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John Cletheroe's
Simulation Programs And Web Sites Reviews |
However, this page uses a more restricted definition which is limited to programs which attempt to create a realistic simulation, often with some educational element, where dexterity with the joystick, mouse or keyboard is not vital. With many of these programs the major challenge and interest is in learning the terminology and how to operate the program.
Many of these programs have two modes - design and run. In design mode you might, for example, decide on the layout for a roller-coaster. In run mode you would test your design, seeing how it works in practice.
Unless otherwise stated programs are available on the Internet and must be downloaded and installed.
Demonstration versions of programs are often limited in their operation in some way. In many cases full versions are also available for which a payment is required.
As with other types of programs, downloads available from web sites are normally in the form of PKZIP files. Manuals are sometimes supplied in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format.
Be sure to have a virus checker with an up-to-date virus definition file active on your computer when downloading, loading, installing or using any software obtained from an unverified source.
In some cases my comments regarding programs may be inaccurate or misleading due to my incomplete understanding of how a particular program works. When I say a program lacks a particular feature, in some cases it may be that I haven't yet found it. I tend to rate the programs on their "playability" and educational value rather than whether they appear to be totally accurate simulations (which in most cases I would not be qualified to judge). Also bear in mind that my opinions are no more or less valid than anyone else's.
This is of course only a tiny sample of all the simulation programs available. I hope to be able to add more programs in the future.
Unless otherwise stated, programs listed here are for PC's running Windows 95 or 98. Some of the programs may run under MS-DOS.
I have no connection whatsoever with any of products or web sites listed here, other than as a normal user.
Suggestions for additions to this page are very welcome, as are reports of broken links. You can email me using the link at the bottom of the page.
Some of the programs listed here are payware.
Category: Air traffic control. Play online free of charge.
You are in charge of directing aircraft towards their final approach at an airport. Obeying all the safety rules is a difficult but enjoyable challenge. Be sure to read the instructions fully.
Category: Create bridge-like structures. Download and install. Free demo version for payware program.
Download file size (demo): 935KB
Armadillo Run is a simulation puzzle game in which you have to create structures to guide a basketball to a destination. The structures are built using materials such as ropes, metal girders, sections of cloth and metal plates. Each structure can be tested and modified. Each level can be solved in a variety of different ways. The free demo version of the program only includes a few easily solved tutorial and introductory levels.
Category: Tram and railway systems. Download and install. Shareware (some functions are disabled after 92 days unless a registration payment is made).
Download file size: various files, none of them large.
Complex networks (tram or railway systems) can be created and trams or trains run on them.
Trams and trains run automatically once their routes have been specified.
Although both signals and points (switches in US English) are available, one apparent weakness of the program (or perhaps in my understanding of it) is the apparent inability to change points in response to the presence of trains (other than by having trains run over them), or to change signals in response to the state of points. It is possible to make different trains automatically take different routes at points. In addition, signals change in response to the presence of trains and trains obey signals. Despite these comments, this is still a magnificent program.
Many network files for BAHN are available from other web sites, including models of many real tram and light railway systems from various countries, for example the London Underground, San Francisco's BART and cable-car systems and the Paris Metro.
This version of BAHN was released in January 1999 and replaces V3.40 which is no longer available.
This version of BAHN has a greater variety of track designs, tram cars, locomotives and carriages than the previous version. It also allows double-width tram track (with a road surface on either side of the track) to be built much more quickly. Another very considerable advantage is the availability of an English version of the Help file. On a brief inspection the program does not appear to have any other major new features, other than the introduction of shunting.
BAHN network files (NT3 files) created by BAHN V3.40 can be loaded by BAHN V3.58 but not vice-versa, even though both types of file have the same extension.
Update 6-Jun-04: BAHN V3.81 is now available from http://www.jbss.de
Related web sites:
Category: Artificial creatures. Download and install. Freeware.
