Drive down a virtual I-80 with a new Iowa trucking simulator

As I pull out of the home-improvement big box store — a simulacrum of Iowa City’s Menards called “Shop Town” — I think to myself, In another life I could’ve been a truck driver. The thought returns as I haul various cargo from one Iowa destination to another: lumber from Des Moines to Iowa City, ice cream from Cedar Rapids to Davenport, and so on. 

In my travels, I note details like the crunch of gravel as my truck turns off the highway and onto a rural road. Or how, as I barrel down I-80 at dusk, the Iowan skyline greets me with its familiar hues of orange, pink and blue. The first time I drove into the evening, I received the notification “Headlight usage offence. -$380.” At this, I pecked at my keyboard, trying to turn on my virtual headlights before sideswiping a car and getting a “Crash vehicle offence” notification. The fines are automatically deducted from my endgame payout. 

Perhaps driving a big rig full time isn’t my calling. Either way, it’s been fascinating to play American Truck Simulator and its latest Iowa DLC (that’s “downloadable content” for the uninitiated).

Iowa was released on July 10, developed by SCS Software, a videogame simulation company founded in the Czech Republic in the late ’90s. The SCS represents its founders, Pavel Šebor, Martin Český and Petr Šebor. While navigating my virtual travels, I had a chance to correspond with Simon “Saimon” Endt, the Map Expansion & Art Lead at SCS and the leader of the specific team within SCS Software that took on the Iowa DLC. 

Even though the mainline American Truck Simulator has been around for almost a decade, I had never played. Which is why, on my first journey out of Des Moines, I was surprised that the landscape was scaled down to 1:20. It took about half an hour to get from the state capital to Iowa City. (One can only dream; maybe if they ever build that high-speed rail.)

“When selecting landmarks,” Endt said, “we focus on what locals value, what stands out visually, and what fits within the game’s 1:20 scale and economy. Tough compromises are inevitable — some beautiful places simply can’t make it in — but our goal was to include enough iconic locations for players to instantly recognize Iowa while still enjoying it as a rich, explorable game world.”

Extensive research goes into choosing these landmarks, he explained, including on-site visits. In a blog post, SCS Software detailed a Nebraska and Iowa trip Endt and his team made during the summer of 2023. “Over five days, they traveled approximately 1,000 miles, visiting various large and small towns, driving on highways and back roads, and exploring different landmarks and logistical areas.” 

“Our first impression, based on common knowledge, was simple: Iowa equals corn,” Endt admitted. “But as we dug deeper into our research, we quickly discovered just how much more diverse the state truly is. Iowa turned out to be far more varied and beautiful than the cliché suggests. That richness and variety gave the team a real boost of creative energy.” 

Appropriately, the Prague-based team visited Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village, taking photos of the historic immigrant neighborhood. Turns out this trip became the first half of an inadvertent cultural exchange with the city, as earlier this year SCS Software welcomed Cedar Rapids’ Metro Steam Academy robotics team. While their trip to Prague was already planned, the SCS studio visit was the result of Metro Robotics reaching out after hearing about the Iowa DLC, Endt explained. 

“It turned out to be a wonderful coincidence and a great opportunity to spend some time together.”   

While the “simulation” part of American Truck Simulator is paramount, the team also peppers in easter eggs for drivers that venture off the beaten path. In Iowa, these include a Field of Dreams-inspired corn maze just west of Dubuque off US-52, and a barn in the shape of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise between Iowa City and Ottumwa off Highway 218. 

“Some of the most interesting ideas emerged during development as new information reached us,” said Endt. “…the Star Trek reference, for example, originally came from a fan post. We also considered including the cave system in Maquoketa Caves State Park. It’s an incredible location, but ultimately, it didn’t feel like a natural fit for a trucking game at our scale. However, parts of that cave concept went on to inspire elements of our latest Halloween event — ‘Witches of Brackenreach,’ so in a way, the idea still found a home in another form.”

The DLC release schedule is following a sort of reverse westward expansion: the studio started in California and is making its way to the East Coast. This state-by-state schedule led to a tradition of DLC teams hanging the flag of the state currently in-development. “What started as a simple way to show which team was working on which DLC quickly grew into something more meaningful. The flag helped define each team’s corner of the office, gave people a sense of identity and pride and made the workspace feel a bit more like “home.”

And since we’re creating American states, it naturally carried some of that same spirit — a fun reminder of the culture and landscapes we’re bringing to life in the game. Over time, this tradition evolved even further. We began bringing the state flag to our release livestreams for each new map expansion — fully signed by as many team members as possible — and giving it away to one lucky fan. It’s a small gesture, but it turns the flag into a truly unique and honorable gift, one that carried the team’s motivation and spirit throughout the entire production of the DLC.”

In the final moments of that livestream launch of Iowa, I watched Mark M., SCS Software’s vehicle production coordinator, at the wheel. “Did you guys talk about this rest area with the windmill blade? Yeah, I think it’s near Clive, oh—” His truck veers off the road, almost swiping a sign. The team laughs.