SCS Software's blog: kansas

Showing posts with label kansas. Show all posts

Monday, December 11, 2023

Kansas - Community Spotlight

After the recent launch of the Kansas DLC for American Truck Simulator, we've been overwhelmed with feedback pouring in from all corners. It's delightful to witness a multitude of screenshots and videos across different social media platforms, highlighting the journeys of the #BestCommunityEver, along with the valuable insights from content creators. We appreciate both the positive vibes and constructive criticism.

Today, we're happy to show you some of the feedback, starting with the cool screenshots and videos flooding our social media. The stories of our awesome #BestCommunityEver members driving through Kansas still amaze us, and we regularly share your posts with our team. Keep sharing those screenshots and videos by tagging us on X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok.

The Steam Page for Kansas is abuzz with positive energy, courtesy of the numerous glowing reviews it has garnered. A sincere thank you to everyone who took a moment to share a review or offer constructive feedback about Kansas! If you'd like to share your own review, feel free to do so on the Kansas Steam Store Page.

Our latest DLC has also managed to catch the eye of some official press coverage, for example, the GameScout portal which gave it a great review! If you're not sure about adding Kansas to your American Truck Simulator map, check out the full article.

We also contacted some of your favorite content creators who have been diligently capturing and live-streaming their trucking adventures in the latest map expansion. A heartfelt acknowledgment to these creators for generously sharing their perspectives and enabling us to convey them to our blog readers.

"Kansas! The long-awaited DLC arrived in my hands, and let me tell you that it was a pleasure to travel its routes, where the blue sky and the great plains covered with sunflower plantations accompanied us. Both agriculture and livestock are noticeable in every kilometer traveled and transmit that peace so characteristic of the countryside. This Kansas DLC is ideal to enjoy by getting into your truck, with your list of favorite songs, and enjoying everything it has to offer. Without a doubt, an experience that deserves to be lived or, rather, driven." - RamaSabeee.

"SCS Software has done it again. This time with Kansas, the Sunflower State. From the natural grasslands to historic towns like Dodge City, you will find plenty of roads and scenic settings to see. The quality and love that SCS Software puts into every mile brings this latest DLC to life. As a retired truck driver, I can truly appreciate the realism of a driving simulator that feels immersive and realistic. From all of us at TeamConvoy we wish you, the #BestCommunityEver, happy trucking," - TruckinCowboy.

"The Kansas DLC for American Truck Simulator is a true masterpiece. The developers have gone the extra mile to capture every aspect of this state in meticulous detail, creating unforgettable journeys through picturesque landscapes. The most impressive feature is the detailed representation of terrains, charming towns, and authentic vegetation. The quality of terrain execution, road textures, and details is remarkable, crafting a realistic environment. The DLC seamlessly integrates with the rest of the game, ensuring consistency and smooth gameplay. It's not just a new map; it's a full-fledged experience of traveling through Kansas, enriching the virtual journeys for every truck simulator enthusiast," - Seba3711.

"Kansas! What a pleasure it has been, from exploring the bustling cities to cruising on the open roads through prairie plains! This DLC is absolutely stunning and the details throughout really show the care and thought SCS has put into it. As someone who lives outside of the States, it has been fascinating to learn more about the Sunflower State and its industries - it really feels alive as you drive through. Keep your eyes peeled for the Yellow Brick Road, truckers!" - keeweewuh.

We are excited to have you hit the roads of Kansas! Keep sharing your adventures with us by using #CruisingKansas. Stay tuned for more updates by following our social media channels (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok). See you on the road!

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Under the Hood - Custom Depots

It's been a while since we last delved 'Under the Hood' to give you a more in-depth look into the work happening behind the scenes at our offices. Today, we're happy to share with you a deeper insight into Custom Depots! This is a work in progress project that had its first iteration featured in our recently released Kansas DLC for American Truck Simulator, which will continue to be developed for future updates and map expansions.

Whilst we are working on creating a new map DLC, members primarily from the asset teams create depots, a type of prefab that are built upon further to create the unique industries which we know and see in-game. Previously, these depots took quite a while to create, and often resulted in industries with similar layouts and cargo delivery spots.

However, with the creation of the Kansas DLC, the teams have created a new functioning 'Custom Depot'. This new change allows for our map team to have more customisation control over the depot's layout, both visually and gameplay wise. This brings a number of new options to the table which will ultimately allow for a more realistic and variable gameplay experience when it comes to delivering to and from these custom depots in-game.

