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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 12:09 #60065 | |
GW43125
495 posts |
I recently decided that I would probably buy one of the payware sims on this site. Only problem is, I can't decide which one... :( Any suggestions as to which sims you recommend or think I should avoid? All suggestions appreciated. Thanks, DSW Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 12:27 #60066 | |
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dwelham313
139 posts |
My personal favourite is Edinburgh - a huge area to control but ARS is available to lend a hand. Marylebone and West Hampstead are also excellent. To be honest I don't think you'll be disapointed whichever you go for, they're all well worth the money!
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 12:38 #60067 | |
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GW43125
495 posts |
I like WH and Marylebone too, but can't decide!
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 12:43 #60068 | |
Temple Meads
307 posts |
Thumbs up for West Hampstead here, although it tends to be better (less difficult!) in multiplayer if you want delays and failures.
Username TIM in multiplayer Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 12:51 #60069 | |
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Danny252
1461 posts |
I'm having fun with the Victoria sims - Vic SE certainly has all sorts of conflicting movements and regulation to keep you busy, and alike Edinburgh, both are provided with ARS.
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 13:11 #60070 | |
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sloppyjag
480 posts |
I've found all the sims I've purchased (I have all bar the Victoria sims) excellent value for money, and I include Liverpool Street which I bought way back when! Biggest surprise was New Street which I found very easy to get to grips with but that is probably down to the clockface nature of the 2009 timetable. When a 80's TT (maybe a Summer Saturday?) becomes available it will undoubtedly become my favourite sim. Until then its a toss up between CScot and NEScotland.
Planotransitophobic! Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 13:41 #60071 | |
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delticfan
476 posts |
Only payware sims I have are Wolves, Cov and New St as I worked in the area for some years. I enjoy all of them as I can use my local knowledge while playing. Wolves and Cov are great single-player sims, New St is definitely more of a challenge. Mal. Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 14:23 #60073 | |
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GW43125
495 posts |
Now we're back to square 1...
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 14:30 #60074 | |
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JamesN
1612 posts |
All the payware sims have their merits - ultimately we wouldn't be charging for them if we didn't think they were worth it! It's difficult for me to answer objectively as I've had significantly more involvement in some sims than others - as such I won't make any specific suggestions. I would however strongly recommend getting one of the multibuy packs - while they are a tad more expensive it's a significant saving on purchasing the 2/3/whatever sims seperately. If you buy one you'll only kick yourself 6 months down the line when you want the other sims in the pack and have to pay full price for them. Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 14:32 #60075 | |
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GW43125
495 posts |
Whilst I would love to, debit cards do sadly have their limits...
Last edited: 05/05/2014 at 14:38 by GW43125 Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 14:50 #60076 | |
Steamer
3997 posts 
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To be honest, I don't think you'll regret any purchase, as they're all excellent simulations. The only thing to be aware of is your ability level- West Hampstead, CScot and New Street are quite hard, and I wouldn't recommend those unless you can make a reasonable job of something like King's Cross or Bristol. That said, I agree with Sloppyjag that New Street wasn't as hard as I expected it to be, but still very busy. On the plus side, prices vary according to size and difficulty- for example, instead of buying New Street you could buy Fenchurch, CScot and either Wolverhampton or Coventry and have change left over. "Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q) Last edited: 05/05/2014 at 14:52 by Steamer Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 14:56 #60077 | |
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GW43125
495 posts |
If we do eventually get the three bridges sims, I may look at VC in order to create a TT running right through, which could chain to my currently in development Brighton/Lancing chain TT, giving a very good experience of the BML (not sure if that's the right name) life. Until then, maybe Marylebone might be good. If you say WH is like KX on difficulty, I have a problem. (really not good in the peaks!) So would anyone recommend Marylebone, or are there any others that are really good and I should go for instead? So much head-scratching! Also, slightly off-topic I know, but does anyone think they would be interested in a 'spotters database' I am working on, containing information on locos, DMUs, EMUs trams and more, if so, do they think it could make money, if yes, how do I get the necessary licensing for it, as I don't want any legal trouble, please! Help appreciated! DSW Last edited: 05/05/2014 at 15:06 by GW43125 Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 15:54 #60078 | |
jc92
3701 posts |
" said:Platform Five (among other publishers) already produce books with full details of everything, and I've seen at least one wagon spotting book aswell. regards payware, it depends what you're looking for really. Coventry and Wolves are both cheap, small sims with a low level of difficulty, New Street is expensive and complicate, but only really of interest if you like big stations. if you like regulating trains over a longer distance then West Hampstead is ideal. each one has its own flavour. maybe if you give us an idea of what you're looking for we could advise better? "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 16:17 #60079 | |
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GW43125
495 posts |
" said:" said:Was hoping to get on the market (Amazon, ebay etc spring to mind) but if you don't think it'll work then back to the drawing board.Platform Five (among other publishers) already produce books with full details of everything, and I've seen at least one wagon spotting book aswell. Also, I like large stations (Preferably termini) but i also enjoy long distance regulation if it doesn't make the sim too big or complicated. What do people recommend for this? Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 16:38 #60080 | |
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y10g9
895 posts |
from that i would say West Hampstead would possibly give you what you're after
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 16:59 #60082 | |
58050
2660 posts |
For me all the sims are good providing there is a 1980s or 1990s timetable to run with them. Modern eras timetables are just too boring for me. Guess its generation thing in an era where you had loco hauled trains, newspaper & parcels traffic, trip workings & shunting. Modern era timetables for me don't bring out the best in sims as they are all units & a distinct lack of shunting which although complicates things for me provides much more of a challenge. I think all the sims procued by SimSig are excellent whether payware or notm but when alls said & done its the timetable you run on the sim which brings it to life.
