Trucking Simulator Games Discussion

[MasterXtreme]

i think i'm like level 8 at the moment XD

You're already driving!  Excellent!     I'm so happy you started.  I am curious, what city did you start in?  Just know in ATS, the old part of the map is from San Francisco south all the way to San Diego, (some parts of San Diego have been upgraded) and all of Nevada and Arizona is old. 

Did you buy any DLCs? 

Totally check the Steam Workshop if you want an Optimus Prime paint job.  I would be shocked if there wasn't one.  You can also make your own paint jobs if you know how to do so and import them in the game.  (You can make your own drivable maps too, if you know how too.  Dev tools are all in the game.).

[Nemesis Prime]

Don’t forget the Steam Workshop — it has a lot of mods with classic trucks, so you can find the true Optimus Prime-like cabover . Of course, due to constant game upgrades some of these mods can become obsolete, but they still remain driveable.
As you may read on earlier pages, some people do comparisons with real life locations and their in-game counterparts.
Everybody makes mistakes during early hours of driving, but this can also be a source for funny screenshot compilations .
The hardware matter is not so critical, although the game itself can be very hungry for the PC resources. I have seen a noticeable FPS drop even after going to the monitor with a slightly bigger resolution, so the old 32" TV with 720p (I have used my Samsung for a small time) was even better than normal 1080p monitor, if don’t care about the pixelated picture so much.
AFAIK, there are programs who allow to use the mouse as a steering wheel in the *TS games, so you don’t need to spend a lot of money if you want try smooth turning.
[spoiler]My current «trucksim area» setup (there is also «working area» to the left)

is a result of discounts, searching on second-hand market and sudden side contract (some parts were even crafted by me — after hours of research of game-related forums). From the other side, my current trucking seat is a wooden chair with a small pillow used as lumbar support , because my computer chair don’t really get along with wheel and pedals position, and making a pro-gamer’s mount is really expensive. Also, all simulator-oriented stuff is usually a true geek product, so it’s a small market, where some discounts or sales almost never happen.[/spoiler]

@timmelon
Oh yeah, i got my Bay movie Optimus truck, is kinda epic
Also this game feels so right, I've always had a dream to become a real truck driver, but i dont have even normal car license... Well, there is still time to get them, but will see what future hold for me, maybe one day i will have my own truck and travel around the country or even go other countries! But for now i think i'll be ok to learn to drive on simulator and enjoy the ride!

But man that set up looks awesome! Thou i dont know how good the chair is to sit on? I would guess you can only play hour or two max? I know i would get my back and bottom in a jam. But man i'm jelly that you got real wheel to work with!

@MasterXtreme
Oh yeah, I hopped right into the wheel when i bought the game and enjoyed every minute of it! I wonder which place I started... IF I found the correct info my garage is in Sacramento in ATS and Tampere in Euro version(I've actually lived next to Tampere for years before i moved out to my own, so the place is very close to my heart Is like my home town, thou i dont live there at the moment)

DLC I have:
- Arizona
- Classic stripes Paint jobs
- Forest machinery
- Freightliner Cascadia
- Idaho
- International 9900i
- International LoneStar
- International LT
- Kenworth T680
- Kenworth W900
- Mack Anthem
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Peterbilt 389
- Peterbilt 579
- Volvo VNL
- Washington
- Western Star 49X
- Cabin accessories
- Halloween paintjobs
- Retrowave Paintjobs

Also bought the Euro truck sim today too with the Beyond the baltic sea DLC So i can drive in Finland now too, there are actually places that are very familiar to me. It so funny to drive around and be like "Hey! I know this area!"

[timmelon]

Thou i dont know how good the chair is to sit on? I would guess you can only play hour or two max? I know i would get my back and bottom in a jam.

