Comments on: Trainyard, and where it came from http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 11:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Scuba SM http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-912388 Scuba SM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-912388 That's how all my SimCity games ended... trying to reduce the city to rubble. That’s how all my SimCity games ended… trying to reduce the city to rubble.

]]> By: JohnC http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911112 JohnC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911112 When will Boing Boing just come clean that they are a division of Apple computer? :) They *are* doing "wonderful things" with pc's and Android phones etc etc these days. When will Boing Boing just come clean that they are a division of Apple computer? :)

They *are* doing “wonderful things” with pc’s and Android phones etc etc these days.

]]> By: JohnC http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911114 JohnC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911114 "Windoze" seriously? Ironically I saw this post after my mini rant below about all the Apple-centricness of Boing Boing. “Windoze” seriously? Ironically I saw this post after my mini rant below about all the Apple-centricness of Boing Boing.

]]> By: elondaits http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911642 elondaits Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911642 Railroad Tycoon was designed by Sid Meier, one of the best game designers ever. Its gameplay is neither aged nor pathetic... I played the latest revision, called "Railroads!" just a short while ago and it still is as fun and engaging as ever. Good, real games don't age. Railroad Tycoon was contemporary of Civilization, another ageless design by Meier. For examples of pathetic gameplay please see the FedEx quests in World of Warcraft, the 3D Tamagotchi that is The Sims, or the pointless clickfest of the latest social games such as Farmville. Railroad Tycoon was designed by Sid Meier, one of the best game designers ever. Its gameplay is neither aged nor pathetic… I played the latest revision, called “Railroads!” just a short while ago and it still is as fun and engaging as ever. Good, real games don’t age. Railroad Tycoon was contemporary of Civilization, another ageless design by Meier.
For examples of pathetic gameplay please see the FedEx quests in World of Warcraft, the 3D Tamagotchi that is The Sims, or the pointless clickfest of the latest social games such as Farmville.

]]> By: Mark Frauenfelder http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911390 Mark Frauenfelder Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911390 I call it the Kamandi Rule. I call it the Kamandi Rule.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911148 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911148 Looks like a lot of fun. I LOVED transport tycoon. Too bad it's only for iphone. The iphone is sooo 2009. Where is the coverage for all the cool Droid apps? Looks like a lot of fun. I LOVED transport tycoon.

Too bad it’s only for iphone. The iphone is sooo 2009. Where is the coverage for all the cool Droid apps?

]]> By: dccarles http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911927 dccarles Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911927 More love here for Railroad Tycoon. I always thought of Railroad Tycoon as more gamelike than, say, SimCity, which was more toylike, in that the player could make up their own objectives for SimCity. (What player of SimCity /hasn't/ tried to reduce their city to complete rubble at least once?) More love here for Railroad Tycoon. I always thought of Railroad Tycoon as more gamelike than, say, SimCity, which was more toylike, in that the player could make up their own objectives for SimCity. (What player of SimCity /hasn’t/ tried to reduce their city to complete rubble at least once?)

]]> By: magscanner http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911430 magscanner Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911430 MacInooga Choo-Choo made me buy a Macintosh, in 1985. I saw it at the show in Las Vegas, talked to the Antipodean guys who had come to proffer it, and realized it was object-oriented graphical programming in the MacPaint environment. I paid money for it. It changed my life. I didn't actually play it very much, as it was a lot of work and the reward was small. But it changed my life. MacInooga Choo-Choo made me buy a Macintosh, in 1985. I saw it at the show in Las Vegas, talked to the Antipodean guys who had come to proffer it, and realized it was object-oriented graphical programming in the MacPaint environment. I paid money for it. It changed my life.

I didn’t actually play it very much, as it was a lot of work and the reward was small. But it changed my life.

]]> By: jonrpatrick@hotmail.com http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-945487 jonrpatrick@hotmail.com Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-945487 THANK YOU! I love games like this, and had NO idea Trainyard existed! <!-- http://JonRPatrick.com --> THANK YOU!
I love games like this, and had NO idea Trainyard existed!

]]> By: benjamin bruneau http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911451 benjamin bruneau Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911451 Transport Tycoon is still alive and well, with new graphics sets and so many options you would not believe. I treat it like a model train set, now. I think many others do the same. Transport Tycoon is still alive and well, with new graphics sets and so many options you would not believe. I treat it like a model train set, now. I think many others do the same.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911454 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911454 Transport Tycoon Deluxe (the version many probably also remember) has a thriving Open Source Community in its successor: Open TTD. http://www.openttd.org/ Transport Tycoon Deluxe (the version many probably also remember) has a thriving Open Source Community in its successor: Open TTD. http://www.openttd.org/

]]> By: scifijazznik http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-910945 scifijazznik Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-910945 I picked up Trainyard about a week ago because my kid loves trains and I figured for a dollar, you can't really go wrong. It's quickly become my favorite iPhone game. It's fun, challenging, and aesthetically pleasing. If you like puzzle games at all, pick it up. I picked up Trainyard about a week ago because my kid loves trains and I figured for a dollar, you can’t really go wrong. It’s quickly become my favorite iPhone game. It’s fun, challenging, and aesthetically pleasing. If you like puzzle games at all, pick it up.

