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Euro Truck Simulator 2, differences from reality as evaluated by a real European truck driverThis is an in-depth analysis of how realistically Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) reflects the life of a real European truck driver. Through the eyes of an expert with actual driving experience, we compare the game's driving physics, traffic laws, working hours, and sense of speed, exploring how the game reinterprets the severe responsibilities of reality into an enjoyable experience.
1. 🎮 The Gap Between Game and Reality: The Essence of Simulation
· Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) is called a simulator, but real truck driving is a much harsher reality than the game.
· In the game, mistakes can be retried or result in financial loss, but in reality, even small mistakes can lead to significant consequences.
· This video compares ETS2 with real European roads, with the help of a Brazilian professional driver who has driven trucks in Europe for many years.
· We find out how well the game recreates reality, or if it just makes a comfortable version of it.
· In the game, mistakes can be retried or result in financial loss, but in reality, even small mistakes can lead to significant consequences.
· This video compares ETS2 with real European roads, with the help of a Brazilian professional driver who has driven trucks in Europe for many years.
· We find out how well the game recreates reality, or if it just makes a comfortable version of it.
00:00 - 01:44
1. 🎮 The Gap Between Game and Reality: The Essence of Simulation
· Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) is called a simulator, but real truck driving is a much harsher reality than the game.
· In the game, mistakes can be retried or result in financial loss, but in reality, even small mistakes can lead to significant consequences.
· This video compares ETS2 with real European roads, with the help of a Brazilian professional driver who has driven trucks in Europe for many years.
· We find out how well the game recreates reality, or if it just makes a comfortable version of it.
· In the game, mistakes can be retried or result in financial loss, but in reality, even small mistakes can lead to significant consequences.
· This video compares ETS2 with real European roads, with the help of a Brazilian professional driver who has driven trucks in Europe for many years.
· We find out how well the game recreates reality, or if it just makes a comfortable version of it.
01:45 - 04:39
2. 🚚 Driving and Physics: The Weight of Responsibility
· ETS2 simulates the truck's weight, inertia, steering, braking, and tilt during cornering well, giving a feeling similar to real driving.
· However, real drivers point out the absence of the 'feeling of driving' that cannot be experienced in the game.
· Especially when turning a curve with 24 tons of cargo, the game only shows the truck tilting, but in reality, the driver realizes they are speeding through the feeling of the cabin twisting.
· In the game, mistakes end with a save load or in-game fines, but in reality, there is a responsibility for the safety of others.
· ETS2 simulates the truck's behavior well, but it doesn't convey the actual responsibility of driving tens of tons of cargo. In the game, you 'control' the truck, but in reality, you are 'responsible' for the truck.
· However, real drivers point out the absence of the 'feeling of driving' that cannot be experienced in the game.
· Especially when turning a curve with 24 tons of cargo, the game only shows the truck tilting, but in reality, the driver realizes they are speeding through the feeling of the cabin twisting.
· In the game, mistakes end with a save load or in-game fines, but in reality, there is a responsibility for the safety of others.
· ETS2 simulates the truck's behavior well, but it doesn't convey the actual responsibility of driving tens of tons of cargo. In the game, you 'control' the truck, but in reality, you are 'responsible' for the truck.
04:40 - 07:52
3. 🚨 European Traffic Laws: The Strictness of the Tachograph
· In ETS2, players can play freely, ignoring speed limits or turning off fatigue mode.
· However, in real Europe, a device called a 'tachograph' automatically records and strictly manages driving hours, breaks, speed, working hours, and more.
· Speeding or exceeding driving hours are all recorded and can lead to fines, penalties, and even problems with the company.
· The game does not have a tachograph system, and the application of laws is not as strict as in reality.
· While the game doesn't need to recreate 100% reality, realism significantly drops in this aspect.
· However, in real Europe, a device called a 'tachograph' automatically records and strictly manages driving hours, breaks, speed, working hours, and more.
· Speeding or exceeding driving hours are all recorded and can lead to fines, penalties, and even problems with the company.
· The game does not have a tachograph system, and the application of laws is not as strict as in reality.
· While the game doesn't need to recreate 100% reality, realism significantly drops in this aspect.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tachograph Function | · Automatically records driving hours, rest periods, speed, working hours · Records and stores all information |
| Speed Limit | · Trucks are set to 90km/h · Exceeding 90km/h for more than 1 minute is recorded and warned (penalty points) |
| Violation of Regulations | · Recorded violations lead to fines, penalties, company issues · Police immediately impose fines upon checking tachograph data |
07:53 - 12:04
4. 🗓️ Working Hours: Real Driving Plans Different from the Game
· In ETS2, you pick up cargo, check the route with GPS, and only rest when the fatigue system warns you.
