Train Operator 377

Having just completed my first run, I can say I had a smile on my face the whole way, this is similar to the JR East Simulator which released not too long ago, but this one being in the UK on the famous Brighton Mainline, and hence the title is in a Class 377. I think it's enjoyable and something different to the usual Train Simulator/World. Also gives you a way more realistic look at the mainline, as it is a video of the real thing (when driving you're basically changing the playback speed (as you would on YouTube)). Exciting to see this grow into something more (perhaps more obscure routes which aren't in other Train Sims etc West Coastway/Arun Valley)! Worth the reasonable price of £8.50.

JR東日本トレインシミュレータに続けとばかりに 満を持して実写系イギリス鉄道シミュレーターの登場です。 天候など選べる実写としては初の試み？が高評価です。 イギリスのいろいろな車両が行きかっていてにぎやかな路線です。 Train Sim WorldやTrain Simulator Classicにもある路線ですが こちらは1200円っとコスパ最強です。 　 今後の展開に期待してます。

As a player of TSC and TSW when I saw this I thought I needed to give it a try especially as it is not expensive. It is quite effective, the audio in particular does make the experience immersive. I do find there are some glitches in the video which are off putting and due to its limitations you get things like a train stopping next to you when you get held up at a red signal. The signals look a bit odd. My only other thought is that it could get boring after a bit as you are driving the same video each time. Also I don't think the night time filters are particularly effective. I like the concept and it will be interesting to see how this develops. It would be good if other videos of the route could be used so you get a bit of variety, especially if there are any night time or early morning videos available. It would be good to see some other routes developed, maybe even away from the south east third rail routes as I think it could be quite a popular series especially if some of the glitches can be ironed out. Overall I would recommend as it is fun, quite immersive, not expensive and it is good to support a new venture.

Could do with some polish. The load time is relatively long, and it gives you nothing to look at (the control scheme would have atleast been useful here). With no tutorial, you're dumped into the role of driving a train without the knowledge of the buttons (or any instruction at all). The few hints leave you with more questions than answers, and trying to turn to guides on the Steam overlay will blast the horn (shift button), and there were no guides. I can't even find hints about how to move the train in the discussions, or even a manual from the store page. The TAB button shows the control layout, but not the combination of buttons needed to get moving. Even the AI driver didn't move the train on the first scenario I tried. It worked after I loaded it again though - you press [i]Delete[/i] to set the reverser, then [i]N[/i] to close the doors, and [i]Down Arrow[/i] atleast 3 times to start accelerating. But you have no sense of control when nothing is explained. Some of the buttons don't seem to do anything, or look like they bring up a pressable button with no way to actually press it (there's no mouse input). Sometimes the audio is good, but it can make a jarring buzzing sound, and occasionally crackles. The weather effects are pretty wild, and the video is a bit smushed, and HUD looks a bit tacky. Ignoring those complaints - having real visuals offers immersion that's rarely seen since the old DOS era (before computer generated 3D graphics were relied on). If you get the train going and the audio is clear, it's fantastic, as you feel every tangible sway and bump of the train as it cruises through England (even capturing some rare sunny moments). I like the idea of the game; potentially it wouldn't take much work to make the playability a bit smoother. You can try to turn on the AI driver, but it can "derail" itself (if it even works at all). For now I'd say you're better off searching YouTube for "london train cab" to more or less get the same experience (without the risk of frustration). As a train game it still offers a sense of value for money (when compared to a certain other train simulator that would cost thousands of pounds to get the full content, and also suffered unexplained controls and mechanics).

I really like it. It's a harder than it looks to develop a simulator like this, where the virtual is blended in with the very real, in order to create an immersive experience with the player in full control of the task at hand. Kudos to the devs of this and the JR East simulator too. Onto my personal pros and cons of this sim (and the cons are more relative to the difficulties of developing in this style, particularly for a smaller studio. Not harsh criticisms of this sim or its developers). Pros: - You're never going to have any issues with missing assets, relative to the era the cab view was recorded in. - A good pick of route - departing the railside urban decay of Central and South London, out through Croydon and into leafier Surrey and Sussex ensures variety and immersion. - Choice of being inside the cab (overlay) or removing that and just observing the scenery without a window border (plus speedo, speed limit, PBC still visible etc) - You can change ends and make a return journey upon reaching your terminus, by pressing one button and waiting a short while for it to load - Living, breathing railway. Full quota of passing/stabled trains, no worries about missing stock elsewhere on the network, etc (i.e. lack of 700s on the BML for TSW) - Affordable as a truly immersive simulator - HUD available - Sounds are decent - TPWS implemented Cons: - As it's cabview based, it's limited by cabview footage available which means weather and time of day have to be implemented overlays as best as they can by the devs. Pathing also limited to available footage - A little glitchy, most noticeably at stations where the train stopped during the footage, but that you pass through on the service in the sim - I think the acceleration physics of the 377 could use a little work. It gets outstripped by a Turbostar out of East Croydon which I think could use a tweak given EMU performance overall - As it's playback speed based, the movements of people or traffic near the railway can feel erratic depending on your speed BUT, I do really [b]love[/b] what these devs (and those behind JR East) have brought to train simulation. This sim is deeply loyal to the principles of pure simulation, leaving the point-scoring and "gamey" elements to TSW (which is fine - I like TSW myself). However, it does give you enough to use as route learning tools as well.

I fully support this concept of having real footage combined with computer overlay especially if you want to experience the best simulation realism that you can most likely experience in a computer game. For me it's basically a dream come true, having grown up well before the internet. If you would have told me things like this would be possible back then I wouldn't have believed you. Having played a few different transport simulation games and now trying Train Simulations for the first time I find this very satisfying and enjoyable. This concept is in its early days and I'd like to see and hope it continues to be supported by the community. I believe this is the future of simulation. For this particular game at the moment, it's a great start. For the price it's worth getting this realism experience to see what may be capable in the future. I'd like to see the developers concentrate on doing more routes and maybe see some different trains rather than trying to polish up the game with weather overlays or in-game wipers etc trying to masquerade and solve a real-time rain or storm situation. The blizzard and storm overlay for example can probably be scrapped for now, along with the door opening pop-up. If you can add a few different routes, trains and experiences I think that would be a great start and hopefully attract more interest. I look forward to supporting any future development.

Ça pourrait être un bon jeu cependant.. - Qualité vidéo des années 2000 filmé au caméscope j'ai les yeux qui saigne et mal au crane au bout de 5 min. - Le son est affreux. - Les touches sont pas cohérentes avec leur fonction.. - Le HUD digne d'une borne d'arcade - La liste des touches très mal adaptée sur écran en ultrawide. C'est sympa si vous le prenez en promo sans en attendre un GOTY.

I really like it, the audio is kind of what makes it. You feel like you are rattling down the rails at 90 mph. As it's British Rail rather than Japan Rail (JR East Simulator) you can be a little late and not stop exactly in the right place and not be punished :-D

Bought this game for my young daughter who wanted a game where she could drive trains. Unfortunately, this game has a high level of required knowledge in order to play and there is no tutorial and no explanation of what the controls actually do. If you do not know how to work the various gears and levers of a train already, you will not be able to play this game.

Though a bit blurry as a 2K res on my 4K display and some minor glitches I'm really intrigued by this game and given the price I really do recommended it.