Option To Select Cargo Type When Skinning A Fuel Tank For Traffic Use

Mar 13, 2025 by ADMIN 70 views

Introduction

As a modder and creator of traffic vehicles for American Truck Simulator (ATS), I have encountered a common issue when skinning fuel tanks for traffic use. The Dangerous Goods placards often default to the wrong designation, which can be misleading and affect the overall realism of the game. In this article, I will discuss a feature request that aims to address this issue by introducing an option to select the cargo type when skinning a fuel tank for traffic use.

The Problem

When creating traffic vehicles for offline use in ATS, I have noticed that the fuel tank's cargo designation often defaults to the wrong type. For example, I recently created a fuel tanker with a company logo for VP Racing Fuels, but the Dangerous Goods placards displayed the designation "1202 - Diesel" instead of "1203 - Gasoline", which is more appropriate for the company's racing gasoline (petrol) fuel. To resolve this issue, I had to edit the SUI file in the MS2 mod and change the cargo designation from diesel to petrol.

The Solution

To address this issue, I propose that the process for finishing a paint skin for a fuel tank include an option to select the cargo type being carried. This option would present a list of available cargo types, such as aromatics, crude oil, diesel, petrol, and solvents, which are currently available in the ATS game. The user would then be required to choose one cargo type, and the MS2 mod would fill in the detail found in the SUI file for that project. This would ensure that the Dangerous Goods placards display the correct designation for the cargo being carried.

Benefits of the Solution

The proposed solution would have several benefits, including:

Improved realism: By allowing users to select the correct cargo type, the game would become more realistic and immersive.
Reduced errors: The solution would reduce the likelihood of errors occurring due to incorrect cargo designations.
Increased user satisfaction: Users would be able to create more realistic and accurate traffic vehicles, which would enhance their overall gaming experience.

Alternatives Considered

To gauge the interest in extending the option to other categories of tanks, I propose introducing the suggestion in just one category of trailer, either the original (default) SCS templates or the more recent standalone versions. This would reduce the amount of work required to add this feature and provide a testbed for the solution.

Implementation

To implement the proposed solution, the following steps would be required:

Add a new option to the paint skin editor: A new option would need to be added to the paint skin editor that allows users to select the cargo type being carried.
Create a list of available cargo types: A list of available cargo types would need to be created, including aromatics, crude oil, diesel, petrol, and solvents.
Integrate the MS2 mod: The MS2 mod would need to be integrated with the paint skin editor to fill in the detail found in the SUI file for the selected cargo type.
Test and refine the solution: The solution would need to be tested and refined to ensure that it works correctly and provides the desired results.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed solution would address the issue of incorrect cargo designations in ATS by introducing an option to select the cargo type when skinning a fuel tank for traffic use. The solution would improve realism, reduce errors, and increase user satisfaction, making it a valuable addition to the game. By introducing the suggestion in just one category of trailer, we can gauge the interest in extending the option to other categories of tanks and refine the solution before implementing it in the game.

Future Development

Future development of this feature could include:

Extending the option to other categories of tanks: Once the solution has been tested and refined, it could be extended to other categories of tanks, such as tankers and tank trailers.
Adding more cargo types: Additional cargo types could be added to the list of available options, such as liquefied gases or hazardous materials.
Integrating the solution with other game features: The solution could be integrated with other game features, such as the game's physics engine or AI traffic system, to provide a more realistic and immersive gaming experience.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed a feature request that aims to address the issue of incorrect cargo designations in American Truck Simulator (ATS) by introducing an option to select the cargo type when skinning a fuel tank for traffic use. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this feature request.

Q: What is the current issue with cargo designations in ATS?

A: The current issue with cargo designations in ATS is that the Dangerous Goods placards often default to the wrong designation, which can be misleading and affect the overall realism of the game. This can be frustrating for modders and players who want to create realistic traffic vehicles.

Q: How does the proposed solution address this issue?

A: The proposed solution addresses this issue by introducing an option to select the cargo type when skinning a fuel tank for traffic use. This option would present a list of available cargo types, such as aromatics, crude oil, diesel, petrol, and solvents, which are currently available in the ATS game. The user would then be required to choose one cargo type, and the MS2 mod would fill in the detail found in the SUI file for that project.

Q: Why is it necessary to introduce this option in just one category of trailer?

A: Introducing the option in just one category of trailer, either the original (default) SCS templates or the more recent standalone versions, would reduce the amount of work required to add this feature and provide a testbed for the solution. This would also allow us to gauge the interest in extending the option to other categories of tanks.

Q: How would the MS2 mod be integrated with the paint skin editor?

A: The MS2 mod would need to be integrated with the paint skin editor to fill in the detail found in the SUI file for the selected cargo type. This would require some programming and testing to ensure that the solution works correctly.

Q: What are the benefits of this feature request?

A: The benefits of this feature request include:

Improved realism: By allowing users to select the correct cargo type, the game would become more realistic and immersive.
Reduced errors: The solution would reduce the likelihood of errors occurring due to incorrect cargo designations.
Increased user satisfaction: Users would be able to create more realistic and accurate traffic vehicles, which would enhance their overall gaming experience.

Q: How would this feature request be implemented?

A: To implement this feature request, the following steps would be required:

Add a new option to the paint skin editor: A new option would need to be added to the paint skin editor that allows users to select the cargo type being carried.
Create a list of available cargo types: A list of available cargo types would need to be created, including aromatics, crude oil, diesel, petrol, and solvents.
Integrate the MS2 mod: The MS2 mod would need to be integrated with the paint skin editor to fill in the detail found in the SUI file for the selected cargo type.
Test and refine the solution: The solution would need to be tested and refined to ensure that it works correctly and provides the desired results.

Q: What are the potential future developments of this feature request?

A: Potential future developments of this feature request could include:

Extending the option to other categories of tanks: Once the solution has been tested and refined, it could be extended to other categories of tanks, such as tankers and tank trailers.
Adding more cargo types: Additional cargo types could be added to the list of available options, such as liquefied gases or hazardous materials.
Integrating the solution with other game features: The solution could be integrated with other game features, such as the game's physics engine or AI traffic system, to provide a more realistic and immersive gaming experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed solution to the issue of incorrect cargo designations in ATS by introducing an option to select the cargo type when skinning a fuel tank for traffic use would improve realism, reduce errors, and increase user satisfaction. By introducing the option in just one category of trailer, we can gauge the interest in extending the option to other categories of tanks and refine the solution before implementing it in the game.