Rail Works career mode

[boleyd]

Hopefully there is a good public display of achieved scores and the associated scenario. This will focus the wonderful challenges of the game onto those routes that provide the most realistic environment. This feature is destined to become the primary purpose of the game. If it is done properly then it will attract game players and expand the cash flow of the vendor. As online competitions follow, with other player trains on the same route but different scenarios, then a true railroad game will have emerged and thus take the program beyond just a pretty drive in the country but into a real adventure with world wide participation.

Once online interaction is available the gaming variety will be wonderful. Imagine, interacting with real (almost) trains on the same system in settings that emulate real schedules and conditions. All those problems of BR can now be put into the program quickly to to offer up-to-date challenges with a reality basis. This is indeed the new horizon for the RailWorks Game.

[bigvern]

It's a big no from me to any sort of online or multiplayer element in a train sim. I know some crave it but I really don't see the appeal of some nine year old crashing his train into yours. And as for despatching, well for Flight Sim, VatSim has rules and regs up the ying yang and some areas don't get staffed. Getting "real" people do it is, IMHO, a copout for the developers actually spending some money on improving the core.

[MidnightTrain]

It's a big no from me to any sort of online or multiplayer element in a train sim. I know some crave it but I really don't see the appeal of some nine year old crashing his train into yours. And as for despatching, well for Flight Sim, VatSim has rules and regs up the ying yang and some areas don't get staffed. Getting "real" people do it is, IMHO, a copout for the developers actually spending some money on improving the core.

I don't think it'll go the VATSIM route, I would like for it to, I would love to have a world where I can start in Salisbury, NC USA and drive a mainline drag to Asheville, NC USA or maybe do a local work job on the Yadkin Branch. However what I think is more likely going to happen is that people will set up private servers. The servers will either be up for a pre-determined operation period (like a VATSIM fly in event), or it'll be up 24/7 so you can log in at any time.

Why do I like the idea of Multiplayer? Well I guess the reason is that even though AI does work (It just needs proper documentation, also signaling HINT HINT) it is very limiting. I mean the scenarios we have now are great to play and I have made some scenarios that model real world railroad operations, but it's the same thing over and over. However, if you replace the AI and AI Dispatch with humans, then things become more interesting. All the sudden you have the human element. I mean you can be in Linwood Yard ready to go, but you can't leave because Bob is late with his grain train. Or you have to wait for John to get into the switcher to put your train together. Like it or not, we are sociable animals.

As for 9 year old wanting to wreck, I wouldn't worry too much about that. From what I've experienced in the train sim community, bad route makers, bad scenario makers and people who don't follow the rules on a Multiplayer server get pointed out pretty quick and he'll most likely be black balled from all the servers.

[almark]

With regards to multiplayer,surely it would be a private sort of thing,so you just have people you know in it?

[MidnightTrain]

With regards to multiplayer,surely it would be a private sort of thing,so you just have people you know in it?

Yep. I'm sure the Virtual Railroads would have their own servers as well.

[stuart666]

Strikes me that if it does create a file that can be read, its it beyond the wit of man to create an addon that reads the file and fills out the information? If anyone wonders what I talking out, I illustrate it with the 'Silent HunterIII' commander that read default game files, and filled in some of the blanks. (In this context, where your depot is, hours on what machine, points read denoting skill etc).

Im not clear how much information is created OTHER than the score. Clearly that would limit details an external programme could play with if its just the score.

I like the idea, and I dont condemn it. But as I say, it would be nice to expand on the idea, either from RS.com, or they provide the ability for externally developed programmes to do it in the future.

[Klaabu]

The biggest question for me is: "How many programmers workhours have been put into this feature instead of doing something more important ... more valuable"
Will our eyes ever see working loco spotlights? Distant mountains? In one of Paul Jacksons interviews (early days of RailWorks) Jackson said Career Mode was intended to be ready in november 2009! And one of the most important tasks for 2009 was to get locos spotlights working. Now it's july of 2010.

[rhysicus1989]

Multiplayer would be a brilliant way to move this game forward. imagine 2 or 3 people in a COOP (Cooperative) scenario, where a train is double headed and banked, but the only AI is the other trains around you? 3 people in command of the same train, obviously some kind of instant messenger would be needed, this would make a multiplayer game similar to online call of duty modern warfare and other games.

I know some people say it wouldnt be possible because of the dispatcher, but what if like i said, it was 2 people in command of each of their own locomotives, on one train? or even could split the train and go in different directions or something??

it would be an amazing feature to do this. definitley something to think about

[pdeee]

Funny, but I thought RW was a simulator, not a game.... just shows how wrong one can be.

[pacerpilot]

It just strikes me as odd., using a Rail Simulator to rack up points, when I spend each day at work, trying my very best to not get points on my licence. ( UK Train drivers get points on their "licence" for Operational incidents).

[transadelaide]

Funny, but I thought RW was a simulator, not a game.... just shows how wrong one can be.

And the fact you were buying it through a computer game distribution company and only paying the price of a computer game didn't strike you as too good to be true? Relax, when people call it a simulator what they really mean is shorthand for the truth - it is a computer game within the gaming genre of vehicle simulation. There would be some quite significant differences between a bog standard PC running RW and a top commercial train driving simulator, just as there is a long way between playing Gran Turismo and a bespoke racing car simulator.

I welcome the chance to put my driving style up against everybody else, just as real train drivers do in the rise through the ranks. I'm usually getting >99% excellent driving after current scenarios, so hopefully there is more to that than grade inflation and career mode will make me look good!

[RSderek]

RWs is entertainment in so many ways.

It is a Sim, a game, a world building tool and a way of life.

Imagination is your only buffer.. all aboard!


regards

Derek

p.s. the heat is getting to me in the office, maybe ice lollys instead of coffee is in order.

[stuart666]

Multiplayer would be a brilliant way to move this game forward. imagine 2 or 3 people in a COOP (Cooperative) scenario, where a train is double headed and banked, but the only AI is the other trains around you? 3 people in command of the same train, obviously some kind of instant messenger would be needed, this would make a multiplayer game similar to online call of duty modern warfare and other games.

I know some people say it wouldnt be possible because of the dispatcher, but what if like i said, it was 2 people in command of each of their own locomotives, on one train? or even could split the train and go in different directions or something??

it would be an amazing feature to do this. definitley something to think about

What about one driving and one firing , and the rest of us knocking back virtual guinness in the buffet car?

I dont disagree with you idea though. That said, I think a multiplayer environment would be well advised to start with signalling though. Imagine if you could hook something like Simsig or Post T Arnhem? Probably completely impractical, but an interesting idea all the same.

[transadelaide]

p.s. the heat is getting to me in the office, maybe ice lollys instead of coffee is in order.

Come down to South Australia and make us a route and some trains because a) it's the middle of winter and b) if it were hot we have a perfect solution allowing you to carry on with the coffee...

[BenBlairL]

Hmmm. . .


BR Classs 24 placed with GWR Coaches

Deduct 400 Points