Q: If you apply the breaks really hard will they lock up (if the trailer is empty or too light)?
A: Yes
Q: As far as I know when braking the trailer's brakes engage first and then the tractor's. Will this be the case in the game?
A: Yes
Q: Will the player be able to choose the truck at the beginning of the game or will they be given a Kenworth T2000?
A: The player will not be given a choice and I doubt it will be a T2000
Q: Will there be special loads- wide, dangerous/hazardous, illegal?
A: Yes
Q: Will the competition AI upgrade their trucks as well?
A: Yes they will
Q: In the possible upgrades will there be the option of installing a reinforced/pipe front bumper (similar to ones present on Australian road trains)?
A: Yes
Q: Will there be accidents that cause traffic to back up and create jams?
A: Certainly
Q: Can the player purchase/own a trailer?
A: No, trailers will be the property of the company that hires the player to deliver a load.
Q: Can the driver's line of sight be adjusted freely including left or right low or high?
A: Yes
Q: Can a vehicle collision damage rupture can cause a serious explosion?
A: Yes
Q: Will there be sparks of friction on the vehicles?
A: Yes
Q: Will the full version of the game include these roads: I505,I680,I780,I880,I280,I210,I405,I605,I710.Etc). (California Road (SR92,SR84,SR85,SR118,SR46,Etc) (U.S. State Road 丗US50 Etc)?
A: Almost all of them
Q: Will the player have a genuine sense of driving a truck (a sense of weight)?
A: Of course
Q: Maps, is not present we do not see the full version of the road, promotional video maps, Is a test of version map of the road?
A: yes, sometimes i have to secrecy,I've touched somewhat on this question in the thread dedicated to the community website. In the gameplay videos we've seen the presenter briefly open up the game's world map on several occasions. The staff on the community site is assuring that we did NOT see the full map. The full map (whether in screenshots or a new trailer) will be revealed in coming weeks.
A new trailer with engine sounds should have been released with the interview but for whatever reason was slightly delayed. It is possible that it is ready and just needs to be published. The game demos we've seen in the videos from the various game expos are not the complete game, but are lower quality, scaled-down versions which perhaps even have a limited area of the map in which the player can try the game out (a restricted, smaller portion of the map). Even though it certainly does not show the complete map, this screenshot does show the general area and the major cities/towns (but does not show the names of the major highways and smaller roads/streets):
However, asking for a detailed, high resolution screenshot depicting the entire map and all the major highways and streets would be a great request/question .
Q. Trucks available. Will the same trucks be there or will some be deleted?
A. What do you mean by will there be the same trucks? If you are asking whether the list available on rignroll.com will be exactly what vehicles will be in the game then the answer is "no". Due to licensing issues some vehicles will no longer be in the game. The developers are working on creating an updated and accurate list which will be made available to us soon.
Q. Hiring process. Will you have to do 3 loads as previous games?
A. Three loads before being able to hire a driver? This was never the way hiring drivers has worked in the Hard Truck series... in Hard Truck 2, the player had to be the first to deliver a load and would receive a permit to hire one driver which would expire after a limited time... the developers have alluded that the process is similar but will also incorporate a complex social network system through which the player will meet drivers at locations such as bars
Q. Mods. Some of us couldnt figure out how to mod. Will we have more options to upgrade our trucks and trailers?
A. When it is released, the game will not be moddable and no editor will be provided. Players will have a vast variety of upgrades to choose from for their trucks. Because the player will not be able to purchase/own his/her own trailer the trailers will not be upgradable/modifiable.
Q. Cities. Will there be more?
A. There will be 40 or more Californian cities. The addon pack that is currently in development will add parts of Nevada including Las Vegas.
Q. Loading/unloading. Anything new?
A. What are some of the specific things are you referring to on the subject of loading/unloading? The player will be able to pick up loads at warehouse distribution centers. Once the player arrives at the warehouse there will be a cut scene played showing the trailer being attached to the truck and the loaded truck driving out. The player will also be able to back up to and hook up a trailer on his/her own for special assignments at bars and truck stops.
Q. Truck Stops. How are they looking? Can the driver get out of the vehicle, even for a short period of time, maybe to at least pump the fuel.
Basically will the game be similar to HAULIN OR AMERICAN LONG HAUL or will we get features that are different. I was very disppointed that Haulin and ALH were soooo much alike besides Mexico and some small graphic differences?
