Texas pre-research tips

World of Trucks · #141 Post by **supersobes** » 20 Jan 2020 15:27

If we get US-75 and US-82 in the game, I can see Sherman being a scenery town at the junction of those two routes, but with its size and its proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolis, I don't think it will be a marked city.

EthanE40 · #142 Post by **EthanE40** » 22 Jan 2020 00:28

US 82 could serve as a shortcut for truckers going from Texarkana to Wichita Falls without having to drive through the DFW mess. Besides Wichita Falls and Texarkana, there's also Paris, TX on that route which has a few industries like Campbell soup, Kimberly Clark, and Turner Industries (along with the famous Eiffel Tower replica with the cowboy hat on top that should definitely be featured in the game if Paris makes it). Not only that but US 271 connects Paris to the Indian Nation Turnpike in Oklahoma which runs by McAlester and continues on towards Tulsa, and also south towards I-30 in Mt. Pleasant, TX.

Gootho717 · #143 Post by **Gootho717** » 12 Mar 2020 21:27

I'm not sure if it has been brought up before (I search the thread but found nothing) but it would be cool if the Caterpillar factory in Victoria, Texas gets added/incorporated for those heavy haulers and those looking for ownable lowboys; it is also a good location for a garage (between San Antonio and Houston).

Here is the location in Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Victo ... 97.0035982 and a couple of videos on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uof480YpJHY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV_HddpeN4k.

plinio.lisboa.br · #144 Post by **plinio.lisboa.br** » 13 Mar 2020 00:19

EthanE40 wrote: ↑22 Jan 2020 00:28 US 82 could serve as a shortcut for truckers going from Texarkana to Wichita Falls without having to drive through the DFW mess. Besides Wichita Falls and Texarkana, there's also Paris, TX on that route which has a few industries like Campbell soup, Kimberly Clark, and Turner Industries (along with the famous Eiffel Tower replica with the cowboy hat on top that should definitely be featured in the game if Paris makes it).

This city also has an area for cattle auctions, it would be very interesting to have these factories.
And also cattle transport from livestock auctions. Perhaps the Texans can give more information about this.

It is the type of structure (cattle auction area), and the load in which small towns, could be represented on the map, and it is something very important in Texas for cattle auctions, I believe.

flight50 · #145 Post by **flight50** » 26 Jul 2020 18:32

They bulk of the Texas population lies in the triangle that some call the Texaplex. Its the most difficult and hardest part of Texas. The amount of assets needed for this area is massive. Hopefully some existing content fill in gaps outside the main 3d models for each city that SCS will do. The yellow highlights are some of the largest in the nations. El Paso being the smallest sits a no.22 population wise. Houston being being the largest of Texas sits at no.4 in the nation population wise. These areas alone imo can take 3-5 months a piece perhaps. All the blue highlights imo can be very Idaho like. We should get to drive thru these cities. The yellow, I don't know if its really possible. The industries we need to get to are on the outskirts unless its construction or roadworks that are somewhat downtown. But the yellow will take a toll on most pc's. Imo, they are just too large to drive thru and still have a sense of scale without taking up too much space. Its better imo to admire these from afar or just drive thru them like Portland, Seattle and now Vegas.

A few videos from the largest cities in Texas. Some day and night scenes to show the lighting of t he city building. Some of these video might help with building the 3d models.
Texaplex - old video but still valid

Watch on YouTube

Dallas, Tx

Watch on YouTube

Omni Hotel Dallas Light show - hundreds of possibilities for light shows

Houston, Tx

San Antonio, Tx

Austin, Tx

Ft. Worth, Tx

El Paso, Tx

electricz · #146 Post by **electricz** » 26 Jul 2020 19:11

Something that might make a good, unique landmark for Texas in ATS is Mile Marker 880 on I-10:

From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_10_in_Texas

"At just under 880 miles (1,420 km), the Texas segment of I-10, maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation, is the longest continuous untolled freeway in North America that is operated by a single authority.[3] It is also the longest stretch of highway with a single designation within a single state. Mile marker 880 and its corresponding exit number in Orange, Texas, are the highest numbered mile marker and exit on any freeway in North America."

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Might make a good achievement. "Last Exit" or "880" or "Everything's Bigger in Texas" or something for driving it end to end.

flight50 · #147 Post by **flight50** » 27 Jul 2020 22:42

supersobes wrote: ↑20 Jan 2020 15:27 If we get US-75 and US-82 in the game, I can see Sherman being a scenery town at the junction of those two routes, but with its size and its proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolis, I don't think it will be a marked city.

Agreed. Imho, it will be a huge miss if we don't get US-75 in the game. Two major reasons:

US-75 does get us into Oklahoma and beyond. I traveled this route from Dallas to Pocola, Ok once and there were trucks all along that road. I saw even more the closer I got to Oklahoma and beyond the Red River

The High Five in Dallas at US-75 and I-635 is a major intersection in the DFW area. It can't be missed

US-75 North and South has many deliverable depots. I-635 East and West has many deliverable depots as well. The Dallas tollway isn't needed. This gives tons of space for the High Five. This entire area is super complex and TDOT is actually extending the project East to I-30. The Texas dlc will come before completion but SCS should make arrangements to update in the future. This entire stretch will more than likely have frontage roads the entire way just like Ph 1 did. The project is due for completion in 2024 from what I hear. So all of I-635 should make ATS. Tons of depots off it.

