I started playing European Truck Simulator 2 a few months ago when they had a free to play weekend. I thought it was a pretty relaxing game, and enjoyed the realism and driving across Europe. I even got some mods to enhance the experience and was not let down. I had heard American Truck Simulator was the same but a little newer so the graphics would be better, I decided to give it a try when it the DLCs showed up on sale. I'm glad I did.

I have learned that there are many players of this game who play to have an experience close as they can to driving a real truck. That's cool, but I am just in it for the casual aspect. I turn off the traffic violations (but keep vehicle damage enabled, for some challenge) and just drive everywhere as fast as I can, or as fast as one can in a big truck hauling 50 tons of lumber industry heavy equipment. It's a relaxing game to listen to a podcast while I haul a knuckleboom crane from Tacoma to someplace in the middle of nowhere Arizona.

There is a mod community that comes out with some nice enhancements to the game, but not nearly to the level of European Truck Simulator. That said, there are a few things I find lacking in this game that I think would make it a little more interesting:

* The horn sounds don't appear to change. You can have a little beep or a big loud horn. I think they should let you customize it. Like La Cucaracha, or that horn sound from Dukes of Hazzard when Bo & Luke do a big jump over a lake or large structure.
* The extrerior customizations are a little lacking. Sure you can paint your truck any color or have an image from ATS's library or a workshop mod, but what about exhaust mods? Some flames would be awesome! How about spinning rims for your Peterbilt, show the road who is boss!
* There are other trucks in the game, both in parking lots and rest areas. Perhaps give the player the risk of stealing one? Dump the cargo a few exits away and get that truck to a chop shop to sell or make it your own!
* There are NPCs in the game, but it would be good if we could interact with them in any way. Perhaps a good start would be hitchhikers along the highway, or hookers at the truck stops. Right now you can't even hit an NPC with your truck, such as the policeman standing roadside writing someone a ticket.
* The cargoes get repetitive after a while and you don't really get a lot more money, except for a small bonus for each level you advance. There's already cops in the game, can't we spice up the cargoes? Instead of delivering Electronics to the "Charged" store, how about delivering a truckload of counterfeit electronics somewhere for a bigger profit? Perhaps your truckload of canned tomatoes can have various contraband contained within so you can get more cash and prizes for the delivery. Now that is "High Value Cargo"!
* With those extended cargo options would probably come greater scrutiny. In addition to the police, perhaps there could be rival truckers, or other types of NPCs such as biker gangs out on the road for you to deal with.
* Dealing with these events would probably require the use of weapons. Allowing the trucker to be armed with a handgun or shotgun would help protect against NPCs when you're driving a big slow truck.
* Introduce the ability to purchase businesses rather than just garages. You'll earn more money when you not just own the delivery but the sale of the delivered items as well.
* To that end, perhaps the people you hire can be hired as not just truckers but dockworkers to make sure your illicit cargo makes it through the port, security for the protection of you and your businesses or mechanics to give your truck performance enhancements not available at the "regular" truck dealers and service centers.