Why choose a simulation game?

In the past, the nearest we could get to driving a racing car, or being a train driver was having either a Scalextric racing car set or a model railway. And the nearest we could get to flying was usually an Airfix model, a powered model plane on a wire, or if able to afford one a remote control aeroplane. With the introduction of computers and game machines in the home, it at last opened the door to real simulation, and with recent technology advancements of super quality real-life graphics, and the use of artificial intelligence, we can finally get to experience all that we once wished for as a child.

Yes, there are many other computer games out there, First-person shooter and war related games,  and endless fantasy worlds, but not everyone wants to fight goblins and dragons, some do not want to fight at all.
Some of us prefer the more 'Real Life' style, such as a driving simulator, or flying simulator.

Immersion is everything, and the creators really are making the most of Artificial Intelligence (AI), modern fast graphic engines and advanced sound and graphics, making them so realistic and believable. Additional plug-in equipment such as a driving wheel, gear stick and pedals for car driving, or a yoke, or flight-stick for flying can really push the boundaries of immersion even further. And although definitely not a replacement for driving or flying lessons, it can be a safe way to gain some driving knowledge, experience and to gain confidence.

Personally I enjoy flying, and when it comes to driving I prefer simulators that emulate Truck driving, Bus Driving, or general car driving. Although there are some amazing Racing Car simulators out there, I do not tend to use them, there must be many like me who also find that going around in endless circles and racing around a  set circular race track can become a little monotonous and quickly become boring.

The cost of Car racing software and associated equipment is also quite steep, many are 'Online' and very competitive, and have ongoing running costs.

Truck / Bus simulators take quite a bit of concentration, they also take time to develop your driving skills, making you more 'Spatially aware' of the vehicle size and maneuverability characteristics, For those who do not drive 'Semi's' or 'Arctics' or Buses for a living, there is much to learn about manoeuvring extra long vehicles in traffic and around corners, and all whilst using anything up to 18 gears. If like myself, you are from the UK, then it can enhance awareness of actually driving on the opposite side of the road with different road laws. Great practice if planning a driving holiday abroad!

Unlike most games producers that charge the earth, some anywhere up to £150 for a single game, the
Truck and Bus simulator creators tend to use a different approach in the way they make us part with our money.  Simulation games can initially be much cheaper, as the truck and bus simulator creators tend to charge a minimal fee for their default game, ATS / ETS 2 (American Truck Simulator / European Truck Simulator) by SCS can often be purchased for under £15, sometimes much cheaper in sales. Bus simulators such as 'Fernbus' or 'Tourist Bus Simulator' by TML can cost a little more for the initial game. These companies then make their profits from aftersales of DLC's.  A 'DLC' is an additional part of the program, a new map section or additional vehicles. Although the cost of these additions are still pretty low, again around £6-£15, and again often cheaper in regular online sales or when offered in 'Box-sets'.  But even so, the cost will soon mount up over the simulators lifetime. That's not to say that the initial game is not playable without them, far from it, but the new items which are released sporadically throughout the year maintain the freshness of the game giving it new life, while continuously growing the game and creating new things to do.

This sales style makes the simulation games affordable to all, and users can expand it at their own rate. Also the ability to add and to use any of the many thousands of available 'Mods', of which the majority are free, enables you to create a lasting simulator even if on a tight budget.

Some can be played both Online and Offline, some give you the option of playing on your own, or with a small select group of friends, or you can play with the masses in an online virtual world.

Apart from driving or flying, there are also other Simulation style software to explore, these cover a wide scope such as Train driving or Police Simulators, and many games that make use of realistic simulation such as the 'Wild West' adventure series of Red Dead Redemption, or 'Call of the Wild' based on hunting.


WHY DID I GET INTO SIMULATION GAMING?

Being stuck at home for health reasons, and especially during the Covid-19 lockdowns, I needed something interesting to occupy my mind, help maintain my dexterity, help with relaxation, and also to satiate the yearning to drive and to get out and explore and see the world.

The use of the driving simulators did all this and much more. But it was the designing and the building my own 'Sim-Rig', that encouraged me to be active and make use of my dormant DIY skills.