One concern...

[Eagleknight]

I haven't posted in long time, but the information on the new simulator has me thinking. I am hoping on this game engine platform that it will be able to handle going through a rail yard with 500+ cars on the screen. The original game wasn't really built to handle that kind of data. I hope the game will handle and optimize having this kind of detail. Just a quick thought I had.

[oakpalms]

I found the below info over at Auran forum. It has info on possible capabilities. Of interest is the fact that the developer is not Microsoft, but rather ACES Studio. In other words, ACES Studio is just taking over where Kuju was dropped off. It appears that ACES studio was the developer for FSX. The guys using FSX can inform us just what level of support ACES studio provides for FSX. That would indicate what kind of support we can expect for MSTS-X.

I like the paragraph toward the end: "The information contained in this fact sheet.... with regard to the fact sheet or the information contained in it." In essence it says, everything in the fact sheet may be just so much bull.

Bob Edwards


“Train Simulator 2”
Fact Sheet
August 2007

Title: “Train Simulator 2”

Publisher: Microsoft® Game Studios

Developer: ACES Studio

Format: DVD-ROM for Windows Vista operating systems

ESRB Rating: Rating Pending

Product
Overview: “Train Simulator 2” introduces the entire world on rail, allowing users to explore rail anywhere in the world, or use tools to build their own highly detailed routes in a deeply immersive world. From the roar of the locomotive engine to the realistic signal switches on the track, down to the individual rivets, “Train Simulator 2” offers realism yet to be seen.


Key Features:

• World of Rails (WoR)— “Train Simulator 2” will deliver an entire world of railroad experiences, along with tools to customize, extend and share user created content. “Train Simulator 2” uses world wide data processing to model nearly all routes in the world and a toolset to build your own routes providing endless options to customize and share content.

• Most realistic train simulation experience ever— TS2 will offer the truest simulation experience to those who love trains, with highly accurate locomotives and rolling stock from its look to the roar of its engine, hand-authored high accuracy routes from present and past, and core track, signal and physics systems.

• Hi-Definition Living World— “Train Simulator 2” brings users closer to the world around them with greater detail and greater interaction. Terrain is highly detailed, passengers and train crews can be seen interacting with their environment, and sophisticated dispatching and train AI creates a depth of realism. Users will be able to share their experience or their hand authored routes with others via Games for Windows Live.

• Simulation Legacy— Designed and developed by Microsoft’s Aces Studio, with over 25 Years of expertise developing best-in-class simulations.

• Games for Windows franchise— “Train Simulator 2” will ship as a Games for Windows title with easier installation, reliability standards and support for key features of Windows Vista®, including the Games Explorer and Parental Controls.


The information contained in this fact sheet relates to a prerelease product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when first commercially released. This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with regard to the fact sheet or the information contained in it.

Microsoft, Windows and DirectX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information, press only:

[tdragger]

<<Of interest is the fact that the developer is not Microsoft, but rather ACES Studio. In other words, ACES Studio is just taking over where Kuju was dropped off. It appears that ACES studio was the developer for FSX. The guys using FSX can inform us just what level of support ACES studio provides for FSX. That would indicate what kind of support we can expect for MSTS-X.>>

Um, Aces Studio *is* Microsoft. ;)

Mike

[johnharold69]

I hoped it would be XP compatible, but I guess not. I'd pretty much have to spend out for a new system to run Vista so I'll probroably have to hold off for a while as much as I wouldnt like to. All the pics I have seen so far are awesome and cant wait until then.

[eaglefan9727]

Im in the same boat as you are. Once I hear about the system requirements for MSTS 2. I will be going shopping for a new PC and finding the right system for the sim. It will probably be Jan or Feb of 2009 before I can get afford a new PC, So if MSTS 2 comes out late 2008. I will have to wait a couple months to get the sim.

[Company Notch]

><<Of interest is the fact that the developer is not
>Microsoft, but rather ACES Studio. In other words, ACES Studio
>is just taking over where Kuju was dropped off. It appears
>that ACES studio was the developer for FSX. The guys using FSX
>can inform us just what level of support ACES studio provides
>for FSX. That would indicate what kind of support we can
>expect for MSTS-X.>>
>
>Um, Aces Studio *is* Microsoft. ;)
>
>Mike
>

What Mike said - he and I both work for ACES Studio, which is part of the Microsoft Game Studios organization. In other words, we're Microsoft employees.

This is a key difference as compared to the last version of TrainSim, which was built primarily by Kuju as a third-party developer.

ACES Studio builds the long-running Flight Sim franchise, too.

-Rick

Rick Selby
Lead Game Designer
Microsoft Game Studios

http://yardlimits.spaces.live.com

[boleyd]

The support from the ACES team relative to FSX has been quite good. There was, and still is, considerable "concern" due to the need for a very high end PC to max all of the features. Perhaps ACES/Microsoft bit off a little more than we could chew.

If 500 train elements are supposed to be in motion at various times this sounds like a big resource issue. Today, FSX road traffic, boat traffic and air traffic take a noticeable toll on the system resources. If, however, the elements are static there is much less impact.

I have, in the context of FSX, a low-end system:
e4400 clocked to 2.7ghz, 1gb memory, ATI Radeon 9800(128mb) video card and two IDE drives.

I can use all of the features of FSX but usually only one at a time. So, If I want lots of big fuzzy clouds and AI aircraft I see single digit FPS. Or, combining Autogen scenery objects and the best water texturing I suffer as well.

Train simulation is an electronic model train from my 1 month exposure to MSTS-1. The visual is as important as the emulation of the switching and locomotion. The new program should do well in all of these areas. In fact it should perform very well since the area of interest is very limited compared to an aircraft flying at 4000ftAGL (Above Ground Level) anywhere in the world.

I am like another poster awaiting 2009 to dump my old AGP card, slow Core2Duo e4400, and my bargain basement memory. I am going to have to spend at least $500 to $800 to get to an FSX/MSTSX level. Probably even more as George Bush continues to drive the Dollar further toward the Peso level.

Regards

[CajunRon]

bolyed, I enjoyed reading your comments on train simulation. I do not appreciate your posting of your political views in the forum. I and others will be tempted to provide a counter response and turn this into a politcal foray which is not appropriate in this forum.

[boleyd]

>bolyed, I enjoyed reading your comments on train simulation.
>I do not appreciate your posting of your political views in
>the forum. I and others will be tempted to provide a counter
>response and turn this into a politcal foray which is not
>appropriate in this forum.


I shall refrain from postings as per your admonition.
Political correctness is recognized as an absolute requirement in the volatile world of the Internet. A sterile tranquility is the best way to insure positive thoughts.

[oakpalms]

Rick,
I made a mistake. I did not know that ACES Studio had anything to do with Microsoft. I am glad that is cleared up. Microsoft could have stated something like "Microsoft's own ACES Studio" and that would have provided a lot of understanding.

Since you work for Microsoft you can help clear up something else--or can you? What kind of support will Microsoft provide TS2? We Train sim fans deserve to have better support than what we got with MSTS. We have had to deal with blue screens, call Bill, and other problems for over five years. Were it not for the number of users who have made corrections, updates, and other features currently available for MSTS, I doubt that anyone would even be interested in a Train Sim 2.

Bob Edwards

[cbq311]

No, like in the real world, there is a time and a place for everything, just you missed the right place by a few forums.