Alt.Games.Microprose.Transport-Tyc Official FAQ, Beta 1 Buil

An archive of the Usenet group alt.games.microprose.transport-tyc.
Edward Bernard

Theta version of Alt.Games.Microprose.Transport-Tyc Official

Post by Edward Bernard »

Here is the latest version of the FAQ.
Please help with anything you can think of, especially the mulitplayer
and trains returning to depot.

Cheers,

Eddie

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---

The Unofficially Official Looking Alt.Games.Microprose.Transport-Tyc FAQv1
(Updated 23rd October 1999)
Compiled by Paul Wright <paul-wri...@u.genie.co.uk>
and Edward Bernard <edw...@ebernard.greatxscape.net>

Introduction:
This FAQ is an attempt to cut down on the repetition of questions in the
newsgroup. You should read this first before posting a question to AGMT-T. I
will add any questions posted in AGMT-T in here with each persons answer as
well as, as many questions I cna think of my self

This FAQ will be posted to the AGMT-T newsgroup every 14 days or if a
request it made The latest
version will always be available from:
http://drive.to/T-T
and the official newsgroup website http://www.ttworld.itgo.com

CONTENTS

[1] The Newsgroup

[1.1] What is the Transport Tycoon newsgroup? What is it for?
[1.2] I've got a question! I'm gonna post it right away!
[1.3] Suggested posting format.
[1.4] I broke the rules and got flamed. It's not fair!
[1.5] Can I post binaries here?
[1.6] I don't understand these terms people use. What are they?
[1.7] Where and what is the official TT newsgroup website?

[2] FAQs

[2.1] General

I NEED MORE Q's PLEASE!!!!

[2.1.1] Are they any patches, and where can I get it?
[2.1.2] Are they any cheats/tips?
[2.1.3] I'm fed up of the enemy, can I get rid of him?
[2.1.4] Any dirty tricks to keep the enemy at hand?
[2.1.5] Whats a Subsidy?
[2.1.6] Is there a world editor?
[2.1.7] My vehicles keep getting jammed, how can I stop this?
[2.1.8] Trains constantly go back to the depot when i play TTDLX with the
patch,
[2.1.9] How are Station ratings made? The AI get much higher than me! Why?
[2.1.10] Is there any way to change the screen resoloution in TTDLX
[2.1.11] Can I take screenshots in TTO or TTDLX?

[2.2] Online Games

[2.2.1] Can I play TTO Multiplayer?
[2.2.2] Can I play TTDLX Multiplayer?
[2.2.3] What about Online games?
[2.2.4] TTDLX Multiplayer hangs over an IPX connection?

[2.3] TT and the City Council

[2.3.1] Who are the city council?
[2.3.2] What is the 'influence boundary'?
[2.3.3] Why do they stop me from building?
[2.3.4] What are all these options inside the local authority window?
[2.3.5] Can I improve my ratings in the town?
[2.3.6] Can I make my city grow?

[2.4] Competitions

[2.4.1] Are there any competitions for TTO or TTDLX?
[2.4.2] I would like to start a competition on this newsgroup. I need advice

[2.5] Addons

[2.5.1] Are they any sequels, addons for TTO?

[3] Resources

[4] Misc

[4.1] Credits
[4.2] Copyright
[4.3] Comments


[1] The Newsgroup
[1.1] What is the Transport Tycoon newsgroup? What is it for?

At present there is only one Transpor Tycoon newsgroup:
alt.games.microprose.transport-tyc. This is the newsgroup for all Transport
Tycoon games questions.
Not all ISPs carry all this group. If you find yours doesn't, you should
mail them and ask them to add it.

[1.2] I've got a question! I'm gonna post it right away!

Stop! Don't post yet! Do the following before posting your question:

Read the FAQ, this one and THE ONLINE ONE

Lurk (i.e. read the newsgroup for a while to see what's an acceptable post)

Do a Dejanews search at http://www.deja.com/. You may find an answer there.

[1.3] Suggested posting format.