I just looked at my Rand McNally for Texas and if you guys saw it, you'd laugh hard. Literally every road in Texas is a STAA route, lol. That is insane. SCS can't go wrong on most roads in Texas but its obvious that they can't add them all.

Between US-380 and US-82, one of the two have to make the game. I think US-82 fits much better for the exact reason EthannE40 stated, Paris. Lots of good depots and land marks there. Not to mention, no scale issues. Denton might get absorbed by DFW and
US-380 is a tight squeeze. Its a good break up from Texarkana and US-75. If Sulphur Springs or Mt. Pleasant comes on I-30, they will provide a nice North/South connection to US-82. My gut tells me Texarkana doesn't come with Texas though. If that is the case, Paris and Sulphur Springs or Mt. Pleasant will be nice terminating cities for Texas until Arkansas comes. US-271 connect Paris and Mt. Vernon beyond quite well. US-271 also gets us into Oklahoma and it gets us South to Tyler. Another city I think makes the game.

EthanE40 · #148 Post by **EthanE40** » 17 Sep 2020 04:17

So about the Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange area (aka Golden Triangle):

I'd assume all of it gets absorbed into Beaumont, although I definitely see Port Arthur and Orange as scenery cities when driving on TX-73 and TX-87. This'll be necessary as both of those highways connect to TX-124, which in turn connects to TX-87 which goes along the Bolivar Peninsula down to Galveston/I-45. Sorta like this: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... sp=sharing

My guess is a lot of the commercial stuff is in Beaumont while most of the oil refineries are in Port Arthur, however there is also a big ExxonMobil plant near downtown Beaumont and Lamar University that I imagine will get featured.

Now for landmarks. While there may not be as many notable ones as the major cities of Houston, DFW, Austin, San Antonio, etc., there are still some I recommend adding.

Spindletop monument: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0320347 ... 312!8i6656

Laurel Ave Bridge over I-10 (I know it says US-69 on the street view but they run together for a few miles). Won't be able to drive on it during the game but will be cool to look at while on the interstate: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0831142 ... 312!8i6656

Pearl sign. I'm not sure how iconic it is to Beaumont residents but it's iconic to me

: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0742076 ... 312!8i6656

MCM Elegante Hotel (right by the I-10/US-287/96/69 interchange that should be included to connect Beaumont to Port Arthur): https://www.google.com/maps/@30.053949, ... 384!8i8192

Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum (museum honoring female golf champ from Beaumont): https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0961373 ... 312!8i6656

Downtown skyline (pretty self explanatory): https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0943714 ... 312!8i6656

Rainbow Bridge/Veterans Memorial Bridge. These bridges connect Port Arthur to neighboring cities of Bridge City and Orange. Definitely include both bridges since one (the older grey one) goes southbound while the yellow one goes northbound: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9937905 ... 312!8i6656

Speaking of Bridge City, some of the streetlights are at a weird position where they look like they're about to collapse, though I believe they're meant to be like that: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0216155 ... 312!8i6656

The Motiva Enterprises oil refinery in Port Arthur: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8949391 ... 312!8i6656

Jack Brooks Regional Airport (the main airport for the area, though not very big): https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9590673 ... 312!8i6656

Another refinery in Port Arthur (BASF Corportation): https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9538762 ... 312!8i6656

A Valero refinery on TX-82 in Port Arthur right by the Motiva refinery: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.8708964 ... 312!8i6656

Ford Arena/Pavilion just southwest of Beaumont off I-10: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0117864 ... 384!8i8192

And the Goodyear plant down the road from it: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9763821 ... 384!8i8192

Gator Country (I don't see this one making it but it would be a fun landmark to add): https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9282788 ... 384!8i8192

Winnie, TX. This is a very small town which is primarily used as a travel stop for travelers and truckers alike. Would definitely add a truck stop here for use in-game: https://www.google.com/maps/@29.833182, ... 384!8i8192

Also Exit 880 (the highest exit number in the US) is in Orange. It's just a turnaround before the Sabine River bridge into Louisiana, but it'd make a great in-game achievement.

Now this star at the Texas welcome center I believe was destroyed by Hurricane Laura, so I'm not sure if it'll get rebuilt. But in case I'm wrong or it gets rebuilt to what it was before, here it is: https://www.google.com/maps/@30.1229603 ... 312!8i6656

This is interesting. In Bridge City there are two bridges side by side on TX-87 that are completely different. One is a normal freeway(ish) looking bridge (only goes southbound), and the other looks to be a drawbridge or something like that for boats (northbound only): https://www.google.com/maps/@30.0431119 ... a=!3m1!1e3

And for you classic rock fans, while Janis Joplin originates from Port Arthur, I'm sad to inform that I do not think there are any memorials/monuments for her that would be able to be added in the game

So that's all I got for Beaumont/Port Arthur.

Esproquet · #149 Post by **Esproquet** » 29 Nov 2020 20:18

I wrote a post about it in the Spanish pre-research tips, guys, if you did it for Spain, you should use it use in Texas, if not, now it may be a good moment and recycle it for southeast Spain (it grows in Almería, Murcia and Alicante provinces & the Canary Islands)
viewtopic.php?f=249&t=267679&p=1386650& ... a#p1386650

Essentially, it's an American plant, native from Mexico+Texas+Arizona.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_americana
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flight50 · #150 Post by **flight50** » 30 Nov 2020 00:02

It can only be used if the scenery calls for it though.

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