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UK Truck Simulator

Publisher:  Excalibur Publishing
Published 2010

PC Game, Minimum System Requirements
- Windows Vista/XP/7
- 1GB RAM (2GB for Vista/7)
- 2.2GHz Processor or faster
- 900 MB Hard Disk Space
- DirectX 9 Compatible Sound Card,
- DirectX 9.0
- Graphics Card 256MB (GeForce FX, ATI 9600 or better)

Review Date:  September 2010


Books, DVD and Software Index



 


The disc box.
View from inside the cab with working instruments.
View from above helps to carry out some of the trickier manoeuvres
This software package is one of a series of simulators covering a variety of machine types that are published by Excalibur Publishing.

The game took some effort to install.  On two Vista machines it appeared to have stopped working during the install process but in fact it just took quite a long time.  Once installed it ran without problems.

UK Truck Simulator is a first person driving game, which allows the user to experience a little of the life of a truck driver.  When the game is first entered, a tutorial indicates the buttons to press and to give the user the basic outline they need to use the game successfully.

The simulator starts with the objective to deliver loads in an allocated amount of time.  You are given an option of three companies to work for in different parts of the UK and you are allocated loads to be delivered.  Driving the truck involves hitching and unhitching the trailer and following the map to your destination.  As you go you earn money for delivering loads efficiently but crashing and other mishaps such as speeding deduct money from your cash pile.  Crashing too many times can render the vehicle useless and send you back to the start of the mission. 

The game uses a road map of the UK as its basis and well known landmarks are included.  In London for example the Gherkin building appears, as does the yet to be constructed Pinnacle tower.

The game retains interest in the longer term by expanding into running a trucking business when enough money has been accumulated allowing whole fleets to be run.

The graphics are pretty good as long as you have a decent graphics card, and the sound effects are fine too.  The user has the option of a number of views including inside the cab, a general outside view, a tyre view, a birds eye view and others.  The controls for the game are fairly straightforward using the arrow keys as the directional buttons although steering takes some mastery to be anything like smooth.  However the added choices of using a steering wheel, joystick or game pad gives the user the freedom to use whichever they feel most comfortable with.

Overall, UK Truck Simulator is a fun game, which has some depth as it allows the building of a business over time.  It is highly recommended.  Other versions of the game include Euro Truck Simulator and German Truck Simulator.
The tractor heads down the road, headlights on.
The graphics are pretty good.
Get them logs delivered - quick!