MSTS, Open Rails, Editors, etc

[railfan101]

Rediscovering Open Rails has rejuvenated my interest in MSTS. I primarily use Railworks now because it makes everything look more real, at least to me anyway. MSTS now reminds me of a cartoonish sim by comparison. but that won't deter me from jumping in again. Jumping in again now has me asking a few questions in regards to using the sim, the editors, in conjuntion with open rails.

First off, let me say on my computer, Win 8, i5 processor, 8G RAM, i get framerates near 100, and on the PRR, framerates are in the high 50s. First question, because my computer is a Win 8 machine (8.1 to be exact) are the editors even usable? I know the main sim is useless on Win 8 and i won't waste a lot of time trying to make that work. But are the editors even remotely useable? if not, is there any way to modify or make new activities on windows 8 machine with open rails?

I hope so, because there is a lot i want to do with it since i now can run MSTS content again with open rails.

[conductorchris]

There is a lot of cartoonish work for msts/or, even now, but there is also really stunning work that is the quality you find in railworks. You can be discerning about what you add.

It's also possible to port rolling stock from railworks into msts/OR with a bit of effort (distribution is subject to copyright of course).

MSTS can work with windows 8, but it depends on which video card you have. If you want to use the route editor and the activity editor, you need the whole package to work.

A nice consist editor is Yardmaster. A new version just got released. It can modify activities to an extent. The activity modifying programs from Skyline computing should work fine. So does route riter.

That leaves you short of a route editor and a full blown activity editor if you can't use msts. Open Rails folks are planning on making one, but it will no doubt be awhile.

[railfan101]

thanks. i'll look into those. i'm also going to try and get back into content creation.

[slipperman]

Hi Tom,

MSTS now reminds me of a cartoonish sim by comparison

That COULD be the fuse for a new flame war - but I hope not!

Cheers,
Ged

[railfan101]

Hi Tom,

That COULD be the fuse for a new flame war - but I hope not!

Cheers,
Ged

[/COLOR]

*bangs head in fustration*

thanks a lot.

[baldwin]

Don't forget that this cartoonish sim was on the market years before these other rail games. They have had the advantage of newer software to run on while being developed. Having said that, there are MSTS models that are at least as good as, if not better than some of those made for the other games in town.

As for your computer and the MSTS editors, if the game runs then so will the editors.

[railfan101]

Don't forget that this cartoonish sim was on the market years before these other rail games. They have had the advantage of newer software to run on while being developed. Having said that, there are MSTS models that are at least as good as, if not better than some of those made for the other games in town.

As for your computer and the MSTS editors, if the game runs then so will the editors.

it's unfortunute then that the sim will not run on windows 8. i may have to attempt to locate an older computer with win 7

[slipperman]

Hi Tom,
MSTS WILL run under Windows 8 / 8.1, so long as you're using an NVidia graphics card - well, it did the week before last

But, this is an Open Rails Forum, so we shouldn't be discussing the ins and outs of MSTS!!

Cheers,
Ged

[railfan101]

sorry. just thought it was relevant since you can't edit anything before conductorchris informed me of alternatives. it's also the only sim i own that runs proper njt equipment.

[eric]

If you're running into problems with specific equipment, and it's repeatable/consistent to recreate, try either opening up a bug trackers or share here what equipment is giving you a problem and under what circumstances.

It's possible someone has already fixed your problem with a modification to an ENG file, or that it could be addressed in the codebase.

[lindsayts]

it's unfortunute then that the sim will not run on windows 8. i may have to attempt to locate an older computer with win 7

Just in case its of interest, MSTS runs OK on Wine under Line, I believe the graphics are not quite as good for the main sim but the editor and tools work perfectly. I use Debian testing i386 (32 bit) and currently Wine 1.6. Installing MSTS as not quite as easy as in Windows as LInux will not allow the MSTS CD's to be changed automatically, therefore one must do it on the command line.

WIne is an application inteface layer for Linux to allow Windows programs to run , these days generally works quite well and does not require one owning any version of Windows.

One can get Wine which is a 32 bit program to run OK on Linux AMD64 (64 bit). there being a writen procedure on how to install Wine under Debian AMD64.

Lindsay

[railfan101]

If you're running into problems with specific equipment, and it's repeatable/consistent to recreate, try either opening up a bug trackers or share here what equipment is giving you a problem and under what circumstances.

It's possible someone has already fixed your problem with a modification to an ENG file, or that it could be addressed in the codebase.

The equipment isn't the problem. the problem is MSTS won't run natively on windows 8. This has been addressed already, i have been given options on how to make msts, now i am sorting through options and i will figure out what i'm going to do.

I appreciate the help of everyone who pitched in their ideas here. I had thought it was relevent to discuss msts working in open rails since that's what open rails does, makes it so msts can be used even in windows 8. This issue will have to be put on the back burner for now, i've got a huge hurtle in my job i have to get through and i can't let stuff like this distract me from that. thanks for your help everyone.