18 Wheels of Steel : American Long Haul
Your American Dream starts behind the wheel of your own big rig.
18 Wheels of Steel : American Long Haul Accessories
 18 Wheels of Steel: Haulin'
18 Wheels of Steel: Pedal to the Metal
Rail Simulator
18Wheels of Steel Convoy (Jewel Case)
Bus Driver
John Deere North American Farmer
John Deere American Farmer with John Deere Builder Bundle
Ship Simulator 2008
18 Wheels of Steel Convoy
Train Simulator - jc
18 Wheels of Steel : American Long Haul Reviews
However, it gets repetitive after a while. Overall, though, it's a decent game and they enjoy playing it. My kids say this game is a lot better than other trucking games they've played. For example, once you've hired a new driver for your trucking job, there's always plenty of cash available without you having to do anything. The graphics are pretty good and the action is realisitic. (When you go through a red light or speed, the police give chase).
It helps them focus and learn. We had a little trouble getting it loaded at first, but once we got the graphics card and got it running he just loves it to death. "it makes you feel like you are really driving a truck" he says. My son enjoys this game so much, you have to peel him away from it. boys and girls will get a kick out of real life simulator games.
I just wish they didn't put you in a dog truck to start with. I like playing this game much better than any of the previous versions. The cops are "johnny-on-the-spot" catching me forgetting my headlights, windshield wipers, and my occasional smashing of a trail of cars that get in front of me in my impatience to deliver my load. Graphics are great, just ensure your video drivers are current. Most issues are related to the drivers.
I do not recommend the patch if you do not need it. :). I installed it and now my wheel acts strange during play.
If there is a car accident the man should be able to call for help. Other than this the game is fun. The Game is great but I recommend that there should be smaller roads other than the highway like shortcuts leading to a lake and small villages, and farms roads. There should be more locations where you could hire people.
There should be truck stops to eat and hotels to go and sleep with the man getting out of the truck, putting gas. Plus all the cities look similair. There should be where you could use other vehicles, like to load your own truck with, to use at a construction site(Bulldoazers, Fork lift, etc).
Another one is to make people walk on the sidewalks in the city.
The same setup for the cities is again in American Long Haul. Even with thise requirements I promise you, you will not break the bank. If the budget was too tight maybe split it into several expansions. You could drive a gasoline trailer either to the gas companies refinery and/or the actual gas station and fill up the stations gas tanks for its customers.
Very disappointing. Please, no more cardboard buildings. All the companies are completely devoid of people and no other trucks come in but yours. I only played the demo for a few minutes because it seemed like I was playing Haulin all over again.
There are a few large truckstops but to me it's not a truckstop if you can't get out of your truck, fill up the tank, go to the bathroom, talk to other drivers, or relax in the resturant. Let it become what the Simcity franchise has been known forneverending and without any "clear goals." You just need to balance your budget. What is inexusable are the highways and streets throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. If you brought cars, you should be able to drive the cars off your trailer and put them in the dealers lot.
It would be nice to have a forklift and deliver the goods into the warehouse or place of business that you are deliverying to. What about the tunnels to go from Manhattan into New Jersey. Maybe the developers can add car washes and realistic gas and service stations. Can I check the oil and engine. The developers should of at least done their homework on how the cities are laid out as well as the routes to get to them. I wasn't expecting American Long Haul to be almost the same as Haulin. The Deleware River Gap Bridge when you drive on Interstate 80 through New Jersey.
In a lot of forums I've see most people say Flight Simulator requires at least a Quad Core Processor. When you travel the highways, there are barren areas and areas that you wish were barren. The only pleasant scenery is the water (bodies of water). I was hoping for the actual suspension bridges that lead to New York City as well as others.
Reading a few reviews when the 18WoS franchise was first started showed that it was a surprise hit and got better with each new release (again not counting Convoy). Valusoft/SCS has created a great series in 18 Wheels of Steel. It's also weird to see no one manning the weigh stations. What about after a long delivery, can I go to a Motel or Hotel (again getting out of my truck) and rest. Replace the tires.
I love the 18WoS series and hope new content is added. You can't even look through the building's window. I'm not just talking about the New York/New Jersey area, I'm speaking for the whole area that is included in 18WoS: American Long Haul. If I had a house somewhere in the cities or outlining suburbs-I have bills to pay. I think the minor additions to American Long Haul could of very well been a patch for Haulin.
:-), maybe wash your rig, or buy acessories as well (Yes I saw the History Channels Modern Marvels: Truck Stops). If you do to, stick with Haulin because if you buy American Long Haul, its 99.9999999% the same and yes if you don't own Haulin then American Long Haul would be the one to get. Use Google Earth if you can't travel all over the United States and take pictures. People can decide to be a trucker, own, a truck dealership, drive in cars, become a police officer, a customs official (goods coming from abroad and into your warehouse to ship), own/build resturants, car washes, gas stations, industries, the tools for trucks (pipes/hoses for gasoline trailers ect.
