Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Michelin Fan Pack DLC Update

In 2017, we introduced a set of truck tyres and truck accessories, officially licensed from Michelin for Euro Truck Simulator 2. Michelin is one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world and we are proud to be able to work with Michelin to bring recognizable real-world content to ETS2.

Today we are happy to share with you that the Michelin Fan Pack DLC has received a free update in version 1.43 (currently in open beta), which includes an addition much requested by the community - official Michelin tyres are now also applicable to trailers. So what will owners of the Michelin Fan Pack find in this update? 

If that list hasn't got you excited, here is a showcase of shots of the new content in action on the roads of Euro Truck Simulator 2! 

But this isn't the end, as our team is further revisiting the older content of the Michelin Fan Pack as well as creating new additions too! Keep an eye on our social media channels as we will be announcing these additions when they are ready to join the rest of the new content coming with the 1.43 update. 

We can't wait to see what further customizations you will make to your truck and trailer with Michelin Tyres! Be sure to share your images with us on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!) 

Monday, November 15, 2021

Czech & Slovak Games Week 2021

Last year, SCS Software participated in the Czech & Slovak Games Week, a sale on Steam with around 160 games celebrating Czech and Slovak games. It was a tremendous success so the event is happening again, but it's getting bigger and better!

Our role in the genesis of this special week for the Czech and Slovak games industry has been substantial. A tiny team here at SCS has been the catalyst and the organizing element for coordinating so many interests of so many companies scattered around our countries. To this day the coordination, communication, and Steam page design including all the graphics is up to us to handle.

Games Week isn't a simple Steam sale anymore, it's shaping up as a fully-fledged event spanning multiple platforms and multiple related events happening throughout the week, inspired by gamesweekberlin or Melbourne International Games Week.

We already mentioned the event had been a huge success the previous year. And just how much of a success had it been? You can take a look at how Charles Games was doing with its serious indie game Attentat 1942 during last year’s Games Week. Here's the backstory about last year's event, which was centered around the Czechoslovak Independence Day.

November 17 marks the anniversary of the 1989's Czechoslovak Velvet Revolution so we have decided to focus the Games Week around this date. So, what's going to happen during the Games Week?

Game discounts

261 games from 116 game developers are taking a part in the sale, most of these games are discounted. Sales are available on Steam, GOG, itch.io, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android and Huawei AppGallery. Plenty of platforms to play Czech and Slovak games on!

The best game from the CZ/SK game jam

This year, the game development program at the Charles University and the Game Developers Session conference are joining forces with the Game Days Košice conference and Bratislava Game Jam to create CZ/SK Game Jam Week 2021. There's a common opening ceremony, a keynote speaker and even some diplomas! On Monday, November 15 at 18:00 UTC, a panel of Czech and Slovak judges will be choosing the best game of CZ/SK Game Jam Week 2021!

You can play the games here: Czech GDS Jam, Slovak Bratislava Game Jam.

Czech Game of the Year nominations

2020 was a year when some really great Czech games were released. To name a few: Mafia: Definitive Edition, Creaks, Someday You'll Return, Jets'n'Guns 2, or Ministry of Broadcast. Which games will get nominated for the prestigious Czech Game of the Year award? You can find out on Tuesday, November 16 at 18:00 UTC.

Games Week Direct

Inspired by the Nintendo Direct, the Games Week Direct will showcase upcoming games with exclusive trailers, updates for already released games, and more. Tune in on Wednesday, November 17 at 18:00 UTC to watch this show and make sure to not miss some news from us, too. ;)

Game Developers Session

The annual GDS conference, which started in 2003 and is the oldest game developers conference in Europe, is happening on November 19-20. The tickets are "pay what you want", so make sure to check out the Game Developers Session website, grab a ticket and watch talks by David Gilbert, Kate Edwards, Don Daglow, and many more speakers.

 Now, go play some Czech & Slovak games on Steam and on other platforms!

Friday, November 12, 2021

Euro Truck Simulator 2: 1.43 Update Open Beta

It has only been a short time since we last released an update for our truck simulator titles, however we are happy to share with you that a new testing cycle for the Open Beta branch for Euro Truck Simulator 2 has started.

