I purchased MSTS years ago when it was first released, and ran it on an old computer. I had every download and was really into the whole gig. Then came college, and my priorities changed. I bought a new computer but never installed the software on it - and deleted what I did have from my parents computer at home. I’m now graduated and an officer in the U.S. Air Force. While I love being able to serve my country, the constant moving (every 2-3 years) makes it almost impossible to have a model railroad. I sold all of my HO trains last year in anticipation of graduation and moving - and now I’m really beginning to miss the hobby!
I still have the disk for MSTS though, and thought about installing it on my desktop (which runs on XP). This will tide me over until the release of MSTS 2 next year. I am concerned though, that with all of the additions and fixes out there, my software might be out of date. I remember the numerous downloads I needed to get things running correctly when I first bought the program… Can I download all of the neccessary fixes in one place? Is there an updated version of the original MSTS available for purchase that would allow me to avoid these updates? As a side note, I plan on purchasing a RailDriver controller from PI Engineering.
Any information or suggestions on what may be the best route to get things up and running would be greatly appreciated!
I re-install MSTS every few months because i tend to download so many addons that it takes a very long time to load [:P]
As a result, all I do is reinstall the updates (update) each time. There is only one update that was ever produced by Microsoft Games. All of the others can be found from various other sources.
Also, (edit) www.train-sim.com has tons of amazing updates for MSTS, including fixes for some of the original bugs that came with the product, updated smoke and scenery textures, and (of course) locomotives. It’s where i get pretty much all of my MSTS downloads.
The file library is updated daily, so there is always an additional 10-20 files every few weeks or so.
But yeah, it’s not too bad. I’ve had MSTS since it was first released as well and have had to reinstall it (to prevent it crashing) roughly ten times since then! But all-in-all great program.
Download and install Bin. It’s an incredible update to MSTS that fixes many of the major bugs of the program. Frame rate increase, even with highly detailed rolling stock, is another nice benefit.
A friend of mine has this, and he has had substantial problems at times. It worked well on his old computer, but when he got a new one it didn’t work with the OS and he has to restart everything each time he uses it. Moreover, he bought the desktop control stand and it will not work at all anymore. Seems strange to go through all this because you wanted a better computer.
I believe I read somewhere, probably here, that MSTS 2 will only run on Vista.
Since XP is running on the machines at home and most of them at work, too, I think this will make it difficult for Microsoft to sell this product when it comes out. The large installed base of XP out there will be around for a long time, and will only slowly roll over as people replace old computers. I’m certainly not going to remove XP from my own machine and replace it with Vista just for a game, and I don’t see any other reason to do it.
No, it will be essentially the same game play with better graphics and routes. If you want to switch, make a route and an activity, thats what it’s for. If you can’t do it, go download one you like at one of the above listed websites.
I’d provide the reference link to the video of the Microsoft representative saying XP and Vista, but it’s a competing commercial web site, so to post the link violates MR’s forum rules.
A question if you guys don’t mind. Will there be steam engines in MTS2? I tried to get an answer on TrainSim.com but couldn’t find anything definite. Also they were extremely rude to some guy who asked a question that had been asked before so I thought I’d try here, you guys are much friendlier. Thanks
just be aware that it isn’t Joe who’s saying it will work on XP and Vista . he’s quoting a MS rep , who is probably quoting what the marketing dept told him . so i’d still wait and see
KUjo…who actually developed MSTS has released Rail Simulator, and it has higher detail capabilities, and has an editor. The train running is still quite similar to the MSTS as far as keystrokes go, but has a full 3D cab and engineer (when seen from outside)
MSTS and Trainz prolly have most of the user created stuff now, but given time, any of the new sims will get user content.
I was dissapointed these sims left out internet multi-play IE multiple trains running on a system with many “engineers”, one developer noted on these forums was testing their own sim with netplay, but they seemed to have dropped out making their Train-sim game commercially available, dunno what their onto except making customized stuff for clients only.
Thanks for all of the replies! I figured I’d go ahead and install the game and update what I could just to see where I stand…but when I went to find the game, it was not where I thought it would be. After tearing the house apart, I still came up empty handed! [banghead]
Sooo, no MSTS for now. I did stop by the local friendly Target store and bought a copy of Trainz 2006 - Driver Edition for…$7! It’s not the full game and only has 3 routes, but it’s something for now. Individual details don’t seem as good as I remember MSTS being, but the overall detail for the game (i.e. buildings, signs, signals, etc) seem to be much more abundant. This makes the game more colorful and interesting while you’re just cruising along. Unfortunately it says on the box that the RailDriver controller will not work with this “lesser” version. I guess I’ll just wait to get one when MSTS2 comes out then. But again, thanks for the info!