Download file size: 6484KB
The software enables insect and snake-like artificial creatures, called zooks, to be designed and tested. Teams of children can submit designs they have created for consideration in order to apply to become contestants on the related BBC television programme.
The design of the creatures' main features offers a rich variety of options and is fairly straightforward to operate. However, the design of the critically important motion characteristics is very tricky and at this stage interest may tend to tail off. This is the reason for the relatively low rating for this program.
So far the software only permits the sprinting challenge to be tested. The television programme subjects the creatures to a wider range of challenges, in most cases competing against another team's creature.
In the television programme, the combination of real world and computer generated images is technically very interesting. The contestants obviously can't see the creatures in the same way as viewers do, and yet they look in the correct directions and react appropriately, so what do they see?
Category: Construction set simulation. Download and install. Freeware.
Download file size: 452KB
This program simulates the building of models from Lego-like bricks and other parts.
See also Lego Digital Designer.
Category: Designing machines to perform tasks. Download and install. Play online free of charge.
This puzzle/simulation program is similar in concept to "The Incredible Machine".
Category: Bridge design. Download and install. Freeware demo's for payware programs.
Download file size: Bridge Builder demo 122KB; Pontifex demo 943KB; Bridge Construction Set/Pontifex II demo 3656KB; Bridge It demo 177MB.
These are different versions of essentially the same program. In each case the user has to design a bridge to suit a particular purpose, and then test it under load by having a train drive over it.
The demo versions of each program are fully operative but only have a small number of challenges. Some additional challenges for each program have been created by users and can be downloaded free of charge from fan web site http://www.bridgebuilder-game.com (external link verified Sep-06).
In all versions operation is fairly obvious after a little experimentation but the camera movement controls are awkward (in some versions, extremely awkward).
Bridge Builder appears to be the earliest version of the program, with primitive 2D graphics. Pontifex has low resolution 3D graphics. Bridge Construction Set (BCS, and also known as Pontifex II) has quite sophisticated 3D graphics. Bridge It, developed in collaboration with Auran (the publishers of Trainz Railway Simulator) requires an nVidia video board and I suspect it has the most advanced graphics. The physics appear to be similar in all versions.
Each bridge design challenge can be solved in a large variety of ways, making the programs very open-ended. However, once each challenge has been solved efficiently there remains little else to do.
Related web sites:
Category: Bridge design. Download and install. Payware with free restricted demo.
Download file size: 177MB
System requirements: This program requires the user to have an nVidia GeForce FX video board. It will not run with any other type of video board. For example, it will not run with any ATI video board.
Since I have an ATI video board, I have not researched this program but it appears to be of potential interest.
Category: Train simulator (cab view only). Download and install. Freeware.
I am still exploring this program's features and this review should be regarded as provisional. Some of my criticisms may invalid due to my inexperience with the program.
BVE is supplied totally free of charge. All the optional add-ons such as additional layouts and locomotives are also totally free of charge.
The program is limited to driving locomotives, and to simulating the cab view. The main tasks are to keep to the timetable, not to exceed speed limits, and to stop trains at precisely the correct place at each station.
The resolution is limited to 640 x 480, meaning that the image quality is not first class by today's standards. In addition, many layouts lack any realistic scenery.
No documentation is supplied with the program. Be sure to refer to some of the web sites listed above for details of the installation procedure and the keyboard commands.
The program simulates the movement of trains extremely well. Trains accelerate and slow down realistically. The swaying of trains is particularly well done. Sound quality is quite good. A large amount of additional optional material for the program can be downloaded free of charge from various web sites.
I believe that a free optional utility is available for creating layouts.
UPDATE: A new version of BVE is now available from the same source. This has greatly improved graphics. The download file size for V4.1 of BVE is 684KB, plus 5755KB for the sample Uchibo Line route.
Related web sites:
Category: Canal locks. Play online free of charge.
Although very simple, this little simulation is very effective at explaining how a canal lock operates.
Category: Canal locks. Play online free of charge.
