What is the best simulator of all time?

[John Bakeer]

IGN,
Laptops as a rule do not have enough power to run train simulators, you need;
A PC with;
Windows 98,2000.ME or XP.
256 Megs RAM (I have 512).
100 Megs available hard disc space (I have 250).
500 MHz CPU speed (I have 2200).
Fast graphics accellorator card which supports open GL with 32 Mb of on board memory (I have 512).
Windowa supported sound card and speakers.
Colour monitor which supports 640x480, 800x600 or 1024x768 resolution.
CD/DVD ROM drive.
I shall be doing a full upgrade to the best available when the new Windows operating system is released (rumoured to be October 2006).
If your pocket will run to it? Try the RailDriver control stand, it brings another dimension to Train Sim.
I've been on the BVE website, it looks interesting. Might give it a whirle when time permits.
John B.

[Anonymous]

    Now that isn't true at all.  Mine has 1GB of ram, Duel 1.6ghz processors, 128mb graphics card (shared memory up to 512, which still leaves around 600-700MB of ram), and 100gb of HD space.

[John Bakeer]

Hitsua,
Ah!But do you run Train Sim? My machine has an occasional hiccough because of its limitations. And did you read what IGN wrote, his machine is four years old, further more here in UK the power of affordable lap tops is way down on what is available abroad.
You are obviously not aware of the situation here where because of the monopoly (trust) in the supply of consumer goods (electrical-TV-audio etc,), we are behind the US and Europe in the availability of up to date services.
An example is the provision of broadband telephony, we pay up to $35.00 a month for 8 Meg, in france they get 22 Meg for $10.00. I am stuck with a contract for 2 Meg 'till December at $25.00 per month.

[Anonymous]

I do, and it runs rather nice.  I wasn't aware of that problem in the UK, though. 

And mine wasn't afordable :)

It came out to $1300 after shipping.  So, powerful, afordable laptops still aren't a huge market, but it's getting there.

[John Bakeer]

A laptop with half the power of yours costs £1,200.00 ($2,200.00). That's why we call this rip-off Britain, and if we import kit it is hammered with carriage, duties, taxes etc. that is, if we can get one?
I recently imported a RailDriver and the price was more than doubled, plus I had the additional cost of conversion from 115V 60Cycles to 230V 50Cycles.
I must say that RailDriver when it's up and running correctly is something else and no serious sim driver should be without one.

[Anonymous]

Amtrakid, I just got Trainz 2006 and have not really gotten started yet.....but I can tell that it is tops!  I tried MS Train Simulator for a few months, but it was a lot of work.....it was difficult to really create your own layouts, etc.

I'm really interested in re-creating the railroad lines here around my home town of Marietta, GA, and of downtown Atlanta, GA.  Do you know of any layouts or routes that have already been created in Trainz that I can used as examples? If not, then I will start from scratch.....I'm really looking forward to getting rolling!

[John Bakeer]

dbgallant,
Visit the Auran web site they have a section where users can exchange information and dounload routes etc.
I am basically lazy and use ready made routes and stock, I just enjoy driving.
Anyone just wanting to play trains should get the Hornby Train Set software.

[Anonymous]

Of course,I read this now after just coming back from a few train rides on the North Shore and deciding not to go into the museum this time since the weather was so nice over Labor Day weekend.Thats what happens when your life gets so busy my, wife(also a railfan)and I had not been to Duluth for a few years.We used to go every other weekend and ride the train and roam the area for Ore trains and WC/UP and Erie Mining etc.as this area has and is our favorite place to go along with the Lake Tahoe area for some mountian railroading and watch some of the snowfighters their.Now we have a great excuse to go back next weekend.

[John Bakeer]

Loco Breath,
Try the 3D Trainstuff programme of the 1952 passenger train entrapment over Donner without having to wrap up or get your nose frost bitten.

[SchemerBob]

It all depends on your preference. I have Microsoft Train Simulator and Trainz Railway Simulator 2006, and I have to say that there is nothing wrong with either of them. MSTS is a little more focussed on driving a real train; you are fixed on just one train per session (even in "explore the route"), and you only have a limited amout of external views that never really get you far away from the trains themselves. TRS2006 is lots more up-to-date, and a little easier. You have two driving modes: DCC, which is like running a model train, or the realistic cab controls. You can jump from train-to-train, give commands to other trains while the simulation is going, and more. If you want to drive a train realistically (and not much else), then get MSTS. If you want to drive a train along with having a little more fun, then get TRS2006. MSTS costs about $10 these days with TRS2006 being $20.

[blade]

since i only own microsoft train simulator i will pick it as best simulator of all time.the graphics are pretty amazing since i recently upgraded my pc to 1023 mb ram and the 128 mb video card in my pc makes a pretty good sim.

[John Bakeer]

I occasionally get frame freeze on my MSTS.
And sometimes ERNI crashes, but that could be my driving!