"What is the future of MSTS?"

[colinlee]

Having got a little bored with RW I reinstalled BATS Southern Region last week and Steyning. I enjoyed them so much I ordered NWC and eagerly await its delivery. The S&D is something for Xmas I hope if it is finished in time.
I was born in 1945 so I remember the SR steamers quite well and that leads on to DC Steam Era. Can't wait.
Regards Colin

[bigvern]

Further to my post in the Chris Baily section, after installing NWC I totally revised my view of MSTS. Prior to that I had all but written the sim off and indeed publically stated so.

However NWC, maybe not Steam (as in the motive power) has transformed my opinion. Without starting Simwars I remain unimpreesed with RS/RW both as a route building medium and operational sim. While some of the activities in NWC are a bit temperamental if you don't hit reversing points correctly, I doubt whether you could ever achieve a range that covers comprehensive operations over a 24 hour period in RW. Things still look crisper and sharper in MSTS than RS/RW (maybe it's my settings but the textures on RW rolling stock looks smudged, blurred and generally awful). RS/RW has been described as the tree and water simulator with a railway line running through it and I begin to see why. However even with the new shaders it looks garish and cartoony at times. And again, sorry to use NWC as an example, but cabs and sounds also seem much better in MSTS. The NWC set proves you don't need 3D cabs for it to look good and a crisp 2D cab is every bit as good. As regards sounds, the NWC Class 47 sounds like a 47, not the ghastly death rattle of RS/RW.

If I want new routes, scenery items, rolling stock or even sounds/cabs in MSTS (or TRS) it won't cost me an arm and leg as RW does.

I'm not forgetting TRS either as I feel that has more to offer me currently than RW. Of course much of what has come about and now possible in MSTS is a result of the Bin patch.

At least MSTS has working level crossings and train headlamps which project a beam of light.

The biggest challenge MSTS probably has in remaining a viable alternative is changes to hardware and O/S systems in the future. It is already a remarkable survivor in that the programme first came out when most of us were still running Win98 (or WinME), how many other eight year old games still run today? Same applies to the utilities such as TS Tools or Demex which struggle on Vista and of course are the key to getting new routes created.

I'm currently working on a TRS project but I am definitely thinking once that's finished in a few months time having another tinker with MSTS, can't really see me committing to RW any time soon - the problem is that RW does tend to draw you in initially but the attraction is all superficial.

[colinlee]

My NWC disc arrived an hour ago. I only ordered it at 11pm friday night, most impressed. I have only had a quick run from Chester to Prestatyn but I am really pleased with what I am seeing. A truly wonderful looking route.
Congratulations to all those who made it possible.
Thanks
Colin

[gswindale]

The biggest challenge MSTS probably has in remaining a viable alternative is changes to hardware and O/S systems in the future. It is already a remarkable survivor in that the programme first came out when most of us were still running Win98 (or WinME), how many other eight year old games still run today? Same applies to the utilities such as TS Tools or Demex which struggle on Vista and of course are the key to getting new routes created.

Well it should be ok for the forseeable future as MSTS works perfectly well on my W7 64 bit installation. I think when I was trying out route building a while back on my old vista laptop, that Demex did work OK, but I struggled to get to grips with the RE.

My activities take so long to write that it becomes more like a full time job than a hobby

I know how you feel there Laurie - I've been working on a pack for NWC (modern era I'm afraid ) and to be honest, I'm partway through one and am getting fed up already.

[dikkidee]

Mickrik, Have just read your post re the North Wales Coast and being 2 years old. I was born in 1954 and as a four year old I was taken to Woking in Surrey where my Grandparents were buried. On the way back we were waiting for the bus outside Woking station and I was worrying my elder brother (11 years older than me) to lift me up so I could see over the high wall behind me. He did so and the sight I saw has remained with me for all of my life, a great dark abyss(the train shed over the platforms) and these great black steaming monsters were sitting there - that was it I was struck down with this incurable passion for steam locos and railways from then on!!!

Midland Mainline Steam/Diesel era still in progress. When it's finished I have so much other MSTS stuff to do I will be 100 before it is finished.

Regards, Dick.

[mickrik]

HI there,

That's done it, I have just orderd NWC . Based on the screenshots and that Mendes has/is assembling a Steam stockset for it.

Now then

The next one I believe to be released will be Black Country 1 for any steam lovers out there.

mickrik
.