This is a very similar simulation to the first canal locks program, but with a ladder of two locks.
Category: Roller coaster design. Download and install. Freeware.
There are separate options for designing a track and for riding your completed track.
The track editor is rather awkward to use and linking the final track element back to the boarding platform is especially tricky.
The ride module sometimes crashes (I'm still researching what causes this; it appears to happen when going very slowly uphill).
I can't make the ride program play sound effects. However, this may depend on which type of sound card you have, or perhaps how it's configured.
Despite these problems this is still an interesting and worthwhile program.
Category: Electrical and electronic circuits. Download and install. Freeware demo of payware program.
Electrical and electronic circuits can be constructed by dragging components and wires, and their operation observed. A schematic diagram also appears automatically.
Components which can be modelled include batteries, power supplies, switches, light bulbs, signal generators, oscilloscopes, loudspeakers, transistors and integrated circuits.
The demo version limits the complexity of circuits which can be created.
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
http://www.edisonlab.com (external link verified Sep-06)
Category: Electrical and electronic circuits. Download and install. Freeware demo of payware program. This is an excellent program, very similar to Edison 2.
Category: Electrical and electronic circuits. Download and install. Freeware demo of payware program.
This program is considerably more advanced than Edison 2 or 3 and therefore has a less widespread appeal. For an expert it would probably be a better choice. It only seems to include schematic diagrams, not physical layouts.
The demo version limits the complexity of circuits which can be created.
Category: City Management And Electricity Generation. Play online free of charge.
Electrocity is similar in basic concept to SimCity. It concentrates mainly on the production of electricity for a town, being published by a New Zealand electricty supplier. Full instructions are provided and game progress can be saved.
Category: Roller coaster design. Download and install. Freeware.
Tracks of any shape can be created by dragging points along their length. In addition, tracks can be given twists and surrounding landscapes can be created.
When run, the viewpoint from the front car of the roller coaster is displayed.
The program is extremely clever and must have involved a huge amount of programming effort and expertise. Sadly, however, the result is unlikely to hold the attention for very long. Once the track design process is understood and a few tracks created, there is little else left to do.
According to the accompanying documentation the program requires OpenGL to be installed. It runs on my PC without any problems.
Category: Economics. Play online free of charge.
This classic computer simulation game models, in a simple way, the economy of an ancient Sumerian city-state. Each year you have to decide how much grain to issue as food, how much to plant and how much to put into store.
A particular attractive feature of this game is the wide range of possible objectives - to maximise your population, maximise the amount of grain in store, to maximise the food supply per person, and so on.
A version written in traditional BASIC was originally published in David Ahl's 101 BASIC Computer Games book.
The game's two titles ares often mis-spelt as "Hamurabi" and "King Of Sumaria".
Related web sites:
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?gameid=537 (external link verified Sep-06 but this freeware hosting organisation for old abandoned games currently has problems and may be unreliable)
Category: Designing and combining machines to perform various tasks. Originally a commercial product sold in shops but may be available as freeware.
This old MS-DOS program is a game and might well not be considered as fully qualifying as a simulation, although it certainly has a simulation element to it.
On each level you are given an objective, such as having to make a ball pass through a hoop. Various pieces of equipment are available, which must be placed on the screen so as to construct a machine that when set in motion will achieve the objective.
The types of equipment include balls of various sizes and weights, trampolines, conveyor belts, pulley wheels, belts, electric generators and motors, light bulbs, fans and windmills, scissors, plus more exotic "fun" objects such as rockets, revolvers, dynamite, cats and fish tanks.
Particularly attractive features of the game include the realistic way in which the pieces of equipment operate, the different ways in which they interact and can be combined, and the fact that many levels can be solved in more than one way. However, some levels suffer from requiring devices to be positioned extremely accurately before a solution will work. There are 87 levels with a good variety of objectives, plus a freeform mode in which you can design your own machines.
There is a password system allowing you to by-pass previously solved levels.
