What is BVE Trainsim?
BVE Trainsim is a FREE Direct
3D Japanese Cab View train driving simulator, made in Japan
by Mackoy. It offers a realistic cab view, excellent sound,
and very good train physics. My favourite feature is the
simulation of sway around curves, rocking whilst braking,
and the bump of pointwork and rail joints. As a cab view
sim, it doesn't get more realistic than this!
Although originally limited to Japanese routes and trains,
there is now extensive English language support, and routes
and trains available from just about every continent in
the world.
This page is intended as a guide to downloading
and installing the main program, getting the initial route
running before you go out and explore the downloads available
both on this site and the links page.
There are presently two version of BVE - version 2.6 and
version 4.2. The main differences are discussed below.
Minimum PC Specs for BVE
OS: Windows95/98SE/Me/2000/XP
CPU: PentiumII 233MHz
Display: 640 x 480 pixel, High Color (32bit) BVE 2
Display: 1024 x 768 pixel, High Color (16 or 32bit) BVE
4
Graphics Card: Compatible with Direct3D
DirectX 7+ (8.1+ recommended)
BVE4 requires the Microsoft .NET framework
to be downloaded if not already installed.
Note: BVE4
does not work with Windows Vista without some work. See
>this
thread< on the forum for more information.
Downloading the main BVE program
Click on this icon to open the main BVE
download pages in a new window:
This is the web site that holds BVE. The
following will guide you through what icons/links to click
on the Official BVE website.
Don't bother downloading any Japanese script,
you won't need it - You may select cancel if you get this
dialogue window. Japanese characters are not essential!
Choose the version of BVE you would like.
BVE2 is lower resolution but ideal as most routes will work
on it, while BVE4 has more features (such as AWS, TPWS,
customisable signals, higher resolution graphics, etc) but
some older routes will not work on it. Some new routes have
been written especially for BVE4 with enhanced features
as mentioned above. You can choose to have BOTH versions
on your computer. They will run perfectly side by side!
Ok, assuming you have already clicked on the link above
to take you to Mackoy's Japanese website you will see a
screen similar to this :
When you see this image on Mackoy's
site click on the left icon to go to the BVE 2 page or the
right icon for BVE 4. The programs are available
as separate downloads on the site.
Click on "GET" in the left hand bar. A new page
will open.
Click the "Download" link, as the
example shows below:
The next steps are discussed separately depending
on whether you choose BVE2.6 or BVE4.1 Remember that you
can install both should you want to.
For a guide
to downloading BVE2.6 click >click here<
For a guide to downloading
BVE4.2 click >click here<
BVE 2
1. Download the English version of BVE2. Click
the link that says:
2. When the download is complete, you will
get a zip file called something like bve2.6.3en.zip. Open
this zip and you will see two .MSI files:
Bve2.6.3en.msi
Uchibo9en.msi
The BVE file is the all important main
program. The 'Uchibo' file is a basic short route and train
to get you going!
Drag these files onto your desktop for
ease of use.
Installing the main BVE
2 program
Simply double click on each of these files
to install. The default folder will be in Program
Files/BVE. I'd recommend leaving this set as it
is, for ease of installing your addons.
Additional instruction for XP
users installing BVE 2
Right Click on the BVE icon in Program
Files/BVE and choose "Properties" from the drop
down menu. From the new window that opens, choose "Compatibility"
Click the boxes so that the window looks
like this one:
Click "Apply" and you're ready
to go! Try the default Japanese 'Uchibo' route first. This
is included in the files you will have just installed. It
is very basic but will give you an idea of how to drive.
Then try some of the trains and routes both on this site,
and on the websites listed on the links
page. Don't forget that the BVE program is free and so are
all of the add-ons.
Tip
Download the >BR
signals< which means our style of signalling
will be on every route you will play with, instead of the
Japanese ones.
BVE 4
1.On the download page for BVE4 you will
see three hyperlinks, as below
 |
The first is the Microsoft .Net Framework which BVE
4 requires to run. Ignore the link on the
Mackoy BVE website as it takes you to the Japanese
version of the Microsoft site. Click >here<
for the English MS page
Download and install the package.
Return to the Mackoy BVE page and click the bve4.zip.
The bve4.zip will download. Upon opening you will
see the bve4 installation routine (an .MSI file).
Unzip this from the archive and run it. The instructions
and program are both in English.
The uchibo10.zip file is the example route and train
(Japanese and quite basic but it will give you a simple
route to start from. The zip file contains an installation
routine as before. Unzip this from the archive and
simply follow the installation Wizard.
|
Important :
After choosing your screen resolution BVE4
will start with a light blue screen with a large BVE4 logo.
RIGHT CLICK on this screen with your mouse
to get the startup menu to choose your route and program
settings! Some more detailed routes may take a while to
load. You will see progress of loading at the bottom of
the screen.
