If you ever played Papyrus’ seminal Grand Prix Legends then you’ve read his name. Rich began working as a tester on NASCAR Racing (1994) and was with Papyrus at the end. In this interview, published in 2022, we discuss his time at the legendary studio and the design of Grand Prix Legends, including initial feelings of hurt at not being asked to join iRacing.
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.
A free-to-play simulation from Blimey! Games (creators of GTR, GTR2, GT Legends and what went on to become Slightly Mad Studios), originally available directly from the BMW Web site (see below). It was brought about as an advertising venture by German automotive company Bayer Motoren Werke (BMW) and early SIMBIN and Blimey publisher 10tacle Studios, and is based on the isiMotor (rFactor) engine.
There were four game modes; Test drive, time trial against a ghost car, race weekend and multiplayer race (against up to 15 A.I. or human opponents via internet or LAN).
BMW M3 Challenge included BMW’s all-new M3 Coupe – which wasn’t a race car, but was certainly high performance – along with the Nurburgring grand prix and short track configurations. You could also personalize the color and styling of your car.