Papyrus Announce NASCAR Racing 3, Based on Older Physics Model

Papyrus today announced that NASCAR Racing 3 will be released very soon, but that it will not be based on the Grand Prix Legends physics engine as previously indicated. The stated reason is due to the system requirements being too great for current home PC users. The new N3 will have some interesting new features, but no doubt this will be disappointing to some.

Press release:

NASCAR® Racing 3 To Take Fans Inside the Racing Experience
Latest NASCAR® Title from Papyrus Brings Fans Closer to the Action

WATERTOWN, MA, September, 1999 – Papyrus Design Group, the leading developer of auto racing simulations for the PC, will ship NASCAR® Racing 3, the next title in their award-winning NASCAR® series, in early fall. NASCAR® Racing 3 will offer fans new technology advances and significant enhancements to the graphics, sound, artificial intelligence and multiplayer systems, making it the most intense, heart-pounding racing simulation on the market.

In addition to racing against some of NASCAR®’s top teams and drivers in both the NASCAR® Winston Cup and NASCAR® Busch Grand National Series, players will be able to build their own racing dynasties with free Internet racing. Players will be holding on for control as the new force feedback support reacts to every move they make.
Additional Features Include:

– New positional 3D audio, supporting A3D v 2.0 and DirectSound3D, that allows players to hear the competition swarm around them as other drivers close in on the final laps, as well as audio from the separate spotter and crew chief.
– Dynamic new engine sounds that capture the roar of the 750 horsepower engine at full throttle.
– High-resolution graphics system, supporting 1024 x 768 and 800 x 600 resolutions and 3Dfx and Direct3D hardware accelerators that bring the action into crisp, vivid detail.
– New effects such as shaded groove, specular highlighting and dynamic shadows and skids that dramatically enhance the racing experience. Translucent smoke effects will have drivers racing through big walls of smoke.
– Enhanced aggressive Artificial Intelligence that requires players to race harder and smarter to keep up with their competition.

Although Papyrus had previously announced plans to develop NASCAR® Racing 3 around the physics engine in Grand Prix Legends, it was determined that the system requirements needed to support that model with a 43 car field would exceed that of virtually all systems on the market today. An enhanced version of the physics from previous NASCAR® titles will be used in NASCAR® Racing 3. Papyrus will continue developing its next generation physics engine for use in future NASCAR® products.

Papyrus Design Group

Papyrus is the motorsports software development division of Sierra Sports. Developers of the most compelling software-based racing experiences possible, Papyrus’ best-selling products include the NASCAR® Racing and CART racing lines. NASCAR® Racing 2 was the fifth best-selling entertainment title in the nation in 1997, according to PC Data reports.

Sierra On-Line

Sierra On-Line is one of the original developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive entertainment and productivity software. Sierra, a division of Havas Interactive, is comprised of a family of brands: Sierra Attractiontm, Sierra Hometm, Sierra Sportstm, Sierra Studiostm and Dynamixtm, a Sierra Company. Havas Interactive holdings also include Knowledge Adventure, Blizzard Entertainment, and WON.nettm.