Patch/Upgrade

[moranb]

Installed the upgrade without any problems. Overall there has been a big improvement in performance (especially the near total elimination of the swaying effect and the lengthening of the viewing distance to 100 meters as well as the more informative monitor - but has anyone come up with a means of making the latter partially transparent as was possible with MSTS as it takes up such a large amount of space on the screen?).

However, at least in my case, some former problems seem to have become worse.

The first is the shuddering, noticeable especially in the cab view, usually after about 15-20 minutes operation. The shuddering increases as time passes until eventually it makes dials etc. vibrate so much they are illegible and I have to stop and save the game, close the programme and reload it again and continue with the saved game. In the original version, the shuddering would not normally begin until after an hour or so.

The second is a kind of regular knocking noise, again very noticeable in the cab view, like a hammer hitting an anvil. It sometimes stops if you move some distance from the train so that the sound can no longer be heard. I don't know if this is related to the shuddering as both seem to happen about the same time - about 15-20 minutes in to the game.

The third is disappearing platform markers. In one place where I have 10 platform markers, two of them have disappeared. The label for the marker is still there, but the green line to indicate the length of the platform is not there. There seems to be no particular pattern - in another location, one of two green markers disappeared. It appears that the markers are still there, but invisible, as is is not possible to replace them with new platform markers, but it means there is no solid marker to click to set a destination or passenger pick-up. So far the only way I have been able to resolve this is to delete a piece of track near the label (and thereby the label), relay it and then add a new platform marker.

Fourthly, while it is a minor fault, I find that I cannot access the cab view directly when starting the game. I have to press one of the other F views and then press F1 to get into the cab.

Finally, I am still getting derailments in situations where points should be forced open on my mainline. (Has this problem only been rectified for manual points? Mine are mainly automatic on the mainline I am working on.)

[CaptScarlet]

Finally, I am still getting derailments in situations where points should be forced open on my mainline. (Has this problem only been rectified for manual points? Mine are mainly automatic on the mainline I am working on.)

The upgrade only changed it so manual points can be forced open, you will still derail on auto points in free roam and other scenarios.

John

[Retro]

However, at least in my case, some former problems seem to have become worse.

The first is the shuddering, noticeable especially in the cab view, usually after about 15-20 minutes operation. The shuddering increases as time passes until eventually it makes dials etc. vibrate so much they are illegible and I have to stop and save the game, close the programme and reload it again and continue with the saved game. In the original version, the shuddering would not normally begin until after an hour or so.

The third is disappearing platform markers. In one place where I have 10 platform markers, two of them have disappeared. The label for the marker is still there, but the green line to indicate the length of the platform is not there. There seems to be no particular pattern - in another location, one of two green markers disappeared. It appears that the markers are still there, but invisible, as is is not possible to replace them with new platform markers, but it means there is no solid marker to click to set a destination or passenger pick-up. So far the only way I have been able to resolve this is to delete a piece of track near the label (and thereby the label), relay it and then add a new platform marker.

I used to get a shimmering sort of effect after driving for a long time which made the intruments unreadable. The whole cab would also quiver around. I don't no if this is the same as you are getting but others on here have encountered similar problems. I have not had the problem however so far since the upgrade and I did 80 miles last night to check my Route integrity with no problems.
I have 18 stations and will check all the markers shortly to see if this has happened on my Route. Has it affected any other markers like Destination or Portal?
Regards James.

[moranb]

I suspect your shimmering and my shuddering are the same phenomena. I wonder if it may have something to do with my graphics card - a GeForce NVidia 7900 card. I would be interested to know if others with a 7 series Nvidia card have had this experience as it would mean that it is not the game that is at fault. What I find strange is that the occurence is more frequent after the patch than it was with the original version.

I have only two destination markers and they are still there.

[Retro]

It has occurred with a Radeon X1950 Pro according to the another topic on this subject. but I have a GeForce 7600GS 512mb. Also Derek was looking in to one of the office buildings which seemed to be worse than the others for shimmering especially at night. It appears to be two problems either the cab view corruption or shimmering and jumping textures on the scenery and points.
Regards James.

[Retro]

All Platform Markers present and correct here. Phew !!
Regards James.

[TheTazman]

I can still hear the Wipers of the Deltic from outside. Also i was hoping that the clouds would be slowed down in the patch .

