Why are these games so popular?

[LordBlade]

I mean, I used to play the Flight Simulator games back in the day, so I could kind of understand the appeal of those. But this driving a truck. It doesn't seem like it's all that special a thing.

[xaagon]

You start out with a warehouse, but I think you have to start driving trucks for other companies to begin with (not entirely sure, it's been a long time since I started a new game). Once you have enough money you can start buying your own trucks and hiring other drivers. They work automatically and there's not a lot of management to it.

Personally, I don't really like the company building aspect of the game as I find it's very easy. I actually use a mod that brings the pay down to a more realistic level.

I like the game a lot due to it's relaxing nature, the exploration aspects of the game, and the fact that I like trucks and transportation in general. I like driving in real life, but it's a lot more affordable to play this on the PC than to put gas in my real car. I often will put iTunes on in the background while I play. It's also a good way for me to unwind at the end of the day.

[LordBlade]

Hmm... okay, that sounds a bit more interesting.

I played the crap out of NHL15, because it had an awesome career mode. I'm not a hockey fan, and don't really go in for playing sports games (I'd rather go out and play the actual sport). But I was loving the whole career thing, starting off as a rookie and working my way up. Sadly the game was buggy as hell and when you got to the big leagues you'd often get sent back down again without explanation. :p

So the whole "trucker career" thing could be interesting.

[Gonzo]

It's a "game" that shouldn't work when you think about it (but for some reason it does). It's definately a "zen" game, just pick a radio station and kick back. It's one of the few relaxing games out there (which is funny as driving in RL sometimes is anything BUT relaxing). I dunno why I keep playing it, but I do?

[AKRENIM]

Its the setup man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC08LRQUdA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5FzCAonZtE

[BirdDog]

The reason is simple exeptional quality by SCS.

[Thogmar]

Originally posted by LordBlade:

I mean, I used to play the Flight Simulator games back in the day, so I could kind of understand the appeal of those. But this driving a truck. It doesn't seem like it's all that special a thing.

In addition to the obvious active activities of picking up and delivering jobs, buying properties and managing drivers, there is a secondary relaxation feature that many players and online streamers have found accidentally by playing the game even though they thought they wouldn't like it.
Radio on, scenery flashing by, lights and cities appearing in the distance at night, it's kind of a road therapy for many users.

[Gizmosellsbunnys]

Can drive 1-2 hour trip listening to the radio and it’s relaxing😎 .

[SpiritFire]

well as someone whos flown flight sims for many many years.. the difference between something like xplane and ATS are not even close. ATS is something i can just connect up my driving pedals, shifter and wheel, and go for it without much thought. a flight in xplane has a gps thats a hundred times more complicated to program each flight and use, creating detailed flight plans with external software and import them, deal with vatsim tower and flight coms, and doing things like a blind or night instrument flight and landing arent even in the same ballpark as taking a load from phoenix to LA.. ATS is more of a game than a sim, despite its nametag. I had a CDL and use to drive truck, so yes, i can say that. Flying is what i do when im want something more challenging to do. its not just 'fly in the air and land 4 hours later', as someone said in an earlier post. try a realistic startup sequence in a jet vs pushing a start button on ATS. lol. anyway. not slamming ATS. love it. its just not something to compare sensibly. if they honestly wanted to make a true trucking sim there would be a lot more to it than this. if ats was a 'flight sim' it would be closer in the complexitry of Chuck Yeagers Air Combat. and yea.. i did play the crap out of that too. =)
as to why people love ATS?
while not a sim, its as close as some folks can get to being one. its pretty. its fun. its just plain cool.

[cycleboxer]

Because the game is nothing like real truck driving if it was people would cry and never play again.

[SpiritFire]

Originally posted by cycleboxer:

Because the game is nothing like real truck driving if it was people would cry and never play again.

hahahaha
yup. so true.

[Sky_Goddess]

I love driving in general and I've spend many thousands of dkk on driving licences and a truck driver's education, ADR course too, 52 thousand dkk, approximately 7000 € or 8000 US $! So yeah these trucking sim have been very hard on my wallet, lol.

Driving a real truck is a different ball game than driving a truck in game. You HAVE to be focused, anticipate long before you reach a traffic light, relaxed but with a Hawk's eye regarding orientation. I got a truck driver's licence which I'm very proud of. Never EVER panic in a truck. Despite all this I'm still calm and find it relaxing.

When ATS got released I thought it was about time to go onto an adventure and getting a driver's licence for cars. And now after 2 1/2 years I've reached my goal.

In conclusion these truck sims are just nice to have a relaxing drive and listen to some music.

[TruebornJester]

Originally posted by AC/AC:

Its the setup man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC08LRQUdA8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5FzCAonZtE

Wish i had the money for that kind of set up . But small laptop screen and xbox 360 controller does it for me regardless

[SpiritFire]

yet that guy still drives his trailer over the curb. ;)

[Glow]

Hi. I'm a simer too.

Official events played in mp - you can watch my ATS Operation Big Sur relation from it.

I spend 2 hours in a long waiting cub to loading area and then drive and watch all those waiting player - in real life that would be boring, in a game so much fun - I do not udarstand this but it was realy fun. I'm waiting for next events!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1458269078

or full version with all waiting and loading:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1470370653

[Stupid Flanders]

I was a truck driver for about 18 months, and I play this because the trucks are fun as hell to drive(for me anyway). This games doesn't quite hit the real experiance, but it comes pretty damn close. Unfortunanly The real career is vary dangerous, stressful and just a hard life style. It's really nice to come close the experiance of driving these trucks at home without the stress and legal liabilities.