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The Unofficial Transport Tycoon Web Site

Transport

Tycoon

Tutorial

 

This section is dedicated to those people who have just got the game and would like to know how to play it. If you haven't already got the game you can download it here. If you would like to read a review of Transport Tycoon click here.

Introduction

Transport Tycoon deluxe is a simulation game. The meaning of the game is to set up a profit making bussiness, by transporting cargo like: passengers, iron ore, coal, goods etc. To do this you can use: Trains, Road vehicles, planes and boats.

Attention to Detail

This game has wonderful detail, such as the fact you can flood land by lowering it next to water, also trees will grow all the time, and you can plant them and watch them grow before your eyes. However, local authorities have their opinions, they are very environmentally conscious, you cut down too many trees and they will not like you. In fact they may even stop you building your station, so watch out. High ratings with the council allows you to destroy a lot of buildings in town, useful when you need somewhere to put a passenger station. Ratings improve by providing a reasonable service in the area, or planting a lot of trees in the area. Another fascinating thing is the Lumber mill, environmentalists won't like this... you can fund the construction of a lumber mill in the surrounding rainforest. This will cost a lot of money, however in hot climate wood is the best paid commodity around. The lumber mill works by cutting down the rainforest around. It has a fairly high production too, so it gives a wood service a tidy profit, making the initial investment worthwhile. However, after about 30 or 40 years, all the rainforest in its threshold is gone, production drops dramatically, occasionally stops all together. You get around this by planting lots and lots of trees, while they are cut down, it gives the rainforest time to re-establish, well, it gets complicated!

How to begin

When you have started the game you have to choose between 4 landscapes: Temperate(easy), Sub-artic(same as grass the only diffirence is ice on the most places), Sub-Tropical(hard) and toyland(fun).

Toyland Climate Sub-Tropical Climate Sub-Artic Climate Temperate Climate
Be sure to check out the Climates Section by clicking on one of the above climates.

Click on one of the landscapes and select "new game"; click on random new landscape and the game will begin When you start with the game you have $200.000(If using $'s), this looks like a fortune but to start a bussiness it's just enough. Everything is still very primitive.

How to start out Successfully

Are you one of those people who just can't make a dime no matter what you do? Or do you just want to get more money rolling in? Well, I can help. First off, in the first few years, ships and planes are a no-no. They are too expensive for you and the vehicles aren't even very good. So, concentrate on buses, trucks, and trains. In the beginning, you will have enough money to make about 2 or 3 train routes or get maybe 10 or more buses up and running, depending on the terrain. I suggest starting with a combination of the two. First, find a coal mine. These will get you the money you need to start your tycooning empire. Then, hopefully there is a power station nearby. You are going to want to get the coal to the station with a train, most likely. The power station should be a good distance away, maybe 1 or 2 screens on the medium zoom level. Try to make the route as flat as possible without moving much terrain. You can move it later, when you have money. Go around, not through, not over (unless around is too far). Remember, the terrain is there, pretend you can't do a thing about it unless you get to one of those really sticky situations. The less tunneling and bridge building you do, the better. You should get this rail set up pretty soon. As for engines: buy the cheapest diesel you can, unless it is the MJS 500 diesel. If you can possibly afford anything better, get it. Steamers cost way too much and they are obsolete by the time you start (unless you are playing the original version, in which you make the judgement as to what to buy). Remember, save enough money to buy cars for the train. Coal mines usually make you the most money in the beginning, although the other industries can also be very profitable if you know what you are doing. Now, set up a few bus routes between medium-sized cities. This should bring in some extra cash if you have money left over from building the train routes, but not enough to build another train route. If you still can't find some way of making money, you seriously need help and we can sort out your problems over email. Emailing me does not necessarily mean you seriously need help, though. There are many perfectly normal people who email me about all kinds of things.

Rail Building Options

I suggest starting out with a rail system early on then move into trucks and planes once you can afford it.(Boats if you must later on as these a expensive.) The table below should help you deciede on the track layout that is best suited for your needs. Please click on the examples to see how it looks in the game.

Type of track layout
Description
Advantages
Disadvantages
Point-to-point

Example
Each train has its own track that connects 2 or more stations
Trains never have to wait
and never get lost
High construction cost and 
takes up a lot of land for
each individual route
Point-to-point with 
passing tracks

Example
Two or more trains share
one track with passing sidings that connects 2 or more stations
Trains never get lost and
multiple trains can be run
on the same track, saving
money
Usually a lot of waiting, 
especially if there are more 
than two trains. Can easily
lead to grid-lock
Double (or more) 
tracks connecting station(s) to station(s)

Example
Many trains share two 
one-way tracks that
connect 2 or more
stations
Tons of trains can run on
same track and carry huge
amounts of cargo quickly
and efficiently. A very cheap
way of constructing track.
Sometimes these can be hard
to plan, gridlock rare but
possible, and there is waiting
(but not a whole lot)
Double (or more)
track connecting 
whole world

Example
All trains share double 
one-way track that 
connects entire world
and every station
Any train can go anywhere
in the world with little or no problem. No need to constuct new track if you need to add 
another train.
Trains get lost easily, can be expensive in the long run, 
very hard to upgrade to
monorail or maglev, hard
to plan

More advice to come as i make it....

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