Life Of A Virtual Trucker AI demo

Euro Truck Simulator 1.9 Open Beta

It has taken us a lot of fine-tuning, but finally we are very close to releasing the 1.9 update for Euro Truck Simulator 2.

We have spent considerable time in closed beta testing, and we feel the
stability of the build is now very solid. That's why we would like to
invite everybody in our fanbase for the final check. Hopefully, if
things prove solid under such a scrutiny, the final official
retail/Steam update may only be hours or at worst days away from us.

We are making the open beta only available on Steam. We know that there
might be grumbling about it, but as each additional publicly available
patch causes future patches to get bigger and take longer to apply, we
try hard to avoid having to release hot-fixes to major game updates.

The 1.9 update is one of the largest patches we have ever worked on,
hence the long time to wrap it up. Work on the new vehicle AI code has
actually started even before ETS2 was released, some year and a half
ago, but we gave it all the time it needed to mature. It replaces the
entire traffic AI code with a new system. Its far more flexible, and it
is paving the way for yet more improvements in the future
(country-specific behavior of traffic lights is a much needed planned
feature for the future for example).


We would like to thank everybody actively participating in our closed
beta group for help and feedback. We were also fortunate to have one of
the beta testers already prepare a little comparison clip showing the
changes in the AI, thanks Tomáš!

You will find the 1.9 update in the branch "public_beta" on Steam. Make
sure to back up your player profile so that you have a way to revert
back to older version of the game if needed. Please use our Message
Board to provide technical issues feedback, it allows for better parsing
of the info for everybody rather than just blog comments: http://forum.scssoft.com/viewforum.php?f=143. Thanks!

To recap the highlights of the 1.9 patch:


Code:

• Brand new traffic car AI system;
• Improved maneuverability, touches to suspension and collision physics (more work planned still);
• Early support for Oculus Rift and gamepad-controlled mouse cursor;
• Improved handling of automatic gearbox (more gears, interaction with cruise control);
• Improved compatibility with semi-broken prefabs used in mods;
• Improved error handling in radio playback.

Models:

• Scania Streamline improvements (model, textures, paint jobs, new
  parts and accessories) - you may need visit truck dealer and re-purchase
  some parts;
• Volvo FH16 improvements (interior, wipers, shadows);
• Iveco Hi-way improvements (dashboard computer, shadows);
• Paintjobs are properly applied on add-ons in interior views;
• Map improvements.

Sound:

• V8 engine sounds for Scania R and Scania Streamline.

Scania Truck Driving Simulator is now on Steam!

As you may remember, Scania TDS has been Greenlit on Steam back in October of last year already. We would like to express big thanks to everyone who supported us by voting for the game! Today, the game finally becomes available on Steam. We have been so busy working on improvements for ETS2 and ATS that none of programmers managed to find the time for preparing the game for Steam distribution until now.

If you already own the retail version of Scania TDS and want to have it in your Steam library, you don't need to purchase it again of course. All you need to do is to activate your retail key on Steam - read this Steam Support article to see how to do it.

We are really happy that millions of Steam users will get a chance to try our game. For many of you this game is an old story by now, but we would appreciate if you could still help us - share screenshots on Steam, write a review, make videos and put them in the Steam game hub, join discussions. We are keen to see your contributions. The better the game is accepted during its re-launch in digital distribution, the more resources SCS can invest back into further development of our truck simulators.

We took the opportunity to update the game with new content, too - all Scania TDS customers can download a new update to version 1.6  It includes 2 additional Dangerous Drives levels: "Power Plant Repair" and "Commercial Shooting", and 1 additional Competition level: "Bonus 4." This update is already included in the Steam version. Retail update is on the update page.

You may also be aware that this game has been developed in close cooperation with Scania to promote their Scania Driver Competitions - to quote their press release, "the world’s largest truck driving and training event."
   

By chance, the release of the game update coincides with the start of a new round of Scania Driver Competitions - "The Scania Driver Competitions 2014 will be the sixth edition of the international event since it began back in 2003. The 2014 competition hopes to attract more than 85,000 truck drivers from 40 countries." Scania has a a funny viral YouTube clip promoting the start of the competitions:

 

By chance, the release of the game update coincides with the start of a new round of Scania Driver Competitions - "The Scania Driver Competitions 2014 will be the sixth edition of the international event since it began back in 2003. The 2014 competition hopes to attract more than 85,000 truck drivers from 40 countries." Scania has a a funny viral YouTube clip promoting the start of the competitions:

Sound Recording Session – Scania Recovery Truck

SCS Updated the Offical SCS Blog on Monday, February 24, 2014

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We hear you loud and clear - yes indeed, we are taking longer with the 1.9 ETS2 update than we anticipated. Sorry about that. Things have been looking very good for some time already, we are almost there, but we always find out from the beta testing feedback that a tweak is needed here or there. Rather than rushing the patch out, we prefer to tune it until we are happy, you know that this is the way we prefer to work. This upcoming update is of course not the end of the road - we have quite a roadmap of improvements for the game still planned for 2014 and beyond!

To prove that we are still around, here is a little video from a sound recording event we performed over a week ago already, finally we managed to cut it into a cool YouTube movie...

                                                                                 

Aother Skin Request Almost Completed

As many of you know I do not turn down a request very often, more so from members of the TSGmods.com forums, well I had completed most of the other requests that I had in the queue, and offered to do a skin for a new member of the forums by the name of Trucker Girl, I found out later that her dad was a trucker in the USA and had recently passed away, anyway she asked me to do a skin of the Scottish haulage giant Ferguson Transport Ltd ( Spean Bridge ), I have added a small note to the rear of the trucks cab in honour of her Dads passing.

Here is a screenshot of the rear of the trucks cab showing the message.

Here is a picture of the real life truck

And below is my version ( just wish the front grill of the SCS model of the FH was paintable like in the real life version )

The trailer needs to be finished now, but it is not far off, the rear doors are the main problem as I can not seem to find a picture that shows the correct livery for their curtain side trailer, does anybody have a link to a picture showing the correct livery for the rear of the trailer?.......if you do please post a comment and include the link, as this might even be a rare treat and be made a public release.

M@x