ZUSI 3 - Aerosoft Edition

[Trev123]

https://www.justtrains.net/product/zusi ... %20Edition Is this a new train simulator or has it been out for some time?

[IronBidder]

I think it's new and the public version of what started life as a professional driver training aid. Which explains it's less than cutting edge graphics and apparent emphasis on correct physics, signalling and safety systems. For some people it could be very attractive.

[fakenham1]

Intrigued myself by this, appears to be a very realistic German cabride simulator. Graphics appear a bit basic (maybe a case of better textures could be applied?), but there does seem to be a route editor. I guess only German assets available as yet.
Available on Steam as well.

[michaelhendle]

Hi
I had a look at it and at first I thought it was a bit pricey ,but when seeing what you get for your money 200 Locomotives\dmu\emu 150 Carriages,and 200 freight wagons,it's not so bad.
Route mileage on the sim about 500 Km

[jpilborough]

It's been available direct from the developer in Consumer form for about 3 years, but this is the first time it's been available through the usual outlets, and the first time it's been publicised in English. I'm intrigued to know what they've provided in place of 1000 page german language manual!

As one of the few native english speaking users of Zusi 3, I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about it. For me the plus points are the full safety system support in in every vehicle, the driving physics, the built in support for joysticks and custom hardware, the fully interactive cab computer displays which can also run in external windws or other computers, and the dispatcher which sets routes more like a real signaller would do

Unfortunately the graphics engine uses pre-shader technology. This means no shadows or reflections and only basic lighting, and no possibility to add them without completely reimplementing it.

A common point of confusion about Zusi is the method of content distribution, which is quite different from the Train Simulator approach where each user builds up their own content collection by purchasing or downloading individual packages.
In Zusi, all content, community and in house created, is developed using a common asset base, and updates are sent to a coordinator who creates an free of charge update package on a roughly monthly basis which can be automatically installed, so each user has the entire 'world' installed. There are currently around 1400 vehicle/livery combinations and 10000 service schedules in the data set.

[skoda]

Too much for my wallet at the moment especially with the steam summer sale starting next week (Tuesday the 25th if the online posts are correct) .
The images remind me of Pro train Perfect especially the look of the plain track and trees but with upgraded catenary , signals etc.
Maybe one for a future steam sale .

[749006]

The link to the Steam/Just Trains/Aerosoft version
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1040 ... t_Edition/

And a link to the 202 page Manual
https://store.steampowered.com/manual/1040730

£54.50 is a bit much for me

Peter

[TransportSteve]

Some of us have been playing with ZuSi 2 since 2003, this version 3 is the culmination of over 15 years upgrading, by a one man band, however, it's been noted that this Aerosoft Steam version has the German language special characters which don’t display properly in the menus and screens.
It appears that ZuSi is programmed in old fashioned Borland Delphi and this handles Unicode differently from Windows 10, so, unless you use Windows with Germany as system locale, the special characters don’t display as they should, only a part of the menus and screens are translated at the moment, then the game doesn’t want to update itself and the Germanglish doesn’t help either, it seems as though the Steam release hasn’t been properly thought through and internationalised for a wider audience.
With ZuSi being a one person team using tried and proven, but, probably obsolete programming tools in today's high tech world, it's contentious as to exactly what will be improved, and by whom, the original product was mass sold on the Aerosoft website to the German speaking communities over a week, or, so, ago, apparently there is a 700 + page Manual in German available, so, this DLC is really for anyone who has knowledge of, or, willing to learn, the complexity of the German railway system, especially, the LZB, PZB and a myriad of other signalling and safety systems, which is what this Simulator is all about, pretty graphics don't exist. Then there is a mixture of lo-res and hi-res cab textures, and various external controller problems that have already been reported. The ZuSi community in Germany is very committed and knowledgeable, so, only if you participate and take some interface language concessions and plow through the initial teething problems, ZuSi might be the game for you, however, it is even more hardcore than the American Run8 Simulator and in its present form will never really be a casual mass market product for Steam gamers.

Cheerz. Steve.

[fakenham1]

So as someone who can just about get by with TS2019s and TSW's German routes with all signalling devices etc switched on, would you recommend this? I can live with the dicey graphics/price if the driving experience is realistic...also, is cab sway implemented?! I must admit, the YT vids do look good with a very smooth driving experience, just wondering if you get the wobbles, sounds when going over points etc?

[holzroller]

Go here https://www.zusi.de/zusi-3-hobby/downloads/demo.html and download the demo, you will soon get an idea if it is for you or not.

[fakenham1]

Cheers for that, I'll take a look..