[jamesinbolton]

It has occurred with a Radeon X1950 Pro according to the another topic on this subject. but I have a GeForce 7600GS 512mb. Also Derek was looking in to one of the office buildings which seemed to be worse than the others for shimmering especially at night. It appears to be two problems either the cab view corruption or shimmering and jumping textures on the scenery and points.
Regards James.

I think that might have been my quote from another forum, although not quite accurate. The shimmering effect was as previously stated when running a Nvidia 6800 GS.

After I installed the X1950 Pro I started getting other types of graphic corruption, which appeared in the form of squares of flashing colours appearing within a few moments of starting the simulator. After much perseverence and faffing about which included a PSU upgrade I returned the card to the vendor as defective.

Fortunately the fault was confirmed and I was given the opportunity to get a replacement card, so I opted for the Nvidia 8600GTS (I just wish I'd gone for that in the first place!!)

James

[Retro]

Hi James sorry about my accuracy of reporting. I don't always read things carefully enough. It's difficult to keep up with so many topics. Since the upgrade the posts have really taken off.
Regards James.

[smarty2]

Hi fella's, i have an 8400GS 512mb and i have noticed the same effects, the windows on buildings in particular are shimmering more now than previously as for the cab wobbling i suffered with that even before the upgrade caused errors in my case as well like the game hanging! maybe a mention over on their forums may be appropriate.

Cheers Mart

[OZINOZ]

Hi guys...
Probably going to get lost in the length of this thread, but I have to say that I have gone from loving it to just liking it

While I had some issues, particularly the hesitation and stuttering, after this MK1 upgrade I now have sound issues and my frame rates in some views have almost halved and I have had my first complete lock up and dump to desktop. I have gone from mid to high 30's to high teens. I am running a brand new 2.8ghz quad core with 4g ram and 8600 card, so I certainly wouldn't have expected to go backwards. Haven't got to loading the Dev Tools ~ too afraid to in case performance gets halved again. Only bought this (or would contemplate the MSTS X or what ever it is going to be called) for the steam, but just feel let down The F3 guide is a lot better now I feel, but the map is really useless because the FOV is just nowhere near large enough. I ran an activity on the Cajon route and even at under 5 miles an hour, it was touch and go whether I would be over the switch before it was in the map window so the path could be set. I really thing this needs tweaking still.

This sim has so much potential, it is just disappointing to be where we are, nearly 10 years on from the development of MSTS yet it contains all of the basic issues that it had - appropriate power & sound from multiple power units (head & tail power), AI lights etc not to mention the inability to "operate"at night because lights emit no light, bizarre weather phenomenons and issues with road traffic and rail crossings.

It is still the best in town, but it shouldn't have to rely on the users to that extent to make it so...

Cheers

[Retro]

Hi Ozinoz,
I would have thought with your specification you should be getting good results. Have you got all the settings on full pelt? I can only run mine with the slider on 6 and everything else at medium. no proc scenery or detailed shadows. I was considering a new machine but I am not sure if it would make that much difference. I have heard that running KRS on Vista slows it down not sure if this is true though. I am on XP MCE 2005 3ghz Pentium dual core 7600GS 512mb GPU and 2 gigs of Ram.
Regards James.

[overmarze]

Hi Ozinoz,
I would have thought with your specification you should be getting good results. Have you got all the settings on full pelt? I can only run mine with the slider on 6 and everything else at medium. no proc scenery or detailed shadows. I was considering a new machine but I am not sure if it would make that much difference. I have heard that running KRS on Vista slows it down not sure if this is true though. I am on XP MCE 2005 3ghz Pentium dual core 7600GS 512mb GPU and 2 gigs of Ram.
Regards James.

Nope its not true well for me it wasnt

[SWT450]

Abserlutely Great update and i am ever so gratefull for the re-modeled "track moniter" aka F3 that has made such a big differance for me

Just one request fior the next update - in windowed mode could it be possible to activate the maxamize button please? I would like to run it maximized to the size of the desktop but NOT run it in full window mode as my pc dosent like that very much and throws tantrums lol

it's hitting the terrble 4's this year sooo i am gonna get a lot of "back chat" lol

anyway thanks for the fab update

[moranb]

I am now inclined to believe that the problem I had with stuttering and knocking noise was due to my using the original drivers for my graphics card. I decided to download the latest XP drivers for the NVidia 7900 (December 2007) and installed them. Afterwards, I ran the game for almost two hours from the cab view with neither any stuttering nor knocking noise. Will have to wait and see if it has also solved the problem of disappearing paltforms. Frame rates also improved remarkably to around 120. (Previously was in the 40 - 80 range).