Video game development is full of names that have made groundbreaking steps you’ve never even heard about. Shawn Nash is a behind-the-scenes pioneer responsible for SODA Off Road Racing’s incredible physics, Papyrus’ graphical advancements and iRacing’s use of laser scan data for the physical track surfaces.
This interview with RSC, published in 2021, details his early life and career, through both his own company, Papyrus, Electronic Arts, to his time at iRacing.
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.
iRacing have released a new patch today with a variety of updates and fixes for the 2024 Season 2 release. This includes fixing an issue where Official Series weather was ending up all the same, rain lights are now able to punch-through aerospray effects, and Simucube 360Hz mode support is now available.
Release notes:
iRACING:
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iRacing Weather System
Fixed an issue where all Official Series Sessions throughout the week were having the exact same weather progression whenever Forecasted Weather Mode was in use.
– – As a reminder, with the iRacing Weather System each Official Series utilizes a single weather forecast for each race week – this can be found in the Race Schedule. However, this is only a forecast, and the actual weather during the Session may shift as time progresses. This means you may see the progression of the actual in-Simulator weather differ between the 9:00 Session and the 11:00 Session. Each split that is launched has an identical weather progression (ie: All of the 9:00 Sessions will have identical weather).
General
Fixed an issue where the maximized state of the application did not save correctly.
SIMULATION:
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General
Fixed an issue where the Simulator would fail to launch for users with a Windows account name that utilized Unicode characters.
AntiCheat Software
Updated the script (.bat) file that can be used to repair the Epic EAC installation to cover additional circumstances.
– – If you continue to have unexpected issues with the AntiCheat Software, please contact Customer Support so we can provide you with a solution.
iRacing Weather System
The lighting shader for rear rain lights has been updated.
– – This should allow rear rain lights to be seen more easily through aerospray effects.
Improved Race Server processing for checking and updating the track surface wetness values.
– – Due to the popularity of the iRacing Weather System, this frequent process was bogging down our Race Servers when dozens of Sessions with rain were in progress. This change should alleviate some of the Race Server processing demand and keep their CPUs above water.
Length and density of aerospray and tire puffs are now more heavily weighted by vehicle velocity.
Windshield water effects have been updated.
Improved the rendering of wetness on a variety of off-track non-porous surfaces, especially their reflectivity.
Some rainfall effects have been updated to be more representative of the active falling rain rate.
Raindrop translucency has been adjusted.
Fixed an issue where rain effects were not appearing on windshields at very low levels of rainfall.
Fixed an issue where rain was not showing up on windshields when Medium or Low shaders were in use.
Fixed a Simulation crash issue that could occur whenever a user was required to reload rain effects.
Tires
Fixed an issue where tire compounds would not appear correct after a driver change.
AI Racing
Fixed an AI memory lapse where AI Drivers could sometimes pit excessively early at Ovals.
AI Drivers have been retrained on pacing speeds and behavior at short Ovals.
– – This fixes an issue with their pacing speed after the pace car had entered pit lane.
AI Drivers have improved their skills at the Nürburgring.
Oval Racing
Improved the visual accuracy of opponent cars utilizing various levels of tape.
Dirt Oval Racing
Dirt Oval track surface parameters have been adjusted to reduce the likelihood of a highly bumpy surface developing over time.
Graphics
Improved the visual appearance of curbs from a distance.
– – This applies to both 3D curbs and traditional “flat” curbs.
Fixed an issue where motion blur effects were appearing less precise.
Spotter
The Joker Lap reminder message will now only play during Race Sessions.
Spotter – Foreign Language
Updates have been made to the Italian-Marco_Arcidiacono spotter pack.
– – Molte grazie, Marco!
Updates have been made to the Italian-Renzo_A_Olivieri spotter pack.
– – Molte grazie, Renzo!
Updates have been made to the Russian-Dmitry_Eniseev spotter pack.
– – Spasibo, Dmitry!
Updates have been made to the Spanish-Ari_Cejas spotter pack.
– – Muchas gracias, Ari!
Controls
Simucube 360 Hz mode is now enabled.
– – The latest True Drive (release 2024.3) is required.
Pause is now a bindable control (default to Pause key).
– – This still does not allow you to pause online Sessions – only Time Lords can do that.
Simagic haptic reactor support has been temporarily disabled while we work through some bugs.
For iRacing Macros, a new tire change pit stop macro has been added.
