I just returned from a weekend at the biggest annual train show in Northeastern US. It's clear that we in the train sim community have a lot of explaining to do. Three buildings, hundreds upon hundreds of vendors and exhibitors, 21,000 visitors, and not one single copy of Microsoft Train Simulator or Auran Trainz for sale. Not even a display, unless you count the loose-leaf binder filled with the two most recent issues of Virtual Railroader that I snuck onto the corner of the museum's display table where I was helping out.
It's clear from chatting with various vendors, exhibitors, and visitors that train simulation is at best a fuzzy concept in the minds of most. Let's get the word out guys and gals! If you want the creators of our favorite sims to keep at it, we need to get the word out – and fast!
Feel free to refer people to my www.VirtualRailroader.com web site. I've added a Frequently Asked Questions section for newbies. I'll keep adding to it, and maybe throw in a few pics, but we need to lose the complacency before it's too late!
-- Al
2 comments:
Hi,
I was at the show at the Big E on Sunday. So much to see... I looked through the binder you had and took a card for the virtualrailroader site.
I knew there were train simulators around but hadn't investigated them until I looked at your site.
Now I'm anxiously waiting for my copy of Trainz to arrive so I can get started.
Thanks for providing the information at the show and for the web site too.
Mark Vincenzes
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Thanks, Mark. I think you'll enjoy Trainz. I just this moment finished adding another 13 FAQs to the VR web site. They will give a glimpse of the kinds of things you can do.
-- Al
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