Video game development is rarely about one man, but if it was, then Terence Groening should certainly get a mention for his contributions to the genre as the man responsible for the physics of Sportscar GT, EA’s PC F1 and NASCAR games of the early 2000’s, rFactor, rFactor 2 and every title and rFpro simulator that spawned from ISI’s engine.
This interview with RSC details his early life and career, through to him joining iRacing in 2021.
RSC contains a database of 153 developers, 467 software titles, 374 cars, 42 bikes, 242 tracks and more...Originally working in military simulator design, this Michigan-based studio developed Zone Raiders for Virgin Interactive before moving to Electronic Arts for publishing their second PC title, Sports Car GT, when Westwood Studios (their SCGT development partner) was acquired by the software giant.
Known primarily for their mod-friendly SCGT and rFactor racing platforms, ISI also developed Formula One and NASCAR titles on PC for Electronic Arts, but perhaps their lasting contribution to the genre was the licensing of the isiMotor engine that allowed studios such as 2Pez, Blimey! Games, KW Studios, Motorsport Games, Reiza Studios, SIMBIN Studios, Slightly Mad Studios, The Sim Factory, Tiburon and rFactor 2‘s ongoing developer Studio 397 to begin with or release on an evolution of their software.
Another fork of the isiMotor engine, rFpro, continues to be developed and is used by a wide array of automotive companies for both road and motorsport simulation.
RSC Podcast Episode 7 – Management Simulations, F1 Managers, Always Used To Be Better?Join Jon Denton, Tim Wheatley, Simon Croft and guest(s) as they discuss sim racing and racing games past, present and future.
RSC contains a database of news items. Our #OnThisDay page shows current day and current week of years past...
RSC contains a database of videos back to the 1980s catalogued as intros, laps, trailers, unboxings and more...
RSC contains a database of emulated software you can play in your browser...
Here is the official press release:
Panoz Esperante Race Car To Appear In ISI’s rFactor Racing Simulator
Recent Sebring Class-Winner Races Onto Award-Winning Auto SimulatorANN ARBOR, MI (May 9th 2006) – Image Space Incorporated (ISI), leading developer of auto simulation software, today announced a partnership with small-volume American car manufacturer, Panoz, to incorporate the Esperante race car into the award-winning rFactor PC racing simulator.
“By acquiring the Esperante license, we’re able to bring rFactor players the thrilling experience of driving this acclaimed auto with a level of accuracy not found anywhere else,” said Gjon Camaj, Vice President of Product Development at ISI.
Georgia-based Panoz has been building high-performance, customizable cars since 1989. The company manufacturers their flagship line of Esperante sports and race cars for domestic and international markets.
“It’s a thrill to drive this race car – both on the track and in the simulation,” said Tom Milner, driver of the #51 Multimatic Team Panoz Esperante. “After working with the ISI team, I can honestly say that rFactor has accurately captured the spirit of driving this amazing car.”
John Leverett, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Panoz Auto Development Company said, “It has been great working with Image Space Incorporated and seeing the stunning results they have been able to achieve with their simulation.”
rF is a simulation designed to simulate any type of four-wheeled vehicle of any era, supports modding directly, and features advanced 15 degrees of freedom physics, suspension, and tire modelling.
