The Cancelled Microsoft Train Simulator 2

21 years ago today in 2001, Microsoft Train Simulator, commonly known as MSTS, released for Windows PC. MSTS is one of the oldest contemporary train simulators that still maintains an online presence. While a bit archaic today, it laid the foundation for the modern train simulators we have today like Trainz Railroad Simulator, Train Simulator, and Train Sim World. MSTS was the first train simulator to make use of a free roaming playstyle offering activities for players ranging from picking up and dropping off freight and passengers along with switching operations. However, did you know there was a sequel planned for MSTS? Simply known as Train Simulator 2, TS2 was set to improve upon what MSTS started and provide a modernized and high detail train simulation experience. The question remains though, why did Microsoft's Train Simulator 2 never release?
Chapters:
0:00 Intro to MSTS
1:57 The First Attempt
4:29 Kuju's Rail Simulator
5:37 The Second Attempt
9:16 Post-Cancellation & OpenRails
10:57 Conclusion
12:11 Credits
Music Used:
Sonic CD - Stardust Speedway P Mix
Super Mario Odyssey - New Donk City (Daytime)
Deltarune - Spamton
Kirby and the Forgotten Land - A Trip to Alivel Mall
Super Mario Odyssey - Steam Gardens
Undertale - It's Raining Somewhere Else
Sonic Advance - Character Select
Team Fortress 2 - Upgrade Station
Team Fortress 2 - Rocket Jump Waltz
Kirby's Dream Course - Space Valley
Links:
Twitter: / amtrakguy365
Instagram: / amtrakguy365
Flickr: www.flickr.com/people/1424538...
My Site: amtrakguy365.weebly.com/

[@PannierLaw]

The fact BNSF 4723 still carries that MTS decal to this day is amazing.

[@Infrared73]

I was curious and searched for images and was happy to see that as well.

[@TheBeeMan1994]

@@Infrared73 Saw a picture of it taken yesterday actually

[@RailsofForney]

My parents were on a road trip once and they actually took a photo of 4723 THAT STILL HAD THE STICKER and that just made my brain panic…

[@smipy]

@@RailsofForney 🤣

[@radanju3]

That's a good thing.

[@slepey_]

Imagine if it weren’t cancelled, it could’ve had the same fate as Flight Sim. It would’ve been so cool.

[@bjornlillpers498]

You have to wonder if the TS2 files are still sitting on some forgotten harddrive anywhere, and how close to being finished it might have been. I'm still to this day intrigued by the "world of rails" system, especially considering how close to reality the scenery is in today's Microsoft Flight simulator.

[@handlemonium]

Well there's Kuju Rail Simulator series published by EA....😏

[@dugenpippenger4811]

I know where they are, I contaced cascade game studios, former aces, they have all been turned over to dovetails games

[@HONEmusicINT]

The cancellation still hurts today, MSTS 2 had the one thing I always wanted in a train sim with the World Of Rails feature. Now, even 13 years later, we're all still stuck with sims that can only do snippets of routes here and there. You'd think with todays tech, a dev would have attempted doing it again, but nope, the current business model of selling single routes is where the money is apparently.

[@LegoWormNoah101]

Not to mention selling a single locomotive for $20, but maybe that's just Dovetail

[@SCL3618]

Nicely done! Glad some of my ancient videos could be of use lol. As unlikely as it is, would still love to see MSTS come back for a final round.

[@joeymccoy2314]

I've played MSTS for almost 15 years and did added Open Rails. I did enjoyed it big time. Customizing sounds, consist, skins and even download new contents. 17.5GBs or 79,000++ files of downloaded and edited files. I really want to play MSTS back, but my computer had corrupted back in 2018-19. Since then, I never want to redownload the game back because I lost hope after the corruption. Hopefully someday, I will shine back to play this game back. Kudos man for this nostalgic game review.

[@quillmaurer6563]

Maybe you could get some of the same experiences with OpenRails? If you can install MSTS on the same computer, even if the computer can't run it but has the files there, it would be able to run the old MSTS content, and for the most part you'd feel like you're there again.

[@AlexanderSkinnerVids]

I remember seeing the MSTS2 demo footage when it came out and was so excited. Thankfully, we now have Run 8, made by a LOT of the old team!

[@PowerTrain611]

There's even a mod for Run 8 V3 that repaints the new Dash 9 into the MSTS logo unit. Pretty cool!

[@jossdeiboss]

I didn't know about Run 8! Will definetely check!

[@trainknut]

I thought Run 8 was made by the 3dTrainStuff and 3dTrains teams though?

[@PowerTrain611]

@@trainknut It is. Guess they renamed their group or joined them.

[@dougkightley8120]

I was privelidged to see a demo of MSTS2, in particular the World of Rails WIP in November 2007 in Seattle and was blown away by how far ahead of the competitors it would have been then...and probably now! Like everyone else, I was gutted at the closure and really felt the agony the dev team went through having been thrown out on their ears!

