SnowRunner News

Hello SnowRunners!

It's a pleasure to welcome Ronniesonchak to this week's interview. Let's dive in!

[h3]How did you get into gaming?[/h3]
When I was 12 years old, I got a Sega game console and ever since then video games have been a part of my life. In my free time I played video games, particularly racing games. At the moment I play less than I used to on the PC, but I do make mods constantly. For me it's both a hobby and a bit of extra income.

[h3]Could you tell us a little bit about your background?[/h3]
I was born in the small village of Lisnyy Khlibychyn in the Ivano-Frankivsk region (Western Ukraine). My childhood and school years were spent there, after which I went to university. I did not study the creation of 3D models or programming there.

[h3]What got you into modding?[/h3]
In 2013, I stumbled upon an off-road simulator that I really liked, because I had been looking for a good off-road simulator with quality physics and animation. After 2 days of playing I did not like the quality of 3D models of wheels on the UAZ 469, and I decided to change them. At first I was looking for any information to create my own 3D model or where to download it, and then I started studying the code, read articles about modding and as a result in 2-3 weeks I still managed to replace the wheels for the best (I did not make a 3D model, but downloaded it from the site). That's how I started modding.



[h3]Where do you start with your mods? What’s your process and what triggers the idea?[/h3]
First, I'm looking for an interesting model of SUV, truck, or tractor (this model is usually interesting not only to me but also to users and is useful in the game). Then I'm looking for a quality 3D model, I'm not creating a full-fledged 3D model, I can only model some details if necessary. My friend and co-author Serhiy Bocharov helps me create 3D models and their textures. As soon as the 3D model is ready, I animate it and export it to the game. Then I study its material part and adjust the configuration, look for and cut out the sound for it, after which it remains to check and adjust it to the end.

[h3]Have you modded for any other games?[/h3]
After several years of modeling for MudRunner, I wanted to try to create a mod for European Truck Simulator 2, but could only study the truck configuration and the animation didn't work well for me, so I decided not to continue making mods for that game.

[h3]What's your favorite SnowRunner mod?[/h3]
At the moment, my favorite mod is the GAZ 3301 (TUZ-101), created by Jansor. This is a rare truck, of which only a few were produced worldwide, it was never mass-produced. In the game, this mod has several interesting modules that will help the player to explore the area, bring fuel and deliver small loads. I also want to note that there are no pictures for this truck, there are only a few photos and a small video review, but the author was able to make a quality 3D model.



[h3]If someone could only download one of your mods, which would you suggest?[/h3]
I would recommend my Mod Pack K-60 and K-62, as this mod has many interesting modules and trailers that allow you to go through the SnowRunner storyline. Now I'm preparing a small update that fixes some bugs and adds a crane that will allow you to load a trailer or platform.



[h3]What would be your dream change or addition to SnowRunner?[/h3]
I would like to be able to turn on / off the wipers because the game has dynamic weather. I also don't really like the color of the snow, after you ride it, I would like the color to be not blue, but gray. Another thing I would like is to be able to assign more animations, as was the case with MudRunner.

[h3]What’s your favorite thing about SnowRunner?[/h3]
What I like most is the graphics, new plots, tasks, big maps, unlike MudRunner, the dynamic weather that made the game more realistic. In general, I believe that SnowRunner is a big step forward, and I wish success and further development to the developers.

[h3]What advice would you give to people who would like to get into modding?[/h3]
For starters I would advise you to choose the game for which you want to create mods and then start learning 3D modeling. There are many video tutorials and articles that can help you learn how to create 3D models and textures. Finally I would say to of course learn the game code.



[h3]Working on any exciting mod at the moment?[/h3]
Sergei Bocharov and I are currently working on a new mod called "Monster GAZ", this mod will belong to the category of scouts and it will mainly be designed to explore an area, deliver fuel, and to tow small trucks and SUVs. The mod will appear in the game next month (on PC).



[h3]What’s your all-time favorite real life vehicle? What about SnowRunner vehicle?[/h3]
My favorite off-road car is a GAZ 66, it has excellent cross-country due to self-locking wheel differentials, easy repair of units, and good maneuverability due to its small size. The main disadvantages of this truck, I think, are the weak engine, high fuel consumption, inconvenient landing of the driver and the placement of the gear lever.

