A couple of months ago, we announced that we had begun work on the South Dakota DLC for American Truck Simulator. Today, we're excited to shine a light on the talented individuals behind the project by introducing the team working on this upcoming map expansion!
Saimon
"I've been working at SCS Software for almost nine years, and for most of that time, I’ve been leading our DLC projects. This role included designing the overall layout of new expansions, choosing all the cities, truck stops, landmarks, as well as coordinating the work of our team, collaborating with other departments, and supporting the growth and motivation of my colleagues.
After years of working on multiple DLCs, the time has come to pass the torch to some of our talented and ambitious teammates. I’m now transitioning into a new position as an Art Lead, where I’ll focus more on broader aspects of map development, ensuring visual consistency, improving efficiency, and coming up with fresh ideas and unique content for the ATS world.
I'm truly excited about this new chapter and I believe it will help us deliver even more polished and immersive experiences for our players."
Vacky
"Something about me? I’ve been at SCS for over five years now. I’ve always loved playing games since I was a little boy and dreamed of designing them one day. Dreams do come true! Among my favorite titles are old school classics like Red Alert 2, Caesar III, Age of Empires 2, Heroes of Might and Magic, World of Warcraft (Classic), and many others. From newer games I enjoy Cities: Skylines, Stellaris, Elite Dangerous, Transport Fever and lately, I’ve been slowly getting into soul-like games. When I am not playing something on my computer, I am painting and playing Warhammer miniatures – specifically The Old World at the moment.
I was really looking forward to working on South Dakota since our research trip in the USA, and now I’m really happy to be working on Rapid City and its surroundings."
Tony
"I was lucky enough to visit South Dakota in person and experience its diverse landscape firsthand. I was especially drawn to the mountainous regions in the western part of the state; Black Hills left a truly strong impression on me. That’s why I’m excited to be in charge of bringing this area to life in our game. I’m working to capture not just the unique terrain, but also the atmosphere that made the place feel so special during my visit."
Draky
"My name is Draky, a nickname that reflects my passion for mythical creatures and animals. I'm a creatively inclined person who enjoys visual arts, painting, and design. I usually spend my free time playing video games, especially those focused on survival or puzzles. Some of my favorite physical activities include archery and acro yoga. I'm currently working on a visualization of the Sioux Falls waterfalls, which captivated me at first sight. I believe they’ll captivate you too. My next stop will be the Badlands, and I’m incredibly excited about it!"
Evgeny
"South Dakota is the fourth DLC I’ve worked on, and with each new project, I challenge myself to push the boundaries of what I can create in the map. I always try to bring something fresh to both my work and the player experience. My personal life strongly influences my approach.
I’m passionate about hiking, which helps me craft more immersive and natural landscapes in the game. My background in architecture gave me a deep appreciation for designing cities and settlements with structure and character. I also enjoy drawing, painting, and calligraphy, which helps me focus on the beauty of detail and how it all fits together within a bigger concept. On top of that, endurance sports like triathlon have taught me how to stay committed to long-term goals, manage my time, and maintain mental resilience. Each of us on the team brings something unique to the world of ATS, and I’m proud to contribute with my own perspective."
Morrys
"After the awesome Iowa project, which received great feedback, we’ve jumped right into South Dakota. It’s a state that offers a lot, and you know it! Here’s a little hint about one of the things I’m working on and really enjoying. It’s a location not far from the Nebraska border and the Missouri River.
Anyway, since the last article ("Iowa - Meet the Team"), I feel there’s been progress. I’d say my work has reached a new level, both technically and visually. At the same time, we’ve also become a bit more in sync as a team, which is great, and I’m looking forward to the projects we’ll tackle in the future.
Of course, work isn’t the only thing I do! I have a strong connection to sports thanks to my background as a professional judoka, and I try to stay active as much as I can. I also enjoy some quiet time with a good movie, whatever the genre (though sci-fi is my favorite).
Last but not least, I love gaming. Some of the very first games I played as a kid were DOOM 2 and the flight simulator MiG-29 Fulcrum. To wrap it up, I wish you lots of successful contracts and plenty of miles logged in ATS!"
Viki
"I’ve been working at SCS for almost 3 years, during which I’ve worked on several map DLCs. I started with a few smaller tasks in Oklahoma, then worked on Nebraska and Iowa from start to finish, and I’m currently working on South Dakota.
