rFactor for PC

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 5:53 pm

Just wanted to give a heads up on what is shaping up to be the biggest release of 2005 as far as racing sims for the PC go.

http://www.rfactor.net/

rFactor is the next game from Image Space Incorporated (ISI), The makers of Sports Car GT, and the F1 series for PC. They have always been good at keeping their games open to modding, which resulted in some great mods like ETCC, Prototype-C, RSDG's Sports Car Challenge, V8 Supercars and eventually the commerical release of GTR FIA GT Racing by Simbin.

rFactor is the next step for ISI. They have completely revamped the graphics engine, physics, and multiplayer code from the ground up, but have kept the architecture open to modding. Instead of going with a real-life racing series or tracks, they have opted to create fictional cars and tracks that closely resemble real-world counterparts. Everything from touring cars, to GT class endurance sports cars, to open wheel cars (Forumla 1 and F3000).

They released a multiplayer test demo back at the end of 2004 that was pretty promising, but from the reviews that are coming out now, it does not remotely do justice to the final game.

There is a great review in the August 2005 issue of AutosimSport by some well known members of the racing sim community.

Basically they say it is the next Grand Prix Legends and that the multiplayer code is tight and the physics, sense of speed, and feel are the best to date of any racing sim. I normally would be skeptical of such overwhelming praise, but these guys have been around for a long time and I trust their opinions. Check it out here:

http://www.autosimsport.com/

rFactor should be available for download and purchase sometime this week. It is a download only product, pay by credit card or paypal.

http://www.rfactor.net/

Here is the feature list:

Physics
Updated 15 degrees of freedom physics engine
Advanced tire modeling
Support for 4-link rear suspension
Engine boost modeling
Complex aerodynamics
Head physics, cockpit vibrations, detailed bump modeling
All-new track-specific terrain data file system

Graphics/Sound
DX9 advanced graphics engine
Real-time day/night transitions
Projected headlights for nighttime driving
Adjust player and opponent volume ratio
See the apex with the Look Ahead slider
Adjust your seat and mirror while in the driver's seat
Updating real-time scoring towers
Expanded and enhanced gauge and LCD features for vehicle cockpits
Improved loading times
Updated sound engine
Changing engine sounds based on upgraded vehicle performance

Gameplay
Career mode with upgrades that affect the vehicle's appearance, performance, and sound
Define AI opponent types, strength and aggression
Races can be lap based, time based or both
Vehicle upgrade system
Vehicle economy including mileage
Ambient and track temperature changes throughout the race
More configurable keys than you can shake a stick at
Multiple Racing Series with vehicle and circuit filters
Grid editing

Camera/Replays
Full screen monitor and ability to rewind
Freely move camera from any position including the ever famous exclusive ISI Swingman
Spectator mode
Greatly enhanced replay system including clip splicing
Move, duplicate or delete replay clips while assigning camera movements to each
Export replays to AVI files defining compression and size options

Multiplayer
Completely new multiplayer engine
Built in race statistics reporting to web based RaceCast system
Built in friends list
Server bookmarks
Dedicated server, including single click option
Native voting system
Add AI to multiplayer games
Built in IRC chat
Boot and ban player lists that can be passed around
Security checks to combat potential cheating

RaceCast
Join or watch any race from RaceCast
Search through past races
Downloadable XML race results
Driver profiles with statistics
rRank formula utilizing a wide range of driver statistics
See who's online and on what server

Open Architecture
Extensive support for modders
Easy to use customizable multi-language support
Define a league schedule
Rules to simulate different types of racing
Completely customize your controller
Drop in new vehicle liveries

Templates and Car Viewers for painting your own ride are already available here:

http://www.rfactor.net/index.php?page=downloads

http://ringracing.com/

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:20 pm

I'm definitely looking forward to this one. I've played the beta and it feels very similar to GTR. That is definitely a good thing because I have yet to get GTR running on my new PC. I have a 9600xt that simbin says needs to have fast writes enabled to stop the menu crashes I am experiencing. Unfortunately my bios doesn't have an option to enable fast writes.

I was pretty bummed until I came across the rFactor beta. Hopefully the mod community will come out with some good tracks and cars.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:20 pm

Some Screenshots:

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:25 pm

mixdj1 wrote:I'm definitely looking forward to this one. I've played the beta and it feels very similar to GTR. That is definitely a good thing because I have yet to get GTR running on my new PC. I have a 9600xt that simbin says needs to have fast writes enabled to stop the menu crashes I am experiencing. Unfortunately my bios doesn't have an option to enable fast writes. I was pretty bummed until I came across the rFactor beta. Hopefully the mod community will come out with some good tracks and cars.

Supposedly, one thing that ISI has spent a great deal of time on is making rFactor run on a wide range of machines. According to the review I listed above, you can pick DX7, DX8, or DX9 for your graphics card configuration to best balance frame rates vs. eye candy.

I don't know if you have tried the GT Legends demo yet (next Simbin product), but I believe it uses a graphics engine close to rFactor's and you can pick the DX version in the config. This might give you some idea of how rFactor will run. Just make sure not to select "AUTO" for the DX option as it seems to go for the highest one available regardless of if your graphics card is optimized for it.

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:46 pm

I got the same menu lockups on the GT Legends demo. Based on what I've read in their forums it's a known issue with the 9600 series cards but since I can't enable fast writes I don't have a work around. My only options are a different motherboard, a different video card, or rFactor. I think I'll go with rFactor since it runs quite nicely on my machine.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:12 pm

The full version of rFactor is now available for download. When you start the installation, it will allow you to purchase via credit card. The cost is 39.99USD, 24.99GBP, 34.99Euro, 47.99CAD, 4799JPY, 54.99AUD

http://www.rfactor.net/

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:21 pm

DChaps wrote:The full version of rFactor is now available for download. When you start the installation, it will allow you to purchase via credit card. The cost is 39.99USD, 24.99GBP, 34.99Euro, 47.99CAD, 4799JPY, 54.99AUD

http://www.rfactor.net/

I've got to wait for my birthday next month to pick it up.