This first iteration of the Open Beta only has a few of the handful of updates we wanted to bring with 1.43. Because of busy production schedule before Christmas, quite a few of the other features and/or updates did not make it in time for this first release. However, we plan on bringing these later on during the Open Beta. We will be sure to let you know when they do arrive. 

Please keep in mind that this Open Beta is a work-in-progress build. If you plan on participating in this Open Beta, you can contribute by reporting any bugs you may encounter in the appropriate section(s) of our official forums. Your feedback and reports are extremely valuable for our team and we thank you in advance for taking the time to help us out.

So, without further ado, let's take a look at what the first iteration of the 1.43 Open Beta has in store!

Lyon Reskin

As previously mentioned in a dedicated blog, we are happy to share with you one of our latest reskin projects in Euro Truck Simulator 2. The city of Lyon in France will be receiving a major reskin, giving it a fresh and up-to-date look. So what exactly has been changed? Let's take a closer look! 




As you can see from these comparison shots, a lot has changed! In fact, a majority of the city layout has been reworked to make it more realistic and true to life. We have now also updated these areas to include the routes that truckers actually use to enter and exit Lyon and its surrounding industrial areas. We have also added 3 new Landmarks significant to the city. 

Many of the older vegetation models such as trees and wildflowers have been replaced with newer ones, which gives the city a completely new look in terms of natural beauty. Road signs and roads, in general, have also been updated with more accurate, realistic, and detailed textures. While many of the major changes are quite obvious, we will leave it up to you to explore Lyon for yourself to spot them all! 

You can read the full dedicated blog on the Lyon Reskin here.

Tollgate Updates

Tollgates will also be receiving a revisit in this update. Our teams have revisited a majority of the tolls throughout Euro Truck Simulator 2 to update and apply fixes to speed limits, road signage and other minor adjustments. While this isn't a complete overhaul or redesign, we hope that this update (and future ones too) will bring a smoother experience when passing through the many tollgates that can be found across Europe. 

Unfortunately, we didn't make it round to all of the tollgates in time for this Open Beta, so expect this update to be continued in future game versions too. 

Viewpoints

As previously announced in a blogpost, we are happy to share that viewpoints arriving in Euro Truck Simulator 2! There will be a total 35 new viewpoints added across already released ETS2 locations in this update. 

From cities and ports to industrial areas, there will be a lot of reasons to revisit some of the older locations and see them from a different perspective. If you’d like to know a couple of more precise examples, you will be able to find new viewpoints focused on landmarks such as Cernavodă Bridge or Viaduct Poiana Teiului. 

We can’t wait for you to take a look at these new additions to the ever-expanding world of ETS2. Once the 1.43 update will be available, you can let us know which of these viewpoints you prefer the most by tagging our social media accounts on either Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and be sure to attach a beautiful screenshot or a clip! 

You can read the full dedicated blog on the viewpoint addition to ETS2 here

New Iberia Roads

From the scorching temperatures of the Tabernas Desert to the bustling city of Madrid, Iberia has been a popular destination for truckers since its release in April. Based on feedback from our community since its launch, our map team thought it'd be good to revisit the map expansion and bring some new additional content. 

1.43 for ETS2 brings new country roads alongside the many highways of Iberia for you to use and explore. So where will be these new roads located? The first new addition can be found north of Madrid, linking together the A-1 and A-2 highways. The second new road can be found in the south of Portugal, starting near the city of Sines, passing by the city of Beja and ending in Spain, just above Seville.

When we first wrote about these new additions, one road was not yet finished, so we were unable to share it with you; however, it is now ready for the Open Beta! We are happy to share that a small stretch of the A-52 connecting Vigo and Leon has now been completed and is ready for you to travel on. Be sure to take a drive and take in the beautiful views of the local region.

These new roads will not only provide truckers with alternative routes whilst out on delivery, but also more beautiful scenery and areas to explore in Iberia! We hope you'll enjoy this new and free additional content that is coming to the Iberia expansion! 

You can read more about the addition of these new roads here.

New Special Transport Routes

We are happy to announce that the small team responsible for the Special Transport DLC has found the time to bring new routes across previously released map expansions in Euro Truck Simulator 2.