A. There are some screenshots available of a vacant truck stop. Truck stops will be portals for the player to interact with other drivers similar to how bars work. The player will NOT be able to get out of the truck on his/her own. When the player comes to a gas station there will be a cut scene played that shows the driver getting out of the truck and beginning the fill up process.
Q. Will there always be a time limit on deliveries in game?
A. Yes. Loads will have a time limit during which they have to be delivered. If they do not arrive at the destination in time, the player will not recieve any payment. The amount of time allowed for a delivery will depend on the difficulty level chosen by the player in the game's options setting. There will also be loads which are not competitive (you will be the only one hauling a load like that) but there will be a time limit.
Q. Will police/rescue vehicles respond to a crash scene?
A. Yes, police will respond. Witnesses (other AI drivers) will be able to call the police. If the player is at fault and does not flee the scene in time, the police will arrest/fine him/her.
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**NEW** Interview with Igor Belago (2009/09/08)
I've gone ahead and translated the new interview. The original is available here
gameguru.ru/articles/704/view.html Enjoy!
Hello, Friends!
Today, we would like to present to you material that has never before been available on our portal- an interview. The interview covers the long-awaited third intallment of the simulator «Hard Truck 3: Conquering America». It's not a secret to anyone that development has been going on for the past few years and now the guys at SoftLab-NSK are in the home stretch. Even the official release date has been announced: November 27th, 2009.
What is unique about this interview is that the questions were not formulated by a single person or a professional journalist, but in fact all of them were gathered from a variety of gaming resources of members of the community who have shown patience and dedication to this project.
Traditionally, the questions will be answered by Igor Belago, the company's lead developer.
(Caption: Igor Belago- Director of «Department of Virtual Reality» SoftLab-NSK.)
- Hello! Please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello! Igor Belago -Director of «Department of Virtual Reality» SoftLab-NSK.
- We would like to know the minimum and recommended system requirements, if they have changed.
Minimum:
OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7;
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2.4Ghz;
Memory (RAM): 1.0GB (1024MB);
Graphics Card: class nVidia GeForce 5700 orATI Radeon X800 with 128MB dedicated video memory, DirectX 9.0 compatible;
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 compatible;
Available Hard Drive Space: 10GB;
DirectX version: DirectX 9.0c;
Other: DVD-ROM, Keyboard and mouse
Recommended:
OS: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7;
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz;
Memory (RAM): 2.0GB;
Graphics Card: class nVidia GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon HD 3870 with 256MB dedicated video memory and higher, DirectX 9.0 compatible;
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 compatible;
Available Hard Drive Space: 10GB
DirectX version: DirectX 9.0c.
Other: DVD-ROM drive, keyboard and mouse, steering wheel and pedals
- How long will one in-game day last?
In the main/general mode- 1 hour of real time. In «One Delivery» mode, time and the length of an in-game day will be controlled/modified by the player.
(Caption: What truckers have to haul...)
- Will bad weather conditions affect the behavior of not only the player's vehicle, but the AI traffic as well?
Of course, weather conditions affect all vehicles in the game.
- Will seasons change in the game and how will this be rendered/visualized?
Just like in California. Cold in the winter, lots of rain, and possibly snow and ice in the mountains.
- Is it possible to have snow in the Northern regions of California? If there is ice, will the behavior of vehicle change?
The weather is made to be the realistic representation of weather in California during one randomly chosen year. Snow in the winter and ice in the mountains is possible. "Black ice" is especially dangerous for drivers. This is a thin, see-through layer of ice on the asphalt. To the naked eye it looks like an ordinary patch of wet pavement. Truck drivers identify this effect by the lack of splashes coming off other vehicles.
(Caption: It's a pleasure to drive on such highways.)
- Will there be mafia in the game? If yes, will it be possible for the mafia to die?
The player will encounter mafia in the game. The player can choose which way he/she will deal with the mafia- pull off to the side and fight. Mafia can die/be destoryed. However, keep in mind that it is also possible for the main character to die.
- Violations will only be comprised of things like running a red light and accidents, or will players be expected to adhere to traffic regulations to a greater/more realistic degree?
A very significant portion of California's traffic regulations are realized in the game. However, it would be pointless to intergrate all laws because in real life the work of an American trucker is highly restricted and regulated. Therefore, some of these limitations were not included. You can become familiar with California's traffic regulations by going to the «Tips» section of the game's official website (http://rignroll.com/?type=publ&type_id=advise).