I would definitely be interested in some impressions though.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:37 pm

I am going to try and actually write a review of this game, but so far it has surpassed my expectations. Maybe its just because its new, maybe its because it shows so much promise for the future, or maybe just because I for once am having no problems at all with a computer game right off the bat. Either way, I am really enjoying rFactor so far. Even though they are fantasy cars and tracks, I am loving the feel. Especially the open wheel trainers which are very similar to Barber Dodge cars (or so I'm told).

Plus there has already been a release of a great version of Lime Rock Park and a Euro Formula 3 2005 Mod. Both of which are great fun.

Lime Rock Park
http://forum.rscnet.org/showthread.php?t=221304

Euro Formula 3
http://www.stylelo.com/

I will try to write more impressions later, but needless to say, if you participated in the SR NR 2003 League a few years ago, I would think you may want to give this game a try. Seems to run pretty well on a wide range of systems too.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 3:32 pm

Dammit, I wish I would have heard about this before last week...just bought too many games.

Talamius · Post by **Talamius** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:48 pm

Now this looks NICE. I'll definitely have to check it out.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:16 pm

Kissed a lot of ass...downloading it now.

Don, you online with it much? I wanna test it out later.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:19 pm

What?? i can download it and still play online?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:35 pm

Yeah if you'd gone to any of the links you'd have seen that it's a purchase-online-only type of game.

Boom · Post by **Boom** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:50 pm

What kind of specs do you need?

I have

128 Meg 9700 Pro
512 Megs PC-800 RAM
P4 2.3 Ghz Processor

Assed out or what?

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 11:50 pm

TCrouch wrote:Kissed a lot of ass...downloading it now.

Don, you online with it much? I wanna test it out later.

I have played online and I am setting up a dedicated server tonight in between Moto GP3 rounds. I will post the info here later.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:06 am

Boom wrote:What kind of specs do you need?

I have

128 Meg 9700 Pro
512 Megs PC-800 RAM
P4 2.3 Ghz Processor

Assed out or what?

It may work...but it certainly won't look all that great.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:22 am

Just....

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:26 am

TCrouch wrote:

Just....

Better than GTR? If so, I'm all over that sh*t. Just haven't had time till this week.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:30 am

Based on first impressions, I'm just in awe. Ran some in a fake Mustang looking car, then in the GT trainers and just had an unbelievable time.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:39 am

TCrouch wrote:Yeah if you'd gone to any of the links you'd have seen that it's a purchase-online-only type of game.

So no demo at all?

Is there any offline racing or is it online & hotlap only?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 12:49 am

It has an entire career mode offline. I just ran the first two races of a new season in the trainer cars, dunno what's after that yet.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:18 am

sfz_T-car wrote:So no demo at all?

Is there any offline racing or is it online & hotlap only?

The offline racing has been a blast so far for me. I had to set the AI agression down to 0 %, but since doing so, I have had some very fun races with the AI. Anything higher than 0 % for AI agression and they will punt you all over the place, especially if you are an early braker like me. ISI is already working on that.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 5:20 am

DSP Dedicated Server is up. You should be able to connect through the ingame server listings, or through RaceCast. This server will post automated results to RaceCast ( http://racecast.rfactor.net )

Server Name: DSP rFactor Server

Password: superior

Currently running the following settings:

Race Series: OW Challenge 2005
Allowed Classes: 2005, AcademyRacer, FormulaIS, OWC, rTAdvanced, rTSchool
Invulnerability: No
Stability Control: No
Auto Pit Lane: No
Opposite Lock: No
Traction Control: No
Steering Help: No
Auto Shifting: No
Braking Help: No
Flag Rules: All
Auto Clutch: Yes
Spin Recovery: No
Damage Multiplier: 100%
Anti-Lock Brakes: No
Identical Performance: Yes
AI Strength: 90%
AI Aggression: 0%
Race Laps: 10
Weather: Sunny
Race Length Type: Laps
Tire Wear: Normal
Fuel Usage: Normal
Race Time Scale: Normal
Start Time: 2:00pm
Start Type: Track Default
Mechanical Failures: Time Scaled
Practice Time: 10 Min
Qualify Time: 10 Min
Warmup: 5 Min

Tracks Available:

LIMEROCK_Normal
Mills_Short
TOBAN_Short
Orchard_Lake_RC
MILLS_LONG
LIMEROCK-CHICANE
Orchard_Lake_Oval
TOBAN_LONG
Mills_Long_rev
Joesville_Speedway
TOBAN_Short_REV

Check it out and let me know how it seems. Don't forget to register and login to RaceCast. You do so within the game connection screens. Enter your e-mail and password, then it will automatically assign the username of whatever your Player Profile is named within the game.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:31 am

I doubt you guys in this thread would be able to even answer this question at all, being diehards and all, but...

Is this playable at all using some sort of hand-held controller instead of a cockpit, wheel and pedals setup?

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:05 am

webdanzer wrote:I doubt you guys in this thread would be able to even answer this question at all, being diehards and all, but...

Is this playable at all using some sort of hand-held controller instead of a cockpit, wheel and pedals setup?

Actually, I think it could be. It is so customizable, that I would think you could configure it to work around the short comings of using a controller versus a wheel. I think I have some controller config screenshots I can post later to show some of the possible tweaks.