Microsoft Train Simulator 2014/5

[Islineclear3_1]

Good morning....

Is there any way I can purchase/download Microsoft's Train Simulator without having to sign up for a Steam account?

 

[Trainfan344]

Yes, look out for Microsoft Train Simulator in the stores or on ebay. However, it is very old and limited in what it can offer.

 

[Domh245]

There's no such thing as MSTS 2014/2015. You are thinking of "Train simulator 2014/2015" which is a development of what was to be MSTS2 - which then became rail simulator, railworks, and then the train simulator series. As for the question, can you get it without steam, no you can't. A physical box copy (do they even exist anymore?) will just contain a steam redemption code. But why don't you want to use steam, it will save you a lot of hassle in the long term, especially if your game breaks, 9 times out of 10, just re-downloading it through steam will fix it.

 

[Darandio]

which is a development of what was to be MSTS2

It isn't, it is completely unrelated. MSTS2 was abandoned and no further development done once the studio was disbanded.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

There's no such thing as MSTS 2014/2015. You are thinking of "Train simulator 2014/2015" which is a development of what was to be MSTS2 - which then became rail simulator, railworks, and then the train simulator series. As for the question, can you get it without steam, no you can't. A physical box copy (do they even exist anymore?) will just contain a steam redemption code. But why don't you want to use steam, it will save you a lot of hassle in the long term, especially if your game breaks, 9 times out of 10, just re-downloading it through steam will fix it.

A good thing about Steam is depending on how a game is set up to use the cloud, if the game is set right it'll save all your save games so that you can carry on from where you left off on another computer. I can't remember off-hand if TS2015 saves your progress to the cloud

 

[heart-of-wessex]

A good thing about Steam is depending on how a game is set up to use the cloud, if the game is set right it'll save all your save games so that you can carry on from where you left off on another computer. I can't remember off-hand if TS2015 saves your progress to the cloud

Yes and all Steam purchased DLC with it too. It's very useful when you get a new PC or have to reformat, as it will install Railworks and all the add-on's you've purchased for you, so do don't need to re-install things one by one which is great.

As mentioned, it is NOT Microsoft anything, it's created by Dovetail Games, though the original Rail Simulator (pre Railworks) was Kuju (who was also involved with MSTS) and someone else? I can't remember now, isn't that when RSDL started?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I purchased a hard (DVD) copy of Microsoft's TS 2014 shortly after it was launched. Sometimes it worked well. But there were times when it didn't work and I had to contact Steam.

Sometimes my account didn't work (which is probably why the DVD wouldn't work?) and I got so annoyed with the fact that I had to email Steam for a solution and wait a day or two for a reply. I wanted a reply there and then when I wanted to play. At other times, I simply could not access my Steam account and therefore could not email them or look up any responses from them. I gave up in the end.

Why should I have to be tethered to something like this - why can't I just buy a TS that works straight out the box?

 

[ModernRailways]

I purchased a hard (DVD) copy of Microsoft's TS 2014 shortly after it was launched. Sometimes it worked well. But there were times when it didn't work and I had to contact Steam.

Sometimes my account didn't work (which is probably why the DVD wouldn't work?) and I got so annoyed with the fact that I had to email Steam for a solution and wait a day or two for a reply. I wanted a reply there and then when I wanted to play. At other times, I simply could not access my Steam account and therefore could not email them or look up any responses from them. I gave up in the end.

Why should I have to be tethered to something like this - why can't I just buy a TS that works straight out the box?

I'm extremely confused by your post.

Firstly, there is no Microsoft TS 2014? Do you mean just TS2014 by Dovetail Games/RailSimulator.com?

Secondly, Steam support take 1 or 2 weeks to reply, not 1 or 2 days! You can't expect support there and then from any company. Most will take a few days to reply! It takes me a few weeks to usually get a response out of a TOC!

Steam support is separate from Steam itself, so even when Steam goes down, their support site (with the exception of once or twice) is usually still up. Same goes for the Steam forums (the old ones).

The hard copy would have had a key for Steam, you could input that key into Steam and then either download the game from there, or use the disc to install the game and then download any patches once installation was complete. Disc is for the most part quicker since you don't have to download the game.

What was the problem you were actually having? The chances are Steam support couldn't help because it was probably a problem with the game. Did your PC also meet the minimum specs? I know a lot of people who buy a game on PC but don't check the specs only to find out they don't have a PC powerful enough to play it, and TS2014 (and other Railworks/Train Sim games) have required a relatively powerful PC.

If you tell us what the problems where, someone might be able to help.

 

[Darandio]

Why should I have to be tethered to something like this - why can't I just buy a TS that works straight out the box?

It's also an anti-piracy/DRM measure.

