Sim racing
[6]Due to the complexity and demands of mimicking real-life driving, racing sims require faster computers to run effectively, as well as a steering wheel and pedals for the throttle and brakes for the immersion.
[14] While using a gamepad or even a mouse and keyboard, may suffice for most arcade-style driving games on home systems, it would not provide the same level of immersion and realism as using a racing wheel and pedals.
[20] With continued development of the physics engine software that forms the basis of these sims, as well as improved hardware (providing tactile feedback), the experience has become more realistic.
It also used force feedback technology, which caused the steering wheel to vibrate, and the game also featured a unique three-screen arcade display for a more three-dimensional perspective of the track.
It also introduced nonlinear gameplay by allowing players to choose which path to drive through after each checkpoint, eventually leading to one of eight possible final destinations.
[39] The first racing game with simulation pretensions on a home system is believed to have been Chequered Flag, released by Psion on the 8-bit ZX Spectrum in 1983.
REVS was a Formula 3 sim that delivered a semi-realistic driving experience by Geoff Crammond that ran on the Commodore 64 and BBC.
It also featured a garage facility to allow players to enact modifications to their vehicle, including adjustments to the tires, shocks and wings.
[43] The next major milestone was the 1992 release of Formula One Grand Prix (AKA World Circuit in some markets) by MicroProse, also developed by Geoff Crammond.
Multiplayer was made possible by allowing different drivers to take turns, and racers could also hook up their machines for racing via a null modem cable.
The TEN multiplayer hosting service was introduced and went live in November 1997 with the backing of NASCAR and the online sim racing community grew.
These new graphics processing units provided texture mapping, antialiasing, particle effects (i.e. fog, rain and snow), HDR and the capability to perform polygonal calculations faster, while taking the load off of the main processor.
After years of development, Microprose released Grand Prix 3, which used a more modern graphics engine and featured the same customizable structure of GP2.
However, GP3 was not as well received as its predecessor due to a lack of full online multiplayer and the fact it was based on the same, outdated graphics engine as GP2.
Despite its age, GPL has remained a common benchmark for Racing Sims even in the modern era thanks to a strong community who continue creating new content for the game to this very day.
Wired magazine wrote an in-depth article about racing sims called Hard Drive in their February 1997 issue.
Unlike the Papyrus sims, the physics are easily modified, and many communities have been founded with the sole purpose of improving and updating MotorEngine-based games.
The third phase of the content release cycle was launched in 2015, announcing the VW Scirocco and featuring the first real-world circuit, the Rockingham Motor Speedway.
[52] Much like most sims from the graphic accelerator and modern era, the game is highly modifiable and has many third-party mods that introduce anything from new cars to new physics.
It has received widespread acclaim and has been noted for its high levels of technical and driving realism with regards to sports car racing.
Development tools for modifying NKP were announced, although the game is now considered obsolete due to the release company's other sim, Assetto Corsa.
In 2008, David Kaemmer, co-founder of the now-defunct Papyrus,[53] released iRacing, a multiplayer-oriented simulator run on a subscription model.
In 2010, Kunos Simulazioni started developing Assetto Corsa, a sim built on experience gained from netKar Pro and Ferrari Virtual Academy but with an entirely new engine.
In 2016 however Studio 397 took over development of rFactor2 with the aim to revamp and revive the title, making huge efforts to bring the series back to its prime with extensive customisation and detailed physics.
In 2013, Sector3 Studios (formerly SimBin) released RaceRoom, a freemium simulator for Microsoft Windows where players can expand the default cars with packs from major world championships, such as GT WC.
The game aims to provide an accurate simulation of GT3 Racing and uses the official license for the Blancpain GT Endurance Series as well as Unreal Engine 4 for vastly improved graphics.
In his free time, four-time and current Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen enjoys sim racing.
These communities act as a focal point for users around the world to engage with one another co-ordinate racing schedules, exchange modded cars, tracks, discuss hardware configurations and facilitate other communications.
[68] F1 Esports, renamed to F1 Sim Racing in 2023, was founded in 2017 and is annually hosted on F1's official games during several shows in the late year.
Brendon Leigh won the first two championships, while current champion Frederik Rasmussen holds the record for the most wins and poles in the series.
