Steam Simfest Hobby Edition has been announced by Valve, putting simulation games like Euro Truck Simulator 2, PowerWash Simulator, and Planet Zoo in the spotlight for a weeklong event.
Simulation games have a fairly dedicated following for what looks like a fairly mundane genre. You can drive trucks, build a zoo, go hog wild with a powerwasher, or do any number of other odd jobs and hobbies. Now, Valve is putting these delightfully weird games in the spotlight with a weeklong event.
The Steam Simfest Hobby Edition will be a "multi-day celebration of games that attempt to simulate a hobby or job" as highlighted on Reddit. There's a little more that's happening here besides a simulation game sale, though -- the tail end of this weeklong event will feature broadcasts and livestreams from developers that will either introduce you to certain games, delve into their development history, or talk about future content.
Aside from streams for specific games, a few panels will be hosted that talk about hobby games in general, such as this one:
Can hobby sims teach you to do a real life Job?
Hobby sims are more popular than ever with games that allow you to do everything from running a farm, to running a zoo, to driving a truck. The teams behind popular simulation games discuss the appeal and importance of this rising genre.
But can these games actually teach you how to do their respective activity outside of the game? Or is there more value to be found in providing a digital recreation of a hobby or job to people who may not be able to do it otherwise? And how did the teams faithfully recreate the job or hobby in their titles?
Panelists
- Moderator: Brewmaster Peter Willington, Production Director, He/Him
- Farming Simulator 22 Kermit Ball, Community Coordinator, He/Him
- Gas Station Simulator Radek Vican, Community Manager, He/Him
- Planet Zoo Kilian Schmitt, Game Designer, He/Him
- Euro Truck Simulator 2 Pavel Sebor, CEO and founder of SCS, He/Him
- A quote from Project Hospital is also included
There will be a number of panels in addition to the above stream, including "What is a hobby Sim and why do people play them?" and "Hobby Sims Favourites Club." Other games featured throughout this event include Potion Craft: Alchemy Simulator, SnowRunner, and PC Building Simulator.
When is the Steam Simfest Hobby Edition Start Date?
The Steam Simfest Hobby Edition start date is March 28, 2022, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time. The event will end on April 4, 2022, at 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
If you've been waiting to buy a particular simulation game but balked at the price, you might be able to snap it up on the cheap when this event kicks off early next week. You can learn more about the Steam Simfest Hobby Edition on its sale page.
