Rail Simulator
Preview
Railroaders, toot your own horn!
by Marcus Mulkins
previewed on PC
What's the ‘new’ in ‘new-and-improved’? (cntd)
The European release includes four stock routes: The first is the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, circa the early 1950's – Almost always referred to as ‘the S&D’, it was an English railway line connecting Bath in northeast Somerset to Bournemouth, now in southeast Dorset. The second line takes you from Oxford to London's Paddington Station, circa 2000. The third is York to Newcastle, circa 1970 and the last, just to show you its international flavor, is Hagen to Siegen, Germany.
The American release will feature different routes, but at this time the only confirmed one is the Barstow to San Bernardino (San Berdoo to the locals) run. Having traversed that route by automobile, I can tell you that there will be some seriously interesting terrain between destinations.
Editors
There will be eight locomotives in the box, but expect there to be numerous additions available for download. The World (Route) Editor is quite extensive, and if you are already familiar with 3D Studio Max, you should be in modders' heaven. The American release will include some of the notable Union Pacific equipment and rolling stock.
Along with the World Editor will be an in-depth Scenario Editor. The main principle of this editor is that each train has a driver who can be given a set of instructions. This applies to both the player and AI trains so you will be able to set up an AI train to deliver a set of rail vehicles to a depot for you to then come along and break down. You will be able to give the driver instructions for stopping at destinations, picking up passengers, picking up freight and fuel and coupling/uncoupling to other rail vehicles. You can also mix and match the instructions. So you can instruct a driver to pick up passengers at a variety of stations then go to the depot, uncouple from the carriages, pick up fuel and then go to the shed for the night.
All aboard! Next destination is....
If you are the kind of person that gets all goo-goo eyed when he sees calendars of classic locomotives, you will probably enjoy Rail Simulator. It is about as ‘hands on’ as you can get. If you are also the kind of person that always had an interest in model railroads, but never started because you just knew that you'd never have the space and equipment to make the kind of elaborate setup that you -wanted- to build, then definitely go for it. The graphics are first class and the methodology is about as realistic as you can get with mouse and keyboard. Take into account all of the mods and expansions that should be available for free soon after its release and it will be like getting ten games for the price of one. Guaranteed fun - especially when you think about how much you can annoy your neighbors and family by blowing the whistle whenever the mood strikes you.
