On the road, Truck simulator Options

[Lopov]

In this thread I'll occasionally be posting screenshots from the American Truck Simulator. As the name suggests, you're put in a role of a truck driver and must drive cargo between various cities / states. The game is based on the European Truck Simulator - if comparing the maps, the ETS is much, much bigger than ATS, but new stuff (states for ATS or countries for ETS) are still being added. Roads / highways are based on real ones, except that they're significantly scaled down of course, nonetheless it can take a long time to get from point A to point B. I started with ETS first, but I'm so familiar with European highways, so for the time being I enjoy driving across the USA more.

In the beginning you must accept contracts from various different companies, when you earn enough caps septims dollars, you can start your own company, buy your own truck etc. The game is quite realistic, that's why it's been a commercial success all over the world, maneuvering the truck is quite difficult, especially in towns, when streets get narrow and you must reverse (a nightmare for now, but it'll get better), but even apart of driving, you must watch out for regular refuel, getting enough rest, obey traffic rules (or try your luck and not get caught). Various unexpected events can happen on the road, like accidents, traffic jams, flat tires, random police controls, road work, traffic re-routing, more or less anything that can happen in real life.

I forgot the name of the town in Arizona where I started (I think it was Tucson), but I remember that the final destination of my first contract was a town named Show Low. Although I was used to trucking from ETS, this route was more challenging, because it involved a double trailer. I managed to get to Show Low without any % of damage - the more the truck or cargo damaged, the less you get paid.

Behind the wheel of Peterbilt

"Ahoy pal!" - sometimes I flash my headlights when another truck is driving in my direction, as a sort of greeting. Some drivers greet me back.

Turning left - it took a while to turn left obviously. I'm in the truck with the Wallbert logo, the second trailer isn't visible in this pic.

In a traffic jam - by default the traffic is more sparse but then roads feel too empty, so I increased the density in the game's .ini settings.

Nice scenery on the left

I don't recognize the car in front of me

Now both trailers are visible

Ridin' on to Show Low

Arrival at sunset

Lopoved

[Renee]

Here goes Lopov in his BIG orange Volvo cab. What are you hauling today? Looks like construction equipment of some kind. Some important job somewhere. Woo hoo!

Yeah it really is dark. That's exactly what the American west at night is like. Ha! The Vplvo's got the same turn signal noise my mom's Saab used to have

Wow, that's Bon Jovi? I've never heard this song before.

Everyone is passing you, speed up!

I was gonna say most driving games reward the gamer in other ways, right? Racing games.. you are rewarded for going fast and beating everyone else. GTA... you are rewarded with gold stars for causing as much havoc and crime possible. Truck Simulator rewards for following rules (or breaking them slightly, in the case of going slightly over the speed limit, I assume. Nobody drives the actual limit in America unless they're impaired or older).

Uh oh, Zero Tolerance Zone! You haven't been drinking, have you Lopov? I love seeing the opposing traffic coming the other direction. This is giving me nostalgia for my youth.

Whoa, I think I see Vegas. Watch out for ghouls and raiders and Khans!

The steering wheel has freeking phone call buttons!

Uh oh.... did you get stuck? Oh. I think you had to turn the music down because of copyright stuff. Bummer.

There it is Interstate 15 I've been on that highway before. How do you move your driver's head around? I know WASD = truck movement right? But I guess you're using the mouse to move his head?

Ha ha a street cleaner cleaning the highway! I have never seen such a thing!


Acadian I am also glad you got to recognize some landmarks and buildings.

This post has been edited by Renee: Jul 27 2020, 01:44 PM