In SnowRunner my favorite truck is the Voron Grad, it can install all the necessary modules for the plot of the game, there is all-wheel drive, it's relatively small, which allows you to maneuver comfortably in tight terrain, it has a good design, and a large selection of wheels and other powertrains.



[h3]Wildcard Question: What’s the perfect day for you?[/h3]
I would take a break from work, watch my favorite TV series and read an interesting book.
[h3]That sounds like a pretty sweet day indeed![/h3]

[h3]Check out and play Ronniesonchak's mods on mod.io.[/h3]

If you have questions you'd like to see added to these interviews, feel free to suggest them and we may add them! 🙂

[h3]Hello SnowRunners![/h3]

A new update is now available on all platforms! It brings various general fixes and improvements to some trucks.

Please make sure to let us know if you encounter any trouble with this patch! Thank you!

[h2]Patch Notes[/h2]

[h3]Trucks[/h3]

- Improved towed vehicles wheels collision for evacuator addons
- Improved crane behavior for Tatra Force
- Fixed a bug where saddle low and saddle high models appeared to be the same on the Caterpillar CT681
- Fixed errors in the description of the Container Carrier for Caterpillar 745C
- Updated engine sounds for Jeep Wrangler

[h3]General Fixes[/h3]

- Fixed a bug where the UI menu disappeared when a player changed video settings during the tutorial
- Fixed a bug where the functions 'Exit winch control' and 'Switch winch points' were missing when using crane mode
- Fixed a bug where the host could see guest appearing on a map after leaving the garage while the host was previewing another map from a global map
- Fixed a bug where Articulated Towing Platform animation was desynchronized between players
- Fixed a bug where players were unable to load logs in the Unloading Zone of Antonovskiy Nature Reserve in Don
- Fixed a bug where missing mod popup was skipped in the load game menu and was shown after the level was loaded
- Fixed a bug where clients were unable to subscribe to more than 3 mods at a time when they were joining a host session with mods enabled
- Fixed a bug where exhaust smoke was missing with higher than 30 FPS
- Fixed a bug where manual unloading zones did not accept the cargo without reaching the zone with the truck
- Fixed a bug where the functions menu did not disappear after winching
- Fixed a bug where the fog of war was not synced between host and clients in some cases in co-op
- Fixed a bug where re-check mods were removed from player save file

Hey SnowRunners!

Today, we're excited to welcome PuppyMaster, who has even brought his own puppers with him. Enjoy the interview!

[h3]How did you get into gaming?[/h3]
My first console was an Atari 2600. Back then the concept of a “Home Personal Computer” was still the fever dream of mad men, such as me. My first “PC” was a KayPro 2X. I know I dated myself a bit with those references but basically, gaming has been a part of my life for as long as I can recall. I even did the pen & paper gaming for many years. Only true OGs remember THAC0.

[h3]Could you tell us a little bit about your background?[/h3]
I was raised in a small rural town in Maine, population near 1,000, which made it quite the burgeoning metropolis compared to many of the neighbouring towns, lol. Dad ran a small OTR trucking company and bought me my first rig at the age of 10, an old Freightliner cabover. Said “if you’re gonna be doing trailer maintenance for me, you need to be able to jockey them around. And I’m not interested in having you bang up my rig.” Breezed through high school in 2 years and rolled straight into the Army at 18. I’ve done a lot of different types of work in my lifetime. Held a myriad of professional licenses such as master electrician/plumber, Class A CDL operator etc etc etc. I could do this all day, really… I’ve stayed busy.

But about 5 years ago, my back, hip, knee and the emphysema got to be a little much for me to work 14+ hours/day anymore. I decided to hang up my turnout gear from the Fire Departments, park my wrecker and call it a day. I still turn some wrenches and do auto salvage, but I refer to myself as “Semi-Retired.” Did I mention that I have 11 dogs? Because that’s kind of important. And before anyone asks: 7 Puggles (Pug/Beagle), 2 Buggs (Pug/Boston Terrier), a Pug, and an old, blind Pekingese. In fact, one of my dogs has even made an appearance in SnowRunner. Snuffles!!!



