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...
NASCAR public relations has today officially announced the Busch Grand National Addon for NASCAR Racing 2, confirming 12 new tracks and 30 new teams from the popular NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division. It will release on October 20, 1997.
Press release:
Busch Grand National Addon Coming for Papyrus Simulation
NASCAR Racing 2 has new “expansion pack”CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 26, 1997) NASCAR and Papyrus Design Group, a division of Sierra On-line, Inc., will expand the thrill of the popular NASCAR Racing 2 computer software game with the new NASCAR Grand National Series Expansion Pack. The new software is scheduled to ship to stores on Oct. 20. It provides NASCAR Racing 2 users with 12 new tracks and 30 new teams from the popular NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division.
NASCAR Racing 2 provides fans with the opportunity to compete in a full championship season on a personal computer with 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series drivers, cars and sponsors on 16 licensed NASCAR tracks. “NASCAR is always working to better serve the fans, drivers, teams and tracks,” said George Pyne, NASCAR vice president of licensing and consumer products. “The new NASCAR Grand National Series Expansion Pack provides fans with the opportunity to experience the thrill of competition in the popular NASCAR Busch Series.”
NASCAR fans have made NASCAR Racing the seventh most popular computer game in the country according to PC Data magazine. The software also is listed as the second most popular sports title in the country and 17th most popular game in the world according to Computer Gaming World magazine. “‘When can I get more tracks?’ is the question I’m asked by NASCAR Racing 2 fans most often,” said Matt Marsala, Papyrus NASCAR Grand National Series Expansion Pack producer. “Here is your answer: 10 tracks derived from NASCAR’s Busch Series Grand National Division as well as two fantasy tracks.” The Expansion Pack includes the newly constructed Texas Motor Speedway, California Speedway and Gateway International Raceway, as well as the traditional NASCAR sanctioned tracks of South Boston Speedway, Nashville Speedway USA, Hickory Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Nazareth Speedway and The Milwaukee Mile. Two new fantasy tracks include the 2.607-mile, 5-turn Red Rock Raceway and 3.660-mile, 12-turn Bull Run Raceway road courses.
NASCAR Busch Series teams include 1996 NASCAR Busch Series champion and current series point leader Randy LaJoie in his No. 74 FINA Chevrolet, second place in series points (and younger brother to NASCAR Winston Cup Series veterans Geoff and Brett Bodine) Todd Bodine in his No. 36 Stanley Pontiac and Raybestos Rookie of the Year point leader and third place in series points Steve Park in his No. 3 ACDelco Chevrolet.
NASCAR Racing 2 is available at NASCAR Thunder retail stores and computer stores everywhere or by calling Sierra direct at (800) 757-7707. Estimated retail price is $49.95. Other NASCAR racing products in the Papyrus family are NASCAR Racing, NASCAR Racing for Mac and NASCAR Racing for the Playstation.
NASCAR Racing 2 is a 1996 racing video game by Papyrus Design Group based on the NASCAR Winston Cup Series of the same year, with a later addon for the 1997 Busch Grand National Series. It featured many drivers, Gen-4 chassis and tracks from both series.
Papyrus developed this title and released multiple NASCAR-based video games with incremental changes up until their transition to the “GPL engine” used in NASCAR Racing 4.
Official 1997 Busch Grand National Series addon for NASCAR Racing 2, featuring many drivers, teams and tracks from the Busch series.