[@sirrliv]

I still have my original 2-disc set of MSTS that my parents bought for me, along with my first ever gaming PC especially to run it, all the way back in 2001. I've been a train sim fan ever since.

[@PrekiFromPoland]

I bought a copy myself back in 2007 when I was 17-years-old lad with barely any allowance. It costed me 30 PLN (equivalent of 12 bucks in 2007). The best money spent on a single game - my collection of MSTS stuff totals at ~60 gigabytes as of now, mostly european add-ons. And thanks to Goku's TSRE5 editor I'm finally able to work on my dream project.

[@fireshorts5789]

still have mine as well though the 2nd disc stopped being readable a decade ago. :(

[@Unknown_Ooh]

Would love to see a new MSTS 3 with real world data from satellites and other data sources. Obviously it can't be the entire U.S. but there could be expansion packs that can connect together.

[@quillmaurer6563]

Would be interesting if they made such based on FS2020, that seems possible. The graphics of that game are so good close up you could pretty much have satellite and street maps populated with AI-generated scenery along any section of railroad and it would be decent, though they'd presumably have various sections of routes manually improved for included gameplay (much like FS2020 has for some airports). So the "activities" would be along certain routes, but you could drive on any real railroad that isn't part of such. I get the sense that was the intention with the FSX based TS2, but FSX graphics up close are really no better than the original 2001 Train Simulator. So you could drive anywhere but it would be ugly.

[@tf51d]

Why not? That was the goal for TS2 that you could operate a train cross continent and could overlay much more detailed accurate scenery on top of the default scenery just like you can in Flight Sim.

[@jimj2683]

@@quillmaurer6563 AI developing so fast now that such a game will be possible very soon. AI could rebuild based on satellite and street view photos and use materials/assets from unreal engine 5. Why not build a game like GTA on a global scale, but much more realistic.

[@quillmaurer6563]

@@jimj2683 Soon? I'd think it could be done now. I look at the Google Earth 3D view, that is so detailed if you're from a perspective over 500 feet above the ground it's almost indistinguishable from the same view from an airplane at the same height - and that's without even any AI enhancement. Granted that's just in urban areas where they've done such detailed imagery. With AI enhancement, it could probably build a virtual world so detailed it would be almost indistinguishable from reality. I could see a future train simulator being made by having a low-flying airplane or helicopter (or perhaps even drone) doing two passes along the route with cameras and LIDAR scanners, a quarter to half mile either side of the track, plus a Street View like camera rig mounted on a train going down the track itself. Maybe some drones fly around rail yards, industrial facilities, and other specific facilities that need everything in super-detail. All that imagery and 3D scans combined with AI interpretation could create an almost photorealistic rendition of the route - every bush and mailbox included and in the right place - without any manual scenery modeling whatsoever.

[@Benthetrainkid]

A noticable goof in MSTS 2 (second attempt) is that BNSF locomotives are seen leading on the Pittsburgh Line and that the Dash 9's interiors are designed as a standard cab interior rather than a widecab interior

[@chandlerbranchrailfanprodu5928]

Well stupid Microsoft was in a hurry to show the game so do you think they'd check their work?

[@TheLewistownTrainspotter8102]

@@chandlerbranchrailfanprodu5928 I want to assume they were going to include some Norfolk Southern engines in MSTS 2. (With the ability to drive both NS and BNSF engines making both Marias Pass and Horseshoe Curve believable; I've seen a fair amount of BNSF engines on the Pittsburgh Line as foreign power, typically on intermodal and oil trains).

[@chandlerbranchrailfanprodu5928]

Well you’re not wrong They did have plans to include a high hood sd40-2 and NS c44-9w Too bad they didn’t have any ex Conrail units

[@wiestbound]

Oh hey, finally got around to watching this. Good work, glad to see my photo was put to use! Still pains me this game never came out.

[@OwenConcorde]

This documentary is awesome and I wasn't expecting MSTS 2 to be covered, but thank you! I was looking forward to MSTS 2 when I first heard about it during my middle school years, but I was saddened by that, so I moved on to Rail Simulator. It was a while before I started Trainz with TRS2006 and been on Trainz ever since, but I just wonder how it would've been if Microsoft didn't close the ACES studio. I didn't hear about Open Rails until 2012 when things were starting be good I was starting my senior year in high school. If MSTS 2 would've came out, I would've had a blast driving around the Horseshoe Curve like my family's Altoona trip back in 2006 and I would've also gotten into German trains earlier, especially the ICE 3 because of the Cologne-Dusseldorf route. I'm not going to talk about the original MSTS which I had before my later sims and later gave it away, but I just would like to say my experiences of seeing MSTS 2 (the second attempt) getting cancelled.