[h3]What got you into modding?[/h3]
I played MudRunner on console and loved it, but I honestly had no idea about the mods until my friend bought it for me on PC. And at that time, SnowRunner was already on pre-order. After my first vanilla playthrough, I decided I’d get in touch with some MR modders that did commission builds and see if they’d build a truck for me for SnowRunner. After much back and forth, I ultimately decided I was going to just dive in headfirst and build my own truck. And I harassed Poghrim endlessly while I worked my way through my first build. So, anyone who enjoys my builds, make sure to throw a “Thank You” in a few other directions. In the early days, we (Rng3r, Yansors, Poghrim, DeathCoreBoy etc.) were all working together to get mods into the game, and I would be remiss to not give a nod to those that held my hand in the early days.

[h3]Where do you start with your mods? What’s your process and what triggers the idea?[/h3]
When I first got into modding, I kinda went (what my friends would call it) Puppy Big Splash on a few of the 3D Model sites, so my project vault is DEEP. Plus, I can now build my own stuff from scratch, so... Honestly, picking the build I want to do next is one of the hardest parts for me. A lot of times, someone will say something or share a pic on Discord and it will light the spark. Some sparks like Ol' Red become immediate passion projects and shove all current projects onto the shelf for the moment. But after I choose my victim, the first thing I do with a pre-built model is optimization. On some models, this process is quick and straightforward. And then there are the other ones...

After optimizing, I start tuning the model for SnowRunner. A majority of pre-built models have no chassis as they are mostly to look pretty in renders, so building the chassis/suspension is usually the first hurdle. After primary modeling is done, I do my texturing. Again, sometimes this process is quick and straightforward. And then there are the ones where I'm manually adjusting my UV maps... (Which is most of them because I've found I actually enjoy it. Poghrim would probably call me a sadist, LOL!) Then it's time to throw some bones! I rig the model for animation, write my initial coding to get it to spawn in game, then take it for a ride! Then it's tweaking time and that's when I REALLY miss my buddy LoB1325 that I started the journey with. He was an XML mad man and a hard worker. He has retired from modding. For now. Next, I throw up a hidden beta so I can have a small group of people do private testing to get it just right and make sure there aren't any game breaking issues like Havoknados happening. Then it's out to the real testers: The public.

[h3]Have you modded for any other games?[/h3]
I have but it has been many years. I built/operated a Star Wars themed server for the game Neverwinter Nights circa 2004-ish. I even managed to get copyright approval from LucasArts to use licensed characters.

[h3]What's your favourite SnowRunner mod?[/h3]
I’m always amused to see the other modders’ answers to this question. As for vehicles mods, I can’t even begin to possibly choose. Not really. I mean, there was a full-scale AT-AT walker at one point. How do you begin to pick? I will single out a map or two though. Highway Haulin’ by Remoh667 obviously is a favourite of mine. I mean… Look at the trucks I build… It was obvious lol. And the RC Backyard Racetrack is amazing and nostalgic. Takes me straight back to the Micro Machines racing game on NES.



[h3]If someone could only download one of your mods, which would you suggest?[/h3]
Unfortunately, due to system limitations some of my mods ARE the only ones that people can use (I’m still fairly new to 3D modelling so I am still learning optimization practices). I guess the answer would depend on what they want to get from that one mod. A unique experience unlike any other? Then I’d recommend Ol’ Red. A wildly versatile “Medium Duty” truck? Probably the original Wrecker (which is currently almost finished with a ground up rebuild.) Or maybe you just want to go point A to B and just drive over everything in your way without breaking much of a sweat... In that instance, I would recommend the 5002M.



[h3]What would be your dream change or addition to SnowRunner?[/h3]
Persistent deformable terrain. I have a whole folder full of awesome construction equipment models that are ultimately shelved due to frivolity. Oh, and while we’re on that topic… Proper track support would be wonderful.



[h3]What’s your favorite thing about SnowRunner?[/h3]
It’s a beautiful game. The trucks are beautiful, the scenery is excellent. And it’s a fun game on top of all that. And it has co-op for you and your buddies if you are the social type.

