Project motivation modified by Pavel Mendl

Pavel Mendl — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 14:00:23 -0000

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 These are ideas which may or may not be too idealistic to be ever achieved, however I want to share them as this is definitely what I will try to do, once project progress and time issues allows:

 * Get official support of at least some real-life railway operators (e.g. by updates of real-life track maps (and their changes) and actual (or e.g. just expired) timetable updates.
-* Get the project offered via Steam in parallel to uninterrupted FOSS distribution and development.
+* Get the project offered via Steam and major Linux distros in parallel to the uninterrupted FOSS distribution and development.
 * Hopefully connect to existing (or stimulate the creation of) train/locomotive simulator to develop full scale, real-world like, MM simulation game.

Project motivation modified by Pavel Mendl

Pavel Mendl — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 13:30:34 -0000

Revision of current state of train control simulation software:
There exists great train control simulation software, which has historically developed in the comprehensive series under names Gordikon/Multikon/Multi 1-6. This software is still available on the website http://www.softikon.wz.cz/ (in Czech language).

Unfortunately, besides it has great idea and is development with great railway insight, it has several downsides too:
The project is one-developer hobbyist close source project, repeatedly advertised as never intended to open. Historically it still carries solutions well suited for original technological level of MS DOS 640x480 screens, but is unable to exploit ergonomic advantages of modern PC platform.
Project contains several unfixed bugs as well, which seems to be anchored deep in code for historical reason.

There exists several other projects, following the similar goal, while non of them streams to address railway hobby community in large and to attract FOSS developers lobbyist community to the largely re-usable "ultimate" rail control simulation platform.

None of to me known projects natively supports other platform than MS Windows.

Thus, after a.o. e-mail correspondence with the original Gordikon series developer, I decided to start this project.

Mission of the project:
To set foundation stone of ever growing train control simulation software, completely opened to absorb any changes in the railway control management as well as advance in the PC platform, be it of hardware or software nature. Intention is to make the platform as flexible and open to provide to both developers and gamers (sim fans) community the platform, they could unite their efforts upon.

Actual goals of the project:
V0.4 - Fully usable track map and timetable editor (beta)
V0.5 - Fully usable track map and timetable editor
V0.8 - Train control simulator with functionality comparable to Gordikon series and at least one fully populated ("playable") track map. (beta)
V0.9 - - Train control simulator able to overtake Gordikon series position in the gamers community (beta)
V1.0 - - Thoroughbred Gordikon ideas successor

Far horizon ideas:
These are ideas which may or may not be too idealistic to be ever achieved, however I want to share them as this is definitely what I will try to do, once project progress and time issues allows:

Get official support of at least some real-life railway operators (e.g. by updates of real-life track maps (and their changes) and actual (or e.g. just expired) timetable updates.
Get the project offered via Steam in parallel to uninterrupted FOSS distribution and development.
Hopefully connect to existing (or stimulate the creation of) train/locomotive simulator to develop full scale, real-world like, MM simulation game.

Recent changes to Project motivation

Project motivation modified by Pavel Mendl

Project motivation modified by Pavel Mendl