Euro Truck Simulator 2

[jomni]

It does fine you for speeding - but not at all often. I have been penalised once though. There must be a bug there - because the mechanism is there - it's just not seemingly fired very often.

Not only is ETS2 parking requirements standard, they also seem to be very lenient! I was actually wondering why I was able to park so lazily as I recalled having to park within a very strict area before - but that must've been when I tried Scania Truck.

In Scania Truck - are the roads more in keeping with real life then? Are the built up areas bigger? Strangely enough after 10 hours of driving, I haven't got bored of the roads...I know what you mean, but it hasn't hit me yet. I do wish there were bigger built up areas.

Maybe it simulates the presence / absence of the Police.

Scania world is fictional.  You get more detailed city streets and small towns.  In ETS2, you find yourself driving along highways most of the time.

In a nutshell, Scania is more challenging in the driving aspect. But lacks in the role playing / career aspect.  In ETS2, your career is the highlight.

[JudgeDredd]

Which do you prefer Jomni? when you want to do a bit of driving, as you own both, which one gets the nod more often?

[JudgeDredd]

I see it's made by the same people or is it just published by the same people?

If it's made by the same people, it seems weird that they would make a turck simulation (Scania) and water that down whilst adding a career?

[JudgeDredd]

Actually - it is the same dev - it's written all over the screens. Strange then that they took some "realism" out?

[jomni]

Realism?  The driving part is the same with both games in terms of realism.  I think they made Scania more challenging because it does not have a career mode to go by.
ETS2 adds more realism in the driving part as there is now fuel management and driver fatigue.

I perefer ETS2 since it's real world with career. :)   I wouldn't recommend Scania to anyone now that ETS2 is out.  Well maybe if you'd like to practice parking at odd places. :)

It is made by the same studio.  Scania is more like a preview of ETS2 game engine and is a close-ended game.  ETS2 is promising if the DLCs actually materialize.

[JudgeDredd]

Bad use of realism there - by removing realism I was referring to the lack of fines, easy parking...also I didn't know at the time that it was the same studio.

I'm having a blast with ETS2 - so I'll stick with it...I would like a bit more of a challenge though (again - speeding, more difficult and strict parking, bigger built up areas).

Thanks for your thoughts on them both.

[jomni]

Some screens.

1. Cliffs of Dover.  You can't miss this landmark.  I'm actually based in Belgium delivering some stuff to England.  My steering wheel is on the wrong side. :)


2.  Refueling.  The game simulates fuel usage.


3.  Pimped out ride!  Truck customization is a blast.  But it's a money sucker.    I'm driving a Volvo.  The game calls it Valiant because they don't have the license.  Official brands in the game are Scania, Renault, and MAN.  Other brands are clones of real-world counterparts (Valiant = Volvo, Majestic = Mercedes Benz, DAV = DAK, Ivedo = Iveco).  Notice the "HAUL-IN-1" plate?  That's my company name which is the same as my Air Hauler company in FSX.  It sports the same color scheme (white with blue accents).


4.  Boeing 747 landing in the background during my drive to Amsterdam.  The highway (I think it's Schiphol Tunnel?) goes underneath the airport.  Nice little detail.

[JudgeDredd]

Here's an annoying thing - and I see it alot and sometimes it's ends with an accident and a fine....inconsistency in standard road signs.

On approach - it shows two lanes going straight on witha slip road coming off the right hand lane...


And bingo - the right hand lane doesn't have a slip road coming off it - it IS the slip road

This often results in having to make a quick move to the left - and sometimes ends up with you hitting something


Here is it being represented correctly in game
Again - the same sign, showing two lanes going straight ahead with a slip road coming off the right hand one...


And here it is at the junction - done correctly


So - whilst I've been banging it's praises - it's not all perfect

[JudgeDredd]

By the way - I've been fined 3 times for speeding in the last two jobs - all 3 in the UK. There was a warning for a speed camera - I ignored it, there was a 50mph sign - I ignored it and went speeding past the camera a short while after - £550 each time!

But it seems to only ever happen if there's a speed camera about - if you're in a built up area - fill yer boots and put the pedal to the metal.

[son_of_montfort]

Yeah, I think most speeding violations go along with speed cameras. But I don't know what the speed limit is on most European roads, so I usually just hit the gas until I get to 100 or so, because after that the truck begins to be hard to control.

I think I have identified something that makes this fun for me. In essence, ET2 is like the X3 series, but on land and in a truck. I always played X3 as a merchant, so most of the time I was shuttling around in space, avoiding dangers and dropping off cargo. ET2 is the same thing, but without the annoying aspect of having to fly back to home base. You can even hire AI drivers and have a garage like the space stations and AI traders in X3. Also, there is an economic management aspect that is like Port Royale and Patrician, both games I love - only here you have something more to do than just stare at the spreadsheet - you can drive the truck.

Which brings me to an interesting point... man... and updated game where you have a ship to sail cargo from port to port, while being able to be the head of a shipping company and hire AI boats would be so much fun! Like a mix between Pirates!, Port Royale, and Ship Simulator!

[jomni]

Lol!  I was cursing British speed limits until I figured out that they are in miles as opposed to kilometers (in continental Europe).  ;D

[republic]

I've only just discovered this game!  It is surprisingly good.  I can't help but think how amazing it would be to have an Airline simulation using these same mechanics.

[jomni]

Republic,

That would be FSX + Air Hauler.

[JudgeDredd]

Or FSX and FSX Passengers http://www.fspassengers.com/

Both fantastic add ons for FSX.

If you were only buying one - it would be Air Hauler though - http://www.justflight.com/product/air-hauler-boxed. Totally tranforms a pretty dull simulation.

[republic]

How does Airhauler work with addon aircraft?  Do you set the prices and things yourself?