(Caption: Just take a look at the texture and detail of the road.)
- Will there be road closures and the closure of specific lanes in response to an accident? Will there be natural disasters?
Any accident can cause the backing up of traffic and a jam because the traffic in the game is fairly heavy. Special road/lane closures will not occur in the game. There will be no typhoons or tornadoes.
- Will the police only "hunt" the player or can the AI drivers too come under the all-seeing eye of the police?
Even in the case of an accident the police can determine that the AI was at fault and not the player.
- Will there be speed trap cameras set up on roads like in "Hard Truck 2/King of the Road"?
No, there will be no stationary radar devices in the game. However, other drivers can report the player's blatant disregard for the law to the police.
- Will it be possible to bribe the police in the third installment?
No, and even on the real life roads of California we do not recommend that anyone try this. Something like this can easily land you in jail. Even questioning the amount of a fine can make a police officer weary. The courts are the ones that decide. In fact, we were summoned to court when we were caught for speeding on one of our trips to California.
- Will there be traffic jams?
In the game's settings, there is an option called «Intensity of Traffic»/traffic density. Naturally, a large volume of vehicles coupled with inadequate actions on the part of the player will inevitably create traffic jams.
(Caption: The police remains vigilant even at night.)
- How many different cameras are there inside the cab of the trucks? From what vantage points/angles can the player look? Is it still possible to turn the character's head to look?
Inside the cab there are two cameras: one from the driver's seat and the other one from the sleeper. Yes, it is possible to turn the head and even change the zoom of the camera using the mouse.
- Will there be functional turn signals and hazard/emergency blinkers?
Yes, the blinkers even deactivate when the vehicle changes direction, like in real life.
- Will all the gauges on the instrument panel be functional? If the engine is damaged and oil leaks out, will the corresponding warning light come on?
Yes, all gauges and indicator lights are functional. By having some knowledge of how the vehicle operates and looking at the instrument panel the player will be able to detect a problem as well as to determine its severity.
- Will there be communication between drivers though the use of a radio (CB)?
Yes. The CB will provide players with a lot of useful information (unexpected requests for delivery, details about a delivery, requests for help, warnings and many others) and will allow the player to react accordingly.
- Will it be possible to sleep in the tractor's sleeper?
Today, California's truckers rest in motels. The big, comfortable sleeper is more likely a tradition than anything else. The adverse effects/penalties associated with not having enough sleep have been removed from the game even though this is one of the most heavily regulated aspects of the American trucker driver's job.
(Caption: It is a lot easier to go up a hill in an empty truck than a loaded one.)
- Will the player have an AI partner, sitting on the passenger seat, telling jokes and sometimes taking over when the player wants to rest?
No, the player will not have a dedicated AI partner. However, the analog functions will be carried out by colorful fellow travelers, which we will meet at bars, restaurants, and on the side of the road.
- What will happen if the player does not drop off the passenger within the time limit and takes him/her to a location other than the one they need to go? Will the passenger talk with and entertain the player?
If the player runs out of time or causes discomfort to the passenger, then he/she will refuse to continue on the trip, request that the player pull over, and of course will provide no compensation for the ride. However, if everything goes well, further dialog awaits us and possibly a new and exciting assignment.
- Will systems such as engine brake, trailer brake, cruise control, blocking of the differential be available to the player?
Yes, including the popular system "Engine Brake". This is especially important when coming down steep hills, a situation in which applying regular brakes can lead to the burning up/destruction of brake pads and ultimately to brake failure. There are no trucks in the game that make use of the differential blockings. The cruise control system in the game is adaptive, meaning it calculates the distance of the truck to the car that is in front of it and lowers speed if needed. There are many other upgrades which affect the safety of the driver and the mechanical quality of the vehicle.
- Is it possible to damage the hitch/hookup system? Will this affect the strength/reliability of the connection between the trailer and tractor? Is it possible to damage/break the cables running between the truck and trailer? Has trailer braking been realized in the game? Will this affect the behavior of the contents?
It is possible to damage the hitch system. Trailer braking (where the brakes of the trailer come on first and then those of the tractor) has not been implemented in the game. In general, trailers are the property of California's Association of Trade Warehouses and other employing companies and therefore, the player does not have a true obligation to maintain trailers and ensure their sound condition.
(Caption: The true «King of the Road».)
