iRacing Thoughts

(UPDATED: August 20, 2013)

iRacing is NOT just another racing game. It is a serious multiplayer simulation racer that even serves as a training tool. Its value is predicated on real racing on real courses. You have to pay for a subscription to enjoy the iRacing experience on your computer, but it's worth it to find quality competition. iRacing is about as close as many of us will get to ever being any kind of professional race car drivers. Some professional race car drivers- like Dale Earnhardt Jr. even play iRacing. This blog post is a look at my thoughts regarding iRacing and what I think it means to both racing games and racing in general. I have never played iRacing as of this post, and I may never get to enjoy iRacing with my current computer and its configuration. So therefore, this blog post is NOT a review. Why review a game I've never played? This post just contains my thoughts on iRacing.

For more information on iRacing, please visit www.iracing.com. This link will appear again later in this post.

BEFORE I BEGIN...

I have NEVER played iRacing, so this is NOT a review of it. It would be pointless to review a game I've never played. However, this is a digest of thoughts on iRacing. My thoughts are only on what I've taken in from reading and seeing videos on iRacing. This is mostly an impression-based look at iRacing.

This post was originally posted on "John's Blog Space" and edited heavily for this blog. Original date of first post: December 16, 2010. Updated content from that post is as accurate as of the date of this initial blog post (August 19, 2013).

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

AUG 20 2013 - made several edits

--- iRacing at a Glance ---

iRacing is a serious sim racing title featuring real cars and real racing. It is not some casual racing game where you can enjoy crashing cars and driving like an idiot. This is a game where you can enjoy realistic racing and realistic driving in an intense multiplayer setting. The cars are real. The tracks are real. The racing is definitely real. Get ready for a racing experience that is second to none when you play iRacing.

The attention to detail and realism in handling and in racing is incredible. Its value is predicated on taking on other human racers. Therefore, you won't have to worry about bogus AI or anything. If you are thinking that this is another game where you can just drive like an idiot and race super-fast with unrealistic handling, think again. If you are thinking that you will be racing on fantasy courses on completely unrealistic tracks, think again. This is NO racing game for the casual gamer. So those of you into games like the Gran Turismo series or Need for Speed series will probably want to forego trying this deal out. This is a racing game for the sim racing fan who wants to be challenged in every possible way. That's not to say this experience lacks fun, however. The game is just tailored for real racing.

To progress through the game, you will need to earn various licenses in the game. Earning licenses through good driving and (more importantly) safe driving lets you go further up the ladder and go against more intense competition. Start small-time and work your way up to the bigger and better cars and races.

iRacing as a Training Tool.

I mentioned earlier that this game also serves as a training tool. I have heard or seen stories of racing teams and racing series using iRacing as a way to screen drivers on their racing skills. Those who obviously do well in the iRacing tests will be impressed with the screening test. So anyone looking to become their own quality racing driver can look to iRacing to better your skills in this age of simulations.

If iRacing weren't around, actual track time would be the barometer of your racing talent. Not many people are physically fit and able to take on the challenges of real racing and driving in real racing machines. So be thankful something like iRacing is around.

My Basic Thoughts Concerning iRacing.

For someone who has never played iRacing, I think this game is a greatly formidable challenge. I'm actually even scared to play this game for two reasons- (1) though I consider myself a sim racer, this is WAY out of my league, and (2) it seems too intense for me to try to race this title. I'd probably stick to rFactor, and even sometimes, I'm not really a pro with rFactor. The fun factor is certainly there. Various leagues are set up to feature various styles of racing. And if you think you can go around wrecking other cars and not get away with it- two things. First off, the game DOES have realistic damage, so your car will suffer from any damage taken. iRacing is a fully-sanctioned deal as well. Since it's fully-sanctioned, you may likely face some penalties for rough driving and avoidable contact. This is NOT the game to go wreck cars. Save that for the Burnout and Forza Motorsport games.

Want in on iRacing? Then here is what you should do: visit www.iracing.com, pay for a subscription, set up an account, install the software, and and go racing in iRacing! Just make sure you have a decent Windows PC, a racing wheel assembly, and a broadband assembly before trying this deal out.

--- iRacing: Cars and Tracks ---

The people at iRacing continually try to provide as many varieties of car and track. The one thing about iRacing is that it is not exclusively about road racing. For example, you can race machines like sprint cars and stock cars. The tracks are very meticulous in their detail. Many kinds of courses are offered to iRacing players ranging from ovals to road courses. Let's take a look at cars and tracks. All of the cars and tracks are items featured as of the date and time of this blog post.

I believe you can actually tune your car settings in iRacing. Just don't expect things like purchasing upgrades or dropping in a Stage 2 Turbo or Weight Reduction 3, though. I also believe you can change the paintscheme of your cars in iRacing. So you don't have to go with the iRacing red/white/blue liveries.

Cars.

Every car you can choose from is real. The various cars all help to expose players to multiple styles of cars and racing featured in iRacing. All cars have been meticulously-detailed based on actual specifications and features of cars featured in the game. Here is a look at some of the cars featured in iRacing (the introductions to each car type are my own):

--- NASCAR ---
The best in frenzied, hard-fought racing.

• Ford Fusion Gen6 Sprint Cup Car
• Chevrolet SS Gen6 Sprint Cup Car
• Chevrolet Impala SS Nationwide Car
• Chevrolet Silverado
• Chevrolet National Impala
• Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Late Model
• Tour Modified
• SK Modified
• JR Motorsports Street Stock
• Ford '34 Coupe
• Chevrolet Impala SS COT Sprint Cup Car


--- Open-Wheel ---
"Real race cars don't have fenders." Meet these unforgiving race cars.

• Williams-Toyota FW31
• Dallara Indycar
• Lotus 49
• Lotus 79
• Star Mazda
• C and R Silver Crown Car
• Sprint Car
• Skip Barber Formula 2000


--- Prototypes ---
These are fast and exotic racing machines delivering high speeds and great downforce.

• HPD ARX 01c
• Riley MKXX Daytona Prototype
• Radical SR8 V8
• SCCA Spec Racer


--- Sports Cars ---
These are various GT and touring car racing machines ready for you to push to their limits. Some are street cars tuned for racing, and some others are proper racing cars.

• Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
• Ford V8 Supercar
• Ford GT
• McLaren MP4-12C GTC
• RUF RT 12 R (coming soon...)
• Cadillac CTS-V
• Kia Optima
• Mazda MX-5 Cup
• Mazda MX-5 Roadster
• Ford Mustang FR500S
• Volkswagen Jetta TDI
• Pontiac Solstice Club Sport

Learn more about each car by clicking here: iRacing - Cars

As of this updated post (August 19, 2013), the RUF RT 12 R is coming soon.

Tracks.

Upon my visit to iracing.com in preparing this blog post, iRacing has over 44 tracks with various configurations. These include both oval courses and road courses. There are many tracks from around the world featured in this game. Each track has been faithfully re-created using laser cutting technology. So if a track is very bumpy at certain parts of the track, you will feel all those bumps as you race around the track. The majority of the courses (since iRacing is American) are either American or Canadian. There are no fictional tracks, no tracks with fictional names to avoid copyright issues- just real-world licensed tracks for you to race. Most of these are tracks that I have blogged about in my "Race Tracks" series of blog posts on "John's Blog Space." Here are all the available tracks for iRacing users as of this blog post:

• Daytona International Speedway
• Silverstone
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
• Phillip Island Circuit
• Bristol Motor Speedway
• Watkins Glen International
• Charlotte Motor Speedway
• Road America
• Michigan International Speedway
• Interlagos
• Brands Hatch
• Pocono Raceway
• Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve
• Kansas Speedway
• Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
• Suzuka Circuit
• Circuit Park Zandvoort
• Thompson International Speedway
• Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (formerly Mosport)
• Dover International Speedway
• Sebring International Raceway
• Twin Ring Motegi
• Darlington Raceway
• Iowa Speedway
• Kentucky Speedway
• Oran Park
• New Smyrna Speedway
• Talladega Superspeedway
• Texas Motor Speedway
• Oulton Park
• Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
• Rockingham Speedway
• Okayama International Circuit
• Atlanta Motor Speedway
• Phoenix International Raceway
• Milwaukee Mile
• Richmond International Raceway
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Martinsville Speedway
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway
• Concord Motorsport Park
• Chicagoland Speedway
• Stafford Motor Speedway
• Homestead Miami Speedway
• Oxford Plains Speedway
• Lanier National Speedway
• USA International Speedway
• Irwindale Speedway
• Sonoma Raceway
• Road Atlanta
• Lime Rock Park
• Virginia International Raceway
• Summit Point Motorsports Park
• Barber Motorsports Park
• Centripetal Circuit
• Langley Speedway
• Circuit Park Zolder
• South Boston
• Auto Club Speedway (coming soon...)
• Mount Panorama Circuit (coming soon...)


Learn more about each track here: iRacing - Tracks

Think that's a great assortment of tracks for iRacing? It is! Two tracks are coming soon to iRacing as of this post- Auto Club Speedway and Australia's Mount Panorama Circuit (popularly known as Bathurst).

--- iRacing: Final Thoughts ---

iRacing has become one of the most important games as far as the evolution of racing games are concerned. It has become a top-flight game for bringing professional-style racing to those who otherwise may not ever take a single lap around any course professionally. Maybe a game like iRacing doesn't have casual appeal or a Gran Turismo-style path to greatness. What it does provide is a completely engaging and challenging real racing experience actually sanctioned and governed like most real racing series. In other words, it is like its own FIA... only you don't have any bogus behavior or silliness from the likes of Bernie Ecclestone.

The amount of detail, attention, and passion to make iRacing both a competitive racing game and a training tool is all worth it for making iRacing truly wonderful. This game is its own unique racing title. It doesn't need to be like any console racing game to be popular. Also, it doesn't need the theatrics and insanity of arcade racing titles. If you care anything about racing games, at least consider what all iRacing has to offer for gamers and serious sim racers alike. It's okay to be drawn in to an amazing title like this one- and for good reason.

Race 'em hard if you do iRacing!

--- iRacing: Videos ---

Prepare to see iRacing in action. I have found videos on YouTube to help you to see what iRacing has to offer. I want to thank the various YouTube channels that allowed for their videos to be embedded. You can view the videos on YouTube by clicking on the links below the videos (if you are unable to view embedded videos). Take a look:

iRacing Explained by Leigh Diffey.

Leigh Diffey is one of my personal favorite motorsports announcers. Allow the Australian to tell you all about iRacing in this video:


^ "iRacing Explained By Leigh Diffey"

Getting Started With Your iRacing Career.

If you were intrigued by iRacing but don't know where to start, maybe this video can help you:


^ How To: Plan Your iRacing Career

Dale Earnhardt Jr talks about iRacing.

^ "Dale Earnhardt Jr talks about iRacing"

Wow. Imagine being able to go against actual pro drivers in a gaming environment. Let me give you an analogy- that would be like saying you slam dunked a basketball over LeBron James or Shaq.

Full iRacing Preview.

Have a lot of time on your hands (like almost 17 minutes)? If so, here is a video from Shaun Cole of the critically-acclaimed "Inside Sim Racing" giving you a full preview of iRacing:


^ "iRacing Full Preview by SRT's Shaun Cole"

iRacing Radical highlights from Road Atlanta.

Now for some ACTION. Check this one out:


^ "iRacing Radical Highlights from Road Atlanta"

iRacing Highlights Video.

Finally, let me share with you a sample of a highlights package from the actual material iRacing streams online. Check this out:


^ "2010 NASCAR iRacing.com World Championship - Round 11 - Daytona "

There's your video insight on iRacing!

--- Want to Try iRacing? ---

My blog post of thoughts on iRacing is basically over. Do you want to learn more about iRacing or show your love for iRacing? Click on any of the following links to learn more about iRacing:

• iRacing Official
• iRacing World (official community of iRacing)
• iRacing Facebook Fan Page
• Follow iRacing on Twitter!
• iRacing TV
• iRacing on YouTube
• VirtualR News on iRacing

More relevant links may be added in the future.





Do you share the same sort of ideas of mine regarding in iRacing? Be sure to visit www.iracing.com for more information on iRacing. Thank you for reading!

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rFactor Series

rFactor succeeded Sports Car GT back in 2005. This game from Image Space Incorporated not only continued where SCGT left off, but went crazy in offering many more kinds of cars and many more environments and races to compete in. This simulation racing game offers no shortage of racing cars or racing types for racing gamers alike. Anyone with a PC powerful enough to play rFactor would have no reason
to pass this one up. My blog post here is a look at rFactor.

