Earlier this summer, Black Bean Games & Milestone released Superstars V8 Racing, bringing the European Superstars Championship to the PC and gaming consoles.

The title received mediocre reviews, suffering from rather poor graphics and physics as well as a missing cockpit view. The developers are given another chance though as a new version will be coming in Q1 2010. Improvements will include new cars and tracks as well as an improved online mode.

Furthermore, the team will be assisted by former F1 driver and Superstars Champion Gianni Morbidelli, hoping to make the new Superstars title more realistic.

 

The Superleague Formula Series has released the intro video of their upcoming official racing game, showing some fast-paced SLF action on various tracks.

Developed by rFactor-creators Image Space Incorporated, the game is planned to be released before the series final round at Jarama two weeks from now. Confirmation has also been given that the game will be a commercial title, a free 60-minute demo will be available for download – Sim racers will be asked to purchase the full version once the time is up.

The series uses a Elan-designed open wheel race car that is powered by a 750hp V12 engine. All teams in Superleague Formula represent a football club, notable clubs in the series roster include AC Milan, FC Porto, Liverpool FC and Glasgow Rangers. Even though the field consists mainly of less-known open wheel talents, some known drivers competing in SF include Tristan Gommendy, Davide Rigon, Antonio Pizzonia & Girgio Pantano.

Back in 2008, I posted a short story on a public bus simulator for the PC. What was meant to be a light-hearted new story on a rather bizarre simulator generated lots of interest as they story is still attracting hits today.

So, since there’s obviously a demand for bus simulations, some of you will be pleased to see the following as a demo of the City Bus Simulator 2010 is now available. Set in New York City, City Bus Simulator lets you drive on many well-known routes, features include a route editor, a virtual radio station highly-detailed buses and more. For more info, check out the video below and visit the game’s website.

By the way, I´m very much looking forward to the discussion on whether or not the bus physics are hardcore enough

Download City Bus Simulator 2010 Demo Here

Earlier today, Zolder was the scene of Real-Time Racing’s first beta test during at FIA GT Championship practice session as 5000 beta testers had the chance to virtually compete against Belgian driver Bas Leinders and his Ford GT race car.

But Real-Time Racing wasn’t just active on track, the innovative company was also present in the track’s paddock area. Below are a bunch of photos and a short video of the RTR simulation software in action, courtesy of bsimracing.com.

If you´re interested to join the RTR beta test in the future, you can pre-register for a beta key here, new keys will be giving out on a regular basis.

 

Via BSR

Less than nine hours from now, the next stage in Real-Time Racing’s beta test phase will be launched as 5000 beta testers will be racing against real race driver Bas Leinders.

For the first time ever, sim racers will virtually join a practice session of the FIA GT championship as Leinders will be driving his iOpener enabled Ford GT in the series’ practice session at Zolder tomorrow morning, chased by real and virtual competitors. In anticipation of the event, iOpener has released for high resolution previews of the Ford GT car that will be used in the session tomorrow.

The event is another puzzle piece in my earlier-voiced theory on how iOpener’s and Simbin’s efforts could very well lead to a new FIA GT simulation. Earlier this month, iOpener staff was present at the FIA GT’s Paul Ricard round and the permission to have iOpener’s technology installed and used during an official FIA GT practice session hints towards a growing partnership of all parties involved.

If you´re interested to join the RTR beta test in the future, you can pre-register for a beta key here, new keys will be giving out on a regular basis.

 

iRacing.com continues to give sim racing high-profile media exposure, following TV appearances on NBC and a sponsorship deal in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the software and sim racing in general was now featured in the New York Times.

The “Gray Lady” is not just the United States’ biggest metropolitan newspaper but also operates the country’s most popular news website that is visited by 18 million readers each month. The article focuses on iRacing and some of its famous subscribers but also explains sim racing in general and does not fail to mention other titles such as rFactor, GTR and Grand Prix Legends.

Click Here to Read The New York Times Sim Racing Article

PiBoSo has released a new alpha version of his impressive GP Bikes simulation project. The new version introduces several changes as listed below, replays and paint schemes made with earlier versions are not compatible to the new release.

Changelog:

NEW: doppler effect
NEW: world records ( http://records.gp-bikes.com )
NEW: setup notes
NEW: FreeTrack support
NEW: possibility to disable riding chat
NEW: dedicated server message of the day
NEW: export dedicated server results
NEW: multiplayer collisions
NEW: raindrops on windshield
NEW: freecam during replay
NEW: plugins support
NEW: rider model
FIX: 15:9 monitor ratio added
FIX: dirt on visor
FIX: start stall width
FIX: start stall helper
FIX: Monterrey slots increased from 20 to 24
FIX: chat autoscroll locked when not on last line
FIX: brakes lock
FIX: particles tuning

 

Download GP Bikes Alpha 6.0 Here

About two weeks ago, Black Bean Games announced that they´ve secured the World Rally Championship rights to bring a new WRC game to gaming consoles and the PC.

MCVuk.com reports that Black Bean Game’s first WRC title is set to arrive on the Playstation 3, the Xbox 360 and the PC in September 2010. The title will be developed by Milestone who claimed to want to match Codemasters’ recently-released Dirt 2 rally game. Given the fact that Dirt 2 isn’t exactly the most realistic rally title, it remains to be seen whether or not the new WRC title will be a true simulation that can replace the aging but still excellent Richard Burns Rally.

Either way, Black Bean Games effort will most likely not be a one-year deal as the company is looking to establish a long-term relationship with the championship. Until 2005, Sony held the WRC license, producing several rally titles that were limited to the Playstation platform.

