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Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 6:01 pm
by jztemple2
Suitably Ironic Moniker wrote:I was always planning to wait for a while to pick this up, and this is one big reason why. I'd like to buy it after it's had a fair amount of DLCs released, so that it's a little more fleshed out.
I'm afraid (for the developers) that this might be the reaction for a lot of folks. Two trucks and two states (with a free third state coming soon) might not be enough gameplay. And it's going to hurt the initial reviews.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:09 pm
by Rumpy
jztemple2 wrote: There's a lot more to the article, but the above sums it up. I'm fine with the situation, back in early ETS there were a number of trucks that weren't added till after release. And the developers confirmed that any additional trucks would be added free as an update.

Wow, yeah, that's a downer. That's perhaps the most important detail, one they've kept to the very end? I can see that would likely affect their day-one orders. Still, given the ETS2 modding scene, I could see modders porting their American trucks over, which would dull the anticipation of new trucks a bit.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 8:57 pm
by jztemple2
Rumpy wrote:
jztemple2 wrote: There's a lot more to the article, but the above sums it up. I'm fine with the situation, back in early ETS there were a number of trucks that weren't added till after release. And the developers confirmed that any additional trucks would be added free as an update.
Wow, yeah, that's a downer. That's perhaps the most important detail, one they've kept to the very end? I can see that would likely affect their day-one orders. Still, given the ETS2 modding scene, I could see modders porting their American trucks over, which would dull the anticipation of new trucks a bit.
As they mentioned in the article, they have been in negotiations to add other trucks but so far they only have the two. They didn't want folks to be under the impression that ATS would release with more trucks than that, but had hoped that there might be some last minute new additions, so that's why they waited till now.

There will be Steam Workshop support, although I'm not sure it's going to be at launch. This should make adding new fan stuff a lot easier. As you mentioned, it shouldn't be very long before we see some fan built trucks making up for the lack of official trucks.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:34 pm
by Rumpy
Yeah, if they can add steam workshop ASAP, even if it's a few weeks later, I think ported trucks should be one of the strongest points going forward. Actually, if they knew it was a possibility they wouldn't launch with many trucks, they could have worked with modders to provide them with the necessary details to have them ready at launch. Most of them are already made for ETS2 and likely wouldn't take much to port.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:45 am
by KDH
Rumpy wrote: ........ if they knew it was a possibility they wouldn't launch with many trucks, they could have worked with modders to provide them with the necessary details to have them ready at launch.

my guess would be ... they can't be seen to condone the obfuscation of intellectual property and trademarks .. while in negotiations to respect those same IPs and trademarks.


didn't Mercedes finally come around and OK their name for use in ETS2, a year after release? ... They had some placeholder name for quite a while.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 1:54 pm
by Rumpy
KDH wrote: my guess would be ... they can't be seen to condone the obfuscation of intellectual property and trademarks .. while in negotiations to respect those same IPs and trademarks.

Oh, that's right. Yeah, that makes sense. Although they've always been friendly to modders.

But yeah, in fact with ETS2, the game originally had generic names for all their truck brands with the real brands slowly coming on board. I preferred that situation as it still gave you trucks to choose and not sure why they decided against doing that this time around.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:11 pm
by RunningMn9
So what is the game here? Is it just me driving around California at 65 mph in a big rig? While I can certainly understand the therapeutic nature of doing that - I've used Microsoft Flight Simulator for just that purpose, just randomly flying ultra-lights out of my local airport - but is there more? What's the actual game being played?

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 2:47 pm
by Isgrimnur
If it's anything like ETS2, it's also a business management sim.
Try the life of a truck driver for hire. By delivering the cargoes safely and improving your skills, become the owner of your own, successful company!

Build your own fleet of trucks, buy garages, hire drivers, manage your company for maximum profits.
ETS2 had RPG elements, where you can't just hook up that trailer full of hydrochloric acid in antique glassware that has to be there for a JIT resupply. You had to earn XP to select hazardous cargo, fragile cargo, and rush cargoes.

Enlarge Image

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 3:46 pm
by jztemple2
Yes it's a tycoon game as well. You don't have to pursue the tycoon portion if you don't want to, you can just act as a driver for hire. Or you can just drive your own big rig and make money to upgrade the rig. Or go the whole tycoon thing, buy garages and buy other trucks and hire other drivers to drive them.

Part of the appeal is dealing with very heavy or awkward cargoes early on when you don't have much in the way of performance in your truck. You get that later on with upgrades like a more powerful motor or a better transmission.