[@vsetfan2024]

Oh Hi owen

[@stuartthurstan]

By far the most exciting aspect of the ill-fated MSTS2 was the world of rails concept. I cant help thinking that nowadays, with interest in the genre confirmed, a new train simulator using this world of rails concept, and based on the technology the new MS flight simulator uses, would be an amazing product.

[@yaboidspdadon5838]

It’s probably still coming once the finish with msfs2020 and use that concept which would be cool

[@BNSFGuy4723]

MSTS was my first train game. I remember doing a presentation on it back in kindergarten. We were supposed to share what we loved and I talked about MSTS 🤣 This was back in 2001. Memories

[@sheriff332]

r/usernamechecksout

[@alexdunn5673]

Still one of my favorite train simulators! I have the 'ol girl running on my Windows 10 computer, deleted the six default routes and installed Andre Ming's awesome routes.

[@ElaborateTiger]

Wow, that idea of using flight simulator world data for train simulator is something I was imagining myself. Never knew this was a real plan. It really sucks we never got to play it. With how good flight simulator 2020 looks I'm hoping we'll one day get a jack of all trades game with every road and rail track in the world and you'll be able to drive trucks, cars and trains anywhere.

[@pennsyrailfan]

As you could probably guess by my name, I'm rather disappointed about the lack of a MSTS Horseshoe Curve

[@AmtrakFlareon]

TSW recently released a Horseshoe Curve add-on. Which I think is cool…

[@jaredklock8754]

Start playing Run 8, they're making the Pittsburgh Line for it and the game is better than any other train simulator out there.

[@DRRP]

@@jaredklock8754 I've seen leaked photos of Donner pass for run 8 but nothing on a NS route I think it would be great to get one though

[@linkfan95]

I dont know if you play open rails or the orignal MSTS but there is a Pennsy addon someone made that focuses on not just horseshoe curve, but pretty much the entire eastern system. It's alot of fun and detailed to the brim.

[@jaredklock8754]

@@DRRP If you look in one of the sub-folders in the route folder for scenery they have files for PA.

[@petesopenrailsvideos]

It's a real shame we never got MSTS2 but I'm very happy with ORTS now. The guys keep working on updates and as far as the user customisation options go, that's what I want. The newer sims look fantastic but none of them have the user customisation elements that MSTS/ORTS offered/offer. It really comes down to what a person wants from their train sim, and in my case, it's being able to create my own content that keeps me very happy with ORTS.

[@Dexter037S4]

I'm into ORTS because Dovetail are complete scum and don't deserve my money, plus a hand of nostalgia and being able to operate the steam locomotives helps too.

[@nickguy5245]

I still remember playing the hell out of MSTS on my family desktop as a child. I had so much fun derailing trains as fast as I could get them to go

[@lty8893]

Me too. you are cute😂

[@thetechnocrat4979]

I still play MSTS (using the platform of Open Rails of course) and it is still so satisfying! The Indian Railfan community is still very active with it and some of the latest addons are very realistic and amazing.

[@mrbluegaming6208]

yes

[@Brandonbuilt]

I had hundreds of hours on this game back then, but most of them wasted being frustrated with constant crashing and activities that just never worked. It was ok if you mindlessly wanted to run a basic train from point a to point b. If you wanted to run long frieght trains with AI traffic it was simply too buggy and the dispatching signal system was too rudimentary.

[@RailsofForney]

I don’t know how, but while my parents were on a road trip through New Mexico, they actually say they saw 4723 on a long intermodal, and surely enough, in a photo they took, there was 4723 as the third unit on the head end of it! Even today, idk how this irony was even remotely close to happening.

[@martink8080]

Great to learn about the early days of train simulation. I too got on board with MSTS when it was the only train on track. Then Trainz happened and I never looked back. Its world editor (aka Surveyor) was hands down the best thing for creating your own routes. You're not stuck with driving just the routes they include. The ability to create your own content was also awesome if the wealth of free content made by other users was not what you needed. They continue to this day with the just released TRS2022.

[@SavvySage]

I never grew up with MSTS (I was more of a Railworks/Train Simulator Classic guy) but I always found its history to be quite fascinating. Keep up the good work!

[@atshinkansen7439]

I remember playing this game over a decade ago. Though I’ve always liked international railways, this game helped solidify my interest in the Orient Express and Japanese railways. MSTS may be long gone, but I still look to the Odawara and Hisatsu lines for reference and inspiration for my Japanese N scale layout.

