jamesphh wrote:The question is - is this now a game for 8 year olds?
Hi to everybody
I have ventured away from my usual UK posting grounds to say hello to all you RWA enthusiasts. This move 'abroad' has been inspired by the fabulous models that RSC have been producing recently for the US routes and I have to say that driving these monster (to us anyway) locos and trains is a particularly satisfying experience. Each new model created by RSC is better than the last and with constant development of the program, we are sure to see consistent and sometimes dramatic improvements year on year.
I occasionally take along a laptop and a Large Screen TV to Model Model Railway Exhibitions and let the visitors have a go of TS2013 and I can say that this is a game enjoyed not only by 8 years olds but some much younger than that as well. 3 year olds can have great fun with this simulation ... sitting in a chair with their chins almost on the keyboard, all they have to be able to do is use the mouse to move the controls and press the space key to blow the horn/whistle regularly to gain maximum enjoyment. With parents looking on and occasional concerned remarks such as 'Don't touch the keyboard James' coming out of the blue followed by a careful wiping of fingers with a Wet Wipe after having watched James pick his nose in between whistle blows, great fun is had by all.
At the other end of the scale are the retired folks who take a little longer to accept the technology but hang around a while to see what it is all about. Sometimes they take the plunge and have a go and after being guided through a small shunting puzzle or taking a mile long freight train over the Donner Pass they start to appreciate what it is all about. I would add that I find there is much interest in the UK for US routes, it is probably because everything is so much bigger.
So, TS2104 looks like being the best ever version of this program and a free upgrade to all that already own the core program as well. There are some really nice new features for all those that just play the game and much to encourage creative users to get their heads down to route, scenario and asset creation to share with others or just for themselves.
With over 40 people working on this simulation in the Historic Naval Town of Chatham and around the UK and added contributions from 3rd party developers around the world, the future of this program looks brilliant. A great club to belong to.
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) ability to alter platform density to be time sensitive.