18_Wheels_of_Steel

Games

The first installment, released in 2002, is similar to Hard Truck: 18 Wheels of Steel but with updated graphics, more trucks and cargo, and a new map covering the entire continental U.S. through 30 cities. Players can choose from 30 trucks and 40+ trailers, with a day cycle of 24 minutes. The game focuses on cargo delivery and includes three AI drivers. Unlike its predecessor, it lacks a sleep timer, but features an improved traffic model and airplanes, helicopters, and trains with authentic sounds.

The 2004 release, 18 Wheels of Steel: Pedal to the Metal, allows travel across the continental U.S., northern Mexico, and southern Canada through 30 cities. The sleep timer returns, and the traffic model is improved. This game requires OpenGL and has the fastest map to date besides Haulin', being the first trucking game to feature more than one country.

Another updated installment lets players travel through the United States and southern Canada, but unlike Pedal to the Metal, Mexican cities are absent. Players can visit 30+ cities and choose from 35+ rigs, 45+ cargoes, and 47+ trailers. The mouse is used to look outside the cab at mirrors. Graphics are much improved, showing drivers in other vehicles and black exhaust when trucks are lugged under 1500 RPM. Dynamic dashboard gauges were replaced with simple inanimate textures, though a 2008 patch fixed this and minor bugs. Players can also buy items for protection.

A later installment adds more cities and more realistic graphics, with Mexico absent as in Convoy. Custom soundtracks and saving during deliveries are new features. Players can choose from 32 rigs, 45+ cargoes, and 47+ trailers, including double trailers. The game runs on most older PCs without requiring a powerful computer, but the Prism3d engine may cause crashes on older graphics cards at startup. Countries included are the United States and Canada.