A new train simulator moves players in the driver’s seat of the city’s lifeline — the Mumbai local. We take a ride in the Eastern suburbs to put the unique concept to test
The pilot view takes the player into the loco pilot’s cabin
Ask anyone who has travelled in Mumbai’s local trains for long enough and they’ll tell you about the unhealthy number of times they have daydreamed about taking the loco pilot’s seat and zooming past to their destination. After all, how tough can it possibly be? RG Train Tech, a new train simulator developed by Sion-based engineer Inbasagar Nadar brings our wishful thinking to life. We dive into the mobile-based simulator to navigate the railroads in our new ride and hopefully find the answer along the way.
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The game opens to the main menu that offers two modes of play — Duties and Sandbox. The Duties section requires one to complete three tasks that include running a local train on time, delivering petrol wagons using a diesel locomotive, and navigating a goods train to the yard. The Sandbox, on the other hand, allows players to freely explore maps with no restrictions on movement or access.
The Bombardier EMU model halts at Thakurli during a task
We opt for the first task, and the game teleports us to a platform inside Dombivli railway station where a Bombardier EMU (the standard Mumbai local train model) awaits us. From the structure of the coaches and the decals on its exteriors, to the textures on the metal surfaces and the interiors in each of the compartments, the model is a replica of the real-life powerhouses. Nadar reveals that the models were made using technical drawings from academic textbooks and various sources online. He adds that they were later assembled and painted using Blender, a 3D workstation.
We navigate to the loco-pilot’s cabin using the on-screen controls; and the mission begins. The task flashes on the screen — Dombivli to Kalyan in 10 minutes. We must orchestrate complex controls like the P/N/R gear shift, the dynamic brake, and the throttle to complete the task. The controls, in the absence of a pre-game tutorial, can be an ordeal initially for players with limited knowledge of simulators. “They might be difficult, but the aim was to make the experience feel real. The control layout is a result of inputs from various loco-pilots from a community of rail fans that I am a part of,” Nadar reveals.
The view from a local train in the Sandbox mode
Over the short trip to Kalyan, we notice that a panel on our screen allows us to change camera modes. With the throttle value set to the right amount, we choose the one that offers the widest view and sit back to enjoy the view. “The buildings, walls, and landscapes are all inspired by real life structures in the area. I made several field visits to the locations to get it right,” the developer shares. Nadar’s extensive field visits also lend the game a distinct novelty in terms of sound design. The 24-year-old shares that he recorded live sounds like horns, clicks and other ambient sounds from the site to be used in-game. While the quality of the sounds isn’t great, they add a fun, immersive layer to the experience.
As we move to the other two tasks, this time in WDS-6 model locomotives, the controls start feeling familiar as we go about delivering coal and petroleum to the suburb of Thakurli. “I chose these suburbs on the Central Railway line as they offer a diverse experience within a small radius,” he shares, promising us that an upcoming update will expand the map westward to Mulund and Diva, and witness an upgrade in audio quality.
Inbasagar Nadar
Over subsequent updates, Nadar plans to introduce passengers and ticket checking squads. “I am being mindful about the additions because adding too many elements makes the game difficult to run on lower-end devices,” he shares. Before we sign off, we nudge the developer to include the Western Railway in the game soon. “After requests to launch the game for Apple devices, this is the second most common query I receive. I am focusing on fixing bugs and expanding what we already have. The update for Western line might face a delay,” he concludes. Thankfully, it’s nothing that Mumbai’s hardcore commuters aren’t already used to.
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