Other Map Discussion (Mainly TSM)
Posted: 14 Nov 2013 21:18
To be fair to TSM, it did make a very attractive proposition, after I had first found out how to install mods, it was one of the first things I downloaded. I mean, come on, who wouldn't have done after seeing how much content it had to offer, and the fact that it increased the map by about 2x its own size.
When I first started, I took a job up to Denmark, towards Kolding. I was not impressed immediately after arriving in the new part of the map; I remember not noticing the difference between SCS and TSM to start with. Admittedly, the scenery started to look more 'Danish' on the next road I took, but then I noticed the awful artificial 'made for map' models of trucks and cars. Eww.
Despite this, I progressed with the map, and was actually quite pleased with how it felt. After I eventually got into Africa, I was impressed with Tunisia (towards Libya). However, I then started going towards Egypt. Oh dear. The gradients were horrible; I remember going up every single hill at the same speed no matter what load I was pulling. This got incredibly boring. What's more, it didn't suit the base game at all; driving straight down a hill at 70mph in my beloved MAN TGX without a retarder, I was soon thrusted up the hill. Having cruise control set to 55mph provides a horrible experience, as the engine chucked gears down remarkably quickly, down to 9th and at 3000rpm (Perhaps more, as this is as far as the counter goes). Eventually in about 4th at less than 10mph, I kept thinking to myself 'This truck would pull 7 tons faster than this' (even at 360hp). This, as aforementioned, got extremely boring and made for painful listening experience as my truck strangled itself to death.
This is the end of my endeavors, no? Well, no, actually.
I hadn't yet discovered the worst thing about TSM. On these hills, I kept thinking that the constant over-revving of the engine was leading to damage, but why the hell was my trailer getting damaged? I found out swiftly enough, many times. The AI rams your trailer, and is not satisfied until you gain no profit at all for your journey. I remember pulling to the hard shoulder on motorways to avoid them, whilst thinking how unrealistic that made it. In a game which, after all, was made to be a simulator.
When it comes to gaming, I'm a very patient person. So, I persevered. I assumed the slow hills were past the braking abilities of the AI, that this was the only reason my trailer was damaged. But, a week later, whilst in Croatia, enjoying the relaxing journey between Dubrovnik and Split, (I have been there so it was fun to drive in game) and doing a respectable 55mph (90kph), i got bunted up the backside by some idiot in a Ford Mondeo. They obviously hadn't told the AI to remember there is actual RI (Real Intelligence) on this stretch of road I assumed this was again a glitch, but I got 100% damage by doing so. I was furious, again having to pull over to the hard shoulder, and cancelling my job.
To be honest, I could go on for ages about TSM, in a bad way. But I'll assure you... Don't download it.
P.S. I got hysterical after noticing, coming out of a Greek Port, how bad the scaling of the containers is...
As for Promods; I never really thought about downloading it. However, my end of patience with TSM coincided nicely with DaSquirrelsnuts interviewing Nico on Twitch. After watching the vids on YouTube (My broadband is slow as hell and I was out anyway), I decided to give it a whirl. I cannot emphasise enough how good a decision that was. Wow. Just wow. Imagine how I felt when I heard about the expansion plans.
So, that was a quick insight into TSM and its 'comparison' with Promods. I want to hear what you think of TSM, please, even you, the mappers .
The moral of the story is, when it comes to ETS 2 map mods, remember, quality not quantity. Except, if you are patient, the quantity is also vastly increasing.
When I first started, I took a job up to Denmark, towards Kolding. I was not impressed immediately after arriving in the new part of the map; I remember not noticing the difference between SCS and TSM to start with. Admittedly, the scenery started to look more 'Danish' on the next road I took, but then I noticed the awful artificial 'made for map' models of trucks and cars. Eww.
Despite this, I progressed with the map, and was actually quite pleased with how it felt. After I eventually got into Africa, I was impressed with Tunisia (towards Libya). However, I then started going towards Egypt. Oh dear. The gradients were horrible; I remember going up every single hill at the same speed no matter what load I was pulling. This got incredibly boring. What's more, it didn't suit the base game at all; driving straight down a hill at 70mph in my beloved MAN TGX without a retarder, I was soon thrusted up the hill. Having cruise control set to 55mph provides a horrible experience, as the engine chucked gears down remarkably quickly, down to 9th and at 3000rpm (Perhaps more, as this is as far as the counter goes). Eventually in about 4th at less than 10mph, I kept thinking to myself 'This truck would pull 7 tons faster than this' (even at 360hp). This, as aforementioned, got extremely boring and made for painful listening experience as my truck strangled itself to death.
This is the end of my endeavors, no? Well, no, actually.
I hadn't yet discovered the worst thing about TSM. On these hills, I kept thinking that the constant over-revving of the engine was leading to damage, but why the hell was my trailer getting damaged? I found out swiftly enough, many times. The AI rams your trailer, and is not satisfied until you gain no profit at all for your journey. I remember pulling to the hard shoulder on motorways to avoid them, whilst thinking how unrealistic that made it. In a game which, after all, was made to be a simulator.
When it comes to gaming, I'm a very patient person. So, I persevered. I assumed the slow hills were past the braking abilities of the AI, that this was the only reason my trailer was damaged. But, a week later, whilst in Croatia, enjoying the relaxing journey between Dubrovnik and Split, (I have been there so it was fun to drive in game) and doing a respectable 55mph (90kph), i got bunted up the backside by some idiot in a Ford Mondeo. They obviously hadn't told the AI to remember there is actual RI (Real Intelligence) on this stretch of road I assumed this was again a glitch, but I got 100% damage by doing so. I was furious, again having to pull over to the hard shoulder, and cancelling my job.
To be honest, I could go on for ages about TSM, in a bad way. But I'll assure you... Don't download it.
P.S. I got hysterical after noticing, coming out of a Greek Port, how bad the scaling of the containers is...
As for Promods; I never really thought about downloading it. However, my end of patience with TSM coincided nicely with DaSquirrelsnuts interviewing Nico on Twitch. After watching the vids on YouTube (My broadband is slow as hell and I was out anyway), I decided to give it a whirl. I cannot emphasise enough how good a decision that was. Wow. Just wow. Imagine how I felt when I heard about the expansion plans.
So, that was a quick insight into TSM and its 'comparison' with Promods. I want to hear what you think of TSM, please, even you, the mappers .
The moral of the story is, when it comes to ETS 2 map mods, remember, quality not quantity. Except, if you are patient, the quantity is also vastly increasing.