MSTS2 and Windows XP

[Hywel Dewi Jones]

Dear All,

I have read the information provided by Matt on the front page.

In the blurb it says under Format that it will be DVD-Rom for Windows Vista operating systems.

Does this mean that those who still have Windows XP will not be able to run MSTS 2.

I realise that it will be some time before it will be released, but even so many will still have the XP system or older ones.

The views of the "experts" would be much appreciated.

Thank you,


Hywel Jones

[tdragger]

Dear All,

I have read the information provided by Matt on the front page.

In the blurb it says under Format that it will be DVD-Rom for Windows Vista operating systems.

Does this mean that those who still have Windows XP will not be able to run MSTS 2.

I realise that it will be some time before it will be released, but even so many will still have the XP system or older ones.

The views of the "experts" would be much appreciated.

Thank you,


Hywel Jones

The fact sheet is accurate. TS2 will be for Windows Vista.

[jamesinbolton]

The fact sheet is accurate. TS2 will be for Windows Vista.

Oh well, I won't be playing it til at least 2012

[eaglefan]

The fact sheet is accurate. TS2 will be for Windows Vista.

Oh well, I won't be playing it til at least 2012

It will be the spring of 2010 for me when I get a new PC with vista and I will just get my copy off ebay for less than retail while microsoft wont get my money.

[bigvern]

The fact sheet is accurate. TS2 will be for Windows Vista.

This probably needs to go into the FAQ/Sticky - I'll try and add it in there myself.

[bigvern]

I think this decision needs to be considered carefully by MS/Aces. As noted there is still a very high proportion of PC users with XP SP2 who are more than happy with their OS. Vista is so unpopular that I believe a few PC retailers/manufacturers are still supplying XP OEM on request.

I can understand nor supporting 98 SE or the unloved ME but even if as guesstimated MSTS2 hits the stores in Q4 2008 there's still going to be a large number of potential customers who are still using XP and not about to pay even the OEM price for a copy of Vista.

I have already noted that in all likelihood come the release of TS2 I would probably swallow my pride and get Vista if I hadn't done so by then anyway. However that all depends on how the state of Vista at that point is perceived and what other apps I may be running that would be better off still under XP.

[hhdawrs]

The fact sheet is accurate. TS2 will be for Windows Vista.

This probably needs to go into the FAQ/Sticky - I'll try and add it in there myself.

A major disappointment for a large number of potential buyers. The press release, etc. should have noted this.

There is a lot of speculation about the XP/Vista question, so a sticky is needed.

Aloha,
Herb

[ForburyLion]

I believe Microsoft's main aim is to get Vista on all our PC's, that's where they make their real money.

MSTS2 and other Vista games are tools to help achieve this goal.

[steamnut44]

99% of users will be on Vista within the next two or three years, but just because MS2 will only run on Vista, isn't going to persuade everyone with XP, to immediately convert or lash out for a new computer. I can see where Microsoft are coming from, but they should support XP users as well, after all XP is a Microsoft product, just as Vista is. I expect that they will loose a lot of sales, if Vista is the only option. I for one won't be buying something I cannot use. I'll stick with Kuju!

[AndiS]

I guess (former) Aces is in a similar position within MS as the KRS development team was within Kuju. Kuju management decided that all programs get IGA, KRS took the heat from potential buyers, after some reorganisation in the background with "F4G taking a more active role" etc., IGA was dropped by whoever makes decisions about KRS now.

Likewise, many train simmers don't want to become part of many blessings MS has in store for us. Besides Vista, there is IGA, MS programming environments and MS languages, Windows for Games or similar (as a multi-user platform or download station, I forgot), ...

It would be a clever move by the developers of MSTS2 to provide alternatives to all these MS things, but I doubt they will be allowed to. And I know that in each case, the alternative will have some drawback, like worse performance or missing a feature or two. But at the same time, at least in the view of many, you win something by avoiding that particular MS blessing.

I would welcome such freedom of decision, since I am always against religious battles. E.g., I can't see any advantage in having Vista, but if I learn Lua for KRS, I should be willing to learn C# (which I would not use in my professional life) for MSTS2. I have no idea about Windows for Games, but it certainly sounds like MSN, i.e., like something I definitely will not have on my machine (for security reasons), plus I am too stubborn to install something more complex than a web-browser or FTP client for downloading files.

So in the end, if MSTS2 would not enforce such things on everyone, all the MS haters would be forced to talk about real issues, i.e., it would help the reputation of MSTS2.

[petermakosch]

But why are you worried?
XP has maybe two years of life left, tops. Yes, I know people still use Win98 and even some on Win95, but the majority of users will be on Vista. You must also remember that Microsoft planned (or are still planning?) to being out another Operating System by 2010, I have a feeling it is called "Vienna" or something, which is why Vista-users felt cheated. Can't confirm the validity of that info though, but I am more sure than not.

More than likely everyone will be on Vista or Vienna by the time MSTS-2 comes out.

Again though why are people convinced that Train Simulator games rake in the money? I should think it is NOT a cash cow for the Big M as surely games that perhaps double the amount of people play (like Halo or Flight Sim). If Microsoft wanted to rake in the money, they would concentrate on their wider used games, although this would also (perhaps) hurt the community as it would force users to update their Operating System, it would encourage most people to update.

Microsoft have a lot of money already, hence they haven't tried doing anything overly spectacular (like missions to mars or whatnot). Yes their stuff is over-priced here in the UK, but so was XP when it first came out. . . people are willing to pay, so why change?

[eaglefan]

Again though why are people convinced that Train Simulator games rake in the money? I should think it is NOT a cash cow for the Big M as surely games that perhaps double the amount of people play (like Halo or Flight Sim). If Microsoft wanted to rake in the money, they would concentrate on their wider used games, although this would also (perhaps) hurt the community as it would force users to update their Operating System, it would encourage most people to update.

Microsoft must have seen something to let them realize that they could make money of the new train sim, Because if they didnt. They wouldnt be making a second edition of it.

I know one thing for sure. I wont be upgrading my PC just for this sim and once I get my new PC. I will get MSTS 2, But microsoft wont see one cent from me. Ill just go the ebay route which I will be able to find the game cheaper than at retail stores.

[mikesimpson]

You cannot have it both ways. We have had years of complaints that MSTS was built using DirectX v7 which was out of date when MSTS was released. Kuju used DirectX 7 so that the program was backward compatible with Windows 98 etc.

This time, MS are going to use DirectX 10 which is for Vista. Sure they could have used DirectX 9 which is already years out of date, then next year you would all have been complaining that the graphics were 'naff'.

There is just no way you can have great graphics AND backward compatability.

Mike

[steamnut44]

The real crux of the problem with new games or simulators, is that technology is always one step ahead. You either have to keep up with the latest equipment, or miss out on the pleasure of playing the latest games.
Not everyone is in the position, to splash out big money every couple of years, such as I.

[buffy500]

As unattractive as it may sound, the last two posts really sum it up.

If you want the newest features (and presumably the best effects), you need to have the newest technology.

If you want a game that uses 8 year old graphics, well to be blunt, you've already got one but people want that improved. KRS should offer an improvement, but as a DX9 game presumably there will be some effects it wont be able to implement as easily as DX10 (if at all).

You don't expect to get super bike performance from a MG Metro do you, with KRS I guess we have something like Scooby, but it aint ever going to be a R1 !

The best solution would be a version which uses either DX9 or 10 and adds or removes functions as it needs to, but I don't know how possible or practical that is.