As a weak protection against being copied, when it commences the program asks for the names of three objects shown on a randomly chosen page in its manual. Illicit copies may include a text file listing these objects.
I doubt if this game is still on sale in its original form but it might be available on compilation CD's or on the web.
Several sequels to the original program were published, and there are several modern-day variants of the concept available online.
Category: Build a tower. Play online free of charge.
This is a casual game in which you have to create a tower by adding girders. While it barely qualifies as a simulation, it does allow the tower to be built in any way you wish and it does provide some elementary insight into the design of stable structures. A good program for young children.
Category: Physics simulations. Download and install. Payware.
Judging by the publisher's web site this is a most impressive program which simulates over a hundred physics situations. Apparently it is also possible to create and exchange simulations. This is a commercial software package and I have not seen it running. The publishers offers several similar simulation products. My thanks to Keith Hodges for bringing this program to my attention.
Category: Construction set simulation. Download and install. Freeware.
This program simulates the building of models from Lego-like bricks and other parts.
Category: Construction set simulation. Download and install. Freeware.
Download file size: 27.2MB
This program simulates the building of models from Lego-like bricks and other parts. There is an option to submit completed models to Lego and order physical kits containing their required parts. Building models is rather fiddly and complicated. A brief manual is available in the Help menu. There is a useful option in "Preferences" to add the same type of brick repeatedly, to save having to select it each time. Placing bricks in precisely the desired position is especially difficult when trying to fit them on top of existing bricks. The selection of bricks is made awkward by the huge number of types, many of which are very obscure. There do not seem to be any vertical walls although they can be constructed from multiple bricks.
See also BlockCAD.
Category: Computer logic gate networks (AND gates, OR gates, NOT gates, etc). Download and install. Payware.
Category: Road traffic. Play online free of charge.
This is a serious attempt at simulating road traffic. It includes several situations such as on-ramps and lane closures, each with comments. In each case various parameters can be adjusted by means of sliders. While serious, it is extremely simple to operate and very interesting. However, it is definitely not a game.
Category: Flight simulator (civilian aircraft, no combat). Commercial product sold in shops.
This program has a huge range of aircraft and weather settings.
The program's scenery files cover the entire world. Many cities are modelled in considerably detail, making it an excellent method of learning geography. Particularly good areas to explore are the San Francisco Bay area, New York City and (for fun) the Las Vegas Strip. The depiction of natural features such as the Grand Canyon and the Teton Range (in Wyoming) is very disappointing, however.
Various scenery add-ons are available separately from a variety of publishers but since the original program covers the entire world these seem rather pointless to me.
More modern versions of the program are now available.
Category: Train simulator. Commercial product sold in shops.
While this is by far the best known train simulator, many people prefer Auran's Trainz. Each program has its advantages and disadvantages. The Microsoft product is now quite old and therefore has somewhat less advanced graphics. The creation of layouts is also very considerably more awkward than in Trainz. However, a large number of payware add-ons are widely available for MSTS and these can be installed without all the pain of trying to obtain missing dependencies that plagues so many Trainz add-ons.
Associated web sites:
Category: Bridge design. Download and install. Freeware.
Your objective is to design a truss (steel girder) bridge which will take the greatest weight. This program is restricted to modelling truss bridges, but it does that well.
Category: Spacecraft control. Play online free of charge.
This is a graphical version of the classic "Lunar Lander" text-only game. Although great fun as a game, Monkey Lander also probably just qualifies as a simulation.
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk (external link verified Mar-08)
Category: Spaceflight Simulator. Download and install. Freeware.
Download file size (excluding optional add-ons): 60.6MB
This program allows you to take control of a variety of sub-light spacecraft powered by conventional rockets obeying Newtonian physics, mainly in the solar system. Although some of the spacecraft and space stations are fictional, their behaviour has been designed to be as realistic as reasonably possible. Numerous freeware add-on spacecraft and scenarios are available. The program features very high resolution full 3D smoothly scrolling images, including beautiful views of Earth seen from orbit. The quality of the programming and documentation are far superior to that found in many expensive payware products. This is an amazingly excellent simulation program.