BEFORE I BEGIN...

This post originated from my "John's Blog Space" blog. The version you are reading here is a revised version made exclusively for this blog. Here is the history of the blog post you are about to read. In a blog post dated back in December 2009 on JBS, this post was updated substantially on April 12, 2011. It was updated again for this blog on August 18, 2013. All of my input regarding rFactor is based on the 1.150 version of rFactor.

About the Label: rFactor

rFactor is one of the best PC racing games today with a multitude of races and race cars. Posts under this label concern the rFactor series. It may also contain a look at various mods for rFactor as part of the label's featuring.

--- rFactor at a Glance ---

Get to know rFactor with this section. Here's a picture:


^ from: www.amazon.com - rFactor: Customize. Control. Connect.

When Sports Car GT was released back in 1998 or so, it was praised for its great racing, but also for its mod-friendly nature. One was able to create mods for the Sports Car GT engine. These mods came in the form of tracks and cars. But amid the fun of making mods for this game, the experience was completely limited. You can only choose day/dry, night/dry, day/wet, and night/wet. They are all determined on if the tracks will allow certain mods. Downloaded cars and car packages didn't have their own in-car views. Certain engines sounds were made available. As good as Sports Car GT was, there was always room for improvement, and even the best can be made better. So back around 2005, Image Space Incorporated, the makers of Sports Car GT (as well as other great racing game titles), made a game that is no doubt a TRUE and complete successor to Sports Car GT. This would be a game that may not have rain or wet effects for its tracks, but it did include dynamic time changes among other features. Detailed interiors of cars and impressive 3D graphics brought SCGT's finest features and enhanced upon them. That eventual game got a memorable name. Introducing... rFactor!

Considered by many to be the finest simulation-type racing game on the market today, rFactor is really a testament to both racing and the modding community. This is a racing game created with modding in mind. Later versions of rFactor only build upon what the original started off with. You get a fairly expansive number of cars and tracks for which to race in rFactor with. What other racing game offers all of the following right out of the box:

• sportscar racing
• open-wheel racing
• stock car racing
• a short oval
• a speedway-type oval
• a superspeedway-type oval
• a street course
• an off-road rally course

This game gives you a whole lot out of the box. You pay good money for an experience like this, and Image Space delivers again as they've done for at least a decade. rFactor was made with the sim racer in mind. It can be as forgiving or as unforgiving as the racer would like. You can race with your keyboard or any other gaming device compatible with rFactor. The hardcore set will lovingly play rFactor with a proper steering wheel assembly. rFactor is even used in a number of different driving and other simulations. It makes rFactor one of the most significant racing games of the past decade.

As much as the game offers so much out of the box, the REAL key to rFactor's success is with the modding community. People will lovingly create mods to make an already great game even more so with their own modifications. People will create their own championships and series using mods. Many cars introduce racing game fans to a variety of different cars and racing series. Many track mods help expand the already deep track lineup and offer new opportunities to enjoy racing full speed. Different utilities and add-ons only make this game even more accessible and feature-rich. If people are making all kinds of mods for a game like this and if many people are praising it, then rFactor HAS to be totally worth it, right?

SimBin Controversy.

I have mentioned the rFactor modding community. One of the other such modding sources come from mods made from SimBin games. One of the most popular- yet most controversial mods for rFactor was the FIA GT Championship mod for rFactor. What contributed to its controversy was that the mod entirely consisted of every car from "GTR FIA GT Racing Game" and GTR2." It also consisted of various tracks from both games converted for rFactor. Funny enough... the GTR series uses the rFactor game engine, known as isiMotor.

Mods created by SimBin and converted for rFactor require the user to have the proper SimBin game prior to playing the given mod(s) for rFactor.

IN CASE YOU ARE INTERESTED... Here is an article on VirtualR showcasing SimBin's letter to rFactor modders converting SimBin material: "SimBin Issues Modding Statement" (VirtualR - Sim Racing News).

--- Why rFactor? ---

rFactor is a racing game that allows you to enjoy great simulation-type racing across various styles of racing. Everything from sportscar racing, open-wheel racing, stock car racing, rally racing, and more can be found in this game. You get a complete racing experience that's completely customizable. The addictive nature of making and installing mods makes this game like crack for the sim racer.

(DISCLAIMER: John Marine does not endorse or condone illegal drugs or using terminology like "crack for the sim racer" as a means of expressing something. In other words- it's just an expression. Pull yourself together!)

So what's changed between SCGT and rFactor? LOTS of things!

Got Time?

You are able to do proper endurance races. Would I be joking to you if I told you that could do a 24-hour day-to-night-to-day race in only 24 minutes? You can do a full 24-hours of gaming, but the only problem is that you have to give up about 24 hours of your life to play a game for hours and hours, even while your lover tweets you and texts you wanting you to go out on a date. You may have to tell your imaginary blow-up doll the hard truth- "I'm playing a racing game for hours on end, I need my time, baby. I'ma treat you so good when I'm done racing, alright, baby?" Once your lover (whether real or fake) understands that you're pursuing the racing experience of your life, you can note that the skies go from a sunny day to a starry night beautifully. You note lights turned on around the track and also note cars turning on their lights to prepare for nighttime battle. You can set races to be decided on time, with dynamic time changes, or just set a normal race that has time fly by. You could even set a race to be decided on laps or time

Crazy Customization!

rFactor is in no way an overnight success. This game has earned all of its awards for a reason- addictiveness of modding. You can customize elements such as various game dynamics, customizing certain cars with performance parts, class racing, type of race start (standing start, rolling start, etc.), kind of race weekend, length of the race (laps, time, laps and time), flag settings, what classes will race... I'd need a seperate blog to discuss all the different nuances of this game. Basically, you CAN create your dream race weekend.

How Do You Like Your Racing?

This game is a pure sim racer. There's nothing arcade in nature about this game. All cars handle realistically. The only restriction on how you want things like damage and tire wear depends on you and your skill level. Do you increase the aggression to make for a frenzied race? Do you turn damage all the way up to 100% to where your car is guaranteed to screw your car up for the rest of the race? It's all up to you. SCGT didn't come with various driving aids. This game allows you to tone down the experience to better suit your driving skill and your racing ability.


