I've tried to run it under #Wine, but I could not make it work. The game only runs in some specific resolutions and color 16-bit color depth (which I managed to work around using Xephyr). I managed to install it under Wine and have it run. But I could not go farther than the initial screen.

So I installed #Windows 98 SE into a VM. Since I was at it, I created a #Vagrant image anyone can use. It has working display and audio drivers. Link below.

This way I (and whoever) can quickly launch a VM and install games from this era without having to deal with the quirks or Wine.

https://portal.cloud.hashicorp.com/vagrant/discover/goncalor/windows-98-se

#games #pcgaming #trains #linuxgaming

Now, other than playing the game, I wanted to try something.

See, I knew for long this game was playable on a LAN. I knew it had tunnels to where you could direct your trains and they would end up in someone else's computer. How cool is that?! 😁

But when I was young, I could never try it. Two computers in a room? That didn't happen at home, where I played.

So I want to try it now!

#games #pcgaming #trains

Let's refer to the manual to understand better what LAN features are available.

Wait what?! You could actually send your trains with postcards not only to your LAN, but to the Internet? Anywhere in the world?! 🤯

And on the LAN you could attack files to postcards! Up to 1 MB. Sharing files on the LAN by train. Amazing!
 

https://archive.org/details/LEGOLoco-manual-US-IB2G-LOC3/page/n1/mode/2up

#games #pcgaming #trains

So it seems there are three game modes. A summary:

• Single User. You play by yourself and can send postcards to LOCO characters. They may reply. There's no network communication. This is the way I've always played.
• International Postcards. Similar to Single User, but you can send postcards to/receive from the Internet. There's an "International Post Office Sorting Computer" sorting your mail. Amazing. I'm quite curious to see what the FQDN for that was. And if it's still up (highly doubt it).
• National Mode. You play on a LAN with friends. The map extends beyond your computer and you can send trains with postcards and attachments to each other.

From the manual, full text on the modes:

"Single User

In single user mode (choosing the Single Station Master button on the start
screen) you will be able to create your own layout and help your mini-figs
travel around that layout.

By placing blue tunnels you can send Postcards to several LOCO characters,
(e.g. The Professor). A train carrying a card addressed to one of these
characters will leave through the Blue Tunnel and deliver a card to them…
who knows, they may even send you a reply!

International Postcards

If you have a MODEM and an Internet connection you can send random
postcards in Single User Mode to other LEGO LOCO users around the
world. Remember, for any train to leave your computer you must have
placed a Blue International Tunnel.

Trains carrying Postcards will leave your layout and travel to the LEGO LOCO
International Post Office Sorting Computer, from here it will travel around the world to who knows where. If you are lucky you may receive a Postcard
from someone from another country!

To send a postcard please ensure that your modem is switched on and
that you have connected to the Internet. Now start LEGO LOCO and
design your card. Address your card to ‘ANYONE’ (from the
pop down list) and make sure a postal train takes it out of a Blue Tunnel.

National Mode

In National Mode, up to nine people can connect to a huge LEGO LOCO
layout. Each individual can take control of a certain part of the National
Map, and can build layouts as normal.

The cool thing about National Mode is that you can send trains and e-mails
and attachments to anyone connected to your session."

#games #pcgaming #trains #postcard

I want to try the LAN mode between VMs and take a look at the protocol. There should be no encryption, so it should be easy to get a peek.

If the protocol is simple enough, I'm thinking it would be cool to inject trains into a map.

Regarding the international mode, I'm curious about the FQDN that was used, if it still resolves and if there's a server alive there.

If not, maybe we could reimplement the "International Post Office Sorting Computer". I don't think I will do it myself, but it would be cool. Maybe the actual code or executable is somewhere out there. Or LEGO or some former employee has it.

#games #pcgaming #trains #LEGO

Network errors delivered through postcards. Imagine that! 😁

"If the LOCO desktop fails to contact the Internet server it will place a
YELLOW postcard in your post office and the post office will animate to
attract your attention. The postcard will have text indicating that there was a
network error."

#games #pcgaming #trains #LEGO

From the main screen one player chooses to be the host, others are guests.

You can choose between TCP or IPX (I only have TCP to chose from in the VM).

The host chooses a grid size from a list of options.

#games #pcgaming #trains #LEGO