Starting with Farming and Agriculture depots, this new technology allows us to make every crop farm in the Kansas DLC unique not only visually but also functionally. One of the team members working on this project is Veronika B, one of our Depot & Asset Producers. We spoke with her a little more to understand the work being carried out, and what it means for players.

"We try to add new depot sites with every map DLC" Veronika tells us. "Previously, creating depots was quite a complicated process. Each new depot had a cross-department "lifecycle" which started from research and went onwards to asset designers, then onto QA testing where it was then passed back to the map designers for implementation. We also receive help from Vehicles team (for new cargoes that usually complement new depots in DLCs), asset designers for in-game company branding or additional assets. Some depots can take a few months to create"

"In the case of Custom Depots, Map Designers are now able to create a majority of the depot with separate models and also add new company items on the prefab to be connected to our road system. The Map Designer becomes the main creator and can also decide where drivers should deliver their loads"

We spoke with one of our Map Designers, David F about the change, and how he found working on the new custom depots. "It is a pretty big challenge, but that's what makes this part of map designing even more attractive for me." David tells us. "As a Map Designer, you have to think about every possibility where players can go, as well as what they can see and do there. It also has to be enjoyable for the player to navigate and explore that place, so it's a pretty big responsibility for us."

"You can imagine this project in three phases. The first phase is carrying out research for every type of depot and their parts." David goes on to explain, "We find a huge amount of information on the depot. For example with farms, how they look, how they work, which cargos are involved and so on. This knowledge is necessary as it would not be possible for us to build it otherwise! So I want to give a big shout-out to our research team, they are doing a great job."

"The Second phase is about creating the layout of the depot, where we focus on parking spots, where players load and unload their cargo. When we are happy with the layout, we have our Q&A team check it, and to find any potential issues with that depot. In this phase we also discuss with the asset team about new models. The Third phase is about "making it nice", so we work hard to bring the depot to life with custom models and assets and prepare the depot for integration into the map."

"Luckily, our team is not alone in the task of creating these new custom depots. We are part of a big team with colleagues from multiple departments involved, which I am very happy about, because the passion of every member brings something new to this job which I love!"

"Until today, we had only one prefab before Texas DLC for grain elevators. The map designer would use it and create the surroundings as he wished, but the core of the site (depot itself) remained the same and was somewhat rigid." Veronika shares with us, "However in the Kansas DLC, players can discover 6 different grain elevators, a majority of which are based off of real life industry references from the actual city where they are found."

While this project is still in its first phase, Veronika tells us that in the future they hope to continue to further develop custom depots. "We already have plans to use a mix of rigid depots and custom ones for both ETS2 and ATS too" Veronika tells us. "I cannot share more, but we already have ideas in the works to support map designers with documentation, references, share feedback (from research, QA, asset teams that normally create rigid prefabs) and bring players more unique sites for hauling."

However, this new technique of creating custom depots does not mean all future depots will be created this way. Our teams carefully select which depots should be custom created, but rest assured, we have lots of ideas on how we can best utilize them. We are sure the community will have a lot to look forward to.

"I am very happy with the work of map designers, we know it hasn't been an easy task." Veronika shares with us. "I'd like to thank those from Research, QA, Programmers, Vehicles and Assets who helped us understand Farms and Grain Elevators, unload/load points, and to fill the scene with unique models, as well as using our new company items"

"I hope that players enjoy these depots in Kansas DLC. We look forward to hopefully bringing more of them in the near future, with some potentially exciting gameplay features in the works for other industries too! It's not an easy task to create them, but we look forward to the challenge"

We hope to bring you more news on the development of Custom Depots in the near future. You can check out the first iteration of these depots in the recently released Kansas DLC for American Truck Simulator. Let us know if you've delivered to one already!

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Kansas DLC Release

Get ready to rev up your engines and start an exciting journey as the Kansas DLC for American Truck Simulator is releasing today. Explore breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities in this latest expansion!

Kansas DLC for American Truck Simulator is released!

Start a big adventure with the Kansas map expansion. Take your time and enjoy every moment as you discover these features:

Deliver to 14 explorable cities including Kansas City, Wichita, or Topeka
See several landmarks unique to Kansas such as the historic Dodge City, Monument Rocks, and Mount Sunflower
Become a trucker transporting goods for Kansas' key industries - Salt Mine, Food Factory, Car Factory, Building Material Factory, and Battery Factory
Deliver cargo to Aerosystem, playing a key role in Wichita's aerospace industry
Visit Hutchinson and admire the world's largest silos
Play a crucial role in one of America's major agricultural states. Transport goods that sustain Kansas' farming legacy
Enjoy trucking through several scenic towns (settlements)
Drive through expansive prairies, providing unforgettable views

Transforming from its agricultural origins, Kansas has developed into a bustling industrial center, enticing major enterprises with its strategic placement and well-organized logistics.

