Mumbai’s local trains are not just a transport service, they give people a feeling. You might have come across people taking pictures and shooting video sequences to make their journey memorable, but let us tell you that someone from the city who is passionate about Mumbai’s local trains has developed an app that lets users become train drivers and virtually transport passengers through the Central Railway stations. Sounds interesting, right? Since we were curious and wanted to know more, we spoke to Inbasagar Nadarthe developer of this train simulator app called “RG Train Tech Demo”.
Read excerpts below
What inspired you to create a game based on the locals of Mumbai?
There are several games that offer train simulations, including Microsoft’s own video game Train Simulator, but they are not based on Indian railway routes that would be more relatable and fascinating for Indians. Also, most of the apps are for PCs and the mobile base for such simulation games is not yet widespread. With this in mind, I thought why not create a phone app that would resonate with the people of my city and Mumbai’s popular lifeline, the local trains.
What main features of this train simulator app do you think players should know?
The standout feature of RG Train Tech Demo is its realistic physics simulation, which makes connections, collisions and derailments seem incredibly lifelike. It also features a sandbox mode, giving players the freedom to explore and experiment rather than following strict instructions. In addition, the graphics are top-notch for mobile train simulations: realistic locomotive, carriage and passenger train models with highly detailed interiors.
A little taste of the gaming app
Screenshot (1) from RG Train Tech Demo |
Screenshot (2) from RG Train Tech Demo |
Screenshot (3) from RG Train Tech Demo |
Screenshot (4) from RG Train Tech Demo |
What research was behind it?
I traveled a lot by train, which gave me a lot of first-hand experience and observation. Community feedback and player support also played a big role. I did a lot of Googling and visiting the games in person. I also compared my work with other train simulator games – checking their strengths and weaknesses and reading player reviews to understand what worked and what didn’t. All of this helped create a more realistic and fun gaming experience for players.
Is there any particular reason why you prefer the Central Railway over other routes?
I chose Central Railway because it has a wide variety of landscapes – skyscrapers, chawls, Ulhas river area and Parsik tunnel to name a few. It also has several carriage sheds and yards like those at Thakurli, Kalyan and Mulund and several branches that allow extension of the routes to Roha, Virar, Kasara and Khopoli. Also, I know this route so I can just hop on a train if required to collect more reference material.
Are you looking forward to working with the railway and finding funding for this project?
I don’t know what the future holds, but it would be nice to work with the railroad. Maybe I could get the diagrams from them to create more accurate models. Maybe this game could be expanded into a real simulator that could be used for training train drivers or drivers.
How long did it take you to develop this gaming app?
I started developing a train simulator in 2016 during my junior college days. It was called TrainZimulator. Later, I came across an app called Euro Train Simulator and that ignited the spark to create something. I taught myself programming, modeling and texturing and eventually released the game. A friend named Praneet Thakur helped me market the first game which really increased its exposure. The game was well received but I had to give it up to focus on my studies. Last year, I decided to return to game development and worked on RG Train Tech Demo.
It took me only a few hours to create a prototype of the game, but developing a playable base version for public beta testing took about 4 months. This was because I did everything myself – from coding and level design to assets and audio. Initially, the game only had a locomotive, a few freight cars, a train station and a shunting yard. Since then, I’ve expanded it to include more stations, shunting yards, commuter trains, landscapes and features.
When did you start playing yourself and how does it feel to be on the other side now?
I started gaming at a very young age. At 1.5 years old I had a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and played games like Mario and Contra. In fourth grade I got my first computer and played GTA Vice City for the first time. It felt like there was a real world inside the computer.
When the trailer for GTA V came out in 2011, that was probably the turning point for me. When I saw the trailer, I knew immediately that I wanted to create something like that one day. Now it seems surreal to be making my own games that an active player base enjoys.
How did your parents and friends react when you first told them about the game and its subsequent success?
My parents and close friends already knew about it and weren’t too surprised. However, when I tell other people – relatives, friends or acquaintances – that I play games, they always seem curious and interested, which makes me happy.
There is still a long way to go before I consider it a complete success, as I have many more projects in mind.
What other upgrades can users expect in the app?
I have plans to expand the route as only a small part of the Central Line is in the game. I will also be adding more locomotives, carriages, train announcements and other game mechanics soon. I also have plans to add a weather system and a time of day/day-night cycle system in the future.
The videos you shared to promote this app have created a relatable feeling for people. Will we see these realistic scenes in the app as well or is that still a work in progress?
I plan to add a few things from the films, like passengers and maybe TCs. But mostly the reels were just a fun way to market the game, relatable things that Mumbaikars face when travelling in local trains.
Check out the roles below
Have you developed other apps?
I have developed a few other apps. One of them is ‘Yello Quotes Creator’, a JPEG design app with fonts in all major Indian languages, which I created with my friend Garima Bhatt during the lockdown. I also released a game called ‘Mazey’, which is inspired by classic maze games. However, it did not do well as it had limited marketing and I immediately focused on developing the railway game after the release.
Do you think app development is a lucrative area to explore?
Although the market is quite saturated, thorough research is essential before diving into game development, especially as an indie developer. But personally, I consider video games to be an art form or hobby, similar to painting, music, or movies.