The following things will lessen your chance of getting an answer:

No content messages with the question entirely on the subject line.
Acting as a troll
Posting entirely in CAPITALS.
Posting in these stupid UpPy DoWnY lEtTErS.
Posting in HTML (which many newsreaders cannot read) [unless it is needed
for a joke]

The following things will earn you a snark up the backside:

Not bothering to <snip> long messages when you reply.
Setting your system clock forward when posting in order to keep your message
at the top.
Posting binaries. See below.
Spamming

[1.4] I broke the rules and got flamed. It's not fair!

Yes it is. None of these rules are compulsory, but if you choose to break
them, that' your problem I'm afraid. It is difficult to end flame wars.

[1.5] Can I post binaries in alt.games.microprose.transport-tyc?

No! Do so, and we don't have any sympathy for what happens next :)
We are not the type to get nasty, but if there is one thing that we
don't like, it's binaries!
If you wish to post a binary, do so on alt.binaries.games.microprose,
and you can post a promotion link on here.
You could also put it on your website, and promote it here. However,
we have an official newsgroup website, where your scenarios etc will
get full coverage, more details in section [1.7]
Note that text files, if posted as an attachment,
still count as a binary. The correct way to post .cfg files and similar, is
to cut and paste them into your message using a text editor such as notepad.

[1.6] I don't understand these terms people use. What are they?

AGMT-T: Alt.Games.Microprose.Transport-Tyc
Binaries: An attachment
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Newbies: A New person to AGMT-T
'Oldies:' The old farts (me included!) who have been here for ages, and know
the group inside out.
TTO: Transport Tycoon Original
TTDLX: Transport Tycoon Deluxe
PPL: People

[1.7] Where and what is the official TT newsgroup website?

The official newsgroup website is http://www.ttworld.itgo.com. It is maintained by
many people here, and we are always on the lookout for new scenarios,
competitions, your sites, patches, sound effects and screenshots.
The official site has the backing of the group, so anything that goes on
here, is almost certainly viewed by everyone on the group. Any poster to
this group may add anything they want to this site.
If you wish to do so, please email webmas...@ttworld.itgo.com and I will add
it to the site, ensuring that you get thanks for it.
On the site we have all mentioned above, plus a hall of fame - where you can
submit your highest ever scores on TT to it, and links to TT reviews.
So in conclusion, this site is the best place for maximum coverage of your
TT objects.

[2] The FAQs
[2.1] General

[2.1.1] Are they any patches, and where can I get it?

There is a patch for TTDLX, it does tons of cool things to TTDLX and is by
Josef Drexler. The only way to find it is to get it
from:

http://publish.uwo.ca/~jdrexler/ttdpatch/

There is also a couple of other patches on

http://www.ttworld.itgo.com

[2.1.2] Are they any cheats/tips?

For TTO there are a few tips, no cheats but there is a bug:

THE TUNNEL BUG

To do this first you need to start a new game with the settings you want.
Then go to the bottom end of the map and clickthe tunnel option, train or
road doesn't matter. Hold down shift as you build it and itf it gives you a
huge minus number try to build it. The game gets confused and gives you the
price of the tunnel.

[2.1.3] I'm fed up of the enemy, can I get rid of him/her?

Not really, you can possible bankrupt the enemy by getting all the subsidies
and good runs/ But this alone won't really bankrupt the enemy, to do this
you have to force them to take out a huge loan and get drowned by the
interest [set hte rates a 6%] OR you can follow my tricks on the next bit
and bankrupt them a bit easier.

First get your enemy onto the verge of bankruptcy, then when the option to
buy shares come up, buy 75% and leave the window open. Then leave the
company to go bankrupt. Once they are bankrupt sell the shares and make
£'s!!!

[2.1.4] Any dirty tricks to keep the enemy at hand?

Tons, I'll go through the iones for diferent types of transport

TRAINS

This is not an obvious trick to do but it is always affective. Forst build a
depot onto the back of the enemy station and buy a train. Leave the Train in
the depot until the enemy train comes. Then force the train to leave the
station. It should hit the other trainand blowing it up. Cpsting them money
and loosing them a fewpoints off their town ratings.

If the enemys train stations have not yet been built then stopping them be
built at all is a dolddle! All you have to do is when the enemy places the
two stations at the places then surround the with diagnal track so the
cannot build bridges over it or go round it!

