Bus Driver

First, a warning: Even at the lowest graphic settings, this game barely runs on my old 1.83Ghz Core 2 Duo iMac with GMA950 graphics. That’s disappointing, because the Windows version of this game runs OK on that same iMac’s Boot Camp partition. Having said that, it runs flawlessly on my newer iMac. My only other complaint is that although you can use an analog gamepad to drive your bus, I can’t find any way of using the gamepad to control the turn signals. Since they key to winning at this game is to drive well, and obey all traffic laws, this means I have to take my hands off the gamepad and use the keyboard every time I want to signal a lane change. If the developer would just fix that one annoyance, this already great game would be even better.

I would only ask that the game is longer, as I completed it ages ago, and that it was more detailed, as in you really have to walk in to the bus and programme the sign etc. Also, the timings are very tight - and can be skewed entirely by simply hitting a red light at the wrong time.

WARNING: Length alert, please take/allow time to read this This game is a nice simulation game, one that is not crazy like other games that are racing or certain challenge games. Just sit back, relax, and get the passengers to their destination without doing any harm. It’s nice to take a break in a simulation game once in a while, so I say this game is an excellent game for those of you looking for a public transportation simulator. But, there are a few things that really need to be changed. Starting off, the red lights are not only twice as long as the green lights (which throws off your chance of an on-time bonus) but for some reason, as you approach a green light…it’s green, it’s green, and you are still full throttle (which is barely any acceleration compared to the other cars) until you are almost about to cross the intersection then, BOOM! A half-second yellow light and then a red light that you barrel through to lose 200 points. Also related to red lights, why do you get charged the 200 point penalty when you barely enter the intersection, not even the line of traffic? The penalty should be handed out as you enter the line of other traffic. Furthermore, there are plenty of people at the bus stops that you stop at, but there are no other people to be found. Not even at other bus stops, on the sidewalks, or in stores. So, why does a “dead” city need public transportation? Another thing, it is cosmetic, but why are the convention centers and hotels that you stop at all closed up with shutters and there are no other cars or buses to be found? Rather odd, I must say. Also, I do agree with the penalty “over-braking”, but why do your passengers scream loudly when you do over-brake (which is the reason that you can’t brake for the red light situation earlier in the review)? Screaming should only be for accidents. Another sound issue, the other traffic cars beep their horns at you when you are stopped at a red light, why? Additionally, the driving bonuses are small compared to the penalties. A red light penalty that you are issued when you didn’t even cross the line of other traffic but did cross the crosswalk (wait, I thought nobody walked in this city? There’s nobody else around...) costs you 200 points, but a perfect mile bonus is only 170 points. Although a small gesture, a proper turning signal bonus is a whopping 10 points. Lastly, this game gives you penalties you didn’t even deserve. The situation: you are coming out of a bus terminal and you will turn right onto a road. You put your right turning signal on to turn right, you check for traffic, nobody coming, then as you turn onto the road, “improper blinker usage -10 points” (don’t know if that is the exact caption). What did I do incorrectly? I didn’t swerve into the second or third lanes at all! But, returning to the good points about this game, the traffic patterns are nicely done, with the other cars also having turning signals and all cars use all roads (not to mention the other cars sadly parking illegally right in front of a bus stop, turning right from the second lane right across your path, and having instant brakes). The graphics are good, but not great. And also, a little imagination and dialogue that you say in your head doesn’t hurt, it just adds to the simulation experience. I know that if you have been reading other people’s reviews, a lot of this is redundant, so I must say it was not my intent to merely re-state other people’s reviews. They just have similar suggestions/thoughts about the game. A good simulation game, but once again, it needs help. After all, I spent my money on it and still play it, and have been for years now, so it’s good enough to keep playing it.