]]> By: spool32 http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911723 spool32 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911723 I wrote the Developer to ask why there's no android version: "Any plans for an Android port? If not, can you elaborate as to why not? Thanks, spool32" I got this reply: "I'd love to do an android port at some point. The game is currently written in obj-c, so it'll require a complete rewrite, but it's definitely something I'm aiming for. Sent from my iPhone" I guess that last line says it all... :) I wrote the Developer to ask why there’s no android version:

“Any plans for an Android port?
If not, can you elaborate as to why not?

Thanks,
spool32″

I got this reply:

“I’d love to do an android port at some point. The game is currently written in obj-c, so it’ll require a complete rewrite, but it’s definitely something I’m aiming for.

Sent from my iPhone”

I guess that last line says it all… :)

]]> By: MattF http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-910970 MattF Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-910970 Me too on Trainyard. And also, on supporting indie development on the iPhone. And also, there are several original ideas in Trainyard's gameplay that distinguish it from the current flood of physics-based 'sorta-like Angry Birds' games. For example, Trainyard levels have many correct solutions and there's a database of solutions contributed by players. So buy it. I mean, for heaven's sake, the guy's Canadian. Me too on Trainyard. And also, on supporting indie development on the iPhone.

And also, there are several original ideas in Trainyard’s gameplay that distinguish it from the current flood of physics-based ‘sorta-like Angry Birds’ games. For example, Trainyard levels have many correct solutions and there’s a database of solutions contributed by players. So buy it. I mean, for heaven’s sake, the guy’s Canadian.

]]> By: BookGuy http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-910974 BookGuy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-910974 I'm also a fan--it's a very well done game, with enough twists and turns (no puns intended) to keep it interesting. Rix lets people post solutions on the website, and the solutions for some of the harder puzzles are as visually fascinating as the puzzles themselves. I got stuck on a few of the very hard ones, and I was consistently amazed at how people came up with some of the more elaborate solutions. I’m also a fan–it’s a very well done game, with enough twists and turns (no puns intended) to keep it interesting. Rix lets people post solutions on the website, and the solutions for some of the harder puzzles are as visually fascinating as the puzzles themselves. I got stuck on a few of the very hard ones, and I was consistently amazed at how people came up with some of the more elaborate solutions.

]]> By: sarah lacy http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-1019008 sarah lacy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1019008 I'm also a fan--it's a very well done game, with enough twists and turns (no puns intended) to keep it interesting. Rix lets people post solutions on the website, and the solutions for some of the harder puzzles are as visually fascinating as the puzzles themselves. I got stuck on a few of the very hard ones, and I was consistently amazed at how people came up with some of the more elaborate solutions. <a href="http://www.google.com">google</a> I’m also a fan–it’s a very well done game, with enough twists and turns (no puns intended) to keep it interesting. Rix lets people post solutions on the website, and the solutions for some of the harder puzzles are as visually fascinating as the puzzles themselves. I got stuck on a few of the very hard ones, and I was consistently amazed at how people came up with some of the more elaborate solutions.
google

]]> By: Samurai Gratz http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-910976 Samurai Gratz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-910976 Holy Cornelius Vanderbilt, did I love Railroad Tycoon. I too obsessed over laying those tracks and delivering that cargo. I got embarrassingly excited when a new version of the game was announced in 2003, but it was overly complicated and lost much of the simple design that had made the first two incarnations of Railroad Tycoon so incredibly satisfying to play. Pirates!, Railroad Tycoon, and Civilization: I've spent a great many hours of my life playing Sid Meier's amazing games. Holy Cornelius Vanderbilt, did I love Railroad Tycoon. I too obsessed over laying those tracks and delivering that cargo. I got embarrassingly excited when a new version of the game was announced in 2003, but it was overly complicated and lost much of the simple design that had made the first two incarnations of Railroad Tycoon so incredibly satisfying to play.

Pirates!, Railroad Tycoon, and Civilization: I’ve spent a great many hours of my life playing Sid Meier’s amazing games.

]]> By: Samurai Gratz http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-910992 Samurai Gratz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-910992 The post got me surfing: for fans of the original Railroad Tycoon, you can download the game for free on the site for Sid Meier's Railroads! http://www.2kgames.com/railroads/railroads.html There goes my evening. (And possibly my weekend.) I'll definitely check out the App too. Sounds great. The post got me surfing: for fans of the original Railroad Tycoon, you can download the game for free on the site for Sid Meier’s Railroads!

http://www.2kgames.com/railroads/railroads.html

There goes my evening. (And possibly my weekend.)

I’ll definitely check out the App too. Sounds great.

