Some thought on North American content

[Nscale1700]

Hello all,
I've been thinking about what sort of North American content for KRS would please the widest possible audience, keeping in mind several factors: 1) How easily can the content be updated/backdated? 2) how widely used could the content be on various regions or railroads? 3) How interesting to railfans would the content be?

My answer that works best in the above categories is Conrail.

Now, let me make one thing clear: I AM NOT A CONRAIL FAN MYSELF. I am not just promoting my favorite railroad, but trying to make a suggestion of a railroad that would please the most people.

Conrail satisfies my three conditions in the following ways:

1). Conrail took over many different railroads, thus becoming owners of a lot of different routes and rolling stock. ALCo's, EMD's, GE's, Conrail had it all. They had several significant routes, (i.e. Horshoe Curve, NEC, and I hear the Boston Line is pretty interesting.)

2). Conrail units are still around today. Both CSX and Norfolk Southern 3rd-party developers could take advantage of Conrail routes/rolling stock. Conrail engines could be repainted into their "original" paint schemes to satisfy PRR, PC, NYC, LV, RDG, CNJ, etc. fans, and the routes might also be good starting points for the BC (Before Conrail) railroads.

3). As I mentioned above, Conrail owned many significant routes. The Boston Line is the subject of one of the Trains on Location videos, everyone knows how significant Horshoe Curve is, and the NEC was one of the original MSTS routes, so its importance is evident. Conrail was both a "70's road" and a "modern road" and some aspects of it exist today.

Please consider well what KRS content will please the most people. I hope I have made a clear and unbiased argumwent in this post.

[Noisemaker]

Good idea Steven, but I would suggest a 'Chicago Area' myself if Kuju were inclined to take the challenge? Like you, I'm not a fan of CNW or ICS and know very little about the area. But I DO know it's quite the hub of activity today, and it's past history - and offers almost every road name to it imaginable. Plus, the scenery objects would be hopefully a welcomed challenge to Kuju and/or the end-user that appreciates the wealth of architecture and design in and around Chicago. And would be a nice 'centralisation' over Kuju's Marias Pass and NEC routes for MSTS.

Just my 2 cents into the pot. ;)
I'm sure we'll get our wishes someday Steven. If not Kuju, then a 3rd party dev just chomping at the bit.

[mrmgp]

I would like to see a 70s era route for KRS. You get a great transition period between railroading of old and what we know today, and you could run 60s or 80s style railroading if you wanted to. Conrail would be a good choice, for an existing route that incorporates both plains and mountain running could be duplicated for the simulator. But if KRS is as good as it appears, it will probably replace MSTS, and we'll have all kinds of good routes within a year or two that covers all kinds of railroads and all kinds of railroading locations and eras.

[ozinoz]

Hi guys...

As I have posted on the UK site, I and others are somewhat disapointed in what is being released, route wise ~ particularly uninspiring. For the US content, until Uncle Pete had a big spit and dropped its dummy on the ground, I would have liked to maybe have seen Sherman Hill. The route could have been done both historically with the big UP steam and a more modern track re-aligned version for the Box Bashers. That way they can get 2 US routes with minimal effort...

Oh well, to be honest, I would have thought there would have been a little more US info at this stage, as there really has been nothing definative on any US content, other than a poll asking for route suggestions.

My 2c ...

Cheers

[Nscale1700]

Good thoughts, everyone, but remember that Sherman Hill only has ONE railroad running over it, as far as I know. The best path to take for introducing North American content is to get a start (even a small start would do) on a very diverse railroad environment (many RR's in one area, recently merged RR's, etc.) and let 3rd party developers get an easy start.

Of course, no selection of content would please everyone, but to please the fans of only one railroad is somewhat insensitive, when you could give 3rd party develpers an easy start on many different railroads with the same amount of programming work put in by the KRS development team.

[mrmgp]

No matter what starting routes KRS comes out with, if it's a good enough sim, it won't be long before there are plenty or routes covering all kinds of terrain and eras that become available for download.

[TrainFanAmtrak]

I hope they could have the Northeast Corridor or the Pacific Surfliner.

[Hack]

>Good thoughts, everyone, but remember that Sherman Hill only has ONE railroad running over it, as far as I know.

True, but BNSF does come into Cheyenne via their Denver line. :)

Cheers!
Marc - 3DTrains
http://www.3dtrains.com

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Pro Series v4.0 SuperPacks

[oakpalms]

I think Kuju has already made up their mind as to which American route to include with KRS. If not, they are way behind the ball since they started considering the American content option back in May and are hoping for a release early next year. From comments I have seen, it seems possible that Conrail might be a contender and the route might be in the northeast. I too feel the main thing is just that it have an American route so that we definitely have capability to form other buildings, rolling stock, tracks, turntables, etc.

Kuju must be working with a third party payware company here in the U.
S. or Canada the same as they did with the German company for the German route being included with KRS. Kuju has been very good about allowing public release of information on what is being included with KRS. Hopefully, which ever company that is, they will get permission from Kuju to begin sharing what they are doing with the rest of us.

It is very evident that sharing bits and pieces of the development of KRS is like free advertisement for Kuju. I have a feeling it will not be long before we begin seeing some content that is being made by which ever payware company is developing the American content.

Bob Edwards