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 17:00 #60083 | |
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GW43125
495 posts |
" said:from that i would say West Hampstead would possibly give you what you're afterFrom that, I think that if we get the three bridges sims will go for them and VC, VS and WH multibuy and can have fully functioning Vic-Brighton/Worthing and Brighton-Bedford services! Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 17:19 #60085 | |
belly buster
368 posts |
I appreciate the experience is not quite the same, but you do get a small amount of time on the payware sims to at least "explore the area" so why not download them all to get a feel of which works best for you? Another thing to consider is which sims are regularly hosted. West Hampstead is popular, as is the midlands set. Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 17:33 #60087 | |
GeoffM
6380 posts |
" said:Also, I like large stations (Preferably termini) but i also enjoy long distance regulation if it doesn't make the sim too big or complicated. What do people recommend for this?Being biased I would say Vic South Eastern then - fairly long distance, regulation required, medium sized terminus, and with ARS. SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 18:07 #60090 | |
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slatteryc
266 posts |
I have been having enormous fun trying to keep Vic Central going through the morning peak without ARS. Somewhat of a onelegged tapdancer type of thing. Quite masochistic.
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 18:19 #60091 | |
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mfcooper
707 posts |
" said:I have been having enormous fun trying to keep Vic Central going through the morning peak without ARS. Somewhat of a onelegged tapdancer type of thing. Quite masochistic.That just sounds like the day job 
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| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 18:35 #60093 | |
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Forest Pines
525 posts |
I only have the Victorias and Marylebone (and played the old Edinburgh and CScot before they were payware) but I'd agree with Geoff that Vic SE would fit your requirements - a terminus, a good few miles of route, and some tricky regulating decisions even with ARS turned on (it particularly seems to get Herne Hill wrong because it won't call warner routes). Marylebone is a bit smaller but might also tick the boxes - a smaller terminus but more route mileage, and it involves regulating fast and slow services with lots of intermediate turnback locations on a double track railway. If you also add in the Metropolitan Line section it gives you a very intensive service to deal with, with no auto buttons to help! Last edited: 05/05/2014 at 18:37 by Forest Pines Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 05/05/2014 at 18:55 #60097 | |
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Steamer
3997 posts
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" said:To add slightly to that, the supplied timetable contains lots of looping passenger trains and using bi-directional platforms, certainly far more than other (real) modern TTs. "Don't stress/ relax/ let life roll off your backs./ Except for death and paying taxes/ everything in life.../ is only for now." (Avenue Q) Log in to reply |
| Best payware? 11/05/2014 at 01:09 #60314 | |
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Pinza
106 posts |
I have several of the Payware sims. Most recent purchase was Marylebone and this is by far my favourite: With one caveat - supplied version 6 timetables struggled to cope routing F-prefixed LUL up trains under ARS. Version 7 TT (freely downloadable) corrects this issue - you can basically leave Met LUL to run itself! Large area to control, but fully workable for one person with ARS turned om. Really just need to authorise platform sharing at Marylebone (all the time) and occasionally at Aylesbury. Bit of early morning messy ECS (class 5) shunts in Banbury (where ARS needs to be over-ridden)and some 'awkward' freight movements at Bicester Depot, Banbury Road Aggregate sidings and lots of fun/hassle with 7V73 at West Ruislip! Cheaper than some of the more recent releases - I would thoroughly recommend this as a first Payware purchase - especially for someone wanting to try running alone with a bit of ARS assistance. Log in to reply |