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=2972 (external link verified Sep-06 but this freeware hosting organisation for old abandoned games currently has problems and may be unreliable)
http://www.learningcompany.com (external link verified Sep-06)
http://www.broderbund.com/jump.jsp?itemID=147&mainPID=147&itemType=PRODUCT&RS=1&keyword=oregon+trail (external link verified Sep-06)
Category: Historical simulation. Originally a commercial product sold in shops but may be available as freeware.
This program simulates travelling the 2000 mile long Oregon Trail by covered wagon in the 1840's. It is very much an educational simulation, but it is also extremely interesting and enjoyable. Sensible decisions tend to be rewarded. You will probably need to play quite a few times before reaching the Willamette Valley successfully, then you can continue to play again so as to obtain a higher score. The hazards along the trail appear to be historically accurate, with death from disease, drowning or a snake bite being much more likely than from an attack by Native Americans. The program has some nice touches, such as the range of animals that you can hunt changing when you leave the prairies and enter the mountains. The only drawback is that once you have succeeded in obtaining a good score there is nothing more to do.
Category: Engineering. Download and install. Payware.
This company develops and publishes a variety of educational simulation programs (available for purchase) designed to teach various aspects of engineering, including the design of bridges, dams and towers. Their web site also has information on various bridge truss designs complete with photographs of real-life examples.
Category: Train simulator. Commercial product sold in shops.
Download file size (demo): 471MB
Related web sites:
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
No external link available.
Category: Railway management. Commercial product sold in shops.
There have been several versions of this program. The following comments only refer to the original version.
For a program which fits on one floppy disk, this is an amazingly rich simulation. You survey the land and its natural and economic resources; lay the track; build bridges, tunnels and stations; construct trains and specify their locomotives, rolling stock and routes; and buy and sell shares in railway companies. There is also an option to control the signalling.
There are four scenarios with different dates and geographical regions, and several options which affect the level of difficulty of the game.
By today's standard the graphics are primitive but they are adequate and this hardly matters.
The original game came with a large manual, close study of which is essential.
As a weak protection against being copied, when it commences the program asks for the name of a randomly chosen locomotive, which can be looked up in its manual. If this is not chosen correctly then the number of trains which can be run is severely restricted.
The program runs in MS-DOS or in an MS-DOS window in Windows 95 and later.
Several sequels to the original program have been published.
Category: Roller coaster design. Download and install. Freeware.
This program uses an ingenious method of changing the track which automatically ensures that it cannot be broken. The graphics are good. However, the variety of tracks which can be created is considerably limited. Crossing tracks are not realistically depicted. This would probably be a good program for younger children.
Installation instructions: In order to preserve the original directory structure, rwroller.zip must be expanded with the -d parameter, i.e. the command should be: pkunzip rwroller.zip -d (-d must be in lower case). There is no need to use the -d parameter when expanding rwlib.zip. The documentation which accompanies the program suggests that the files contained in rwlib.zip should be copied to the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory. In fact these DLL files can be copied to the main RWROLLER directory instead and this makes them easier to identify when uninstalling the program.
Category: Robotics. Play online free of charge.
Operate a robotic arm to pick up and drop objects. A simple and effective idea for a game.
Category: Roller coaster design. Play online free of charge.
Design a roller coaster track which passes each of the coins. This is not a serious simulation program, almost an arcade game, but quite enjoyable. It has various types of fixed track, and also a free draw track facility.
Category: Roller coaster design. Download and install. Freeware demo of a commercial product sold in shops.
Several sequels to the original program have been published.
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
http://simcity.ea.com (external link verified Sep-06)
Category: City planning and management. Commercial product sold in shops.
This program includes a huge range of aspects of your city to build and control.
You handle the city council decisions and the program automatically handles the reactions of private companies and individuals to your planning and budget decisions.
