Welcome to the nineteenth Pic of the Week! Today, we're taking a closer look at the city of Tramau and sharing how we've managed to craft it into an authentic German city.
Week 19: Crafting an Authentic City
One of our key considerations was integrating well-known brands and stores that exist in the real world. In our previous games, we recreated real cities in photorealistic detail, benefiting from the panorama freedom laws. However, with Tramau being a fictional city, those laws no longer apply. Nevertheless, we were determined to include familiar German brands and stores.
Integration of Real Brands
Securing licenses for these brands required significant organizational effort. Initially, we reached out to companies to explain the concept of CTS: Tram, which posed some challenges ("A fictional city, but with real brands?"). However, many companies quickly warmed up to the idea.
Subsequently, work began on creating 3D models and textures to incorporate these brands. It was crucial for us to maintain the authentic style of the brands and buildings. We requested reference material from the companies and conducted thorough online research. Some companies had specific guidelines for using their brand, which we respected.
The Result
We've introduced Tegut as a grocery store and MediaMarkt and Saturn as electronic retailers, providing players with a diverse selection of familiar and varied shops.
Additionally, through our collaboration with the German Pharmacists Association, we've incorporated the "Apotheken-A" to accurately represent pharmacies in Tramau.
Beyond integrating stores and logos, we've added props to bring the city to life. Thanks to our partnership with the Deutsche Post and DHL, we've included not just a parcel shop but also parcel stations and a DHL transporter in Tramau.
We extend our gratitude to all the brands that granted us licenses. The selection showcased here represents just a fraction of the brands that will appear in the game. We're excited to reveal more of Tramau and breathe life into the city.
CTS: Tram is set to release in 2024, and we're eager to share these exciting developments with our community. Stay tuned for further insights into the development process, exclusive features, and thrilling updates. Join the discussion on our Steam Forum, Discord Server, and explore our social media channels (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook).
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https://store.steampowered.com/app/2604480/City_Transport_Simulator_Tram/