Once you settle down, you can find several packages and settings that suit you best as you play the game.

--- Starting Out with rFactor ---

Life with rFactor is grand, isn't it? You have one of the finest and most customizable racing games on the market. But like many things in life, you have to start small.

NOTE: I bought rFactor as version 1.150, so all of what you are about to read pertains to this edition of rFactor.

The Cars.

Even Image Space Incorporated does their part to bring new tracks and cars to their own game, making it all the better. This is one of those games in which it's made better with modding. Because I'm so much of a sportscar racing fan, I'd recommend you try out the ZR Cup as it's the first championship you take part in. You race in events to make money and gain experience. Now the experience relates to being able to purchase future cars. Not all cars are available right away to purchase. On completing the ZR races, you move on to series like the Hammer cars and go all the way up to the H6 Howston cars, the best race car of the SR Class.

Prefer open-wheel? There's the OWC, Open Wheel Challenge. You start out with cars that resemble the Skip Barber Racing Series, go on to rF3 (rFactor's Formula 3 series), and to Formula IS. You even have the BMW Sauber Formula 1 race car. It's easily the fastest car in the game among cars you could race right away. If you want to start making money right away in OWC, you'll need to race with the BMW Sauber F1 cars in competition. Perhaps because of my history with this mode, I've often struggled with F1 cars. But... it's the only way to get ahead. Do you want to get those 2 million Credit Formula IS cars or what? However, you can get the rFactor-livery Formula IS cars for free without needing lots of experience points. It's a tough road ahead.

Stock car racing fans can enjoy the NSCR (National Stock Car Racing) championship where you're locked in the intense stock car racing battles that define the character of racing in the United States. You can purchase equipment sets that prepare your car for various ovals and road racing setups.

The 1.150 package I bought features the Lienz events, a series of races based in the fictional Austrian course, Lienz. Tracks range from a simple romp through the village all the way to a super-long course ranging from the village and into the mountains (that even has a 24-hour course, if you can believe it!). This series features lots of rally-type cars. The cars are peppy and fun to race.

There are many more cars for you to explore and enjoy racing with, so I'll leave it up to you to explore all the richness rFactor has to provide! I recommend you go to rFactor Central for more cars for rFactor, including mods created by ISI. Other kinds of cars and other categories of racing can be found from mods from rFactor Central.

The Tracks.

The appeal rFactor brings can be found in its cars and tracks. Out the box, you feel like you're playing multiple games at once. Tell me what other game gives you this combination of tracks:

• multiple road courses
• three ovals of varying lengths
• a street course
• some real-life circuits (Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve, for example)
• a dedicated rally course

There are many more you can download to enhance your racing experience. But the tracks are all there available to race however you want, whenever you want. Hell, you can set a race to be run at midnight if you want to. Your possibilities are endless. I recommend you go to rFactor Central for more tracks for rFactor, including tracks created by ISI.

This is a quick look at each of the default courses released by ISI:

• Barcelona - race on Circuit de Catalunya, home of the F1 Spanish Grand Prix.

• Brianza - the Italian Grand Prix course around Monza is available for you to race in one of six different configurations.

• Essington - a fictional British circuit with a mix of high speed and technical corners.

• Jiading - put your racing skills to the test when you challenge the Shanghai International Circuit in three different configurations, including the Chinese Grand Prix course.

• Jacksonville - a fictional superspeedway oval similar in character to Daytona International Speedway. Enjoy high-speed battle on the high banks and straights of this tri-oval.

• Joesville - get ready for short oval track racing around this fictional short oval in Montana!

• Lienz - this is a fictional course that features multiple race courses in and around the Austrian village of Lienz. There is also an off-road configuration to enjoy your off-road racing in rFactor. So there is something for everyone with this mod.

• Mills Metropark - a great amateur-type road course with two different layouts; one of which can be run in the reverse direction.

• Montreal - the F1 Grand Prix of Canada course at Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve offers high speed battle with some tricky corners.

• Northamptonshire - this is the Silverstone Circuit, with three different variations including the Grand Prix course. Considering rFactor was released in 2005, the configuration does NOT include the new Arena configuration of today's Silverstone Circuit.

• Nuerburg - the Nürburgring Grand Prix course is a tough one to master. This game features the Grand Prix course and its short configuration, but not the 12+ mile Nürburgring Nordschleife.

• Orchard Lake - consisting of a speedway oval and an infield road course, Orchard Lake is a great place to enjoy high-speed racing. I personally use Orchard Lake's oval as a test track.

• Sardian Heights - a fictional street course with two different configurations. Get ready for an intense street fight around the tricky confines of this street course!

• Toban - this is an amateur-style race course with challenging depths. It has a number of configurations available to test you on a number of levels.


There are many more tracks you can download to enhance and expand your racing experience. So if you want more, just download away! I'll point you towards places where you can download more content for rFactor later in this blog post.

--- rFactor in Review ---

rFactor is one of the most addictive racing games of all time. It is a fantastic racing title with little or no gripes or compromises. There isn't any dynamic weather, if you want some kind of nit-pick on this game. I think if you love racing games PERIOD, you go check this game out and enjoy it. You will not be disappointed, I promise you.

--- The Future of rFactor: rFactor 2 ---

rFactor 2 was just a mere concept when I did my original post on rFactor in "John's Blog Space." rFactor now has itself a series with the coming of rFactor 2. It was released in January 10, 2012 as an Open Beta. Work is still being done to it in helping it continue what rFactor started. Most of the work done for rFactor 2 is mostly based on past mods and tracks from the first rFactor. Some of the earliest tidbits on rFactor 2 included courses like the 1960s version of Spa-Francorchamps, a vintage-style Circuit de Monaco (where the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco is held), and the Sepang International Circuit among others. Beautiful day-to-night transitions and weather effects make up rF2's more appealing bits.

My current PC can't handle rF2, so I can't say I am part of the crowd playing rFactor 2. All I can say is that Image Space Incorporated has helped design perhaps the finest racing games on PC. They have the Midas touch when it comes to racing games. So I wouldn't be surprised to see rFactor 2 continue ISI's portfolio of great racing games.





If you want to get this game now, click on this below:


^ rFactor for PC.

--- rFactor Resources ---

Visit these links by clicking on the headers. They will point you in the direction towards more rFactor content.

