From all of us here at SCS Software, we want to wish you all a very happy Easter!
For those who celebrate it, Easter is an important holiday observed by millions around the world. It is also a time when many come together with family and friends to spend quality time together. A popular Easter-themed activity that many take part in is an Easter Egg hunt. For those who are unfamiliar with this game, eggs which are usually painted colorfully are hidden around an area for those participating to find, each of which contains a sweet treat for the finder to enjoy!
This year, for a limited time, we are egg-cited to announce our very own Easter Egg hunt, with a twist! Instead of a sweet treat as a reward, these eggs will contain some clues regarding future content coming to Euro Truck Simulator 2.
So where can you find these eggs and how many will there be? To save you from driving for hours in ETS2 or ATS, we will specify that these eggs will be hidden around various SCS Software related websites & social media pages. We will leave the rest of the hunting to you!
We urge you to get hunting quickly, as they will only be around for a short time; We hope you have fun and good luck!
Montana - 18 Wheels of Steel Legacy
It's time to take a trip down memory lane! Back in August of 2002, we developed the simulator title "18 Wheels of Steel". Many of our trucking veterans may even remember playing this game when it first released. One of the locations you could go trucking to in one of the sequels (Extreme Trucker 2) was the U.S state of Montana, which happens to be also one of the current map expansions we are working on for American Truck Simulator. With this sort of history, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to revisit some of these iconic areas in our upcoming DLC.
One such location is Thompson Falls, a quiet city in Montana, best known for its charming downtown, natural beauty and its waterfalls! However, as many of our veteran truckers might remember, this location is also known for its logging and sawmill industries, both which were featured in 18 Wheels of Steel; and both which will still continue to operate virtually to this day in our upcoming Montana DLC.
Our map team has recreated Thompson Falls and its industries using similar and reworked assets from the original game. From the street lamps to very road network layout itself, this area has been preserved as a little piece of simulator history.
Our teams have also hidden quite a few 18 Wheels of Steel easter eggs around the map, so we really hope you will take the time to explore and discover them for yourself.
No matter if you're visiting for the first time, or taking a trip down memory lane, we hope you will enjoy visiting some of these special areas which we hold close to our heart. Let us know in the comments if you remember truckin' to Thompson Falls or any of the surrounding areas!
We are always trying to improve every aspect of our games and sometimes this progress paves the way for brand new realistic features that will solve any potential issues. One such addition is coming in the 1.44 update for both American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2. Adjustable Suspension Height is on the horizon!
The process of creating models for our games is constantly improving, as nowadays we are receiving extremely detailed reference materials (sometimes CAD files directly), and with it comes the need to make sure that the combinations of trucks/chassis/trailers will all work together without any problems such as visual glitches. That is why we have decided to introduce this new feature which is based on real-life suspension systems, which are important for keeping the vehicle stable and safe. This will solve any difficulties with attaching trailers in our games by allowing the players to adjust the height with a special key.
Please mind that this feature is a realistic addition that the players do not have to necessarily have turned on. However, if you will want to give it a try and start using this new system, make sure to assign the hotkey in the bindings settings, as by default the option will be unassigned.
We hope that many of you will rise up to the challenge and give the Adjustable Suspension Height feature a try. This change that is coming with the 1.44 update represents another step toward our games being much more realistic and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts about it on our forum or social media, where you can tag our profiles and tell us what you think (Twitter,Instagram, Facebook).
California Rework - Napa Valley
California reigns as the state of viticulture, producing nearly 90% of all fermented grape juice made in the United States; and the Napa Valley is just one area which is home to many vineyards which produces the fruit needed. Today, we are giving you a look at this famous location which has been reworked in our on-going California rework project for American Truck Simulator.
The growing of grapes and other fruit is a multi-million dollar industry that never stops. All year round, farmers are hard at work, picking fruit, planting new trees and cultivating the land to grow it on. With so much produce, equipment and more needed for these farms, it is no surprise that truckers play a vital part in this area.
The team behind the California rework project have used every inch possible within our map to give this area a complete overhaul. Drivers will be sure to notice a noticeable difference when compared with its current in-game representation. From the winding roads passing between vineyards, to the beautiful nature that surrounds the entire area, drivers will have plenty to explore.
Truckers will also be able to discover an updated vineyard industry, which features a brand new depot and in-game company, Mon Couer, the newest viticulture company in town. You can expect to deliver essential equipment and of course plenty of fruit when taking job contracts in this area.
So what do you think of the Napa Valley? We personally think its grape! We look forward for you exploring this area for yourself, until then however, be sure to to go back and read some of our previous updates from the state, in which we have covered so many upcoming reworked areas here.
