# Locomotion by Chris Sawyer
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 6, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633 "2004-08-06T15:43:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 12
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2004, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/1 "2004-08-06T15:43:41Z")
I’ve seen advertisements for this new game, designed by Chris Sawyer (of Roller Coaster Tycoon fame) in recent magazines. I haven’t heard much else about it, but am looking forward to the game as it’s said to be related to Chris’ earlier game, Transportation Tycoon, which was one of my all-time favorites. I’ve seen the “brief” website Atari (the publisher) has put up about it, but I’m wondering if anyone else knows more about it, especially a specific release date.
Thanks in advance…
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### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/2 "2004-08-06T16:03:37Z")
Chris himself recommends keeping an eye on the [Locomotion page on GameSpot](http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/cslocomotion/index.html) for the latest.
As a huge fan of the Transport Tycoon series, yeah, I gotta say I’m drooling.
Oh, and the release date is September 9th.
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### Author:  [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/3 "2004-08-06T16:59:28Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#):
>
> Chris himself recommends keeping an eye on the [Locomotion page on GameSpot](http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/cslocomotion/index.html) for the latest.
>
> As a huge fan of the Transport Tycoon series, yeah, I gotta say I’m drooling.
>
> Oh, and the release date is September 9th.
Thanks a bundle. The pictures look good, and if it’s anything like the original, I know I’ll love it. I’ll mark the date on my calendar!
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/4 "2004-08-06T17:33:33Z")
> [@Hal Briston](#):
>
> As a huge fan of the Transport Tycoon series, yeah, I gotta say I’m drooling.
[Really](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=258528&highlight=locomotion)? 😉
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [September 8, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/5 "2004-09-08T02:22:23Z")
I just picked up a new hard drive so I have a place to put it and Sims 2 next week.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/6 "2004-09-10T04:04:12Z")
I’ve got it! It’s, um, different. Defiantely a combination of RCT & TT, which is because RCT started out as a TT sequel. The RCT-style tracklaying is much easier and there’s no longer a need for those maintenance sheds. However, the different industries are not color coded on the map and the sandbox scenarios can’t be customized when a new game is started. I hope these will be fixed in a patch.
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### Author:  [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2004, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/7 "2004-09-12T15:57:56Z")
> [@Jeff Olsen](#):
>
> I’ve got it! It’s, um, different. Defiantely a combination of RCT & TT, which is because RCT started out as a TT sequel. The RCT-style tracklaying is much easier and there’s no longer a need for those maintenance sheds. However, the different industries are not color coded on the map and the sandbox scenarios can’t be customized when a new game is started. I hope these will be fixed in a patch.
I’ve got it now too. I like it. Seems very much like I remember TT, except for the RCT style track-laying.
Only problem I’m having is that it’s confusing as all heck to figure out how to properly place train signals. I keep getting misrouted trains…
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/8 "2004-09-13T20:50:06Z")
> [@Lips\_Obsession](#):
>
> Only problem I’m having is that it’s confusing as all heck to figure out how to properly place train signals. I keep getting misrouted trains…
Gives me trouble, too. Haven’t tried the one-way signals yet though, maybe those would make a difference.
I’ve discovered that train station platforms no longer need to be parallel. I wonder if they can be stacked, too.
I still miss the TTD scenario/difficulty options.
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### Author:  [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/9 "2004-09-14T13:45:51Z")
I haven’t had occasion to use the one-way signals yet either. You’d think with how large the documentation was, there’d be more information on actual gameplay. I found the instruction manual to be severely lacking on any information of actual value.
I haven’t tried actually stacking RR stations, but I do know you can create elevated stations, and I built a station over a truck terminal…
I’ve quickly abandoned the pre-made scenarios and have started making my own in the editor…
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### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/10 "2004-09-14T14:51:56Z")
Ars Technica review: [http://arstechnica.com/reviews/004/software/locomotion/locomotion-1.html](http://arstechnica.com/reviews/004/software/locomotion/locomotion-1.html)
Brian
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 27, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/11 "2004-10-27T19:58:26Z")
I’ve heard of a terrain generator that can read greyscale bitmaps and convert them to game maps, like in Sim City 4. Problem is, AFAICT, the only site that has it is overloaded with traffic. Might any Dopers happen to have it?
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/locomotion-by-chris-sawyer/258633/12 "2004-10-28T20:43:22Z")
Never mind, I was able to get it from home. Nice little program.