• rFactor (official site) « Visit rFactor's official website.

• rFactor 2 (official site) « Visit rFactor 2's official website.

• rFactor Central « rFactor Central is the largest and most complete resource for downloading mods for rFactor. Sign up to rFC to download an entire host of mods while also following work-in-progress mods.

• Simraceway « if you fancy online racing, this is where you can enter and take part in a number of competitions for rFactor.

• rFactor League « Enjoy F1 racing with this rFactor League. Download packs and find many more things for which to increase your racing pleasure with rFactor.


• VirtualR - Sim Racing News (rFactor Link). « Get the latest sim racing news on rFactor through VirtualR.

• VirtualR - Sim Racing News (rFactor 2 Link) « If you want the latest news and notes on the upcoming rFactor 2, VirtualR has you covered with this link.


I will include more resources in the future if I can find some more that may be of interest.





And that concludes this blog post. Thank you for reading this re-made blog post!

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Sports Car GT

(UPDATED: June 10, 2023)

Sports Car GT in 1998 challenges gamers to push a GT car to its limits on a variety of intense race courses. This game was made by Image Space Incorporated and published by Electronic Arts. It would be released on PC and even the PlayStation 1 (or PSone or PSX). This game is a memory in today's gaming realm. So to help discuss as much as possible as to why even bother with SCGT, I present to you this blog post. I want to discuss as much as I can about Sports Car GT and give you as much insight as possible as to why it is such a revered game.

This blog post mostly pertains to the PC version of "Sports Car GT," though I may mention the PS1 version.

---

Sports Car GT at a Glance

---

Allow me to introduce you to Sports Car GT (SCGT):


^ from: Amazon - Sports Car GT (PC Version).

Sports Car GT is really a breath of fresh air among racing games featuring licensed vehicles. For one, it isn't another NASCAR game or another game based on Formula 1. Sports Car GT is a simulation racing game featuring a variety of exotic cars. Your racing adventures in this game lets you race a number of American and European cars. You get to race on fictional and real courses around North America and Europe. Races can be run either on laps or time. You can actually adjust the level of tire wear and fuel consumption as well as damage. Before patches came along for SCGT, the damage was only mechanical. Races can be run under a number of conditions. Based on various tracks, these combinations were possible: day-dry, day-wet, night-dry, and night-wet. Almost all of the cars have lights on them to light up the darkness. Wet tracks have actual rooster tails of water getting kicked up as cars speed around race tracks. As many as 16 or so cars could race on a track (including yours). One patch allowed for as many as 24 cars to race at once at a track.

If SCGT was famous for one thing, it was a classic concept- take something great, then make it better with add-ons. That's right. The modding community was key in making Sports Car GT better than it already was. In fact, I can say that a future game- rFactor, would not be possible had it not been for the modding community who helped make Sports Car GT even better than it already was.

More than ever, Sports Car GT had an appeal among simulation racers that almost no other racing game at the time- even including the Need for Speed series- could equal or better. That was even if SCGT wasn't as pretty or as brash as the NFS series. Sports Car GT is more one of the most important racing games as far as the evolution of simulation games are concerned.

Now that you have insight on Sports Car GT, let me give you a brief overview of SCGT and what it has to offer.

---

Sports Car GT: General Overview

---

Let me tell you as much as I can about the more general aspects of Sports Car GT.

The Racing.

When you begin Sports Car GT, you can run a Quick Race format, a championship Season, or you can play online multiplayer. A quick race allows you to do one race with one of a few cars or any car from your Season play. You can set variables for tire wear, fuel consumption, damage, and more. Season Mode has you with fixed settings. You can buy and upgrade cars in this mode. You will run in separate championships to earn money towards buying better cars and upgrading your current ones. When you successfully clear one championship, other championships will open up for you. The only real control you have over championships is how many cars you want to race against and how long you want the races to be. If you prefer online racing, you can do so from the game's online racing suite.

Most tracks allow for all possible options. All tracks are raced in the daytime, but some can be run at night. Some tracks allow for racing under dry conditions or wet conditions. True to sportscar racing, races are mostly set by time distance and not by laps. One important thing to note in races is when the Halfway Point is set. Once the race reaches the Halfway Point either on time or laps, the race is declared official. So if you exit a race after the Halfway point has been reached, you will DNF and not get any points towards the championship, nor will will you receive any money. So try to complete every race. You can't actually retire from terminal damage or anything, but just try to complete each race you take part in. You can always try a race again if you don't reach the Halfway point of the event.

There are four classes of competition in SCGT. From slowest to fastest: GTQ, GT3, GT2, and GT1. There is even a fifth class for when you successfully win the GT1 championship. The higher classes mean faster speeds and more unforgiving driving mechanics.

If your computer can't handle so many cars on a track at once, you may want to scale down the graphics or even have fewer cars on track at once.

The Cars.

The cars you race in this game consist of American and European manufacturers. You start off with 100,000 Credits and a choice of three different cars- the BMW M3, the Panoz Esperante, and of course... the Porsche 911. The Quick Race mode starts you off with either the GT3-spec BMW M3 and the GT2-spec Porsche 911. You will be able to race other kinds of cars later in the game once you start making more money. Other cars you get to race include the Saleen Mustang, many more Porsche 911s, the Vector M12, the Porsche 911 GT1, the McLaren F1, Panoz Esperante GT1, and the Mosler Raptor among many other cars.

Each car can be upgraded with various upgrades. Your options include turbo upgrades, tires, weight reduction, brakes, suspension, and more. You can sell your car if you're short on cash. The cost of the car and all of its upgrades factor into how much you can get back when you sell your car. You can even tune your cars with a variety of settings at your disposal.

The Tracks.

The tracks in Sports Car GT are a combination of real courses and fictional courses. You only get to race four tracks when you start out, but more will become available as you progress through the game (or if you use a certain cheat). Each of the tracks allow you to make pit stops if needed. Here is a look at the four tracks available to you when you first play SCGT:

• Chatham - a fictional road course that rides like an oval for the first half, but then becomes a somewhat tricky road course in the second half. Expect quick lap times in the fastest cars.

• Lime Rock Park - a very short and technical racing course in Lakeville, Connecticut, USA. Don't take this seven-turn road course lightly!

• North Point - a fictional technical race track that has a very technical flow to it.

