i have auran's version of railroad simulator. go with 2010 it has better graphics and better resolution. the features of it are higher than the past ones. i can get you some photos of 2010 if you want. another is Microsoft's rail simulator 2 they got rid of the glitches and updated the download list. though if you want more downloads id say auran is your best bet with over 10,000 items in download and still growing.i have aurans 2006 which is still pretty good but not as good as 2010. go to http://www.auran.com/ for more details on railroad simulator
Texas ZepherHave not tried "Railroads". Looks too much like Tycoon 3 to me.
Some of the Railroads! senarios are a bit gimicky, but others are good. Many start from the 1830s/40s timeframe and run into the 1930s to 50s. There are no "into the future" senarios like RR Tycoon 3, but you can download additioal senarios including making deliveries to Santa at the North Pole which is a bit of a kick.
The game was originaly sold by Firaxis, but is now managed and sold by 3rd parties so the price is better. As I mentioned before, the heavy graphics load may be a challenge to older computers.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I have Microsoft Train Simulator. Too realistic for me. There is a reason they have to pay people to drive real locomotives. Boring boring boring.
On the other hand if you want train games not simulators I can talk forever.
1830 - excellent but I think one can only get it in DOS.Rails Across America - awsome and adictive.Railroad Tycoon and Railroad Tycoon II (and all expansions) - Fun, difficult, and challenging game. I have yet to get through them all with gold awards.
Railroad Tycoon 3 - avoid, it is gimmicky junk. The earlier games were better.
Have not tried "Railroads". Looks too much like Tycoon 3 to me.
Then if you really want to talk train/railroad games (board games not computer games) one has a vast world open to them.... I have almost 100 in my collection dating back to 1895.
THaymanI've also played Railroad Tycoon, which is fun if you want to go more for the empire building aspect, but not for the actual operations simulation.
Another 'empire building' game that is good is "Sid Meier's Railroads!". The graphcs are better and more advanced than RR Tycoon mostly because it was designed later than RR Tycoon. That being said, the advanced graphics take more computer resources than Tycoon. I had to add more memory to my computer to keep the program from crashing.http://www.2kgames.com/railroads/railroads.html
I got 2 favorites:
Microsoft Train Simulator with some free downloads from Mapleleaftrack.com
Then, there's the version of Trainz that I got for $10 at BJ's. I love that thing, and the fact that you can get free downloads from them, as well as the ability to build your own layout is a bonus for me.
Train Player is not too bad and has a different perspective. You can build a track plan and run it like a model railroad. If you know how to draw in a graphics program, you can add scenery and buildings. Kind of like test building a layout to see if it will work or not. You can even add numbers to the cars and operate it.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
I had Microsoft Train Simulator, and really liked it. The only thing was that it's a very glithcy game. I never downloaded any of the patches for it (I was using dial-up internet at the time), so there were problems like the startup sound would get stuck and repeat over and over, or the first time you sound the horn it would continue sounding again and again and again.... That's on top of the frequent crashes. I think though that with a good system and patches for it, it should work well.
I've also played Rail Simulator (by Railworks), which is an excellent game. The graphics are better than TrainSim, and some of the gameplay is better. On freeplay mode, you have the option to switch between different locomotives when they are around, which is nice. The only thing is, the default is mostly Eurpoean. Still, there are lots of official (and I'm sure far more unofficial) add-ons of equipment and routes from all over the world.
I've also played Railroad Tycoon, which is fun if you want to go more for the empire building aspect, but not for the actual operations simulation.
I've never had a chance to play any of the Trainz games, but I've heard they're very good too.
-Tim
modelbnsfer I have heard Trainz is a good one but a fun borad game is railroad tycoon. It takes place in the 1800s and shows you sort of what its like to own and make an empire back then.
I have heard Trainz is a good one but a fun borad game is railroad tycoon. It takes place in the 1800s and shows you sort of what its like to own and make an empire back then.
I have the the second of the computer version of RailRoad Tycoon. Matter of fact, I was just playing it a minute ago. Not bad for a 199? game.
Bear Down!
Does anyone have any preferences about train simulator games