#saebrisbane

As the elementary title suggest Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a simulator type game where the player can live out their dreams of driving heavy haul trucks through European landscapes(1). This in depth analysis will aim to derive a delineation of the specific mechanics, dynamics and aesthetics that this video game portrays. Utilising the MDA framework and industry terminologies it will provide an informative analysis of the experience the game presents to the player and retrospectively the chief player types it appeals to. This will be achieved by first working back from  the players perspective the aesthetic that the game provides. Then in turn breaking down the game into its base elements of the dynamics it encompasses via the mechanics employed into the development of the game.

The very first thing noticed about the game is that in stark contrast to its counterpart Big Mutha Truckers, the general title font and logo mark a much more sophisticated approach(2). The upright square and spartan text choice suggests a much more serious approach to the concept. Once entering into the menu the theme continues. Gone are the arcade eques appeals and the player is greeted with a well thought out user interface. Easily navigated to begin play immediately featuring a large green “DRIVE” button bottom left of the screen amongst the mostly neutral colour scheme. Laterally in importance the menu is laid out left to right. Choices of job market, world map, radio and email in their own section, these main tools are easily accessible. Also it offers game saving/loading, options which afford a multitude of variety in settings, informative about section and an easily recognisable large red exit button. Displayed proudly center of screen is a stunningly detailed and realistic rotating graphic of your currently selected haul rig. Then along the right hand side of the screen is all the important details you may need quick access to when returning to or pausing the game; Player emoticon, level, experience, earnings tracking. As well as options to purchase or upgrade new trucks, upgrade skill levels or build your fledging truck business operation.

Once embarking on your journey you enter into a highly detailed world. While not completely real time the map is gigantic and more than enough to give adequate reference to its premise. Huge amounts of road spreading far across Europe. Due to the size of the map some scenic parts of the city aren’t quite as detailed as their real life counterparts. Although overall as far as taking a journey across the country it supplies more than ample quantity of trees, buildings and textures. The attention to detail with terms of relevant road going cues are all there. Guard rails, speed and road signs, toll passes and fuel stations among some of the many aspects you begin to notice. Even going as far as to have stop lights and signage relevant to the country you are in(3). The actual truck itself also pays particular attention to fine details, not just on the outside but also a hyper-realistic cabin you can look around in. Adding to the aesthetic of which the additional option to make the game VR compatible(4). Latter updates even allow you to upgrade the cabin with physics capable ornaments such as fuzzy dice, bobble heads and other novelties(5). Not to mention the Aesthetics from outside. The trucks wallow and sway around the road as you expect a multiple ton truck to move like. Trailers articulate, you can even use your indicators.

For gamers drawn to discovery and exploring environments it is as highly rewarding as you would expect, but the details are what truly brings alive the fantasy of both simulating driving a truck but also running a trucking business itself.

“dreams are where every game begins. Before the code, before the software plan, before the concept artwork, even before the first document...” (Rollings and Morris 2004, p. 6; my emphasis).

The dynamics of Euro Truck Simulator 2 do great justice to its name. You can tell the developers approached the project with an aim to design a game with an intrinsic value to both its tangible and intangible facets. Considerable amount of detail is put into the small areas that count. this helps to immerse you into the environment. Driving along you feel very much at the helm of a heavy haul rig. Checking your mirrors to make sure you don’t turn into other cars. Keeping careful attention to speed limits, while feeling a sense of urgency to make your deadline and deliver your cargo and truck safely. A feeling of intensity at times as you realise, that your corner speed may have been a bit high coming into a tight motorway off ramp. Affording you the appropriate sense of urgency piloting such a high risk vehicle should bring. Next minute finding yourself cruising along admiring the sensation of the scenery and enjoying the radio station while still ensuring you pay close attention to the rpm of the engine and that you are in the correct gear to climb the hill you are about to commence. They have even managed to leave undisclosed that it doubles as a phenomenal road rage simulator, finding frustration at some of the driving behaviours of the NPC cars also sharing the road with you.

Adding engagement the mission structure is as dynamic as the driving itself. Yes you have everything you would come to expect from a simulation of this type, pushing to ensure swift and reliable deliveries. Where the game really gains extra involvement is the fact you can build and expand your empire. The intentness of paying attention to the finance side of your business is vast. Self expression is encouraged by way that there is no set in stone path to follow and the user is able to pursue the path that most interests them, choosing to either work for contracts to other companies, running their own or even hiring other workers to their company. The pending doom of balancing pay-checks to workers, minimising damage and the slow grind of upgrading trucks and depots adds a sense of competition to the dynamic of the game that would keep the challenge focused player concentrated on achieving their next goal in the game. Beneficially the expression of being able to customise your trucks as you gain the capital to do so, helps to add fidelity to the players feeling of becoming a part of the world which has been narrated to them through the mechanics of the game.

Thankfully what helps to sustain these aesthetics and dynamics are a keen eye to the detail of the mechanics which do not subvert from the ambition of Euro Trucker. The cinematic cut scene upon starting the game up captures attention immediately building impulse. That bright green “DRIVE” button draws your eye to it with anticipation diving straight into the game. It isn’t long after quickly having an explore around the world that you find yourself pausing the game to go back and examine the options menu. The sheer amount of adjustable features would be mind boggling if not so uniformly laid out. Reading much like a simulator you can choose either simple automatic, real automatic, Sequential transmission or even H-pattern. Connect a controller or even connect a wheel and gear box,  also having the option to add VR compatibility. 

