FRN

Microsoft Train Simulator came out in 2001. Since then, other than some bug fixes, not much has happened: a planned sequel, Train Simulator 2, was cancelled in 2004, and the game was given over to Atari for publishing as a jewel-cased value game, no longer published by Microsoft itself. But the game itself is neither lost nor forgotton: third-party add-ons, such as new locomotives, rolling stock and routes, are apparently still being produced.

But on Friday came word that a new version of Train Simulator, based on the Flight Simulator X platform, is now under development. No word yet on features or a release date, but more information is promised later this year. In the meantime, its developers have started blogs to talk about their little project, and have posted “now-it-can-be-told” introductory entries. Mike Gilbert is the lead program manager for Train Simulator; he’d previously worked on Flight Simulator X. Rick Selby is the lead game designer and a certified (or is it certifiable?) train nut. Other blogs linked to from the new Train Simulator page: Sim Elations, TSEngineer and Mavyryk’s Place. So those of you with an interest in the new version of Train Simulator will have a lot to keep track of.

Via Scoble, who just outed himself as another train nut.