If you've paid attention to any of my posts, you've probably figured
out I'm a fan of the "Eurotruck Simulator" series by SCS software.
It's one of my 'go-to games' that I play whenever I can't be arsed to
play anything else. I just find it extremely relaxing to cruise down
the highways - at a legally safe speed - in a huge truck. No, I can't
explain the appeal either.

In fact, when it comes to the franchise, I probably fall into the
'whale' category of players; I own almost all the DLC... and there's a
lot of DLC available for purchase. You can be pretty sure that as soon
as a new map-pack or truck-pack becomes available, I'll be clicking
the 'add to cart' shortly thereafter. It's not rational but, well,
whoever said I'm rational? ;-)

Still, given recent political events their next big release - the
"Heart of Russia" map expansion - probably wasn't going to be added to
my shopping cart. Again, the decision wasn't entirely based on logic:
the developers aren't Russian, and the DLC wouldn't benefit the
Russian governement in any way. Still, the idea of driving around in a virtualized Russia even as the real thing was sending tanks and planes
to invade its neighbor felt tasteless. It would be sending a message
that Russia was just another European nation. Thus, lacking any other
immediate agency to protest the invasion, I was pretty sure I was
going to boycott the add-on.

Fortunately, the developers at SCS games seem to have felt the same
way (either that, or enough players had made it clear to them that it
would be unprofitable to release "Heart of Russia" at this time). So
the project is now on hold, presumably until the invasion is over and
the public distaste with Russia's actions have faded.

As a player, I am of course disappointed, since the ever-growing map
is one of the game's biggest strengths - but as a human being, I'm
happy with this turn of events. It may not be the strongest
condemnation against Russian aggression, but it's better than ignoring
it outright.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 31 May 2022 14:32:22 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

If you've paid attention to any of my posts, you've probably figured
out I'm a fan of the "Eurotruck Simulator" series by SCS software.
It's one of my 'go-to games' that I play whenever I can't be arsed to
play anything else. I just find it extremely relaxing to cruise down
the highways - at a legally safe speed - in a huge truck. No, I can't
explain the appeal either.

In fact, when it comes to the franchise, I probably fall into the
'whale' category of players; I own almost all the DLC... and there's a
lot of DLC available for purchase. You can be pretty sure that as soon
as a new map-pack or truck-pack becomes available, I'll be clicking
the 'add to cart' shortly thereafter. It's not rational but, well,
whoever said I'm rational? ;-)

Still, given recent political events their next big release - the
"Heart of Russia" map expansion - probably wasn't going to be added to
my shopping cart. Again, the decision wasn't entirely based on logic:
the developers aren't Russian, and the DLC wouldn't benefit the
Russian governement in any way. Still, the idea of driving around in a >virtualized Russia even as the real thing was sending tanks and planes
to invade its neighbor felt tasteless. It would be sending a message
that Russia was just another European nation. Thus, lacking any other >immediate agency to protest the invasion, I was pretty sure I was
going to boycott the add-on.

Fortunately, the developers at SCS games seem to have felt the same
way (either that, or enough players had made it clear to them that it
would be unprofitable to release "Heart of Russia" at this time). So
the project is now on hold, presumably until the invasion is over and
the public distaste with Russia's actions have faded.

As a player, I am of course disappointed, since the ever-growing map
is one of the game's biggest strengths - but as a human being, I'm
happy with this turn of events. It may not be the strongest
condemnation against Russian aggression, but it's better than ignoring
it outright.

*---

I have that but also American Truck Simulator which I like a lot. I
am still waiting for Montana (where I live) to come out!

-pw

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 31 May 2022 21:39:14 -0600, PW
<iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:

On Tue, 31 May 2022 14:32:22 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson ><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

I have that but also American Truck Simulator which I like a lot. I
am still waiting for Montana (where I live) to come out!

Although I adore ETS2, ATS is actually more my 'go-to' game than its
European sibling. I just tend to group the two games together since
"EuroTruck Simulator" is the more recognizable name and I play them interchangably (as mentioned, ATS gets picked a bit more often but
there's still love for ETS).

I was very disappointed with ATS on release, but now that it's had six
years - and many additional map packs - to mature and grow, it's
become quite the enjoyable game. There is /finally/ variety in its
landscapes, and going 80 across Arizona on its long, wide and flat
highways is terrific fun.

I cannot say I am /excited/ about a Montana expansion (I can't imagine
it will be too different than the already released Wyoming, sorry PW
;-) but I'll be happy for the expansion and get it regardless. But -
for reasons similar to the "Heart of Russia" - I'll probably skip
Texas.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)