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News from S I A M - Spring 2000 |
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News from S I A M - Spring 2000 |
NEWS
Our main feature this time is a series of simulations set on the former Midland & Great Northern Joint lines in East Anglia. This was a fascinating system, with very different traffic patterns on weekdays and Saturdays; all these new simulations offer a choice of day. For more information about the M&GNJR, try the web site of the M&GNJR Society.
First is a Line Control simulation set in 1939, the second by Bob Fairbrother, following on his Somerset & Dorset line simulation released last year. This one is bigger, with no less than six main screens, and is Gold Series.
There are also several new simulations covering specific locations on the M&GN system, set in 1952. Melton Constable and Yarmouth Beach will be available initially, and South Lynn will be available at the beginning of June. Cromer Beach will follow, probably about the beginning of July, and will be announced on our web site and in Rail when available.
Finally, another Driver is now available, Midland Main Line 2 (1986), announced in Rail late last year.
Unless otherwise stated below, the new simulations will be available from 22nd May 2000; orders received before then will be held for processing in date sequence on return from a business trip abroad. On this occasion mail or fax orders are preferred, as emails can not be fed into the order processing system until I get back from New York on 20th May.
Our full list is available on our World Wide Web site (see below); when asked for a list we now send a full price list without details, plus full details of simulations announced in the last year or two. On request we can supply on disk the complete list as a zipped HTML file, or in Microsoft Word 97 format.
Watch our regular ads in Rail for further announcements. There may well be more new simulations before our next newsletter. Look out also for special offers on our web site.
Tim Bourne.
NEW since our last Newsletter!
The following new simulations are available for the PC from 22nd May, unless stated otherwise. They will not be available for the Amiga.
NEW Traffic Control programs
NEW! Gold Series Line Control - Midland & Great Northern line 1939 - Running from 6.45 am to midnight, this simulation is set in the summer of 1939. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. You have to control all traffic over the entire M&GN system, covering no less than six route screens, with particular attention to giving appropriate priority on the many single line sections. Bonus points are available for running scheduled services on time. (Difficulty ###) Price �36 NOTE: THIS SIMULATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE AMIGA
NEW! Silver Series Traffic Control - Melton Constable 1952 - Though there is only one track screen, it includes two routes in each direction, as well as 32G engine shed. Melton Constable was the hub of the M&GN system, and most freight traffic has to be remarshalled here. You have to shunt terminating and originating passenger and freight services, as well as some through trains of which portions split or join. Each platform can handle two local trains at busy times. This is harder than it looks! (Difficulty ###) Price �27. NOTE: THIS SIMULATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE AMIGA
NEW! Silver Series Traffic Control - South Lynn 1952 - There are two track screens, covering separate up and down shunting yards as well as a local goods yard, three platforms, and 31D engine shed. Most freight traffic has to be shunted here, with trip workings to Kings Lynn yard and harbour. As well as through passenger services on the main and Kings Lynn lines, there is a frequent push-pull shuttle service between South Lynn and Kings Lynn. (Difficulty ###) Price �27. NOTE: THIS SIMULATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE AMIGA
NEW! Traffic Control - Yarmouth Beach 1952 - Yarmouth Beach was the principal terminus of the M&GN system, though as well as the main line there is a branch to Lowestoft. The single track screen includes a small goods yard and three platforms, as well as a number of carriage sidings and the small 32F engine shed. The station is fairly quiet on weekdays, but comes to life on a summer Saturday, when holiday trains and extras run. Though this is not Silver Series, due to the simple layout and small volume of traffic, it does include several Silver Series features, including a choice of day and of difficulty level. (Difficulty ##) Price �18. NOTE: THIS SIMULATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE AMIGA
NEW! Traffic Control - Cromer Beach 1952 - Cromer Beach was a secondary terminus of the M&GN system, served also by trains on the former Great Eastern Railway, whose principal Cromer station was Cromer High. The single track screen includes a small goods yard and two platforms, as well as a number of carriage sidings and a small engine shed. The station is not very busy, but does have an interesting mix of traffic. Though this is not Silver Series, due to the simple layout and small volume of traffic, it does include several Silver Series features, including a choice of day and of difficulty level. (Difficulty ##) Price �18. NOTE: THIS SIMULATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE AMIGA
Other news
MILLENNIUM SPECIAL OFFER!
Order any four games for delivery at the same time on the same disk(s) and pay only for the more expensive three. E.g. for four games priced at �18 each, you pay only �54; for two games priced at �18 and two at �12, you pay only �48. To avoid confusion, please quote the reference 00MS05. As an experiment, this time the offer will apply to all orders placed until the end of 2000; we'll review the position before mailing the next Newsletter. To avoid embarrassment, please do not ask for this special offer to be applied retrospectively, or in combination with any other special offer, or when asking for separate disks.
Order delays
Though our target is to despatch orders within two working days of receipt, we cannot guarantee this. Please do not phone or fax to ask about the progress of an order until at least a week has elapsed from the time we should have received it. Please order in good time for birthdays or other special occasions.
In the next few months absence abroad or on holiday is likely to cause delays in the following periods:13 - 20 May, 17 - 24 June, 26 July - 18 August, 1-15 September, and 7 - 14 October.
Help with future projects
We would be interested to hear from any customers with programming experience, particularly in Pascal or Delphi, who would be interested in helping with future projects, as Phill and Brian (and now Bob) have been doing. We can not afford to pay at normal programming rates for this, but we do provide help in getting started, guidance on design and testing, and a royalty on sales which can at least help to pay for your hobbies.
Amiga support
Amiga orders continue to decrease; the number of active Amiga customers is now in single figures. We will therefore not be producing any new simulations for the Amiga. All our existing Amiga simulations will continue to be available until further notice.
