.

Downloadable content

Various add-ons are available for Train Simulator 2015, containing routes, locomotives and/or multiple units for Quick Drive use, as well as scenarios for Standard, Career and Free Roam modes.[18] Examples include the fictional Rascal & Cottonwood route from All Aboard and packs of the LMS Jubilees and the GWR 4900 Class locomotives.

System requirements — Train Simulator 2015
Minimum Recommended
Microsoft Windows[13]
Operating system Windows Vista, 7 or 8
CPU 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon MP (multiprocessor variant or comparable processors)3.2 GHz Core 2 Duo
Memory 2 GB RAM
Free space 6 GB of free space
Graphics hardware DirectX 9.0c compliant card with 512 MB RAM and Pixel Shader 3.0 (AGP PCIe only)Laptop versions of these chipsets may work but are not supported. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.
Display QuickTime Player is required for playing the videos
Sound hardware DirectX 9.0c compatible
Network Broadband Internet connection
Input device(s) Mouse & Keyboard
Xbox 360 Controller (since Train Simulator 2013)
RailDriver by P.I. Engineering (since RailWorks 2)[19]

Critical reception

IGN gave RailWorks a 7/10 or "good" stating that the game "doesn't bring a lot of new stuff to the genre" and graphically "lacks the high-end flair of today's top-level titles".[20]

On 17 March 2011, it was announced that RailWorks 2 had won the award for "Simulation of the Year 2010" by readers of Game Industry News (GiN).[21]

Train Simulator 2014 received mixed or average reviews and holds a Metacritic score of 67, based on 6 critics.[22]

The game also does no use any USB controllers other then the Xbox 360 controller, rendering all other joysticks, throttles, trainset controllers, headtracking (such as TrackIR) and similair devices unusable in the game, with no plans to patch or update the existing software according to the developer as of January 2015.

References

  1. ^ Paul Jackson (9 December 2013). "RailSimulator.com becomes Dovetail Games". Engine Driver. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Rail Simulator 2: Railworks – The evolution of Rail Simulator". Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  3. ^ "New British Publisher Launches RailWorks" (PDF). RailSimulator.com. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  4. ^ "RailWorks 2 Train Simulator Releases, Free to Existing RailWorks Customers". store.steampowered.com. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  5. ^ "RailWorks 2: Train Simulator for Windows (2010)". MobyGames. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Train Simulator 2012 FAQ" (PDF). RailSimulator.com. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Railworks 3 - Train Simulator 2012 Update Released". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Train Simulator 2012 Announced for September23". RailSimulator.com. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  9. ^ "World-famous Horseshoe Curve comes to Train Simulator 2012". RailSimulator.com. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Train Simulator 2013 - what happens on the 20th September?". RailSimulator.com. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Train Simulator 2013 Deluxe Edition is now available worldwide via download on Steam". RailSimulator.com. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Train Simulator 2013 Announced for 20th September". RailSimulator.com. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d "Train Simulator 2014 on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  14. ^ Livingston, Christopher (25 September 2013). "Train Simulator 2014 hands-on: all aboard the series' new vehicles and routes". PC Gamer. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  15. ^ Parish, Peter (21 July 2014). "Train Simulator 2015 choo-choo-chooses 18 September release date". Incgamers.com. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  16. ^ "Download the Port Road line - FREE". RailSimulator.com. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  17. ^ "Train Simulator 2013 Driver Manual" (PDF). RailSimulator.com. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  18. ^ "RailWorks Add-on Products". RailSimulator.com. Retrieved June 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  19. ^ "RailDriver | Technical Support". RailDriver.com. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  20. ^ "RailWorks IGN Review". IGN. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  21. ^ "Game of the Year Results (2010)". Game Industry News. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  22. ^ Metacritic reviews – Train Simulator 2014. Metacritic. Retrieved 7 June 2014.

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