World of Subways 3: London Underground Circle Line

World of Subways 3: London Underground Circle Line
Developer: TML-Studios Publisher: Aerosoft Platform: Windows Released internationally: May 25, 2011 This game has hidden development-related text.

A simulator based on the titular rail line.

Development message

In Data.v/Sounds/Announcements is a file named Guide Circle Line announcements.docx containing instructions on the filename system used for the announcements:

Instruction Circle Line Announcements for World of Subways 3

In the package, there are .wav files included for all the stations of World of Subways 3, including some extra announcements (sondernansagen). These files have a two-digit code (01 through 11). The .wav files concerning the announcements of the stations have a three-digit code:

The last two digits always refer to the station what is announced. The list is as follows:

.01: Edgware Road (Circle Line Branche)
.02: Paddington (Circle Line Branche)
.03: Bayswater
.04: Notting Hill Gate
.05: High Street Kensington
.06: Gloucester Road
.07: South Kensington
.08: Sloane Square
.09: Victoria
.10: Saint James’s Park
.11: Westminster
.12: Embankment
.13: Temple
.14: Blackfriars
.15: Mansion House
.16: Cannon Street
.17: Monument
.18: Tower Hill
.19: Aldgate
.20: Liverpool Street
.21: Moorgate
.22: Barbican
.23: Farringdon
.24: King’s Cross St Pancras
.25: Euston Square
.26: Great Portland Street
.27: Baker Street
.28: Edgware Road (Hammersmith Branche)
.29: Paddington (Hammersmith Branche)
.30: Royal Oak
.31: Westbourne Park
.32: Ladbroke Grove
.33: Latimer Road
.34: Wood Lane
.35: Shepherd’s Bush Market
.36: Goldhawk Road
.37: Hammersmith

In the package, there are files for the old orbital route and for the new route including the extension to Hammersmith. These files are different. Not only the destination announcement is changed, but also some of the text sentences differ from the old situation. Therefore, I think it is the most realistic as there would be two versions of the announcements in the game, one for the old route and one for the new route.

All the stations are announced twice. The first time a couple of hundred meters before entering the station (for example: the next station is Bank). The second time when the doors open at the station (for example: This is Bank). Both times, the connections to other rail lines and some touristic attractions are announced. At the station itself, the destination of the train is also announced. In the old route, there was no terminus so the next two principle stations were announced (for example: This is a Circle Line train via Baker Street and Paddington). These destination announcements are included in the “This is files”, so there are four versions of these files for both directions and for both routes (new and old). And when approaching and arriving at the final station, there are also announcements made that the train will terminate there, these are also included in the files.

At some times of the day (evening and weekends), the stations Temple and Mansion House are closed. I’ve included this in the announcements, both at the “this is” announcement of the last station before Temple or Mansion House, as for the “next station” of the concerning station. When the station is closed, this will be announced automatically. The concerning announcement files are added up with 1000 from the original file. For example: 113 is the announcement: “The next station is Temple”, 1113 is the announcement “The next station is closed. This train will not stop at the next station” etc..

Old route (Orbital route only)

    • Files 101 – 127 are the “The next station is …” announcements
    • Files 201 – 227 are the “This is” announcements, including the destination announcements in anti-clockwise direction (to be used when driving the outer circle Edgware Road – Victoria – Aldgate – Edgware Road)
    • Files 301 – 327 are the “This is” announcements, including the destination announcements in clockwise direction (to be used when driving the inner circle Edgware Road – Aldgate – Victoria - Edgware Road).
    • The files for the closed stations are the concerning normal announcements +1000

New route (including Hammersmith extension)

    • Files 501 – 537 are the “This next station is …” announcements, which partially defer from the ones of the old route.
    • Files 601 – 636 are the “This is … “ announcements, including the destination announcements towards Edgware Road (to be used in the direction of Edgware Road)
    • Files 702 – 737 are the “This is … “ announcements, including the destination announcements towards Hammersmith (to be used in the direction of Hammersmith)
    • The files for the closed stations are the concerning normal announcements +1000

Other destination announcements can be made, by request. I can also make announcements for the H&C-line, if needed. Just let me know

How to use in the game?

Off course it is up to you how you are going to use the announcements in the game, but I would give you a proposal what would be the most realistic.

The ‘sondernansagen’ should be announced when the driver wants them to. An option would be to type the code of the announcements with the numpad keys and then announce them with enter.

The “next station” and “this is” station should be announced automaticly.

    • The “next station announcement” should be announced a couple of 100 meters before entering the station. I think there should be a trigger point what automaticly announces the next station when passing it.

    • The “this is” should be announced when the door is opened at the station. It would be the most realistic as the announcements is activated by pressing the door open key.

I don’t know if it is possible to make a script file that loads the announcements for the path that is chosen? You can make trigger points then that announce the stations, and the exact .wave file that is announced relies on the path that is chosen. I did this for WOS-2, and it works out perfect. Would be more realistic then as the driver has to activate the announcements themselves. 

Just let me know if I can assist you with further announcements or for other questions. I’ll be very happy to assist where possible!

Dominic de Vreeze – dominicdevreeze@gmail.com

Note that the pre-Hammersmith extension announcements mentioned are not present in the game files.

(Source: Original TCRF research)