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Coquihalla Summit, Mount Robson, Rogers Pass, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan Valley – these are just a few of the locations featured in an upcoming British Columbia expansion for American Truck Simulator.
Developed in the Czech Republic by SCS Software, the video game has attracted a large online following, allowing players to get behind the wheel as a virtual truck driver.
“Most of us have British Columbia on our travel list, because you know, we’ve seen a lot of photos and videos of the amazing nature and national parks that you have,” said SCS head of marketing Daniel Nemec.
He says BC’s expansion connects nicely to the existing game world, with Washington state just across its virtual border.
Several western US states have already been added to the game since its launch in 2016, along with California and Nevada. The BC expansion is the first map set outside the US.
Nemec says he thought interest in the game would be niche. It has sold more than six million copies.
“It’s impressive to see how many people are there with some passion for large vehicles and transportation.”
Jared Jensen, a retired long-haul trucker of nearly 30 years who has driven across Canada, the United States and northern Mexico, streams the game on his Twitch channel. Viking hammer setfrom his home in Lethbridge, Alta.
“It’s a lot of fun, there’s a lot of camaraderie and a lot of laughter. And yes, I’ve met a lot of amazing people in the last four years since I started doing this,” he said.
Jensen, a former owner of a long-haul trucking business, says his streams focus on real-life scenarios as much as possible: obeying the in-game traffic laws, for example, and stopping for safety checks.
He says he wants to give viewers a taste of what it’s like to be a long-haul truck driver and is excited to revisit British Columbia locations from his career.
“Being an owner-operator, you’re very responsible for everything, every nickel that goes in or out of that truck,” Jensen said.
“I’ve always been very particular when it comes to things like that, inspecting my vehicles before I put them on the road because lives are at stake.”
SEE | The truck driving video game advances an expansion with BC:
The game features models and parts from licensed automakers such as Peterbilt, Mack, Western Star, Kenworth, Freightliner, International and Volvo, allowing players to build and drive their own custom trucks.
Career nostalgia fuels Jensen’s passion for the game: he grew up on a ranch in southern Alberta and began hauling trucks as a young adult.
Play the simulator with a steering wheel, pedals, clutch and an 18-speed gear shift, getting as close to reality as possible.
“I feel at home all the time riding highways on the simulator I used to ride,” he said.
Nemec says the expansion is a work in progress with no release date yet, and locations featured in the trailer may change.
An opportunity to explore North America.
Getting a commercial driver’s license is no easy feat, says Dave Earle, president and CEO of the BC Trucking Association. He hasn’t played, but says he understands its appeal and that the real-life opportunities in the trucking industry are just as rewarding.
“As a long-haul driver, you get to see the entire continent… in all its awe-inspiring majesty,” he said.
“This is what that game shows. And that attraction for people to be able to do it virtually behind the wheel and have all the fun that comes with that.”
Earle says he saw the RW Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous, BC, on the expansion trailer and a view to the east of Mount Robson as he headed toward Alberta, places he’s very familiar with.
“I think it’s an exciting opportunity for people even if they’re not necessarily in love with the trucking element.”
