| BVE WORKS | |
| PC^ Train simulator overview |
| TRAIN SIMULATORS
The Spring 2001 introduction of Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) brought attention to an entire genre of train simulation software. Some programs are still in the initial development stages, whereas others have been around since the days when DOS ruled the PC world. I found Boso View Express (BVE) - of which I am an advocate - inadvertently by way of a link from the MSTS website to a site of subway simulations. I was impressed by the BVE quality and the operating fun it provided. I was also impressed by the following that BVE has built up and the number of add-on trains and routes that users have contributed. Most impressive is that neither the program's creator, Mackoy, nor any of the add-on developers have asked end users for compensation. The simulator and all its add-ons are free. This latter feature inspired me to contribute the user and developer guides you can find elsewhere on my website. My intention with this overview is to give a flavor of what's currently available in train simulator software. No single program, not even MSTS, does everything. There is a variety of focus and capabilities of the various simulators. Some, like Bahn and Train Dispatcher, are system oriented. Others, like BVE, are experiential. Still others, like MSTS, are especially good in terms of the visual (scenery and rolling stock) and are similar in concept to model railroading without the spatial boundaries. This overview is by no means complete, either as an all-inclusive listing of simulators or as a detailed review of any specific simulator. It's not even a balanced review of the included simulators. For one thing, I have spent far more time exploring BVE than the others. I do, however, plan to add to this overview in time as new products appear and as I discover products not already covered and learn more about the products I have already tried. Throughout the overview I provide links to numerous sources that can fill the gaps left in this overview. Simulators covered include:
One note of disappointment. As a Mac user for many years, I'm sorry to say that all of the above sims are for the Windows PC. Only Railroad Tycoon, more of a railroad strategy/building game than an operating sim in the sense of the others, is available for the Mac and Linux as well as the Windows PC. BVE is a cab-view 3D train simulator. It features good graphics and excellent sound. You have a good sense of being in the cab of the train you are operating. BVE provides for add-on development with inexpensive tools and is not particularly demanding of computer hardware. There are now a number of very fine BVE add-on train and route simulations available for download. Many of these represent subway/rapid transit operations, though there are also mainline diesel and rural steam sims as well. Some of the available rapid transit routes include New York City IRT and BMT subways, Toronto subway, London tubes, Glasgow tubes, Vienna subway, Australian subway/suburban line, German suburban lines, and numerous Japanese routes. There is also an Australian steam route and a U.S. dieselized desert route. Many of the BVE add-ons are accurate representations of their prototypes, while others are fictitious. BVE does not have the out-of-cab, all-around 3D views that MSTS offers, but it has an excellent operating feel (rocking, banking, momentum). Supporters generally say BVE is just plain fun to operate. I agree. The operational goal of BVE is to complete the route in accordance with the timetable, making all stops properly, and obeying all signals. Your controls are simple: direction, power, and brake. Running red lights and exceeding the speed limits may get you a scowl from the smiley/scowly face icon on the program's status line, but on most routes these violations will not terminate the program. BVE was created by Mackoy in Japan. The first version, BVE1, appeared in 1996. The current version is BVE2, which appeared in April 2001. From all indications, Mackoy is continuing to develop the system and will someday release a BVE3. BVE is freeware with one restriction: You must not distribute the software. The only legitimate way to acquire BVE is to download it (or have someone download it for you) from Mackoy's website (http://mackoy.cool.ne.jp/). Mackoy derives compensation from a sponsor based on downloads. Illegally distributing his work subverts his efforts and could, ultimately, undermine the benefits that we as users enjoy from his work. Downloading and installing is complicated for English-speaking people (and others) because the source is Japanese. The AltaVista translator (http://world.altavista.com/tr) is somewhat useful for identifying important features of Mackoy's website, but the literal translations do not accommodate the important grammatical