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This is part overview and part help for getting started with this unique game. Winner of the "2009 Serious Game Award," Aerosoft of Germany has now produced two subway simulations, the PATH and the Berlin U-7, and they are spectacular. Be aware that some quick-overview reviews imply or say outright that WoS is an add-on for Microsoft Train Simulator; this is not so, the simulator is completely stand-alone.
I'm running WoS on a moderately powerful laptop. Written in 2008 and released in 2009, the graphics are about state-of-the-art for the time, but you still need a decent machine. This is the most impressive simulation of any kind I've ever seen, including Railworks, Flight Simulator X or Space Shuttle Mission Simulator. It is, however, likely very different from any other rail-based simulation you're likely to have seen. You have control of only one train at a time, with no switching, consist make-up, scheduling or the like. There are AI trains you can run to enhance the realism, with provisions for waiting for conflicting trains and signals, and equipment failures. You have a choice of three car types, several routes and times, and weather. You also have the choice of running one route, or working an entire shift, for which the simulation rules and scoring differ. For now, there are two add-ons, one of which is included in the current version, a 3-D Manhattan skyline, and one that adds scenarios to the basic game.
This add-on has five new missions and additional options for the simulator. With a completely new Mission Module and five new missions you work on train orders outside normal shift duties: take workmen to their site on time, show your ability by driving a train with a defective brake, or take your train for a wash before your shift starts. This package also installs new scenarios including rail workers on the tracks, traffic accidents on the road and close to the tracks, and a burning building. These additional scenes can be turned off or on. When you install the update, it seems everything reverts to German. To fix this, open the Control Panel and uninstall the Expansion Pack. Then uninstall WoS 1.20. Then delete the TML folder. Reinstall the full version with a fresh download that contains v1.20 with all the current updates built in and reinstall the Expansion Pack. Start Wos and everything should be in English. Clearly, work remains to be done. I suspect WoS is a small team.
While PATH is partly a subway system, it's also partly a surface railroad. The scenery is truly amazing for a 2009 game, and to an extent you have the ability to look and move around in it. For example, start a train from Newark and press the "O" key to follow it through the tunnels and across the bridges to New York City. Unless you're engaged in a free roam, you have a schedule to keep, varying numbers of passengers to take on and discharge, and widely varying speed limits. So while some say all you get to do is drive, that's what a real subway driver does, and I expect you will find that sufficiently challenging.
A number of comments in forums and elsewhere suggest that users have had difficulty getting started with WoS. The instructions were originally written in German, and while the English translation is adequate, finding the information you need to get started can be awkward. You will also occasionally encounter a German term in the game that wasn't translated, such as todman switch, the deadman's switch. I've distilled and paraphrased and just plain stolen what I needed from the instructions, and present them here to either help you or pique your curiosity. It would be a shame to miss out on this excellent simulation because of start-up difficulties. Note that you can reconfigure the commands; with a laptop, this was the only way I could make the train and station announcements play.
The simulation runs well under Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, but you will want a fairly powerful computer. If your system can run Railworks, you can probably run WoS, but you should review the specifications on their web site. For earlier versions of Windows, the launcher program (WoS.exe) works just fine, but for Windows 7 users, an updated launcher is required. Using the original launcher file in Win 7 seems to produce a memory sharing violation error, possibly due to Windows 7 running a 32-bit emulator in a 64-bit system. For some reason Aerosoft has not yet made this file available for direct download from their site, but if you request the access-share-violation version of WoS.exe from the support forum at the maker's site you can get it in less than 24 hours; technical support is not Aerosoft's forte. There is also a patch that affects the operation of one of the display panels that you should probably install called "visual_indicator_air_condition.zip" from the Download section of the main site. I downloaded my version of the game from an on-line distributor. My understanding is that the patches are required regardless of what version you buy; this may change in future packages/releases. To start the download version of World of Subways an online registration is required; the PC running either the downloaded or boxed game version requires an active Internet connection to register the game, but after that, no Internet connection is required. It's possible to register via e-mail, but I didn't try that option.
Following are the main keys you have to use, in the order to use them to start the train. Note that because I use a laptop, the number pad keys have been reassigned to regular numbers. This is done under "Game Options."
Main Key Summary (in order of use):
K for A/C
SPACE for dead man's switch
PAGE UP for direction
LEFT ARROW to release brakes
NUM 7, 8 & 9, then F3
F1 / F2 to close doors (L/R)
UP ARROW to accelerate
L for lights
H for horn
O outside cab
You must be in the cab to drive, but once underway you can use the "O" key to view the outside of the train and its surroundings; most impressive. Direction control and power levers are set to idle to begin with. Press "Page Up" to set the driving direction forward; "Page Down" sets it to reverse if you need it. Pressing "K" switches the air conditioning system on; this should remain on during the entire journey. Set the destination (F8) so that passengers know where the train is going; the CTRL key toggles the mouse pointer to allow you to move into the display panel.
Train speed is controlled by the power lever. Four throttle steps or notches are selected with the up and down arrow keys. The first two steps switch the motors into series alignment; steps 3 and 4 switch the motors in parallel for higher speed. You'll need to work this control continually, as each notch produces almost, but not quite exactly the wrong speed, just as in real life.