[@piano_master_5246]

Ever since I lost all the MSFS files that I had been downloading, installing, implementing, programming, modifying, etc. for years, I no longer bother with playing games that you have to download loads of addons for in order for them to be interesting. The disappointment of losing basically the entire world of the Flight Simulator is still poisoning my mind to this day and it's dissuading me from getting into that sort of thing again

[@TheHylianBatman]

I've loved Microsoft Train Simulator ever since I first played it back when it came out. I had heard there was a sequel planned, but I hadn't heard anything about it. It's so cool to learn that, in a way, the first sequel did get released as a standalone game! What's even better, however, is to learn about OpenRails. You see, I have the CD set of Microsoft Train Simulator. Well, sort of. I have one disc of the set, and I'm pretty sure it's the install disc. I can put the game on any computer I want, but I have no way to launch and play it. I refuse to buy a new disc because I'm certain my disc is SOMEWHERE, I just don't know where. But to learn about OpenRails saves my life. I can install MTS, then OR, and then just play like I always have. Thank you for this video. I love Microsoft Train Simulator. It just hits differently.

[@TheLocomotiveEngineer]

1:17 very painfully true. I did manage to get as far as laying track on a flat, grassy void in MSTS - but even then, the route I built was still somehow glitchy as all get out. Encountering Trainz was a true revelation, and there was no going back once I experienced their incredible route editor.

[@Mason58654]

Yup, neither did I have any idea how to use the editor let alone download other locomotives or rolling stock. I envied those who could drive many colorful locomotives from MSTS sites.

[@duck74UK]

Given what ASOBO have done with MS Flight simulator. Train Simulator 2 attempting that global rail network thing again is once more on the cards, if Microsoft is up to the task of course.

[@jefflewis4]

The problem they will have using MSFS scenery is it looks great from a distance but it does not look very good up close. Bridges are a single object like a building you can't see or pass underneath them etc. It would take a ton of custom or AI scenery to make that useful for a new version of MSTS. They do have Azure AI in MSFS that works great for trees rocks and hills, but its generating buildings based on the roof types which fit a region but in many cases look nothing like the real building would look.

[@user-rj2os4pi4v]

I swear, I just got my hands on sonic advance today. And it just so happened that I hear the character choice menu music in your video... Crazy!

[@larrythorn4715]

Wow...I recently discovered Open Rails, and the clips of stock MSTS make me realize how far that sim has come!

[@ChimpManZ1264]

I went onto Trainz and I love the route builder. By 2009 content was huge and the Settle to Carlisle line complimented it. A New Era has done even better as it has improved the graphics for video making as well as playing.

[@wifelikecow]

I know dovetail basically carried the torch for ACES and MSTS, but I'd still like to see what Asobo and MS would do if they tried for a third time.

[@Susu986]

Just imagine being able to drive through the continental US or Europe for example, instead of stuck with 1 hour routes.

[@semmel7528]

MSTS/Openrails has quite a few routes which take at least 4-6 or even more hours to cross

[@Zmrt457]

Thank you for covering this. I’ve always wondered why they never released MSTS 2. I loved the first one as a kid

[@cmag19]

The fact that some of Railworks' sound files haven't changed since the original demo in 2007 really says a lot about how Dovetail thinks of it.

[@doanster]

Yep. Even though it's called "TS2022" now, it feels like a game stuck back in time in 2007. Still fun though.

[@JohnsonMcJohnson]

@@doanster no

[@Moggster23]

The European release of MSTS was a few months after the American launch. I couldn't wait so found a shop specialising in American game imports and bought the American version. Cost about twice as much as the European release but was worth it. I even went to the British launch party in London. 👌

[@DavidTheScientist]

You missed a little bit of the story... Cascade Games Foundry, who I believe were ex-Aces Studio employees, initially announced that they would make a third attempt at launching what would effectively be MSTS 2, but unfortunately this was also dropped eventually as well... Otherwise, a very useful and informative video with a lot that I didn't know!

[@mustin07doesgaming]

Just think about what we might have missed out on. This game may have been revolutionary, but because it was was cancelled, we may never know what it had to offer.

[@MidKitz]

Glad I could provide some footage here for you! It's nice to see TS2 touched on by someone. Maybe someday you'll get used to Keyboard controls~

[@kingkaza]

The only problem with rail simulator nowdays is that is too limited Free roam limits your customise And it trys too hard to be realistic And any crash straight up i paused so you can't even see the physics of the crash There so many problems i noticed that msts sorted ages ago

[@TristarL]

Yepp. I remember when we (as flight sim developers) were invited by Microsoft to the so called "Microsoft DevCon" in Seattle summer 2007. They showed us a lot of stuff from TS2 and were very enthusiastic about a "world simulator" that could sometimes bring together Train Sim and Flight sim. (Eventually this led to marketing "ESP", wich was sold as an open simulation platform, but under the hood it was just FSX combined with a commercial license). A few month later all of a sudden ACES Studios was fired and everythng they told us obsolete. What a waste of time. ESP was later acquiered by Lockheed Martin as the basis for Prepar3d.

[@jefflewis4]

I recall the 2007 DevCon, when I discussed it with ACEs devs at the micro brewery dinner they said ESP was to be the basis for a World Sim meaning almost any kind of simulation could be implemented into it. Construction, farming, cars, buses, etc. IOW TS2 or FSX could merely be components you add to the base world sim package. Too bad they never got the chance to see that plan produced further.