A wide variety of possible objectives adds greatly to the program's lasting appeal.
A new version, SimCity 3000, is now available. I haven't seen the new version in operation but judging by its box it doesn't offer any significant extra features.
Category: Planetary ecology. Originally a commercial product sold in shops but may be available as freeware.
The instructions for this program are very vague and it is difficult to see what to do.
Category: US National Park wildlife management. Originally a commercial product sold in shops but may be available as freeware.
Not to be confused with ThemePark (also published by Maxis), which simulates the construction and management of a theme park.
SimPark is an excellent program for learning about wildlife. It also includes a wildlife recognition game and a bird song recognition game. However, it has a limited range of objectives and so is unlikely to sustain interest for a prolonged time. It is perhaps just a little too well meaning for some tastes.
Category: Train simulator (train dispatcher). Download and install. Freeware.
Although not up to the same standard as the Train Dispatcher 2 program, this is still very worthwhile. All layouts are set in the UK.
Category: Transport. Download and install. Freeware.
Download file size: program 2.11MB, required icon graphics pack 2.71MB (small icons) or 18.6MB (larger icons)
The graphics in this program are isometric 2.5D, similar to the style used in SimCity. Road, rail, monorail, maglev and underground railway networks can be created, vehicles added to them, and those vehicles given schedules so as to transport goods and people as required.
The documentation is frustratingly poor, being both inadequate and inaccurate, in part due to there having been several versions of the program and there being several choices of graphics icon packs.
Operation is also very frustrating. Even on a fairly powerful computer cursor movements lag behind the mouse. Object icons are often not aligned to the mouse cursor, making it difficult to know where items will be created. It is very difficult to see the geographical relationships between industries which create products and those which consume them. Creating vehicles and schedules for them is very awkward. Throughout these processes the game clock continues to run and there is no undo facility other than destroying objects which depletes your funds, or re-loading a saved game.
There is the basis for a worthwhile idea here but considerable patience will be required to overcome the severe limitations in the implementation. On the other hand, all these criticisms must be tempered by the fact that this is a freeware project.
Category: Space station construction. Download and install. Payware with restricted free demo.
Download file size (demo): 4.34MB
Space Station Manager is a simulation game involving the construction and operation of a space station. The objective is to increase the size of the station and to keep it operational.
It appears that the program is also called "ShortHike", although that may have been a working name for an earlier version.
Station designs are based on that of the real-life International Space Station with a series of connected modules, rather than space stations featured in science fiction. The graphics appear to be limited to the exterior of the station, but views are 3D and can be rotated and zoomed.
It is not entirely clear, but gameplay may be limited purely to attaching various modules as required in order for the station to grow and remain functional. If this is the case, the program would seem to hold very little long term interest.
As at December 2007 the publisher's web site at http://www.mistaril.com and http://www.shorthike.com (both URL's verified Dec-07 and lead to the same content) contains very little information apart from the forum. There does not appear to be any option to download the program from the publisher's web site.
The trial version only allows the first mission to be completed and therefore only the initial types of station modules are available. The trial version does not include the option to build stations freely without regard to operational constraints. It also suffers from very frequent and highly annoying nag screens which advertise the full version. According to one source the trial version is limited to thirty days' usage. On the other hand, the trial version does include an extensive gallery of screenshots of advanced complex stations.
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
http://www.signalcc.com/train2/td2freeware.html (external link verified Sep-06)
Category: Train simulator (train dispatcher). Download and install. Freeware.
Download file size (excluding optional additional territory files): 1.73MB
You control the junctions and signals over a section of track, routing trains to their correct destinations and performing operations such as allowing trains to pass each other by switching them into passing loops (short sections of double track) as is used commonly in the western USA. Amongst other factors you need to consider the lengths of trains and passing loops and the speed of each type of train over each section of track.
