That may seem strange to those of you who live in the real world where shops and streets have had decorations up since early November and the post-Christmas Sales have become pre-Christmas Sales. In a world where Mice Pies are now in store from September. But for those of us who live a half-life in a virtual world, the arrival of Christmas is signalled by the now annual call to help Santa deliver the presents.
Normally the call goes out in early December – around the 7th – and we virtual truckers find ourselves tasked with a set of delivery goals to complete before 1st January in the ‘Christmas Event’. The date usually gets extended beyond that because for some of our drivers the real world and family commitments get in the way of the job. And, as completing the allocated tasks brings rewards, SCS would like everyone to have the opportunity to complete the Event.
This year was different. In a minor planning faux-pas SCS already had an event running to deliver 300000lbs of cargo in the USA using double trailers and that was due to complete on December 3rd. Then, there was the small matter of the Italian DLC which released to an eager community on December 5th. With a new cargo type and the new Scania trucks also appearing it has been a very busy time for the developers.
However, on 20th December the Christmas Delivery Event was finally announced and it should run until 18th January. So if your presents are a little bit late this year…
I was in Sicily where I picked up the first load of gifts from Catania bound for Pescara. This being Mafia country I was very thorough with the manifest but everything seemed in order and we had no problems with the Carabinieri on the trip.
Yesterday morning we took a load from Verona up to Praha. I’m looking to lay up the old Scania over Christmas so I may buy a Renault Magnum from the Praha dealership. I’ve also got my eye on one of the new Scania S trucks for a future purchase. I’ll be dropping Megan off in Praha too as she’s going to her parents for Christmas. I know – it’s a game – but sometimes it’s fun to make up stories as you drive along 🙂
In the US I picked up a load of gifts from the railyard at Albuquerque (NM) yesterday evening and delivered them to Ehrenberg (AZ). 
You can see that I’ve put up my Tree now that Christmas has finally arrived… And in the real world the tree has also been erected and bedecked with lights and baubles. Just got to wrap some family presents though my efforts won’t be as professional as the wrapping on the gifts we’re delivering for Santa 😉
Images from Finchley 