Another way to stop the enemy from building tunnels and bridges it to do
what Steven Lalewicz did:

"On a different topic....

A tip for making life harder for the AI I discovered is to build long
diagonal train lines. If I had two points I wanted to connect, I always
used to do a long horizontal and then vertical rail line. For some
reason I thought the trains would not like long diagonal ones. So I
tried to see if it did make any difference. I then discovered something
quite interesting, your opponents can't build bridges over them and have
severe problems connecting two stations if they placed them either side
of your long diagonal line (hee hee hee!)."
There is a problem with diagonal lines, as it can stop cities from growing.
Use only in the countryside

Planes

Planes are another hard one to stop. There is no actual way to get rid f
enemy planes but there are some ways which neary always work.

1. Build your own airport next to theirs.
2. If you have an airport build trees all round it and put on more regular
services.
3. Build large hills round there airport to block it off from the town. Put
disasters on and with any luck they may be a few plane crashes.

[2.1.5] What is a subsidy?

A subsidy, is when the town council offer you a bonus rate for providing a
transport service which they want. For example, if the town wants a
passenger service from that town to a neighbouring town, they will advertise
in the paper. What you then do, is if you provide that service within 1
year, all fares will be multiplied by a certain factor set in the difficulty
settings at the start of the game.
e.g. a £10,000 delivery before subsidy would equal £40,000 on a x4 subsidy.

[2.1.6] Is there a world editor?

Yes there is. It comes with TTDLX, and there is also a separate one
available.
TTDLX has just been rereleased in the UK, from £5-10. Electronics Boutique
and Software Warehouse sell it.

[2.1.7] My vehicles keep getting jammed, how can I stop this?

In TTDLX, you can press the reverse button at the same time on all the
vehicles, and the congestion frees.
In TTO, you can only wait...but I have been told you can press skip

[2.1.8] Trains constantly go back to the depot when i play TTDLX with the
patch,

*PLEASE HELP WITH AN ANSWER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PATCH PAUL WAS REFERRING TO*

[2.1.9] How are Station ratings made? The AI get much higher than me! Why?

We recently had a debate on this, and Josef Drexler, our resident expert,
reliably informs us with a very long answer!...

"Rating out of 255[1] =
-90 (base value)
+ LastVisitRating
+ CargoRating
+ SpeedRating
+ AgeRating
+ StatueRating
+ ComputerRating

In Percent: Rating / 255 * 100%

This gives the maximum value attainable, the actual rating will grow or
decay to that value in a certain amount of time.

Maximum: 271.5, or 106% for people
334.5, or 131% for highly intelligent (yeah, right!) computers

LastVisitRating: (Ships four times longer)
130 < 3 days
95 < 6 days
50 < 12 days
25 < 21 days
0 >=21 days

Total Value: 130 (51%)

CargoRating:
130 < 100 units[2]
120 < 300 units
100 < 600 units
90 < 1000 units
55 < 1500 units
0 >=1500 units

Total Value: 130 (51%)

SpeedRating:
(LastSpeed[3] - 85mph)/4

Total Value: 42.5 (17%)

AgeRating:
33 < 1 year[4]
20 < 2 years
10 < 3 years
0 >=3 years

Total Value: 33 (13%)

StatueRating:
26 if Statue in city

Total Value: 26 (10%)

ComputerRating: [only for computer players]
63 high intelligence
31 medium intelligence
0 low intelligence

Total Value: 63 (25%)

[1] That's how they are calculated internally
[2] units: passengers, bags, tons or 100 liters
[3] or 255mph, whichever is lower
[4] age: current year - year built (changes Jan 1)"

The AI gets higher ratings usually, as it has the extra addition, as is
mentioned earlier.

[2.1.10] Is there any way to change the screen resoloution in TTDLX

No, to put it bluntly!

[2.1.11] Can I take screenshots in TTO or TTDLX?

In TTO, you'll have to use an outside program. But in TTDLX, in the question
mark menu, there is an option to take a screenshot, or a giant screenshot.
The latter takes up lots of space, and takes ages. The file is stored in
your game directory as a PCX.

