Hi there... back again in a shiny new year with Milan, who's off on a trip around SCS's shiny new version of the Baltic region.
I wanted to tour another ProMods region first but it's taken much longer than I expected to make PM compatible with the Baltic region.
So right now my ETS2 is PM free and there will be alternating shots from the Baltic DLC and Arizona for a while.
We kicked off at my garage in default vanilla SCS Bialystok. Going East is vanilla really, isn't it.
The usual ETS2 stuff, with a few custom buildings rustled up for the first ever ETS2 DLC.
Driving the new(-ish) Scania...with a festive paintjob. Not so festive now in February, but whatever.
I got somewhat annoyed with all the people complaining about the new Baltic DLC. Whining about how disappointed they are,
claiming to have returned it for a refund. It's no better than default, they claim. What a load of rubbish. THIS bit of N.E. Poland approaching
the Lithuanian border is default. Try comparing it to the images just below.
One last default shot... look at those ubiquitous and wierd water towers and the nasty jaggies on the pylons there. Assets probably created in 2006
when SCS were still aiming for the bargain bins in Tesco from which grannies and aunties buy games for their young relatives based on
the fact that "at least it's not violent and he once gurgled and pointed at a truck only 8 years ago" and regurgitated still in 2013 due to lack of
staff and funds. And back in 2013 I was glad to have it... but horribly outdated in comparison to what SCS have been cooking up over the last
couple of years.
The DLC starts well before the border, right here. You can see the pylons and water towers in the background, and already the higher fidelity and
quality of the new scenery is apparent.
Here it is on the map, just for interest's sake.
We're approaching the crossroads shown on the map, about to turn right, full of excitement and anticipation...
Still in Poland, already appreciating the new scenery.
Crossing the border.
"Subtle beauty" sums it up about right, really. I like it.
Some great details here and there. Very lush and green.
Local architecture.
We've reached the delivery point in Vilnius.
Nothing that knocks you off your feet, but a lot more realistic than Going East default.
Off with my owned flatbed and a heavy cargo for a short rainy hop to Utena.
People who say their disappointed - what with? I was somewhat puzzled by the decision by SCS to build this part of the world
instead of the far more spectacular Iberian peninsula, but once the shock died away I could imagine a few reasons
why they did it and the idea grew on me - Going East will no doubt get the same treatment, they can use many
of the assets in the next DLC too, the many Russian mods should also benefit...
But yeah, the whole area is pretty flat, with lots of fields, trees, lakes and not much else. Grey post-communist buildings, fairly low rise cities.
Not much by way of amazing architecture, stunning mountains, clifftop roads. No Grand Canyon.
It is quite a boring region, really, like much of the world in fact. But SCS have modelled it very nicely, I think. Once ProMods have upgraded
it and integrated it with their existing fine work it's going to be an area I will always look forward to visiting.
Milan, over and out for today...