Montana - Agriculture
Montana enjoys a rich agricultural heritage. Ranching and farming has always been an important part of the State's economy, with livestock and crop production contributing close to two billion dollars to Montana's economy every year! So as you can imagine, truckers play a very important part in this industry.
Whilst the state produces a wide variety of plants and grains, there is one unique crop which players in our upcoming Montana DLC for American Truck Simulator will be able to help deliver. So what's so sweet about farming in this state? Sugar! From the morning teaspoon in your tea to the tasty dusting on top of cakes and cookies, Montana is known for growing Sugar Beet, which is a great alternative to sugarcane; which requires a more tropical climate.
After the roots have grown, stored and deemed ready for processing, they are then transported to a major sugar processing plant, one which players will also be able to deliver to. These processing plants produce about 260 million pounds of sugar and 120,000 tons of agriproducts each season. The end result is then sent across the country, for us to enjoy!
Grain elevators will be another location where drivers can make deliveries. These important storage facilities can store thousands of tons of grain at any one time, which are then further distributed across the country using trains or trucks.
Sugar and grains are not the only farms which drivers in Montana can deliver to. Truckers can expect to discover a wide variety of farms across the state.
So next time you have something sweet on your plate, just think, it could of came from Montana! We look forward to sharing more of Montana with you in the near future. Be sure to check out the official Steam store page and if you wish to support us, be sure to add Montana to your Steam Wishlist.
Located in Shasta County, California, the city of Redding is best known for its numerous attractions, landmarks, industries and world-renown outdoor surroundings. Founded in 1844 by European settlers, it has a rich history of culture and was even a major hub for mining during the gold rush. But this city still has plenty of gems remaining, especially when it comes to our California rework project for American Truck Simulator.
Redding is one of the largest cities that has been reworked in phase 2 of this project. It has been given a completely redesign to reflect a more accurate reality of its real life counterpart. One of the biggest changes you'll notice is how the city now features zoning. Each part of Redding is now divided into different areas which include, a shopping zone, industry zone and a downtown zone.
Speaking of Industries, we have boosted the local economy to feature several new industries. Drivers can also enjoy a new truck stop as-well several new landmarks including the local airport! The entirety of this area has been modernized by our rework team, doesn't it look great!
There will be plenty for drivers to explore and discover, from an overhauled surrounding road network, to smaller details which our team has created. We hope you'll choose Redding to be your choice of destination to make plenty of "Green dings" when out on a job!
We look forward to sharing more from our California Rework project in the future. Until then however, be sure to go back and read some of our previous updates from the state, in which we have covered so many upcoming reworked areas here.
The International® 9900i has arrived!
Introducing the International® 9900i, an American highway icon best known for its distinctive classic long-nose styling and performance. Today, we are excited to announce its arrival in American Truck Simulator! Available to purchase from your local in-game dealership, the International® 9900i comes with numerous customisation options.
[previewyoutube="OfseC0UuD_4;full"] Built with all your needs in mind, this truck delivers on both style and performance. It begins under the hood with the high horsepower Cummins ISX, providing the brute power needed to haul the heaviest of loads with fuel economy that your bottom line will appreciate.
And comfort will never be an issue with features like the iconic Eagle interior, extra-wide bunk, and easy-to-read gauges and switches. Whether you're barreling down the highway or polishing up the chrome, one thing's for certain - the International® 9900i will make heads turn.
Its virtual implementation in American Truck Simulator includes an array of configurations including classic day cabins, sleeper options, air filters configurations, exhaust options, interior cab options and a variety of exterior and interior accessories.
The International® 9900i arrives as a free DLC add-on for every owner of American Truck Simulator. Find the latest update on your Steam Client (which may require a restart for some users) to receive this new addition to your library.
For those who were unable to make it our live-stream today with Nemiro, Oscar & Alex; where we revealed this new and exciting addition, you can re-watch it again on our Twitch channel or a little bit later on our YouTube channel. Be sure to share your first journey on the virtual roads with International® Trucks (Twitter, Instagram) and us (Twitter, Instagram) using the hashtag #9900i. We can't wait for you take a drive of for yourself.
International® and all International Truck trademarks are trademarks licensed by INTERNATIONAL TRUCK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY, LLC
Sound Recording Trip
It feels like it has been a while since a team from SCS has set out on the road with the purpose of pursuing greater technical improvements for our games and chatting a bit with real truckers in person. That is, however, about to change in April, because some of our developers will journey to Toronto, Canada!
