American Truck Simulator

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:13 am

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:06 am Dude, they're doing Kansas.

That won't take long. The terrain will be what, two, maybe three polygons?

I'd love to see them add a regular car to this, just for the exploration. I know you can mod them in, but I found that fiddly.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:14 am

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:38 pm

That looks like Northwest Texas.

I'll be needing "Windmill Blade Escort Simulator" in the near future.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:46 pm

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:51 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:13 am
Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:06 am Dude, they're doing Kansas.
That won't take long. The terrain will be what, two, maybe three polygons?

I'd love to see them add a regular car to this, just for the exploration. I know you can mod them in, but I found that fiddly.

Having traveled a number of times in and through Kansas, I can you that there is a lot more to it than you think.

You really don't need a car, just drive the tractor without a load. I've gotten my Western Star to close to a hundred

em2nought wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:38 pm I'll be needing "Windmill Blade Escort Simulator" in the near future.

Wind turbine blades are one of the cargos you can carry already.

em2nought · Post by **em2nought** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:01 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:51 pm
Wind turbine blades are one of the cargos you can carry already.

I need a simulator for the little guy behind the semi who drives the rear wheels when they go around tight turns,

GE would fire the guy in that video.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:03 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:51 pm
Blackhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:13 am
Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 11:06 am Dude, they're doing Kansas.
That won't take long. The terrain will be what, two, maybe three polygons?

I'd love to see them add a regular car to this, just for the exploration. I know you can mod them in, but I found that fiddly.
Having traveled a number of times in and through Kansas, I can you that there is a lot more to it than you think.

You really don't need a car, just drive the tractor without a load. I've gotten my Western Star to close to a hundred

I've been through Kansas (and Nebraska, and Oklahoma) quite a few times. I've driven or ridden through about 80% of the US, much of it (mostly the middle and northern Rockies areas) many times. Not as much as any professional driver, but more than a dozen times. And yeah - it's not perfectly flat - however Kansas being flat is just an old joke that I heard all the time growing up, and was playing off of that. Illinois is far flatter, and Florida is the flattest. Indiana is nearly as flat as Kansas. But I always found Kansas (and Nebraska) to be the most boring drives in the country (along with parts of Nevada - drive Highway 50 sometime.) They're the states you have to be very, very aware of white line fever.

Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line. Antelope in the road. Line. Line. Line. Line. Line.

As to the car, I'd just like it for the mobility and full field of view.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:13 pm

That reminds me - I should check to see if some of the DLC I don't have is on sale.

I'm curious, though, about what happens if you get landlocked (figuratively speaking) DLC? Like Texas without New Mexico, or Montana without Wyoming/Idaho.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 3:11 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:13 pm That reminds me - I should check to see if some of the DLC I don't have is on sale.

I'm curious, though, about what happens if you get landlocked (figuratively speaking) DLC? Like Texas without New Mexico, or Montana without Wyoming/Idaho.

I don't know for sure, but they do have Fast Travel in the game so I imagine you can just jump to a location in the DLC you have.

And yes, there are a lot of DLC on sale.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 4:14 pm

From the devs, Oklahoma - Beavers Bend State Park & Gloss Mountain State Park

While Oklahoma is missing national parks, the state is home to several state parks and recreation areas that showcase the local natural beauty. In the upcoming map expansion, you will have a chance to venture to two wonderful state parks, and in this blog article, we’ll tell you a little bit about them while throwing some amazing screenshots into the mix!

Lots of pretty pictures like this one:

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 4:54 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 3:11 pm And yes, there are a lot of DLC on sale.

Yep. I picked up Montana. I've already got all of the other state DLC with the exception of Texas, and I've picked over the other DLC and gotten what interested me in previous sales. At this point I have everything but the Volvo pack and those cosmetic DLC that didn't appeal to me.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 5:42 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 4:54 pm
jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 3:11 pm And yes, there are a lot of DLC on sale.
Yep. I picked up Montana. I've already got all of the other state DLC with the exception of Texas, and I've picked over the other DLC and gotten what interested me in previous sales. At this point I have everything but the Volvo pack and those cosmetic DLC that didn't appeal to me.

You should definitely get Texas at some point, it not only has lots in the way of cities and new industries, there is a lot of other content, like 27 viewpoints to explore. It might go on a deeper sale when Oklahoma arrives.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 5:45 pm

I've bought them all on fairly deep sale. I play occasionally to relax, so I haven't even remotely seen everything that I have yet.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Tue Jul 04, 2023 5:47 pm

Picking up a lot of IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) tanks:

Said IBC:

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 1:06 am

Just announced, the release date for the Oklahoma DLC is August 1st.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Sat Jul 22, 2023 6:38 pm

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:03 pm very, very aware of white line fever.