All in all, there will be an addition of 8 new Special Transport routes and each will feature multiple missions. The new routes are: 

Daugavpils to Rezekne
Soria to Teruel
Galati to Iasi
Cagliari to Sassari
Gothenburg to Helsinborg
Brest to Rennes
Bremen to Travemunde
Warszawa to Katowice

These unique missions will be without a doubt a real challenge, so be sure you are ready to take on one of these large loads as they require maximum focus and skill! You can read more about these new Special Transport routes here.

Ownable Dumpers

We are happy to announce that Dumpers Trailers are now ownable and fully customizable! These trailers are used for transporting bulk materials and depending on their length are best suitable for different cargos. 

In Euro Truck Simulator 2, Dumper Trailers will have 2 customizable body types. These are aluminium and steel. Both of them are available in two different lengths (9m or 10m) and with 2 or 3 axles. Short dumpers are best for 'heavy cargoes' such as soil gravel, sand. Long dumpers are best for light cargoes such as barley, wheat, wood bark and metal scrap.

Want to customize your Dumper Trailer? You will be able to add and modify some of the accessories on them including, markers, rear bumpers, front and rear mudflaps, front and rear fenders and paintjobs.

We can't wait to see these you hauling these new Dumper Trailers in your company and how you will customize them! Be sure to share with us your photos of your newly owned trailers on our Social Media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

Interior Cabin Sound Update

In this update we have also implemented a new sound effect which simulates sound attenuation from surrounding environment noises, as well as the sound of the truck engine and wheels. Since each truck has a different sound insulation, our sound team has simulated this with the use of sound equalization and reverb effects. 

Put simply, interior truck cab sounds have been updated to better simulate how engine, wheel and other exterior sounds are dampened when driving from a first person view.

This is just the first iteration of this update, as in the future we plan to bring more accurate attenuation simulation by the size of the truck cab. This update has been applied to all trucks in both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.

New SDF Fonts

Another new feature coming along with 1.43 is the use of SDF (Signed Distance Fields) fonts in-game. So how exactly does this affect the game? This font technique allows texts and fonts to be displayed perfectly in any resolution, scale, or from any distance. 

Instead of fonts being displayed like a picture, which can become distorted when on a smaller resolution or zoomed in on from a far distance, SDF fonts can be adjusted to any size and remain perfectly clear and sharp for the user. 

In the first iteration of this update, we are bringing this new font technique to the game's UI. This also in turn improves the clarity and resolution of the Convoy name tags, GPS, License Plates, and Truck Dashboards. We hope you can clearly see the difference when you see them.

Changelog:

Map:

  • Lyon City Reskin
  • Viewpoints Addition
  • Tollgate Update
  • New Special Transport Routes
  • New Iberia Roads
  • General Bugfixes
Vehicles: 
  • Ownable Dumper Trailers

Other:

  • Implemented Sound Attenuation  
  • MSDF Font Implementation

So enjoy all the new additions, but please remember: It's only an open beta, not a stable public version - so you may encounter bugs, instability, or crashes. It's completely okay if you want to wait for the final release. But if you're interested in helping us to get there faster, we'll appreciate all of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in this section.

Please check our modding wiki to get details pertaining to mods for the game.

If you wish to participate in the open beta, you can find this version in the public_beta branch on Steam. The way to access it is as follows: Steam client → LIBRARY → right-click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 → Properties → Betas tab → public_beta → 1.43. No password required. Somtimes you have to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.

Thursday, November 11, 2021

American Truck Simulator: 1.43 Update Open Beta

It has only been a short time since we last released an update for our truck simulator titles, however, we are happy to share with you that a new testing cycle for the Open Beta branch for American Truck Simulator has started.

This first iteration of the Open Beta only has a few of the handful of updates we wanted to bring with 1.43. Because of our busy production schedule before Christmas, quite a few of the other features and/or updates did not make it in time for this first release. However, we plan on bringing these later on during the Open Beta. We will be sure to let you know when they do arrive. 

Please keep in mind that this Open Beta is a work-in-progress build. If you plan on participating in this Open Beta, you can contribute by reporting any bugs you may encounter in the appropriate section(s) of our official forums. Your feedback and reports are extremely valuable for our team and we thank you in advance for taking the time to help us out.

