Hello, I would like to give my feedback after playing this game (MR+ST) for quite some time with a friend:
The physics simulation of driving and of the mud is quite excellent, including the graphical representation. That's the foundation of this game and why people initially pull out their wallets for it obviously, including us.
However, the gameplay mechanics are severely limited to date, and years have passed:
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HIGH - Route development and maintenance needs to be developed to a very large extent. This includes clearing obstacles, grading, clearing mud, and even clearing new trails through falling trees.
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HIGH - To support route development/upkeep above the game mechanic of tasks and rewards needs to be revisited, where you need to deliver far more lumber to a mill to complete the objective. For example 20 trips. (this should be adjustable in game setup) To make the whole planning, clearing, maintenance of the roads worthwhile.
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MED - Marking out routes in scout vehicles is missing, currently no ability to add markers be it reflective or solar charged lights. They should also appear on the map.
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LOW - Requiring people to unlock diffs as soon as they are on a gravel surface is wrong. There is no damage that vehicles suffer when driving on regular forest gravel roads with fully locked diffs. Pavement with tight bends there is a bit of heat and wear of tyres yes.
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MED - Forcing the ADD night/day cycle is a terrible feature. Lots of people play in bright rooms and don't want to do night shift work. Most forestry operations don't run through the night for safety reasons anyway. A feature to turn off the full dark, or to have it follow a realtime 24h cycle (so there is many hours of daylight before night) would be welcome.
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HIGH - The vehicles shadowing out when an MP player is out if it is unacceptable. I refuse to spend another cent on this game series and to recommend the game until all vehicles are simulated when required in MP. We should be able to tow our friends' trailers as well.
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LOW - Some basic rudimentary AI drivers to follow your tracks would be useful for larger operations. They don't need to be good, just follow the tracks and if need be we jump in and unstick/recover them.
Overall, we have enough content, enough locations and vehicles. The game as is, with the current game mechanics does not warrant more than say 40h of gameplay before you get sick of the vehicle control in the mud thing to just do the same thing over and over, deliver 3 loads to a mill.
Please develop the GAME aspect, there are millions of possibilities on how to (often easily) enhance the game with the same basic physical simulation.
Thank you