Quick Review

[plicpriest1]

Hello all,
I decided to do a review of 2 of my newer toys. One is for the Run 8 train sim and one for the RailDriver. Note to all: this is not a way of bashing anything, just pure honesty! Hay a little info cant hurt right? Besides I didnt know about some of them until somebody on this forum mentioned it to me.

First for Run 8: If you are like me and like technicalities with trains this sim is for you. Here is the pro and con list:
Pro:
1. Realistic opperation (no really, have to start the locos, operate the locos correctly, consider the whole train behind you)
2. Air breaks have a realistic feel to them (for a long train it will take a long time to recharge the break pipe)
3. Multi Player (though I havent played with it yet so no word about it)
4. Sounds are really good (the sounds the loco makes while driving it, horn too)

Cons:
1. Documentation is poor. Info is on their forum. (quick story: Registered for forum, have to wait for an admin to approve me, admin never does. Not sure why? Try to login 2 weeks later, forum acts like I dont exist. I re register, still waiting to be approved. Note you cannot view anything on their forum unless you are an approved member. All my knowledge has therefore come from hard earned research elsewhere)
2. Graphics (though in their defense the game is a WIP, besides realistic operation and not visual art are the objectives)
3. Routes (only one route Bakersfield to Barstow- More routes coming!)

Basically if you are on the fence or do not know about it, check it out. I like it and have fun with it.

Now for the Rail Driver, if you dont have it then get it! This is an order! The thing is great. It works with just about every train simulator out there now and adds alot of realism and feel to your driving. Check it out. You wont be able to go back. To be honest though the thing does cost about $200. Steep but worth it IMHO.

Well thats all. If you have any specific questions I will do my best to answer them.

Brian

[CSX2057]

You have a point there

Here's my expression:
1. They like to keep it on a low profile.
2. Customer service is okay (not 3DTrains ) . The admin doesn't like me very much, he corrects my post titles for no good reason. I posted a picture one of his friends from the studio that I like to say good things on the forums and he takes it off.
3. They only accept Mastercard and Visa. I have American Express! Hopefully they'll have more cards to accept...even paypal. If not, then they lose me as their customer and I don't wanna do that.
4. One route? Boring! It was fun at first but not fun when you drive a NS, CSX or NC on that route. Makes me feel bad cause none of them run through there as a lead engine.

Joystick?
I found a program that can work but its just not the same, Saitek throttles? Not recommended! I don't think the Admin will take my advice by adding joysticks or throttles in the simulator.

Like plicpriest1 said: You do need Raildriver! So I'm gonna save a bunch of money on my Driver's insurance by switching to Raildriver.

Just for the record, I bought another throttle, I'm not using Raildriver for railworks, only Run 8 (its a must for me) I didn't however tried out the Multiplayer because I got bored on that route. The loop is nice and all but its just too much desert. I'm just sayin from my feelings, not to say anything bad about Run 8 because I don't.

I give run 8 on the scale of 1 to 10:
7

[1225fan5358]

I was curious so I applied for the forums twice, and apparently, rejected twice, cause I used two emails, two usernames, 1 month apart, NO RESPONSE! AWESOME! Gotta LOVE that flawless customer service! And seriously, LOW LOW LOW profile if that's how its gonna be.

[artimrj]

I had a Raildriver given to me as a gift when it first came out by one of my MSTS VR members. I used it for a few months then put it in the closet. It got in the way of everything else I do. I had to move my keyboard out of the way to be able to type on it and overall it just ended up being a royal PITA. So I gave it away to a friend of mine in Australia. As far as I know he never did use it. It wasn't for me. But if you like gadgets it might be for you. If you can I suggest you find someone else who has one that is close to you and try it before you go and spend $200 bucksonit.

One other feature of it no one talks about is you can get a module for it to run your model HO railroad with it. But I went to DCC so I had no se for it there either. Their tech support for it is also great. I had a broken spring in mine and they sent me a replacement out with in a week. They also answeredany questions I ever had wit the right answers too.

[buzz456]

I am happy with my keyboard and the HU. This ain't like flying a plane where you have to steer. I love RailWorks and think we have come a LONG way since I got involved back in 2010 or whenever. The grass is not always greener. This is the best deal going if you balance ALL things out, including the most positive freindliest forum for any sim.

[plicpriest1]

True story,
the grass isnt always greener. Id suggest perhaps a different shade though . I like the idea of having to start your own locos and all but one thing I did notice about run 8: you cant die!!! Or in other words no derailing (at any speed: I got it up to 215mph and never derailed), and no collisions with parked trains. You just go through them.

I like Rail Simulator. Great scenery and lots of community. I just wish that RS would put the Genesis back on the market!!!!!!!!!!! I missed my opportunity to get it the first time and have been kicking myself for that. Dont get me wrong I like the F40 but I really want the Genesis.

Also I like Run 8 because it is not on steam. Personally not a fan. Why? Because I dont have the internet at my apartment. I have to lug my PC to the inlaws any time I want to update. Then put it into offline mode and lug it back home. So far so good... but now the amount of time I can be in offline mode is limited. If I keep my computer on indefinably no problem. If I shut it down after a week and go to restart it BAM cant play my RS. Off to the inlaws again. Think greek myth where some poor individual was doomed to roll a boulder up a hill for all eternity (sisyphus).

Brian

[buzz456]

Drama.

[fecrails]

I am happy with my keyboard and the HU. I love RailWorks ......This is the best deal going if you balance ALL things out, including the most positive freindliest forum for any sim.

Hear,Hear!

[CSX2057]

Oh I forgot!

When you guys sign up in the forums you have to use your real email, they don't accept gmail, yahoo, hotmail and idk what else. You need to use your ISP email like windstream, at&t, Juno, Netzero stuff like that. When I changed my email from windstream to juno they accept it because thats my only real one because we changed to Charter cable.

[Chacal]

WTF?
I vaguely remember I have an e-mail account with my provider, but I wouldn't even know how to use it. Haven't used it for at least 10 years.

[CSX2057]

!*hp*!
WTF?
I vaguely remember I have an e-mail account with my provider, but I wouldn't even know how to use it. Haven't used it for at least 10 years.

Same here. My bro used Juno for over 14 years. You can use it as well. They know its real cause I told them. Hopefully it'll work for you.

[Chacal]

No need to, I have no intention of buying this.

[arizonachris]

This mess is why I'm not gonna bother with Run 8. I have both Net Zero and G Mail. Why don't they accept a G Mail address? Besides, RW has grown so much of late, it's really getting it's feet on the ground. And, only one route? Serious?

[CSX2057]

I hear ya, before I do buy Raildriver they better accept my American Express card otherwise, its a no deal. Thats how I do business.

I love RailWorks and think we have come a LONG way since I got involved back in 2010 or whenever. The grass is not always greener. This is the best deal going if you balance ALL things out, including the most positive freindliest forum for any sim.

Me too Buzz! I bought Railsimulator CD in 2010 then bought cajon pass expansion later on. Loved it when I first drove it! Then I heard Railworks, same company. It was a 4th of July sale and cost about $35. My bro told me there was another train sim, Trainz! They include the Expansion pack for $30. I said no, I want Railworks. Gave my money to my bro, bought it and I never regretted. I joined railworks america in 2011.

[artimrj]

They dont accept Gmail as anyone can get a gmail account. When I had 60 spammers in 10 minutes logging in here a few weeks ago, they all had Gmail accounts. The next worst one is AOL.

American Express has the highest surcharge of all credit cards. Business's do not like to accept them in a lot of places.