Pak64.ContrastExtended is a pakset for Simutrans, meant to be an extended version of now-abandoned Pak64.Contrast.. Just like the original, it is supposed to be a minimalistic pakset with a focus on massive, effective passenger networks and urban planning, with high construction costs and low maintenance costs. However, Pak64.Contrast isn't quite complete. It has following features:
- One set of buildings for all climates
- Only one industry (blocks) and passengers
- Very limited range of vehicles, including only one aircraft and one ship
After the project's last update (Pak Contrast 910, April 2013), pakset's creator, Kristian Koerselman, outlined his plans for the next update:
- A new industry
- A new kind of tram
- A train carriage for transporting blocks
- Buses
Unfortunately, Kristian left the project before implementing these features. Still, he left it in a surprisingly playable state. Despite its limited scope, it is highly unique among other paksets, primarily with its minimalistic graphics and focus on passenger transport.
Pak64.ContrastExtended aims to create a maintained version of Pak64.Contrast. However, the plan is not only to update the pakset with features Kristian has outlined but also to implement many others. Below is (an incomplete) list:
- A set of buildings for each climate. This is currently being worked on. Buildings from different climates will still look minimalistic and largely the same, but with one distinguishing feature - rooftops dependent on the climate the building is located in. This addition is meant to add more diversity variety.
- New industries and goods. In the original pakset's file Goods.dat, a new good named Reports was hidden. It was, however, commented out, which means that it was ignored by the game. Mail was also there.
- Elevated and underground networks. Those will probably fit the original pakset's focus on transporting large passenger flows with efficiency the most.
- New trams. This includes freight trams, once mail or reports goods are implemented.
- New rail vehicles.
- Buses.
- New airplanes.
- New ships.
- More landmarks. There is currently only one, a church.
- Maybe, but only maybe, a telegraph/ethernet networks? These would - unlike other networks - have high maintenance costs, but they would also transport mail very, very quickly and efficiently, making them perfect for long-distance transport.
This pakset is currently under semi-active development. It is still not in a state where you could just compile it and play Simutrans with it. However, work is currently being conducted to change that. If you want to contribute, you're welcome!