| Bus Driver | |
|---|---|
Bus Driver Cover, Photo by Eric Gingras |
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| Developer(s) | SCS Software |
| Publisher(s) | Excalibur Publishing |
| Distributor(s) | SCS Software |
| Designer(s) | SCS Software |
| Version | 1.5 |
| Platform(s) | Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.6 |
| Release date(s) | March 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Vehicle simulation game |
| Mode(s) | Single Player |
| Rating(s) | 3+, E |
| System requirements
Windows: |
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Bus Driver is a game created by SCS Software using OpenGL. The game was completed in March 2007 and with a full feature 1 hour demo.
Contents |
The player selects a route from tiers (described below), and then after a short loading time, the player sees the selected bus either at a bus depot or terminal. After halting at the first stop, the bus must be driven along the correct route (indicated at intersections by orange arrows) whilst obeying all traffic rules and stopping at all bus stops. If the player fails to do so, points will be taken from their score. When the game begins, one tier of routes, which includes six buses, is available. In total, there are six tiers, thirty-six routes and thirteen buses. In order to unlock the next tier, the player must drive at least four of the buses successfully. As the game progresses, routes become harder. The player will lose points if they disobey traffic laws, upset passengers (by braking too hard or causing accidents) or they depart from the bus stop too early, or even if they leave passengers waiting at a bus stop. Conversely, the player will gain points for obeying traffic laws and being punctual.[1]
Despite being a Czech game, many of the bus stop names are named after insignificant places in Greater London, England, such as Debden, Collier Row, Feltham, Potters Bar and the terminus Westminster.
The game contains a variety of buses including severasl single deck buses, one double-decker bus, an American schoolbus, two coaches and a prison bus[2]
Bus Driver was not designed as a bus simulator, however it is considered one. Reviewers have suggested that an inside view would improve the gameplay, however, the developers have stated that this is because the game was not designed to be an exact simulator.
The game is considered to contain a high level of realism including, street names, traffic signs, active traffic lights and varying weather conditions. The game also contains 'living roads' intelligently controlled by a sophisticated AI System. This means that the traffic conditions vary and you may have to predict what the traffic will do. The routes have been modelled to look like a realistic fictional British city. Including varying styles such as, modern, old town, residential suburbs, a local harbour and an airport. However, realism is nevertheless lacking in some aspects of the game such as the playing of other traffic and also there not being an interior to the buses.
The official bus driver game website[3] offers an hour-long demo of the game. As well as this, two bus driver themed wallpapers are available to download via the official website.
Sometime near 2010, SCS Software created a patch for Bus Driver. The patch was entitled "Bus Driver Gold". There are several new features, such as