Czech company SCS Software aims to make better truck drivers from the comfort of their homes. The gaming developer creates truck driving games to offer driving experiences that simulate real conditions as well as an environment that allows players to purchase their own trucks, establish their own transportation companies, and become fleet managers.
Founded in 1997 in Prague, SCS Software boasts a catalogue of truck simulation games such as Euro Truck Simulator, American Truck Simulator, Scania Truck Driving Simulator, Trucks & Trailers, 18 Wheels of Steel Extreme Trucker, UK Truck Simulator, and German Truck Simulator. The company also develops licensable 3D engine technology and offers full-scale game development services as a third party developer/contractor. SCS game engines have powered commercially successful games such as Deer Hunter and Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project.
The company aims to engage with global heavy-duty truck and parts manufacturers and logistics companies to create an ecosystem that will serve as a training tool for truck drivers and fleet managers. Its flagship title Euro Truck Simulator is popular among truck enthusiasts and professionals worldwide. The first version of the game was launched in 2008. The second version, Euro Truck Simulator 2, was released in 2012 and has sold over 5.5 million copies till date.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 has two categories of customers – casual gamers of all ages as well as professional truckers and truck enthusiasts. In addition to the basic game, SCS offers downloadable content with more vehicles, routes and driving experiences.
Pavel Sebor, CEO, SCS Software, says: “Truck drivers who’ve used our games have given us their feedback that it has improved their skills in manoeuvring their vehicles in tight spaces, particularly parking lots, and helped them drive according to real-world road and weather conditions, regulations, and physical limitations of the trucks and trailers.”
Pavel Sebor, CEO, SCS Software
Euro Truck Simulator 2 features a selection of 15 licensed trucks from 7 European manufacturers including DAF, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Scania and Volvo. All the trucks have been closely recreated in game with the supervision of SCS’s licensing partners to ensure that the driving experience is as close to real-world conditions as possible. The licensed trucks come with customization options and advanced driving physics in the game world that includes numerous landmarks and precisely recreated territories.
The world of Euro Truck Simulator 2 spans across 16 European countries featuring closely recreated environments, roads, cities and landmarks. The in-game world offers the experience of traversing across the continent with its ever-changing vistas, live traffic, lighting and weather conditions.
There is no set career path in Euro Truck Simulator 2. Players are given the opportunity to create a character and grow their skills as they see fit. They gain more experience and skill points with distance covered.
Players can gain skills in the transportation of dangerous goods, high-value cargo, fragile cargo, just-in-time deliveries, long distance deliveries ranging from 350km to over 1500km, and ecodriving to minimise fuel consumption. They acquire each of these skills and rewards in various stages. For example, they acquire skill points in transporting dangerous goods and ADR certificates by starting with explosives, followed by gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, toxic and infectious substances and corrosive substances. Long-distance driving skills are acquired by covering distances ranging from 350km to over 1500km. Better skills also unlock new job options as companies become more confident of the player’s expertise and start to offer better jobs with higher rewards. Various strategies can open different opportunities early in the game allowing players to shape their progress.
The game progresses as follows: players start small businesses and take delivery jobs to make money. As they progresses from making short, local deliveries to long haul deliveries across European countries, they acquire ADR certificates, get qualified to transport valuable and dangerous cargo, and save enough money to buy brand new trucks.
Owning trucks enables players to take jobs from the freight market and make more money from their deliveries. Subsequently, they can hire drivers and expand their fleets with more trucks to grow their companies to become ‘trucking kings’.
Pavel points out that the game is educational in the sense that it reminds players of real-world rules and regulations on the roads and not to drive dangerously.
“Euro Truck Simulator is not an action adventure: it does not encourage racing, crashing vehicles or other adrenaline activities. Missions are about delivering cargo in line with traffic and safety regulations. For example, players get fines for violating traffic laws and they need to consider their truck loads and road conditions while estimating braking distances,” he says.
Pavel indicates that SCS has no immediate plans to release a third version of Euro Truck Simulator. Instead, the company is focusing on increasing the game’s brand partnerships.
“Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a stable version that offers extensive gameplay with its add-on features. The game boasts a strong community of international followers, and we use their feedback to improve and expand the game with regular updates and new modules. Therefore, we don’t feel the need to release a new version of the game anytime soon. We see a lot of potential in brand partnerships and product placement opportunities for truck, tyre and parts manufacturers and logistics companies,” he says.
