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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.

Shortly after the release of Grand Prix Legends the sim racing community looked forward to another title that promised to offer a similar insight into historic racing. Trans-Am Racing ’68-’72 ultimately never released, a victim of a publishers shady dealings, but as a part of my research I uncovered a VHS of a never-released trailer for the game. Watch the trailer and read about what sim racing missed out on.

 

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Sim racing developers are historically very specialized and those that have found success will have developed a title every couple of years. This has changed in recent years, however, as developers begun to favor ongoing development of a single title.

Very few newer racing game developers have written their own software engines from scratch because of the difficulty involved in simulating vehicle dynamics, but those that have tend to release higher quality simulations and be more respected in the industry. Many successful developers can trace their software evolution from titles released up-to 20 years ago, such is the complexity and financial investment involved in fresh development.

2PezOne software title indexed from 2009.

Argentinian developer 2Pez built on the isiMotor engine and still holds rights for Asociación Corredores Turismo Carretera.

704GamesThree software titles indexed starting from 2018.

Originally known as Dusenberry Martin Racing, American studio 704Games acquired the NASCAR license via Eutechnyx in 2015 and went on to collaborate with Monster Games on NASCAR games until they were acquired by Motorsport Games via majority investment.

AccoladeOne software title indexed from 1992.
ActivisionOne software title indexed from 1982.
AscaronOne software title indexed from 1996.
Asobo StudioOne software title indexed from 2006.

Best known today as the developer of Plague Tale and the 2020 edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Asobo are a French studio that have shown expertise in creating vast game worlds for Ubisoft’s The Crew and Codemasters’ FUEL, which was an evolution of Asobo’s own cancelled Grand Raid Offroad title.

AtariFive software titles indexed starting from 1980.
BeamNGOne software title indexed from 2015.
BethesdaSeven software titles indexed starting from 1997.
Big AntTwo software titles indexed starting from 2006.

Certainly better known for their non-racing sports titles, Big Ant are an Australian studio that produced a number of dirt oval racing titles, including an officially licensed World of Outlaws game in 2010.

Bizarre CreationsEight software titles indexed starting from 1997.
Blimey! GamesOne software title indexed from 2007.

Formed from a split with SIMBIN when Ian Bell formed his second company, they didn’t last long and ultimately Ian Bell’s third company, Slightly Mad Studios, acquired the assets.

Blue SphereOne software title indexed from 1997.
Brain in a JarSix software titles indexed starting from 2003.
BroadswordOne software title indexed from 1999.

Originally working on the PC conversion of Wipeout for Psygnosis, Broadsword are most-known for Spirit of Speed 1937, a title that suffered greatly due to the original publisher being purchased and then ultimately was released too early under pressure from the new owner.

They went on to release a Paris-Dakar Rally title for PlayStation, but shut down a few years later.

BugbearThree software titles indexed starting from 2001.
CGA StudioOne software title indexed from 2023.
ClimaxThree software titles indexed starting from 2002.
Codemasters45 software titles indexed starting from 1987.

British game developer most famous for their series of Formula One and Rally titles that include those under the Colin McRae and DiRT franchise names. Also notable for the original TOCA Touring Cars franchise.

Owned by Electronic Arts (EA), an American company.

Coktel VisionOne software title indexed from 1990.
CommodoreOne software title indexed from 1981.
Competition CompanyOne software title indexed from 2025.
Cosmi CorporationTwo software titles indexed starting from 1984.
Criterion GamesFour software titles indexed starting from 2001.
Curious ChickenOne software title indexed from 2023.
CyberdyneOne software title indexed from 1996.
DICEFive software titles indexed starting from 1999.
Digital DreamsOne software title indexed from 1997.
Distinctive SoftwareSeven software titles indexed starting from 1987.
Dr Reiner FoerstOne software title indexed from 1976.
DynamixOne software title indexed from 1989.
ECC GAMESTwo software titles indexed starting from 2021.
Eden StudiosThree software titles indexed starting from 1997.
Edward Grabowski CommunicationsThree software titles indexed starting from 1995.
Electronic ArtsFour software titles indexed starting from 1988.
Engineering Animations IncorporatedOne software title indexed from 1999.
Eric BaileyOne software title indexed from 2003.
EutechnyxFour software titles indexed starting from 2000.
Evolution StudiosOne software title indexed from 2002.
Exopal SoftwareOne software title indexed from 1984.
Frontier DevelopmentsThree software titles indexed starting from 2022.

British game studio founded by the legendary David Braben, famous for creating Elite (a space-trading game that was one of the first computer games to use wire-frame 3D graphics with hidden-line removal). Now recognized as a developer of Elite: Dangerous (another space game) and a series of successful management games including Rollercoaster Tycoon, Planet Coaster, Jurassic World Evolution, Planet Zoo and F1 Manager.

Frozen Lake GamesOne software title indexed from 2024.
FunselektorFour software titles indexed starting from 2015.
GameMill EntertainmentOne software title indexed from 2022.
Gaming FactoryOne software title indexed from 2024.
Gebelli Software IncorporatedOne software title indexed from 1982.
GeckiOne software title indexed from 2026.
Geoff CrammondSeven software titles indexed starting from 1984.