In my free time, I enjoy 3D modeling and printing, creating cosplays from movies and video games, playing D&D with friends, and of course, playing video games!
I hope you’ll enjoy driving through the streets of Brookings, Hot Springs, as well as part of the Black Hills including the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. I love creating authentic and detailed scenes that I hope you’ll all have fun exploring. The rest of the team and I are looking forward to giving you the best possible way to experience the beauty of South Dakota."
Fregar
"My real name is Petra. I'm from Prague and I've been working at the company for almost five years. In my free time, I enjoy drawing and painting, it helps me relax and express myself creatively. I'm also a fan of Warhammer, which combines strategy, storytelling, and miniatures I enjoy painting. Swimming is another passion of mine; it keeps me active and clears my mind. At home, I take care of three parrots: Sofi, Iggy, and Mona, the newest addition to the family. She's still settling in, but already showing a lot of personality."
Maky
"It will soon be three years since I started working at SCS as a map designer. My first contribution to the game was on Texas 2.0, followed by work on Nebraska, Iowa, and now South Dakota. Within my team, my speciality, responsibility, and personal passion is designing truck stops. Outside of work, I love going to concerts and festivals, music is one of my greatest joys. I also enjoy building LEGO sets and other model kits, playing board games and video games, and reading. Lately, I've even been thinking about getting a pet snake!"
Kaja (Citymanlive)
"It's time to set out on a new journey – this time to South Dakota! Staying true to tradition, I'm currently working on a town whose name is quite similar to the one I worked on in Iowa. Thanks, Saimon! While creating – or more accurately, while currently “mayoring” the town – I enjoy a good cup of coffee… though not as much as I enjoy the company of my colleagues. In fact, it's really them who give me the greatest inspiration and energy. Together, we make up one big, leveled-up team, and I truly believe there's a lot to look forward to!"
Eren
"This is my third Map DLC. In South Dakota, I'm responsible for two areas: Sioux Falls, the state's largest city located in the east (besides the local waterfalls, which are being worked on by Draky), and Spearfish, situated on the edge of the Black Hills. I chose the former mainly to further develop my technical skills related to building large cities, while I took on the latter for its picturesque, hilly landscape covered with coniferous forests.
Starting with this DLC, I'm also taking on the role of Road Designer, specifically an interchange designer. It's probably a good thing I’m starting here, since there are mostly basic interchanges in South Dakota and the complex ones will only come later in other states. It’ll be a kind of level progression, and honestly, I’m looking forward to it."
Theo
"In the upcoming South Dakota DLC, I have the honor of building the city of Yankton and the surrounding area. I’m really enjoying the open landscapes and river scenery, this part of map creation is my current favorite, probably because I just enjoy being outside in real life, whether hiking or going for a walk. (Though I also like a quiet evening with a good book or video game!) Since American Truck Simulator blends gaming with exploring the world and its beautiful nature, I feel lucky to be part of a project like this!"
Eevee
"Hi! I'm Ivana, aka Eevee. I've always been interested in art of all kinds, whether it's drawing or painting, video games, music or even just coding silly websites. One of my biggest inspirations is and always will be nature. I love hiking, foraging, collecting trinkets outside, and just the outdoors in general. All of my hobbies combined have made me try joining the ranks of map designers here at SCS, and luckily, here I am!
I've been here for a little over half a year by now. On the last project – Iowa, I've only worked on a small part of US-20, and mostly did work in later development stages there, since I came here just a few months before the Iowa DLC release. Now I'm working on an entire part of South Dakota, around the northern borders. I like the open scenery so far, and have been working on a small city as well. I can only hope the players will like it as much as I'm enjoying working on it!"
Miya
"I joined the team recently, and South Dakota is my very first project. My passion for art is what brought me to SCS! For years, I’ve dedicated myself to illustration and drawing, often inspired by my favorite games across fantasy and simulator genres. Joining SCS feels like the perfect combination of everything I love.
Right now, I’m working a bit on everything, which I really enjoy. It’s a great opportunity to explore and find what suits me best!"
We hope you enjoyed reading these messages from the team working on South Dakota, shared with you, our #BestCommunityEver! If you're excited to hit the road in the Mount Rushmore State, be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist. We truly appreciate all your support and look forward to sharing more about this upcoming DLC for American Truck Simulator. Until next time, keep on truckin'!
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