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.
As a direct ancestor of iRacing, the ‘Grand Prix Legends engine’ had multiple stock car racing false starts, before eventually releasing as NASCAR Racing 4. The original NASCAR 3, cancelled and replaced by one that used NASCAR 2’s engine, is barely remembered.
NASCAR Racing 4 is Papyrus’ next evolution of the award-winning racing series. Featuring the drivers and teams from the 2000 Winston Cup and Busch Series season, NASCAR Racing 4 showcases a revolutionary new 3D physics model that adds realism to the reactions of the cars – with body rolls, the ability to become airborne, and tires that spin and lock up. The cars also feature a virtual 3D cockpit that gives you the ability to look left and right, more dynamic arm and steering wheel movement – enhancing the immersive quality of the game. To further improve the quality of the gameplay, the interactive user interface includes widget sound, and pop-up help for car setup and configuration options. Other driver aids include a novice mode, traction control to limit wheel spin, antilock brakes, and steering/stability control to prevent the player from over compensating when steering.
Screenshots:
Press release:
Sierra Studios(tm) and Papyrus Design Group Announce NASCAR(r) Racing 4
Papyrus Finally Succeeds in Cramming a Stock Car into a PC!CONCORD, MA (May 3, 2000) – Sierra Studios(tm) and Papyrus Design Group, the leading developer of auto racing simulations for the PC, today announced NASCAR(r) Racing 4, the next generation of their award-winning racing series. Fans can rev-up to race a true NASCAR(r) stock car in their PC this November when NASCAR(r) Racing 4 is released nationally to retail stores. The title will be showcased at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles in the South Hall booth #1146 May 11-13, 2000.
“With an entirely new, ground breaking physics engine, NASCAR(r) Racing 4 offers everyone a chance to climb into a NASCAR(r) Winston Cup car with their PC and enjoy a riveting experience unmatched by any other driving sim,” said Jim Veevaert, vice-president of marketing for Sierra Studios. “Papyrus Founder, Dave Kaemmer, introduces the novice to the fun and excitement of racing, but steeps the expert in all the subtleties and strategies of the NASCAR(r) racing experience, learning what the drivers know.”
NASCAR(r) Racing 4 features the drivers and teams from the 2000 NASCAR(r) Winston Cup and NASCAR(r) Busch Series, Grand National Division. NASCAR(r) Racing 4 showcases a revolutionary new 3D physics model that adds realism to the reactions of the cars – with body rolls, the ability to become airborne, and tires that spin and lock up. The cars also feature a virtual 3D cockpit that allows you to look left and right, has dynamic arm and steering wheel movement – enhancing the immersive quality of the game. To further improve the ease of the experience, the interactive user interface includes pop-up help for car setup and configuration options. Other driver aids include a novice mode with steering and stability control, traction control to limit wheel spin, and antilock brakes.
The new hardware-only 32-bit graphics engine allows for real-time reflection maps and shadows, higher frame rate, and smooth slow-motion replay. New 3D AI modeling allows for a formidable field of realistic competitors.
“NASCAR(r) Racing 4 allows up to 32 drivers to race online with robust LAN and Internet support, which is up to eight times the number of players other racing sims can support,” said Scott Stutsman, producer at Papyrus. “These multiplayer capabilities, our revolutionary 3D physics model and new 32 bit graphics engine are just some of the features that exemplify how Papyrus continues to raise the bar for our competitors.”
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