Machine Guides

Game History

18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker is an arcade racing game developed by Sega AM2 and distributed by Sega.¹ The game was first released in arcades in December 1999, running on Sega's "NAOMI" hardware. It was part of Sega's 'Real Life Career Series' which included other titles like Crazy Taxi, Emergency Call Ambulance, and Brave Firefighters.

The arcade version featured an eye-catching cabinet design that evoked a real trucker feeling and included a horn button for added immersion. In the game, players race against a rival trucker named "Lizard Tail" while delivering cargo across truncated representations of the continental United States, all while racing against the clock. Players could earn additional money by crossing the finish line before their rival and by participating in parking mini-games between levels to earn more cash and upgrades for their truck.

The arcade version was commercially successful, with Game Machine listing it as the second most-successful dedicated arcade game of March 2000 in Japan.

How to Play

Objective

The main goal of 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker is to deliver cargo to its destination across the United States while racing against a rival trucker and the clock. You must complete each stage by reaching the checkpoint before time runs out and ideally finish ahead of your competitor. The ultimate objective is to complete all stages and become the top trucker by earning the most money through successful deliveries and bonus challenges.

Controls

• Steering Wheel: Turn the wheel left or right to steer your truck
• Gas Pedal: Press to accelerate and increase speed
• Brake Pedal: Press to slow down or stop your truck
• Shifter: Use to shift between forward and reverse gears
• Horn Button: Press the horn button to warn other vehicles and clear them from your path

Gameplay

• Starting the Game: Insert credits and press the Start Button to begin your trucking journey.

• Cargo Delivery: Navigate your truck through traffic and obstacles to deliver your cargo to the destination within the time limit.

• Racing Against Rival: Compete against "Lizard Tail," a rival trucker who is also trying to deliver cargo. Finishing ahead of your rival earns bonus money.

• Time Management: Each stage has a time limit that counts down continuously. Reaching checkpoints before time runs out extends your playtime.

• Parking Mini-Games: Between stages, you may encounter parking challenges where you must maneuver your truck into designated spaces to earn additional money.

• Damage Avoidance: Avoid collisions with other vehicles and obstacles to prevent damage to your truck and cargo.

• Stage Progression: Successfully complete each stage to progress to the next route with more challenging roads and traffic conditions.

• Game Over: The game ends when you fail to reach a checkpoint before time runs out. Your final score is displayed based on your performance and earnings.