All I want is a SIMULATION, not mugs, T-shirts, ...

[Retro]

Geoff is right here IMHO and it is a case of business stratagy. All companies do this and merchandising makes a lot of extra money. My local Football Club Man United have become masters in this area and if they can top the Premiership and beat Chelsea in Moscow more money will be rolling in. As long as RSDL are using the money made from mugs etc for further research and improvements I see nothing wrong in this. The E.L.R. fund their projects in a similar fashion and have a shop at Bolton Street Station.
Coders, Artists, Model makers etc. have to be paid just like everyone else. I will quite happily purchase a mug or T shirt as long as they don't crack when you put hot water in or the logo's wash out in the Washing Machine. I have bought some merchandise that did this.
Regards James

[simuk]

For operations, this must be possible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf9GfsWC9iA

Alternatively, mouse click on this link to download a much clearer 50MB video clip that shows the operation of signals and points:

http://rapidshare.com/files/111618478/AI_operations.wmv

The little test demonstration route looks like this:

Signals and points:
The signals must show a stop indication if the points are set against the correct train movement and a clear indication when set for correct train movements.

Thanks for the video and map screenshot. I'm a little confused though. Are you saying that RS's signalling isn't as good as it is in Trainz?

In that video you can see that the player train is being given a green signal, but that whilst the train is approaching it, the signal changes to a danger aspect and the AI train gets priority instead (at 53 seconds in to video).

Is this really what you want?

I don't. I'd suggest most other users of any train simulation don't want that either...?

Simon
Just Trains

[petestuart]

For operations, this must be possible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf9GfsWC9iA

Alternatively, mouse click on this link to download a much clearer 50MB video clip that shows the operation of signals and points:

http://rapidshare.com/files/111618478/AI_operations.wmv

The little test demonstration route looks like this:

Signals and points:
The signals must show a stop indication if the points are set against the correct train movement and a clear indication when set for correct train movements.

Thanks for the video and map screenshot. I'm a little confused though. Are you saying that RS's signalling isn't as good as it is in Trainz?

In that video you can see that the player train is being given a green signal, but that whilst the train is approaching it, the signal changes to a danger aspect and the AI train gets priority instead (at 53 seconds in to video).

Is this really what you want?

I don't. I'd suggest most other users of any train simulation don't want that either...?

Simon
Just Trains

Well, erm yes I would.. the idea of the move is like letting another train past you, say if you are in a station and waiting to proceed. I like the idea of waiting every now and then like that. It beats just doing a boring straight run all the way. we want something to test whether we are awake or not!! I'm not saying to have to stop all the time, but just enough to make it more interesting.

regards

petestuart

(letsRole)

[simuk]

Well, erm yes I would.. the idea of the move is like letting another train past you, say if you are in a station and waiting to proceed. I like the idea of waiting every now and then like that. It beats just doing a boring straight run all the way. we want something to test whether we are awake or not!! I'm not saying to have to stop all the time, but just enough to make it more interesting.

regards

petestuart

(letsRole)

You can already have an AI train approach a junction from another line and get priority to go past yours, with the signal holding your train at Danger. The scenarios most certainly don't have to be simple "boring straight runs".

I can't however see why you, or anyone, would want signals that change aspect as you approach them changing from green to red because some other train has "barged" its way in to a signal block and taken priority. That's no way to run a railway... Obviously if another train encroaches on to another signal block then it needs to make the previously "clear" block turn to "danger", but you can't just let a train have a green signal and then let another train take that block over - it'd just lead to collisions and is completely unrealistic.

Simon
Just Trains

[petestuart]

Yes, in that sense i agree with you and that if your train has to stop, the signal should already be at danger when aproaching it.

regards

pete

[tango4262]

I need a new mug cos i've just dropped my cuppa, and i need a new t shirt because i stained it as i dropped my cuppa....


I'll get my coat...

[Mike10]

unless you are putting all your faith into MSTS2, there is no viable alternative.

In your opinion... I have a very viable alternative thanks.

existing simulations which work OK but are unlikely to see any further development.

No further development? .... so Auran have just been stringing us along about the next version then and all the work that people have been doing has been a waste of time. Fair enough.

Mike.