A very interesting video has surfaced on Youtube, showing a Formula One simulator using a Brawn GP car at Sao Paulo.

According to the video description, the software base for this simulator is netKar Pro, using a Brawn GP mod with realistic physics and very strong force feedback. Apparently, this simulator has also been used on site at the European and Singapore Grand Prix.

The netKar Pro engine is no stranger to Formula One cars as Kunos Simulazioni made a free promotional title for the Singapore Grand Prix last year, using a fictional Formula One car.

The Sim Factory has released a new update for their ARCA RE/Max Sim Racing title, bringing a brand new track as well as plenty of physic, track and sound changes to the stock car simulation.

Changelog:

PHYSICS CHANGES:

1. Daytona and Talladega front-end geometry change to 09 Specs/ Aero changes and slight physics re-work to decrease hyper-sensative buffering in draft
2. Rockingham suspension and physics updated
3. Radial Tires added to Short Tracks – removed Bias-Ply tires
4. Salem physics changed in reference to item #5
5. Limit spring settings on short tracks where users are bottoming out car causing graphic glitch of tires coming through the fenders. These tracks like Salem and Rockingham would not be able to run with these low springs in life so minimum settings have been changed
6. Various front-end geometry changes at ST and INT tracks to comply with 09 specs
7. Pocono Scuffs fixed
8. New wear parameters at Rockingham added for global test…will be added to all tracks and customized for next patch
9. Fixed default gears at MIS for AI

TRACK CHANGES:

1. Toledo, Daytona, Talladega, Salem and Rockingham grip level changes to comply with 09 data telemetry
2. Berlin Pit issue fixed
3. Nashville Access Road Scoring issue fixed
4. Salem – Fixed gate clipping issue
5. Added white line and cones to pit exit and adjusted pit out poly
6. Fixed scoring issue when pitting off backstretch access road
7. Fixed Rockingham laps to 312 (2008 event detail)

SOUND CHANGES/ADDITIONS:
1. Removed outside shift sounds
2. Added PitSound Package provided by Maxx_Power

TRACK ADDED:
1. ARCA MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY – Formerly Joesville Speedway provided as one of six tracks to be given to TSF.
A. Rebuilt entire infield and scoring loops to allow full field of cars
B. Rebuilt various other items through the track
C. Added Multi-Grooved surface
D. Added Live-Track Technology
E. Various texture Changes

Download ARCA Sim Racing Update 1.04 Here

The iOpener Enabled Real-Time Racing Game has succesfully completed its first live racing event beta test yesterday as RTR members had the chance to compete against three Marcos Mantis race cars supplied by Moritz Racing.

While the team’s drivers were lapping the Belgian Zolder race track, 25 RTR beta testers were racing them from their home thanks to iOpener’s innovative GPS technology.

This first test was just the start of much bigger things to come as iOpener’s next test will include 5000 beta testers racing against Matech’s Ford GT driven by Bas Leinders as part of the FIA GT’s race weekend at Zolder. The test will take part during the series’ open practice session on Saturday morning, you can find two screenshots of the Real-Time Racing Marcos below.

To reserve your seat in the upcoming FIA GT beta test or other upcoming test races, you can still pre-register for a beta key here.

 

The team behind the highly popular RSRBR 2009 project for Richard Burns Rally has released another update that brings three new cars and a new track to the rally simulation.

RSRBR 2009 includes new cars, textures, physics, a new night mode and much more, giving Richard Burns Rally a complete overhaul. Released in 2004, RBR is still the best and most recent rally simulation around.

New in this update:

- Lada Samara by Garyson (A6_2)
- FIAT Grande Punto v2 by Garyson (N4_S2000_1, A7S_1)
- Alfa 33 by Jalonso (N3_2)
- New track LYON-Gerland Beta by Cricrikris

Furthermore, a new version of the BTB Stages addon for RSRBR 2009 is out, introcuding five all-new stages to Richard Burns Rally.

Important: This is just an update, make sure to have the initial version & all earlier updates installed before using it.

 

Download RSRBR 2009 Update 10 Here

Download RSRBR 2009 BTB Stages 2.1 Here

Following first vague info on a new multi-platform World Rally Championship title that has been floating around the net for a few months, the new WRC title has been officially announced.

Published by Milan-based Black Bean Games and developed by Milestone, the new title will bring the World Rally Championship action to the PC, the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 in 2010. Black Bean Games secured the rights for an official WRC title from ISC, exclusive commercial and media rights holder of the championship.

“The official WRC game will engage a whole new audience for the sport and we’re tremendously excited at the opportunities to grow our fan base and the profile of the WRC. It provides a hugely powerful touch point for us in which to showcase the WRC to consumers, and it will be the most realistic and playable rally game of all time. We chose to work with Black Bean Games because they have a proven track record making top level games with the official license in two-wheel motorsport.”, ISC’s Simon Long commented.

This marks the return of the WRC to the PC and other consoles as past WRC titles from Sony have been confined to the Playstation platform. No further info on the title’s content and features have been revealed yet.

The beta phase of the iOpener Enabled Real-Time Racing Game has been started today as 5000 beta testers will be racing professional race drivers at Zolder right from their home, using iOpener’s GPS technology.

Over 11.000 sim racers have signed up for the beta phase of this innovative project and it is still possible to register on the Real-Time Racing website as more beta keys will be giving out on a daily basis.

Beta testers will be racing against professionals both during live events and based on stored data recorded on these events, the first live event of the four-month beta test will start on October 8th.