[h3]What advice would you give to people who would like to get into modding?[/h3]
Join the iX Discord. Seriously though. Over in the iX Modding Hub we have a family of some of the hardest working and best modders in the game. Everyone there is willing to help when they are able. And we have a set of guidelines we expect our extended family to follow, to ensure that everyone is keeping things on the up-and-up and providing high quality, free content to all users. AND we have cookies.

[h3]Working on any exciting mod at the moment?[/h3]
Every mod is exciting 😉. I seriously have more projects going than I could count. I am excited about my revamp of my first mod, the iX Wrecker. Feels good to return to an early project with a new arsenal of knowledge and creating a much better version. Other than that, I’ll just drop some teaser photos from some of my favourites and call it good.







[h3]What’s your all-time favourite real life vehicle? What about SnowRunner vehicle?[/h3]
1982 DMC-12, without question. I almost bought a used one many years ago and have always regretted passing on it. Maybe I should rig/texture one of the models of that car that I have and put it in SnowRunner and then it can be my favorite in both places… As for my favourite base game vehicle, I have to go with the Navistar. Dad drove a Navistar Eagle for many years and it has sentiment. I did almost my whole first playthrough in that truck.

[h3]Wildcard Question: What’s your favourite season and why?[/h3]
Got to go with winter. The air is crisp and dry, and it makes it much easier for me to breathe. Plus, I can dress in layers and if I get too warm, I can take some off. That’s why cold weather is better for me. I can only take off so many layers in warm weather…

[h3]Fully agree! Plus you can hear hats and hats are great.[/h3]

[h3]Check out and play PuppyMaster's mods on mod.io.[/h3]

If you have questions you'd like to see added to these interviews, feel free to suggest them and we may add them! 🙂

Hello SnowRunners!

Today we have a map maker who's won the monthly mod awards on several occasions! He's created a long list of fantastic new environments for all of us to explore and get stuck in. Please give a warm welcome to DerEggen!

[h3]How did you get into gaming?[/h3]
Born in the late 80's, my first contact with gaming probably was the GameBoy and Super Mario. The first game on PC I really played a lot was The Settlers 2 on Win 95. I learned to build my own PCs and stayed a PC kid ever since.

[h3]Could you tell us a little bit about your background?[/h3]
My name is André, I am from Germany and originally studied mechanical engineering before eventually ending up in the IT sector. I process data and information for a company that does land surveying - or to put it very simply, I also create maps in real life 😃

[h3]What got you into modding?[/h3]
Cheating. My career as a modder began early when I started modifying games via the game console with cheats and later tampering with the game files - at that time, of course, these were only single-player games. Until I came across the Runner franchise, I only ever did it for my own amusement. My first published mod for the franchise was a map in 2014. The rest is history.



[h3]Where do you start with your mods? What’s your process and what triggers the idea?[/h3]
I usually start with an idea for the main mission or the main theme of the map. Then I think about which environment would fit best. The editor makes it possible to import real elevation data, so-called 'dem' or 'gdem' data, in form of a simple .png image file. So I get such data from parts of the earth that match my idea, import the data and start to fill this terrain with roads, houses, factories and vegetation - that's how Meteor and Lake Coap were created.

Sometimes, however, I find an interesting landscape, import it into the editor and only then start thinking about suitable missions - that's what happened in the case of Kodar Desert, for example.

Either way, the layouts of my maps are very much inspired by the terrain, the terrain tells me where there is a good place for a city, where roads can be placed or where rivers flow.



[h3]How long does it generally take you to make a map?[/h3]
For very large maps with elevation data generated terrains, lots of details, custom structures, missions and localization for different languages, I had to invest hundreds of hours and it took months to build and test them.

But you don't always need that much time. The editor offers the possibility to use prefabricated 'references'. These are small parts of the original maps from the game that you can use on your own maps - e.g. the garages, factories, even whole settlements. If you have mastered the most important functions of the editor and make good use of the references, you can build a medium-sized, basic but good looking map with roads, paths, forests, a river, a few meadows, a settlement and a few factories in 50 hours or less.

In the end it's a matter of practise and how many details you want to add to your map.



