"What is the future of MSTS?"

[spikeyorks]

and the wagons would be free

Six little words that hint at the cul de sac that many RW creators seem to be rushing down, ignoring the concerns (and wallets) of many potential customers.

[steamnut44]

Well I am definately sticking with MSTS, I just can't get on with the other simulators and MSTS has so much variety, I still have lots of routes to fully explore. I have just bought the North Wales Coast and it is as near as dam it the same as the real route. The Conway section and the Brittania Bridge (apart from too many trees on the approaches) is brilliant. Well done to those involved for giving us a long awaited addition for MSTS. As I have done with all my routes, I usually add passengers, to most of the platforms, with lots at the main stations. This brings the routes more to life, and there are many other bits and bobs I usually add to suit. I must thin those trees out on the Brittania Bridge approach and add a small funfair at Abergelli. Anyway, improving routes is what I like doing to suit myself, then I just burn a new copy to DVD. I don't bother with activities that come with routes, as most of them are Diesel/Electric based and I am a Steam Man. So I make up my own activities, using steam stock to suit the route.
I am not the least bit interested in running the other simulators, although I do have them, gathering dust in my store cupboard. I am happy with MSTS, it's what I am used to and I will never get bored with it, as it has so much to offer. I am just eagerly waiting for MEP and the other routes that are being done. Not got Scottish Capital's yet, but I wish it had included the Northern part of Scottish Central with it, as far as Dundee. All the work that Kerr put into the Scottish Central, just to abandon it, is such a shame. I would like to see this one finished someday, surely Making Tracks could do this as another project!

Geoff

[demonshadow]

Have to say, i agree with Geoff

In the last 8 years i have not once uninstalled MSTS, i may of reinstalled it several times when its gone all jacked up, but then i learnt to back up the game 2 or 3 times for saftey's sake.
On top of that, i have numerous loco's in the works, and a route which has been restarted that i know alot of people are looking forward to(this means adding more to the what i need to build,extending the MSTS shelf life for me)

anyway moving on..... yes moving on to other sims, i have:
Trainz: to model like for me, reminds me of a trainset and if anything makes me consider building this model layout i have planned (GER or GWR branch terminus? hmm)
Rail Sim as nice as it is visual wise my computer aint cut out for it and still no where near enough variation in rollingstock and routes for me.
(so they are both on the shelf and unlikely to be taken down any time soon)

As for Railworks... i'll have the same problems as RS (maybe one day when i can afford to upgrade) not to mention all these issues i have heard of.

I just can't leave MSTS i love it to much and with some of the stuff we have which is complete quality (SVR still good even now, WSR, Swanage, Steyning, Bala, FR, DC, Great Eastern, Coals to Newcastle to name but a few and all the beautiful looking stock that we have both payware n freeware, how can we just throw that all aside just cause a new sim or two is out?
it would take from my estimate a year or two to get the new sim's to where MSTS is now if we all worked together. which won't happen.... so that pushes it back in my view to 2011-14 before msts could fade out, possibly longer.. (yes it could well be possible have you noticed the amount of us refusing to budge)
then there is the BIN patch which could do with some more work but has already opened up so much more for us.

MSTS through and through for me