• Sardian Park - a fictional road course that feels like a temporary street circuit. It has some interesting elevation changes to challenge your driving skill.

Once you get past these courses, here are some of a few more courses for you to challenge:

• Sebring - America's famed airbase turned race track turned 3+ mile racing facility. This track in Sebring, FL, USA will test you no matter what cars you drive around this venue famous for the 12 Hours of Sebring.

• Road Atlanta - famous for the Petit Le Mans, Road Atlanta is a technical and fluid race track designed to push your driving skills to the limit.

• Desert Speedway - the game's only "roval," this is an oval with a tough infield road course.

• Donnington Park - This classic British circuit has many tricky sweeping sections and difficult corners- including the super-slow hairpin on its full course.

Those are among many courses in SCGT for you to race on.

Modding Community (PC Only).

You could drop in new cars and new tracks to expand the experience of Sports Car GT. This helps make the game even more enticing and satisfying and extends the amount of fun you can have racing in this game. Make sure to have all the needed files to successfully be able to play each car and track mod. Not every mod is ready to go as you downloaded them, so make sure that if you do have a problem that you're able to get it rectified and corrected so you can enjoy the mod in question.


This concludes mostly a look at the PC version of Sports Car GT.

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Sports Car GT: General Overview (PS1 Version)

The PlayStation 1 version of Sports Car GT was made by Point of View and not Image Space Incorporated. Many of the same dynamics of SCGT are there for the PS1 version, but it is not as addictive or as fun as the PC version. There are only six cars to a track (including yours). There aren't as many tracks as the PC version of SCGT. Unlike the PC version, the PS1 version of this game is rather heavy on lens flare effects. So while the PS1 version isn't as good as the PC version (I know because I actually owned the PS1 version before buying the PC version), many of the same cars and racing still make up the fun this game provides. Only thing the PS1 version has that the PC version doesn't is a hidden race track set in some city.

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Sports Car GT: Final Thoughts

---

Sports Car GT is a racing game that is a big part of the simulation racing crowd. Its appeal and charm makes it incredible even for a game of its time. What makes the game respect-worthy is what the game had to offer towards simulation racing. This game had beautiful graphics and amazing gameplay that few PC racing games could match for its time. For as much as this game gained so much popularity and praise, its future success wouldn't be possible had it not been for the modding community. That future success would come in the form of a future game called rFactor. But before rFactor, there was Sports Car GT. This is a must-own game if you care anything about racing games- let alone simulation racing games.

Previews.

You can view old pictures of Sports Car GT from ISI's website. Check it out:

Sports Car GT | Image Space Incorporated

Here are previews I'd like to share of Sports Car GT. I tried to find the best possible videos to showcase both versions of this game. I'd like to thank these YouTube channels for allowing embedding of their videos (click on the links to view on YouTube if you can't view the videos):


^ "Sports Car GT (EA 1999) - PC gameplay"


^ "Sports Car GT - Gameplay PSX (PS One) HD 720P (Playstation classics)"

Special Request...

One member of the modding community has gladly retained a lot of the released mods for Sports Car GT. If you have Sports Car GT and want to install mods for it, please visit this site:

RaceCarSim.com

Enjoy Sports Car GT!

And there you have it.





I hope I've done enough to convince you about Sports Car GT. If so, I have a favor to ask of you. I have included these items below so you can buy SCGT online and add it to your game collection. Please search for "Sports Car GT" using the links below and help support my work. I would appreciate your business and your cooperation:


• Amazon
• eBay
• Best Buy





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Hang-On Series

In 1985, SEGA released Hang-On. The Hang-On series is all about full-speed motorcycle racing. Just like OutRun, Hang-On is purely an arcade racer. Because of this, one needs not worry about this game being overly realistic in any such way. Just twist the grip, ride hard, and hang on! This blog post takes a look at this classic franchise. If you enjoyed OutRun, Hang-On might be among your loves of Sega racing games.

--- Hang-On Series at a Glance ---

One of the most popular motorcycle racing games or motorcycle racing game series is SEGA's Hang-On. This game series has been one of the finest motorcycle racing games in history. The pure (and dangerous) appeal of going full-speed on two wheels makes for an intense racing experience. Before the MotoGP games, Tourist Trophy, Moto Racer, or any other game or series took flight, it was SEGA's Hang-On series that set the standard for motorcycle racing fun. That is, unless you're a Nintendo fan who enjoyed what Excitebike brought to the table. The Hang-On Series consisted of four games:

• Hang-On
• Hang-On Jr.
• Super Hang-On
• Hang-On GP '95

Hang-On garnered two (actually, three) arcade variations. The games even found their way to home consoles. The original Hang-On didn't have much in the way of interesting graphics. You could tell you were going to the next stage when you don't see anything in the horizon. Super Hang-On had some elevation changes that made things interesting when going full speed. Usually, you know you were heading to another stage in Super Hang-On when you went uphill and then went downhill to see the background of the next stage. Hang-On GP '95 is completely different. Rather than open-road racing, the racing took place on closed circuits.

No matter what, Hang-On epitomized motorcycle racing and the thrills of racing on two wheels.

--- Hang-On Series: Game-by-Game ---

The classic Hang-On games are all about stage-by-stage motorcycle racing. You must go from the starting point of the very first stage to the goal of the final stage. Successfully clearing an individual stage gives you extended time to complete the rest of the course. Running into other motorbikes on the road will cause you to slow down. If you go off-course and hit something, you will fly off your bike, and your bike will explode. If you are going to crash, allow yourself one major crash. Try to otherwise avoid losing too much time trying to clear the course.

Hang-On (1985).

The original Hang-On features one race with five individual stages. To reach the next stage, you must first clear the current stage. Completing one of the stages gives you extended time so you can clear the next stage. Your goal is to clear all five stages taking you through five different environments. One major crash could really complicate your quest to clear all five stages. Enjoy full-speed motorbike racing at speeds of up to 278 kph (about 172 mph)!

This game found its way onto the Sega Master System in its 8-bit form. If you have a Dreamcast, you could play Hang-On as a minigame in "Shenmue." Here is a video sample of Hang-On:

Hang-On video sample (6 minutes, 09 seconds long)

Hang-On Jr. (1985).