differences between the two languages. The AltaVista translator is also an impediment when trying to download, so don't have it operational when you downlaod BVE. The best thing to do is follow the instructions provided by BVE Helper (http://members.aol.com/bvehelper/) or Steve Green (http://www.trainsimcentral.co.uk/) or my downloadable BVE English User Guide. Following the instructions is a little like landing an aircraft by instruments, but it can be done. I succeeded on my first try, though I had doubts along the way. Since I originally wrote this article, Mackoy has made installation much more friendly for English-speaking people. [Rev 3 April 02] You can usually download add-ons from a developer's website. A good place to start, however is CroTrainz (http://www.crotrainz.com/Downloads.html), which has a number of add-ons ready to go as well as links to other websites. Add-on developers will find extensive instructions in Japanese at Mackoy's website. The instructions, even when translated to English, are compact and best understood by those with programming experience. Along with others, I am attempting to expand Mackoy's instructions into a less technical, English format. See BVE Helper (http://members.aol.com/bvehelper/) and my BVE Developer Guide. Both are works in progress. GlobalRail Train Simulator is in development and follows along the lines of BVE. You can download and operate an in-progress version (http://www.angelfire.com/games/simu1/). GlobalRail Train Simulator has some interesting features, including a menu bar w/dropdown menus; mouse-operated controls (keyboard controls will also be available); trainbuilding, in which you assemble any assortment of locos and cars; and an expected ease of route and train development. GlobalRail Train Simulator is being developed by a non-commercial group, GlobalRail Train Sim Working Group, headed by Stephen Pike. Contributors are welcome to join the group (http://www.angelfire.com/games/simu1/gtswg_vern.html). MICROSOFT TRAIN SIMULATOR (MSTS) MSTS was released in Spring 2001. This is a major program in size (it comes on 2 CD ROMs and requires 1.8 GB of hard drive space) and capabilities. MSTS builds on years of experience gained from Microsoft Flight Simulator. MSTS provides full 3D in- and out-of-cab viewing, track switching, coupling/uncoupling operations, variable weather conditions, user-defined tasks, and more. This program is destined to be the Big Guy train simulator, brought to you by the Big Guy software developer. MSTS is a fully commercial enterprise (current street price in the US is about $50). Look for commercial add-on products from Auran Trainz and others. The commercial nature - justified by the quality - could also prevent the simulation of less significant (read commercially viable) routes and trains unless route/train building software becomes available for the less technical user. Time will tell. Currently, add-ons are difficult and time-consuming to create and require expensive software. Microsoft's Train Simulator web page is at http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsim/. Auran Trainz has been released. The company offers locomotives, cars, track, and structures fully compatible with MSTS. This is a commercial venture, but prior to its release, Auran Trainz offered free downloads of selected rolling stock, and videos of its precesses. Auran Trainz provides an easy-to-build track laying and topography building system that could bring much-needed ease to the process of personalizing routes. Efforts like Auran Trainz's will help MSTS gain and retain a dominance in 3D train simulator software. Though I have no experience with Auran Trainz, I like the graphics enough to be using one of their screen shots as my desktop wallpaper. [Rev 3 April 02] Auran Trainz's website is at http://www.3dtrainstuff.com/auran-trainz.html, where you can find complete information. [Rev 3 April 02] TrainMaster is a full-fledged 3D simulator along the lines of MSTS. It is a commercially available program, priced about the same as MSTS. It has been on the market for a while and focuses on North American prototypes. Since I have no experience with TrainMaster, I defer to http://www.trainsim.org.uk/tm4.html for a full review. TrainMaster does not currently provide for user-developed add-ons. TrainMaster's home page is at http://www.trainmaster.com/, where you can see screen shots and download a free 15-minute demo. Bahn takes a completely different approach to simulation, focusing less on realistic graphics or experiential operations and more on the big picture: numerous tracks, switches, trains, etc. Bahn has multiple views from far out to close in and affords a number of operating options that I have yet to explore. Rapid transit systems are the most popular, and include bus and trackless trolley routes as well as traditional