Berliners drive bus!

[CCIP]

I would love to get this, but for the moment I'm forced to boycott their products unfortunately. I bought their Berlin Subway simulator that I cannot get working on Win7. That requires a different .exe file than the one provided with the game, which will only work on XP - caused by the DRM system installed by aerosoft. On the support forums, the developers refuse to provide this file since the Win7 exe removes the DRM, instead asking players to contact Aerosoft support to request the file. Contacted Aerosoft support, twice... never a response

I loved the product when I got it to work on XP (at poor performance on my old, dying PC that has since been decommissioned), but unfortunately until they fix up that one, I have to say no to further titles. The looks of this are superb however - and I can vouch for the fact that this is an attention-minded developer

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by CCIP

I would love to get this, but for the moment I'm forced to boycott their products unfortunately. I bought their Berlin Subway simulator that I cannot get working on Win7.

I don't think this is by the same guys who did the Berlin Subway. I might be wrong though, but I think this is the first sim by these guys.

[CCIP]

Huh, you're right. It does seem to be the same engine and same publisher, so it fooled me... I'm sure there's a connection of some sort. I guess my beef with Aerosoft more than anything - wonder if it's available elsewhere

[edit]

Aha, also available at Simmarket. So far my experience with them has been pretty good, so... man, do I ever have an itchy "purchase" finger here, especially with my birthday coming up

Anyone else have impressions before I make up my mind?

[Oberon]

http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtop...4755&start=210

Try reading through here. This is where I first picked up on OMSI.

[Mud]

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Mud

I contacted support and had the new exe.file within a few hours.
I prolly have it somewhere, PM me and maybe we can work it out

I'll have to take you up on that, thanks! Just saw Oberon's shots from their new title in another thread, too. I'd certainly love to get more of their sutff, but argh, I have to be sure I can have it working first

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by CCIP

I would love to get this, but for the moment I'm forced to boycott their products unfortunately. I bought their Berlin Subway simulator that I cannot get working on Win7. That requires a different .exe file than the one provided with the game, which will only work on XP - caused by the DRM system installed by aerosoft. On the support forums, the developers refuse to provide this file since the Win7 exe removes the DRM, instead asking players to contact Aerosoft support to request the file. Contacted Aerosoft support, twice... never a response

I loved the product when I got it to work on XP (at poor performance on my old, dying PC that has since been decommissioned), but unfortunately until they fix up that one, I have to say no to further titles. The looks of this are superb however - and I can vouch for the fact that this is an attention-minded developer

I have WOS2 as well, and when migrating from XP to W7 64bit, I had to replace the exe indeed. Short mail, with my activation number and a brief reference to the posting of their staff describing the problem, was enough. They sent me a link where to download the new exe, and I was done.

Explicitly refer to the staff posting, and give your acitvation code, or any proof of sale.

Hülsmann - the name rings a bell. Beep-soundtrack developer for the Amiga. Katakis.

However, OMSO is done by two guys who started this as a hobby, remembering their schooldays in Berlin in the 80s when they used to drive bus every day, when going to school. They have nothing to do with TLM, which is the developer of the train simulator module Berlin Subway, featuring the Line 2 and I think 5, and the standalone products of the Worl of Subway label.

The English Subway sim of theirs is making good progress. Visually, they are stunning, just with the speed limits on the track they have not taken it too serious, The signs and limiotations are their, but it has no consequence if you go racing. Physics are believable, however, the best I have seen in any train-related stuff. Looks are very nice, and the sounds as well.

Cannot say I am a fan of their aerosoft launcher system. Even the boxed CD version uses it to register and check for nupdate OMSI. Well, I do not have too much busioness with them anymore anyway, since I have all stuff for FS9 that I wanted, and do not buy anything for FSX, which I do not have.

P.S. If anyone gets it and wonders how to handle the menu, ask and I see if i can help. As I said, in that regard it is fully functional and offers all you can desire, but really: it is rough around the edges. One would have done it that way 10 or 15 years ago. I forgive it this time, it is just two hobbyist doing it, no studio.

Expect some occasional unfriendly language when you drive bad, Berliners are known for their constant unfriendliness. Also, the sim uses TrackIR. Many videos at youtube.

When the download version was opublished, the storm of the crowd was soo intense that they brought down and locked their servers for two days.

[Skybird]

Ah, and Oberon - this is for you and all you other train-riding Brits!

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Ah, and Oberon - this is for you and all you other train-riding Brits!

Yup, Stumbled across this last night, and my jaw hit the floor. It's wonderful. A few little niggles such as the door closing chimes being a bit short and the AI trains coming into stations a little bit too fast (they do come in fast in reality but not quite that fast). Also hearing the announcement from the AI train coming in...but really those are tiny niggles.
Would be pretty nifty if they could put in the OPO monitors on the platform end...but I think that would be rather hard to do. Would eliminate the need to open the doors and look down the train too.
But, seriously, I will be getting this.

[onelifecrisis]

Honestly, you Germans!

[Skybird]

I use to think of train sims as something like animated email-postcards - the gaming value is not staellar, but if you know the places, you will like it due to the memories. It also is 1/2-1 hour of very relaxed, laid-back gaming. Occasionally, that is nice.

[Oberon]

Periodically I'll load up Railworks and just do some shunting with a little tank engine. It's nice and relaxing.

[Skybird]

The OMSI community is already hacking away: many new bus skins, and even the first additional maps already are out.

Can't judge their quality, but it shows that the editors are functional, and tempting for mod-makers.

So far they all seem to use the Spandau city textures to create different places and towns as well, but these textures also can be replaced. Which means more work, of course.

I'm sure there will be quality addons being made sooner or later. This sim is too good, and many people out there are enthusiasts.

[Skybird]

English Tutorial 1 + 2



Control of the IBIS, automatic route signs and ticket printer :

There are also older machines. You even need to handle the coin chipper in the cashdesk.

For some reason, the guy choosed the alternative track, fictional Grundorf, not the full track from real Spandau, which is much more detailed.

[Skybird]

I have checked their forum and have chosen several tracks map-makers have composed. While I did not expect too much, I was surprised again of how soon some maps have been brought out that can equal the quality of the original Spandau map, and/or chnage the feeling of the whole sim by adding hills, short overland trips with villages, and several settlements in loose order that look and drive quite differently. Very, very nice, and adding to the challenge when doing hillclimb on snowy road with many tight twists and turns, and very differently feeling driving experiences in different locations.

If you are stopped from testing this sim because it only includes one realistic Spandau track and a smal fictional training town, don't worry any longer, some maps at least are already out that will complement the default track very nicely, varying difficulty and the overall experience. The Spandau track consits of many quite straight streets, but it is also much fun to manover in a small oldtown with tight roads, or the gentle sways of a German "Landstrasse".

I can't stop to be amazed. Even the many different breaking types the bus models include, now pay off, helping you when going up- or downhill including ABS... One can only say thank you to the two guys putting the physics packlage together so competently. They needed 4 years for this sim and are still in the middle of their university studies. They did it because they remembered their shared experience of riding the bus to school every day just some years ago.

The addon maps real "Duisburg", and fictional "Kulmnock" and "Bad Kienzau" I liked best so far, in this order. Especially the first two could have been put into the sim release without giving away that they were not done by the programmers.

Not all addon maps are worthwhile to download. Check forum entries and feedback before choosing, it is obvious that some are unfinished works or were done for testing the editor. All in all it seems you can find and pick 3-4 dozen additional maps until today in various different, international forums.