American Truck Simulator

[BRISTOL86]

mp3manager said:

Tommo, I've only done one job as I'm waiting for the weekend when I'll have more time to play and more time to explore the mods available but it's essentially a reskin of ETS2 but I don't mind that. It does look good though and I hope that SCS will make the jump to DX11 in the future for a better looking game.

Bristol86 - specs for a Mac are below

MINIMUM:
OS: Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)
Processor: Dual core CPU 2.4 GHz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GTS 450-class (Intel HD 4000)
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space
RECOMMENDED:
OS: Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite)
Processor: Quad core CPU 3.0 GHz
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce GTX 760-class (Intel HD 5300)
Hard Drive: 3 GB available space

Edited by mp3manager on Thursday 4th February 14:10

Thanks for that, I have an AMD Radeon 6750M - do you think that'd be OK? Sorry I'm not too tech savvy and got burned before on an older laptop buying a game I couldn't run!! Actually just spotted the processor, mine is a 2.2Ghz i7 and it says minimum 2.4...

[FourWheelDrift]

It's also been moved to a 64bit OS for PC, remember that. 64bit Windows.

There is an unsupported 32bit version, but nothing much will happen with that.

[mikef]

Had a play with ATS earlier, I can see a few lost hours on the road...

On the plus side - deceptively simple and the local radio idea is brilliant

On the down side - I totally failed to reverse a truck with the keyboard; dug out an old Xbox-style games controller, much easier; graphics look like 10 years out of date, even on highest settings on a 4K monitor. And the roads really don't bear much relation to the real thing - I know most of these CA and NV routes, I last drove highway 1 from SF to Santa Cruz a few weeks back and this doesn't come close

[TommoAE86]

Finally managed to get this ported over, the mod is abit of a mess with various spellings of Argosy in the files! One day I'll go through and correct them all;

ats_00150 by Tom P, on Flickr

this is my current truck though and has been performing admirably

ats_00144 by Tom P, on Flickr

ats_00146 by Tom P, on Flickr

ats_00223 by Tom P, on Flickr

Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 12th April 13:32

[vbelous]

Norm game

[Pennyroyal Tea]

This looks ace!

Any chance it will come out on the PS4 etc?

[TommoAE86]

I've not seen anything about console release and it's all through Steam, final nail in the coffin is why would you want to? It would be hard to put mods onto the console without making a PS/Xbox store page for the modders, on the PC it's just easy.

The amount and depth of mods is quite staggering, I put a long post in the Euro truck one about the ones I use in that.
(link: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... )

Things are just starting in this one, the Freightliners seems to be coming on nicely with the FLB fully working and the 389 being done by the original modder. There is also the Kenworth K100, International Lonerstar and the Kenworth T800 out at the moment.

[mizx]

SCS's W900 is out as of a few hours ago.

I think I'd rather trade my 389 in for the Freightliner Classic mod, but it looks a decently detailed model from the outside (in the truck browser, haven't seen it in game yet), I haven't seen the mod W900s so not sure how it compares. The interior looks good too, but expecting texture rework mods fairly soon to sort out a few flat looking bits. Also needs some more customisation options comparing it to mods.

Edited by mizx on Monday 15th February 20:11

[TommoAE86]

Which Freightliner are you after? I've loaded Viper's 389 and I've got the Argosy and the FLB you can see above (more FLB below for fun) and much prefer them over the 389 due to their more European handling and amazing engine sounds and super power (gotta love odd_fellow for that).

I've done the W900 up in the dealer and not found it particularly interesting to take me away from my Freightliner's, it's also expensive! I've only driven the modded one in ETS2 and found it to be exactly the same as the 389 just with less tuning options so I quickly unloaded it, but if you find a properly working version let me know.

On the ETS2 thread update there is more info on the FLB and the Argosy if you wanted, they are just ported over to ATS from those ones.

If you want the Argosy I can send you over my fixed version but the dash isn't perfect yet (it works, just doesn't give the full display) as I need to buy it to figure out the errors!

ats_00230 by Tom P, on Flickr

ats_00248 by Tom P, on Flickr

edit, here's an interior shot of my FLB:

ats_00207 by Tom P, on Flickr

Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 12th April 13:35

[callmedave]

How would you guys say this compares to ETS2?
I'm about lvl 15 is it worth me starting from scratch on a new game that basically set in a different location?

[TommoAE86]

I'd say they both have their merits but I wouldn't pay any more than their current prices for either.

ETS2 is more developed and there is alot going on (in game and the modding) and the locations/road layout is much closer to real life so feels more realistic. It's also vast so you will have a big task to complete it any time soon.

ATS is more than just a re-skin as they've added in a good set of new things, the main ones being: selectable levels of delivery parking difficulty, roaming police (and penalties), turning right on red. Having said that it is quite small, I'm only level 12 and have got 93% road coverage and do not struggle with fuel money like I did at the beginning of ETS2.

If you're still enjoying ETS2 then maybe hold off on ATS and wait for a couple more update cycles to see what they introduce (Arizona is coming soon for example)? But it's up to you, if you do decide to stay on ETS2 then check out the thread on here as there are tons of mods to make it more interesting for you

Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 16th February 11:39

[callmedave]

Ok, there is a free demo available on Steam

I got that then configured my PS4 controller to work it - I love it! It 'looks' so much better, the controller helps with the control of the truck parking is easy, driving is nice and it works pretty smooth.

