# Rails Across America > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rails_Across_America > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rails_Across_America.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rails_Across_America > Source revision: 1310747915 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|2001 video game}} {{More citations needed|date=February 2008}} {{Infobox video game |title = Rails Across America |image = Rails Across America cover.jpg |developer = Flying Lab Software |publisher = [Strategy First](/source/Strategy_First) |designer = Paul Canniff
Russell Williams |engine = |released = {{vgrelease|NA|September 18, 2001|EU|December 2001}} |genre = [Business simulation](/source/Business_simulation_game) |modes = [Single-player](/source/Single-player), [multiplayer](/source/multiplayer) |platforms = [Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows) }} '''''Rails Across America''''' is a railroad simulation game released in late 2001 by developer Flying Lab Software and publisher [Strategy First](/source/Strategy_First). It received generally positive reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rails-across-america/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Rails Across America |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=October 26, 2014}} Though no official expansions have been released, a rudimentary map-editing tool was made available to the player community.{{cite web |title=Rails Across America Patch Released |url=https://www.gamezone.com/news/rails_across_america_patch_released/ |website=GameZone |date=4 May 2012 |access-date=27 January 2021}} ==Gameplay== The game covers the period 1830–2040 in North America (including parts of Canada and Mexico). The game is 'strategic' with emphasis on expansion of rail networks, finance, and competition with other railroads. The general goal of the game is to accumulate the most "prestige", although specific scenarios may have other goals. thumb|left|The map is the main gameplay screen. Rails Across America uses a proprietary 2D engine and 3D-flavored [sprites](/source/Sprite_(computer_graphics)), which are outdated when compared to contemporary games of the time.{{cite web |title=Rails Across America |url=https://oldpcgaming.net/rails-across-america-review/ |access-date=27 January 2021 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122162745/https://oldpcgaming.net/rails-across-america-review/ |url-status=live }} The game is played in a top-down view with various zoom levels. At the closest zoom, one can see animated trains and industries. At the furthest zoom the map is an abstract of the rail network. The user interface includes many 'report' style screens which allow players to analyze the performance of specific aspects of their railroad, to compare themselves to their competitors, to obtain financing, etc. The seamier side of the great age of railroad expansion is represented by a system of 'influence' which is gained by various achievements, and which can be expended in various ways to undermine the competition. Influence is represented by colored 'cards' with number values and some flavor text. The color and numbers are used in contention with opponents and the outcome can affect finances, construction, prestige, etc. Some smaller scenarios do not use the influence system. Going bankrupt mid-game can be a viable tactic, suffering a temporary set of restrictions but allowing the player to shed excessive debts in [robber-baron](/source/Robber_baron_(industrialist)) style.{{cite web |title=Rails Across America |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/rails-across-america/3030-13055/ |access-date=27 January 2021}} Single-player mode includes multiple scenarios with specific goals, and longer 'campaign' games. Multi-player mode supports up to eight players over [LAN](/source/LAN) or [GameSpy](/source/GameSpy).{{cite web |title=Rails Across America PC |url=https://www.gamepressure.com/games/rails-across-america/zf2463 |website=gamepressure |access-date=27 January 2021 |archive-date=18 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118173437/https://www.gamepressure.com/games/rails-across-america/zf2463 |url-status=live }} Players who drop out are replaced by AIs. The game provides several options which allow players to customize the experience, especially in multi-player mode. ==Reception== {{Video game reviews | MC = 81/100 | GSpot = 7.6/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rails-across-america-review/1900-2817444/ |title=Rails Across America Review |last=Osborne |first=Scott |publisher=GameSpot |date=October 11, 2001 |accessdate=October 26, 2014}} | IGN = 7.5/10{{cite web |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2001/10/15/rails-across-america |title=Rails Across America |publisher=IGN |date=October 15, 2001 |accessdate=October 26, 2014}} | CGW = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |author=Geryk, Bruce |title=Reviews; ''Rails Across America'' |date=January 2002 |magazine=[Computer Gaming World](/source/Computer_Gaming_World) |issue=210 |page=115}} | rev1 = ''[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine)'' | rev1Score = {{rating|5|5}}{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040606221439/http://www.cgonline.com/reviews/railsacros-01-r1.html |url=http://www.cgonline.com:80/reviews/railsacros-01-r1.html |title=Railroads and Robber Barons in Real Time |author=Chick, Tom |date=January 25, 2002 |work=[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine) |archivedate=June 6, 2004 |url-status=dead}} }} According to Phil Steinmeyer of [PopTop](/source/PopTop), developer of ''[Railroad Tycoon 3](/source/Railroad_Tycoon_3)'', ''Rails Across America'' received "outstanding reviews" but "sold poorly, and Flying Labs abandoned plans for follow ups".{{cite journal |title=Inside the Sausage Factory; I Hate 3D |author=Steinmeyer, Phil |issue=143 |date=October 2002 |journal=[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine) |page=98}} The game won ''[Computer Gaming World](/source/Computer_Gaming_World)''{{'}}s 2001 "Best Game We Just Don't Get" special award. The editors wrote, "''Rails Across America'' is a very, very good game—according to a pack of our freelancers. We respect our writers' opinions, but not one of the ''CGW'' edit staff could warm up to this 4.5-star robber baron game."{{cite magazine |author=((Editors of ''Computer Gaming World'')) |magazine=[Computer Gaming World](/source/Computer_Gaming_World) |title=Games of the Year; The Very Best of a (Sometimes) Great Year in Gaming |date=April 2002 |issue=213 |pages=69–73, 76–84}} The editors of ''[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine)'' nominated ''Rails Across America'' as the best strategy game 2001, but ultimately gave the award to ''[Civilization III](/source/Civilization_III)''. However, it won the magazine's special award for "Best Multiplayer".{{cite journal |author=Staff |journal=[Computer Games Magazine](/source/Computer_Games_Magazine) |title=11th Annual ''Computer Games'' Awards |date=March 2002 |issue=136 |pages=50–56}} {{-}} ==See also== *''[Chris Sawyer's Locomotion](/source/Chris_Sawyer's_Locomotion)'' *''[Sid Meier's Railroads!](/source/Sid_Meier's_Railroads!)'' *''[Pirates of the Burning Sea](/source/Pirates_of_the_Burning_Sea)'' ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{moby game|id=/rails-across-america|name=''Rails Across America''}} Category:2001 video games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Railroad business simulation video games Category:Strategy First games Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Windows games Category:Windows-only games Category:Flying Lab Software games --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rails Across America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rails_Across_America) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rails_Across_America?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.