Well, with the pillow that chair is really comfy for relaxed driving, also, the tilt adjustment for a steering wheel allows to put it in more horizontal position than it is when mounted on the table. But it’s not good to seat several hours in a row (no matter what you are doing), so my game sessions are normally no longer than 1.5 hours (two music albums, if more correct ), but there can be several of them through a day . For example, these holidays I usually combine rides on real bicycle with imaginary truck driving .
This wheel was bought from taxi driver — he played City Car Driving while training himself, and I have heard about people who became real truck drivers after playing ETS, or people who taught their wives/children using such games. It’s so good when you can quit and return at any moment you want, and there are no severe traffic jams — real truckers don’t have this luxury .


P.S. My favorite garage in Finland is Kouvola — a lot of expensive cargoes for container carrier, both for Finnish-exclusive HCT trailers and standard ones, also, my fastest way of making money is taking a B-Double with something expensive from Finland to Germany, using a ferry between Helsinki and Travemunde as a shortcut, although the ferry reduces a lot of experience points.

[Soda]

I'm so happy you are loving the game!  Can't wait to see your truck!

One of my fav things about this game is when you see things you recognize from real life.  They are currently redoing the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland) in the game.  The old way it was, I still recognized things, but the new stuff they've added, now I REALLY recognize things. It's so cool!  It's like, wow, I know that building, I drive this curve in the road, I know that ROCK!

[Nemesis Prime]

@timmelon
Ooh, well it is good to pace yourself, since sitting in one place for hours can be really bad for your back and truckers need breaks too! Very authentic experience
So there is hope that i could get to be a real truck driver in the future! Let's see if it ever comes true thou

I dont think i've ever been to Kouvola in real life, i might have driven through on some roadtrips, but i cant really remember much. I am interested thou if they ever decide to futher the Finnish map, i would love to be driving to Jyväskylä and all the way to Lapland! Maybe go a full trip from Helsinki, to Oulu, to Rovaniemi and through Tornio over the border to Sweden! Would be such a loooong freaking trip but it would be awesome XD

Man that picture thou, i'm pretty sure you gotta sit in traffic jams a lot and it would be annoying to be trying to move and stopping all the time and fully loaded trucks are so slow to get moving and immediately after you get to move, you have to stop again, dangit XD

@Soda

I'm so happy you are loving the game!  Can't wait to see your truck!

I wonder if i dare to show my truck, i feel a bit embarrassed since i'm so in the beginning that i dont even have my own trailer yet or anything special pieces or anything, just paintjob

[spoiler]

if you're curious here is my world of trucks page too[/spoiler]

That is my favorite part too, to recognize places! But since i'm not familiar with USA all the places are new to me and i enjoy visiting new places too, maybe some day in the future when i can make real life visit in america, maybe i can recognize some places like "Oh hey! This place i've seen in the game!" XD

[timmelon]

Oh, that W900 really gives a lot of rumble with its sound! It never gets old! I see, you have 8 levels left to get the most powerful engine, and now you are using the basic one.
Also, I see some word coded in your license plates, both from EU and US .
Not exactly the traffic jams, but some chains of several red traffic lights in a row in cities like Coeur d'Alene may be pretty annoying.
I recommend to add Colorado DLC as a source of good screenshot backgrounds (Glenwood is one of my favorite locations since that DLC came out).

The funny part is when you can even recognize the familiar places (seen only in the game before!) in Youtube videos — there is a very high runaway truck ramp west of Eisenhower tunnel on I-70, and here is an example of using it IRL .
I know that current map team works with more attention to actual scenery (more people=better quality ), while some years ago only the most recognizable landmarks were guaranteed to appear, and the other part of scenery was some generic mix of typical locations from those lands. So, if they will decide to expand the map up north (but I doubt it will happen before all Balkans will be covered, and UK will be reworked ), the scenery will certainly be closer to reality than in countries drawn in 2012-2014.
[spoiler]In 2022, any deviation from the realistic lanscape as a mean of making the look more impressive is not allowed!