Game play settings can be adjusted to suit the type of gamer you are, to ensure what you enjoy out of the game can be achieved. Giving the option to turn off fatigue simulation and traffic offences. Preferred job length is on a scalar bar which is excellent as they can in the latter game become long enough that you find yourself just completing one mission in a sitting before leaving and returning to the game. Different difficulty levels can also be adjusted with toggle settings for chance of rain, parking difficulty, realistic fuel consumption, braking intensity and trailer stability and a multitude of steering and handling adjusters among others in a list too varied to list them all. As you would expect from a game of this detail, graphics can also be adjusted to suit your gaming systems performance.

The handling mechanics of the trucks are spot on for a video game. There is a large variety of known truck brands. Engines gain torque quickly while the gear shifts are short. The trucks do tend to wander a bit much like big vehicles do, they don’t employ too much randomness in these handling settings that it makes that game feel too difficult to control or over emphasised. Unfortunately using a gaming controller it was not easy to figure out how to set it up using the clutch for H-pattern transmission which took away some of the interactivity, although the fact the setting is on an axis not simple off/on is excellent for a steering wheel set-up and adds more input for a simulation. Removing the usually legally required speed limiter on the trucks adds to more stimulating game play allowing the vehicles to achieve ridiculous speeds and quite phenomenal crash scenes. The trucks leaving the ground and the inertia of the trailers piling up onto them. Real life crash physics of the trucks crumpling in would definitely add to the experience.

While driving along the road there is a lot of mechanical elements that are noticeable at first look but it is the smaller details that really add to the intensity of the game if you wish to leave those settings turned on. Traffic infringements and accidents will cost you money. The trucks do use fuel with the setting on and it adds to the dynamic as well that if you are working for someone else's company the fuel is claimable as a business expense. Whereas when self employed you wear the cost. Unlike some games that use indicators as a novelty they actually do impact the behaviour of NPC cars on the road. If not indicating when exiting off a roundabout other cars will plough through you just like in reality, incurring costs. Nearly everything on the truck can be interacted with; you have interactive windscreen wipers, can turn the engine and headlights on and off and operate the lift able axles. Articulation of the trailer is a massive part of the game, with the speed of the front wheels turning being exponential to the speed the truck is moving. The camera singling in on the front wheels is very useful. While cornering the inner apex of the turning radius is much tighter on the trailers and will clip corners very predictably. Reversing the truck to park at docks is also extremely challenging. The game helps to create enjoyment out of this frustration by have multiple very useful camera angles cockpit, bumper bar, front wheel axles, top down and 3rd person as well as a phenomenal cinematic camera. Which while not useful in terms of operation provides an interesting challenge and adds tenfold to the beautiful scenic aesthetic of the game. Taking excellent angles which capture the image of the truck in its full environment almost flawlessly picking the right angle every time as you change through the different environments. The music options for the trucks are some of the best I have seen, offering multiple internet radio stations and also the ability to add your own MP3 music to a folder to listen to while driving. 

Overall many phenomenal elements exist in this game that add to its simulation genre, giving a very life-like feel without going too far that it becomes beyond difficult. For players that enjoy the more exploration focused aspects of the game, rather than the full fantasy elements of simulating operating a truck it is helpful that settings can be dialled down to make it easier. I couldn’t find many obvious faults other than the NPC cars sometimes driving into you on roundabouts but I suspect that is user error. The fact I could not figure out how to set it up to use a clutch with a game controller also would appeal to simulation aficionados although these days most gamers that serious would most likely have a steering wheel. The aesthetic matches the genre perfectly providing very photo realistic graphics and handling characteristics. The game appeals to discovery and challenge focused players but also provides a fantasy element to living out the dreams of being a truck business operator. The sensation of cruising the highways was cathartic at times and also intense when dealing with stressful environments such in a built up city. This analysis has touched on the aesthetics of the game and also the dynamic provided by the mechanics that make up the game. Providing a detailed description of what design elements have been employed by the developers and some small areas where the game could be improved.

https://eurotrucksimulator2.com/

https://www.gamespot.com/big-mutha-truckers/

https://www.destructoid.com/review-euro-truck-simulator-2-243592.phtml

http://blog.scssoft.com/2014/03/ets2-update-19-is-live.html

http://blog.scssoft.com/2015/09/cabin-accessories-dlc-available-now.html

This trimester I have completely stepped up my project Management abilities. I have learnt a bunch of new tools and have been able to manage a group of eleven people using these new skills.

For my own personal projects I decided to use Trello (a list based management) and Teamweek (a Gantt Chart/Timeline).

These both worked very well for me because I could visualise my time and understand what needed to be completed when in relation to other projects. They both kept me on track very well. At time I felt like I was falling behind but I knew that if I just relied on the timeline that I would get to the last week with completely everything and I have done exactly that.

For my group project that is carrying on for next trimester, I am the project manager. I am completely and solely in charge of managing the group as a whole and each individual person. For this I have learnt different add ons for Trello, games asset lists and a web program called Hack n Plan.

Ink and Icing Style Guide is one of the most in depth logo based Style Guides I have ever done. The reason for this is because my company has a very large selection of logos for different layouts and situations. Style Guides can be as big or as small as you want but you need to know that people are heavily relying on them.

Getting advice and having your peers give their impression about your work is very important. I was able to get a decent amount of feedback through a gallery walk and through a survey.

The gallery walk wasn't very helpful because the only feedback I got was positive. This is awesome and definitely improves my overall confidence but I would have loved some critical deconstruction of my choices.

I got this result more in my survey because I asked specific questions to get people thinking and deconstruct what I wanted an impression of. I got 10 responses from people with different levels of exposure to my work. Here are each of the questions and the results:

Most people were surprised of my company combination but once they knew what it was the thought the branding fit it perfectly and the two ideas contrast well. The one thing it has helped me improve is my social media. I need to fill it out with fake photos so it provides context and looks like a real social media page. The only exception was one person who couldn't read the logo and got confused but they understood it once they saw more of the collateral. I am very excited to continue finishing up this project with all the positive feedback I have received.