I've seen that in the ATS version they are weigh stations and you can get fined for blowing past them or being overweight for the road you are on. I hope that they develop this further, it's one of the shortcomings of ETS2, in they there is no incentive to go to a destination other than the most direct route.

I'm hoping we see the Utah early. Can't wait to get on the 85mph interstates! :D

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 4:09 pm
by raydude
RunningMn9 wrote:So what is the game here? Is it just me driving around California at 65 mph in a big rig? While I can certainly understand the therapeutic nature of doing that - I've used Microsoft Flight Simulator for just that purpose, just randomly flying ultra-lights out of my local airport - but is there more? What's the actual game being played?
Late nights hauling cargo and list'nin to country/western music on the radio. Chilling and enjoying the open road and not worrying about something shooting me or telling me that my units are being attacked. At least that's what did it for me in ETS2.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 4:28 pm
by Rumpy
Well, I just realized it's 64-bit only, so looks like I'm out of luck for getting it at launch.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 4:36 pm
by RunningMn9
I like the notion, though this would be the first time trying a game like this.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:18 pm
by YellowKing
For inspiration, here is my pic from the launch of European Truck Simulator 2:

Image

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 5:34 pm
by Isgrimnur
We can't stop here! This is Carl's Jr. country!

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 8:05 pm
by KDH
In the preview video, they show a CHP car roll by .. does anybody know more about that? .. Is that a rolling speed camera?

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 8:57 pm
by Rip
KDH wrote:In the preview video, they show a CHP car roll by .. does anybody know more about that? .. Is that a rolling speed camera?
That would be awesome. Once you know where the cameras are ETS2 becomes too easy on that front. England has a harder camera layout but in Germany I race camera to camera.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 9:33 pm
by jztemple2
Isgrimnur wrote:We can't stop here! This is Carl's Jr. country!
I would have no problem with SCS adding in-game advertising in the form of billboards or actual buildings. It would help with the immersion.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 7:25 am
by raydude
jztemple2 wrote:
Isgrimnur wrote:We can't stop here! This is Carl's Jr. country!
I would have no problem with SCS adding in-game advertising in the form of billboards or actual buildings. It would help with the immersion.
Indeed. Although I would sigh as I pass the "In N' Out" signs, knowing that I'm on the other coast unable to partake of their offerings.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2016 8:30 am
by Rip
The ATS universe should be full of nothing but Taco John's.

:horse:

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 11:44 am
by jztemple2

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 1:56 pm
by Holman
Do they do CB in these games? Do other truckers warn you about things like speed traps?

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 2:33 pm
by jztemple2
Holman wrote:Do they do CB in these games? Do other truckers warn you about things like speed traps?
I haven't seen any mention of this at all, and it's not in the previous games. In ETS2 there are no cop cars but they do have speed cameras, which I don't think will be a part of ATS. I can't believe they would have included CBs or speed traps and not mention it in the previews, but we'll find out more this weekend as there are a bunch of live streams being held.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 3:30 pm
by Rumpy
The new trailer definitely makes it seem like the CB is back. And actually, it was in one of the games, which was Haulin'. Not sure about Long Haul or any of the others. There were presets where you could ask what the weather was looking like up ahead, or about traffic, or cops, etc. But as far as I remember, it never really any impact on gameplay, ie none of what they said actually corroborated with anything happening in the game, as it was all random.

Here's an example:
Haulin' CB radio

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 12:53 am
by KDH
The CB radio is such a big part of the trucker mystique, perhaps in Europe too. A little off-topic, but ... one of the best things about Freelancer was listening to the radio chatter of the trading vessels hoping that they didn't screw-the-pooch on this trading run.

so .. a little generic chatter mixed with a little specific chatter could be done ... but I wouldn't hold my breath .. voice acting is a little daunting for small budget companies

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:37 pm
by KDH
:horse: Squirrel .. again

Image - <------ American Truck Simulator REVIEW and GUIDE (8:20m)

Image - <------ Trucking School - Episode #1 - Controls Setup (13:20m)

Image - <----- Trucking Diaries - Episode #1 (28:00m)

Image - <------------ Trucking Diaries - Episode #2 (22:48m)

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 7:19 pm
by Rip
Really good job on the feel of the environment.