[@jeff7597]

I've been holding out hope that Microsoft might want to dive back into a Train Simulator since they dove back into Flight Sim in 2020, 14 years since their last release. I don't think I'd even known about the ~2009 attempt and it's use of data from FSX, but that's just what I had been thinking would be really cool if they did with FS2020. Having a pretty solid data set for the entire world with a means for themselves and users to manually overhaul buildings/terrain/scenery/etc to a higher quality for specific routes, not unlike what is seen for specific airports or regions in FS just obviously catered to players at ground level instead of mostly airborne.

[@quillmaurer6563]

Perhaps they could expand the FS2020 platform into an all-vehicle simulation game, offering ships, airplanes, cars, trucks, trains, and so on. Much of the underlying game engine (weather, physics, graphics, world model, and so on) would be the same for all types of vehicle simulation, so it would make sense to me to have them all built upon the same platform - ideally within the same game - rather than as standalone efforts. I seem to recall Dovetail Games (the rebanded Aces Studio team) was working on such a thing but I've not heard anything of it. I believe BeamNG and Rigs of Rods (common ancestor) do this to some degree, being primarily focused on cars/trucks but also have helicopters, airplanes, trains, and boats/ships. Thinking more of FS2020, I somewhat suspect they intend to go in this direction, build many other games based upon its technical platform, as it is such a revolutionary game in terms of development, massive costs put into it, while flight simulator games feel somewhat limited in market potential. It makes a good proof of concept though, one that really showcases the technology without gameplay being a major focus, they might later build other conceptually more sophisticated games based on the platform.

[@Kitfugl]

I was waiting SO LONG back then for MSTS2, saving up allowance. I was DEVISTATED when they cancelled. I was SO hyped up, exciting to finally be able to play what i have been waiting for for so long.. And was SO angry when they cancelled, that i wrote an email to Microsoft.

[@minijha1372]

LEGENDARY!

[@MSRTA_Productions]

MSTS was my first ever train game I ever played. I did not know there was a 2nd version but never released!

[@ardensreeves9590]

My brother and I bought MSTS shortly after it was first released, and at the time it was astounding in terms of the graphics quality and playability - scenario ('activity') creation was rather a challenge and I never mastered route-building, but it was *considerably* less buggy than Dovetail Games' Train Simulator.

[@Tylerxy]

I remember when the announcements and cancellations were announced.Too bad. I do remember there were some former employees that started their own development house to continue the work, but it never seemed like anything came of it.

[@roanneabe7552]

That ending though it was certainly a tear jerker.

[@seemoretoys5944]

Great video! Thanks this takes me back. I liked MTS but it had a sharp learning curve. Picked up TrainZ and every TrainZ edition since. Except TrainZ 22 since I need a better computer before I upgrade.

[@larrythorn4715]

Honestly, what I really wish for now, was that a team would overhaul and remake the original MSTS routes to more modern standards. The new routes are nice, they are fun, but when I do fire up Open Rails I frequently find myself revisiting the old original routes if only for nostalgia.

[@ogjk]

Thanks for Making this fellow Sega train boy I allways wondered what happened to this game and I could have swore it was allways just about to come out since the box art was released but we never got a game. You would think now with the streaming engine they use with MS flight sim this sequal should be an easy no brainer.

[@greko4849]

If they managed to create one of the best looking and realistic flight simulators they can create the best and most realistic rail simulator in the world. Amazing graphics physics and much more can be implemented in the game if Microsoft wanted to. They lost a chance in the past but it’s not late to recreate the game now. At least . Hope something good will come soon.

[@THatMex1CaNGuY]

Maybe they can team up with Run8 Studios and take their physics to a newer game engine!

[@McCollum211]

If they recreated the game today they would probably have more expectations then what they had in 2004.

[@GTown054]

Keep up the amazing work!!😎 You have my like and sub👍👍😀. Looking forward to more great footage.

[@CentralMassRailfan]

I remember this. I have wonder how good this would’ve really been.

[@Aardvark892]

Just imagine. Now that MS is making games again, wouldn't it be cool if they used the world model in MSFS and applied trains to it. The whole world. At the same level of detail, and graphics. I'd be sold immediately.

[@coastaku1954]

I always considered Train Simulator 2022 to be an evolution of MSTS, it even features Kuju's logo on the splash screen

[@Mason58654]

A very thoroughly fine review of a simulator that never was! I was looking forward to this as a kid when I saw the cover had a Pennsylvania Railroad K4 on it, but interesting to know it was to have a British 🇬🇧 route @3:02 also!

[@Noblemarq12]

i'd love to see a MSTS with the same thing that Flight Sim has, Real world weather, you can run a train across whatever country you want. I know it's impossible, but one can dream

[@trailingrails9953]

I love how I used to think the graphics on that game were so lifelike. Now I look at the super inaccurate models and can't help but cringe.

