18_Wheels_of_Steel

18 Wheels of Steel is a trucking simulation series from SCS Software and ValuSoft, running from 2002 to 2011. It spun off from the Hard Truck series, with its first title also serving as the third Hard Truck game. By 2003, the series had sold over 580,000 copies. The first game, *Hard Truck: 18 Wheels of Steel*, launched in August 2002. The next year, *Across America* updated the graphics, added more trucks and cargo, and introduced a map covering the continental U.S. with 30 cities. Players could choose from 30 trucks and 40+ trailers, with a 24-minute day cycle. It featured three AI opponents, an improved traffic model, and sounds for planes, helicopters, and trains, but removed the sleep timer from the original. *Pedal to the Metal* (August 2004) expanded the map to include northern Mexico and southern Canada, totaling 30 cities. It restored the sleep timer, required OpenGL, and was the fastest map in the series until *Haulin'*. It was also the first game in the series to feature multiple countries. *Convoy* (September 2005) removed Mexican cities but kept southern Canada, offering over 30 cities, 35+ rigs, 45+ cargoes, and 47+ trailers. Players used the mouse to check mirrors, and graphics improved, showing drivers in other vehicles and black exhaust from trucks under 1,500 RPM. Dynamic dashboard gauges were replaced with static textures, though a 2008 patch fixed bugs. Players could also buy protective items. *Haulin'* (December 2006) added more cities and realistic graphics, but dropped Mexico. It allowed custom soundtracks and mid-delivery saves, with 32 rigs, 45+ cargoes, and 47+ trailers, including doubles. It ran on older PCs, though its Prism3d engine could crash on outdated graphics cards. The map covered the U.S. and Canada. *American Long Haul* (December 2007) reused *Haulin'*’s gameplay but added two new trucks, renamed companies, and three Mexican cities, plus nine returning from *Pedal to the Metal* with updated maps. *Extreme Trucker* (September 2009) shifted the concept, focusing on three areas: Yungas Road, Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road, and the Australian Outback. Free roam was removed; players selected jobs from a menu after meeting requirements. Trucks and cars were modeled after real brands, but players couldn’t own vehicles. It ran on low-to-mediocre computers.