Train brakes are continuously variable and are operated by pressing the "Left Arrow" (decrease) and "Right Arrow" (increase) keys. Pressing "Del" applies full braking. There is also an emergency braking system. This is a penalty application: after operating the emergency brakes, the driver must wait one minute before the brakes can be released again, simulating the real release time. An emergency stop is made by releasing the dead man's switch (Space bar) during driving. If that happens accidentally, the driver has three seconds to correct this or the train will execute an emergency stop.
The headlights (L) and horn (H) should not be used while the train is standing at the station; violations will result in a deduction of points. The driver must keep to the schedule. An announcement stating the final destination and the next station must be made before the doors are closed. A warning to clear the area around the doors must also be announced. The doors may only be closed when you have pressed "F8" for the departure signal. The following keys are assigned to each announcement by default:
Number pad 7 = destination announcement
Number pad 8 = next station announcement
Number pad 9 = safety announcement
The best procedure is to press 7, then 8, then 9 before departure, then press "F3" key for the departure signal.
Speed limits can be seen on the yellow route signs. Maximum speed is 15 mph at all stations and station facilities unless otherwise stated. Do not exceed 40 mph in the tunnel system unless otherwise stated. Note that there may be deviations between the speed indicated in the route monitor and the speed signs. For example this can happen when a speed of 55 mph is permissible when that is followed by a section with a speed limit of 25 mph. The change in speed will be abrupt in the route monitor but will not correspond to the speed indicated in the signs. Thus a speed of 40 mph might be displayed, a little later 35 mph and finally a yellow sign showing 30 mph will appear on the right hand side of the track, before the actual speed limit of 25 mph is displayed. During this whole phase, the route monitor will display only 55 mph and will switch to 25 mph, when the sign for 25 mph has been reached.
Before arrival, the driver announces which station is ahead by pressing the "2" key. When the final destination is been reached, tell the passengers to disembark by pressing the "1" key. On arrival, make sure the train stops at exactly the right position, using the end of the station as a reference point. Very important: open the doors on the correct side; they can only be opened if the power lever is in the idle position. Watch one of the monitor panels to be sure everyone gets off and on the train.
A camera system displays the external view of a train and views out of the cab and passenger areas. The following views are available:
Driver's cab (Standard)
Leave or enter the cab: C
Outside view: O key
Passenger view: N key
Press "O" then "N" key to switch to the driver's cab view. While in the driver's cab you can change the angle of view using the mouse. It is not possible to move forwards and backwards. You can centralize the view by pressing "Z."
You can only freely mover around the stations when the train has stopped. Pressing C switches to the passenger compartment, and you can move around by pressing the following keys:
W = forward
S = backward
A = sideways to the left
D = sideways to the right
Line of sight and turning around is controlled with the mouse. When you are standing in the car in front of the driver's cab door, press C to return to the driver's cab. You must be standing in the passenger compartment in front of the driver's cab; press R to move to the driver's cab door in the passenger compartment. If you should inadvertently step onto the track while exploring the station, you can press R to get back onto the platform.
Monitors and Displays: The monitors shown in the key assignments below like the route or current time monitors are displayed in separate windows. These can be moved around the screen with the mouse pointer by pressing the CTRL key, then moving the mouse pointer to the top edge of the window, then click and drag the window to the new location. Release the mouse button to drop the window at the new position.
The stations and their abbreviations:
WTC = World Trade Center
EXC = Exchange Place
GRV = Grove Street
JSQ = Journal Square
HAR = Harrison
NWK = Newark
PAV = Pavonia Newport
HOB = Hoboken
CHR = Christopher Street
9th ST = 9th Street
14th ST = 14th Street
23rd ST = 23rd Street
33rd ST = 33rd Street
Key assignments for a laptop (note that the original number pad (numlock) keys have been reassigned):
Dead man's switch = SPACE
Reverser forward = PAGE UP
Reverser rear = PAGE DOWN
Throttle up = UP ARROW
Throttle down = DOWN ARROW
Brake increase = RIGHT ARROW
Brake decrease = LEFT ARROW
Fast brake = DELETE
Emergency brake = END
Headlights = L
Center the camera = Z
Open/close left doors = F1
Open/close right doors = F2
Air conditioning = K
Departure signal = F3
Horn = H
Wipers on/off = B
Walk forward = W
Walk left = A
Walk right = D
Leave/enter cab = C
Switch outside camera = O
Switch car camera = N
Continue explore mode = R
Current time on/off = F4
Route monitor on/off = F5
Station monitor on/off = F6
Status monitor on/off = F7
Destination on/off = F8
Mouse cursor on/off = CTRL
Announce departure = 9
Announce last station = 1
Announce arr. station = 2
Announce next station = 8
Announce dest. station = 7
Reset monitor position = M
Simulation speed = BACKSPACE
Screenshot = F12
Final analysis: a great simulator of a complex rail operation, and highly recommended to anyone with even the slightest interest in subway trains.
D.C. Shoemaker
dcshoe@comcast.net
World of Subways Vol. 1 can be purchased from the
FS Pilot Shop
WoS Message Forum
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Copyright © 2011 by Nels Anderson. All Rights Reserved.