With so many great options for us to choose from I sometimes wonder how we haven’t gone mad, and by that I mean we have Forza Motorsport, Gran Turismo, the upcoming Assetto Corsa, iRacing, Raceroom Racing Experience (R3E), rFactor 2, Project CARS, and Codemasters’ F1 series of racing games. With so many options to choose from there’s literally something for everyone and it’s because of this wealth of choice that the gaming scene for racing simulators isn’t as much of an empty void as some would believe.
Take the picture above featuring the BMW M3 GT2 from Project CARS taking on the many challenging and sweeping bends of Suzuka Circuit, dressed in it’s fictional livery (with two official liveries) and looking great for a PC title, but fret not as it will make its way onto consoles as well. The major revelation you’ll soon come to acknowledge is the game looks so great and it isn’t even using final code yet; it’s still in its pre-alpha infancy.
Project CARS features one of the more dynamic audio engines that I’ve experienced since R3E. Take these videos put together by myself for example:
Keep in mind, nothing you’re seeing or hearing is final. Everything is constantly worked on, criticized and improved on a weekly basis, which means if you have a problem with something whether it be suspension-related or tire-related it could be improved upon the very next day depending on your level of membership, and that is perhaps the single most exciting thing about this project.
Now the unfortunate bit of news is if this is the first you’ve heard of pCARS and you’d like to get in on the fun and share your thoughts and give a laundry list of feedback, you’re unable to as funding for the game has closed. However, there is the possibility that funding could once again become a factor with the advent of next month’s full-on foray into the eighth generation of consoles.
And this is precisely the point of the Weekly Rewind. Of course the key players—Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport—will always have the immediate spotlight, but the world of racing games expands far beyond their scope of things.
It really is the ultimate showcase.
GTPlanet Picture of the Week
Realism is something we all want from racing games, but photorealism is something us photomode guys look to achieve in every single one of our sessions; of course some may be a bit more abstract than others, but this is always something that’s kept in mind.
This set put together by our very own gtuned exhibits exactly what I’m referring to.
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Picture of the Week” and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
Gran Turismo 6 – Bathurst is Here
Mount Panorama, otherwise known as Bathurst has finally been confirmed for inclusion in the upcoming Gran Turismo 6. Widely known as one of the most challenging circuits in the world, it’s going to be great getting to know the many dangers of the track this December.
For more, be sure to stop by the original article here.
GTPlanet Weekly Race Series (WRS) Week 137: S2000? S2013!
GT5′s chapter in the WRS may soon be coming to an end this December but that doesn’t mean the events are going to begin falling to the wayside, or even worse, become easier. This week is all about Honda’s S2000 wearing its bog standard Comfort/Soft compound tires, and with 240 horsepower you’re sure to find yourself on the uncomfortable end of oversteer.
You can hate the tires, but they are going to hate you back.
These are the stock tires on the car, with the perfect balance of slip and grip. It’s a very balanced ride, and it will be tricky to get everything out of it. Have fun!
Stop by the official thread here and remember that you NEED to be registered before officially participating in the WRS, and that can only be done by submitting a time for the official GTP Registry Qualifier.
Forza Motorsport 5 – And It Continues
Last week Dan Greenawalt was present at the Eurogamer Expo and talked some more about the upcoming, admittedly ambitious launch title for the Xbox One, Forza Motorsport 5. While nothing groundbreaking or entirely new was revealed, it was interesting to hear his comments regarding their new tire model and the extensive amount of new data acquired courtesy of the partnership with Calspan.
Beyond that, last week was the beginning of the weekly reveals for vehicles set to be included in FM5, and the total list up until this point is 45 confirmed vehicles. Today sees the next batch of vehicles set to be included in Forza Motorsport 5′s lucrative list of automotive history, and the list is as follows:
2013 Audi S4
1985 Ford RS200 Evolution
Of course, that’s not all as the following list of cars have also been revealed
2012 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
1991 GMC Syclone
1998 Ferrari #12 Risi Competizione F333 SP
2005 Dodge SRT4 ACR
2010 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3
2011 Peugeot 308 GTI
1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 454
2003 BMW M5
1971 Lotus Elan Sprint
1993 McLaren F1
1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
2003 Nissan Fairlady Z
1965 MINI Cooper S
2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2003 Volkswagen Golf R32
And even further are all of the vehicles announced up until this point which include the following
2009 Zonda Cinque Roadster
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8
2013 Ford Focus ST
2010 Audi TT RS Coupe
2012 Scion TC
2009 Jeep Cherokee SRT8
2011 Kia Cee’d
2005 TVR Sagaris
1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale
1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR
1998 Eagle Talon TSi Turbo
2009 Ferrari California
2000 Ford Mustang Cobra R
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
1994 Mazda MX-5 Miata
2010 Maserati GranTurismo S
2003 Toyota Celica SS-I
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe
1971 AMC Javelin-AMX
1976 McLaren M23
1976 Ferrari 312-2
2013 Dallara #9 Target Ganassi Dallara DW12
2013 Dallara #15 Target Rahal Letterman Dallara DW12
2012 Dallara #28 Andretti Autosport DW12
2013 Dallara #12 Team Penske Dallara
2012 #1 Audi Team Joest R-18 e-tron quattro
2012 Ferrari F12berlinetta
2013 McLaren P1™
1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe
2012 Pagani Huayra
2011 Koenigsegg Agera
2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
2010 Audi TT RS Coupe
2013 Ford Focus ST
2011 McLaren MP4-12C
2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro
2012 Aston Martin Vanquish
2011 Audi RS3 Sportback
2013 Ford Mustang GT500
2013 SRT Viper GTS
1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C
1987 RUF CTR Yellowbird
1991 Mazda #55 787B
2011 Ford F150 SVT Raptor
2011 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
This brings the current list to a grand total of 62 cars and the list is only going to grow in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
GTPlanet Member of the Week
Once again it’s time to acknowledge a member of the GTPlanet community; a member who has stood out among the hundreds of thousands of members already here, both old and new alike for all that they’re worth and all they have contributed to the community.
