Asobo, known today as the Microsoft Flight Simulator developer, created groundbreaking technology for large scale maps that was intended to be used in a high quality rally raid title. It was never released and ended up as FUEL, a post-apocalyptic open-world racing game. What happened?
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.
Join Jon Denton, Tim Wheatley, Simon Croft and guest(s) as they discuss sim racing and racing games past, present and future.
According to Kenneth Verburg of High Gear over on RAS, this project has been cancelled. This is such a shame and we may never know the real cause of the cancellation, but rumors suggest the apparent poor sales for Grand Prix Legends made the creation of a hardcore historic simulation suddenly seem a lot less appealing to GT Interactive…
The software did look to be struggling to run at an acceptable framerate last year at E3. Perhaps we’re just not there yet.
Meanwhile the development team has apparently continued using some of the engine for the upcoming arcade title, Dukes of Hazard.
Originally announced to be released on PC and limited consoles. Never released.