Post by AirCoaster on Oct 3, 2008 9:21:56 GMT -5
I finally installed TML/Aerosoft World of Subways - Part 1 - NY Path Sim. The install went well, except for updating DirectX. You need at least June 2008 installed on your computer.
Before you operate this sim I suggest reading the manual. The controls are nothing like I have seen before. Your FOV panning is controlled by your mouse, and you are stuck with it, as far as I can see. Remember, I only spent about an hour and a half in the sim.
Generally, I am happy with this sim. It is worth the money, operations are pretty smooth except for view changes. There is a bit of a glitch when changing from inside cab view to any other view. The 3D human models on the platforms are a bit out of place for the rest of the graphics, semi crude at best, and the textures are rough on the human models. The distant objects kinda suck too. I think they could have made them not so low res. They are blocky at best, and I am certain they did this to improve performance. With todays machines distant objects shouldn't be a problem at medium resolution. Again, I am certain they did this to accommodate more machine configs.
The tunnel views are extremely well done. The lighting is also handled well. The electric arch flashes, and the vertical and horizontal movements of the train as it changes terrain and inertial forces is done quite well. It can get actually a bit nerve racking sometimes, because you don't know if you screwed up on speed or braking when entering some curves. And, Some of those are very tight 15 MPH curves. The lighting changes as you pass each lighting object in the tunnels, and above ground is very well done too.
The controls handle quite good compared to other train sims I have ran. Stopping at platforms isn't a major task like in some sims. Braking and acceleration are much as you would expect in real life. You can actually run the sim without the information gages supplied with the sim, except for the speed indicator. There are controls for operating the doors left and right separately. As you probably know, platforms aren't created equal.
Going outside the driver's cab is very limited in tunnel platforms, but on the above ground platforms it is move to the limits of the scenery. As I said before, your FOV panning is controlled by the mouse, so to turn in any direction you need to move the mouse. The sim uses the standard WASD movement keys for mobile maneuvering the camera, forward, backward, and side to side in a sliding configuration. The only standard key arrangement in the sim.
Now the fun part. The sim comes loaded with I think ten different TOD, and situation controlled scenarios. It even has a shift mode, I haven't figured that out yet, but looks interesting. It has to do with running the cars during a work shift cycle. I didn't count the number of scenarios, and I haven't tried them all. I only spent an hour and a half running the sim before I went to bed the other night. There is a scenario evaluation mechanism that initializes when you start the scenario. The best I did was 41%, but I haven't honed my skills yet. I kinda wish the time involved in each scenario was a bit longer, but it is good for a couple of good hours of trying to satisfy your passengers and the boss.
All in All, I find it well worth the money, especially if they keep the add-ons to a minimum in price. It would be nice to see a route editor for third party creation, too.
I'll have to snap off a few screenshots this weekend.
Before you operate this sim I suggest reading the manual. The controls are nothing like I have seen before. Your FOV panning is controlled by your mouse, and you are stuck with it, as far as I can see. Remember, I only spent about an hour and a half in the sim.
Generally, I am happy with this sim. It is worth the money, operations are pretty smooth except for view changes. There is a bit of a glitch when changing from inside cab view to any other view. The 3D human models on the platforms are a bit out of place for the rest of the graphics, semi crude at best, and the textures are rough on the human models. The distant objects kinda suck too. I think they could have made them not so low res. They are blocky at best, and I am certain they did this to improve performance. With todays machines distant objects shouldn't be a problem at medium resolution. Again, I am certain they did this to accommodate more machine configs.
The tunnel views are extremely well done. The lighting is also handled well. The electric arch flashes, and the vertical and horizontal movements of the train as it changes terrain and inertial forces is done quite well. It can get actually a bit nerve racking sometimes, because you don't know if you screwed up on speed or braking when entering some curves. And, Some of those are very tight 15 MPH curves. The lighting changes as you pass each lighting object in the tunnels, and above ground is very well done too.
The controls handle quite good compared to other train sims I have ran. Stopping at platforms isn't a major task like in some sims. Braking and acceleration are much as you would expect in real life. You can actually run the sim without the information gages supplied with the sim, except for the speed indicator. There are controls for operating the doors left and right separately. As you probably know, platforms aren't created equal.
Going outside the driver's cab is very limited in tunnel platforms, but on the above ground platforms it is move to the limits of the scenery. As I said before, your FOV panning is controlled by the mouse, so to turn in any direction you need to move the mouse. The sim uses the standard WASD movement keys for mobile maneuvering the camera, forward, backward, and side to side in a sliding configuration. The only standard key arrangement in the sim.
Now the fun part. The sim comes loaded with I think ten different TOD, and situation controlled scenarios. It even has a shift mode, I haven't figured that out yet, but looks interesting. It has to do with running the cars during a work shift cycle. I didn't count the number of scenarios, and I haven't tried them all. I only spent an hour and a half running the sim before I went to bed the other night. There is a scenario evaluation mechanism that initializes when you start the scenario. The best I did was 41%, but I haven't honed my skills yet. I kinda wish the time involved in each scenario was a bit longer, but it is good for a couple of good hours of trying to satisfy your passengers and the boss.
All in All, I find it well worth the money, especially if they keep the add-ons to a minimum in price. It would be nice to see a route editor for third party creation, too.
I'll have to snap off a few screenshots this weekend.
