Rig 'n' Roll

Lore & Background

Rig'n'Roll was developed by SoftLab-NSK's Igor Belago, who was inspired by games like Grand Theft Auto. The game was in development for over 9 years because the developer focused primarily on making hardware and software equipment for multimedia, TV broadcasting, VR systems, imaging systems for training simulators, and video game engines. Before release, it was featured at E3 2005, Gamescom, and several other Russian gaming exhibitions and developer conferences. A demo was announced for 2009 and then for 2010, but both scheduled dates were canceled. All cheats were removed prior to release, and modding possibilities, trainer usage, save file hex-editing, and hacking were somewhat restricted.

Gameplay emphasizes road exploration based on real-life locations, with non-linear environments, multiple missions, and places to visit. Management is handled via sliders, focusing on cargo and truck selection and route choice. Players start missions by driving into a warehouse and choosing between normal deliveries (solo or against AI opponents) or races. Deliveries have time limits, and payments are deducted if fragile goods are damaged. Players can interact with NPCs such as hitchhikers and take on sidequests. The management aspect allows hiring or firing drivers, adjusting AI behavior, upgrading trucks, viewing rankings, and managing business via freight offices, warehouses, and a PDA device called 'Black Shark'. Each driver has preferences for delivery distance, fragile goods, and race frequency; changing AI behavior may increase earnings but can lower driver loyalty.

There are no speed limits on in-game roads, but following traffic laws is heavily emphasized. Offenses such as driving at night without headlights, wrong-way driving, or failing to yield can result in police pursuit and fines, even if no police are visible at the time of the offense.

Reader's Guide

Rig'n'Roll received mostly fair to positive reviews on Metacritic and GameRankings, with praise for its realistic graphics depicting Californian scenery, impressive physics, truck designs, music soundtrack, intuitive controls, mission structure, and gameplay variety. Criticism focused on its truck-driving simulation feeling too 'arcadey', a weak in-game tutorial, lack of multiplayer, and frequent development delays. The game's significance lies in its blend of open-world exploration, truck driving simulation, and business management, inspired by Grand Theft Auto. Its long development cycle of over 9 years, during which the developer worked on other hardware and software projects, contributed to its delayed release and limited modding support. The inclusion of a skin creation program for trucks, license plates, and trailers, along with the 'Black Shark' PDA for management, added depth. However, the absence of multiplayer and the cancellation of demo releases may have limited its broader appeal. Its legacy is as a niche title that attempted to merge simulation and arcade elements within a North American trucking setting.

Did You Know?

• The game was in development for over 9 years due to the developer focusing on hardware and software for multimedia, TV broadcasting, and VR systems.
• All cheats were removed from the game prior to release.
• The game includes a program for creating skins for trucks, license plates, and trailers.