[2.2] Online Games

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP WITH THIS SECTION

[2.2.1] Can I play TTO Multiplayer?

[2.2.2] Can I play TTDLX Multiplayer?

[2.2.3] What about Online games?

[2.2.4] TTDLX Multiplayer hangs over an IPX connection?

[2.3] TT and the city councile
[2.3.1] Who are the city council?

The city council, are those that run and expand the city. They have their
own opinions, and can make your stay a hard time!

[2.3.2] What is the 'influence boundary'?

The influence boundary is the radius from the city in which activities such
as ad campaigns, and exclusive transport rights will operate. To find this
area, you have to use the query tool. If the station is not in the authority
that you are advertsing, or buying exclusive rights in, then the station
will not be affected.

[2.3.3] Why do they stop me from building?

Town councils may stop you from building when your ratings inside the city
council local authority window go on or below Mediocre. They stop you,
basically because they are biased. If you have a low rating, they think that
any new stations will also have the same. They will refuse to let you build.

[2.3.4] What are all these options inside the local authority window?

There are many options in the local authority window. All of them affect
gameplay one way or another:-

Small Ad campaign - Increases ratings of all stations under the local
authority influence radius of about 20%
Medium Ad campaign - Increases ratings of all stations under the local
authority influence radius of about 40%
Large Ad campaign - Increases ratings of all stations under the local
authority influence radius of about 40%

Fund local road reconstruction - Bad for you and bad for AI. All roads in
the city get bulldozed and replaced. During this time, the road is blocked.
This is bad for you when you have vehicles in a city, but good for you when
the AI has vehicles in a city because all his vehicles will be stranded for
six months, and his ratings will suffer accordingly.

Build statue of company owner - Not only increases your ego, but adds 10% to
the ratings of all stations in the town. So there is some use for it after
all

Fund new buildings - Encourages the town to expand by building any type of
building. The town council will use the money to mainly build a couple of
roads, and mainly builds commercial buildings with it, but can also build
resedential buildings too.

Buy exclusive transport rights - Gives you the sole rights to transport
material, and leaves the computer stranded, for one year. It also increases
you ratings to 100% temporarily. Note, this will only work for stations
inside the influence boundary.

[2.3.5] Can I improve my ratings in the town?

There is no fixed way of increasing ratings, but the best way, is to plant
as many trees as possible within the influence area. This should increase
rating sufficiently.
If it doesn't, TS. You'll have to try and use exisiting stations.

[2.3.6] Can I make my city grow?

Yes. One way to make it easily grow is to fund new buildings. The other ways
which take longer include:

Setting up a decent passenger service between two towns, or more. This
should increase population massively.

Transporting goods to towns: Although not mentioned, this does have an
indirect link in increasing population.

Giving the towns adequate food/water/sweets supplies in the arctic/desert
and ToyLand landscapes

[2.4] Competitions

[2.4.1] Are there any competitions for TTO or TTDLX?

There are competitions running, and an index will soon be available on the
official site http://www.ttworld.itgo.com
A competition is when a group of people get together, and all play the same
game of TT, usually a scenario, and all use the same rules. One person or a
group of people act as the hosts, and they host the site on which league
tables, and saved games may be downloaded. The winner is the one with the
highest, or a combination of the highest, factors that were decided at the
start of the competition.
On this group, we run frequent competitions.

[2.4.2] I would like to start a competition on this newsgroup. I need advice

It is always best to check if there has only been one recently on this
newsgroup. If there has, then post about one, mentioning that you will not
host it for a while, so that you ensure that no one else can take your idea.
If there hasn't then the process begins:-

- Make sure you have a decent website hoster. 15mb should be suffice. And
try to keep the address short. No members.theglobe.com etc. as this is too
long. If neccesary, get one from http://www.freeservers.com
- Post on the group saying you are going to host a competition.
- Watch reaction. If negative, then leave it. If positive, carry on
- Create a scenario yourself, or get someone else to make one. This person
would then become the co-hoster, as they made it.
- Create preliminary rules and post here. Watch debate ensue, and take down
rules.
- Decide on whether to moderate the competition. Do people have to send
their saved games to you for checking?
- Post a final set of rules.
- Post again, asking for all those interested to confirm.
- Once a satisfactory number of confirmations are in, post the scenario on
your website.
- Announce the competition open.

