Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 40: The Fight for Freedom

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 40: The Fight for Freedom

Lately, I have begun to turn my attention to interests other than my small but exciting library of Steam games; however, I have not completely forgotten about them. It was no surprise, then, that I tackled CSR73 with enthusiasm, despite the fact it was the second round in a row to be themed around off-roaders. Now, don't get me wrong - as an Automationeer, I have a preference for building premium performance cars for wealthy demographics - but I also relish the challenge of designing affordable off-road trucks. After double-checking the rule set, I finally felt confident enough to start work on my CSR73 entry.

The storyline behind CSR73 was as follows: In 1986, the death of the Archanan Premier threw the whole country into chaos as various factions began to fight for leadership. The Dalluhans saw this as a chance to secede and declare independence. To aid in their bid for secession, the DLF (Dalluhan Liberation Front) made a request for a fleet of cheap and cheerful technicals - essentially light off-roaders with the ability to carry personnel, small arms, high-explosive weapons and assorted equipment. 

These vehicles had to be reliable, economical (not just to buy, but also to run - fuel was scarce in Dalluha back in 1986, hence the DLF's preference for low quality fuel), practical and affordable, with sufficient off-road capability and utility to meet the needs of the DLF as well. Moreover, they also had to be easy to drive, light enough to be easily airlifted into battle, and small enough to fit into confined spaces. Safety and comfort were only slightly important compared with the other criteria; sportiness and prestige would not be considered. In addition, although the DLF wanted their technicals to be butch-looking on the outside, they wouldn't want them to look like actual military vehicles, and they had to have a catalytic converter as standard, as well as having a maximum loudness value of 40 - anything more and the Archanans would be alerted to the DLF's presence very quickly. Finally, the technicals had to be very cheap to develop and build: the PU/ET limits for this round were set at 30/40 for the engine, and 75/20 for the trim.

And so I decided to reimagine the MUD Ouray - a pickup truck I had made shortly after the release of the UE4 version of Automation - as a possible contender for the DLF's requirement. The trim I submitted was powered by a fuel-injected single-cam straight-four, running on low quality fuel. Although it was finished in a gloss beige color scheme, it was fitted with only one aftermarket accessory - a set of bull bars. And thanks to its bare-bones specification, it cost just $8700.

The Ouray in question.

Given that an earlier generation of the Ouray had been rejected in the preceding CSR round for being too dull on the outside, I took more care when designing the exterior for this one. Its blocky styling lent itself well to the use of simpler, squarer fixtures. As such, I needed less time to feel satisfied with the 1986 Ouray's styling. I also used an independent front suspension, believing that the extra comfort it conferred would mitigate any loss of off-road capability. With the design and engineering phase now complete, I submitted my entry without much hesitation.

Thus, I felt confident that the Ouray would safely make it past the first round of cuts by the time judging began more than a week later, and indeed it did. Despite its size, the DLF had a favorable opinion about the Ouray - it looked the part, didn't use too much fuel, and was really easy to drive. In fact, it was one of only seven vehicles in a field of 29 to pass muster. The others were either ineligible, or were technically eligible but fell too far short in certain criteria to consider for final evaluation.

Speaking of which, a few days after the field of finalists was set, the second phase of judging was just as challenging as the first for the host to carry out. But this part was definitely well worth the wait. Much to my disappointment the Ouray finished sixth of seven finalists, although it was exactly what I had been expecting considering that it didn't have a live front axle, which would have provided more ground clearance and hence improved its off-roading abilities. It was obvious, though, that the battle for top honors would be between two trucks from two different budget brands: the Bush Hiro B and the ZAR 2616 Export.

Technical candidates: Bush Hiro B (top) and ZAR 216 Export (bottom)

In the end, the ZAR 216 edged out the Bush Hiro, in an echo of the result of CSR63 - the designers of both cars finished in the same positions then as they did now. The ZAR's off-road capabilities turned out to be slightly superior to those of the Bush, and it was similarly affordable - hence its convincing victory in CSR73.

This round was one of the most compelling off-road-themed challenges since CSR19, which was set in the same year. However, given that this round used the latest UE4 game build, I had extra incentive to design and submit an entry, given my poor showing in CSR72. And, as was the case back then, I managed to book a spot in the final, but was ultimately held back by unwise design choices. Even so, my confidence remains intact, and I am now looking forward to the next round with enthusiasm.