I enjoy Haulin even though the graphics are making me go blahhhh. If I am in Las Vegas, can I actually stop off at the casino. What about truck stops. A good lesson within the game would be if you are in a resturant/bar on your night off or your down time and you drink to much, the police WILL catch you and determine if you were under the influence, arrest you, and this means game over. You can also be your own boss and hire other drivers just like in Haulin. It's time to polish up the graphics, extend throughout the farthest reaches of North America.
It would be nice if the next title in the 18WoS series would bring live cities: people, more realistic buildings, bridges, traffic, construction, accidents, and toll bridges. A realistic police force (an intelligent AI) would be fantastic. Finally, since when do you deliver your cargo and there is no one to except it. When I saw this on the SCS website, I was looking forward to a new chapter in the 18WoS series however when I played the demo, it's exactly like Haulin.
The 18WoS franchise had put a lot of $30-$50 games to shame. It's weird dropping off cargo and it all of a sidden disapears when you press "T" and you get the money automatically into your bank account. If my house is nearby, can I go home and rest. With todays computers (dual core, quad core) and graphic cards, SCS/Valusoft can certainly put together a 18WoS game that certainly can be deep and wow people.
If I own a company there is got to be other things to do than simply hiring drivers and buying them rigs. With games being manufactured on DVD's you can't tell me that there isn't enough space on a DVD. The graphics being the most important. Check my tires. Can I get out of my truck to pump my own gas. Talk to other truckers in the lobby.
The cities need to be lively. With todays computers and computer components as well as their prices the game can reach another level. For those people who own 18WoS: Haulin, it's pretty much the same game and you might feel disapointed and think, "Hey, I just played this in Haulin.", when you play the demo. I would love to see this game be the talk of the industry with system requirements copying Flight Simulator X.
The 18WoS franchise has been a great driving simulator and buisness sim as well as being pretty stable (not counting Convoy). I also am wondering that thoughout the game, how come there are absolutely no truck stops anywhere. I would love to see this game require dual core processors and at least a NVidia 8800 and ATI x1950 or higher video card. You start off with a truck and haul different types of cargo through the United States, Canada and now Mexico (only a few cities). How about building an office complete with a truck yard.
The only thing different in 18WoS: ALH is that you can bid on cargo and their are some shortcuts. Again the cities in Long Haul as well as the previous 18WoS, are so stale that it seems like no one lives in these cities. The first couple from the 18WoS series it's understandable and I have been amazed as to how 18WoS first came out and matured into a surprising hit as a driving simulation and business sim. They've constistantly kept the price down (only $19.99) and have made great products. To anyone who's never played the 18WoS games then this is the game for you. All you see are cars and trucks.
I think (and I'm not speaking for everyone) people will be willing to shell out a little bit more if this game, company, and franchise go up a level or two and take the Tycoon trophy. Take on multiple computer opponents. Can I buy a snack or a drink. In the latest release by Valusoft/SCS American Long Haul has the same graphics as Haulin as well as the same premise. Mexico was added but it was previously in 18WoS: Pedal to the Medal only. If the cities are more realistic instead of empty of any human activity, and the routes to get to and from cities was more accurate, I think I would not mind to pay extra if the coompany raised the price from $19.99 to $29.99 or even $39.99.
What this means is that the cities are devoid off people, the traffic lights are strangely the same in every city, the buildings and scenery are bland and look like pop up books or blocks of cardboard. Turning lanes would be a nice addition because a accident is just waiting to happen, plus when you wait for a clear path making a left turn, you are constantly being honked at. Sadly, the graphics are getting old and the game itself is beginning to get stale. Can you give bills/reciepts to show that you had reached your destination. I think it's time to up the system requirements and completely change how a simulation and a tycoon game can be created. Talk to other truckers in the truckstop. Throwing a wrench in this game would be to become the TOP TRUCKING COOMPANY that meets the demands of "its" customers while balancing a budget.
An option for multiplayer would be interesting. The game could end if you decide to retire, steal from the company and get caught, get arrested and can't pay the court fees and fines and/or jail time or cause such a horrific accident that your license it taken away for good. What I'm implying is that the realism factor has certainly gone down. At truckstops, you can relax, have a meal (everyone, come on you know the words.YMCA, gonna stay at the YMCA.sorry couldn't help it. I realized that the modest system requirements have allowed the 18WoS franchise to bring a great level of playability and realism. The traffic signals even look the same.
It would be nice if I had a reason for working as a trucker or owning my own business. The wow factor in this game and hopefully this won't be the last one is to release it on a DVD(s) and restore this game as a model of beauty. Can I tell the mechanic (depending on the time of the day to check the engine). If you retire you can have the option of buying an industry or a commerical business that trucking companies do business with so you're still a part of the action if you decide to "take a break." It would be great to have control of building your own warehouse to store whatever your hauling and actually have employees as well yourself removing the cargo. Going into cities which seem so familiar and seeing no one walking or people coming out of shops and office buildings just doesn't cut it anymore. At some weigh stations if you make the wrong turn to the parking lot before you "get weighed, you get a ticket.
Unfortunately it seems like the 18WoS series is beginning to get stale and repetitive.
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