[Acorncomputer]

Hi Mike

I do not want to cross swords with you and I may be wrong in my assumption that there is little or no development with Trainz. At the risk of moving off-topic, you only have to look at this forum to see that there are 1750 posts to the Trainz section which I assume is over a period of several years, and 49,002 to the Rail Simulator section over a period of less than a year. Whilst clearly not all of the RS posts are complimentary, there is a huge interest in Rail Simulator and not so much for Trainz on this forum.

There are 97 uploads for Trainz and already 178 for Rail Simulator.

I understand your loyalty to Trainz but I do not think it is a viable alternative to Rail Simulator at the moment - and that is just my opinion.

[bigvern]

To be fair, the primary point for TRS discussion is Auran's own forums.

I'm looking to the release of Trainz Classics 3 for its own sake - the route and motive power pack. However I will be very surprised if overall it looks very different "out the cab" from previous versions though.

And there's been no real indication of any future "game-plan" from Auran as regards significant upgrades to the overall programme - such as new graphics engine, nor of course whether they have the money to do much else with the programme.

[Mike10]

Hi Mike

I do not want to cross swords with you and I may be wrong in my assumption that there is little or no development with Trainz. At the risk of moving off-topic, you only have to look at this forum to see that there are 1750 posts to the Trainz section which I assume is over a period of several years, and 49,002 to the Rail Simulator section over a period of less than a year. Whilst clearly not all of the RS posts are complimentary, there is a huge interest in Rail Simulator and not so much for Trainz on this forum.

There are 97 uploads for Trainz and already 178 for Rail Simulator.

I understand your loyalty to Trainz but I do not think it is a viable alternative to Rail Simulator at the moment - and that is just my opinion.

Not wanting to cross swords, just making a point

This forum has been until very recently pretty much a one trick pony ie. MSTS. Reactions to Trainz related comments have been somewhat hostile in the past. No surprise there are very few posts. However, the UKTrainz forum currently has 96,356 posts on it if that makes any difference.

Trainz has the central Download Station server integrated into the game software, no great need to upload to here. Anyway, why host files on a server where (in the past) you're not made welcome.

Developments: -> http://www.trainzclassics.co.uk

Enough off-topic from me in this thread.

oh, except to say that 'huge interest in Rail Simulator' may be overstating the case somewhat. A full third of those posts were pre-release speculation, many more of them the 'how does this work' type stuff after release. I think the guide is to look what's happening now... a few people working on locos, a handful of route builders... lots of moaning.. doesn't seem that busy to me to be totally honest.

Mike.

[Mike10]

And there's been no real indication of any future "game-plan" from Auran as regards significant upgrades to the overall programme - such as new graphics engine, nor of course whether they have the money to do much else with the programme.

RS provides a 'new graphics engine' for a train sim, has it brought Nirvana??

Graphics aren't everything.

Mike.

[tango4262]

And there's been no real indication of any future "game-plan" from Auran as regards significant upgrades to the overall programme - such as new graphics engine, nor of course whether they have the money to do much else with the programme.

RS provides a 'new graphics engine' for a train sim, has it brought Nirvana??

Graphics aren't everything.

Mike.

Exactly, Look at BVE for example

[goodfella]

I must admit that I have no real problems with Rail Simulator. There's only the one and that was the user interface, had me stumped for a while but after that no real major miss haps. I'm quite enjoying playing it.

[tads1970]

I would agree with Mike,a good simulation/game shouldn't rely on graphics alone,its brought little to the table for some.I cant put my finger on it - but playing either MSTS or TRS in 1600x1200 you know your playing in high resolution,KRS doesn't it still feels like 800x600,is this just my eyesight failing with old age?

Sound is also a major factor for me.TRS has its flaws in the sound department - an overhaul of this alone would be a great leap forward.I'd rather put up with average sound and graphics for good AI,and pathing and more importantly - enjoyment.When I buy a product with simulation on it,thats what i expect to find in the box.I would be most disappointed if for say I'd bought a flight simulation- only for the aircraft inside to sound like - well nothing what there supposed to sound like.

I use whatever makes me happy

Daz

[CaptScarlet]

playing either MSTS or TRS in 1600x1200 you know your playing in high resolution,KRS doesn't it still feels like 800x600,is this just my eyesight failing with old age?

I think that is due to the camera perspective, I can play at 1680x1050 and at that resolution everything is still relatively close so the trains etc still have a sense of their size whereas in the other sims you don't get that, but what I do get is very few ( if any ) jaggered edges on any models at that resolution (which is what I would expect ).

John