Just like IRL Cali the smokies are as thick as syrup.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 11:47 pm
by jztemple2
KDH wrote::horse: Squirrel .. again
Thanks for posting these. I only got through the first video and part of Episode #1, but I like what I saw. I also heard him mention that speed will be monitored by static and moving cop cars. Damn, I got really used in ETS2 to driving like a nut. Do I also get a radar detector? :D

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 12:41 am
by KDH
jztemple2 wrote: ........ I also heard him mention that speed will be monitored by static and moving cop cars. Damn, I got really used in ETS2 to driving like a nut. Do I also get a radar detector? :D
yeah, I heard that too


hmmmm? radar detectors .. it would require that they are zapping AI motorists, so that you detect the "usage" before they zap you .. which is what saves your butt in real life ... I'd be willing to bet these precursor pulses are not programmed in by default. But ... if somebody were to 'splain it to the devs .. real slow :oops:

I can only imagine that radar AND detectors are used in Europe in the same fashion ... but that doesn't mean they thought to allow for detection and avoidance.



all my life, growing up, I heard about the autobahn .. and I imagined this roadway, built for speed, with banked curves .. then I find out that the interstate system in the USA was designed on and around the autobahn ... my shoulders slumped a little

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2016 10:18 am
by YellowKing
Yeah, watching that review video makes this a definite Day One purchase for me. Looks like a slightly more polished version of ETS2, which is fine by me.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 4:36 pm
by jztemple2
Just occurred to me that we are less than two days away from release and Steam still isn't taking pre-orders. And GMG doesn't have it either. Are we looking at a delay? Or just something that SCS does?

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:26 pm
by Daehawk
YellowKing wrote:Yeah, watching that review video makes this a definite Day One purchase for me. Looks like a slightly more polished version of ETS2, which is fine by me.
Its basically the same game with only 2 states and 2 trucks...ya 2 trucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSK8I3DWK4

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:50 pm
by jztemple2
Daehawk wrote:Its basically the same game with only 2 states and 2 trucks...ya 2 trucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSK8I3DWK4
SCS has already explained there are only two trucks right now but they are still in negotiations to get others which will be added free with updates. They say the manufacturers are reluctant but once the game is released SCS expects that licensing will be easier. And of course the modders will be very busy too.

A third state (Arizona) will be added soon for free. Other states will be added as DLC, mostly paid, *maybe* some free.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:23 pm
by YellowKing
Plus it's MURRICA!

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 11:35 pm
by Alefroth
Daehawk wrote:
YellowKing wrote:Yeah, watching that review video makes this a definite Day One purchase for me. Looks like a slightly more polished version of ETS2, which is fine by me.
Its basically the same game with only 2 states and 2 trucks...ya 2 trucks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSK8I3DWK4
Yeah, we've kind of gone over that. I wouldn't buy it if that's an issue for you.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:11 pm
by YellowKing
Looks like they're going to release early, and it will be available today! They didn't give exact time, but said "this evening" CET, which is 6 hours ahead of East Coast. So hopefully those of us in the states will see it in the next few hours! :horse:

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:19 pm
by baelthazar
To be fair about the "only 2 states" thing - you have to remember that the square milage of California and Nevada add up to something like 273,000, which is some 30,000 miles larger than the entire nation of France. I would say that the initial map of ETS2 and ATS are probably around the same amount of square miles.

I'll probably get this one, even though I have a lot of driving to do still in ETS2.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:20 pm
by baelthazar
YellowKing wrote:For inspiration, here is my pic from the launch of European Truck Simulator 2:

Image
I'm digging that wall art!

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 1:31 pm
by jztemple2
The game is now available for purchase on Steam. I'm downloading now, but it's only a one gigabyte download, so I'm guessing it's the preload or part of it. Hopefully there's more today to download before it unlocks early tomorrow.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 1:39 pm
by jztemple2
Oops, I was wrong, it is the whole game :shock:. Playing now, starting in Oxnard Sacramento, because I like the name location.

Re: American Truck Simulator

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 1:43 pm
by Rumpy
Looks like they are making an Unsupported 32-bit build in the Beta branch. From their most recent postings:
However, we are receiving a lot of requests from players stuck with a 32-bit Windows to give them a chance to play the game now. We do listen to you, and we are also making available an UNSUPPORTED, alternate 32-bit build of the game. You will find it on Steam, in a Beta branch named unsupported_32bit. At the time of release, it will be functionally equivalent with the 64-bit build, and it should work ok so long as you don't push the graphics setting to max. Keep in mind that it's only an unsupported temporary solution, we are explicitly making no guarantees that it will work now or in the future. At some point in time, perhaps in 6 months, perhaps in 12 months, we will no longer be able to update this 32-bit fork of the game to match the feature set of the official version of the game. Hopefully by that time, you will all have migrated to a new 64-bit OS.