Legendary British game developer whose career spanned a 20 year period and included groundbreaking simulations of Formula Three and Formula One, including arguably the first ever racing sim: Revs (1984).

Most famous for his Grand Prix series that were published under the MicroProse label until 2000, his career unceremoniously ended when his studio was shut down by Infogrames and the Xbox version of Grand Prix 4 cancelled just prior to release.

ghibozOne software title indexed from 2024.

This Italian developer began as a modder working on the RBR-Online project (Richard Burns Rally mods) before branching out to work on his own rally title: gRally.

GremlinTwo software titles indexed starting from 1991.
Hanna RäbinäOne software title indexed from 2002.
Hoplite ResearchOne software title indexed from 2002.

Most famous for their miniatures and board games, this American studio branched out into software development and produced a small number of driving experiences for both PC and console in the early 2000’s, including licensed products for the Hooters restaurant brand.

Their only sim, Hooters Pro Cup Racing, used the Sports Car GT engine by Image Space Incorporated.

Ignite Game TechnologiesOne software title indexed from 2011.
iGP GamesOne software title indexed from 2011.
Image Space Inc.11 software titles indexed starting from 1999.

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.

Imaginality GamesOne software title indexed from 2022.
Interactive EntertainmentTwo software titles indexed starting from 1998.
Invictus GamesOne software title indexed from 2005.
iRacingFour software titles indexed starting from 2008.

This American studio was formed by David Kaemmer (co-founder of Papyrus) and John W. Henry (at the time owner of the Boston Red Sox and avid sim racer – he has since added NASCAR team ownership and more) after Papyrus was shut down by Vivendi, owners of Sierra, in 2004.

iRacing acquired the NASCAR Racing 2003 Season software engine (itself an evolution of Grand Prix Legends), pushed groundbreaking track technology for home use and developed a Web-based front end where users could easily find races in a variety of vehicle-types using the iRacing service.

The company has acquired a number of other studios, most notably Monster Games.

Ivanovich GamesOne software title indexed from 2023.
James BurgessOne software title indexed from 2002.
Jukka RäbinäOne software title indexed from 2002.
KalistoThree software titles indexed starting from 1996.
Kitt PeakTwo software titles indexed starting from 1995.
KujuOne software title indexed from 2001.
Kunos SimulazioniSeven software titles indexed starting from 2006.
KW StudiosTwo software titles indexed starting from 2013.

Able to trace their roots to SIMBIN in 2004 and the GTR franchise, KW Studios have been through restructuring multiple times and was also known as Sector 3 Studios for a significant amount of time. Known now for the Raceroom title.

Kylotonn (KT)14 software titles indexed starting from 2013.
LankhorSix software titles indexed starting from 1991.
Leland CorporationTwo software titles indexed starting from 1989.
Lerner ResearchOne software title indexed from 1992.
MadCowOne software title indexed from 2021.
Magnetic FieldsFive software titles indexed starting from 1992.
Markku HyrkäsOne software title indexed from 2002.
Melbourne HouseThree software titles indexed starting from 1990.
MicroProseSix software titles indexed starting from 1989.
MidasOne software title indexed from 1998.
Milestone59 software titles indexed starting from 1995.
MindscapeOne software title indexed from 1995.
Missing DigitOne software title indexed from 2018.
Monster Games13 software titles indexed starting from 1998.
MotorsimsFour software titles indexed starting from 1998.
Motorsport GamesSix software titles indexed starting from 2019.
Nacon MilanTwo software titles indexed starting from 2021.

Formerly known as RaceWard Studio prior to their Nacon ownership and still operating under that name occasionally for their racing titles, Nacon Studio Milan is most recognized for their motorcycle racing games.

NamcoEight software titles indexed starting from 1982.
Nano GamesOne software title indexed from 2023.
NeopicaTwo software titles indexed starting from 2019.
New Star GamesOne software title indexed from 2023.
OoveeOne software title indexed from 2014.
Original FireTwo software titles indexed starting from 2021.
Orontes GamesOne software title indexed from 2024.
Papyrus Racing Games25 software titles indexed starting from 1989.

Originally known as Papyrus Design, the legendary Massachusetts-based software studio developed highly-regarded simulation titles and published with Electronic Arts, Virgin Interactive and Sierra before their shutdown by Vivendi, owners of Sierra, in 2004.

Co-founded by arguably the father of the modern racing simulation, David Kaemmer, the studio created NASCAR and IndyCar titles that consistently pushed the genre forwards.

Their groundbreaking Grand Prix Legends game engine was used in three NASCAR titles between 2001-2003, evolving to become iRacing after Kaemmer re-acquired former Papyrus assets for his new company.

ParadigmOne software title indexed from 2000.
PiBoSoFour software titles indexed starting from 2017.
Pixel Perfect DudeOne software title indexed from 2024.
Pixel WrappersOne software title indexed from 2023.
PixelkraftOne software title indexed from 1993.
Playground GamesOne software title indexed from 2021.
Playsport GamesOne software title indexed from 2016.
PLUTONIZATIONOne software title indexed from 2023.
Polyphony DigitalEight software titles indexed starting from 1998.

