OMSI 2
The journey continues
OMSI has quickly become a favourite among all the
simulator fans out there. The sim enjoys a large following
and is supported by a large community.
Graphically it may not be to the same standard as
programs like Euro Truck Simulator, but it more than
makes up for that in realism and its ability to completely
immerse the player.
OMSI was released in February 2011 and was an instant
success. There are now dedicated Wikipedia
pages that cover topics ranging from driving tips to
complete guides on how to create add-on vehicles or
extend existing maps.
OMSI has also seen the releases of some add-ons,
most notably a route add-on covering parts of Vienna,
a very accomplished and well-designed product.
It should be no surprise then that the successor,
OMSI 2 has been eagerly anticipated. We were lucky
enough to get a preview version to see what the new
version has on offer.
Bendy buses and lots of trains
Probably one of the biggest news is the inclusion of
the articulated bus MAN NG272. It is what is commonly
described as a “bendy bus”.
Including such a complex vehicle into the sim must
have been a challenge but from what we saw the
bus performs very well and has a nice and realistic
feeling to it. There may be a little bit too much of the
squeaking noises coming from the back, but apart
from that it is a joy to drive. The bus comes with lots
of features including the so called “bending protection”.
Because of its length, the bus is a bit more difficult to
navigate around tight corners, but it all adds up to a
nice challenge.
OMSI 2 includes two bus routes. The line 92 and the
line 5 from the underground station Ruhleben to the
psychiatric clinic in Spandau.
The inclusion of an underground station hints at the
next new feature which again marks a great step forward
for this product. The sim now includes working
trains and underground trains. Passengers will now
get off the bus to catch a train or the underground
or vice versa of course.
The traffic model has been re-worked and tweaked
and it seems that cars behave a bit more “naturally”
and predictably than before.
Also reworked were the SD200 and SD202 buses with
the addition of the MAN NL202. The buses now have
a greater functionality and subtle differences in the
sounds between the different models. The included
vehicles now also span a larger time-period of production.
Time travel – It is possible
A very neat feature is the so called chronology function.
The city around the player will change in accordance
with the chosen date.
If the player chooses a date before 1989, the fall of
the Berlin wall, then the wall will still be there. Also
the route will run differently. Choose a date after
1989 and the wall is gone.
Not only that, but also the bus lines have changed
and some other details such as construction sites.
Another nice touch is the fact that after 1989 the
player will come across the infamous “Trabi” in West
Berlin. These are cars that were very typical for the
GDR and before the fall of the wall would normally
not be seen in the west.
The years covered by OMSI 2 span from 1986 to 1994.
As the player progresses through time, there are
more and more changes to the bus network, including
the extension of certain lines or changes to the
actual line names.
Looking good?
One critique that is often voiced when it comes to
OMSI is the fact that the graphics look a bit dated.
As mentioned right at the beginning of this article,
the software is no (visual) match to the likes of
Euro Truck Simulator or TS2014. To change this, a
whole new game engine would be necessary and let’s
be honest, no one was expecting that from OMSI 2.
Nevertheless there are some marked improvements.
The textures look somehow crisper and the reflection
details are more detailed. At night OMSI 2 really
shines with nice lighting effects and atmospheric city
lights.
Of course, not changing the core software has its advantages.
According to Aerosoft’s website OMSI 2 is
fully backward compatible. This means that all software
products for OMSI should also work in OMSI 2.
There are some other new features which are more
subtle but add to the list of new things and should
expand on the possibilities for players and developers
alike.
In the options menu players can now choose to activate
a system damage model. This feature will mean
that the selected bus may have a malfunction or
some damage. When this occurs, a road side assistance
service has to be called and inevitably the bus will
be delayed.
Good news for developers
OMSI has always attracted many third party developers,
undoubtedly one of the reasons why it has such
a big and dedicated following. With this in mind, the
producers have implemented several new features
that should make life for all developers out there a
little bit easier.
OMSI 2 is now built on a real world coordinate system.
This means that developers can import Digital
Elevation Models directly into the game. This has
been standard in many other sims and games and
greatly decreases time and effort for map builders
but also ensures much better accuracy.
In addition, there is now an automatic import function
for aerial images. Objects can now be positioned
much easier and the terrain will now adapt its elevation
to existing roads.
As with OMSI, the new version of the game will support
TrackIR. It is also possible to assign hardware
components as controllers. The preview version had
no option to adjust the sensitivity of the individual
control axes which lead to some erratic behaviour
whilst driving.
OMSI 2 is scheduled to hit the shelves at the end of
2013 and will no doubt make a great Christmas present
for many fans out there.
Infobox
• OS: Windows XP / VISTA / 7/ 8
• CPU: 2,6 Ghz
• VIDEO: 512 MB RAM
• RAM: 2 GB
• Internet access & Steam
• INFO:
http://www.aerosoft.com
