Microsoft Train Simulator 2

{{Infobox video game

|title = Microsoft Train Simulator 2

|developer = Kuju Entertainment

|publisher = Microsoft Game Studios

|designer =

|series = Microsoft Train Simulator

|released = Cancelled

|genre = Vehicle simulation

|modes = Single Player

|platforms = Windows

}}

An earlier attempt at building a successor to Microsoft Train Simulator was originally announced during the spring of 2003. Many improvements were attempted to make with procedural switches and walking passengers and was again going to be developed by Kuju Entertainment, who were the original creators.

{{cite web

|url = http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/sim/trainsimulator2/news.html?sid=6027476&mode=previews

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130123233718/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/sim/trainsimulator2/news.html?sid=6027476&mode=previews

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = January 23, 2013

|title = GameSpot Preview - Train Simulator 2 E3 2003 Preshow Report

|publisher = gamespot.com

|accessdate = March 10, 2009

}}

On {{start date|2003|05|15}}, a preview of the title was shown at the E3 Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles to demonstrate much of the new work, such as its new routes, rolling stock, and other features including animated people and functioning turntables.

{{cite web

|url = http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/sim/trainsimulator2/news.html?sid=6028191&mode=previews

|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130124065921/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/sim/trainsimulator2/news.html?sid=6028191&mode=previews

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = January 24, 2013

|title = GameSpot Preview - Train Simulator 2 Impressions

|publisher = gamespot.com

|accessdate = March 10, 2009

}}

However, only three months later into the summer on {{start date|2003|08|18}}, Kuju had handed the project over to Microsoft Game Studios and they would eventually halt the entire development by spring of 2004 as the following statement from Microsoft confirmed:

{{quotation|{{start date|2004|04|24}} – Microsoft Game Studios has halted the Windows-based game "Train Simulator 2.0." The decision to halt "Train Simulator 2.0" was made some time ago and was based on a long, hard and difficult look at our business objectives and product offerings. We remain focused on the simulations category with successful, platform-driving franchises such as "Microsoft Flight Simulator."

{{cite web

|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/sim/trainsimulator2/news_6094833.html

|title=Train Simulator 2 Canceled - PC News at GameSpot

|publisher=uk.gamespot.com

|accessdate=January 20, 2009

|url-status=dead

|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130115830/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/sim/trainsimulator2/news_6094833.html

|archivedate=January 30, 2009

}}

}}

Much of the former development team from Kuju later announced Rail Simulator in order to continue development of their own simulation platform. Its first version was published by Electronic Arts in October 2007. Its successor, RailWorks, developed by Rail Simulator Developments (today known as Dovetail Games), was released in June 2009, then RailWorks 2: Train Simulator in October 2010. Since 2012, the series has been known as simply Train Simulator.

{{Infobox video game

|title = Microsoft Train Simulator 2

|image = Microsoft Train Simulator 2 Logo.jpg

|developer = Aces Game Studio

|publisher = Microsoft Game Studios

|designer = Rick Selby

|series = Microsoft Train Simulator

|released = Cancelled

|genre = Vehicle simulation

|modes = Single Player

|platforms = PC – Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008
Windows 7

}}

The re-launch attempt at Microsoft's second version of the "Train Simulator" project was officially announced on {{start date|2007|01|19}}. This time around the simulation was instead being made in-house by Microsoft's Aces Game Studio, which was most known for its successful Microsoft Flight Simulator series line, as a part of the "Games for Windows" initiative.

The simulation leveraged most of the existing core components of Microsoft Flight Simulator X's platform, thus providing an entire earth model in which to play from, and was planned to be compatible with both Windows Vista and Windows XP. A post on 'The Little Wheel Goes in Back' blog, written by one of the developers, confirmed the working title was 'Train Simulator 2'.

{{cite web

|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/tdragger/archive/2007/08/23/guter-tag-von-leipzig.aspx

|title=The Little Wheel Goes in Back: Guter Tag von Leipzig!

|publisher=blogs.msdn.com

|accessdate=January 20, 2009

|last=

|first=

}}

Microsoft's first demonstration of Train Simulator 2 occurred on {{start date|2007|08|25}} at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany and released an official press kit which included several in-game visual prototype images, asset renders, and two videos. One of these videos presents a brief demonstration of the simulation's ability to model the entire planet's track corridors, reproducing a similar concept in Microsoft's Flight Simulator series, with global rail network data for anyone to operate their trains around freely without limits.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZhXd1AR_f8 TS2's World of Rails Demo] Global Rail Network Data The data would have also been available to route builders for modification of any kind to suit their modeling needs anywhere in the world. As opposed to starting an entire route from scratch, this would require more or less simple cosmetic details and object placement.