Not much is known about "Hang-On Jr." When I did my research online and on YouTube, Hang-On Jr. is somewhat an 8-bit version of the original Hang-On. One thing I did notice was that Hang-On Jr. had water puddles. A water puddle would obviously slow you down if you ran over it. You may look at this video on YouTube if you want a sample of "Hang-On Jr.":

Hang-On Jr. video sample (3 minutes, 32 seconds long)

Super Hang-On (1987).

Super Hang-On offered an experience to really explode the appeal of the Hang-On series. You can choose between four routes and four different songs. You can also really turn up the speed with some extra full-speed power when at top speed. There are four different tours you can take part in. The Novice Course takes you on a six-race journey around Africa. The Junior Course takes you through a 10-race tour of Asia. A 14-race tour of America comprises the Senior Course. And if you're seeking the ultimate challenge, race the intense roads of Europe in the 18-stage Expert Course. You advanced to a new setting after each second stage. So when you clear an even-number stage, the next stage of a course will be a different environment. You could have raced in a city stage, and the next one would be in a mountainous setting. As with the first Hang-On, you want to keep your mistakes to a minimum. You may still have a chance to complete the course if you take a major crash. If you crash in Super Hang-On, you will simply fly off your bike if you take a major crash, unlike your motorcycle in Hang-On.

Super Hang-On was in arcades as well as for systems such as the Sega Genesis/Megadrive and the Commodore 64. The Genesis version had a separate game mode that allowed you to compete in a series of races where you earn money towards upgrading your bike. I decided to feature this embedded video to showcase "Super Hang-On" to all of you (click on the link to this video to view on YouTube):


Super Hang-On video sample (3 minutes, 35 secongs in length)

Hang-On GP '95 (1995).

For the Sega Saturn, there was a game that was a big diversion from the traditional Hang-On games. Hang-On GP '95 is more about circuit racing than any open-road motorcycle racing. Any purist of Hang-On would have been disappointed about what what this game offered as opposed to what the original Hang-On games provided. On the other hand, Hang-On GP '95 allowed you to do something you could never do in any of the original Hang-On games: choose between multiple bikes. Each bike you used had varying levels of performance. Also unlike the past Hang-On games, this game is in full 3D. You could even do pit stops around the game's courses.

You have a certain amount of time to complete a certain number of laps around each course. Clear the checkpoints to gain more time in your attempt to complete the race. You must pass every other bike to try to win the race. Have you what it takes to win the race? This game will be a unique and different challenge apart from any traditional Hang-On. If you want to see this game in action, here is a sample video you can view on YouTube:

Hang-On GP '95 sample video (5 minutes, 12 minutes long)


And that covers the four Hang-On games.

--- Hang-On Series: Final Thoughts ---

There isn't really any motorcycle racing game series all about pure speed. So therefore, enjoy Hang-On as much as you can. It has the open-road thrills of OutRun while also providing intense motorbike racing action. Maybe OutRun has lasted longer, but there is no denying what Hang-On brought to the table with its incredible racing action. Hang-On, you might say, was the Tourist Trophy of the '80s.

Hang-On Resurrection?

Could it be possible that Hang-On will be resurrected with a sequel? I don't think so, unfortunately. It would be great if there was a (hypothetical name) "Hang-On 2" much like there was an "OutRun 2." I'm sure Sega would not disappoint in providing an authentic and complete experience even if with fancified 3D graphics, HD gameplay, and more. Dream on for any sort of resurrection of this franchise...

I did one post in my main blog (John's Blog Space) regarding a resurrection of "Hang-On." Maybe in the future, I will update my thoughts on a resurrected Hang-On for here in this blog.





So I go from one Sega racer to another. I hope you enjoyed my blog post. Well, that's all from me. Thank you for reading!

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OutRun Series

Since 1986, Sega's longest-running and most successful racing franchise is OutRun. The series is all about the thrill of speed and enjoying open-road fun. I'd say this is one of the last great classic racing game series today. Where many other racing games mostly tried to compete with the likes of Gran Turismo and Need for Speed, OutRun mostly remained classic and true throughout the entirety of its existence.

This blog post is my own look at the OutRun series. Welcome to my blog!

--- OutRun Series at a Glance ---

Imagine driving a Ferrari with the top down as you enjoy the thrill of speed. You're a dashing young fellow wanting to give a girl the ride of her life by going on an epic driving tour. Welcome to OutRun. SEGA doesn't care if OutRun isn't some in-your-face crashfest or some highly technical racing sim. OutRun's roots are based on going full-speed in a fast car while listening to iconic songs such as Magical Sound Shower (my personal favorite) and Passing Breeze. You are simply playing this game for one reason- go fast and enjoy the ride. Just watch out for the objects on the outsides of the road as well as the commuter traffic.

Traditional OutRun Elements.

Here is how a normal game of OutRun works. The goal is to clear a bunch of stages (usually 5) en route to one of multiple endings. Your goal in each stage is to race from the start of each stage to the finish point of that stage. When you reach the end of each stage, you have to negotiate a fork in the road that takes you to one of two different stages. An easier stage is usually the left road while a harder stage is to your right. Regardless of which route you choose, you must clear all stages and reach the final goal to complete the game. You can basically make your run as easy or as difficult as you want by simply choosing whichever route you wish to choose. You must also dodge traffic while also avoiding scenery on the outside of the track. Can you complete these epic routes?


Now that you have a basic idea of OutRun, it is time to delve further into the realm of the OutRun series.

--- (Some Of) OutRun Games ---

This will NOT be a complete history of OutRun. Instead, I will only focus on a few games in the series. You can see sample videos by clicking on the links to each featured game. This will work better than embedding as many possible videos as possible. It also helps if certain videos can't be embedded.

OutRun (1986).

While the car is fictional, you pretty much can say you're racing a Ferrari Testarossa convertible. OutRun was a revolutionary game for its time with its graphics and for choosing routes. While it wasn't the first game to introduce the concept of choosing a route with a fork in the road (a game called "Tatsumi TX-1" in 1983 was the first (or one of the first)), OutRun surely made the open road feel like the open road. Since there are five goals based on whatever route you take, there are five different endings. This game was available on a number of platforms including the Genesis/Megadrive, arcades, and elsewhere.

Want a look at how it all began? Here is a sample of the first OutRun, just as you may remember from the arcades:


^ "OutRun - Complete Run & Best Ending Sega Arcade Version"

Want to see the other endings and other goals? Play the game for yourself and reach the other four goals! How would the OutRun series evolve? Find out with some of these other titles to be mentioned!

