In an intriguing intersection of gaming and real-life job opportunities, American Truck Simulator has begun introducing dynamic billboards that feature real recruitment campaigns for trucking jobs. The recent addition of these advertisements has received relatively positive feedback from the game’s community, likely owing to the billboards’ organic fit into the trucking game’s environment.
“We’ve previously used the in-game billboards to showcase a variety of exciting updates such as the arrival of new Kenworth trucks and promotions for our WoTr event,” the developers noted in a recent announcement. “This new addition is now in the try-out phase and we believe it holds promise in offering something valuable to our games as well as the automotive industry.”
The developers further clarified that the intent of the inclusion extends beyond merely advertising. “We aim to provide opportunities that bring attention to interesting details organically within our game world – things of value and deeper meaning,” they explained. This collaborative approach with Schneider National, a major logistics company in the US, aims to assist the trucking industry’s need for skilled professionals amid a prevailing shortage.
According to the developers, this experiment serves as a new path to combine gaming with real-world scenarios. “We saw this partnership as a chance to embark on a new journey and conduct experiments that could potentially have a positive impact, and we are grateful to Schneider National for this opportunity,” they expressed.
Despite the introduction of these real-world advertisements, the developers ensure that the gaming experience remains their top priority. They opine that such industry-related content can be both relevant and beneficial to players. “Someone might stumble upon a recruiting sign, prompting them or their friend to consider a job application at Schneider National or perhaps contemplate a career in the trucking industry,” they suggested.
For those players who are not fond of this addition, the game allows the disabling of this feature. Players can simply navigate to the Options menu, select Online settings, and uncheck the Billboard option.
Currently, American Truck Simulator is serving as the testing ground for these dynamic billboards, with content limited to English to minimize the complexities of localization. Encouraged by the positive feedback, the developers are keen on exploring this approach further, creating a more immersive in-game world that goes beyond traditional gaming experiences.
Source: ATS Steam Blog
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