Glad I'm Staying With MSTS

[corbeau77]

Personally, I now happily use both side by side; MSTS has its pluses such as the amount of content available and Railworks also has its pluses, and it really isn't too fiddly at all - it's just different to MSTS. It's till early days for Railworks, compared to almost a decade that MSTS has had to acquire content. We've heard it all before anyway, so I won't go on.

[jbilton]

Personally, I now happily use both side by side;

Two monitors ....... .............

Cheers
Jon

[steamnut44]

As has been said repeatedly it's up to the individual, as to what suits them. When I opened this thread, I was just pointing out, all the trouble people have had with RW when registering with Steam. When you buy a new simulator, such as RW, you should be able load it and run it, without having to go through a third party, to get it to function. That was my gripe, and that is why I am sticking to MSTS, which I am quite happy with. This thread was not intended to start an argument between the two simulators, both are different in the way they operate. I never liked TrainZ either. I just stated that I was glad I am staying with MSTS, as I can load it, play it, add to it without having to link up to any third party website, ( other than railsim sites for downloads etc) to get updates for it to run. What I don't like about the new product, is the operating system, which is different and more confusing than MSTS, well it is for me. So I will continue to use what I like best and what I am happy with. I didn't post this thread on the RS/RW Forums either. It was meant for those members who are staying with MSTS. If I had wanted to stir the (removed by Moderator), I would have posted on the other sim forum.

Geoff

[Acorncomputer]

Hi

It has been well publicised on this forum that I am no fan of Steam and many of the adverse criticisms I can agree with even now.

Overall, though, the enjoyment I get from using RailWorks is more than sufficient for me to tolerate the less attractive aspects of Steam and I can live with it. Steam is now little more than an irritation but RailWorks is an inspiration.

[jbilton]

Hi

It has been well publicised on this forum that I am no fan of Steam and many of the adverse criticisms I can agree with even now.

Overall, though, the enjoyment I get from using RailWorks is more than sufficient for me to tolerate the less attractive aspects of Steam and I can live with it. Steam is now little more than an irritation but RailWorks is an inspiration.

Hi
I must admit I thought you were still on RS Geoff.... must have missed the move.

Cheers
Jon

[steamnut44]

Geoff, if you are happy with RW, then fair play to you. I know it will no doubt become better than MSTS, but for the present I am not even going there. I have stated my reasons why I am not happy with it. I find MSTS so much easier to manage and for an eight year old sim, it's not far off the quality of RW. Once Open Rails has been developed, it could improve things more. Sorry, but I still like the old girl very much.

Geoff

[Acorncomputer]

Hi Jon

I love RS and still have it installed, but RailWorks is the progression from RS and that is the direction I want to go, Steam or no Steam.

[bigvern]

It's an unfortunate fact of gaming life that more and more emphasis is being put on supplying via download or on-line verification. Just about every (non railway) game I purchased recently has required some sort of connection to the Internet in order to verify - the worst example being GTA IV which spent over an hour installing and connecting to various servers and systems in order to run. Intrusive? Yes. Objectionable? Very much so. Steam isn't actually that bad (compared to the hoops Rockstar make you jump through), Securom or the insidious Starforce (one reason why I refuse to buy DCS Black Shark despite my love of helo sims).

If MSTS2 had made it to completion, it's almost certain that would have been subject to some restrictive DRM - limited installs and online authentication, etc. etc.

Having gone through a love/hate relationship with RW myself (though the distraction for me is now Trainz*) I've never had a problem connecting to the Steam server in order to get the reinstall done quickly and painlessly. I fully respect the views of those who have chosen to remain with MSTS but other than the odd drive (NWC etc.) it really has passed into history and my one brief attempt to start something off in the RE earlier this year had me reeling at just how horrible the processes are compared to the more recent sims. RW has its warts, don't get me wrong and I think 2010 will probably be make or break for the programme. But if RW were to fall, that would not bode well for the future of our hobby. We need a "modern" sim going forward. MSTS will be nine years old by then and while I'm aware of Open Rails and applaud the efforts being made by the contributors it is still an amateur project at least initially reliant on that 9 year old programme to source its material. And while I'm sure this aspect has been examined, who is to say MS might not put a spike in the wheel if they felt their code or intellectual copyright (importing and then distributing routes that used original default content for example) was being compromised.