Although it won't eradicate piracy completely, many publishers moved over to Steam for this very reason, it's not restricted to TS.

However, I struggle to understand why your Steam would work sometimes, and not at other times. There are nearly 10m users daily on Steam, it's a pretty robust piece of software.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Exactly...I too struggled to understand why it would work sometimes and not others. And yes, my PC was relatively new at the time and easily met the specs for the DVD.

Maybe it was TS2014, can't remember. I think it had a 377 on the front cover. But I do remember badgering Steam Support which is perhaps why I was "lucky" to be replied to quickly (because they got fed up of me?)

Kinda has put me off buying the next incarnation.

Can anyone suggest an alternative please? I am particularly interested in Southern and London Midland (AC electrics)

 

[Sacro]

Exactly...I too struggled to understand why it would work sometimes and not others. And yes, my PC was relatively new at the time and easily met the specs for the DVD.

Maybe it was TS2014, can't remember. I think it had a 377 on the front cover. But I do remember badgering Steam Support which is perhaps why I was "lucky" to be replied to quickly (because they got fed up of me?)

Kinda has put me off buying the next incarnation.

Can anyone suggest an alternative please? I am particularly interested in Southern and London Midland (AC electrics)

Probably not, no

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Probably not, no

What do you mean by this?

Probably not you won't suggest something - or there is probably no other alternative?

 

[MCR247]

There probably isn't a decent alternative. I certainly can't think of one. If you're interested in Southern then I would definitely say bite the bullet and try TS2015. It is now possible to download "South London and Thameslink" from the Steam workshop which joins up three routes (each £25 - worth it though), allowing you to do not just London - Brighton, but Bedford - Brighton (via LBG) and cover lots of South London.

Thinking about it, doesn't TS2014 update automatically free through steam to TS2015?

 

[Darandio]

Thinking about it, doesn't TS2014 update automatically free through steam to TS2015?

Yes, even a copy of Railworks registered on Steam will upgrade.

 

[MCR247]

So the OP could potentially have TS2015 and London - Brighton without paying anything further? Surely its worth trying again?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

The only box art I remember having a 377 on the front (though was actually a Southern 375, but same thing) is the Europeanbahn London to Brighton add-on, but that was for MSTS anyway

 

[atomicdanny]

The only box art I remember having a 377 on the front (though was actually a Southern 375, but same thing) is the Europeanbahn London to Brighton add-on, but that was for MSTS anyway

Train Simulator 2013 had London - Brighton with it and had the Electrostar on the front - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Train-Simulator-2013-PC-DVD/dp/B0094B88TG

It is now possible to download "South London and Thameslink" from the Steam workshop which joins up three routes (each £25 - worth it though), allowing you to do not just London - Brighton, but Bedford - Brighton (via LBG) and cover lots of South London.

Although still a bit work in progress atm, so won't be finished for a little while yet. (working on that one in my own time) (Have attached a WIP Shot of Avenue Road - Tram station not far from Birkbeck station. - although not having usable tram-link assets makes it slightly harder for a workshop route)

 

[MCR247]

True, although I'm more than happy to put up with no scenery in the core for now

Excellent work though, no way would I have forked out £25 for MML if I hadn't see this as WIP!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Train Simulator 2013 had London - Brighton with it and had the Electrostar on the front

Ah, that's the one...twas TS2013, not 2014 sorry.

Perhaps I'll just have to look into buying TS2015 and have another go, i.e. persevere again. No doubt my Steam account is locked as I haven't used it for so long....

The Bedford - Brighton is very tempting indeed

 

[jp4712]

Don't buy TS2015. Your previous version will update automatically and for free when you log in to Steam. You won't get any new routes for free, but you'll get the updated core game.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Luckily, Steam accounts aren't automatically deleted! I recall reading accounts with no paid games on it are deleted after a certain amount of time, but obviously that doesn't apply here.

The only box art I remember having a 377 on the front (though was actually a Southern 375, but same thing) is the Europeanbahn London to Brighton add-on, but that was for MSTS anyway

Gods, I've still got that on my bookcase - 375 336 to be precise, Looks like the 21 to... somewhere. The photo's too processed to make out the display.

 

[GB]

Gods, I've still got that on my bookcase - 375 336 to be precise, Looks like the 21 to... somewhere. The photo's too processed to make out the display.

The destination displays reads "Brighton".

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Don't buy TS2015. Your previous version will update automatically and for free when you log in to Steam. You won't get any new routes for free, but you'll get the updated core game.

From TS2013? Great, that's good to know - thanks
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Luckily, Steam accounts aren't automatically deleted! I recall reading accounts with no paid games on it are deleted after a certain amount of time, but obviously that doesn't apply here.

Thanks, will give it a go if I can remember my credentials....