[h3]What’s your favorite part about making maps?[/h3]
You can be incredibly creative and bring a landscape to life piece by piece according to your own ideas - whether you want to build an American off-road park or a mini-desert in Siberia.

I really enjoy putting on my headphones, listening to music and getting lost in the world I'm just creating. You have to put in a lot of work and sometimes a lot of hassle, but when you get the feedback from the many players who enjoy your map, it's very motivating and satisfying.



[h3]Have you modded for any other games?[/h3]
Nope, I started publishing maps in MudRunner and am currently on Snowrunner.

[h3]What's your favorite SnowRunner mod?[/h3]
When it comes to my personal favourites, it's the Unipog by Poghrim and the Mod Localization Tool by Allozorro. The tool is not a mod and very few people will know it, but without this program I would not be able to create a language selection for my maps. And the Unipog is a fantastically made expedition truck that I love to use for test drives on my maps.

But generally speaking, when someone takes the time to build a mod to the best of their ability and shares it, it's always worthy of a thumbs up and a thanks!

[h3]If someone could only download one of your mods, which would you suggest?[/h3]
Always the latest. Even though I've been making maps for quite some time, I learn something new with every project and each new map is better than the previous ones.

[h3]What would be your dream change or addition to SnowRunner?[/h3]
Sometimes I would like to be able to get out of the vehicle, walk around the area and maybe even interact with the world in some ways.

[h3]What’s your favorite thing about SnowRunner?[/h3]
The game is simply the best and, thanks to the many mods, the most versatile off-road simulation currently available.
And apart from the pure content, I like the community that has formed since the beginning and that has enriched the series ever since.



[h3]Would you say the barrier of entry is harder for map making than for vehicles?[/h3]
I can't judge that too well, as I have never built vehicles myself. But I think it's easier to build a nice little map with a few simple missions than a fully functional vehicle. If you want to build high-end vehicles or maps, you certainly have to practice and learn a lot in both cases.

However, the editor is already installed with the game and you really only need to know this one program if you want to build a map. You can read through the official guide chapter by chapter and build your first small map along it. There is also a second guide, written by a user in the official Snowrunner forum, which offers a quick guide for the first map. As the guide is written from a more user's point of view, I can really recommend it for beginners: https://forums.focus-entmt.com/topic/61859/the-big-book-of-snowrunner-map-making

[h3]What advice would you give to people who would like to get into modding?[/h3]
It cannot be said often enough, start small and get in contact with other modders! Many who start modding have great ideas and throw themselves into the work with eagerness and enthusiasm. But unfortunately they take on too much and eventually give up in frustration because they underestimate the workload and don't get done what they had in mind.

If you want to start building maps, you should begin with a small map of no more than 1x1km². Then, with the help of the guide, get to know the various tools and functions of the editor and start designing your map.

The first successes will soon show but so will the first problems and questions. With both, you should go to the official Discord channel. There are many other modders who can help you. And you can show others your progress, which helps a lot to keep you motivated.

On YouTube there are also a few helpful videos from Remoh on the subject of map building for beginners.

[h3]Working on any exciting mod at the moment?[/h3]
Of course! I am currently working on a Russian region with three maps. Poghrim has also made some custom models and custom cargos for this map, so players can look forward to some unique and hopefully fun missions and locations. Unfortunately, the maps are still a long way from being finished.



[h3]What’s your all-time favorite real life vehicle? What about SnowRunner vehicle?[/h3]
I'm not a car nut, but the Mercedes Unimog has always fascinated me. For decades it has come in countless variants and conversions and the off-road capability of this truck is legendary.

In Snowrunner I would probably choose the Tayga. I've dug myself through many mud holes with it.

[h3]Wildcard Question: Combine two animals and name your creation.[/h3]
Obviously the world needs flying spiders, the Flyder - a very good reason to stay home and play videogames 😃

[h3]Ok the Flyder sounds horrifying, but thank you for the excuse to stay home and play games![/h3]



[h3]Check out and play DerEggen's mods on mod.io.[/h3]
If you have questions you'd like to see added to these interviews, feel free to suggest them and we may add them! 🙂