Aerosoft @ E3 - The train simulator
by Ryan Block 
{ May 19th 2005 at 9:01AM }
We still can't figure out what it is about menial-labor simulations that's just so fun (you know how we dotcommers long for the old days when people actually had to work), but we had to stop stop it up when we peeped Aerosoft's train sim. Not quite as slick as the Japanese versions we've seen around and about, but it still super reminded us of playing with a train set when we're kids. Except we never really had to worry before about hitting cars or missing schedules on the London-Brighton Express.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kit Challis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
I remember there being a big push to get MIDI implementation on one to use in ProTools and stuff. I'd love to control plugins with that massive lever!
Bill @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
So this is the "Halo-killer" PS3 launch title that I have heard so much about. Sweeeet!!!
Mustafo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
What kind of watch is that guy wearing???
Jeff @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
Wait, are we sure this isn't a port of Taito's Densha De Go? (At least using the same underlying engine?) It looks incredibly similar, and seems to use the same controller.
btw I love these types of games, but I realize I am not your average Halo/Madden/GTA type of gamer.
Matt @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
The watch is a diesel, not sure what it's called but a guy at work has the same one.
Herbert Ho @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
Re: #4. Probably not the same engine. Taito's Desha De Go is more like a game that you need to "beat the time limit" (eg. get from station A to B within 35 secs), while this one is more like a "realistic train simulator", you just enjoy the driving experience.
Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
This has been out for years now. It's just a custom control box for Microsoft's train simulator, made by RailDriver (http://www.raildriver.com/), and it came out it 2001, shortly after the game did. Aerosoft just makes add-on software packages for the Microsoft game. Heh, I know this cause I'm a super dork and actually was on the waiting list for the game back when it came out. Jeeze, being a computer geek and a train fanatic is an interesting combination.
Jeff @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
"It's just a custom control box for Microsoft's train simulator"
Ahhhh... you know, I didn't even realize there *were* add-ons for Train Sim. MS put that thing out and then basically abandoned it (unlike Flight Sim, which they have always supported pretty well) - I still fire it up for the occasional jaunt through Shinjuku. Yes, I'm a dork too.
#6: You need to "beat the time limit" in Train Sim too - you need to stick to your schedule (though nothing much happens if you don't other than the game saying "you suck" at the end of your run). There are so many Densha De Go offshoots in Japan, I think some of them have that arcade time limit style and others are more geared to a home audience. But yeah, I guess this isn't a Densha game.
Herbert @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
#8. Didn't notice the Train Sim has time limit. Only played it a few times and then uninstalled the game. (Note to self: reinstall Train Sim and pay more attention to the time limit.:)
Rick @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
Could have used this in Japan....
Dave @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
Driving a train is menial labor? Screw up in that job and a whole bunch of people can die.
Of course that cant be as important or intellectually stimulating as cranking out blog crap about a two-year-old game simulator.
What kind of watch is that anyway?
Adam @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
CHOO-CHOO, The pain trains commin'.
Mark @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
If you check out the RailDrive website you will find that they are developing their own simulator that Aerosoft were going to demo work in progress at E3, which is obviously what this is
Hon Mai @ Dec 18th 2005 9:11PM
I'm not sure it's a Diesel watch. The DZ7025 looks pretty similar, but the Diesel hasn't got the 4 black buttons on the face.