Thoughts by Incise-66 (29 00 2003) – PC (DOS)
The game begins with the founding of your company. You choose a fitting portrait, the company colour and of course the name. Then it immediately starts with your first funds. Similar to Sid Meier’s Railroad Tycoon, in which you could build tracks for your trains. In Transport Tycoon, you’re not limited to railroad tracks for your iron horses. On the random map which is full of cities and factories, you can build a depot and bus stops, to transport citizens to the next town, for example. Alternatively, you can create a system of railway tracks through all cities with which you can not only transport people, but also goods like mail. For example, you can build a station near a forest and another next to a sawmill. Connect the stations and you can transport raw logs to the mill, which can be very profitable. In addition, you can conquer the skies with your planes or and waves of the sea with your boats. Either you’re just transporting passengers, or you buy fitting vehicles for other goods. That decision is up to the player.
Mainly, the game is about expanding your company. To make your life really hard, you can add computer-controlled opponents who will then be trying to catch the best spots for themselves.
The whole interface is constructed in a very logical way. On the small list on top, you’ll find everything you need. Statistics about your finances, info about your vehicles and so on.
The ever-expanding world makes Transport Tycoon a case for endless motivation. New plane, ship and vehicle models during the cause of the game make you restructure your company every so often. But the cities are growing independently, too.
This game is still one of my favourites amongst the business simulations. Later, another version was released under the title Transport Tycoon Deluxe.
Thoughts by Seppo007 (11 00 2017) – Transport Tycoon Deluxe – PC (DOS)
One of the best business simulations of the 90s. Manage, decide, achieve! Build up your own empire of different means of transport and bring prosperity to the different cities.
Transport Tycoon Deluxe is a version of the classic enhanced by new graphics and features. The game lets you build up your own transport empire starting out in 1950. Your supremacy is challenged by competing other companies which appear subsequently.
Either you play on pre-defined maps or you can have a random map generated in four different landscapes. Your decision which industrial sector to supply is completely free: wood, steel, post or passenger transport; as long as there is enough money in it, everything is possible.
Similar to Rollercoaster Tycoon – also by Chris Sawyer – Transport Tycoon Deluxe offers a multitude of settings which made the the game special in its time and to this day offer high replayability.
You always begin on an empty map and after christening your empire, you can immediately begin. You inspect the map at hand and based on the circumstances you find, you construct your first delivery chains. For example, you could connect a forest with a nearby sawmill, which in turn could supply a city or other industries.
Delivering goods generates income which goes straight to your bank account. Your vehicle fleet not only costs money to buy, but also to maintain. Maintenance costs are charged regularly, so that you should take care of keeping distances short.
Overall, Transport Tycoon Deluxe offers a lot of possibilities to enjoy and build up your own empire. It is even possible to individualize the vehicle fleet and to automatize. Subsidies make good incentives and big cities rate the quality of service, so that you need to take heed of their demands. The game offers fun for many hours and is still a lot of fun. The new graphics make the game look even prettier than the original.
Translated by Mr Creosote
