Railroad Tycoon 3

The game is entertaining and runs smoothly on my computer. I have yet to have a problem with bugs.

Here are problems that I have with the game:

1) Can't specify hauling multiple loads.. can only be one commodity so if I'm hauling things to my factory which requires more than one input commodity.. it takes a few runs.

2) The AI of the competition is awful. They jam up the tracks with a ton of their own trains so that you have to disconnect from their track and lay your own with your own stations just so get your trains through.

3) There needs to be more overview information. I don't like playing a game where I have to keep paper nearby to make a list of where the demand is headed. The game requires a bit of guesswork as well.. I wish it would tell you what cargo will be given first priority when it comes to loading your train. This is probably my biggest complaint.

4) Overly simplistic business aspect. A little more depth would have added a lot.

Overall the game is entertaining and I played it a couple of weeks before I became bored with it. I would recommend someone to buy it.. but perhaps not pay full price.


Railroad Tycoon 3 Is The Best   January 24, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

So, you think that all those other games you bought kept you busy? Think of RR3 as the "BOSS" of games. The creators of this game have evolved 110% ahead of the competition. The Sandbox mode allows you to play for hours (I am not kidding!!) and the challenges will make you want more every time. You'll need a amazing processor for this game. Unlike RR2 you'll go into movie mode and remember all those times in RR2 where you had to manually do stuff? RR3 does it all for you. If you like games than this one is one to own, you'll never regret the purchase you'll just want more time off from your job to play!!!-Enjoy.


More fun than RT2 and it's 3D now   January 23, 2004
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

They have taken a lot of the busywork out of the game. You spend more time working on your routes than trying to micromanage the cars. You can manage down to the car level if you wish but game does pretty good job of matching up cargos. You can set the min/max cars per train per station. Overall play is pretty similar to II. 3D effects are really good, you can zoom down right into the trees and buildings. Great new feature, you can click on a train and ride along. Great to have a birds eye view of your train as it rolls. Worth the price of game by itself. I have spent quite a bit of time just watching... and not tending to the game. I think it is a solid improvement over RT2. Be careful, it's addicting.


Best Ever Business Sim   January 10, 2004
This is a great business sim involving realistic issues of supply and demand, investment, the stock market, etc. Much better than games like Capitalism or Startup (that one's probably out of print).

I also like it better than Tropico because there are victory conditions. You know whether you did well or not in Railroad Tycoon and you can work to improve your performance. In Tropico, as good an economic sim as it is, too often you feel like the game just ended without any particular success or failure.

And aside from the business sim issues, the railroads and historical context make it fun on another level.

It is not, however, for kids (as one reviewer suggested). The stock market element and the semi-complicated supply and demand issues would be way too complicated for even a nine year old.