- Will there be damage to vehicles on car transport trailers? Will fuel tankers explode on impact? Will NOS explode?
Yes, cars are a very expensive load and any damage that occurs as a result of the transportation will result in a hefty deduction from the payment. Fuel tankers and gas stations will not explode. Barrels containing flammable materials can explode and the resulting flames can jump to nearby cars.
- Will there be something similar to a technical vehicle inspection?
At every service station the player will be provided with a comprehensive diagnostic report outlining the condition of the truck. There will be no fees/penalties associated with not keeping your truck in perfect working order (apart from the fact that it can break down on you of course).
- Will the trucks of the competitors as well as the player's hired drivers also break down?
Yes, they will. Not only will they break down but they will also wear out if they are used for long trips and have a lot of mileage.
- What are the fundamental differences between "simulator" and "arcade" modes? Will toggling this setting change the driving physics?
There are three difficulty settings in the game- "Newbie" (or 4-wheeler, as professional truck drivers like to call the drivers of passenger vehicles), "Long Haul Trucker" and "Expert". As you go up in these levels, the the contrast in difficulty becomes more and more subtle: players have less time to deliver loads, the payout for delivering a load increases, the wear on the trucks is increased, and the competition and the police become more aggressive. The driving physics of the vehicles and the traction with the road become more and more realistic.
(Caption: A lot of effort went into creating such highly accurate and detailed instrument panels. To top it off, almost all of the gauges are actually functional!)
- Will it be possible to buy a passenger vehicle?
No, this game is dedicated to truck drivers, therefore, we decided not to mix genres and not to transform the game into a traditional racing simulator.
- It was stated that the list of vehicles in the game has changed. Is it possible to create an accurate updated list with high resolution screenshots of the vehicles that will certainly be in the finished game?
The updated list of vehicles is being created as we speak and will be published soon.
- Will it be possible to drive around/free roam with an empty trailer?
All the trailers in the game will be loaded with some type of cargo before they are handed over to the player. As a result of a successful delivery the trailer will be given over to the ordering party. In the case of an unsuccessful delivery, the player will be able to drive around with the trailer for some (limited) time.
- Will the player see other drivers at warehouses and service shops?
Yes, the player will be able to see other drivers entering and leaving the merchandise warehouses. The player will also see other trucks and trailers in parking lots near bars. In the case of the trailer, this may mean that the player will recieve an assignment to transport it to another location.
(Caption: It is very difficult to control the truck in rainy weather.)
- Will it be possible to issue orders to hired drivers?
Strategic controls over his/her company are accessible to the player. The player determines- which types of loads the driver has to deliver, which company vehicle suits the driver best, as well as the driver's wage. The player must determine the strengths and weaknesses of his/her drivers to maximize profit.
- Will the price of fuel change on a given gas station?
No, the price of fuel on a given gas station will not change as the game progresses. However, different station will offer fuel at different prices.
- We know that as we drive through different regions of the state the radio will play the corresponding music. Will the player be able to manually change the radio channel/frequency? Will it be possible to hear Russian speech?
Yes, the player will be able to manually change the radio channel and even turn the radio off completely (if you enjoy working while listening to the engine sound). Of course, you will be able to hear Russian speech and music (at least in the Russian version of the game).
(Caption: If you've got quite a ways to go to a motel, you can lie down in the truck's sleeper and relax.)
- Will an online, downloadable (digital) version of the game be available for purchase?
This will depend on the competence of the publisher.
- Will the game support TrackIR?
Yes, the game supports TrackIR. In addition to that, the game supports a triple monitor setup using TripleHead2Go software from Matrox.
- Windows 7 will soon be released. Will Hard Truck 3 support this operating system?
Yes, the game is already being tested on systems running Windows 7.
(Caption: The steering and physics in the game are realistic so get ready to skid and spin out on wet pavement and get ready for crashes.)
- Today, even seasoned (old school) developers have the tendency to make their games available on console systems. Do you plan to release the game on consoles and if so which ones?
We have given this a lot of thought and have considered the possibilities that current generation consoles offer. For now, «Hard Truck» will remain a PC-exclusive. It is possible that in the future, it will become a multi-platform project.
- Will there be some sort of editor such as SDK?
No, as of now, there are no map/level editors in planning.
(Caption: Full tank!)
-Thank you very much for answering our questions. Goodbye!
Goodbye.