Punisher · Post by **Punisher** » Sun Jul 23, 2023 12:49 am

Has there been a graphics overhaul or something?
I think I have this but don't remember them being that good.

Also, anyone know if they plan on eventually doing all of mainland US?
I'm also really interested in a NJ DLC to see if I can drive by memory at all. I haven't driven in over a year and a half now.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Sun Jul 23, 2023 1:05 pm

Punisher wrote: ↑Sun Jul 23, 2023 12:49 am Has there been a graphics overhaul or something?
I think I have this but don't remember them being that good.

Also, anyone know if they plan on eventually doing all of mainland US?
I'm also really interested in a NJ DLC to see if I can drive by memory at all. I haven't driven in over a year and a half now.

Graphics havent changed, but I find them adequate.

The devs do plan to eventually due the whole USA, but will probably be years before NJ.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Thu Jul 27, 2023 10:34 am

The 1.48 update has been released:

Changelog

Map
• New Texas DLC Content

Vehicles
• Electronic Stability Controls (Anti-Lock Braking System + Traction Control)
• Reworked Vehicle Transport Trailers

Gameplay
• Custom City Intros (Washington DLC)
• Special Transport New Routes (Montana & Texas DLC)

UI
• Per-State Map Exploration
• Cities in the Gallery
• Options Sliders now feature numbers
• Input Wizard Control Selection UI Overhaul

Other
• Third-Party Mod Structure Change

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:21 pm

The option sliders were always a thing I wish they'd improve as they never gave you an indication of the setting level. It was all guess work. So, I consider this a good change.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Sun Aug 06, 2023 12:07 am

So I picked up the Oklahoma DLC and I'm doing my first jobs at the eastern end of the state. I've just stopped to take a photo opportunity...

...and I notice that at the end of the parking lot there is a dirt road. There is no gate and no "x" symbols, so I start driving along it. This is a hidden passage, something added by the devs that don't show up on the map until you actually start driving on them. There is some pretty scenery...

...and then as I come around a corner I see this very rickety bridge ahead of me.

Uh oh. I can't turn around, so I have to cross the bridge... carefully.

I finally reached the end of the hidden passage, which turned to take me back quite a distance.

Eventually I reached Tulsa, home to, among other things, this:

GwenFank · Post by **GwenFank** » Wed Aug 23, 2023 3:39 am

Is there any way to spam this problem?

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:37 pm

Banning usually works.

TheMix · Post by **TheMix** » Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:47 pm

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 7:37 pm Banning usually works.

Well played, sir!

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Wed Aug 23, 2023 9:51 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 04, 2023 5:47 pm Picking up a lot of IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) tanks

Said IBC:

Now put root beer in it and its perfectly named.

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Sun Sep 03, 2023 2:45 am

it's like this studio knew that Alaska was waaaaaay down in the queue, so they jumped to do this:

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:44 am

hitbyambulance wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 2:45 am it's like this studio knew that Alaska was waaaaaay down in the queue, so they jumped to do this:

I must say their tagline of "Be a trucker, not a truck" has some appeal to it.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Sun Sep 03, 2023 1:46 pm

Brought to you from the same studio as American Motorcycle Simulator.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:30 pm

It apparently has some survival elements, as you can actually freeze to death. At least if it's the one I'm thinking about. They've had to change the name and their logo though as it was too close looking to American Truck Simulator (ie was called Alaskan Truck Simulator).

Punisher · Post by **Punisher** » Mon Sep 04, 2023 10:05 pm

I find ot hilarious that he thinks right of way matters to everyone in the real world.
I've been cut off while driving an ambulance...with lights and sirens on...

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Tue Sep 12, 2023 1:15 pm

So Oklahoma was just released and a while ago Kansas was announced as the next state. Today the devs announced the next state after that which will be... Arkansas?

I would have put (someone else's) good money that it would be Nebraska and then heading north from there. But Arkansas... which makes me think after that it will be Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf states.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Tue Sep 12, 2023 1:40 pm

jztemple2 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 1:15 pm So Oklahoma was just released and a while ago Kansas was announced as the next state. Today the devs announced the next state after that which will be... Arkansas?

I would have put (someone else's) good money that it would be Nebraska and then heading north from there. But Arkansas... which makes me think after that it will be Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf states.

