The Train Giant

The Train Giant is the ninth main entry in the long-running A-Train series. It is an economical simulation in which the player takes control over a train company. However, in contrast to the predecessors, the player also is responsible for regular traffic systems (trucks and buses).

While the main goal - amass as much money as possible - is similar to Western economical simulations, the underlying concepts function differently: normally the player needs to understand (or plan) the circuits of city and its resources (goods, people, etc.) and build the transport paths accordingly; in this game the transport paths indirectly influences the city's development. So, for example, when the player creates a well planned train route, the city will expand around it and many people will use it. This is also shown in the fact, that (besides humans) there is only one general resource: as long as it is brought to the right place, it will be used to build the city up.

As with the city, the vehicles are indirectly controlled. Instead of setting general routes, the movement results from the traffic network (rails, streets and the traffic junctions) and the movement profile of each vehicle. This part goes into detail, including holding periods or loading points, and directly influence how well the network works or if it profitable. For example, a wrong timetable may cause the resource to be transported between two junctions and the train which moves to a building site comes empty. On the other hand, if a network is profitable mostly depends on the occupancy rate, i.e. empty trips or long holding times are bad. The player also needs to build power stations to receive enough electricity, but the distribution is out of the picture.

When the city grows, a few more opportunities to make money arise. For example, the player can buy newly constructed buildings and start affiliated companies in them. Another possibility is the stock market, but it is largely independent from the city development.