The simulation can be run at varying speeds. Tracks vary greatly in complexity and some feature random events such as trains arriving in your section late, trains suffering breakdowns and sections of tracks being taken out of service for repairs. Higher scores are awarded for correct train routing and good timekeeping. Accurate running of trains to the timetable is generally very challenging.
A large number of territories (track files), mainly accurate representations of interesting real sections of track, are also available for downloading from the same web site. Track file sizes tend to be small.
Train Dispatcher 3, a more advanced version of the program, is available as payware. A track creation editor program for Train Dispatcher 3 is also available as payware.
Category: Train simulator. Download and install. Payware.
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
http://www.auran.com (external link verified Sep-06)
Category: Train simulator. Commercial product sold in shops.
Trainz is a full-function 3D train simulator. Layouts can be created complete with terrain, ground texturing, tracks, signals, stations, industries, buildings, vegetation and other features. Steam, diesel and electric trains can be run under the control of the user in two modes, DCC (simple) and CAB (more realistic and more difficult). Trains can also be programmed in two very different ways to run under computer control.
The program has a variety of camera modes, including in-cab and external views. Cameras can be panned, tilted and zoomed. The program has full 3D lighting and smoke particle effects which are coordinated with events. For example, turning on a locomotive's front headlight causes the ground in front to be lit up, and as a diesel locomotive starts to move a great puff of black exhaust smoke is emitted from the vents on its roof.
Vehicles on roads move automatically. Some layouts even have balloons and aircraft which fly.
Some layouts are enormous and highly complex. These may stretch the capabilities of even a modern powerful computer.
However, complex items such as scenarios often involve huge downloads, with 50MB per item not being uncommon, due to their dependence on numerous sub-items. In most cases, some of the sub-items cannot be found and the scenario then fails with an obscure error message. In other cases downloaded items are not operative, or not compatible with the latest version of the program. Resolving problems with downloaded items for this program is a whole "game" in itself.
Given sufficient skill and time and in some cases additional programs, new rolling stock, trackside items, scenery items and user activities can be created by users. A huge number of add-ons, mostly freeware are available from the publisher's web site and numerous independent web sites. With all this complexity the program does require some considerable time and effort to explore if the most enjoyment is to be obtained from it.
Various version of Trainz have been published, as follows:
After purchasing any version of Trainz, check on the publisher's web site for the most recent service pack for your build number. In most cases installing the service pack will fix bugs and add new features. As at October 2007 the latest service pack for TRS2004 is SP4 and the latest service pack for TRS2006 is SP1. In both cases no further service packs are likely to be released.
The British version of the program, distributed by Just Trains (also called Just Flight) is copy-protected. The original CD must be inserted every time the program is used. Non-British versions do not suffer from this annoyance.
Category: Bus driving. Download and install. Freeware.
Download file size: 3067KB.
This program from Poland simulates driving a bus. At the current state of development the graphics are simple.
Related web sites:
Category: Construction set simulation. Download and install. Freeware.
Minibrix was a British building construction set system, somewhat similar to Bayko. Whereas Bayko's parts were made from plastic parts, Minibrix used rubber parts. This program is an add-on to the LDraw program (see that entry).
Category: Web site which provides information about train simulators.
This extensive web site has an excellent collection of information about various train simulators. It will require some time to explore, especially all the past editions of the magazines.
A particularly valuable resource is the Train Sim Webfinder, a list of train simulator related web sites at http://www.virtualrailroader.com/HTML_Version/WebFinder.htm (external link verified Sep-06).
Category: Construction set simulation. Download and install. Freeware demo of payware program.
Download file size (demo): 7.28MB
This program allows virtual Meccano models to be constructed. I believe that completed models involving mechanisms can be put into motion. The free demo version has some restrictions: models can be created but not saved or printed, and there is a limit on the number of parts they can have. Several payware versions are available, each less severely restricted. Creating models is inevitably somewhat complex and fiddly, especially at first. However, the program includes a good help facility that includes a detailed tutorial.
Most recently modified 13-Apr-10