[@maxrshelltrack7443]

But there's so much content to download to make it better even redone routes lol.

[@adventuresofamtrakcascades301]

I think I might be wrong but MSTS is probably the only train simulator that never received a sequel

[@zavencornelius7022]

Congratulations on 70 K you deserve it

[@TheLocomotiveEngineer]

3:10 That Pennsy 4-8-2 has aged remarkably well - you'd hardly guess it was from 2003!

[@codyhilton1750]

When I received my first computer in 2001, my first game was Micosoft Train Simuoator. I used this game until 2004 however I didn't feel it was user friendly. I finally discovered Trainz TS 2004. I really enjoyed this TS as it was much easier to use. Since that time I have purchased several updated Trainz TS. Their series were the best until they took a left turn with some kind of special addition. Only when I returned to their continued series, ie 2008 2009 2010 was I happy again. There were problems however when my layouts were lost and I couldn't recover them. I now have Trainz TS 2019 and continue to have problems now and then however, I have no plans at this time to buy a newer addition of Trainz TS.

[@denizerni151]

My father bought the game and I as a little kid played this game maybe for 10 years without even understanding what I was doing. It was maybe my first pc game. I also had the addon of heidi express, the swiss rhb trains

[@daver7465]

I remember being so sad when TS2 was cancelled, both times. Hopefully the World of Rails concept will get a reboot using the MSTS world.

[@matthewthebluey-brony-trai8006]

I actually have this game in my posession, and I bought some additional after I got MSTS. I played this game when I was a kid, but didn't have the additional content back then. But now I have the additional content.

[@Univer3eTwist3ers]

I remember seeing the previews for the first attempt at MSTS on my parent's old gateway PC back in the day, I was really upset that it wasn't finished or anything tbh

[@SaritaKumari-ed4wg]

Msts is quite popular in India as people created High quality routes and add-ons . I wish they released TS2 :(

[@b101uk]

I still have the 3d cab views I made for BLS 465 and the 425 locomotives from when I worked as an outsourced 3d artist along with scenery assets too, in fact the 425 cab view was I believe the last bit of major artwork that was submitted on the morning of 8th August to Kuju before it was handed off to MS, and a couple of weeks later we learned that MS had cancelled it preceding the big shakeup at MS of studios, I stopped playing MSTS after that or making things for MSTS, even though I had rail wagons etc and a new Class 66 ready to go when MSTS2 was ready to launch that I could have converted to MSTS1, but I just lost interest.

[@radanju3]

12:10 And don't forget alongside OpenRails, is Run8 which if I'm not mistaken features some people from the development of the original MSTS.

[@jayo1212]

You didn't mention Trainmaster, and their planned Trainmaster Train Simulator game. Interesting that around the same time as MSTS 2, Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004 was announced, which promised similar features, such as loadable industries and working turntables. It, of course, followed through with release.

[@norbertdx]

Just curios, when the tech wizards shelves a project do the just stop and leave everything as it is or do they delete it?

[@Revolverben190]

That MSTS 2 PRR locomotive looked incredible

[@ronanvave560]

PRR m1a/b I think.

[@lachlantaylor552]

Man imagine if they had continued the series today

[@Michiganrailfan]

Can’t believe how close it was to being done. Damn you Microsoft!

[@stratojet94]

I remember this was the only game I had until middle school. I couldn’t figure it out so all I would do was crash the trains in multiple different ways. Good times. There’s one mission where if you don’t switch tracks you have a head on collision in Montana.

[@NaufalFariza]

That dash 9 hornsound is so iconic

[@MattChaffe]

At least 'Train Simualtor' still exists today. It is interesting thay Matt Peddlesden from DTG refers to Train Simualtor as TS1 in many videos and livestreams, but it's definitely a TS2 in terms of upgrades. I am thankful DTG has TSW tho, very happy for the most part on how that had turned out. I do feel however that I'm missing out on Trainz. I tried to get into it, but unfortunately I got confused easily, especially since I wanted to make routes and download modded content, and the modded content part was the cause to much of that confusion.

[@darius274]

I played this game as a kid but I remembered the graphics to be way better. How time flies :)

[@SouthernerFloridain2006]

What mini documentary video are doing next Jointed Rail or K&L Trainz? (Just guessing not actually meaning it)

[@Arturobrito0502]

Is the prr 4-8-2 made for ts2 available for download in openrails?

