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...
Header image from rFactor 2’s Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans) DLC.
In their recent earnings call Motorsport Games stated that an upcoming Le Mans title would use the rFactor 2 engine in some capacity, but were rather vague exactly how. Having taken the time to now listen to the call, there is some muddy language and frankly confusing verbiage as to whether new CEO Stephen Hood is still talking about the Le Mans title or had moved onto discussing rFactor 2 itself. Taking only the information that appears to be stated clearly, the only solid information appears to be:
– 24 Hours of Le Mans game first announced way back when Motorsport Games purchased Studio 397 and rFactor 2 more than two years ago.
– In the earnings call last week stated that Le Mans title would use “rFactor 2 components”.
– In the earnings call last week stated that “team racing” and “competition system”, in-development for rFactor 2 since before Motorsport Games even owned it, would be part of the Le Mans title.
Edit: An MSGM representative contacted me to clarify that the “competition system” is a wholly new product, and will possibly be renamed to avoid confusion.
“Our planned Le Mans title allows us to use the very best components of our top tier rFactor 2 simulation title and align it to an opportunity I believe exists in the racing genre… Le Mans, and indeed the World Endurance Championship revolves around teamwork and it is therefore fitting that our long-planned move into team racing begins with the release of our competition system into the rFactor 2 simulation style game.”
Announced with the mention of a “24 Hours of Le Mans” title in the press release announcing the acquisition of Studio 397 and rFactor 2. This title is expected to use rFactor 2’s physics.
