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.
RSC contains a database of 153 developers, 467 software titles, 374 cars, 42 bikes, 242 tracks and more...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.
RSC Podcast Episode 7 – Management Simulations, F1 Managers, Always Used To Be Better?Join Jon Denton, Tim Wheatley, Simon Croft and guest(s) as they discuss sim racing and racing games past, present and future.
RSC contains a database of news items. Our #OnThisDay page shows current day and current week of years past...
RSC contains a database of videos back to the 1980s catalogued as intros, laps, trailers, unboxings and more...
RSC contains a database of emulated software you can play in your browser...
Some of the closed development updates available to higher tier members have now been added to the first junior build of Project Cars. This build allows access to the Formula A.
Press release:
Project CARS In Full Throttle
New Project CARS Junior Build Available!London, February 3, 2012: Slightly Mad Studios have released the newest Junior build of their WMD-powered Project CARS title, giving all members the chance to catch up with the latest developments of the quickly evolving title. The new Junior build is packed to the brim with all the exciting new features and improvements that have been introduced with the weekly builds since the last Junior release, including several new content items and vast progress in key aspects of the simulation.
First and foremost, the new build introduces a first version of the brand-new 2011 Formula A car to Project CARS, giving members access to a top-level open wheeler featuring all the bells and whistles of modern Formula racing such as state of the art aerodynamics and more than 700hp of engine power. Build 144 also marks the first time Junior members get to try several new content items that have been added during the past few weeks, including the Ariel Atom V8, the 250cc Superkart and the Northampton circuit.
Furthermore, the new build delivers a completely revamped input and force feedback model as our developers have been making breakthrough improvements in these areas during the past few weeks. To go along with the much more refined, detailed and precise input and force feedback, the cars have received comprehensive physics updates based on the feedback of our Physics & Handling consultant, former Stig, Ben Collins.
Other key features include:
· Race up to 64 AI cars
· Ultra high detail car models
· Fully-adjustable AI
· Improved UI including controller and setup screens
· New liveries for various cars
· Multi-class racing
· More powerful Leaderboards system with web access
· Driver animations including leg and fingers micromovement
· Improved versions of various tracks
· Track map added to HUD
· Physics and graphics updates for various cars
· New legends driver model and helmet
· …and much, much moreIf you haven’t joined Project CARS yet then there’s never been a better time! New players can experience all these exciting new features and developments themselves for as little as a one-time-only payment of €10 to become a Junior member on the WMD forums. To join WMD and get busy racing the newest version of Project CARS today, simply follow these three easy steps:
1. Register on the WMD Forums (www.wmdportal.com)
2. Choose a Toolpack to become a member (starting at €10 for Junior Membership)
3. Download the new Project CARS build on the downloads pageMembership entitles players to much more than just regular development builds as all members get access to our busy development forums where they can follow the development of Project CARS up close, talk to our developers and contribute to the development. So don’t wait any longer, join WMD today and experience the future of racing simulations yourself! Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS feed and follow Project CARS & Slightly Mad Studios on Twitter.
About Slightly Mad Studios Ltd
Slightly Mad Studios is an independent, award-winning developer known most recently for its work on Electronic Arts’ Need For Speed franchise with the successful SHIFT series. The company has a core studio located near Tower Bridge, London but predominantly uses a unique distributed development system that allows the team to attract worldwide talent, be cost-effective and ultra-efficient.