· However, real driving starts even before you start the truck. It requires fuel planning, stop planning, strict time management, and calculating mandatory breaks.
· When loading cargo, you must carefully check weight distribution, securing status, and prepare for unpredictable weather changes like snow.
· You must arrive at your destination within a set time; exceeding it results in fines or problems due to delays.
· In the game, players control their playtime, but in reality, time controls the driver.
· However, real driving starts even before you start the truck. It requires fuel planning, stop planning, strict time management, and calculating mandatory breaks.
· When loading cargo, you must carefully check weight distribution, securing status, and prepare for unpredictable weather changes like snow.
· You must arrive at your destination within a set time; exceeding it results in fines or problems due to delays.
· In the game, players control their playtime, but in reality, time controls the driver.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Daily Driving Hours | · Generally maximum 9 hours · Limited extension possible in specific situations |
| Mandatory Rest | · 45 minutes rest after 4 hours of driving · 11 hours rest (can be reduced to 9 hours three times a week) |
| Driving Plan | · Thorough pre-planning required for fuel, stops, rest times, etc. · Check cargo weight distribution and securing status · Prepare for unpredictable situations like weather changes |
| Time Overrun | · Fines imposed or problems due to delivery delays |
12:05 - 14:13
5. 🛣️ Sense of Speed and Risk Perception: Game Freedom vs. Reality Discipline
· In ETS2, 90km/h often feels slow. Players drive in a safe environment, looking at a screen, so they don't feel real danger.
· This leads to reckless driving in the game, such as changing lanes without turn signals, speeding, or taking sharp turns. In-game, it ends with fines or minor virtual damage.
· In reality, such behavior is absolutely unacceptable.
· To feel speed in the game, you need to increase the FOV (Field of View), but this is a visual illusion, not an actual change in speed. With a realistic FOV (65-70), it feels even slower.
· Real trucks do not accelerate quickly, especially with heavy loads or uphill. Excessive acceleration is just a waste of fuel.
· In the game, freedom is part of the fun, but in reality, discipline is part of survival.
· This leads to reckless driving in the game, such as changing lanes without turn signals, speeding, or taking sharp turns. In-game, it ends with fines or minor virtual damage.
· In reality, such behavior is absolutely unacceptable.
· To feel speed in the game, you need to increase the FOV (Field of View), but this is a visual illusion, not an actual change in speed. With a realistic FOV (65-70), it feels even slower.
· Real trucks do not accelerate quickly, especially with heavy loads or uphill. Excessive acceleration is just a waste of fuel.
· In the game, freedom is part of the fun, but in reality, discipline is part of survival.
14:14 - 15:59
6. 👍 Aspects Where ETS2 Captures Reality Well
· ETS2 has implemented truck suspension, road design, and especially trailer reversing maneuvers very well.
· A real truck driver mentioned that they learned trailer reversing skills through ETS2, which greatly helped them obtain their actual driving license and in their practical work.
· The game doesn't capture the full emotional weight of the profession, real dangers, or real consequences, but it performs its role as a truck game excellently.
· It allows millions of people to partially understand what life on the real road means through ETS2.
· A real truck driver mentioned that they learned trailer reversing skills through ETS2, which greatly helped them obtain their actual driving license and in their practical work.
· The game doesn't capture the full emotional weight of the profession, real dangers, or real consequences, but it performs its role as a truck game excellently.
· It allows millions of people to partially understand what life on the real road means through ETS2.
16:00 - 16:58
7. 💡 Conclusion: A Smart Choice Between Reality and Fun
· If ETS2 strictly reflected everything like real roads, where every decision had weight, and every mistake left a mark, would it still be enjoyable?
· ETS2 doesn't try to recreate the harshest parts of the profession. Instead, it takes core elements like driving, the cabin, and long roads, and turns them into a playable experience without the real pressure, real fear, or real consequences.
· This is the cleverness of the game. It doesn't need to be a perfect replica; being immersive is enough, and ETS2 has done an excellent job in this role.
· ETS2 doesn't try to recreate the harshest parts of the profession. Instead, it takes core elements like driving, the cabin, and long roads, and turns them into a playable experience without the real pressure, real fear, or real consequences.
· This is the cleverness of the game. It doesn't need to be a perfect replica; being immersive is enough, and ETS2 has done an excellent job in this role.