Help

Here you will find useful sites containing documentation and manuals that will help you to play and extend Simutrans.


Tutorials, guides and references | Simutrans related problem? | FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Tutorials, guides and references

Our main material to help you play and develop new extensions to Simutrans:

Simutrans related problem?

Simutrans Screenshot - Railway Station (pak128)

Installation Problems (game does not run)

If you launch the game and nothing happens, it is highly probable that there is something wrong with your installation. Please ensure, that you have downloaded and extracted the package properly. Any package contains at least of the executable and a graphic set with a matching version number.

Do you miss some library?

  • Windows version requires unicows.dll. It should be present on all newer systems. If you do not have it, get it from Microsoft Download Center for free.
  • Mac version requires the SDL-framework. The libSDLprject page has an SDL download for MAC.
  • Linux requires SDL and SDL_mixer. However, MIDI sound on Linux does not always work very well. If you experince periodic freezing of the games, then start with -nomidi option (or delete all midi files in simutrans/music).
If this does not help you, ask for help in the Simutrans Forum or check the FAQs.

I think I have discovered a Bug!

It is possible. Simutrans is in constant development. Please go to the Simutrans Forum - Bug Section and report it. Please be kind and search first to ensure that it has not been reported already.

Frequently Asked Questions



Simutrans does not react like OpenTTD does, when I ...

The short answer is, that simutrans is not OpenTTD and the people developing simutrans wanted to focus on diferent tasks. Please have a look at the detail comparison between Simutrans and OpenTTD.

 

Which is the standard pakset of Simutrans?

As said here, the Simutrans executable is not bound to specific scenario data. Simutrans DevTeam considers Pak64 as the main and a base set for Simutrans developed along with Simutrans executable.

Pak64 always contains the most recent features and was the first to be developed. Currently Simutrans is being available in ready-to-play version with this pakset.

 

What's the difference between paksets?

For instance: Pak64 uses graphical tiles sized at 64x64 pixels. You would guess that Pak128 uses graphical tiles sized at 128x128 pixels. You are correct!

Each packset...

 

Can I use the addons made for one for the other?

Addons created for pak128 will not work in pak64. In the other way round, thing may work in a sense for pak64 objects in pak128. They will function as intended but will be drawn in the wrong places and their scale will not met the pak128 scaled.

Therefore, better avoid mixing of objects from different pak sizes.

 

Why do features in pak128 or other pakset lag behind pak64?

Prissi develops pak64, as well as being the head developer for the entire Simutrans project. Therefore, he is able to incorporate the latest features when a version of Simutrans is released.

VS develops pak128, and has to wait for new features to be released before being able to incorporate them. Therefore, there can be a delay sometimes. Also pak sets are updated at variable speeds.

 

How do I extract a PAK file? I want to learn how to make something new, or modify something existing.

The PAK file is there to protect the rights of the creator of the PAK file. It was designed specifically not to be unpackable for that reason...

However, take heart! If you can find the original creator, most of the time they would send you some sort of source if they still have it (but if they do not, that is their firm right).

If you're looking to create new objects, check out the wiki. There's lots of great info there.

Also, scour the addons boards, and the graphics boards - the development boards... There's lots of information around. And, of course, if you've looked and you don't find what you're looking for, ask! :-)




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