Acknowledging yet another senior among the ranks, and our second member to possess real world racing experience, it’s time to welcome the newest inductee in to the Member of the Week madhouse, Motor City Hami!
Many of you will undoubtedly recognize our newest inductee for his contributions to our very own tuning forum and it is precisely that in which he mentions during his interview. So get to know Keith and little better and check out the full interview, and perhaps see the world through his eyes. He is, after all, the twentieth member to be recognized among his peers. Who’s next?
Anyone you’d like to see recognized as the Member of the Week? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Member of the Week” and fill it out with your choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot nominate yourself.
GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week
This week’s featured vehicle bears a strong resemblance to a Lamborghini Diablo in the rough, and for good reason, as it is the work of Marcello Gandini whom worked with Lamborghini. Named after its oddball drivetrain configuration, the Moroder uses a transversely-mounted V16 engine mated to a longitudinal gearbox that forms the shape of a “T”.
Upon receiving Marcello’s design for the successor to Lamborghini’s Countach, Lamborghini took the concept and extensively reworked it, including the removal of Gandini’s signature notched rear-wheel arches. Gandini was none too pleased with the alterations and turned to Cizeta who offered to maintain the original design language.
Once completed, the vehicle sold for $400k which would prove to be a hard sell given the lack of company heritage or racing history, and as a result only ten units were ever completed.
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week” and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
GTPlanet Tune of the Week
This week’s featured once again goes hand-in-hand with this past Wednesday’s Seasonal Events challenges in GT5, recommended to us by tuning aficionado danbojte and courtesy of praiano63, features the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.
Originally tuned for 500PP events, you won’t have to go far to accommodate the additional 50 points for this week’s time trial.
Victory is the name of the game as usual and if it’s a deserving victory that you’e after and you want to do so using the fiery passion of Italian persuasion, then you’ll want to stop by and see the tune for yourself.
Exactly like the Picture and Vehicle of the Week features, if you have any suggestions for the upcoming Rewinds be sure to drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Tune of the Week” and let me know. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
Closing Thoughts
What started out as a relatively quiet week quickly became one that was shout-worthy, and all because of one very anticipated track reveal for GT6. It’s amazing how things work sometimes, and all that’s left is revealing more information about the new and/or improved features of the game, and the rest of the vehicles new to GT6.
It’s another F1 weekend and I’m always as excited as I am on every F1 race weekend, and while I’m almost certain of how things are going to transpire, I can’t help but be excited. What I’m not excited for is the face of Formula 1′s succeeding year in 2014 where regulations are going to be changed a’plenty. As I mentioned last week, I don’t even want to think about 2014. At all.
Now a message from our sponsor, me:
While you’re salivating at the very thought of Gran Turismo 6 finding itself into your PlayStation 3 this coming December why not take the time to become a full-fledged member of our wonderful community. It’s free and we have cake! Okay, we don’t have cake (the cake is and always will be a lie, remember this!) but we do have a strong community and we’re always talking about something interesting. If you aren’t already a member you should join today and maybe you can work out a patented antidote for “Lying Cake Syndrome”. Seriously, it’s been years since I’ve had cake.
My shameless Twitter plug has also returned!
Once again I forgot to mention that I’m on Twitter now. What was once going to be a bit of parody account (because I don’t use Facebook or Twitter for any reason whatsoever) has quickly turned into me using Twitter rather effectively. So, follow me and suggest all things Rewind-worthy from the comfort of your tablets, phones, or Skynet-linked computers. Remember, when the machines finally rise you’ll need someone to write pieces regarding the matter littered with Armageddon-y undertones and I can be just that guy! What were we talking about? Right, Twitter, so if you’ll follow me here the Rewind can be delivered to you in a timely fashion not seen since snail mail. Wait, that’s not the right thing to say!
You will be showered in Rewind, Seasonal Event and future article goodness courtesy of yours truly, so there’s that worth looking forward to once I’ve bothered to get the thing up and running. It can also be used to suggest things for upcoming Rewinds, so that’s now two ways you all can keep me on my toes.
Bathurst has arrived and there’s something else in store this week that I’ll leave to your imagination. What I will say—to save as many of you a headache as possible—is that it has nothing to do with Gran Turismo or Polyphony Digital. And on that brain teaser it is once again time to bring the Rewind to an end. Until next week, keep racing!
pCARS and GT5 photomode images by R8TEDM3, EDK, and driftinziggy.