rail. Bahn has easy-to-use editing tools that make it easy for a user to create systems. This could be a usable means of visualizing the operation of a model railroad in its planning stages, though it is limited in terms of planning to scale because the curves are limited to 45-degree angled sections of track. Bahn is shareware and is the product of Jan Bochmann in Germany. You can download and operate Bahn free of charge for 62 days, afterwhich you must register and pay for the program (EUR 20 or DM 39.11 as of 17 August 01) or face loss of certain functionality. Bahn first appeared in 1991. The current version is 3.70. Numerous routes and vehicles (trains, trams, buses, trolleybuses, monorail vehicles) from around the world - the creations of various participants - are available for free download. The following websites are good starting points:
At first glance Rail3D appears to be another version of Bahn in isometric (bitmap) view. On closer examination it reveals the ability to render trains and scenery in Direct3D, affording views that can be panned. You can stand by the roadside, follow a train from the outside, or stand inside the cab. [Rev 3 April 02] Rail3D is the work primarily of Mark Goodspeed, who offers his work for free download. On his website, Mark describes Rail3D as a railway simulator rather than a train simulator. That's because you can build a complete system with signals and schedules and programmed shunting operations. You can sit back and watch the trains go or you can manually control a train while the others are running on automatic. Laying track in Rail3D is about the easiest thing you could possibly do. Simply click and drag. Placing a piece of rolling stock on the track is just as easy. [Rev 3 April 02] Rail3D comes with an excellent user guide and tutorial by Mark Hodson. Also included is a super stock and scenery editor. Objects are created in similar fashion to those in BVE (define points and surfaces in ASCII text format), but the editor comes with two preview modes: bitmap and Direct3D. Bitmap mode provides 4 static views and an automatic rotating view. Direct3D mode provides a completely scaleable, rotatable view. The editor also has some great tools for copying and placing repetitive items like windows, and moving or reflecting portions of an object. BVE should be so easy and flexible! [Rev 3 April 02] The Rail3D community is well organized. There is central control of rolling stock identification and periodic releases of all contributed routes, trains, and scenery objects. With the tight organization, it becomes possible to make common use of such items as trucks (bogies) and scenery objects. To reuse a common bogie, for example, you simply place a call to that bogie from inside the object document. [Rev 3 April 02] One other thing that has great appeal to me. Rail3D ruins on graphically challenged systems, though you do need some graphic capabilities for Direct3D mode. Rail3D even runs on my office PC, which generally does not permit me to load programs. This makes working on a Rail3D project feasible during lunch break. [Rev 3 April 02] The Rail3D website is at http://www.rail3d.net, where you can download the complete program, stock, scenery, and some sample routes, and join the Yahoo discussion group. [Rev 3 April 02] Train Dispatcher dates back to the days of DOS. As the name implies, Train Dispatcher simulates the work of a dispatcher. You are presented with a control board that has schematic routes with symbolic trains moving through switches and blocks. The game can be quite challenging. I purchased Train Dispatcher about ten years ago, but could never get into it. I passed it on to a friend who loved it. The game comes with 7 territories. Numerous free and commercial territories from around the world are available as add-ons. Train Dispatcher's website is at http://www.softrail.com/railsof.html, where you can download a free demo and manual. Railroad Tycoon is a railroad building simulator rather than a train operating simulator. The emphasis of this highly acclaimed game is on strategy, though it also provides user-assembled graphics and operating trains. The game lets you select a time period and geographical location. You then build a railroad empire piece by piece, laying routes, building stations, purchasing rolling stock, and so forth. All the while you must manage the bottom line while dealing with forces beyond your control, such as competitors and world events. This simulator should be particularly interesting to those interested in railroad history and empire buildiing. Railroad Tycoon is available in several versions. Their website is at http://rt2.godgames.com/main.html. Alfred Barten, 17 August 2001 |
| BVE WORKS | |
| ©2001, 2002 Alfred Barten. All rights reserved. | Page created 17 August 2001. | Last updated 3 April 2002 |