]]> By: kostia http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911508 kostia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911508 Railroad Tycoon was one of those games where you looked at the clock, played a few minutes, looked at the clock again, and six hours had passed. I dug it up a while back and can again play it on a DOS emulator on my Mac. Loved it then, love it now. I still have the original manuals and reference cards, too; I could never bear to toss them. My point being, people have been trying to get me to try Trainyard all year and it turns out all I needed to hear was the two magic words, Railroad Tycoon. Off to the app store! Railroad Tycoon was one of those games where you looked at the clock, played a few minutes, looked at the clock again, and six hours had passed. I dug it up a while back and can again play it on a DOS emulator on my Mac. Loved it then, love it now. I still have the original manuals and reference cards, too; I could never bear to toss them.

My point being, people have been trying to get me to try Trainyard all year and it turns out all I needed to hear was the two magic words, Railroad Tycoon. Off to the app store!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911510 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911510 Matt here again... I'm dumb. Somehow I read Railroad Tycoon but thought of Roller Coaster Tycoon. I loved Railroad Tycoon waaaay too much when I was young, so doubt that this game has some of that influence in it. I remember the sheer joy when your stock price split or when you got the TGV Matt here again… I’m dumb. Somehow I read Railroad Tycoon but thought of Roller Coaster Tycoon. I loved Railroad Tycoon waaaay too much when I was young, so doubt that this game has some of that influence in it. I remember the sheer joy when your stock price split or when you got the TGV

]]> By: spool32 http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911264 spool32 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911264 Seriously... Droid please! Aren't we supposed to be all about the OSS around here? Bill, I wish you'd asked the dev why he only wrote the game for such a closed platform. Seriously… Droid please! Aren’t we supposed to be all about the OSS around here? Bill, I wish you’d asked the dev why he only wrote the game for such a closed platform.

]]> By: Astragali http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-912800 Astragali Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-912800 Sigh. If you can be bothered, go to BB's front page, and just put pc into the search engine. Prepare to be surprised. Sigh. If you can be bothered, go to BB’s front page, and just put

pc

into the search engine. Prepare to be surprised.

]]> By: JohnC http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-913836 JohnC Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-913836 Wow, thanks for suggesting that, it's even worse than I thought. Wow, thanks for suggesting that, it’s even worse than I thought.

]]> By: fnc http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911291 fnc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911291 "It was like you were winding the stem of an ever-more-complicated machine you yourself had designed and built, and standing back and watching it go." I consider this to be a perfectly valid form of gameplay, and refer to these as "tinkerer" games. They can layer whatever form of scoring they like on top, but the game is actually about optimizing functions and systems to maximize something. Transport Tycoon was my fave along these lines. And I hope this shows up on Android too. “It was like you were winding the stem of an ever-more-complicated machine you yourself had designed and built, and standing back and watching it go.”

I consider this to be a perfectly valid form of gameplay, and refer to these as “tinkerer” games. They can layer whatever form of scoring they like on top, but the game is actually about optimizing functions and systems to maximize something. Transport Tycoon was my fave along these lines.

And I hope this shows up on Android too.

]]> By: Robert http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911804 Robert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911804 "Trainyard is a neat little casual game about making the trains run on time." Is there a Mussolini option? ... What, too soon? “Trainyard is a neat little casual game about making the trains run on time.”

Is there a Mussolini option?

…

What, too soon?

]]> By: Bill Barol http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911043 Bill Barol Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911043 Damn it -- There goes my evening too. (And holy cow-- the whole game clocks in at 15 mb.) Damn it — There goes my evening too. (And holy cow– the whole game clocks in at 15 mb.)

]]> By: Mark Frauenfelder http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911057 Mark Frauenfelder Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911057 Windoze-only :( Windoze-only :(

]]> By: while1dan http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-948690 while1dan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-948690 This reminds me of a DOS "game" that consisted only of lines for tracks and character boxes for train cars. There was no objective I could discern: no levels or cargo or anything. Just make them go and don't let them crash. If you're going for longest time without a crash, you'd better have a stopwatch. But it was fun. Wish I could find its name. Google images is no help. This reminds me of a DOS “game” that consisted only of lines for tracks and character boxes for train cars. There was no objective I could discern: no levels or cargo or anything. Just make them go and don’t let them crash. If you’re going for longest time without a crash, you’d better have a stopwatch. But it was fun. Wish I could find its name. Google images is no help.

]]> By: Bill Barol http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911062 Bill Barol Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911062 Yeah, just noticed that. Maybe it's just as well -- seems like a lot of times when I look back at things I used to love, I no longer do. I call this "The Doobie Brothers Rule." Yeah, just noticed that. Maybe it’s just as well — seems like a lot of times when I look back at things I used to love, I no longer do. I call this “The Doobie Brothers Rule.”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/14/trainyard-and-where.html#comment-911066 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-911066 If they ever port Railroad Tycoon to iOS my whole life is wasted. I played every edition of that game. Trying Trainyard now... If they ever port Railroad Tycoon to iOS my whole life is wasted. I played every edition of that game. Trying Trainyard now…

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