Releases
The first major update to ''RailWorks'' was ''RailWorks 2: Train Simulator'', released on Steam (service), Steam on 18 October 2010 under the name ''RailWorks 2''. Retail versions were released later that year. The new version contained a range of new features and enhancements, including enhanced menus, the new RS Cab Control driver interface and new RS Career System scenarios. Players could earn Steam Achievements for completing scenarios, as well as compete and compare scores online via Steam Leaderboards. It also featured level crossing animations, among other improvements. ''RailWorks 2'' featured the same routes and content as the original game, and only one new route: TestTraK, based on the Test and validation centre, a German testing facility owned by Siemens Mobility used for technical acceptance tests and approvals of locomotives and rolling stock. Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of the original ''RailWorks'' received a free upgrade to the ''RailWorks 2'' core technology via the Steam platform. ''RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012'' was released on Steam on 23 September 2011 under the name ''Train Simulator 2012''. Retail versions were released later that year. It contained a number of improvements and new features, including a new user interface, action-oriented loading screens, the new TSX game engine with Multi-core processor, multi-core and Fast approximate anti-aliasing, FXAA support and many graphical improvements (including extended draw distance, improved lighting and shadows, enhanced sky and water effects, new depth of field camera focus effect and particle effects, (e.g. rain drops on locomotive windows with working wipers), Cant (road/rail), superelevation to allow simulation of curved tracks, improved track unevenness and cab camera movement increasing with speed, improved editing tools and others. The base package contained nine routes, and those who purchased from Steam or purchased the retail ''Deluxe Edition'', also received the Horseshoe Curve (Pennsylvania), Horseshoe Curve route. Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of ''RailWorks 2'' received a free upgrade to the ''TS2012'' core technology via the Steam platform. ''Train Simulator 2013'' was released on Steam in two editions. The ''Standard Edition'', available for a limited time, was released on 20 September 2012. The ''Deluxe Edition'' was released on 10 October 2012. Retail versions were available from October that year. New features and improvements included Xbox 360 Controller support, Relay Play mode allowing for users to combine efforts to complete scenarios (removed since ''Train Simulator 2014''), new menus and control options (including the new Quick Drive mode), updated HUD (video gaming), HUDs, improved 2D task map and support for a new community download center using the Steam (service)#Steam Workshop, Steam Workshop where players can share and download free user-created scenarios. It also featured enhanced graphics and performance improvements. A route included with previous versions, Hagen–Siegen, was heavily updated and renamed the Ruhr–Sieg railway, Ruhr–Sieg Line. Routes included with the ''Standard Edition'' were Sherman Summit, Sherman Hill, Brighton Main Line, London–Brighton, Northeast Corridor and Isle of Wight. The ''Deluxe Edition'' included Sherman Hill, London–Brighton and Munich–Augsburg railway, Munich–Augsburg. Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of ''Train Simulator 2012'' received a free upgrade to the ''TS2013'' core technology via the Steam platform. ''Train Simulator 2014'' was released on Steam in two editions. The ''Steam Edition'' was released on 26 September 2013, and the ''Standard Edition'' on 7 October 2013. Retail versions were available from 4 October that year. It featured a new menu system, better graphics including increased draw distance and headlight flares, a new camera system with user-adjustable Field of view, FOV, improved passenger appearance and behaviour, improved editing tools, expanded Quick Drive mode and an enhanced Career mode, letting players earn points towards medals, rewards and achievements. The new Engine Driver community website was made accessible in-game. The Steam Workshop feature was expanded to support free user-created routes, in addition to scenarios, and the new Marketplace was designed to make it simpler to share and obtain new third-party Commercial software, payware content. Routes included with the ''Standard Edition'' were Hanover–Hamburg railway, Hamburg–Hanover, Southeastern (train operating company), London–Faversham High Speed and Donner Pass, Donner Pass: Southern Pacific. Those who purchased the ''Steam Edition'', also received an additional seven-mile (11 km) Sheerness Line, Sheerness Branch line in Kent (an extension to the London–Faversham High Speed route) and two extra locomotives (British Rail Class 466, Class 466 and EMD SD70 series#SD70M (1992-2004), SD70M). Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of ''Train Simulator 2013'' received a free upgrade to the ''TS2014'' core technology via the Steam platform. ''Train Simulator 2015'', was released on Steam on 18 September 2014 as a ''Standard Edition'' and a ''Steam Edition''. Retail versions were available from 19 September that year. It introduced several improvements and a learning mode called TS Academy, a training area designed to introduce new players to the series quickly and easily. Routes included with the ''Standard Edition'' were East Coast Main Line, East Coast Main Line: London–Peterborough, Northeast Corridor, Northeast Corridor: New York–New Haven and Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen railway, Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Those who purchased the ''Steam Edition'', also received the Pacific Surfliner, Pacific Surfliner: LA–San Diego route and two extra locomotives (EMD F59PH#F59PH, Los Angeles Commuter Rail F59PH and EMD F59PH#F59PHI, San Diego Commuter Rail F59PHI). Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of ''Train Simulator 2014'' received a free upgrade to the ''TS2015'' core technology via the Steam platform. ''Train Simulator 2016'' was released on Steam on 17 September 2015 as ''Train Simulator 2016: Steam Edition''. This version provides a selection of new 'extreme' challenges set across a variety of different eras with the addition of the long-requested "Railfan" feature, which lets players create and play scenarios in which the only objective is to watch the trains go by from a vantage point (so-called "Railfanning" or "Trainspotting"). ''Train Simulator 2017'' was released on Steam on 16 September 2016. A limited edition of ''Train Simulator 2017'', called ''Pioneers Edition'', was available for players until 7 December 2016. The ''Pioneers Edition'' included two bonuses: a bonus route, Semmeringbahn: Mürzzuschlag to Gloggnitz and the ability to have beta access to ''Train Sim World, Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul'', an Unreal Engine 4 made game that was released in early 2017. The beta access to ''Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul'' started at 8 December 2016 at around 6pm GMT. ''Train Simulator 2018'' was announced on 23 October 2017, and was released on 16 November 2017. ''Train Simulator 2019'' was released on 11 October 2018. This version introduced a 64-bit core, making the game able to use more memory and generally have better stability. The game comes with 3 routes and 2 route extensions; Soldier Summit and Salt Lake City Extension, the Rhine Railway and Frankfurt High Speed Extension, and the re-worked Portsmouth Direct Line, now including London Waterloo station. ''Train Simulator 2020'', released on 19 September 2019, comes with three routes: Nuremberg & Regensburg, South West Main Line, South Western Main Line: Southampton – Bournemouth and Norfolk Southern N-Line. It also comes with some graphical improvements, and filters for taking photos in-game. ''Train Simulator 2021,'' released on 17 September 2020. This version introduces Steam Workshop integration, letting players browse and download Workshop scenarios without having to exit the game. This year's edition comes with three routes: Kiel–Lübeck railway, Norddeutsche-bahn: Kiel – Lübeck, Clinchfield Railroad, the Fife Circle Line. The ''Deluxe Edition'' also includes a new route, the West Coast Main Line, West Coast Main Line South: London Euston – Birmingham. In March 2021, the game received an update that improves route loading times.Features
The game features Steam locomotive, steam, Diesel locomotive, diesel and Electric locomotive, electric traction trains; keyboard, mouse or gamepad control of throttles, brakes and switches with Simple and Expert driving models for varying player skills. A variety of scenarios are available for Standard and Career modes, as well as an exploratory style Free Roam mode. Quick Drive mode allows a player to pick a train (or to put together their own by snapping together cars), choose a route, set departure and destination stations and decide on the time of day, the season and the weather. Cargo and passengers are animated, and weather changes dynamically with time. Steam Workshop allows players to upload and download additional user-created routes and scenarios.Editing tools
A complete suite of tools is also available to create custom content. This allows players to create their own custom routes and scenarios with the in-game editor, or to create custom rolling stock and other 3D assets that can be imported in game via the Blueprint Editor. The route editor has the ability to import Digital elevation model, Digital Elevation Model data (DEM) to shape the terrain and has a built in Google Maps overlay. These two tools massively simplify creation of real world routes. Track laying is spline-based, giving almost unlimited freedom over the track shape. The scenario editor lets players create their own custom scenario, with a defined set of instruction, like having to make passenger stops, shunting and various other tasks. Scenarios can also have scripting, making simulation of possible failures and other unexpected events possible. The Blueprint Editor lets creators import their models and textures into the game. With this tool, creators can import pretty much anything in the game, like custom skyboxes, ground textures, track, roads, vegetation, buildings, track linked object (like signals) and various other scenery assets, and of course rolling stock too.Downloadable content
Various add-ons are available for ''Train Simulator'', containing routes and rolling stock units for Quick Drive use, as well as scenarios for Standard, Career and Free Roam modes. Add-ons directly created by Dovetail Games can be found on Steam as DLC. The game is infamous for the sheer amount of DLC available on Steam, costing over $10,000 in its entirety.Third party add-ons
Thanks to the freely available editing suite, Train Simulator has quite a large third-party creator community which has increased in influence and popularity in the past couple of years, with there being many Third-party software component, third party add-on developers for ''Train Simulator'', that produce both paid and free content. While third party content is mostly found on the authors' own websites or the various Train Simulator mod hubs, payware third party content an also be published on Steam as DLC, thanks to Dovetail Games' Partner Programme. Some of the more established third party payware creators are: UK content: Alan Thomson Simulation, Armstrong Powerhouse, Bossman Games, Caledonia works, Digital Traction, Just Trains, Steam Sounds Supreme, Victory Works, Major Wales Design. German/Austrian content: 3DZug, Aerosoft, Railworks Austria, RSSLO, The Forge, Train Sim Germany, virtualRailroads. American content: Digital Train Model, G-TraX, Reppo, Searchlight Simulations, Smokebox, Travel By Train. Rest of the world content: ChrisTrains (Netherlands), TrainworX (Switzerland), Rivet Games (Switzerland), Union Workshop (Japan/China). As said above, a lot of freeware content can be found on Train Sim mod hubs. These are the biggestCritical reception
IGN gave ''RailWorks'' a seven out of ten or "good" stating that the game "doesn't bring a lot of new stuff to the genre" and graphically "lacks the high-end flair of today's top-level titles". On 17 March 2011, it was announced that ''RailWorks 2'' had won the award for Simulation of the Year 2010 by readers of ''Game Industry News'' (GiN).References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Train Simulator (Dovetail Games) 2009 video games Windows games Windows-only games Train simulation video games Video games developed in the United Kingdom Lua (programming language)-scripted video games Video games with Steam Workshop support Video games set in the 1960s Video games set in the 1970s Video games set in 1955 Video games set in 1990 Video games set in 1998 Video games set in 2005 Video games set in 2006 Video games set in 2009 Video games set in 2010 Video games set in 2011 Video games set in 2012 Video games set in 2013 Video games set in 2014 Video games set in 2015 Video games set in 2016 Video games set in Germany Video games set in New Jersey Video games set in Nevada Video games set in Pennsylvania Video games set in the United Kingdom Video games set on the Isle of Wight Video games set in the United States