So, without further ado, let's take a look at what the first iteration of the 1.43 Open Beta has in store!

Ownable Dumpers

We are happy to announce that Dumper Trailers are now ownable and fully customizable! These trailers are used for transporting bulk materials such as coal, soil, gravel, stone, sand, and much more.

In American Truck Simulator, Dumper Trailers will have 3 customizable body types. These are End Dumpers, Side Dumpers, and Livefloor Dumpers. Each of them are available in different lengths (30ft or 36ft) and in two or three-axle configurations. Side Dumpers are available as a B-double, Turnpike, or Single trailers, and all other body types come with just a single trailer configuration.  

Want to customize your Dumper Trailer? You will be able to add and modify some of the accessories on them, including, markers, rear bumpers, front and rear mudflaps, front and rear fenders, and paint jobs.

We can't wait to see you hauling these new Dumper Trailers in your company and how you will customize them! Be sure to share with us your photos of your newly owned trailers on our Social Media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

Interior Cabin Sound Update

In this update, we have also implemented a new sound effect which simulates sound attenuation from surrounding environment noises, as well as the sound of the truck engine and wheels. Since each truck has a different sound insulation, our sound team has simulated this with the use of sound equalization and reverb effects. 

Put simply, interior truck cab sounds have been updated to better simulate how engine, wheel, and other exterior sounds are dampened when driving from a first person view.

This is just the first iteration of this update, as in the future we plan to bring more accurate attenuation simulation by the size of the truck cab. This update has been applied to all trucks in both American Truck Simulator and Euro Truck Simulator 2. 

New SDF Fonts

Another new feature coming along with 1.43 is the use of SDF (Signed Distance Fields) fonts in-game. So how exactly does this affect the game? This font technique allows texts and fonts to be displayed perfectly in any resolution, scale, or from any distance. 

Instead of fonts being displayed like a picture, which can become distorted when on a smaller resolution or zoomed in on from a far distance, SDF fonts can be adjusted to any size and remain perfectly clear and sharp for the user. 

In the first iteration of this update, we are bringing this new font technique to the game's UI. This also in turn improves the clarity and resolution of the Convoy name tags, GPS, License Plates, and Truck Dashboards. We hope you can clearly see the difference when you see them.

Changelog:

Map:

  • General Bugfixes
Vehicles: 
  • Ownable Dump Trailers

Other:

  • Implemented Sound Attenuation
  • MSDF Font Implementation

So enjoy all the new additions, but please remember: It's only an open beta, not a stable public version - so you may encounter bugs, instability, or crashes. It's completely okay if you want to wait for the final release. But if you're interested in helping us to get there faster, we'll appreciate all of your feedback on our forum and your bug reports in this section.

Please check our modding wiki to get details pertaining to mods for the game.

If you wish to participate in the open beta, you can find this version in the public_beta branch on Steam. The way to access it is as follows: Steam client → LIBRARY → right-click on American Truck Simulator → Properties → Betas tab → public_beta → 1.43. No password is required. You may need to restart your Steam client to see the correct branch name there.

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Texas - Offshore Shipyard

Since the state of Texas is so enormous, it is only logical that in this upcoming map expansion we are going to bring quite a few new industries to the player to work with. One of these is the Offshore Shipyard industry, which is going to involve some of the biggest industrial complexes. Let’s take a look at why you should really be excited about this great addition!

The offshore service near Corpus Christi has completed some of the biggest projects in the world. Its specialization includes the design and deconstruction of offshore oil rigs, working with shipwrecks, and construction of other subsea and offshore structures. Additionally, this facility features some of the largest cranes ever built.

Located in Brownsville, the other facility presents the foremost offshore shipyard in the Gulf of Mexico, and its experienced workforce is focused more on the oil rigs. With the up-to-date technological innovation, players who will find themselves inside this area will definitely have a huge story to tell!

This is just a small glimpse into the new industries that are arriving in the Texas DLC. After all, it would be unreasonable to leave them out, given the massive size of the state and the local economy. And if you are still safely outside the mentality of "information overload", don’t forget to add the map expansion to your Steam Wishlist!