Truckers can contribute to and experience a range of industries, spanning from the flourishing aviation domain, and agricultural depots to automobile manufacturing, the famed salt mine, and more.

The Kansas DLC is also a part of The Great Plains Calling! bundle on Steam. It's a convenient way to fill in the gaps in your DLC collection for American Truck Simulator. Dive into the diverse landscapes of Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and now Kansas - all part of the package we've crafted.

This bundle operates on a "Complete the set" basis, ensuring you only pay for the DLCs that are not already in your library!

Cruising Kansas Event

Starting with the release, there will be a special #CruisingKansas World of Trucks event, where you can earn unique rewards. We are asking our #BestCommunityEver to achieve the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargo to or from any city in Kansas. You can read more about this event in the dedicated blog post.

We also have a unique gift for you. If you take any External Contract or External Market job TO or FROM the city of Topeka, you'll earn the Tiger Salamander Plush, which can be used as a cabin accessory. Kansas is the home to salamanders so you should definitely consider inviting one to ride along with you during long journeys.

Farm Machinery DLC

Along with the Kansas DLC, we are also releasing the Farm Machinery DLC. This DLC presents a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the agricultural landscape, especially in the newly added Kansas, where agriculture takes center stage. Haul everything from tractors to spreaders with two in-game brands Owl & Greenler and don't forget to decorate your cabin with special accessories. Read more about this DLC in the dedicated blog post.

Special Transport DLC Update

With the Kansas expansion, you'll be able to haul special cargo on 6 new routes, of which 4 are located within the state, but two of them will be a bit more special, as they start in Pueblo (CO) and lead to either Marysville (707 miles) or Dodge City (313 miles). You will also be able to transport the newly added 39-meter-long (over 129 feet) wind turbine blade and a massive articulated hauler. Find out more about the update here.

Release Live Stream

Catch our special reveal stream on our official Twitch or Youtube channel at 4:00 PM CET. Get a sneak peek of what's coming up in Kansas, along with exclusive insights and chats with the developers!

We are excited to have you hit the roads of Kansas! Share your initial adventures with us by using #CruisingKansas. Stay tuned for more updates by following our social media channels (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok). And don't forget, the Sunflower State has surprises beyond the surface - your next fantastic journey might be just around the corner. See you on the road!

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

American Truck Simulator - Farm Machinery DLC

Rev up your virtual engines, because on November 30th, American Truck Simulator is introducing the Farm Machinery DLC alongside the release of the Kansas DLC. Get ready to swap highways for harvests as farming takes center stage in this exciting new update.

Navigate virtual landscapes while hauling everything from tractors to spreaders. With two in-game brands, Owl & Greenler, transport unique cargos and a range of trailers to agriculture industries across the states. And don't hit the road without decking out your cabin with themed accessories!

This DLC includes:

Cargo:

   Sprayer
   Crawler Tractor
   Forage Harvester
   Fertilizer Spreader
   Grain Trailer
   Autonomous Tractor
   Hay Baler
   Seeding Unit
   Disc Harrow

Cabin Accessories:

   Lunch Kit
   Scarecrow
   Straw Hat
   Plush Autonomous Tractor
   Harvester Toy

Get ready to transport a diverse array of essential farming equipment, including sprayers and crawlers from two in-game brands, Owl & Greenler. This DLC presents a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the agricultural landscape, especially in the newly added Kansas DLC, where agriculture takes center stage.

Experience the pulse of the heartland as you haul these vital tools, transforming your trucking adventure into a journey that echoes the rhythm of American farming - a connection between your cargo and the fertile fields it serves.

Oh, and don't forget to enhance your journey by adding a touch of charm to your cabin. Personalize your space with cabin accessories like the Lunch Kit, Scarecrow, Straw Hat, Plush Autonomous Tractor, and Harvester Toy, turning your truck into a rolling reflection of your unique style.

We hope this blog post has sparked enough excitement for you to explore the new farming cargo to haul! Stay tuned for more updates by following our social media channels (X/Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and you will never miss out on any important information. We’ll see you on the road!