Installing the
trains and routes download from Trainsimcentral
The add-ons provided on this website come
in self installing packages, the install paths are pre-loaded
and can be seen on the installer screen.
For routes and trains intended to be used
on BVE4, the
preset path is
Drive:/Program
Files/Mackoy/BVE4/
This is the default
folder which you should have installed the original BVE4.exe
to. If this is the case, simply hit Install.
If you installed
BVE4.exe somewhere else, you'll need to click the Browse
button on the installer and navigate to your BVE4 folder
first.
For routes and trains intended to be used
on BVE2, the
preset path is
Drive:/Program
Files/BVE/
This is the default
folder which you should have installed the original BVE.exe
to. If this is the case, simply hit Install.
If you installed
BVE.exe elsewhere, you'll need to click the Browse button
on the installer and navigate to your BVE2 folder first.
NB. There is one
exception to these instructions. Some of the London Underground
routes, trains, objects and sounds have COMBINED
BVE2 and BVE4 installers. By default these are set to install
to the BVE4 folder,
Drive:/Program Files/Mackoy/BVE4/.
If you only run BVE2 then you need to edit the path in the
installer by clicking the Browse button
and locating your BVE2 folder.
If you do not install
your files to the correct location, then the program will
not be able to find all of the files it needs to run a route,
and the program will fail because it cannot find the objects,
sound or train required.
Key Presses
TWO LEVER CAB
Z Increase Power
A Decrease Power
> Increase Brake
< Release Brake
? Activate Emergency Brake
ONE LEVER CAB
Z Increase Power / Release Brake
A Decrease Power / Apply Brake
Q Activate Emergency Brake
COMMON CAB CONTROLS
UP Arrow Reverser Forward
DOWN Arrow Reverser Reverse
SPACE BAR ATS Verify [toggle DRA on some UK BVE4 trains]
INSERT Continuance Chime Reset [Cancel AWS on UK Trains]
DELETE Emergency Brake System Reset [Cancel Vigilance tone
on UK Trains]
BACKSPACE "Cruise-Control" [On trains fitted]
BVE
2 EXTRA KEYS
END Open Emergency Brake
PAGE UP Change to ATS
PAGE DOWN Change to ATC
BACKSPACE "Cruise-Control"
SHIFT + F2 Safety System Power On
CTRL + F2 Safety System Reset
F3 "People Meter" On/Off
SHIFT + F3 Time & Door / Frame Rate Display
F4 Open/Close Time-table
SHIFT + F4 Scroll Time-table UP
CTRL + F4 Scroll Time-table DOWN
BVE
4 EXTRA KEYS
KEYPAD ENTER Horn 1
KEYPAD + (plus) Horn 2
KEYPAD - (minus) Horn 3 [On trains fitted]
F2 Toggle Time/FPS/Speed on screen
F3 Show timetable*
F4 Hold key down to enlarge the timetable*
F5 - Re-renders route
F6 - Open and close the doors
F8 - Speed up the clock
F10 Pause
Keypad arrows 4/8/6/2 - View Up, Down, Left & Right
- view right to see the instruction panel for the train.
Keypad 0 - Zoom out
Keypad . (dot) Zoom in
(*Note : When using trains designed for BVE2 in BVE4
there will be no timetable, but the stopping pattern will
be shown by right clicking on the screen and choosing 'Jump
to Station' from the menu. (You don't have to jump to another
station!)
BVE 4 keys can be customised by choosing 'Option' then 'Controller'
from the menu.
DEVELOPMENT MODE CONTROLS (BVE 2)
F5 Re-Builds and Re-Renders the Route
F6 Closes the Train Doors
F7 Parking - Stops the Train
Shift + F7 Speeds Trains up by 5km/h
Ctrl + F7 Slows Train down by 5km/h
F8 Time Acceleration (ON/OFF)
Troubleshooting :
Unable to use Direct3D
You need to Update your DirectX Drivers, BVE2 requires at
least DirectX 7
Unable to change to HAL
BVE was unable to access the Direct3D hardware. You may
be able to fix this problem by Updating your Graphics Card
Drivers from the Manufacturer.
Also: Your card may not have any Hardware 3D acceleration
BVE should still run in software mode, just a lot slower.
BVE4 Trains with Full UK Safety
systems:
These seem to be causing some confusion
to new users of BVE4.
First view the class 158 drivers guide
from the >misc<
page. All of the mainline BVE4 trains on this site operate
in a very similar manner.
Whilst sitting in the cab, you can scroll
around the screen by using the keys on your numberpad. 8
(up) 6 (right) 4 (left), 5 (centre) 2 (down). The zero key
will zoom out.
If you scroll to the far right you will see a quickstart
guide to getting the train started and moving. There is
also a list of auxilary keys to press for AWS, TPWS, DRA,
Lights, Buzzer, Vigilance and Wipers.
The common
BVE4 controls such as brake, reverser, power, and horn are
listed above.
