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''Microsoft Train Simulator'' (known in the ''Train Simulator'' community also as simply '''''MSTS 1''''') is a Train Simulator for Microsoft Windows , released in July 2001 and developed by UK based Kuju Entertainment . On January 19, 2007 Microsoft informed the community about the development of a new Train Simulator based on the '' Microsoft Flight Simulator X '' platform. ORIGINAL VERSION FEATURES Routes The original game featured the following lines:
These original models were criticised by many people for being inaccurate. However, as with '' Microsoft Flight Simulator '', people started creating and distributing their own models and other content through websites. New routes, trains, sounds, cabviews, and other ''MSTS'' accessories are available either as Freeware or Payware from various websites and companies. Editor Included with ''Train Simulator ''was the Editors & Tools program, which mainly allowed the user to build railroads, or "routes", as they were called in ''MSTS''. Users could also create activities for any route, create custom cabviews, or edit the default ones. Bugs The original version contained many Bugs , for example the "front coupling bug", where the locomotive's front coupler would not work, the "white void bug", where the route scenery disappears, leaving a white void, and the "end-of-the-line bug", where the locomotive, if it crashes through the last buffers on the route, would fall into an empty void. There are also issues with the signalling and AI dispatching. However, through the work of people in the community, some of these bugs were either removed or avoided by applying "unofficial" patches to the program.http://mstsbin.uktrainsim.com/eng/eng.html MSTSbin homepage, one of the unofficial patches Version 1.2 Later, some more stock was added, including: Drivable SD40-2 with BNSF Heritage I paint, a Class 50 British Locomotive, new British Passenger Cars, a few new US freight cars, and a US Caboose with a special "caboose view". Version 1.2 also includes a few new activities for the new train equipment. Hardware controller A desktop cab controller called RailDriver is available, which is compatible with Microsoft Train Simulator. ADD-ONS Many commercial and non-commercial add-ons for ''MSTS'' are available. These include route, activity, scenery, and rolling stock addons to the game. Some of these are listed below: Commercial route add-ons
Stock add-ons
''MSTS 1.0'' TODAY Microsoft does not publish ''MSTS1'' in the United States anymore. This is done by Atari since 2005 , and the game is now distributed in the US by Atari as Value Software . In the European Union , the game is now distributed by Empire Interactive and Ubisoft . Ubisoft also distributes ''MSTS1'' in small quantities in Australia. Many people have created new locomotives, rolling stock, and routes for this game. There are also a lot of people who make activities. Activities, in'' Train Simulator'', are realistic runs with traffic and other features. The player might have to set out or pick-up cars, or run an inter-modal train. Routes are another feature of ''MSTS1'', and are like real railway lines. Some MSTS add-on developers are sufficiently talented to charge for their work, which is generally found to be of a better quality than the standard content. SUCCESSOR ''Microsoft Train Simulator 2'' .]] ''Microsoft Train Simulator 2'' was proposed, and was even demoed to the public. Seemingly its main improvements were the addition of people to the game (i.e. passengers waiting at the stations, people operating the new locomotive roster, etc.), more realistic crashes and other accidents, and Turntables . It was being developed by Kuju Entertainment, the original ''MSTS'' creators. Due to Kuju's financial difficulties, the project was later handed over to Microsoft Game Studios. However, this project was ultimately cancelled, as the following statement from Microsoft confirmed.
Project relaunch However, on January 19, 2007, Microsoft announced the relaunch of the ''Microsoft Train Simulator'' project. This time the game is being made in-house by Microsoft Game Studios as a part of the " Games For Windows " initiative. The game will use the '' Microsoft Flight Simulator X '' graphics engine. Little else is currently known regarding the title, but backwards compatibility with ''MSTS 1'' is unlikely as this is a completely new product having only the name in common with its predecessor. Initial information can be found from Microsoft's new official Train Simulator website. Announcement of new ''Microsoft Train Simulator'' A post on the 'The Little Wheel Goes in Back' blog, written by one of the developers, on August 23rd 2007 appears to suggest the working title is now 'Train Simulator 2'. http://blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/archive/2007/08/23/guter-tag-von-leipzig.aspx 'The Little Wheel Goes in Back' blog post from August 23rd 2007. ''Kuju Rail Simulator'' Kuju Entertainment , the creators of the original ''Microsoft Train Simulator'' and also the then cancelled ''Train Simulator 2'', started to work on their own train simulator product named '' Rail Simulator ''. It is to be published by Electronic Arts in Europe on October 5 , 2007 . North American release is following later. SEE ALSO
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