Poll: Choose (3) States you would like to see next

[Voltaire1971]

That`s the state you voted for, so you remember.

Seeing as how New Mexico has less stuff in it than Arizona, I fear we may be getting a large amount of empty space, with very little playable content. And if everyone gets there where and Utah is next, I feel we will have a large map with nothing in it outside of Cali.

I am not sure whether I understand your point correctly. Is it that there is not a lot of landscape besides desert or that there are not a lot of cities? If the latter, I think it is proper, when NM has less cities than California (even when taking different state size in account).

The amazing thing about the western USA is, that, from a Central European point of view, it is basically an uninhabited wasteland. Germany has an average population density of 230 people per square kilometer. For comparison the states we have now:

California - 88
Arizona - 22
Nevada - 9
New Mexico - 7

New Mexico is basically empty. I simply expect to see nothing outside of the cities. And it gets "worse". Let`s take a look at the rest of the west:

Washington - 36
Colorado - 19
Oregon - 15
Utah - 13
Idaho - 7
Montana - 3
Wyoming - 2

In short: California is by far the most densely populated state west of the Mississippi. Large parts of the country are just landscape and almost nothing else. And, to be perfectly frank with you, that is what I am looking forward to.

[slemarko]

Thanks, i will never figure this out by myself

[Hell_Raiser]

I am not sure whether I understand your point correctly. Is it that there is not a lot of landscape besides desert or that there are not a lot of cities? If the latter, I think it is proper, when NM has less cities than California (even when taking different state size in account).

Actually, I was referring to empty space in the area allocated to the state of New Mexico in the map, where there is absolutely nothing, no scenery, no roads. While they could fill these areas with smaller towns and state and county roads, that isn't what they did in Arizona. I don't think they are going to add many remote locations, or back roads for that matter, and since New Mexico has fewer major cities, I expect less content.

Think about it this way, the empty or less populated states, shouldn't take that long to have its dlc delivered to us. Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming should all be created in less time than NM hopefully. Not much there in those 4 states and to get a little more real estate, I will take them. New Mexico could surprise us now. It could have more to offer than Arizona. Even if it doesn't, I will welcome it. No matter what direction SCS goes, there will always be some of us that are not pleased. As long as they don't skip around and make unconnected states, honestly I don't care. I have my preference but like I mentioned before, I will take whatever we can get. It would really be interesting to see how quick they can provide dlc for some of these more sparsely populated states. If they can deliver Ut, Id, Mt and Wy all within 2 years, I would take that over Oregon and Texas which could take 1 to 2 years respectively. But to do Id, Mt, and Wy, Utah needs to be in place first to start it all in motion..

Not necessarily, rural scenery can be very tricky to create. You have to add enough hand placed details to make it look appealing, and you have very few options on what to add. Further, in open areas like this, the scenery can extend quite a ways beyond the road, and the road are seemingly endless. An urban landscape on the other hand, simply needs a few buildings close to the road that obstruct the view of the player, and a few details to make it pretty. The tricky part here, is keeping the frame rates up, since the buildings have high detail models.

It has taken about a year for New Mexico, and I see no reason why the rest of the west would be any quicker.

[RTobi]

Hell_Raiser, New Mexico is pretty similar to Arizona when it comes to scenery It's a beautiful state. There will definitely be other states with pretty much no scenery at all. I'm thinking about Kansas or Oklahoma for example. From what I know these states are mostly flat, can't even see any mountains, only flat land, roads and a few houses.

[Voltaire1971]

But NM will have some nice features. Especially in the North with the Sangre de Cristo Mountains (the southernmost part of the Rocky Mountains) and the Rio Grande Gorge. Dammit, now I want to see it even more and Moh may not tell me about it.

[pigbrother]

Never been there, but looks like a beautiful state, indeed.

[angrybirdseller]

Still not all flyover states are flat, Iowa not flat at all its gently rolling hills with taller grasses and corn all over, and then Wisconsin rolling hills and lots of deciduous trees like France DLC. Midwest has lots of hills from Missouri to Indiana north to Minnesota. Sure, North Dakota down to Kansas wont be scenery much, but could break the boring ness with small towns and farms act like ant mazes. Arizona has less roads than Iowa and Illinois has roughly same amount of roads as California.

[Hell_Raiser]

I am not saying New Mexico isn't a beautiful state or is lacking scenery, I was simply saying there are very few cities that I think are large enough that scs will add them in the game. Leaving a large section of the state, un-rendered in the game. Kansas and Oklahoma are awesome, you can see for miles and the landscape is gorgeous. I have nothing against the scenery in any of the states, being from South Texas, arid landscapes are what I call home, I love them. I just want more roads in the game, especially state and county roads, some long gravel or red dirt roads would be awesome too, surrounded by cattle pastures or corn fields.

[Anna K]

I voted Utah, 'cus it would fill in the L that forms between Nevada and Arizona/NM when NM DLC comes out.

[flight50]

Man, Texas is picking up a little steam. Two main reasons I don't want to see Texas next is because 1) it will take too long to develop and without enough of the other states in place first, we will be in limbo much longer than any other state on the map and 2) its too linear and doesn't square off the map yet. Based on the new 1.29 beta, SCS has added some new roads here and there. If you ask me, its looking like there is support for Oregon being next. There is Hornbrook, Jackpot to feed Idaho and Hwy 95 heading north from Winnemucca. So will they head North. Or at least the North team goes solo. But the argument can be made for Utah that can have an update similar to 1.29 to continue I-15 thru Vegas, add Hwy 6 from Ely and continue I-80. Which means the East team can go solo and head East/Northeast.

It is a given that maps will take about a year. If the teams split up, we could get 2 maps in a year. Or if they work in tandem, we can get 1 state in about 6-8 months. Based on one SCS employee's input, both are a possible options. It puts a load on them but I think they are up to the task to really start delivering for ATS. It has got to get a bit more real estate to keep people coming for it. Either route, I will take it but I would actually favor having the teams split up to avoid internal clashing from controling this region or that region as they build out the states. But the suspense is definitely killing me to know what state is in the works and/or what will be next. I am sure that when NM was announced that it is going into closed beta, that SCS didn't just stop working. I am sure they jumped onto the next state in line shortly after closed beta started. Is it Oregon, is it Utah or is Tx that follows New Mexico. We will know by mid-late Nov once NM releases I hope. I would think that the sales from NM would be enough to develop at the least another state. Considering ET2 is also a SCS game, the Italy dlc will generate funds for sure and since both games are under one roof, funds as a whole can hopefully limp ATS along until it too starts to really pick up steam. Getting enough of the U.S. done to be able to introduce at least parts of Canada and Mexico, would be huge.

I have to assume that the vote for Idaho was a joke, lol. Having it before Oregon would make a very lopsided map. It was added as an option though so vote as you all please.