Huge December, 2019 Update For Raceroom, Adds Light Cycle + More

I’m a bit late posting this due to sickness, but it’s still confusing to look back now and see how this update slipped under the radar for many in the sim racing community. This is, frankly, a pretty huge update that deserved more attention than it seems to have gotten.

Not only did it add the Porsche DLC, BMW M4 GT4, Ningbo International Speedpark and Nürburgring Grand Prix Fast Chicane layout, but it added their first iteration of day/night cycling from morning to evening, with the sun in the correct astronomical position. It tackled damage states, improved force feedback, tweaked the AI, sound, and fixed a number of issues with existing content.

Here are the update version numbers and size:
Download size = 4.5 GB
Client version = 0.9.0.911
Client BuildID = 4480845
Dedicated server version = 56.0.1058
Dedicated server BuildID = 4480917

New content:
GTR4 car class – Added BMW M4 GT4
GTR4 car class – Added Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport
GTR3 car class – Added Porsche 911 GT3 R (2019)
Group 4 car class – Added BMW M1 Group 4
Added a new car class – Porsche Motorsport GT2 Supersportscar, with the Porsche GT2 RS Clubsport
Tracks – Added Ningbo International Speedpark with 5 layouts
Tracks – Added new layout: Nürburgring Grand Prix Fast Chicane, free for all owners of the track.

Features:
Added a first iteration of daylight progression, from morning to evening. A multiplier is available to set progression from x0 (static sun), up to x25.
Sun position is now astronomically accurate for each of our tracks as per a typical summer solstice day.
Dedicated server – Added possibility to set a “Message of the Day” that all players will be presented with upon joining. The message can be dismissed by pressing the brake, or leaving the pitlane. The message can be formatted using very basic html tags.
Damage overhaul – The old settings separating Visual and Mechanical damage have been merged into just one Damage setting which can have the following values:
– Off (cars will not take any damage)
– Limited (this is equivalent to having both mechanical and visual damage enabled before today’s update)
– Full (Suspension can get damaged, and tyres can have flat spots after lock-ups)
Damage model – New deformations and systems for detachables parts, cracks in windshields, etc.
Damage model – Tyres can now get punctured from collisions or from driving off track, and the probabilities of getting a puncture increase with the wear.
Car Setup Menu – One of our goals is to modernize the user interface and the first menu that we decided to tackle is the car setup. It is reflecting the future look and feel of the RaceRoom interface as we head into 2020.
It is divided in three areas, the left will display some telemetry data from your last laps, the center has all the possible changes sorted into tabs, and the right side is dedicated to display helper texts and the steering settings.
Force Feedback – Added Pneumatic Trail to the physics engine, which results in self-centering forces on corner exits.
Force Feedback – Added Stationary Friction effects
Global AI behavioral improvements, with car specific tweaks using a self-learning algorithm.
Sounds – Improvements to tyre sounds (skid and scrub).
Added an option to display opponents of other classes in the HUD position bar
Added an option to force the HUD track map to remain static and not rotate with the player’s car orientation
Added an option to show or hide the chat messages in Multiplayer
Added extra bindigs for Shift Up and Shift Down, allowing to mix paddles and a sequential shifter

Content updates:
DTM 1992 – Updated physics ( Details @ Sector3 forums )
Touring Classics – Updated physics ( Details @ Sector3 forums )
GTR3 – Updated physics ( Details @ Sector3 forums )
GTR4 – Updated physics ( Details @ Sector3 forums )
Hillclimb Icons – Updated physics ( Details @ Sector3 forums )
BMW M1 Procar – Updated physics ( Details @ Sector3 forums )
Performance index values of all car classes have been readjusted (DTM 1992 and Touring Classics are no longer merged)
Brands Hatch – Updated curbs, advertisement, vegetation
Gelleråsen Arena – The last turn has been modified, but the starting grid is still located on the old stretch.
Knutstorp – Updated with 2019 modifications
Macau – Improved performance
Mantorp – Updated with 2019 modifications

Fixes:
Dedicated server no longer loses its settings when the IP address of the hosting machine changes.
Loads of bug fixes and improvements overall