80s vintage text based driving simulations.....

[GS250]

Does anyone remember these by Dee-Kay systems??

Lets say you had to use your imagination. However, I'll happily admit to hours and hours of visualisations, making the sound of mk2s at speed (in my head) and wondering if the performance was anything like the real thing?!!

The good/bad news is that they are still available to download and play for free.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Vaguely remember the 'Lunar Lander' version.

Crashed and burned just about every time!

 

[Trackman]

Does anyone remember these by Dee-Kay systems??

Lets say you had to use your imagination. However, I'll happily admit to hours and hours of visualisations, making the sound of mk2s at speed (in my head) and wondering if the performance was anything like the real thing?!!

The good/bad news is that they are still available to download and play for free.

I remember DK systems.
Looks like a real challenge to me!
I imagine this was for the speccy.

What are the green asterisks - until next MP or something?

 

[GS250]

I remember DK systems.
Looks like a real challenge to me!
I imagine this was for the speccy.

What are the green asterisks - until next MP or something?

The green asterisks are just a visual boundary between the route information and the performance.

I think they released about 12 routes overall. I owned 5 of them. There was one from Bristol to Birmingham which included a heavy sleeper train and bankers on the Lickey Incline.

 

[Welly]

Yes I do! The big red letters "Major Breach of Regulations" coming up on the screen if you even SPAD by one foot!

BBC versions - enjoy! http://www.bbcmicro.co.uk/index.php?search=Dee-Kay+Systems+(DeeKay+Systems)&on_P=on

 

[GS250]

Yes I do! The big red letters "Major Breach of Regulations" coming up on the screen if you even SPAD by one foot!

BBC versions - enjoy! http://www.bbcmicro.co.uk/index.php?search=Dee-Kay+Systems+(DeeKay+Systems)&on_P=on

Yes!!

Or the horror of failing to notice the reduction in line speed as you approach a signal. Approaching Rugby station was 100-60-25mph but the drop to 25 often got lost in the flashing AWS lights and signal warning. Not as easy being a driver as some thought!

 

[Goldfish62]

Does anyone remember these by Dee-Kay systems??

Lets say you had to use your imagination. However, I'll happily admit to hours and hours of visualisations, making the sound of mk2s at speed (in my head) and wondering if the performance was anything like the real thing?!!

The good/bad news is that they are still available to download and play for free.


View attachment 109592

Thanks for reminding me of this. Had great fun with it back in the day - seemed so advanced then!

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes I do! The big red letters "Major Breach of Regulations" coming up on the screen if you even SPAD by one foot!

BBC versions - enjoy! http://www.bbcmicro.co.uk/index.php?search=Dee-Kay+Systems+(DeeKay+Systems)&on_P=on

Alright, anyone got a manual? I tried pushing random buttons but failed to get my 73 to do anything at all at Victoria

 

[notadriver]

Alright, anyone got a manual? I tried pushing random buttons but failed to get my 73 to do anything at all at Victoria

Does it only work on a PC ? Buttons <> increase / decrease the power notch.

 

[43066]

Alright, anyone got a manual? I tried pushing random buttons but failed to get my 73 to do anything at all at Victoria

Did you declare yourself a failure and go home, for ultimate realism?

 

[43096]

Did you declare yourself a failure and go home, for ultimate realism?

Or go on strike with the union demanding a “technology payment”?

 

[ainsworth74]

Does it only work on a PC ? Buttons <> increase / decrease the power notch.

Tried every button on my PC keyboard and no joy! Ruddy Train Sim World is easier to get going than this!

Did you declare yourself a failure and go home, for ultimate realism?

Very good

 

[GS250]

Buttons on the spectrum versions are:

Z= release brakes
X=increase brakes
O= Decrease power
P= Increase power
0=Cancel AWS (works on some versions) on others it may well be shift, space, ctrl or alt as I think the speccy version had a 'break space' key

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Feb 2022 ==

If you download the BBC game file and then open with notepad.......it lists the program. You may be able to find the control buttons in there.

You could always use the speccy version:

https://jsspeccy.zxdemo.org/ = online spectrum emulator

Just search for the roms. Amazingly, they all seem to be online. Wowroms has them all.

 

[43066]

Or go on strike with the union demanding a “technology payment”?

Credit where credit is due - that was rather good .

 

[cossie4i]

I had the Master Cutler when it first came out.

 

[whoosh]

Anglo Scot had 'speed set' controls for the class 89, and The Elizabethan had the firing rate of the fireman, and you could drop the water scoop at troughs at Werrington and Langley.

I think today's kids would be bored out of their minds!!! I can remember being disappointed that it was all text when I bought my first one. I suppose my imagination combined with the game was the best I could get at the time. Anyone remember Ashley Greenup's games - pretty much the same but with very basic linear drawing of the cab controls, next signal and speed board?

Southern Belle was a revelation in comparison! Anyone remember that?

Dee-Kay Systems - ZX-Art

zxart.ee

 

[PG]

If you download the BBC game file and then open with notepad.......it lists the program. You may be able to find the control buttons in there.

IIRC the Space-Bar acknowledged an AWS warning on the BBC micro version.

If you do take a peek at the code (BBC Basic) it's a class example of unstructured programming, GOTO's all over the place However it worked perfectly

 

[GS250]

Anglo Scot had 'speed set' controls for the class 89, and The Elizabethan had the firing rate of the fireman, and you could drop the water scoop at troughs at Werrington and Langley.

I think today's kids would be bored out of their minds!!! I can remember being disappointed that it was all text when I bought my first one. I suppose my imagination combined with the game was the best I could get at the time. Anyone remember Ashley Greenup's games - pretty much the same but with very basic linear drawing of the cab controls, next signal and speed board?

Southern Belle was a revelation in comparison! Anyone remember that?

Dee-Kay Systems - ZX-Art

zxart.ee

Yes. I remember Ashley Greenup's games. There was an attempt to provide a static graphical cab interface but like Dee Kay it was effectively text and number based. I had the Liverpool Street to Harwich route which at least included a tap changer for the 86.

Yes remember Southern Belle very well. Again, was very basic and about 2fps wireframe graphics but at least an attempt was made to bring the game to life. Was pretty tricky to drive though and I seem to recall a but 'buggy'. Recall getting the 'dangerous blowback' message when I entered a tunnel and didn't do something right. There may have been an 'auto fireman' feature which made things easier.

Also recall a company that did largely text based but included a graphical side view of your consist as it progressed. These games were launched on MS-DOS. Can't remember who did them though.