Retro Games - Hornby Virtual Railway 2 (year 2000). Should this be brought back on GOG?

[@modelrailwaysandme]

I used this software to help me with my current model railway layout, I also did a video recently covering the first program that predates this one, though it actually came around around 2001 with HVR coming out in 2003. I do have the expansion packs of the first program no longer available

[@bluewizard]

I had a feeling that release dates weren't correct as I saw conflicting dates on various websites but decided just to go with what Hornby said on their website in the end. And good to hear someone did use the software to help create a real layout. I wasn't sure if it had ever really been used in this way.

[@cvic9842]

i spent so many hours on this when i was young, holy heck

[@BeastyBill88]

Holy shit I remember this! You used to get the CD with certain train sets, I think I have the CD somewhere from all my Hornby stuff I brought back in the mid-late 2000's 😁

[@simpsonsim07]

I remember getting it with on of the virgin train sets

[@BeastyBill88]

@@simpsonsim07 I remember getting it with the Western Pullman set many many years ago 😅

[@furonguy42]

I spent _so much_ time in HVR2 as a kid. In recent years, I've tried to find newer software that does similar things, but it seems these days, if you want something like this, it's a choice between either something that's less user-friendly or something that offers less variety in what you can make. Honestly just wish Hornby would commission a remaster of this and rerelease it for modern Operating Systems; whether that includes updating it to feature contemporary scenery, locomotives and rolling stock products, or just stick with what was available in 2000 and ditch the direct link to the Hornby shopping basket.

[@thesouthernlad30541]

the very first train game i played, brought back so many memory's

[@pow1983]

If Hornby modernised this, I could see many ways in which it could work alongside the physical product

[@kieranlochran1843]

To answer the question to the title of the video Short answer: Yes! Long answer: Hell yes!

[@EWAAAR]

Haha. I remember playing this gem in days gone by.

[@BuggleskellyStation]

My teenage self spent hours on this game. I've still got it somewhere on disc so might have to see if it works with Windows 10

[@REDARROW_A_Personal]

I still have this on disk up on my shelf with other computer games I brought before I got Steam.

[@True_NOON]

Wow , recorded on my [Data Expunged]

[@absentchronicler9063]

i never knew you used linux, that''s awesome! love the video.

[@bluewizard]

Finally Installed Fedora (Nobara OS) on my gaming pc around 9 months ago. No real issues so far. The odd update breaks things and then the next update fixes it again much like windows. Have been using Mint on my work pc and laptop for a few years and have a Steam Deck so it's all natural to use. Im dual booting on my gaming pc so if I need to do a video using Windows I can but I hardly log into windows.

[@ianharvey2395]

As you say, dated but fun. Actually, I think not bad for early naughties!

[@bluewizard]

I really wasn't expecting the bogies to turn. Modern games like Model rail Easily or the just released Train Yard Builder don't do this. Theres no real excuse for them not to have the feature when a game from 2000 does

[@ph4ntomtr4in]

I sometimes how accurately you can make an actual layout to what you make in the game. I would assume there's no way it will actually serve as a way to plan for a future railway, but I guess I could be wrong. Maybe one day I can try it and see how it goes.

[@bluewizard]

In theory it could have been used. It depends on how accurate the sizes of everything is in the game. If it matches up to real life then its viable. The other issue is its a little clunky. I mention in the video maybe re-releasing it on Gog but if they did that the controls would need a freshen up. I think for track planning these days there's other better software out there. A quick search brought up this: anyrail.com. Paid software that allows you build design tracks from many companies including Hornby

[@kadenrobinson7067]

I never knew about this game

[@bluewizard]

Have a feeling you might not be the only one

[@thomasawl]

I still have my disk copy lol

[@brickleyyard4966]

Hahahaha market leader my ass I found thi to be naff when it was first released and its still naff 😅😅😅

[@bluewizard]

It's very dated but I think it has it's charm