[/spoiler]

[Nemesis Prime]

@timmelon
I cant wait to level up more! Thou since i did buy the EuroTS, i have to juggle between the two, since i just found out the Euro trucks actually DO have Nemesis Prime skin! Thou it's for a truck that is also a mod, but nuts to that it still takes leveling up before i can even buy the truck, so plenty of work for me to do before i can buy my Nemesis truck Also now i can keep ATS as the movie Optimus and the ETS as G1 Nemesis Prime, so i dont need to make decisions of keeping G1 Optimus or Nemesis skin.

Omg, i'm so glad that you found that little 'coded' thing XD I was hoping to make one that wouldnt be TOO obvious, since I hope for "normal" people it's just letters and numbers, like licence plate is, but the rest of us will understand the little hint there!

I cant wait to be able to purchase new pieces of map dlc, still missing few but i'll definitely keep my eye out so i can snatch them at some point XD Also cant wait some completely new content if there is gonna be any

[Grapefoot]

Now that is a good looking truck @Nemesis Prime!  You also are driving the classic American style long nose truck!  Massive engine under there!   Very cool. 

I also find it interesting just how many people all started or use Sacramento as a main base.  

[Anyponedrawn]

Ha!  Nice license plate and truck, NP!

Also I love seeing that truck of your, Tim!

I'm really happy you are enjoying the game!  I love seeing things in the game in real life.  Especially when on Youtube and you start seeing stuff your recognize!  It's like a really cool feeling! It's weirder when you see it first in the game, then go there in real life!  It's like you've been there... kinda.  It's so strange.

You got a good assortment of DLC.  I highly recommend Wyoming and Colorado when you have the opportunity as well.

[Silverwing]

Loving the photos!!!

[Nemesis Prime]

@Grapefoot

Now that is a good looking truck @Nemesis Prime!  You also are driving the classic American style long nose truck!  Massive engine under there!   Very cool. 

I also find it interesting just how many people all started or use Sacramento as a main base.

Oh yeah, I've always loved the long nosed trucks, in Finland we just have those square ones, those just dont look as impressive. 2 years ago around christmas I got a chance to see the Coca cola truck and it was so amazing, i was super excited to finally see a "real truck" XD Sorry Euro truck lovers, this is only my own preference! There is nothing wrong if you prefer the no nose trucks, still valid choice But the truck was SO freaking big! I never imagined it to actually be that large and I loved it, i took so many pics and had to have super tight control of myself to keep me from touching it, i really wanted to do that thou XD But it was great! I've only seen like that and one other truck that was long nose truck in Finland, so i can say those are super rare to see, which sucks because i really love them XD

@Anyponedrawn

Ha!  Nice license plate and truck, NP!

Also I love seeing that truck of your, Tim!

I'm really happy you are enjoying the game!  I love seeing things in the game in real life.  Especially when on Youtube and you start seeing stuff your recognize!  It's like a really cool feeling! It's weirder when you see it first in the game, then go there in real life!  It's like you've been there... kinda.  It's so strange.

You got a good assortment of DLC.  I highly recommend Wyoming and Colorado when you have the opportunity as well.

Thanks! I'm glad to see more people are catching on to that!

I'm having so much fun! I also have pretty good map memory, so when we go to a trip irl I can actually just yell out like "We have to turn here to get there!" even thou i cant legally drive myself, but i can be the map reader and driving in the sim is definitely going to help me knowing new places where i might not have been yet! So exciting!!
I'll definitely grab more map dlc later, since i already have quite large areas to drive, i kinda want to start smaller and grow with new places as i get closer to completing the maps

@Silverwing

Loving the photos!!!

Calling all out for some photo time!
Show me your favorite trucks in or out game! I dont really mind, I would just love to hear/see what kind of trucks you all prefer, thou definitely, if you have any truck in game I would love to see it, show me your pride and joy! Please!