Please try and keep your website updated. People don't like it if there is a
weeks delay in updating the league table.

[2.5] Addons

[2.5.1] Are they any sequels, addons for TTO?

Transport World is meant to be the sequel to TT. Details on
http://mdstudios.virtualave.net
An addon for TTO, is the world editor. This is difficult to get your hands
on!

[3] Resources

This website, is the official website for this newsgroup. Here,
you'll find, links, sounds, screenshots, scenarios, patches, competitions,
strategy guides, a hall of fame, and links to TT reviews.
The site http://www.ttworld.itgo.com

[4] Misc

[4.1] Credits

Credit for the answers in this FAQ must go to the people in AGMT-T.
Paul Wright
Edward Bernard

[4.2] Copyright

Paul Wright & Edward Bernard and AGMT-T
Copyright © 1999 [ TTO, TTDLX and Micropose]. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 23, 1999.
This FAQ may be posted to any newsgroup, ftp or web site, as long as it is
posted unaltered and in its entirety.
This FAQ may not be distributed for financial gain [unless you wanna pay
me!!!!]

[4.3] Comments

FAQ corrections, additions, etc to the newsgroup or
paul-wri...@u.genie.co.uk or edw...@ebernard.greatxscape.net

End of FAQ.
Patchman
Tycoon
Tycoon
Posts: 7575
Joined: 02 Oct 2002 18:57
Location: Ithaca, New York
Contact:

Re: Theta version of Alt.Games.Microprose.Transport-Tyc Offi

Post by Patchman »

Nice FAQ! Just a few things I'd like to comment on...

In article <7utart$qp...@news6.svr.pol.co.uk>, Edward Bernard says...
Introduction:
This FAQ is an attempt to cut down on the repetition of questions in the
newsgroup. You should read this first before posting a question to AGMT-T. I
will add any questions posted in AGMT-T in here with each persons answer as
well as, as many questions I cna think of my self
It might help if you write out AGMT-T at least once. It's not obvious
what it means, even though it's the newsgroup where newbies will read
this FAQ.
[1.2] I've got a question! I'm gonna post it right away!

Stop! Don't post yet! Do the following before posting your question:

Read the FAQ, this one and THE ONLINE ONE

Lurk (i.e. read the newsgroup for a while to see what's an acceptable post)

Do a Dejanews search at http://www.deja.com/. You may find an answer there.
Maybe also refer to news.answers, for those who are not only newbies to
AGMT-T but newsgroups in general.
[1.6] I don't understand these terms people use. What are they?

AGMT-T: Alt.Games.Microprose.Transport-Tyc
Binaries: An attachment
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Newbies: A New person to AGMT-T
'Oldies:' The old farts (me included!) who have been here for ages, and know
the group inside out.
TTO: Transport Tycoon Original
TTDLX: Transport Tycoon Deluxe
...or just TTD.
[2.1.8] Trains constantly go back to the depot when i play TTDLX with the
patch,

*PLEASE HELP WITH AN ANSWER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PATCH PAUL WAS REFERRING TO*
It's my patch. It's being taken care of, this is a problem with "new
service interval", until I post the next version the only workaround is
to set the date back a few years. It happens when the current
year+service interval gives a date outside of TTD's possible range of
years, thus it happens if the year is after 2058 I believe.
[2.1.9] How are Station ratings made? The AI get much higher than me! Why?
[snip]
SpeedRating:
(LastSpeed[3] - 85mph)/4
That should be 85km/h, an error I made in my first message.

[snip]
[1] That's how they are calculated internally
[2] units: passengers, bags, tons or 100 liters
better phrasing:
[2] The amount of cargo sitting at the station, in units of...
[3] or 255mph, whichever is lower
and 255km/h here.
[4] age: current year - year built (changes Jan 1)"
add: ...of the last carriage with that particular type of cargo
[2.3] TT and the city councile
Isn't it called "Local Authority"?


The rest looks good, as far as I can tell.

