PC Gamer Feb 2012 Article on Driving sims: C.A.R.S, rFactor 2, Auto Club Revolution

[jblackrupert 14]

PC Gamer - Febuary 2012 - UK Edition

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2360/pcgamercar.jpg

C.A.R.S

http://www.wmdportal.com/projects/cars/

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rFactor 2

http://rfactor.net/web/rf2/

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Auto Club Revolution [Free to play]

http://autoclubrevolution.com

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Edited January 14, 2012 by jblackrupert

[mr burns 132]

C.A.R.S. - wish there was more publically available info on performance and multiplayer, not going to shell out 25 bucks to find out it ain´t running in either way.

rFactor2 - love the community thought (as in SimBin still uses ISI code), but their new pay2play/Miroso$ft/iRace´ish like publishing model kills it.

Here´s hoping for GTR3 *vroom* :cool:

[jblackrupert 14]

rfactor has a lifetime purchase price also. Not sure the exact amount but it's not excessive.

[Nicholas 5]

rfactor has a lifetime purchase price also. Not sure the exact amount but it's not excessive.

I believe it's USD $89.99, but I'm not 100% sure.

I'm surprised the article didn't mention anything about iRacing. I am a member of iRacing (I love it) and I have personally tried C.A.R.S. The beta or alpha...whatever you wanna call it is actually really cool. They've done a good job so far. Auto Club Revolution looks awesome as well, looks somewhat like Forza or Gran Turismo. I don't think I'm gonna get rFactor 2 though.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Nicholas

[Maddmatt 1]

C.A.R.S. - wish there was more publically available info on performance and multiplayer, not going to shell out 25 bucks to find out it ain´t running in either way.

MP isn't in the builds yet but one of the devs dropped a hint that it might be in soon...

New FFB system just got dropped in though, needs some tweaks but it's pretty good now.

Despite being WIP it's good fun, playing a race sim with modern graphics is quite something :)

rFactor2 - love the community thought (as in SimBin still uses ISI code), but their new pay2play/Miroso$ft/iRace´ish like publishing model kills it.

You can pay more for a lifetime membership.

It's also putting me off though, might buy it when they get more content in and sort out the problems but after playing pCARS those rF2 graphics are... :(

Here´s hoping for GTR3 *vroom* :cool:

How could PC gamer forget to mention it? :butbut:

There's a screenshot here:

http://www.virtualr.net/gtr3-lots-of-p45-competizione-previews

Looking good :)

I'm also in the beta for Auto Club Revolution. Got an extra beta key if anyone wants it (Edit: Given it away now).

There's an NDA so I can't share my impressions though.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Maddmatt

[SaOk 112]

rF2 graphics are bad, but it should have much better physics/ffb/dynamic conditions than C.A.R.S.. iRacing offers overally the best simulation, but is very expensive. rFactor2 would be the best choice after that. CARS and SimBin products seem to be already more semi-simulations with great graphics. I hope that GTR3 will be more simulation again, but GTR2 (with vanilla physics, with NAP-physics it was great) was already much more mainstreamed from ultra challenging GTR1. Also, simbin have only got closer to semi-sims with the recent Race-series.

[mr burns 132]

Gotta agree Race series feels medicore compared to GTR1 or 2, god knows why they´ve pulled through some decisions (like no day night cycle :<).

But still its ultra challenging if played against some guys with equal driving skills, my steam has clokced about 180 hrs of mp race already.

How could PC gamer forget to mention it? :butbut:

There's a screenshot here:

http://www.virtualr.net/gtr3-lots-of-p45-competizione-previews

Looking good :)

SimBin recently put out a sound demo, allegedly all ingame :eek:

http://gtr3.com/

I'm also in the beta for Auto Club Revolution. Got an extra beta key if anyone wants it.

There's an NDA so I can't share my impressions though.

hmm, never heard of it before, gotta say it looks interesting!

Is it hard to get in beta?

edit: oh theres a video in the opening post lol

Looks very Gran Turismo´ish, and f2p ... awesome. Hope it´s out soon!

Edited January 14, 2012 by Mr Burns

[jblackrupert 14]

Simbin always buffs up their screenshots and videos.

What you see is not what you get when it comes to Official Simbin media releases.

[Maddmatt 1]

rF2 graphics are bad, but it should have much better physics/ffb/dynamic conditions than C.A.R.S..

Project CARS is still under development and that includes the physics. They just added a new FFB system in the other day which IMO is really good, though still WIP.

