Today we would like to introduce you to our brand new platform displays in depth. The SubwaySim MEGA update is not only about fundamental improvements to the game - it's also about the visuals!
In response to your feedback, we have decided to redevelop our platform displays from scratch - this time with maximum attention to the original! In addition to a revised 3D model, this means many improvements especially to the display itself.
Some of you may have noticed that HOCHBAHN uses two different types of real-time info displays: On the one hand, the orange colour version in the picture at the very top, which is used for stations above ground. On the other hand, there is a second version for tunnel stations, as shown in the second picture above.
For the overground version, all the light points use the same colour. In contrast, for tunnel stations, each metro line has its own colour scheme - including one colour for the line number and another for the destination.
If you take an even closer look, you will notice that the two versions differ in more than just their colours. The overground displays are built with a resolution of 160 x 48 pixels, whereas the underground version's display spans across 200 x 64 pixels, making it appear in considerably higher resolution.
The consequence is, of course, that different fonts are used on the two displays. This can be easily recognised by the fact that the underground displays can spell out the destination WANDSBEK-GARTENSTADT, whereas the above-ground displays have to abbreviate it to WANDSBEK-GARTENST.
For this reason, we analysed countless real-life photos down to the last pixel for both versions of the platform displays. This resulted in a total of 4 different fonts, of which (almost) every single letter was copied pixel by pixel from original references. In addition, there is a specially developed Unreal Engine 5 material that ensures the typical matrix effect of the displays.
In addition to the graphic aspects, the functionality of Hamburg's platform displays should not be underestimated. The displays can show all kinds of different texts - and of course they do so too in SubwaySim Hamburg. One example for this is the current closure of the U2/U4 lines until April 2024, which is also resembled in SubwaySim Hamburg until then.
You will certainly come across another function rather frequently: The displays recognise whether the current train is a passenger train or not. For example, if you are travelling as an empty train in expert mode, the display changes accordingly and shows when the next passenger train will run.
Starting in the MEGA update, the real-time information displays will also identify short trains. On the U1 and U2 lines, the trains are usually made up of 3x DT5s, while 2x DT5s typically run on the U3 and U4 lines. As soon as the train length falls below the planned length, the text "short train" appears on the displays.
By the way: Our info displays are equipped with even more features that will play a role in the MEGA update. But that's a topic for another day.
Speaking of the SubwaySim MEGA update: Everything you need to know!
In the next few weeks, we'll be releasing a MEGA update, in which we've made fundamental changes to the game. We've rebuilt all the core systems of the game from the ground up to provide you with the best possible gaming experience.
We have decided to include a few additional features - such as the platform indicators - in the MEGA update compared to our initial plan. For this reason, we don't want to publish a release corridor just yet. We will of course let you know as soon as there is a release date.
As always, stay tuned - there are more announcements about the MEGA update to come!