Better known today as the developer of Skyrim and Fallout, Bethesda once had a well-respected racing game franchise and were deep into development of a licensed Skip Barber Racing title that never released.
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.
The previously announced Busch addon for NASCAR 2 is now available.
Press Release:
PAPYRUS’ NASCAR GRAND NATIONAL SERIES EXPANSION PACK SHIPS TO STORES
Watertown, MA, November 3, 1997 — Papyrus Design Group, a division of Sierra On-Line, Inc., announces its NASCAR Grand National Series Expansion Pack has shipped to stores. The Expansion pack includes ten new tracks, two fantasy tracks and 30 new drivers each with their familiar team and car.
The NASCAR Grand National Series Expansion Pack enhances the experience of NASCAR Racing 2, the #6-selling game in the nation (according to PC Data). NASCAR Racing 2 features 1996 drivers, cars and sponsors, and allows competition in a full championship season on sixteen NASCAR sanctioned tracks. The game’s physics model renders a high degree of realism, duplicating actual car behavior and responding to track and weather conditions. Competitors also enjoy realistic detail in the car setups and are able to race head-to-head via modem or over the Internet.
“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.”
“We paid even more attention to the detail, the light and features of these tracks,” Matt Marsala, producer of the Expansion Pack, said, “the result is a completely new, accurate racing experience in conjunction with NASCAR Racing 2.”
The Packs’ newly constructed tracks are:
Texas Motor Speedway
California Speedway
Gateway International RacewayOther new tracks with a NASCAR tradition include:
South Boston Speedway
Nashville Speedway USA
Hickory Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Raceway Park
Myrtle Beach Speedway
Nazareth Speedway
The Milwaukee MileThe “Fantasy Tracks” included in the program are:
Bull Run Raceway
Red Rock RacewayAmong the Expansion Pack’s 30 new drivers are:
Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year points leader Steve Park and his #3 AC Delco Chevrolet. Steve is currently ranked 3rd in points.
1996 and 1997 champion Randy LaJoie and his #74 FINA Chevrolet
Todd Bodine and his #36 Stanley Pontiac, second place in series points. Headed for the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1998, Bodine is younger brother to NASCAR Winston Cup veterans Geoff and Brett Bodine.NASCAR Racing 2 for MS-DOS is available at 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.
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Papyrus Design Group is a software development division of Sierra On-line, Inc.. Developers of the most compelling software-based racing experiences possible, Papyrus’ best-selling products include the NASCAR. Racing and IndyCar. Racing lines. Upcoming titles include SODA Off-Road Racing and Grand Prix Legends. Winners of 4 Software Publishers Association CODIE awards, Papyrus has a ten-year reputation for superior use of physics and realism in their products. Located in Watertown, Massachusetts, Papyrus employs 75 artists, engineers and marketing staff.
Sierra, located in Bellevue, WA, is one of the original developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive entertainment and productivity software. In July 1996, Sierra was acquired by CUC International, Inc. (NYSE: CU), a technology-driven retail and membership services company that provides access to travel, shopping, auto, dining, home improvement, financial and other services to more than 70 million consumers worldwide. Sierra is part of CUC Software, an operating unit that consolidates the sales, manufacturing, finance, accounting and management of CUC International’s software divisions.
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