You and me both... And any eastward drift - I thought would follow Route 66 to the east (end in Chicago) - and then maybe shoot for NY.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Tue Sep 12, 2023 5:42 pm

Eastbound and down...

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 6:54 pm

PC System Requirements Update

Our primary goal has always been to balance the quality of new content with the playability of our games on diverse hardware setups. Over the past decade, we've managed to maintain compatibility with a wide range of systems while consistently enhancing both visuals and gameplay. This commitment extends to our main titles, DLCs, and map rework projects.

We'd like to inform you that we're updating our recommended PC specs, particularly for GPU, CPU, and memory, while advocating for a shift from HDD to SSD to significantly enhance performance. The infographic below outlines these changes. We believe our revised requirements are both appropriate and timely for those considering system upgrades.

Remarkably, our hardware requirements have stayed largely consistent since 2012. However, with the advancements in our latest and upcoming content for both ETS2 and ATS, we believe it's time to update our system requirements. These updates clarify the hardware necessary for optimal performance, targeting a gameplay experience of 1080p at 30 FPS on medium to low settings. It is fair to admit that the hardware we previously suggested may no longer deliver this standard with our newer content and upcoming feature enhancements. The graphics card we originally recommended hasn't been available on the market for years, making it impractical as a reference, so updating the recommendations based on more recent hardware is warranted.

Our games will still run on older systems—we don't wish to disappoint our dedicated fans by making their existing hardware obsolete. However, the experience might not consistently meet our 30 FPS benchmark. If this is the case, we recommend adjusting and possibly further lowering the in-game quality settings to improve the framerate.

Technically, these system requirement changes will become relevant with the release of the upcoming 1.48.5 maintenance update. However, we wanted to provide this information now and explain the rationale, as we're about to start updating all game and DLC pages on the Steam store.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 8:28 pm

Those aren't exactly high requirements.

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:09 pm

That still edges me out. I've been meaning to upgrade and meant to a couple years back, but the shortage made it difficult. It's mostly the CPU (1st or 2nd Gen i5) and Ram at this point that bottleneck me.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 2:22 pm

The CPU is actually the minimum listed that is newest at a 2015 release (the Radeon is a few months newer, but it shares a space with the Nvidia card, which is 2012.)

Rumpy · Post by **Rumpy** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:09 pm

Mine is actually a bit older than that, so it's the absolute bare minimum at this point. I'm surprise how well it lets me run games at times, but at others I can really feel the bottleneck.

jztemple2 · Post by **jztemple2** » Mon Oct 16, 2023 3:45 pm

1.49 Update: PACCAR Technical Center

As you may know, every update brings excitement and new adventures for players of American Truck Simulator. With the upcoming 1.49 update, we are introducing an awesome addition that will allow players to delve into an unmarked area like never before. Hidden within the vast landscape of Washington, a realistic recreation of the PACCAR Technical Center awaits discovery!

For years, the PACCAR Technical Center has been the epicenter of innovation and development for renowned truck manufacturers, Kenworth and Peterbilt. This facility has been instrumental in testing trucks, powertrains, technologies, and more, and it's where the giants of the trucking industry push the boundaries of what's possible, creating the next generation of iconic trucks.

On our recent trips to the United States, we were fortunate to receive exclusive invitations from PACCAR to visit their Technical Center. While our primary purpose was to conduct sound recording sessions and 3D scanning of both legendary and new truck models, during our interactions with the team at PACCAR, a shared vision emerged. We realized that bringing the PACCAR Technical Center experience to ATS players would be a fantastic opportunity as we wanted to offer players the chance to explore this testing ground, just as we did. And so, with a shared passion for trucking, we set out to recreate this remarkable place in the ATS universe.

In the upcoming ATS 1.49 update, you will have the chance to experience the PACCAR Technical Center firsthand. This realistic 1:1 recreation will offer a glimpse into the world of truck development, and even though the area won't be readily visible on the in-game map and UI, it will be waiting for curious players to discover. But rest assured, intrepid truckers will quickly uncover this hidden treasure once the update lands on Steam.

While the entire area has plenty of interesting bits to explore, we’ve decided to add an extra layer of excitement, a small Easter egg will be parked within the PACCAR Technical Center itself. We challenge you to keep your eyes peeled and see if you can spot this surprise.

Baroquen · Post by **Baroquen** » Mon Oct 16, 2023 7:14 pm

And since I'll never end up playing and finding this place on the map, someone else (probably jztemple) will have to tell us what's the easter egg inside the PACCAR.