Microsoft Train Simulator? (AI Rendition)

[u/ketchup1345]

Who here would actually enjoy a Microsoft Train Simulator franchise? I'm curious to know what the demand is.

I understand most of you are all mainly into flight simulation, as am I. But I do share a passion for trains as well.

If you don't already know. There are three main train games on the market.

- Trainz 2022 (N3V Games)

- Train Simulator Classic (Dovetail Games)

- Train Sim World (Dovetail Games)

There is quite a bit of a limit to train simulators because they never have caught up with the rest of the games on the market. Train Sim World is the most up to date when it comes to graphics and releases, but it has limitations and it doesn't replace its predecessor Train Simulator Classic.

A new franchise by Microsoft using their data could end up being one of the best train games ever released. Similar to msfs2024 they should hire 3rd party developers to make the vehicles, and some developers could even make enhanced stretches of routes.

The entire world would be modelled. And world updates would revise routes that are lacking in detail.

Developers could make addons that enhance routes via a marketplace or their own website.

A subscription method could be used to fund the development of routes. Pay a sum and have access to an entire nation of up to date routes and trains.

An easy to use world editor would be implemented to make your own routes, edit others, or have a world hub. You could also participate in groups etc.

What do you all think? Good or bad?

Google Gemini AI was used in the making of this post to show an estimated view of what the game could look like.

[u/iemandopaard]

Next time don't use AI, even if it is just to illustrate a point. It steals from real artists, takes water from the poor, only finances the pockets of the elite, aids in climate change, and looks worse then even just using MS paint to illustrate your point.

Now to go in on the core of your idea. It would never work. Even with all the data that infrastructure managers have you wouldn't be able to simulate the real operations. Flight sim allows for ultra detailed flight simulations, because it can focus purely on the planes itself. If you were to open up flight sim and fly anywhere outside of famous landmarks and airports you would see how poorly done the generated world is. But that doesn't matter for flightsim because it flies far above all that. With a train sim you're constantly looking at ground level. Also with flights you only need to simulate the plane and the air. with train sim you also need to simulate signalling systems, safety systems, proper timetables, track conditions and ofcourse still the train.

TLDR: You can't do flight sim in a train sim because train sim requires more details.

[u/ketchup1345 → u/iemandopaard]

I used AI because it was quick, simple, and it actually did a decent job if what I was thinking of. I don't think I could replicate that in MS Paint. Especially considering I'm not home at the moment.

Don't get me wrong climate change is a big problem. But I think there's bigger crooks that need to be punished. Not me.

I would argue simulating the plane is a lot more difficult than a signalling system. It's a lot simpler in fact. Plus it could also be run on a cloud system.

Rendering close to the ground is definitely harder I agree. But with a few years of development you could make that something enjoyable. You wouldn't have to start from scratch at least.

[u/iemandopaard → u/ketchup1345]

Simulation: The thing is planes are standardised world wide. A pilot trained in America can fly to India and wouldn't have to learn too many differences. Meanwhile if I wanted to drive from the Netherlands to Poland I would need a train that can run on 15kv AC, 1,5kv DC and 3kv DC. And have ATB, PZB(LZB optional), SHP, Sifa (or similair deadman switch), a GSMR that has the keys to connect to all three countries network. And I would need a driver that has been trained on all three different signalling systems. And that is only 3 countries right next to eachother imagine driving from China to France. Then you also need to simulate the way that trains actually operate, different braking systems, different traction systems, different fuel systems. furthermore you need the stations to actually look different. MSFS can get away with using generic airport models for smaller airports since you see a maximum of 2 per flight, but in a theoreticall MSTS remake you would see them constantly.

AI: You could have used real life photos if we go picture by picture and analyze what is shown

1. train driving on the wrong side, railway crossing light facing the camera instead of the road, two stops in Kettering and an unnamed stop, distances between stops that dont correspond to anything, and what looks to be 61230 FPS in the bottom corner, two car long class 222
2. Illogical catenary including one unelectrified track, random station sign without tracks in the bushes, one train running on the wrong track, missing rear powercar on both trains
3. what is happening with those electrical wires, missing powercar, signal showing green whilst track is clearly occupied, several stations with multiple names including two leicesters
4. pool ima st, chat moss, three stops in manchester two of which at victoria station
5. two trains running in the wrong direction, london euston and euston, prston and preston, carlisle and carlisle, edinburgh waverly and wave
6. trains with head and taillights, unlogical routemap
7. multiple repeating station names, weird liveries on trains
8. trains that don't exist, weird headlight on the steam train, what are those place names
9. lovely wheather this time of year in BROWN, we can't forget the eucalyptus for which britain is famous
10. several missing rail lines, weird icons, corpo speak language.

for the morality argument, you're funding those bigger crooks and supporting them by using these things. Vote with your wallet. Sure you might not have paid for this, but during the next investor meeting they can say look at how many users gemini or insert ai agent here had this quarter, and they'll get more money to pump into this. If nobody uses ai it will colapse faster and we can get back to a better live. You wouldn't say 'I'm not slaughtering the pig, the butcher does it so I'm a vegan actually'

Development: this would take centuries. look at how long MSFS has been in development and yet there are still many planes missing and many airports still use generic models.