Dynamic conditions are in the plans but rF2 does have that as an advantage for now.

iRacing offers overally the best simulation, but is very expensive. rFactor2 would be the best choice after that. CARS and SimBin products seem to be already more semi-simulations with great graphics. I hope that GTR3 will be more simulation again, but GTR2 (with vanilla physics, with NAP-physics it was great) was already much more mainstreamed from ultra challenging GTR1. Also, simbin have only got closer to semi-sims with the recent Race-series.

Oh no not this elitist crap again

Less grip and harder driving = more simulation for some people. Load of crap if you ask me.

I've seen iRacing physics take as much criticism as any other sim, it's overpriced and overrated.

Simbin always buffs up their screenshots and videos.

What you see is not what you get when it comes to Official Simbin media releases.

GTR 3 pics are confirmed to be unedited. They have a new engine now so their games shouldn't look crap any more.

hmm, never heard of it before, gotta say it looks interesting!

Is it hard to get in beta?

No, just submit your email on the website. No telling how long it takes or if you actually get in though. Some people waited months, I waited a week.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Maddmatt

[mr burns 132]

No, just submit your email on the website. No telling how long it takes or if you actually get in though. Some people waited months, I waited a week.

Done, & waiting :bounce3:

[jblackrupert 14]

GTR 3 pics are confirmed to be unedited. They have a new engine now so their games shouldn't look crap any more.

The GTR 3 screens look like they've had "Super AA" applied. Simbin, Like EA/DICE lie about their videos and screens all the time.

The sharpness is way too good to be true, but thats how buffed up screens are found out. The person who creates them just can't help themselves.

Edited January 15, 2012 by jblackrupert

[Maddmatt 1]

Super AA? Is that a fancy way of saying it was taken at a higher res and scaled down?

It's common to play games at 1080p, and that pic is much smaller than 1080p...

Taking that into account, there is nothing "too good to be true" about the sharpness. That all depends on your resolution and AA settings.

If you have a powerful PC you can do that in real-time anyway.

Also one more upcoming race sim that hasn't been mentioned here, Asseto Corsa:

http://www.virtualr.net/assetto-corsa-first-development-update

From the makers of NetKar Pro.

Small team, so amount of content will most likely be tiny. But it looks damn good.

Also new trailer and news about Project CARS:

http://www.wmdportal.com/projectnews/new-video-trailer-kicks-off-busy-months-ahead/#more-550

[jblackrupert 14]

Super AA? Is that a fancy way of saying it was taken at a higher res and scaled down?

"Super AA" when third party software is used to completely eliminate Aliasing from screens and video which no system is currently able to do in realtime

during play.

Simbin does it with their videos, DICE did it with Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3, Crytek did it with some Crysis videos. EA does it with most of their games.

DICE came out and admitted it after being called on it on their forums.

I busted them on some BC2 screenshots they claim were taken and uploaded "as-is"

when I checked the EXIF data which revealed they tickered with them in Photoshop on a Mac.

Anyhoo, Simbin is known for buffing up their videos and screens.

Edited January 15, 2012 by jblackrupert

[Maddmatt 1]

I see. But I can see aliasing on that GTR 3 screenshot, mostly on the edges of the car under the spoiler and the top of the car.

Sure that's super AA? That barely looks better than 2xMSAA there.

Or FXAA. Hopefully they went with a deferred renderer for some nice lighting effects.

(Or maybe I'm just seeing JPEG compression...)

Yea I know Simbin's tricks with some screenshots have been downright shocking, even adding fake smoke effects in some. But we all knew the game looked dated from videos anyway. At least now they shouldn't need that crap, Race Pro was an ok looking game and that was a much older version of their Lizard engine, so GTR 3 should look good.

I wont expect it to match Project CARS though, those guys have a serious advantage from EA practically funding their tech with the Shift games.

[mr burns 132]

"Super AA" when third party software is used to completely eliminate Aliasing from screens and video which no system is currently able to do in realtime

during play.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/632986848285547950/3888F52FA07B1F77E5D91654AAEB180880A2B50C/

^^ Race 07, AA set to 4 or 5.

Hail my 5 year old supercomputer :j:

[jblackrupert 14]

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/632986848285547950/3888F52FA07B1F77E5D91654AAEB180880A2B50C/

^^ Race 07, AA set to 4 or 5.

Hail my 5 year old supercomputer :j:

Try a moving scene with wires, trees, stands, stairs, handrails....etc. In-game AA has no trouble with objects like cars and buildings.