[@asherpate8]

If the 1st attempt of Microsoft Train Simulator 2 didn't stop production, the game would be released in July 2004 (or somewhere around that time). New routes would be Horseshoe Curve in the US (1946), a German Route (likely with DB BR 103 locomotives), British Route (with steam locomotives), Swiss Route, and Japanese Route (possibly with Shinkansen trains). And possibly a modern Norfolk Southern route. I think even the older locomotives, rolling stock, and routes from the first one would also be updated with the MSTS 2 graphics (first attempt). I think it would even have something like if you go to fast on a curve, there's a chance that you would derail, like in Train Simulator Classic (was originally called Railworks). Of course all of the features in the first attempt mentioned in the video would be in the "New Game". What would also be possible (maybe most likely to happen if Kuju finished developing MSTS 2 in 2004), is that a Microsoft Train Simulator 3 would eventually be released around October 2007. MSTS 3 would have graphics similar to Rail Simulator or the 2nd attempt of MSTS 2. MSTS 3 would probably have 5 new routes like: Cajon Pass, a British Route (with diesel locomotives), a German Route, a French Route (possibly with TGV trains), and possibly a Canadian Route (with Canadian Pacific trains). Possibly, there would also be a TestTrak (similar to Railworks 3/Train Simulator version of the map). As well as something called, World of Rails (which would be like the 2nd attempt of MSTS 2). If that makes sense, then there may be a new game that would have all the routes and sessions as MSTS 1-3, called "Train Simulator 2010" which would be released around June/July 2009. It may also have new routes (like Stevens Pass, a Chinese route, and possibly be a Sherman Hill during the 1950s, with locomotives like UP Big Boy and UP F7). The graphics would look like Railworks (2009). TS2010 can now have DLC added (since it may have been on Steam). It would later have it's year changed in late 2010, (would be Train Simulator 2011), in late 2011 (would be Train Simulator 2012), and so on. Until it would be names as Train Simulator Classic in April 2022. But hey, that's only my opinion.

[@tf51d]

I wish DTG when they bought the rights to FSX also bought the rights to TS2, and developed it instead of TSW2. If they had we would have had a global model instead of lame 30 mile routes. It may have by this point morphed to the current MSFS2020 engine using Bing maps for close to real world scenery, and could have achieved the ultimate goal set for TS2 which was the integration into Flight sim so you can drive trains while other users in multiplayer did the same or flew overhead in flight sim.

[@EpicThe112]

I agree but the problem is that TS2 will not have PS4/5 access if made by Dovetail Games only PC and Xbox Owners will own it

[@brunoskorniak9722]

Dtg tsw is terrible. I deleted it off my xone console. They add new locos for like $30 and expect you pay for just one item. The game is so full of glitches it makes it unplayable. How many times have ppl asked for an editing tool or to make it compatible with the raildriver controller? No response. I bought the california route with the double decker commuter train. Could not get it to function. What a waste of money. I play Trainz. To me it is the best train sim. The editing/surveyor where you can create your own routes is so much fun. I look at google maps at train routes and build them to scale in trainz. Plus they have a cool dlc area. You pay roughly 30 bucks a year for unlimited downloads of thousands of user created content. Hmmmm. 30 bucks for one loco from dtg or 30 bucks for a years worth of content from trainz? Get trainz, not dtg tsw.

[@scooter2329]

@@brunoskorniak9722 I have TSW2 on PC and my Raildriver controller works with the majority of the locomotives. You can even calibrate it from within the game.

[@hansmitdergans7879]

In my opinion, TSW2 isn't a real successor for the classic Train Simulator. It's very focused on arcade gamers and these graphics hurt my eyes. Besides the reflection, it just looks terrible. The atmosphere is like some sort of apocalypse game. And the physics are also not what I expect from a train game. In TS20XX, the camera moved when accelerating, braking or going through sharp curves and it even wiggled over the tracks when going quite fast. In TSW2, it doesn't do anything. I hope they don't shut down development for TS20XX so fast, because TSW2 doesn't even deserve that S in its name. There's no simulator in that game. Nowhere.

[@tf51d]

@@hansmitdergans7879 I agree as for as TS2 version 1, but the big selling point in the second attempt was the Worldwide rail network, made possible using the FSX/ESP engine. By default you can drive anywhere in the world you wanted, the default scenery of course wouldn't be completely accurate using LandClass data to build autogen scenery like in FSX, but the ability to overlay it with much more detail accurate scenery, either payware or freeware. Ultimately you could tie it in with the FSX multiplayer system, where you could drive your plane while aircraft flies above you from FSX users. Physics would be as good as the developers allow like in FSX. Graphics would have by now improve over time. Look where we are now with Flightsim, still having FSX at it's roots. Imagine that for rail sim! You can operate a train across the whole continent by default with areas with very accurate and detailed scenery along the way.

[@Gismo_SBB]

Is there a link to open rails? I have a copy of Microsoft train Sim and wanna play it again

[@SurflinerBoy455]

I miss MSTS and those derailments and My favorite addon is the Pacific Surfliner, I still have it on Open Rails I Wish i see Someone using a supercharged Dash 9 crash into a Pacific Surfliner train

[@RickyG_RailTX]

Yeah I was thinking about this game not too long ago and hoped it was featured in some iceberg video.

