Currently I am working on improving the Custom Environment feature in Train Sim. First I started with adding 20 new items you can place in your custom environments. These new items include new Trees, Bushes, additional Farm Textures Grain Silos, Tractor & Cow plus more. If you have any suggestions on what other items you would like to see feel free to contact me.
I also worked on adding a way to move previously placed items by simply clicking on them. I would like to also let people delete previously placed items, but I am not sure how to actually implement this in the interface. Here is a video preview of some of the new items and the ability to move items around, coming soon to Train Sim.
I am happy to announce that another Train Sim update is now live on Google Play! This time I was able to include 3 of the most requested features:
Custom Environments
Train de-coupling/Coupling
Improved Track Connections
Allowing users to build their own custom environments, is something I always wanted to add to Train Sim. It is obviously something not easy to implement and previously I never had the time to focus on it.
However recently I added a similar feature to my other game Aquarium Sim and I thought, maybe this could be adapted to Train Sim. After a few hours of effort moving the code over from one project to another I was surprised that it worked. I was able to place objects on a Terrain on a predefined track. I quickly posted a preview video on my Twitter feed and happy with my progress I went to sleep.
Next day I started the real work which would continue over the next 2 weeks. First I needed to add 50 predefined objects to the custom environment editor. This was easy but repetitive work as for each object I needed to create a small preview icon. This involves taking a screenshot of the 3D object, opening it in Photoshop, cutting out a transparent background and saving the result as a PNG image file. 50 times.
I also had to build 2 separate tracks layouts and allow the environments to switch depending on the user choice. This turned out to actually be that hardest part as none of the other scenes in Train Sim support multiple track layouts, and things were constantly breaking.
Add to that object rotation, Terrain Texture selector & the massive amount of testing around this feature, and I would estimate 100+ hours of total effort. However I think it was worth it. Here is one of the later preview videos of the Custom Environment feature (still only had 1 track to choose from)
The other major feature I focused on this release was Train De-Coupling/Coupling. This was also a much requested feature from many users. The actual de-coupling implementation was simple. The tricky part coupling the Train again when it is backing up & from behind the train. Each engine has a different size which means I had to adjust and test each of the engines plus double engines, plus tenders. If that was not enough I also had to make sure I can de-couple go around the track and push the train from the back. Again accounting for the variable engine size, testing each one. I even build a small track for testing this feature that allowed me to go around and push the train from behind faster. 48 times …
Here is one of the final video previews I shared on my YouTube channel.
In the future I hope to expand this by allowing users to drop off and pick up cars from the rail yard.
Finally one of my personal pet peeves in Train Sim were always the Track Connections. Not only were they buggy, they also looked terrible as the tracks would visually just overlap with the main track always on top of the connection.
This new version of Train Sim fixes both this issues as Track connections now work much better and look much better. The actual solution to this was very simple and I can’t believe I have not through of this in the past.
As always this new version of Train Sim is available on Google Play first with the other platforms coming soon after.
One of the things that always bothered me about Train Sim was the User Interface (Buttons). I never liked the look but more practicaly I did not like the fact that it used words. Even when I translated the button labels into 7 other languages that meant there were still millions of users that did not have a translated user interface.
Furthermore there are lots of kids that are younger then 6 years old that enjoy playing Train Sim but do not yet know how to read. My son was amongst those for many years.
So I decided that in this update I will focus on an improved user interface. I have been posting in progress screenshots on my Twitter Account but finally I settled on the above look which is now live on the Google Play Store (Android). Thanks to my Twitter followers I also learned that some people simply like the old interface. So the Old Interface will still be available in Options.
In this update I also added a new (much reqested) Open & Close Doors Button that will show up when the train is stopped. From now on that button will need to be pressed when the train is stopped at a station to let the passengers out. It will no longer be automatic.
I am excited to announce that the new version of Dinosaur Sim is now live on the Google Play Store. This update includes a new Winter Scene for players to explore as well as a new feature that allows players to share their high scores with other players via the Google Play Leaderboard system. See you in the Jurrasic!
Happy Valentines Day! To Celebrate this special holiday I released a new update to 3 Jewels. This update has a much requested feature that will allow players to continue the Endless Mode even if after they close 3 Jewels on their phone. I also added 10 more Challenge Levels, including this awesome Heart Shaped Level.
I am happy to announce that another update of Train Sim is now live. This time I focused on replacing the R160 New York subway model as well improving the Mountain Trail Scene. I also added additional Leaderboards to Train Sim that allow players to compare their total distance traveled as well as the number of crashes.
One of my favourite things added in this release were Break Sparks to all Trains & improved the Break Animations on steam trains. When breaks are initiated the wheels will lock in place rather then slowing down.
I also updated some minor details such as the vehicles on all the scenes to the improved models I previously used in the Desert scene. There were also some bug fixes, such as the never-ending rain in one of the train cars.
Currently the update is live for Android but I am working on porting it to the other platforms.
Last week I worked on a new feature for Aquarium Sim that allows users to create custom Aquarium Environments. This is a feature I always wanted to include on launch but never had the time to implement. I am really happy with how it turned out. Rather then just being visually appealing Aquarium Sim now also allows you to be creative.
This new version of Aquarium Sim is now available for Android & Amazon Devices with iOS version has been uploaded & is waiting for review.
Train Sim update is now live across all platforms. These include: Android, iOS, Amazon, Mac Store, Windows Store. You can now play this newest version of Train Sim, any time on any device. No Limits!
This was a large update that took me almost 2 months to complete. The work completed includes:
Complete rewrite of the Ports of Call Scene
Improved Rain Effect (rain drips down windows)
Working Windshield Wipers on all trains
Longer Trains
Higher Resolution Textures for several Trains
Many Bug Fixes
I would like to thank all of my Facebook and Twitter fans for all your great suggestions and encouragement while I was working on this release. I hope that you all like it.
I am happy to report that Train Sim has received another awesome update. This time I focused on updating one of the existing older scenes.
I started by asking my twitter account, Which Scene I should focus on updating. The Farm Land scene was a clear winner. (I think I will be doing more of that in the future)
Initially I focused on making a larger more interesting track layout. In the old scene the track was arranged in a circle, and I received allot of complaints about that from users. As you will see from the top view of the track, the layout is much more interesting then before.
I also wanted to add some new assets to the scene, These included:
Improved Track Textures
Improved Horse Model
New Cow Models
New Large Grain Elevator/Silos
New Farm Textures
Improved Water Effects
However I wanted the scene to seem familiar as well, so allot of the old farm textures & small towns found in the old levels are still present in this new scene.
On top of the improved Farm Land scene I also added a new GE AC4400CW train with custom freight cars to go with it. This brings the total number of trains available in Train Sim to 47!
Kids Car Racers received a much overdue update last week for Android & iOS. Update, now live! Including a New Fantasy Themed Scene and a much improved GUI that is more intuitive to kids. I also picked a more friendly main menu theme music.
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