Despite having the name in common with its predecessor, backwards compatibility with the first version of Train Simulator would not have been possible due to the completely different base platform used for development and programming designs between the two versions. The original Microsoft Train Simulator uses routes based on individual levels which are loaded separately within the application, whereas this version would have introduced the entire world as a single game playing area where railroad corridors would have been based on their actual real-world locations just as in Flight Simulator.

In addition to the entire global earth model from which Flight Simulator X was based, Train Simulator 2 was also going to feature four high-detail routes, including the following lines, along with their respective railroad carriers:

The second attempt contained unknown drivable locomotives and multiple units; unknown if MSTS 2 would have featured AI-only trains, or a static in-game number.

{{Main|Aces Game Studio}}

On {{start date|2009|01|23}}, Microsoft announced that it was permanently closing its Aces Game Studio, the internal development studio responsible for the Microsoft Flight Simulator series and the development of Microsoft Train Simulator 2. As a result, all future development on Train Simulator 2 (which was just entering the final stages of development at the time of closure) was immediately halted, marking the second time that this project was terminated. A week later, Microsoft issued the following official announcement from Train Simulator Insider.

{{quotation|{{start date|2009|01|30}} – By now, many of you have heard that Microsoft has closed Aces Studio, the publisher of Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Train Simulator. This was not a reflection of the quality of the products Aces has developed, the sales performance of the games, or the quality of the team at Aces. This difficult decision was made to align Microsoft’s resources with our strategic priorities. As a result of this difficult decision, development of the next version of Train Simulator is being postponed for an indefinite period.{{Paragraph break}}Microsoft Game Studios is investing significant resources in many exciting and new areas of gaming and entertainment, including Windows games. We believe these future investments will push innovation, community, and collaboration to unprecedented levels and will provide more synergy with our ongoing investments in Games for Windows - LIVE as well as other Windows entertainment technologies.{{Paragraph break}}We are humbled and proud of the passion and support that the Train Simulator franchise has developed. This includes you, the large community of railroading simmers, as well as the vibrant third-party ecosystem that has developed around the game. Thank you for your understanding of our decision and for your continued support.

{{cite web

|url = http://tsinsider.com/Articles/AboutTS2/AboutAces.aspx

|title = About the Aces Team

|publisher = www.tsinsider.com

|accessdate = January 30, 2009

|last =

|first =

}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

}}

Information regarding the product can be found on Microsoft's official Train Simulator website, through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine.{{Cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsimulator/ |title=Initial Announcement of New Microsoft Train Simulator |website=Microsoft |access-date=2019-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011001641/http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsimulator/ |archive-date=2007-10-11 |url-status=dead }}

On {{start date|2009|10|12}}, former Aces Game Studio directors, Rick Selby and Kathie Flood, announced the launch of a new simulations-based development studio named Cascade Game Foundry.{{cite web |url=http://www.cascadegamefoundry.com/press-releases/ |title=Cascade Game Foundry }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Press Release: Cascade Game Foundry Forges Ahead, Opens New Simulation Game Development Studio, {{start date|2009|10|12}} Their first independent release was a scuba diving simulation game titled Infinite Scuba, released in 2013.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cascadegamefoundry.com/2014/04/25/dive-in/ |title=Water, water everywhere… really! |last=cgfadmin |date=2013-04-18 |website=Cascade Game Foundry |language=en-US |access-date=2019-08-27}}

• Rail Simulator – Related product developed by Kuju Entertainment responsible for Microsoft Train Simulator
• List of Games for Windows titles

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090505035300/http://www.tsinsider.com/ Train Simulator Insider] – Official Microsoft Train Simulator 2 Website
• [http://www.pbase.com/rselby/train_simulator Rick Selby's PBase Gallery] – Pre-Production TS2 Screenshots
• [http://www.cascadegamefoundry.com/ Cascade Game Foundry] – The simulation development studio founded by former Aces Game Studio veterans.

{{Microsoft Flight Simulator}}

Category:Cancelled Windows games

Category:Train simulation video games

Train Simulator 2

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Aces Game Studio games