WHAT GAME SETTINGS ARE AVAILABLE? Lots! The options menus available include: OPTIONS ------- Realism Driving Aids At Startup Simple Control Controls/Gauges Derailments on/off Track Monitor Alerter on/off Next Station Auto Fireman Switching Aid KEYBOARD ASSIGNMENT ------------------- Allows you to view and change keyboard commands. SOUND ----- Master Volume Train Volume Ambient Sounds Volume Sound Quality Show Text Captions DISPLAY ------- Resolution (settings from 640x480 to 1600x1200) Overall Quality ADVANCED DISPLAY ---------------- A large number of sliders to control different aspects of the image quality. Also a large number of check boxes to turn on and off various display features. HOW DO I IMPORT OTHER ROUTES/LOCOMOTIVES/ROLLINGSTOCK INTO THE GAME? To add locomotives and cars usually all you need to is unzip the entire contents of the file you've downloaded into a new folder that you create under: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Train Simulator\TRAINS\TRAINSET For locomotives you may need to copy some files from one of the default locomotives; many locomotives are based on one of the default locomotives and use the same cabview and sound folders. But most important: READ THE DOCS! The designer is the only one who can tell you exactly how any individual file needs to be installed. HOW DO I USE CARS/LOCOMOTIVES ONCE THEY ARE INSTALLED (CONSIST EDITOR)? To use any add-on cars or locomotives (or to create different consists even with just the default ones) you use the consist editor. Unfortunately, the consist editor is difficult to find, as it's actually a subsection of the activity editor. When you installed Train Simulator you should have gotten two desktop icons, one for the sim itself and another labeled "launcher"; launcher is the one that starts up the editors. Double click on it and then from the menu select activity editor. If you don't have the second icon, use the Windows start button and look in Programs | Microsoft Games | Train Simulator for Train Simulator Editor And Tools and click on that. Once the editor starts, open the File menu and select new. You'll be prompted for some information about the new activity you're about to create but just use the defaults, as you are not actually going to save the activity anyway. Now, look at the right side of the editor main window, for the section labeled "Player Services"; technically a consist is a player resource. Under this section click the "new" button and that will open yet another window. In the middle of this window is a section labeled "Consists" and another "new" button; click this and the consist editor will load. To create a consist, choose a file name for your consist and a screen name. The screen name is what will show up within the sim when you open the consist drop down box. Then, simply choose the locomotives and cars you want in your consist and save when you're done. Tips: Consists are organized according to the lead locomotive. If you make the BNSF Dash 9 the first locomotive in your consist when you run the sim you will find your consist by first selecting the BNSF Dash 9 and then looking in the consist drop down box. If you have more than one locomotive in your consist you can reverse the direction they point by right clicking on them. HOW DO I REMOVE CARS FROM A CONSIST? You do this in the consist editor. Load the consist you want to work on. Then, notice the icon that looks sort of like a coupler, on the right side of the window below the word "Couplings"? That's the delete icon. Use the left mouse button to drag and drop the locomotive or car you want to remove; point to the car/locomotive, hold down the left mouse button, and drag the cursor over the icon. It's now removed from the consist. WHAT PROGRAM(S) ARE REQUIRED TO CREATE YOUR OWN TRAIN? A 3D modeling program is required to make the model, and these can be expensive. A graphics editor is required to create or modify the paint job on a locomotive. MSTS does not include a program to create your own locomotive. When Train Simulator was first released 3D Studio Max was the only program known to work for creating original 3D models. For doing repaints of existing models both Adobe PhotoShop and Paint Shop Pro are known to work. A 3D designer called "3D Canvas" also offers MSTS support. 3D Canvas 5.0.5 (and higher) now includes a Microsoft Train Simulator Wizard that creates all of the files required for a model to be loaded into Microsoft Train Simulator. Creating an engine from a 3D Canvas model is now simply a matter of running the Wizard and creating a consist for the model in Train Simulator. The Train Simulator Wizard also assists in identifying and organizing parts using Train Simulator standards, placement of special effects and lighting, and automatic animation of steam engine wheels and the link between them. Seven Train Simulator specific tutorials are included in the on-line help that cover everything from model orientation and placement required by Train Simulator to animation of steam engine rods. For information, visit their web site: http://www.amabilis.com/msts.htm Also suitable is "Train Sim Modeler" from Abacus, a 3D design tool based on their popular designer for flightsims. "TSM" is designed specifically for Microsoft Train Simulator and so offers features that train-sim modelers need. For more information, visit their web site: http://trainsimulatorworld.com
Copyright © 2004 by Nels Anderson. All Rights Reserved.