[@GTKCF2023]

do a series of railfanning in open rails

[@southern_railman]

It makes you wonder if Microsoft still had/has files regarding or containing content and development plans on MSTS2. Maybe one day, it could be brought back from the ‘dead’ like they did with Microsoft Flight Simulator back in mid-2019.

[@Infrared73]

I'm pretty sure that Microsoft didn't base much if anything of the new FS on the legacy version. MSFSX was definitely showing it's age when it came out. I don't know if they would be willing but openrailwaymap data would be an interesting base for map data.

[@southern_railman]

@@Infrared73 MTS has also showed its age considerably as well. I think it’s time for a new game within that series if you ask me. Whether it would be a reboot, remaster, sequel or a completely different another approach, it doesn’t really matter to me.

[@quillmaurer6563]

FS2020 was a from-scratch effort, no relations to the previous lineage (which culminated with FSX). Flight (2012) was likewise from scratch, no relation to either predecessor nor successor. I'm guessing even if they did have any of the data/files from their previous MSTS2 efforts, it would be so obsolete now it wouldn't really be of any use, they'd start from scratch, likely based on FS2020. The one thing they might use from their previous efforts though would be their real-world recordings, things that weren't created in the (now badly obsolete) virtual world but recorded in the real world for use in it. Stuff like photos for reference and audio clips for in-game sound effects.

[@tdurb0]

The Kuju scenario editor, I actually got my head around, whereas the last x number of years, I just don’t know how to do it at all. The TSW2 one is fairly straightforward in comparison, plus since Dovetail Games have had it, it’s become such a bind just to find a route with career scenarios without needing daft amounts of other payware to work. Why can they not just create and release a full self-contained route with career scenarios using stock out of their digital box? To me that’s a massive fail by pretty much everyone: Rivet, JustTrains, Armstrong Powerhouse, everyone. I’d rather pay a bit more and have some decent scenarios that don’t include me having to press F2 to bypass error messages all the time, unless I spend what would probably STILL be a couple of hundred quid, for stuff that’s been released for years. That’s all. Oh, actually no, the fact that even the latest gen consoles are lagging way behind a half decent gaming rig, but to accommodate them we’ll be forever tied to 40/50 mile routes max length. That annoys me as well. I’m still waiting to hear more about the other Train Sim that appeared a few months back and said it’d be (if I remember right) around October time, who’s name escapes me. That looks promising but they all do in presentations don’t they? We still end up as mass-beta-testers for a product we’ve paid full whack for.

[@RasseruS]

I love doing the Japanese routes in MSTS. Now days some train simulators have pay walls for routes you want to control.

[@lithiumdioxide__7972]

What is the best way to get msts so I can get open rails to work

[@AmtrakCSXFan457]

I would really like to have the original sounds for the SLI MSTS Content instead of more third party stuff. But that is very really rare.

[@a.f2615]

Open Rails is still popular whit mods in countries like Czechia/Slovakia or India

[@ClearTrackSpeed]

Excellent video thanks for sharing Jared

[@tarikkaratren]

It's my first train simulator game. We just made Turkish locomotives. It was great. The game has improved. If you want to see Turkish train models, you are welcome to my KZbin channel.

[@TomedysTrains]

At 3:05, that's not true, there were not going to be any default Japanese routes for it. There were going to be only five default routes in the first attempt of MSTS 2, all in North America and Europe, which I will mention in this comment. I followed both attempts of MSTS 2 very carefully during the 2000s by looking at the news articles, videos, community posts and screenshots of it. The first attempt of MSTS 2 was going to have the two continental European routes set in the 21st Century (one Swiss and one German) that you mentioned. As well as Horseshoe Curve in Pennsylvania in 1946 (you are correct about that one) which was going to be the full subdivision from Altoona to Pittsburgh. Another American route was going to be included, that being the Norfolk Division in Virginia set in the 21st Century, although it is not known if it was going to be the full subdivision from Norfolk to Crewe or just Norfolk to Petersburg. Yes indeed, a British route was going to be included, that being the Transpennine route in the 1960s from Manchester to Leeds in England. It's such a shame that the first attempt of MSTS 2 was cancelled, it had a better variety of routes and trains than the second attempt was going to have. I really wish the first attempt of MSTS 2 could be remade with better graphics, sounds and physics and then finally be released to the public; I would so buy my own copy of it.

[@nileadam7336]

I hope they can make Microsoft Train Simulator 3 in the future.

[@Optimaloptimus]

Man... imagine them bringing back MTS the next two years. It would awesome.

[@phillipmeeks2391]

I bought MSTS when it first came out and I still play it on Windows 10. A little quirky sometimes but still enjoyable.

[@kafeelahmed6439]

what song did you use at 6 minutes? I've heard it before but forgot the name

[@AmtrakGuy365]

It's "Steam Gardens" from Super Mario Odyssey. The rest of the music is in the description.