Turbo OutRun (1989).

Get ready for a turbocharged OutRun adventure. Your car is basically a Ferrari F40 equipped with turbo boost (I think the Ferrari F40 is a turbo car to begin with). This is the first OutRun to feature real-world locations, as you will be racing across the United States. Unlike the first OutRun, you don't have a choice of what route to take next. Your whole journey is one long and predetermined route. Your goal is to race from New York City to Los Angeles while also touching up on various other cities around America. As the name of the game suggests, you can use turbo boosts. Turbos give you a bit of an edge to try to make your American journey a bit easier. Just make sure not to overheat your turbos. Reaching a major checkpoint allows you to equip your car with one of three different upgrades- tire upgrades, an engine upgrade, and a turbo upgrade. One last thing about Turbo OutRun... you race in various parts of the United States in this game. However, not all locations are incredibly accurate. For example, when was the last time you recall snow-capped mountains in Atlanta? Regardless, the highway is yours to rule at crazy high speeds. It was featured on a number of platforms including arcade, Commodore 64, Amiga, FM Towns Marty, and more.

A video sample of "Turbo Outrun" can be seen here: Turbo OutRun sample video (14 minutes, 14 seconds in length)

OutRun Europa (1991).

There was an OutRun title called "OutRun Europa." It was NOT made by SEGA. It was instead made by U.S. Gold and Probe. There were no Ferraris, high-speed thrills, or anything really classic of OutRun games. This game was more like a story-driven racing adventure across Europe that involved racing on land and on water. It was simply point-to-point racing nowhere near the fun Sega's usual OutRun games provide.

Here is a long video featuring the Amiga version of this game: OutRun Europa video sample (24 minutes, 28 seconds in length)

OutRunners (1992).

One of the most beautiful '90s racing games is "OutRunners." This arcade title featured some of the most beautiful graphics for a 2D racing game. Even more so is how smoothly the game runs with these graphics. Like Turbo OutRun, you race across a variety of real-world locations. This OutRun, however, was MUCH different. For the first time ever, you could run one of TWO different routes- an East Route or a West route. Also new to OutRun was your choice of vehicles. You could choose from any number of cars driven by certain characters. Unique endings are provided based on the car you select in addition to any of the different goal sections. OutRunners did find its way onto the Genesis/Megadrive, but the home version was met with lukewarm reception as it lacked the beautiful graphics and outstanding gameplay of the arcade version.

Here is a sample video of "OutRunners." This is the arcade version: OutRunners sample (5 minutes long)

OutRun 2019 (1993).

The Sega Genesis/Megadrive was where you could enjoy OutRun 2019 from Sims Co. LTD. Your car is a futuristic machine racing across four different stages. Each route features a combination of certain single stages and some locations where you must choose a route. With enough power, you can let your car's turbo sing to go even faster through the futuristic landscape of OutRun 2019. One of the biggest graphical features is that of being able to go on certain elevated highways. There are even points where there are no guardrails to keep you on the road... you could overshoot either side and end up falling off into the water or off the road! It is a most unique experience, even for OutRun types.

A sample of OutRun 2019 can be seen here: OutRun 2019 sample video (4 minutes, 3 seconds long)

OutRun 2 (2003).

OutRun 2 was created for one reason- to bring the thrill of 20th Century OutRun into the new millenium and into the 21st Century. It has done so with beautiful 3D graphics and licensed Ferrari models. So no more faceless Ferraris trying to be real Ferraris... you're racing the real things! You are also listening to arranged and remixed versions of past OutRun songs. I personally love the Euro Remix of "Passing Breeze" among the remixed songs. In addition, OutRun 2 could be played at the arcades or even at home on the XBOX.

There are some other modes you can play in this game. One is "Heart Attack." Performing tasks ordered by your girlfriend earns you hearts. Screwing up given orders takes away hearts. Your main goal is to keep your girl happy for as long as possible.

If you want to view a sample of OutRun 2, you are free to watch this video: OutRun 2 sample video (6 minutes, 31 seconds)

OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast (2006).

In what could be defined as the final hurrah for the OutRun series, "OutRun 2: Coast 2 Coast" was basically a game honoring two decades of this legendary franchise. It featured all of the original OutRun 2 tracks while also offering 15 extra tracks. It also features upgraded versions of each car. And with the exclusion of the PS2/PSP versions, you can unlock the classic OutRun and even play two extra courses- one based on "Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge" and one based on "SEGA Super GT" (or "SEGA S.C.U.D. Race", SCUD standing for "Super Car Ultimate Drive"). You can even enjoy some extra songs for the game including classic OutRun songs as well as remixes.

Don't even bother playing the PS2 version unless you have a PSP and the PSP version of "OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast" because some of the unlockable material have to be unlocked in the PSP version of the game. And sadly, you can't play the classic OutRun or the two bonus courses mentioned previously.

"OutRun 2" and "OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast" are essentially the same game. This is a video of "OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast" here: "OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast" video sample


These were some of many OutRun titles.

--- OutRun Series: What to Take Away ---

If you have never played any OutRun title, you really need to play one. They provide a sense of speed and a sense of fun not many racing games could provide. Even as most other racing games matured and even as a lot of racing games became more about hanging on in the post-Gran Turismo times, OutRun remained a classic thrill ride very few could hold a candle to. Will there ever be another OutRun game? Maybe not judging on "OutRun 2: Coast 2 Coast" and how Sega is doing at present. But as with any franchise past or present, honor the timeless classics; and OutRun IS a timeless classic. It is one of the few racing franchises that simply involves the thrill of going full speed with little to hold you back. Today's realm of racing games is mostly about intense realism and the consequences of being too aggressive. OutRun kept it real through the entirety of the franchise. You can still enjoy simply racing full speed while not having to worry too much about trying to set your car up, how to properly attack a series of corners, or anything sim racers would likely spend loads of time figuring out.

OutRun is one of gaming's finest racing franchises for a reason. Why not pick up a classic OutRun title and play for yourself to see why? It is a series you should play if you consider yourself any real unconditional racing game fan.





That concludes this blog post in this new direction and evolution of this blog. I hope you enjoyed this post, as I hope you have with many of my other posts. Thank you for reading!

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