* At least until now... Although TS2010 runs okay on the desktop and the ECML is very enjoyable, whatever Auran bolted on this time makes Surveyor unuseable on the laptop after about 20 mins. Ergo, no TS2010 routes from me for the foreseeable future.

[steamnut44]

I fully respect the views of those who have chosen to remain with MSTS but other than the odd drive (NWC etc.) it really has passed into history and my one brief attempt to start something off in the RE earlier this year had me reeling at just how horrible the processes are compared to the more recent sims.

I disagree with you Vern, that MSTS has passed into history. It still has a pretty strong following, especially over the Pond, have a look on TS.Com Newest Files Downloads, there is more being made for MSTS than there is for RS/RW. Even here in the UK, there is still a dedicated few who prefer MSTS and are still making stuff for it. Personally, I was a little dissapointed with NWC considering it was a payware route. There seems to be too many lineside trees for my liking, and I actually took some out near the Britannia Bridge, which has improved the approaches on both sides. Another thing that spoils this route, it has far too many caravans of the same type along the coast, a few varieties and colours would have made it better.
There are still quite a lot of routes to hit MSTS yet, with MEP probably being top of the list, which from what Iv'e been told, is a stunner. We have the Chiltern Route, Oxford, Midland Main Line (Steam Era), Glasgow Carlise V3, North West England V3, and of course Scottish Central Plus, which should be done by the latter half of 2010. There are quite a few more smaller routes that I know of, that are also wip and we have just recently had a brilliant selection of steam & modern image locos. Also on the drawing board, are quite a few more steam locos, that are being developed, about twenty as I know of, so I wouldn't say that MSTS is History. It might be History for all the converts to Trainz, RS, RW, or whatever other sim takes your fancy, but there is still a lot of life left yet in MSTS. Even when MSTS does run out of new routes and stock, it will still be used by a dedicated few, who still prefer it and can enjoy the mountain of stuff that has been made for it. Like I said, it's being put in my coffin when my time comes, cos you won't be able to find it up there.

Geoff

[ashgray]

As has been said, each to their own, Geoff - or even both!

Ash

[jbilton]

.............. Personally, I was a little dissapointed with NWC considering it was a payware route. There seems to be too many lineside trees for my liking,


Geoff

Crickey Geoff.... you definitely want to keep away from RW.... its all trees....

I don't know the route.... but I'm assuming its accurate.

Cheers
Jon

[peterdore]

Never mind the tree's its the Signaling thats all wrong lmao

Pete

[steamnut44]

.............. Personally, I was a little dissapointed with NWC considering it was a payware route. There seems to be too many lineside trees for my liking,


Geoff

Crickey Geoff.... you definitely want to keep away from RW.... its all trees....

I don't know the route.... but I'm assuming its accurate.

Cheers
Jon

Yes Jon, the route itself is pretty accurate for the period it was set in (the Blue Era) not my favourite, but none the less a nice route. I mention too many trackside trees, because I have noticed that somtimes, these are placed too close to the track. It's as though you are running through a corrodor of vegetation. Running with F2, you have to zoom out to get a decent side view of the loco, move in to get the motion in view and you suddenly get swipe off your computer chair by trees waffting past you, because the trees block your view. Run by shots on F4 are good for seeing trees instead of the train. It's ok, I have phobia about Trees

Don't worry, Scottish Central Plus wont have its trackside trees that close to the tracks at least you'll get some decent run by shots of the train instead of trees..

Oh, don't get me wrong, there will be plenty of trees and vegetation in the route, but placed where it doesn't interfere with trians.

Geoff

[dikkidee]

Hi Steam Nut - Still working on MML for MSTS. I can't get on with RS and I have now tried RW woth the same result - they are going on ebay.

[steamnut44]

Hi Steam Nut - Still working on MML for MSTS. I can't get on with RS and I have now tried RW woth the same result - they are going on ebay.

Good on yer Dikkee, at least it's nice to know that there is still a dedicated band still with the old sim. Nice to see you popping in, I havent heard much from you lately. As you may know, I've got myself involved with upgrading the Scottish Centra, so that will keep me out of mischief, for the best part of 2010.

How is the MML coming on, this is one route I am looking forward to?

Geoff