Chris Sawyer's Locomotion
Encyclopedia
Chris Sawyer's Locomotion is a computer game by independent game developer
Chris Sawyer
. In his words, it is "the spiritual successor to Transport Tycoon
".
The game allows the player to use railroads
, tram
s, trucking lines
, buses, airplanes and ships to earn money in a transport
company between the years 1900 to 2100. It contains over 40 pre-designed scenarios and a scenario editor, and can also be played in multiplayer mode with another human-controlled competitor. The game is played in an 2D isometric
view like the other games by Chris Sawyer, particularly RollerCoaster Tycoon
, which uses the engine that was originally developed for Transport Tycoon
.
The game was released in the U.S.
on September 7, 2004 and a few days later in the rest of the world.
Different objectives are available, some require the player to finish on a certain position in the company ranking list while others require the transportation of a specific amount of cargo. In some cases these objectives have additional limits, such as that the player must finish within a certain time limit.
Many of the scenarios are based on real-world countries such as the United States, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Canada.
and AI
were both poor compared to the original Transport Tycoon. However, the AI algorithm had expanded since Transport Tycoon Deluxe, such that it would now build two-way routes and avoid constructing loops. Sabotage of the rival companies' vehicles, prevalent in Transport Tycoon, has been reduced but not entirely eliminated. Further, rival companies can never be bought over by the player's company.
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
Chris Sawyer
Chris Sawyer
Chris Sawyer is a Scottish computer game developer who is best known for designing and programming Transport Tycoon and the RollerCoaster Tycoon series.-Career:...
. In his words, it is "the spiritual successor to Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon and Transport Tycoon Deluxe are computer games developed by Chris Sawyer and published by MicroProse in 1994 , and 1995...
".
The game allows the player to use railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s, trucking lines
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
, buses, airplanes and ships to earn money in a transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
company between the years 1900 to 2100. It contains over 40 pre-designed scenarios and a scenario editor, and can also be played in multiplayer mode with another human-controlled competitor. The game is played in an 2D isometric
Isometric projection
Isometric projection is a method for visually representing three-dimensional objects in two dimensions in technical and engineering drawings...
view like the other games by Chris Sawyer, particularly RollerCoaster Tycoon
RollerCoaster Tycoon
RollerCoaster Tycoon may refer to:*RollerCoaster Tycoon - a series of video games in which a player must manage an amusement park**RollerCoaster Tycoon - the first game, which came out in 1999...
, which uses the engine that was originally developed for Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon
Transport Tycoon and Transport Tycoon Deluxe are computer games developed by Chris Sawyer and published by MicroProse in 1994 , and 1995...
.
The game was released in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on September 7, 2004 and a few days later in the rest of the world.
Scenarios
The scenarios have five difficulty levels: Beginner, Easy, Medium, Challenging and Expert.Different objectives are available, some require the player to finish on a certain position in the company ranking list while others require the transportation of a specific amount of cargo. In some cases these objectives have additional limits, such as that the player must finish within a certain time limit.
Many of the scenarios are based on real-world countries such as the United States, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Canada.
Third party add-ons
In recent years, several add-ons have been created for the game, including hundreds of trains, trucks, airplanes and other vehicles. Some people have used special programs to convert Microsoft Train Simulator rolling stock for use in Locomotion.Critical reception
Reviews of the game were generally not favorable, with many noting that the game's user interfaceUser interface
The user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
and AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
were both poor compared to the original Transport Tycoon. However, the AI algorithm had expanded since Transport Tycoon Deluxe, such that it would now build two-way routes and avoid constructing loops. Sabotage of the rival companies' vehicles, prevalent in Transport Tycoon, has been reduced but not entirely eliminated. Further, rival companies can never be bought over by the player's company.
External links
- Atari's official Locomotion site
- Chris Sawyer (designer and developer)
- Locomotion at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...