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...
Along with their Q4 2022 updates Studio 397 have deployed a number of fixes for older content as well as a couple of more recently hotfixes. You can see all the changes listed below.
Hotfixes:
9897039 // 9897045
– Fixed an issue where the UI wouldn’t load in a fresh install
– Fixed transmission sounds
Content changes:
Cadillac DPi v1.11
– Adjusted LOD distances
– Fix for inters
– Minor cam tweak
– Corrected Team names
– Updated sounds to new engine
– Fix for suspension bugLigier JSP 320 v1.19
– Added ability to turn off position display
– Various sound updates
– Added custom brake pressure smoothing
– Added new traction control system
– Fixed drivers face on lower LODsLigier JSP 217 v1.19
– Fixed ripple file and raindrop file
– Added new sounds for new sound engine
– Added new traction control system
– Updated TC and pit limiter sounds to new standards
– Fixed collision model not being solidNorma M30 v2.53
– Added new sounds for new sound engine
– Added new traction control systemCaterham Academy v1.09
– Set default caster to 6 degrees(max)
– Fixed missing wheels in cockpit
– Made cockpit labels show at night
– Fixed issues with rims
– Made gauges visible at night
– Adjusted gauge glass material
– Update tires with stiffer sidewalls and less grip delta from track rubber
– AI revised significantly
– Added new camera to match real onboards
– Fixed missing basemat materialHyundai i30 BTCC v1.19
– Fixed normals on left mirror indicator light
– Updated showroom viewing distance
– Slight fix on body AOS map
– New onboard sounds
– Updated windows material
– Changed year to 2021
– Fixed driver names
– New aerodynamics (including recalculated drag, downforce, ride height sensitivity)
– Updates to brake system performance, mainly different brake pad compounds, recalculated braking torques and heating/cooling
– Removed gearshift protection
– Additional differential ramp angles and preload options
– Removed 20mm steering rack lock limiter that is required for FWD cars by BTCC regulations to make leaving garage easier
– Small adjustments to weight distribution and CoG height
– Forced restriction for tyre compounds to be the same on front and rear axle
– Removed rear brake cooling options
– Front brake duct adjustment has now 5 settings
– Small tweaks to clutch parameters
– Recalculated engine longevity
– Small volume changes on onboard sounds
– External Sound update
– Adjusted telemetry information
– Fix for incorrect aero balance
– Force BTCC class tyre restriction for BTCC series tracks
– Fix for wet compound texture now showing up correctly once on a track for restricted tyre compound options
– Fixed cockpit position
– Fixed base material
– Fixed camera clippingToyota Corolla BTCC v1.35
– Fixed milky look on some windshields
– Slight fix on body AOS map
– Updated sounds to latest standards
– Small volume corrections
– Adjusted cockpit camera clip planes
– Adjusted cockpit camera position
– Fixed driver names
– New aerodynamics (including recalculated drag, downforce, ride height sensitivity)
– Updates to brake system performance, mainly different brake pad compounds, recalculated braking torques and heating/cooling
– Removed gearshift protection
– Additional differential ramp angles and preload options
– Removed 20mm steering rack lock limiter that is required for FWD cars by BTCC regulations to make leaving garage easier
– Small adjustments to weight distribution and CoG height
– Forced restriction for tyre compounds to be the same on front and rear axle
– Removed rear brake cooling options
– Front brake duct adjustment has now 5 settings
– Small tweaks to clutch parameters
– Recalculated engine longevity
– Adjusted telemetry information
– Fix for incorrect aero balance
– Removed AI downforce bias tweak
– Force BTCC class tyre restriction for BTCC series tracks
– Fix for wet compound texture now showing up correctly once on a track for restricted tyre compound options
– Adjusted sound volumes
– Fixed camera clipping
– Fixed base materialAustin Mini Cooper v1.09
– Removed 20th onboard cam
– Moved head position lower and slightly forward
– Minor tire revision, more wet grip, less realroad sensitivity
– Made shift times slightly slower
– AI tweaked to better match player
– Forcing clutch use for valid shifts
– Fixed AI CRR
– Removed shift protection sound
– Slightly better wet grip
– AI correlation tweaks in the wet
– Onboard idle sound loop fix
– Small volume changes to opponents from outside and cockpit views
– Fixed base materialDallara IR-18 v1.69
– Updated track names in upgrade file
– Fixed spelling mistake in HDVFormula E 2022 v1.11
– Enabled omni lighting on body
– Fixed spelling mistake with driver name
– Fixed “misc” object popping on max detailFord Focus BTCC v1.17
– Added new onboard sounds
– Fixed some mesh issues
– Changed year to 2021
– Fixed driver names
– New aerodynamics (including recalculated drag, downforce, ride height sensitivity)
– Updates to brake system performance, mainly different brake pad compounds, recalculated braking torques and heating/cooling
– Removed gearshift protection
– Additional differential ramp angles and preload options
– Removed 20mm steering rack lock limiter that is required for FWD cars by BTCC regulations to make leaving garage easier
– Small adjustments to weight distribution and CoG height
– Forced restriction for tyre compounds to be the same on front and rear axle
– Removed rear brake cooling options
– Front brake duct adjustment has now 5 settings
– Small tweaks to clutch parameters
– Recalculated engine longevity
– External sound updates
– Fix for incorrect aero balance
– Force BTCC class tyre restriction for BTCC series tracks
– Fix for wet compound texture now showing up correctly once on a track for restricted tyre compound options
– Fixed cockpit camera position
– Fixed base material
– Fixed camera clippingInfiniti Q50 v1.17
– Updated sounds to latest standards
– Small volume corrections
– Fixed driver names
– New aerodynamics (including recalculated drag, downforce, ride height sensitivity)
– Updates to brake system performance, mainly different brake pad compounds, recalculated braking torques and heating/cooling
– Removed gearshift protection
– Additional differential ramp angles and preload options
– Small adjustments to weight distribution and CoG height
– Forced restriction for tyre compounds to be the same on front and rear axle
– Removed rear brake cooling options
– Front brake duct adjustment has now 5 settings
– Small tweaks to clutch parameters
– Recalculated engine longevity
– Fix for incorrect aero balance
– Remove AI downforce bias tweak
– Force BTCC class tyre restriction for BTCC series tracks
– Fix for wet compound texture now showing up correctly once on a track for restricted tyre compound optionsSpa-Francorchamps V1.43
– Updated Road, Grass and Foliage materials
– Track Limits refinements and fixes
– Adjusted AI to reduce chances of AI trying to pass in unrealistic places
– Various terrain gap fixes
– Fixed collision gap inside Malmedy
– Fixed Armco material inconsistencies at night
– Fixed minor animation issues with marshals
– Minor optimizations for performance and loading times
Content hotfixes:
LigierJSP320 v1.21
– Fixed missing driver headToyota Corolla BTCC v1.37
– Fixed grey livery bugBahrain v1.03
– Fixed track limits
rF2 is a simulation designed to simulate any type of multi-wheeled vehicle of any era, supports modding directly, and features an advanced physics, suspension, and tire model.
