I can't explain it either, but it is extremely enjoyable indeed.
I can't explain it either, but it is extremely enjoyable indeed.
My wife was asking me about that last night, after watching me play for a while.When I first started playing ETS, I've spent weeks playing just that. Driving, planning out return routes so I don't waste time, hiring drivers, pimping out trucks, spreading my little empire, learning... umm... to drive on the other side of the road
It's so incredibly relaxing that it is actually addictive.
Yeah, when you sit back and think "Why do I actually like this?", there's not much you can specifically point out as being great gameplay. It's just... good.
Her: "Soooo, do you do anything besides drive around in your truck?"
Me: "Nope."
Her:"What's the point?"
Me: "I really don't know, honey. It just feels so right."
Her: "You're kind of a nerd, you know that don't you?"
It's exactly like going on a motorcycle ride though the country. There is no point. But it's still awesome. In fact not having a point makes it even more awesome somehow.
You might have a look at "Local Radio for ATS/ETS2", It is an addon that plays real world radio stations according to the region you are driving:
GitHub - Koenvh1/ets2-local-radio: Radio from wherever you are in ETS2/ATS
Radio from wherever you are in ETS2/ATS. Contribute to Koenvh1/ets2-local-radio development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
I'd even take it as far as saying that something not having a point other than to be enjoyed is mandatory for any kind of hobby.
Having a point is nice, but let¨s be honest, it's usually just money.
Excellent analogy. I also love going on motorcycle rides with no real plan on where I'm going!
The game really knows how to make you feel like a boss. I took an oversize load on an urgent delivery schedule (1000 miles, around a 100,000 lbs) and in Salt Lake City my exit was blocked, so I had to go down the highway a long way and circle back to the exit on the other side of the major freeway...and wouldn't you know it but that one was blocked, too! So, after panicking a bit, I pulled out my map, plotted a new course through the commercial district and eventually found my way back to my proper course on the other side of the city. When I was finally back on course I have to be nerdily honest: I felt like I'd really accomplished something. That's some genius game design right there that can evoke that kind of emotion.
I was a little surprised to see that paint jobs that I purchased with real money actually cost 2-3x as much in game currency as stock paint jobs when buying a truck.
Don't worry about in-game currency. Get some drivers hired with their own trucks and soon you'll be making money faster than you can spend it.
ATS continues to impress. It actually managed to drag me away from RDR2, which I wouldn't have thought possible.
I believe that feeling is only going to increase as you start to grow your business, buy better trucks and customize them, etc... And when you already know the entire map by memory, you can always switch to ETS for a brand new map with different kinds of scenery, cities, and architecture..
Mouse and gaming keypad. It's a great game, I only do long trips. Mouse is superb for steering
My main current save is 'Level 97' a smidge under half a mil km's.
I have a few other saves with smaller numbers on, but one went above level 97, but the save was lost using dodgy mods. (lots of dodgy mods in ETS2)
I have done most of the old mod maps, RussiaMap, ProMods, TSM, Mario, Aus, China etc..
Promods is by far the best and if your going to use it, please pay (£1 ap) for the download to support the team.
The RussiaMap is good, but ultimately I tend not to use mod maps other than ProMods, having lost a large save, as mentioned.
I have fewer miles in ATS, it just isn't as challenging for me, but still a great game. Coast to Coast map is really long trips and you can nod off while your driving..
I only do solo one man band, so don't have any drivers..
I played ETS & Scania one prior, so have had the game (ETS2 & ATS) more or less from release. Have all the dlc's, not paint jobs though.
Site:
My main current save is 'Level 97' a smidge under half a mil km's.
I have a few other saves with smaller numbers on, but one went above level 97, but the save was lost using dodgy mods.
(lots of dodgy mods in ETS2)I have done most of the old mod maps, RussiaMap, ProMods, TSM, Mario, Aus, China etc..
Promods is by far the best and if your going to use it, please pay (£1 ap) for the download to support the team.
The RussiaMap is good, but ultimately I tend not to use mod maps other than ProMods, having lost a large save, as mentioned.
I have fewer miles in ATS, it just isn't as challenging for me, but still a great game. Coast to Coast map is really long trips and you can nod off while your driving..
I only do solo one man band, so don't have any drivers..
I played ETS & Scania one prior, so have had the game (ETS2 & ATS) more or less from release. Have all the dlc's, not paint jobs though.
Site:
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I've always used a gamepad. Probably not ideal, as you need both precision for high-speed driving and quick lock-to-lock turning when making tight turns and backing into awkward spots at low speed. The games have settings which work around this though, and I don't think that a wheel would make a great deal of difference in practice. I'ts not like a racing game where you are forever trying to hit the apex of corners right on the limit of adhesion.
Hardly a vet, but i play with wheel and pedals when i want to feel like i'm driving a truck, but switch to controller when i want to just lean back and play.
I'm playing on a keyboard although I do have 500+ hours on ETS2 and over 200 on ATS.
I actually do have a wheel and pedals (Quite ancient but still perfectly working Logitech Force Feedback wheel) and I pulled it out of the deepest dungeons under my house to play NFS Heat, recently so I tried the ETS as well.
Honestly, I prefer KB.
It's ironic because I tend to scoff at people playing Elite on KB+M. Well, not really scoff, but I... I guess pity them because in my opinion they are missing out.
In the end it's just about habits and getting used to things.
Speaking of my business, I just finished upgrading my first garage. I could only afford cheap W900 Kenworth's to put the new drivers in, so my question is do I upgrade their trucks as I can afford, and is there an "upper limit" of high end truck to give them or does there come a point when I'm just wasting money?
Its fine, you can just leave them in basic trucks, it doesn't really make any difference. What matters is the driver's skill. General advice is focus on long distance driving skill first for them along with the perhaps an ADR or two appropriate for their location.
At first they won't make you much money, so its mainly about letting them build up experience. When they get some experience and skill points invested, they start bringing home the bacon, regardless of what they are driving.
Later on, which you are rolling in cash, you might splash out on better rigs for them.