– – Type “#tc 1” in the chat window to select the first tire compound.
Updated some Controls options text.
Fixed an issue with the new clutch launch control.
– – This system now properly resets after the end of a launch, rather than remaining active for 5 seconds. Also, a new switch to change the mode from a “press-and-release to launch” to a “press-and-hold to launch” has been added to the “app.ini” file; This is named [Force Feedback] clutchLaunchMode=0.
Telemetry
Some Tempest-related telemetry values have been updated.
– – Removed irsdk_WeatherDynamics and irsdk_weatherVersion enum defines.
– – Removed “WeatherType” and “WeatherVersion” variables, these are already encapsulated in the session string WeekendInfo:TrackWeatherType:
– – – – That can be set to one of: “Classic Specified / Dynamic Sky” or “Classic Generated / Dynamic Sky” or “Classic Specified / Static Sky” or “Classic Generated / Static Sky” or “Realistic” or “Static” or “Timeline” or “Unknown”
– – Added irsdk_TrackWetness enum and attached it to the live variable “TrackWetness”, this gives you an estimate of overall track wetness.
– – Added “WeatherDeclaredWet” telemetry variable, this is set to true when the marshal allows use of rain tires.
The Tire Compound change command has been added to the IRSDK.
CARS:
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GTE Class Cars Improved the grounding behavior for these cars.
NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen Class Cars Fixed an issue with the gear ratios for the Homestead Miami Speedway setup.
Fixed an issue with the aero package in use at Phoenix Raceway – Oval w/open Dogleg.
BMW M8 GTE
iRacing setups have been updated.
Cadillac CTS-V Racecar
Fixed an issue where mirrors had lost their reflectivity with the 2024 Season 2 Release.
Dallara IR18
Aeroscreen and hood have been updated for 2024 Season changes.
Fixed an issue with war wagon textures not matching the car.
Fixed an issue where some damaged car parts could appear at the wrong detail level.
Smoothed a minor vehicle model issue with the front-end.
Dirt Late Model
Allowable tire pressure range in the garage has been adjusted.
Rear tire tread pattern has been updated.
Dirt Micro Sprint Car
Setup files may now be shared between the Winged and Non-Winged version of this car.
Fixed an issue where the top wing adjustment was an allowable in-car adjustment.
Rear tire tread pattern has been updated.
Ambient occlusion maps have been updated.
Dirt Modified
Allowable tire pressure range in the garage has been adjusted.
Dirt Street Stock
Tire tread patterns have been updated.
Dirt UMP Modified
Allowable tire pressure range in the garage has been adjusted.
Ford GT
(GT2) – Fixed a serious competition issue where all opponent cars were fitted with cloaking devices.
Honda Civic Type R TCR
Fixed an issue where some digital dashboard information went missing.
Legends Ford ’34 Coupe
(Dirt Tires Version) – Tire carcass stiffness and tread patterns have been updated.
Fixed an issue where the rear-view mirror had transformed into a sun visor.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 2020
Ambient occlusion maps have been updated.
Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
Fixed an issue where opponent cars could appear to have an incorrect setup applied.
Porsche 963 GTP
Backfire effects are now hot blue.
Ray FF1600
Rain occlusion mapping for tires has been updated.
SRX
(Dirt Tires Version) – The driver name banner has been added to the windshield.
Backfire effects now emit from both exhausts.
Ambient occlusion maps have been updated.
Fixed an issue where the car could flip when car damage was disabled in the Session.
Super Formula Lights
Ambient occlusion maps have been updated.
iRacing setups have been updated.
[Legacy] Dallara DW12
iRacing setups have been updated.
TRACKS:
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Algarve International Circuit
Some barrier signage has been updated.
Some missing grandstands have been added.
Olive trees have been updated.
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Tirestack materials have been updated.
Barney, Legendary Flagman, has arrived at all needed locations!
Nürburgring
Updated some pit lane line colors.
Some track logos have been updated.
A variety of billboards, ads, and vendor banners have been updated.
Oran Park Raceway
(South) – Fixed an issue where a Yellow Flag could be raised whenever a car left the pits.
Fixed an issue where a photographer could not keep his focus on one car at a time.
Slinger Speedway
Some fence collision shapes have been updated.
Fixed an issue where some light poles disappear at certain graphics settings.
Wild West Motorsports Park
One target catch fence at the final corner may now block vehicles with flying.
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