The trees in Race 07 are not 3D.

Simbin's and DICE videos have all evidence of Aliasing gone from the entire scene.

DICE themselves admitted they use a system of eliminating Aliasing from their

official videos and it ain't in realtime.

Virtually every screen for new games released by EA are faked

a simple search using the keywords "EA" and "Bullshots" together

will get you many examples.. Like this http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-9378-EA-Serves-Up-First-Grand-Slam-Tennis-2-Screens.html

Some are edited in post, some are renders.

Simbin has been asked many times to release untouched screens and videos

so maybe they've done that with some of the GTR 3 media releases, their older videos and screens are blatantly buffed up.

Edited January 15, 2012 by jblackrupert

[dekster 1]

Some time ago, Simbin made a game for BMW, called M3 challenge.

It was for free and I've never came acros a driving sim that gave so much fun with all it's simplicity. :)

[jblackrupert 14]

Theres also Volvo the Game and Ferrari Virtual Race

http://www.simbin.se/games/volvo-the-game/

The official site for Ferrari Virtual Race is down but the game is still floating around.

it's the free version of Ferrari Virtual Academy

http://www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com/game/en/index.jsp

[dekster 1]

Theres also Volvo the Game and Ferrari Virtual Race

http://www.simbin.se/games/volvo-the-game/

M3 challenge was way better. (think because M3 was based on GTR2 icw 10tacle and Volvo on that other game they make, WTCC?)

[Smurf 12]

Chevrolet C6.R GT2 Licensed by SimBin for GTR 3 – Sound Sample Released

Brandon Warren about 16 hours ago

The SimBin Studio Insider has officially reported the addition of the Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT2 to the upcoming SimBin title GTR 3. In conjunction with this licensing announcement, SimBin have also given the public a treat through an excellent in-game sound sample of the iconic 470 hp 5.5 liter V8 American sports car that can be found here. One thing that can certainly be concluded from this preview is that GTR3 will more than likely have excellent in-game audio.

The Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT2 made it’s debut in 2009 at the Mid-Ohio ALMS race and claimed a win two races later at Mosport. The car displayed impressive speed and was highly competitive but ultimately struggled for wins in the 2010 and 2011 season racing in the super competitive GT2 class. However, during this time the C6.R GT2 claimed impressive victories at Road Atlanta, Mosport, and most notably the 2011 24 hours of Le Mans. Previous versions of the Corvette took an impressive 77 race wins and 8 championships in the form of the C5 and C6.R models.

Does the addition of a GT2 car serve as a precursor for the further addition of other cars in that category? Will GTR3 feature famous tracks from the American Le Mans series when released? Let us know your answers to these questions and more in the comments section and the RaceDepartment GTR3 Forum!

S53ytpplw-w

Source: License -> Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT2

[mr burns 132]

M3 challenge was way better. (think because M3 was based on GTR2 icw 10tacle and Volvo on that other game they make, WTCC?)

People on Raceroom say that 10tacle (or was it Blimey?) became Slightly Mad Studios. So Shift´s crap driving was intended for a broader audience, they actually can do it right. That raised my hopes for C.A.R.S. drastically!

Then again, they´re still wanting to make profit and not frighten the userbase they gathered with Shift ...

Thanks god for the GTR3 news, that soundsample is epic!

just can´t wait to let it rip in Monaco with some high revving engine.

[Maddmatt 1]

People on Raceroom say that 10tacle (or was it Blimey?) became Slightly Mad Studios. So Shift´s crap driving was intended for a broader audience, they actually can do it right. That raised my hopes for C.A.R.S. drastically!

Then again, they´re still wanting to make profit and not frighten the userbase they gathered with Shift ...

pCARS feels very different from Shift I can assure you :)

Bugs me that Simbin only release a sound sample from GTR 3 in the Corvette article, I'm so eager to see the game in action.

[mr burns 132]

Got into ACR, nice...! :)

[ziiip 1]

Someone please tell me about GTR3 becauise I saw this (http://www.virtualr.net/wp-content/gallery/3147/p45_01.jpg) pic and I pissed myself.

I assume its gonna be sort of a sim? Like Forza 4 at least. :D And what about the release date.

[Smurf 12]

Forza 4 at least.....? wat? Did you never tripped in somekind of GTR, GTR2, GT Legends or GTR Evolution (and all DLCs)? There are so many of them...

GT or Forza are not sims compared to those above.

Release: TBA.