I would also love to see anykind of favorite in game moments that you might have been able to grab a photo of. I do quite a lot of screen caps in any games that it's possible and I love it, it's like you're photographer who has to know a little when and where you could get some amazing promotional pics or just snap a pic when something sudden is happening.
Like yesterday I saw hot air balloon in ETS, but i wasnt smart enough to realize that i should have taken a picture until it was way too late XD

[timmelon]

So, my garages have all trucks available, but I usually drive the ones I prefer more, and other trucks are driven only by hired drivers.
In ETS where is a big difference in detail level of first and latest trucks, old Iveco and MAN have almost no use from me, while DAF Euro 6 and DAF 2021, Scania R 2017, Renault T, Volvo 2012 are more favourable, and my biggest love is Mercedes Actros MP4. Actros MP3 and DAF 105 were on the same position as old MAN and Iveco, but their models were upgraded when the Mercedes and DAF tuning packs came out, so these two trucks also gained more respect from me. The usual paintscheme for my truck is some bright color (like yellow or orange) with painted wheels or some darker metallic color with chromed wheels, also, if I have a garage in country who allows to use longer trailer sets, there always are two or three doubles in my garage, and the trucks can have three axles. You can see some screenshots with trucks from my garages in this post, although part of photos are missing because one of the hosting sites has stopped working.
In ATS there is lesser difference between trucks introduced in 2016 and 2022, so all of them are driven by me from time to time, although Peterbilt 389, Kenworth T680 and Freightliner Cascadia are a bit more preferable — but not so much. All trucks introduced after 2019 have almost equal driving hours — of course, when something fresh come out, I can drive it for many hours until I feel the need to drive some of older friends . The paintschemes are similar to European trucks, but sometimes I also use some skins from DLCs or Pinstripe skin for 389. Due to the longer trailers are allowed in 7 out of 10 states, my favorite combination is RM Double, pulled by three-axle tractor with daycab. Sleeper cabs are less popular in my garages, but sometimes I drive them as well — my current ATS truck and the previous one look like that:

From two- and four-axle chassis, introduced in 2021, I use only former ones, and short one-axle trailers can exist in my garages only as doubles and triples, so my typical truck can look like on the left photo, but never like on the right one .

(for me, these plows are the most laughable cargoes in whole *TS universe. They can easily be transported by much smaller truck )

[Nemesis Prime]

@timmelon

I would love to have orange and black truck, but dunno if that would get driven as much since i really like my Optimus truck XD But maybe i'll have some crazy color combos for the hired drivers later in the game

I really like the color on the yellow one, thou that red one is GORGEOUS! For some random reason, that red long nose one reminds me of movie theatre and i really liked the full orange flatnose one! I'm really happy to see that the colors in these games are so well shaded, thou i must admit i'm sucker for metallic colors, some matte colors can look amazing, but those arent usually my first choice.

Also what the heck is that tiny stuff on the trailer!? They couldnt fit that into like those way smaller trucks? XD For a van, it might be a bit too heavy but still, that is hilarious XD

Also update to my progress, I have my Nemesis Prime! Without trailer thou, but still huge for me! I'm so happy and excited, but i should go to bed. The trucks better still be here when i get back home!


Cant wait to see in the morning if there will be more truck pictures!
If anyone has suggestions for my driverside plate text I'll be happy to change it from time to time XD I would use just NBP, but there is this one little thing that if you say the letters out loud in english... I'm sure you get the point, so i try to avoid the fully shortened nick XD Maybe i'll change it to Bruticus, since the truck already is Nemesis Prime

[timmelon]

Harven’s Freightliner FLB was so good so it became the only truck mod I have used in ATS .
Since the new lighting system was introduced a year ago, making the photos with bright matte colors became a little more difficult because the surfaces under direct sunlight can be overilluminated. But, materials like natural stone now have different «albedo» (there was a comparison in one of SCS blog posts), so they don’t shine like a chrome.

Metallic truck colors are always great .
Speaking of hot air balloons, I have seen a couple of them in Switzerland during my today’s ride.


P.S. Crazy-coloured trucks can also be encountered in my garages, mostly after I have tried all basic colors .

[Tüsszent]

Here are some photos of my trucks and some scenery... since you asked.

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