--
Josef Drexler | http://publish.uwo.ca/~jdrexler/
---------------------------------+---------------------------------------
Please help Conserve Gravity | To email me, please change the country
Boycott multistory buildings. | code to .ca - Death to Spammers!
Christie Lewis

Re: The Elders (see I changed a subject line, are you impre

Post by Christie Lewis »

Yeah. If we turn from a 'social group' to a chairpersonned
minutetaking-personned flamethrowing personned group, I might end up moving.

Edward Bernard <Edw...@ebernard.greatxscape.net> wrote in message
news:7uqi0n$fvn$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...
-HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION Please don't take this seriously-

Me - I sould get be an elder
Ed - You cant be
Me - but I should because I helped out on the web page a lot
Ed - But you wern't here at the start
Me - But if I help out then I should get one.

I was in fact going to suggest you. But it seems that I have rivalry to
the
orignal suggestion.
We're going to have to forget the elders lark

This then degrades into a bit or rivalry and others get dragged in

I have an idea of putting the posts onto your site for EVERYONE to see
If there are private ones to be sent then we all should appoint 1 other
person by voting to oversee everything....
BUT this then means that we have a loose moderator, but then s/he could
call
for complaint letters to spammers ISP's and such

I think we had better forget the whole idea. Just an FAQ, saying all the
important stuff, and
no binaries, no spam. Easy.

This is just my idea.......I personally would like to see this happen

I don't think I would. Moderating takes the zest out of a group. We should
just carry on as normal. Two rules above and deviating from the group
topic
is perfectly acceptable, as long as we all agree.

Eddie
Christie Lewis

Re: GRRRRR STOP ARGUING

Post by Christie Lewis »

What? Scared off? Me?

Do you mean I'm gone?

Look, this is a long story, if you can't understand why I haven't written
anything recently. Here goes...

My Mum is pregnant. We are having MAJOR problems in the pregnancy. She had
to be whooshed off to hospital miles away, we had to stay at somebody else's
house. I haven't been in touch with the group, that's all.
How could I! Poor Christie was scared off from your sarcasm.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm really touched by this line. But I'm not scared. I can take your
sarcasm, Chris!!!!!

--

/--< Signature >--------------------------------------------\
| Sender : Christie Lewis |
| ICQ : 52536504 |
\--------------------------------------------------< EOF >--/
Trikky

Aging cronies

Post by Trikky »

Josef Drexler <jdrex...@julian.uwo.canada> wrote in message
news:MPG.127bea1cd407bd369896de@news1.on.sympatico.ca...
I don't think we've had any trolls have we?
No. You'd have noticed...
Yeah by the fact that they leave a trail a mile wide...
Yes, oldies is a much better word.
You speak for yourself!!!!! <feeling old beyond his years!>


--
Trikky

ICQ- 51210676
Tri...@Transport-Tycoon.co.uk
Edward Bernard

Re: Aging cronies

Post by Edward Bernard »

Yes, oldies is a much better word.

You speak for yourself!!!!! <feeling old beyond his years!
Technically, I'm an 'oldie' of this group. And I'm younger!!
At least oldies doesn't sound intimating, like elders does.

Eddie
Edward Bernard

Re: GRRRRR STOP ARGUING

Post by Edward Bernard »

Christie Lewis <christiele...@worldmailer.com> wrote in message
news:7uv7pe$g0g$4@news5.svr.pol.co.uk...
What? Scared off? Me?

Do you mean I'm gone?
No I didn't
Look, this is a long story, if you can't understand why I haven't written
anything recently. Here goes...

My Mum is pregnant. We are having MAJOR problems in the pregnancy. She had
to be whooshed off to hospital miles away, we had to stay at somebody
else's
house. I haven't been in touch with the group, that's all.
I'm sorry to hear that.
How could I! Poor Christie was scared off from your sarcasm.
^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm really touched by this line. But I'm not scared. I can take your
sarcasm, Chris!!!!!
I knew that. I was just making a comment to Chris. I wasn't saying that
you'd vanished. It was just what it might've seemed like to an out-of-touch
observer (Not me. I knew this. It was a joke. Perhaps even the dreaded s
word!!!)

Eddie
Locked

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