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Train Simulator (Ongakukan)

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Train Simulator (トレインシミュレーター, Torein Shimyurētā, or abbreviated "TS") is a Japanese train simulation game series produced by Ongakukan. The game is significant as it was one of the earliest of its kind since the series started in 1995. No titles were released outside of Asia until the 2022 title JR East Train Simulator.

The original Train Simulator series (1995–2000) was designed from technology which was previously used to develop the Ongakukan product "Touch the Music by Casiopea", which synchronized video with audio. This particular game was based on music from the jazz fusion band Casiopea, whose keyboard player at the time, Minoru Mukaiya, was, and is, also the CEO of Ongakukan. With Train Simulator Ongakukan filmed video from the cab of a train on the desired railway and recorded sounds from that train. Later when the simulation had been completed and was running on a PC, the video would be displayed in a silver metallic box and the sounds would be played according to what was happening at that particular moment in the simulation. The video for the original Train Simulator series of games was 308×156 pixels at 30 frames per second using Intel Indeo 2 video compression and AVI file container.

Each game contains Japanese lines and trains, with the exception of four games featuring overseas routes, in Germany, France, Taiwan, and the United States of America. Video shot from the cab of the train synchronized with the computer is used as a basis for simulation. Ongakukan have endeavoured to produce true to life simulation with much technical details, and since 2005, Ongakukan has started producing professional simulators for driver training.[1]

Versions

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Six distinct series of the game have been produced through a decade:

Train Simulator (1995–2000)

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The original series, starting in 1995,[2] these titles were all released on Windows and Macintosh systems.

  • 1995.08.19: Train Simulator JR East Chūō Line 201 Series
(Nakano - Toyoda)
(Kamonomiya - Totsuka)
(Toro - Mamada)
  • 1996.07.19: Train Simulator Odakyu Railway Odawara Line 5000 Series
(Chitose Funabashi - Sagami Ono)
(Yokohama - Ebina)
(Bingen - Koblenz)
  • 1997.05.16: Train Simulator Nanbu Jukan Railway (Also released as a Collector's Edition)
(Shichinohe - Noheji)
  • 1997.06.18: Train Simulator Keihin Kyuko Railway Main Line, Kurihama Line
(Shinagawa - Misakiguchi)
  • 1997.09.19: Train Simulator JR Shikoku 1
(Takamatsu - Kotohira, Takamatsu - Kojima)
(Seibu Shinjuku - Honkawagoe)
Nagoya Main Line, Inuyama Line (Kanayama - Shin-Unuma), Hiromi Line (Inuyama - Shin-Kani), HSST-100 Test Track [1] (Ōe - Higashi-Nagoyakō)
  • 1998.07.17: Train Simulator Hanshin Electric Railway
(Umeda - Kosoku Kobe)
  • 1998.09.18: Train Simulator JR Hokkaidō (1)
(Yoichi - Sapporo)
  • 1998.12.18: Train Simulator JR East Yamanote Line (also released as Train Simulator DVD 1999.12.17)
(Osaki - Osaki, anti-clockwise)
  • 1999.07.07: Train Simulator South France (also released as Train Simulator DVD)
(Cannes - Nice - Monte Carlo - Menton)
(Abenobashi - Yoshino)
(Kamata - Omiya)

Train Simulator Plus (2000–2001)

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The Train Simulator Plus series was designed for the Windows system and its releases were limited to Japan. The first episodes were published by Pony Canyon while the last one was published by Ongakukan.

(Yodoyabashi-Demachi Yanage)
(Tokyo-Otsuki)
(Shinjuku - Odawara)
(Kokusai Kaikan, Takeda, Kintetsu Nara

Train Simulator (2003–2005)

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Released on PlayStation 2 system.

Osaka Subway (Nakamozu - Senri Chūō)
  • 2003.12: Train Simulator ＋ Densha de GO!: Tokyu Line
(Sakuragicho - Shibuya, Shibuya - Chūō Rinkan, Oimachi - Futako Tamagawa)
  • 2005.08: Train Simulator: Keisei, Toei Asakusa, Keikyu Lines
(Haneda Airport or Ueno - Aoto - Narita Airport)
JR Kyūshū (Shin-Yatsushiro - Kagoshima Chūō, Kumamoto - Minamata, Kumamoto - Shin-Yatsushiro)

Mobile Train Simulator (2005–2006)

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Released on PlayStation Portable system from 2005 to 2006 and available in Japan and Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore), the first episode was co-developed with rival series Densha de Go! producer Taito. Taito by themselves have also released 4 editions of Densha de Go for PSP.

  • 2005.02: Mobile Train Simulator ＋ Densha de GO!: Tokyo Kyuko Line
(Sakuragicho-Shibuya, Shibuya-Chūō Rinkan, Oimachi-Futako Tamagawa)
  • 2006.02: Mobile Train Simulator: Keisei, Toei Asakusa, Keikyu lines
(Haneda Airport-Aoto, Ueno-Narita Airport)

Railfan (2006–2007)

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Railfan is a subseries of Train Simulator designed for the PlayStation 3 system. The first episode introduced in December 2006 was developed and published by Ongakukan in Japan.

Chuo Main Line (Mitaka-Tokyo), Keihan Main Line (Demachiyanagi-Yodoyabashi), Chicago Brown Line (Fullerton, Loop, Fullerton)
  • 2007: Railfan Taiwan Koutetsu was released in Japan late 2007 for PlayStation 3, published by Ongakukan.[3] The game simulates the early-high speed rail line in Taiwan, from Taipei to Zuoying. The game provides a simulation of a train moving at 300 km/h and details of 300 locations.[4]

JR East Train Simulator (2022–present)

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First version released in November 2022, JR East Train Simulator was the first title in the series to be regularly updated in the West. The base game features full Keihin–Tōhoku Negishi Line, short segments of the Tōkaidō, Chūō, and Ōito lines, with 12 DLC [Tōkaidō, Chūō, Ōito, Saikyō–Kawagoe, Senseki, Keiyō, Yamanote, Jōban (Ueno–Tokyo included), Shin'etsu Main, Hachinohe, Nambu (Branch included), Tsurumi (Umi-Shibaura Branch, Ōkawa Branch included), and Sōbu (Narita Airport branch included) lines] available on Steam platform to extend these lines to their full length.[5]

Controllers

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A number of external controllers with realistic controls have been manufactured for use with the games:

  • Train Mascon (uses serial port to connect to PC or Macintosh)
  • Master Controller II for Trainsimulator (USB)
  • Multi Train Controller (PlayStation 2)

References

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  1. ^ "Train Simulator for Pro-use" in Ongakukan website
  2. ^ "Ongakukan.info" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Gaming Life in Japan". IGN. 26 October 2007.
  4. ^ "PlayStation Premiere: Railfan Heads to Taiwan". IGN. 17 July 2007.
  5. ^ Yokoyama, Keiichi (16 November 2022). "JR EAST Train Simulator's official Steam release arrives along with some new routes". AUTOMATON. Active Gaming Media Inc. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
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