Should I purchase Train Simulator 2014, 2015, 2016?

[WAZ]

Sorry if this sounds dumb, but I'm actually fairly confused about the content (or upgrades) included within this franchise. My son has become very interested in trains and I was going to pick this up to see how he liked it... very casual, mostly for him to watch, not super important that it be the "ultimate train sim" as it's more just to mess around with and casually drive some trains.

I have found TS 2014, 15, and 16 in the Walmart bargain bin for like $5 bucks apiece. So what I was wondering was:

1) Are these a worthwhile purchase? I'd be at about $16 for all three games... the same price as 2017 on sale right now.

2) Does each game contain the content from previous years (e.g. would I be better off just getting 2017 if it includes everything anyway)? Or does each game have its own CONTENT (tracks and trains) while the yearly updates kind of serve like addons (more tracks and trains, IN ADDITION TO the ones you installed from previous games)?

3) If I buy all three, do I just intall in chronological order to keep "upgrading" the previous year's install? Or is each game its own standalone game, making all of this irrelevant?

Sorry, between the various versions and DLC, I'm just very confused. Thank you!

[Felix.AVMP]

If you can get all that for said price, get it... each version had different routes and locos and even if you will not be interested in some of those, it will give you good idea what are those routes about.

Yeah, keeping the chronological order is probably a good idea (there should not be collisions, but...) - all of it will report as a various versions of TS2017 anyway.

Addendum - try to find Railworks 3:TS2012 or Railworks (or Railworks 2).

[Growler]

Basically yes, it would be a great way of getting lots of content for the Train Simulator game cheaply. Because the game and its historic versions all install via Steam, when you install any of those three versions of the game (i.e. TS2014/15 & 16) the game will automatically update the core game for free to TS2017; just without the contrent (routes and locos) for the full Steam TS2017 release of the game. However after running the installation of all three earlier versions of the game, you will have many very good quality routes and locos from all these packages; plus the opportunity to do the same in the future and buy the TS2017 content very cheaply in future big Steam Sales. Buying old versions of the game is a common method for new players to acquire plenty of historic content for their TS as cheaply as possible. For 16 bucks go for it! You won't be disappointed!! :) All the best.

P.S. Sorry Felix, was tied up half way during typing of my message. So there you go WAZ, two experienced players in full agreement. I wouldn't personally worry about the installation order; it shouldn't make any difference at all to a correct installationl. However, agreed with Felix installing in chronological year order is the obvious sensible route.

[Chicken Balti]

Hello WAZ, sounds like a good deal to me and worth getting all three to obtain the diffirent routes all three will contain. Just install all three one after the other and all the route content and traction for those routes, will be available under the game menu page when you start the Sim.
Most important though, make sure your PC meets the minimum spec listed to play the Sim 'before buying'. TS2017 is demanding of your PC CPU and GPU and you will have problems if your PC is not very powerful and/or does not contain a proper GPU (Graphics Card).
If you do purchase, when you log in to Steam, the game will update to TS2017, that does not mean you will get TS2017 routes for free though, only other small updates to the menu and game graphics engine etc. If you want TS2017 routes, you will need to buy them or one of the packages available. Any other TS2017 DLC you see listed for sale, you can buy and add anytime.
To get the hang of driving trains, start with simple driving mode from the menu. It is a lot more involved than perhaps you may think but great enjoyment after practice.
Best.

[Frankenstein]

OP. I started with TS2016 and bought the others from nice little cheap key sites :)

Immense amount of content for such a small outlay.

[Cat]

It's a good deal but make sure your pc specs are up to running the sim. Post your spec here and you'll be offered good advice.

[FusedCircuit]

get 2014, it upgrades automaticly

[Chicken Balti]

Originally posted by sohome:

get 2014, it upgrades automaticly

What upgrades automaticly sohome? You don't get all the routes and traction contained within TS2014 to TS2017 unless you purchase each release. The only thing that upgrades for free every year, is small updates to the game engine core and menus etc.
Best.

[Uras]

I have a similar question, i will have ts17 if i buy an older one? lets say ts16 because i can not find it on steam.

[mcueball]

Originally posted by Uras:

I have a similar question, i will have ts17 if i buy an older one? lets say ts16 because i can not find it on steam.

You will get the core engine upgrade to TS2017 if you buy any previous version (Railworks 2 / TS2012 - TS2016). You will not get any of the content bundled with TS2017, only the content bundled with the version you buy.

You will not be able to find previous versions of the sim on Steam. You will have to look on other sites (amazon, etc) and it may take some serching to find them. Other places you can check are stores like Walmart or Game Stop.

[Rudolf Jan]

As always, if your son loves the idea of being a traind river, buy them, otherwise don't. Basically you buy the diferent versions for the DLC that come with them, so you need to check if you think you will like the different routes. They always will upgrade tot he TS2017 core.

As said by others, mind the computer specs before you buy.