A Sony studio used for PlayStation exclusive racing titles like Gran Turismo.

PsygnosisFour software titles indexed starting from 1995.
Punto Simu StudiosOne software title indexed from 2024.
RageOne software title indexed from 2001.
Rainbow StudiosThree software titles indexed starting from 1998.
Ratbag GamesSeven software titles indexed starting from 1999.
RazorworksOne software title indexed from 2002.
Red RatTwo software titles indexed starting from 1988.
Reiza StudiosSix software titles indexed starting from 2011.
RockstarOne software title indexed from 2001.
Saber InteractiveFive software titles indexed starting from 2017.
Saber PortoTwo software titles indexed starting from 2018.

Formerly known as Bigmoon Entertainment, now owned by Saber Interactive and renamed Saber Porto.

Known in sim racing as the developers of the Dakar franchise.

Scawen RobertsOne software title indexed from 2003.
SegaSix software titles indexed starting from 1986.
SimBin StudiosSeven software titles indexed starting from 2005.

The SIMBIN Studios lineage can be tracked through Sector 3 Studios (now known as KW Studios) and also through Ian Bell’s Blimey! Games and Slightly Mad Studios.

The company are most famous for their GTR franchise titles.

SimBin Studios UKOne software title indexed from 2021.

Formed by the same owners as SIMBIN, Sector 3 and KW Studios, SIMBIN Studios UK was an independent studio tasked with developing GTR 3.

Slightly Mad StudiosFive software titles indexed starting from 2012.
Software 2000Two software titles indexed starting from 1996.
Software AlliesOne software title indexed from 1997.

Originally an independent contractor for Papyrus and based in the United States, Shawn Nash collaborated with the legendary studio on the NASCAR Racing franchise titles until persuaded to stick around and develop SODA Off-Road Racing for himself; Software Allies was the small studio created to produce that groundbreaking title.

Steel MonkeysOne software title indexed from 2001.
Stefano CasilloTwo software titles indexed starting from 2003.

Italian sim developer most famous for the Assetto Corsa franchise.

netKar was an ultra-realistic simulation created under his own name before Kunos Simulazioni was formed and the AC title released in 2014.

He since left his own company and went on to form Jaxx Vane Studio.

StormfrontTwo software titles indexed starting from 1999.
Straight4 StudiosOne software title indexed from 2024.

Studio formed by Ian Bell, originally a modder for the Electronic Arts Formula One titles and founder of SIMBIN, Blimey! Games and Slightly Mad Studios. Most famous for the GTR and Project Cars franchises.

New studio, Straight4 Studios, launched 2022.

Strelka GamesOne software title indexed from 2025.
Studio 397Two software titles indexed starting from 2013.

When Image Space Inc. halted development on rFactor 2, Dutch company Luminis colaborated with Marcel Offermans (a software developer who had previously worked with ISI) to form a new company around the product, bringing over a number of the former ISI production team.

In 2021 Studio 397 and the rFactor 2 product were acquired by Motorsport Games who intended to both continue rF2 development and use the engine for other licensed racing titles under their own name.

Sumo DigitalOne software title indexed from 2004.
SyneticOne software title indexed from 2000.
TantrumOne software title indexed from 1998.
TechlandTwo software titles indexed starting from 2004.
TequeOne software title indexed from 1997.
Terminal RealityTwo software titles indexed starting from 1997.
TeyonOne software title indexed from 2020.
Thalion SoftwareOne software title indexed from 1992.
The AtticOne software title indexed from 1989.
The Sim FactoryOne software title indexed from 2008.
Three Fields EntertainmentOne software title indexed from 2024.
TiburonTwo software titles indexed starting from 2005.

Originally an independent studio developing Madden NFL titles for Electronic Arts, the American company was acquired by EA in 1998 and continues to operate in a semi-independent state under the software giant.

Tiburon developed NASCAR titles for EA starting with NASCAR SimRacing in 2005.

Tiny Digital FactoryOne software title indexed from 2024.
Torus GamesOne software title indexed from 2007.
Turn 10 StudiosEight software titles indexed starting from 2005.
UbisoftFour software titles indexed starting from 1998.
vfXanderOne software title indexed from 2024.
Victor van VlaardingenOne software title indexed from 2003.

Credited software developer on Live for Speed responsible for much of the Web functionality integrated with the simulation.

Virtual Racing IndustriesOne software title indexed from 2015.
Vision ReelleOne software title indexed from 2023.
VisiwareOne software title indexed from 1998.
VR-1 JapanTwo software titles indexed starting from 2000.
Warthog GamesFour software titles indexed starting from 2001.
West Racing LimitedThree software titles indexed starting from 2001.
Westwood StudiosOne software title indexed from 1999.

Most famous for their Command & Conquer real-time strategy titles, Westwood Studios involvement in sim racing is strictly limited to their collaboration on Sports Car GT with Image Space Incorporated.

Both SCGT and ISI moved under Electronic Arts publishing when Westwood were acquired by the software giant.

Zero GamesOne software title indexed from 2024.
ZordixOne software title indexed from 2020.

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