Launch trainz simulator 12 software#

Launch trainz simulator 12 software#

Players create an account through the Planet Auran website and link their CD key, then enter their account information into the software to enable online functionality within Trainz Simulator 12. All of these aspects are centrally managed under the вЂњPlanet AuranвЂќ website and login. The internet based functions of Trainz Simulator 12В include not only downloading content and multiplayer, but chat and content updates as well. The map view can sometimes be difficult to navigate. For experienced players who know the route and stops they would enjoy, this would be less of a problem. But the experience is a bit more thin of course, as there are no preconfigured AI trains and no specific timetables or objectives.

The вЂњQuickdriveвЂќ sessions are easy to set up (for the consists that include a locomotive!), and let the player quickly explore or drive a favorite part of a route in any preferred weather or time of day. It would be great if there were two or three more of these nice scenarios per route.Д«eyond the scenarios in Trainz Simulator 12В are play options such as вЂњQuickdriveвЂќ and multiplayer sessions. I particularly enjoyed the active supply and demand system that some of the industrial scenery uses, with visual indicators on what resources are available to be loaded for transport, as well as the supply on hand for resources being unloaded. Saving my progress mid way through a longer scenario and picking up again later was easy, though occasionally the time required to save my session would run to minutes on end. Those issues aside, all of the scenarios I played were enjoyable. Finally deciding to continue south and see what happened, the scenario ticked complete while I was rolling, with the later stops at Baltimore and beyond being imaginary. While waiting at the station I searched the map for several minutes looking for my next stop in Baltimore, but never found it. Such labels would have been particularly helpful on the NEC Wilmington session, where after the stop at Wilmington the text indicated that I should continue south to Baltimore. It would be terrific if there were larger markers to identify key points in the scenario, or even to name cities along the route in a larger font thatвЂ™s visible when zoomed out. Many of the map labels are similar in size and can blend together when searching through a large rail yard with dozens of sidings, or even trying to find the next passenger station stop.

And while the map certainly is useful in this regard, there were a handful of times that I found myself feeling like I was searching for far too long, actually struggling to locate something.

While working through a scenario itвЂ™s helpful to check the map view to find the where the next stop or activity will take place. Often, the track switching, signals, and AI trains in these scenarios are all preset for the player as they progress.ДЄlong the expansive and beautiful Southern China route. Tasks vary with the situation, and include things like picking up and dropping off freight cars, or maintaining a schedule between stations along a route. Often these text dialogs are chained together, with the appropriate text dialog appearing automatically as the scenario progresses. Starting up a scenario offers the choice of DCC or Cab Control, and from there usually opens with a text dialog providing an overview of the scenario goals and conditions.

Most of these scenarios are very approachable in their presentation, though this doesnвЂ™t mean they are all easy. The majority of my gameplay time was spent in the various scenarios within the вЂњSessionsвЂќ menu.