Australian Truck Sim Concept Map

[David Paterson]

That's an incredible amount of effort you've put in to creating that map. I didn't know some of those roads existed, though I guess many of them aren't really roads, just rough dirt tracks.

I've been up and down the east coast many times and across to Adelaide twice, but that's all I've seen of this vast, sunburnt land.

@Madkine you are correct, Volvo and Kenworth dominate the sales charts. Kenworth has been the undisputed heavy weight champion for decades, but Volvo have made serious inroads and have almost caught them.

[David Paterson]

Australian heavy-duty YTD sales, 2021
Rank, Brand, 2020 YTD, 2021 YTD, % CHG

1. Kenworth, 2114, 2838, +34.3
2. Volvo, 1740, 1683, -3.9
3. Isuzu, 1255, 1515, +20.7
4. Mercedes-Benz, 930, 1218, +31.0
5. Scania, 880, 1129, +28.3
6. DAF, 483, 682, +41.2
7. Hino, 482, 583, +21.0
8. Fuso, 433, 575, +32.8
9. Mack, 705, 566, -19.7
10. UD Trucks, 464, 611, +2.9
11. Freightliner, 257, 439, +70.8
12. Western Star, 228, 373, +63.6
13. IVECO, 362, 341, -5.8
14. MAN, 181, 309, +70.7
15. Dennis Eagle, 52, 103, +98.1
16. International, 49, 24, -51.0
17. Hyundai, 1, 10, +900.0

Source: trucksales.com.au

I know Isuzu have dominated the medium and light duty markets for decades, but I'm very surprised to see them #3 in heavy trucks!

AuTS will need Japanese trucks, as well as European & American.

[Madkine]

I've still only seen a few Japanese heavy trucks on the highways. And those sales figues also explain why I've never seen a Renault or Peterbilt.

And I've never head of Dennis Eagle. (Which it seems is because they are garbage trucks, not highway trucks).

[natvander]

Never heard of Dennis? They were the fire truck manufacturer of choice for most metropolitan fire services in Australia for much of the 1900s until International began to replace them in in 1970s / 1980s. They were still used as reserve appliances into the 90s.

I think it's clear that the OP'er is a Victorian (likely Melbournian)

[Chief482]

First we should wait for the release of Truck World: Australia and look at the popularity of the game, through steam statistics for example.
How much will it be played daily and how fast the popularity will fall or how it will be stable.
Only then, it seems to me, it will be possible to think about the creation of AusTS from SCS.

Nevertheless, right-hand drive cars and left-hand traffic are very unusual and for many are a big problem.
Much easier and more familiar to most, it seems to me, to continue to stay and run ATS. the same desert landscapes, the same trucks.
I think it's better to spend time creating any part of Mexico first for ATS.

In any case, those who are looking forward to Australia will receive Truck World: Australia.

I hope that Truck World: Australia (TW:A) ends up working out well, I really do.

But word on the street is that apparently most of the assets used in the trailers and screenshots are actually free assets available as a package for Unreal Engine (which is TW:A's engine), the "map" included (https://steamcommunity.com/linkfilter/? ... -australia). Word from the devs has been especially fleeting, haven't heard anything since the release of their latest trailer in about March or April. TW:A may just end up being vaporware.

Although with that being said, it still is relatively early days, and maybe they just want to keep the community updated and "hyped" for the game release. There is supposedly a demo that's meant to come out in November, so if that comes out, then the game might end up being all good. That may just be wishful thinking though, I wouldn't hold my breath sadly.

Furthermore, and I reckon a lot of other Australians would agree with me here, that the landscapes depicted in ATS while breathtaking and sometimes similar, aren't really the same as Australian landscapes. There is a particular feel to Australian roads that just isn't quite captured by Death Valley in America for example. Although do keep in mind that deserts aren't the only part of Australia's landscape, most Australian roads aren't even in the desert, as are most cities (and even then, the majority of these places have their own unique feeling to them, same with every other city and area throughout the world).

I do think that ATS should be finished first before a potential AuTS though, America does have a hell of a lot to offer. There is community desire for an Australian Truck Sim though, and one day I'm sure one will come along in one form or another.

[Madkine]

I'm not saying SCS should do it, but if they were to do an AuTS it should be alongside ETS2 and ATS, not after they are complete. Lets face it these 2 games are now likely to continue for decades (possibly as sequals, possibly building on the current assets). The only real question re AuTS is whether it would be commercially viable for SCS to do so and that's fairly unlikely considering the still quite inferior numbers from ATS. To be viable you'd think it would need at least similar numbers to ATS and that just doesn't seem likely.

[Chief482]

I'm not saying SCS should do it, but if they were to do an AuTS it should be alongside ETS2 and ATS, not after they are complete. Lets face it these 2 games are now likely to continue for decades (possibly as sequals, possibly building on the current assets). The only real question re AuTS is whether it would be commercially viable for SCS to do so and that's fairly unlikely considering the still quite inferior numbers from ATS. To be viable you'd think it would need at least similar numbers to ATS and that just doesn't seem likely.

Yeah as unfortunate as that may be, its a fair assesment.

[Chief482]

Never heard of Dennis? They were the fire truck manufacturer of choice for most metropolitan fire services in Australia for much of the 1900s until International began to replace them in in 1970s / 1980s. They were still used as reserve appliances into the 90s.

I think it's clear that the OP'er is a Victorian (likely Melbournian)

You are correct in that assessment, did the sheer amount of Victorian cities give it away . Realos come from North Queensland (Winton and Mount Isa, now in Charters Towers and Townsville) and rural Vic (Benella), ended up coming down here though just before I was born. Victoria as a whole isn't bad, mostly. It's just that Melbourne is a bit doggy dookie, same with most major cities. Looking to move back to Queensland next year though (hopefully, planning on joining the forces, wanted to since I was little. Basing for the roles I want are in Townsville (the homeland , and best area in the country, aside from all the shit going on there at the moment), Brisbane and Darwin.).

[Underscore_101_]

And those sales figues also explain why I've never seen a Renault or Peterbilt.

When I lived in Melbourne, about 10 years ago, I've seen a Renault Magnum branded as a MACK, at least once

and here's a Peterbilt at a used truck dealer in Melbourne:
[ external image ]

[Some newbie driver]

If I recall right, no Magnum was "branded" Mack. Those ones still had the Renault badge and names as main ones. But they include the big "Mack" name in the front on those who used a high power engine that came from Mack. Mack was more like the "sub-model" name than the brand. Some kind of special edition name.

Regards