Asobo, known today as the Microsoft Flight Simulator developer, created groundbreaking technology for large scale maps that was intended to be used in a high quality rally raid title. It was never released and ended up as FUEL, a post-apocalyptic open-world racing game. What happened?
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.
Join Jon Denton, Tim Wheatley, Simon Croft and guest(s) as they discuss sim racing and racing games past, present and future.
RaceWard updated their RiMS Racing title with a patch that improves AI and fixes a number of bugs. See the release notes below:
UPDATES
– “Hide” function added in order to improved Inventory/Shop readability
– AI performances optimizations
– Improved icon readability in the Motorbike Mechanics section
– Improved HUD minimap colours
– Improved discount manager perk efficiencyBUG FIXES
– Autosaves logic has been reorganized in order to prevent save corruption issues
– R&D Management objectives are now reset correctly after a Career restart
– Fixed icon on Private Testing leaderboards
– Audio memory usage optimizations
– Fixed “The Star” description and unlock logic
– Custom joypad presets are now working as intended after booting the game
– Fixed a crash that occurred accepting an invite during an Online Challenge
– Fixed a crash that occurred accepting an invite during Career tutorial bike selection
– Minor graphical fixes on Million Dollar Highway track
– Fixed a text issue on the Anti-Wheelie explanation
– Fixed a specific crash occurring in the R&D Management area
– Custom joypad button configurations are now saved as expected
– Custom exhausts sound are now played as expected in the showroom area
– Several HUD and cockpits graphical fixes
– Fixed a crash that occurred on the Motorbike Mechanics scrollbar
– Loading screen hints counter now is working as expected
– Fixed ghost management when no ghost data is available on the leaderboards
– “Where there’s a will there’s a way” now unlocks as expected