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RSC contains a database of 153 developers, 468 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.
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Unfortunately after going largely radio silent after failing to fund the Kickstarter last year Big Ant have now confirmed that Dirt Track Racing is cancelled.
The Kickstarter raised $78,979 of pledges towards a $266,000 goal.
Dirt Track Racing was planned to release on XBox One, PS4 and PC via Steam, with dirt late models, dirt sprint cars and other dirt racing cars.
Read the statement below from Ross Symons, CEO of Big Ant Studios:
Hi Dirt fans,
Firstly, the entire team at Big Ant would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who has been interested in our Dirt Track racing project. We know that there are a lot of people out there who are keen on this, and we had hoped to do it justice via the dedicated videogame that the sport deserves.
Unfortunately, the game needs to be placed on indefinite hiatus. Following the Kickstarter being unable to raise the money needed to cover development costs, we’ve looked at alternative funding models that would cover development, but at this stage there simply isn’t an alternative.
We remain very passionate about Dirt Track racing, and should an opportunity arise that would allow us to finish development of the game, we will certainly do so. No one who backed the Kickstarter project has been charged for their pledge. The wonderful thing about Kickstarter is that if the campaign isn’t successful, no one is charged, providing an invaluable layer of consumer protection into the whole process.
We are sorry that this update wasn’t bringing better news; we are disappointed as anyone, as the team had already committed serious work to the project! Hopefully this is one we will be able to revisit down the track.
Again, we thank you for your continued support and hope one day that an opportunity to make the game we all want will present itself.
Sincerely,
Ross Symons,
CEO Big Ant Studios.