As already hinted by the paragraph above, there are two primary reasons for this trip. First of all, our team will be part of the Daimler Truck North America's Western Star booth at the Truck World Canada expo, which will feature one of our motion seats that we have sent over the ocean to the US a few days ago. Therefore we encourage anyone who would like to meet with us to come check out the motion seat, or simply pay us a visit to say hi to us and the Western Star crew. We'll be more than happy to meet with you at this event!
Secondly, we've been in touch with some amazing guys from the #BestCommunityEver who are also professional truck drivers in Canada, and they are very gracious and generous to allow us to spend a few days with them, so we can do some sound recording sessions with their mighty trucks. We are extremely grateful to all of those who agreed to this and we can't wait to meet you all in person!
We'd also like to mention that if there are more truckers who will be driving around Toronto between the 18th and 25th of April and who would love to meet with us or let us use their trucks to record accurate engine sounds for American Truck Simulator, then feel free to get in touch with us in any way possible. You can send an email to nemiro[at]scssoft[dot]com, or message us either on Instagram or Twitter. Just please keep in mind that we can't guarantee meeting with every single one of you due to our schedule already being almost 100% full, but it's always nice to have some sort of a backup in case things will not go as planned.
We are incredibly eager to take this opportunity since it always brings us joy to be able to advance the technical aspects of our games and meet members of the #BestCommunityEver at the same time. We hope we will manage to chat with as many of you as possible and, at the same time, ensure that we will do the sounds of trucks justice once we will bring them to ATS.
Montana - Cities and Settlements #1
Are you ready to explore the Treasure State? From majestic mountains to crystal clear lakes, Montana will take your breath away with its unspoiled, natural beauty. While deer, antelope and elk outnumber people here, truckers will discover plenty of gems whilst delivering to the many cities & settlements located across the State. Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Bozeman
Nicknamed "Boz Angeles", the city of Bozeman has become a popular moving destination for people from California, thus earning it the nickname, and its easy to see why! Locals and tourists alike can enjoy a range of outdoor activities including winter sports, hiking, fishing and more, all on their doorstep. This mountain town is anything but sleepy, and drivers will be sure to enjoy the range of local industries they can deliver to and from.
Kalispell
Another city you can find in our upcoming DLC is Kalispell, which sits among towering mountain ranges in a valley filled with crystal clear lakes. It is also the gateway to the Glacier National Park, which ranks with Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon among the United States' most astounding natural wonders. This city has a rich history of native tribes, who still live in the reservation area to this day.
Laurel
The city of Laurel, is truly the 'Hub of Montana'. From here, all roads lead to the exciting, historical and recreational attractions of Montana; including an entrance to the world famous Yellowstone National Park. Drivers will also be able to deliver to and from the large refinery, among other smaller industries that are located there.
Sidney
Known as Montana's 'Sunrise City' Sidney lies not far from North Dakota border along the Yellowstone River. It is also the centre of trade for the area. This city features a range of industries, but one unique local product drivers can help deliver is sugar; how sweet is that! So no matter your reason for visiting, we are sure Sidney will offer something for everyone.
The cities of Glasgow and Havre will also be featured in the Montana DLC, both which are located along the US-2 in an area rich for its agriculture industries, especially when it comes to grain. Help load up and deliver products from the towering grain elevators.
We'd love to go into detail about every city & settlement that you will be able to discover in Montana, but we think it will be best to leave the exploring to you. We look forward to sharing more development updates in the future. Can't wait to visit? Be sure to add Montana to your Steam Wishlist!
Howdy, truckers! We have some interesting news for those who fancy hauling heavy loads in the American Truck Simulator. In addition to the hidden roads feature mentioned on our blog a couple of weeks ago, in the 1.44 update, you can look forward to a brand new ownable trailer type as well the drop deck trailer!
What makes this trailer special is the fact that it has a lower center of gravity, and it combines the advantages of flatbed and lowboy, which results in a flat surface and a high weight-bearing capacity. It is perfect for hauling items and materials such as aircraft engines, backhoe loaders, forklifts, hay, lumber, metal coils, mooring buoys, pressure tanks, road rollers, and ventilation shafts. Also, because drop decks are low, we had to design new small tires, rims, nuts, and hubs, specifically for this trailer type.
In addition to having 3 customizable body types (wood floor, aluminum floor, sliding tarp) and 2 different chassis lengths (48ft or 53ft) with a choice of two, three, or four axles, here is a detailed list of everything you will be able to customize:
Let us know if you are looking forward to this sturdy, reliable, and practical trailer type coming with the 1.44 update for American Truck Simulator. Once you will head out on the road, make sure to take a screenshot with your new drop deck trailer and share it with us on social media by tagging our official accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