[dumpadillo]

I was born in 1934 and was raised on Steam GWR but quite honestly I prefer the modern era -Electric & Diesel.There has been so much excellent material produced both in routes and rolling stock,I am just gob smacked by it all.A big thank you to everyone who has made this my main hobby.Who knows perhaps we shall get the whole of the UK covered eventually.Wouldn't that be nice!!! I wish.

Cheers

Dumps

[peterdore]

Well I was born in 1949 so Steam and electric are my favourites, GWR Southern, as For MTS, well I have tried Railsim and after trying it for some time decided that
it would be best to uninstall it...... I went back to MTS and oh what a joy! A sim which actually works, no problems with pathing, signals which work like the prototype
In short why did i ever leave MTS.

My personal feeling is that there is no sight of a replacement sim in the near future, I have read closely the posts by others of Railworks, and will stick with MTS
untill another sim is capable of doing what MTS can and does.
The real excitement for me will be the S&D due out near the end of year

Pete Doré

[JunGRail]

I think Rail Sim hasn't got that warm feel that MSTS has, or the graphical depth that MSTS has either, although it really is basic and still. I hate comparing but with the demise of MSTS and the complexity of Rail Sim it will take a third party developer to actually build routes instead of tons of rolling stock which personally I am fed up of, rolling stock on already built routes. Until i see something outstanding I'll stick with the old fashioned MSTS.

As far as era's concerned i like it all but prefer the straightforwardness of a Diesel or Electric train in any era, but for steam thats great also.

[dforrest]

As I started this thread I had better makes some comments myself. I was born in 1945 and spent my childhood watching the Hull to Hornsea and Withernsea trains, and the Hull Docks goods traffic, from my bedroom window, and train spotting at Hull, York and Doncaster. I have now had the misfortune to be exiled to the Caribbean for the past 38 years. MSTS gives me all I will ever want in a train sim. That is something that brings back the nostalgia of those early days. I am as interested in collecting and keeping a record of the MSTS locos (steam of course) that I have amassed, as I am running the sim! I do not think I will ever want to change from MSTS.

David

[Tonysmedley]

Although i may well not survive that long i still have hopes of Microsoft producing an MSTS Mk2 which is like the present program with all the dificulties removed and far more efficient in its use of the PC.

[1crick14a]

Although i may well not survive that long i still have hopes of Microsoft producing an MSTS Mk2 which is like the present program with all the dificulties removed and far more efficient in its use of the PC.

That would be good Tony, but I doubt it will happen we need someone like George the bin chap to get to grips with its inner workings.

A chap from RS said to me a while back that RS would finish MSTS off my reply was I think you have got that wrong.

I have myself just got a new PC and for the 1st time seen Trainz in all its glory especially TR3 the S&C route, well
impressed bit bad on the steam physics though needs more thought putting into that side of it even to catch up with
MSTS.

MSTS as long as folk are prepaired to build routes and stock be it diesel/electric/steam it will in my book always be
used and be my 1st choice.

Regards, Rick

[michaelhendle]

It was a nice surprise to wake up this morning to find another four steam loco's and 2 more diesels I have down loaded all 6 as I like Antons and Richards 47's and there was a nice surprise to see a BR version of a unrebuilt Patriot,I always thought this was a missing class of passenger locomotive.

It will be joining along with Mick's new 8f on my steam version of NWC,and the 47 on my 90's era SCE./GE.I still think there is a future for MSTS as we have Black Country,Chiltern Line,as mentioned Midland Mainline,Dorset Coast steam Era,Watersnake 2,for steam enthusiasts,and for Diesel Era MEP+, NWC 2 hopefully and some others have been mentioned as well.And commercialy 3DTS Somerset and Dorset.

Michael

[rlmathers]

Although i may well not survive that long i still have hopes of Microsoft producing an MSTS Mk2 which is like the present program with all the dificulties removed and far more efficient in its use of the PC.

A chap from RS said to me a while back that RS would finish MSTS off my reply was I think you have got that wrong.

Sad to say, your chap at RS was spot on, I really can`t see MSTS2 being exhumed or resurrected.
There will be other new simulators, but for the moment, we really are stuck with a scenery sim with railway lines, Rail (Look how pretty) Works.
However, MSTS hobbles along, splints, casts and stitches.

Kindest regards
Ray

[dforrest]

However, MSTS hobbles along, splints, casts and stitches..............

............. and a lot of us enjoy being able to doctor it in that way!

David