I think i will be getting the full version soon.

[mizx]

A few realism mods/skins I think are must-haves and work well:

AI and AI Truck packs
Petrol stations
Tyres, unwieldy as there's too many to choose from, and you'll need to set mod wheels afterwards, but most look better than the originals
Trailer company skins, better than the other one that's available
Plant/farm machinery

If you're using the SCS W900, Odd_fellow's engine/sound pack

callmedave said:

I got that then configured my PS4 controller to work it - I love it! It 'looks' so much better, the controller helps with the control of the truck parking is easy, driving is nice and it works pretty smooth.

I think i will be getting the full version soon.

I've started using my old DS3 after 2 years using keyboard, it does makes a massive difference having analog control doesn't it? Even better wireless too, it's even more relaxing to drive being able to sit back from the monitor, so I've been playing ATS/ETS2 far too much this week.

Tried out TruckersMP for the first time this week too, partly to join the streamer I watch. I don't like not having mods and the missing AI traffic isn't so great, but it's fun driving with other people despite the occasional warping and trailers flipping out etc.

Edited by mizx on Sunday 21st February 17:11

[callmedave]

Thanks, il check those mods out.

I played MP on ETS2 and yeah it was fun being part of a convoy, but a lot of waiting around, and gameplay is less smooth due to poor ping rates,

Until MP improves I prefer single player mode.

[TommoAE86]

Some pictures of the above

Petrol Stations;

ats_00392 by Tom P, on Flickr


Tyres - have you put in the ETS2 ones? They still work in ATS at the moment and I've combined them with DaStig's filled in writing to get the below: URL for the tyres http://forum.scssoft.com/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=...

ats_00325 by Tom P, on Flickr

ats_00329 by Tom P, on Flickr

Real trailer brands;
ats_00340 by Tom P, on Flickr

ats_00268 by Tom P, on Flickr

ats_00272 by Tom P, on Flickr

I also have a lighting mod which improves the flare from the lights, one of the top two here http://atsmods.lt/?s=Flare+pack

Before flare pack
ats_00312 by Tom P, on Flickr

After flare pack (updated with better pic)
ats_00384 by Tom P, on Flickr

Edited by TommoAE86 on Wednesday 24th February 09:02

Edited by TommoAE86 on Wednesday 24th February 09:03

Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 12th April 13:40

[escapereality]

Had this since it released, loving it so far My current truck is vipers 389 which with the Cummins N14 sounds brilliant, also used the Kenworth T880 as well, it makes an excellent starter truck although kind of feels like cheating as it's about half the price of the SCS trucks.

Been using the sound fix mod - http://atsmods.lt/sound-fixes-pack-v-12-4/ and now about to load up the trailers pack, flare pack and real tires as posted above - Thanks for pointing out the best ones tommo, I was slightly overwhelmed with how many different ones there are!

[TommoAE86]

No worries, to put them on your trucks you'll need to select a standard SCS wheel, choose the tyre then put on your truck's wheel. For example those white wheels on my 389 are from the T800.

I forgot to put the download for the white goodyear text if you want it, 3 options to choose from http://forum.scssoft.com/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=...

Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 23 February 01:07

[callmedave]

My Demo expired, so purchased full version and got some of those mods listed, wont get time to play until the weekend

[TommoAE86]

Good choice, make sure you get Viper2's Peterbilt 389 mod, the current version 1.12 is amazing and it's on the SCS forums so no messing around with sites full of pop ups

ats_00389 by Tom P, on Flickr

Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 12th April 13:40

[mizx]

TommoAE86 said:

Good choice, make sure you get Viper2's Peterbilt 389 mod, the current version 1.12 is amazing and it's on the SCS forums so no messing around with sites full of pop ups

May have to change it though or do something about the mirrors, I don't think the small wide mirrors are helping. I'm wondering what else I can do to improve the impact of the mirror reflections, as they seem to be hammering my GTX 660 when in cab.

I've occasionally noticed what I'm guessing is frame drop in ETS2, but I'm seeing it more often in ATS; when travelling along suddenly everything seems to marginally slow and speed back up in repeated waves, and regardless of the current fps there's no apparent blips. I finally got round to looking into why it might be happening in more detail, and set up an OSD with stats from HWiNFO via the RivaTuner OSD server.

In cab, for the most part the GPU core load is pinned at 99%, memory controller load ~50% and bus load 20-30%. In low traffic particularly at night, it will run at at 55fps or so, but will still demonstrate the frame drop. Turning off the right hand mirror overlay saves a few frames, but makes no noticable difference to the slowdowns.

In 3rd person though... the core load might hit 99% momentarily but it tends to sit around 84-90%, it runs solid 60fps out of town and I've not noticed any framedrop. CPU is barely touched in SCS games in my experience, though here the peak indivdual core utilisation drops 5-10%.

I have a non-overclocked 4690k and running at 1920x1200, and Geforce drivers are up to date. In game I have MLAA off (it isn't very good imho, I inject 2x SGSSAA with 100x scaling in ETS2, and it runs Ok mostly) and 200x scaling, which I've stuck with for ATS as I'm happy with how the game looks and less distracting fence etc. flickering compared to ETS2. Also colour correction is off, Mirror quality and res are low but distance high.

I guess there's not really a lot I can do, short of getting that 970 when the prices come down. I'll see if it's the same with the SCS trucks.

Edited by mizx on Saturday 27th February 00:36