How's the game WITHOUT VR?

[Vantezzle]

Is it still worth buying?The price seems somewhat steep.

[Talkingpeanut]

The game isn't 94% positive for nothing, I think it's fantastic and will only get better as Simulator release bugs get ironed out and future plans get implemented ( http://www.derailvalley.com/future/ )

[JuggernautOfWar]

I don't have a VR headset so I've only ever played in non-VR mode. The game is absolutely worth it in my opinion even without VR, especially after the recent simulator update. Just keep in mind it is still in early access, so the usual disclaimers apply. Such as if you aren't happy with the game in its current state then wait to buy until you are, and the game is still a work in progress with tons of features and reworks planned for the future.

All that being said, I wholeheartedly recommend the game even as it sits now in the current state of early access. You'll see plenty of people here on the forums who have hundreds of hours in the game, which is more enjoyment than many "AAA" $60 games get out of people nowadays.

Edit: Do note back before it got many updates the game used to be $20 on Steam which is when I got it, but even so I would absolutely pay the current $40 for the game in its current state after all the updates it received over time.

[JC]

The UI and handling without VR is excellent and well thought out. It's not a lazy port, it handles very smooth and is (IMHO) actually more enjoyable without VR. I've played for many dozens of hours (mouse and keyboard), and only a small portion of those was in VR.

If you're looking for a railsim that's not following the Train Sim World model of (1 line + a bit of rolling stock + a handful of scenarios, rinse and repeat), this is definitely worth looking at.

Yes, there's some bugs (which will be no doubt fixed). Yes, the graphics are not AAA. Yes, there's only half a dozen engines right now (more on the way, and mods). But it'll be many hours until you've done everything and mastered all the intricacies of operating trains here.

If that's something that interests you, it's money well spent, especially given the (free!) updates that are announced down the line (Simulator was free for me, I bought Overhauled years ago, but I'd spend those 40 bucks in a heartbeat, knowing what I get).

[Vantezzle]

Originally posted by JC:

If you're looking for a railsim that's not following the Train Sim World model of (1 line + a bit of rolling stock + a handful of scenarios, rinse and repeat), this is definitely worth looking at.

That's why I'm interested, I've always wanted a railsim that's a bit more open and not scenario based.

[JuggernautOfWar]

Originally posted by Vantezzle:

Originally posted by JC:

If you're looking for a railsim that's not following the Train Sim World model of (1 line + a bit of rolling stock + a handful of scenarios, rinse and repeat), this is definitely worth looking at.

That's why I'm interested, I've always wanted a railsim that's a bit more open and not scenario based.

Sounds like this is exactly what you're looking for then. Pretty active modding community here too.

[HEMIFOX426]

I have VR but I find it easier to play in DTM (Desktop mode) with mouse and keyboard. but I'm an old gamer, and there was a day where you didn't even have support for a game console controllers, you have to use a keyboard masking program to use any gamepads. the program fooled the computer into thinking you were using mouse and keyboard, but you were actually using a joystick, or game console controller.

[HEMIFOX426]

I'm actually looking for train control consoles like the yoke and pedal for a flight sim. they have them for trucking too, just ask a hardcore player of American Truck Simulator, or Euro Truck Simulator, I need a control set for Train Sims. I may build my own from old keyboards and mice, then remap the buttons as necessary.

[RainmakerLTU]

Ha, now I kinda starting to want to buy a VR device.

[HEMIFOX426]

The META Quest 2, or Quest 3, will be your cheapest option, but I'd recommend spending more and Getting a Valve Index, or HTC Vive. you will not be disappointed, I myself own and Index, thanks to the national covid stimulus that we Americans got in 2020, or was it 2021, I forget, anyway. the index costs a lot, but you get what you pay for, and valve is great to work with when doing an RMA, they're polit, fast, and efficient, or at least that has been my experience with them, I had one of the base stations arrive DOA, they have a new one out to me in a week. and I haven't have any major problems sine then. so yeah, Index for the win.

[RainmakerLTU]

Originally posted by HEMIFOX426:

The META Quest 2, or Quest 3, will be your cheapest option, but I'd recommend spending more and Getting a Valve Index, or HTC Vive. you will not be disappointed, I myself own and Index, thanks to the national covid stimulus that we Americans got in 2020, or was it 2021, I forget, anyway. the index costs a lot, but you get what you pay for, and valve is great to work with when doing an RMA, they're polit, fast, and efficient, or at least that has been my experience with them, I had one of the base stations arrive DOA, they have a new one out to me in a week. and I haven't have any major problems sine then. so yeah, Index for the win.

Thanks for info, appreciate it. But it is just a thought now. Have not tried any research yet. Maybe some day. I just notice how my views about VR changed to more positive just because one game.

[HEMIFOX426]

VR is fun, but like any gaming platform, it does have it's flaws. Research is the best route really, making sure you get what's best for you. And sorry for the spelling and grammar errors in my post, I fat fingered some keys, and missed others. Typing is not my strong suit, lol.

[HUDoff••|972]

It's gorgeus, and very good playable

[JC]

Originally posted by Vantezzle:

Originally posted by JC:

If you're looking for a railsim that's not following the Train Sim World model of (1 line + a bit of rolling stock + a handful of scenarios, rinse and repeat), this is definitely worth looking at.

That's why I'm interested, I've always wanted a railsim that's a bit more open and not scenario based.

Yeah, it's definitely more open. Basically, you have an isolated rail network with a number of stations and yards, and you take jobs at those to shunt and deliver cargo. The jobs are point to point at the moment, But you can take multiple, so if you wanna run a local and stop at every station to drop off cars, shunt them to the tracks they're supposed to be on and then continue, you can do that (but you have to do a bit of planning on your own).*

* once you have acquired a couple licenses so you can actually pull the train, that is. ;)

Shunting/switching is a lot of fun in this game. The cars feel weighty, you can couple/uncouple by hand, there are hand brakes now, and it just feels nice as an activity.

One caveat is that the cars at a station are not permanent**, so once you leave a station, cars and jobs will be generated on the next visit.

** cars that are not part of a job you've taken, that is. Also, there was a mod that fixed this, and the developers want to revisit the job system in the future.

As it is, you can have a lot of fun though. More than in the more limited scenarios of other railsims. I've played Train Sim World and Trainz, and this beats both in terms o freedom and flexibility.

[ThunderDownUnder]

Works great on flat screen but it does tempt me to try VR.

[Crunchy[Daz]]

If you haven't tried it in VR then I'd say non-VR is probably really great. I just can't get back into non-VR after starting the game with my VR set. I'm used to the trains being huge, they seem so small on a monitor.