Simbin’s recent community newsletter includes a very interesting bit of info on their next PC simulation title:
“We have secured licenses for a couple of highly requested series and we think our next scheduled title will come as a big happy surprise to all racers around the world.”
“The release which is scheduled for release 2009, should lock into the new GTR Evolution base the same way as STCC does, meaning rules, cars, tracks and features specific to this new series will instantly become available in GTR Evo and STCC if you also own those.”
This answers a few questions and leaves some open. We do know that the new title will be working along with GTR Evolution, which is a good thing for sure. That also confirms that this new title will not use the Lizard engine but stick with the proven gMotor base.
The most interesting thing is which “highly requested series” the simulation will be about. As I see it, the current racing game video market does not leave too much options as most popular licenses are currently taken. Just from the top of my head:
Formula One – Codemasters
NASCAR – Electronic Arts
FIA GT/ WTCC / STCC – Simbin
DTM – Codemasters (unused though)
Major series which are not tied to any top tier developer/publisher include Le Mans/Le Mans Series/American Le Mans Series, Grand Am, IRL, GP2, A1GP, World Series by Renault & WRC.
Since Rallying is not really supported by the gMotor engine, we will probably end up with an open-wheel or sports car racing series game. A Le Mans-based simulation would require a tremendous amount of work though as sports car grids include plenty of different car models. Furthermore, the gMotor engine as used in GTR Evolution isn’t really suited to endurance racing either, missing night racing completely.
My pick would be that the new game will feature some sort of open wheel racing, a genre in which Simbin has already successfully proven themselves with the excellent Formula 3000 in RACE07.
scca1981
October 23rd, 2008 at 19:33
aww come on… lets drop the damn Gmotor engine. You’ve released 7 Games/Add-ons on it. Move on! We need something new and fresh.
gtrNL
October 23rd, 2008 at 19:36
Sure a Lizard game would be nice. But with GMotor you know what you get, and you know it will be good…
I’m hoping it’s A1GP with Ferrari engines…
:mrgreen:
six.degrees
October 23rd, 2008 at 19:51
What odds one of the licences is BTCC? Given the Triple 8 demo a while back..
I highly doubt it’ll be anything Le Mans/Series related for various reasons. A1GP might make sense, but I’d guess that the WIP mod on rFc would be very shut down by now :P
Rasmus
October 23rd, 2008 at 20:00
As much as I’d love to see a Le Mans/LMS/ALMS game, it’s not very likely with this engine, as you also suggest.
However, don’t forget about V8 Supercars either! Not really my favorite type of touring car racing, but a major one for sure.
phil23
October 23rd, 2008 at 20:35
I appreciate your feelings scca1981, but I’m sure that this is probably being done by part of the Simbin team while the Lizard title is probably in development already.
Just revenue is important in these early years for a small company like Simbin :smile:
Pugamall
October 23rd, 2008 at 20:44
Well let them use the Gmotor platform for the add on, but use the Lizard engine for a fresh GTR3 !!
Been playing GTR evo quite a bit lately,and actually liking it a lot better than I did at first,but then went back to GTR2 just to try a mod that was released,and realised just how much playing GTRevo had made me forget about GTR2,made me realise again just how much of an awesome game it is,I cant tell you or pinpoint what it is,but so much atmosphere and the feel of being part of a big race event,so for me evertime I play it I yern for a more updated follow on that will give the same sort of experience in an updated form
nicholas
October 23rd, 2008 at 21:03
The GP2 series would be my first choice, but Le Mans/ALMS or a V8 Supercar series would be cool too. Either way it will be cool to see what they are going to put out.
GeraArg
October 23rd, 2008 at 21:37
I hope it is something with classic cars, like the cars of the C ERA… :twisted: :twisted: :mrgreen:
trebor901
October 23rd, 2008 at 22:42
I think this could end up being BTCC, since no one has had the licence since 2002 when Codemasters dropped it from their games. Also Alan Gow said a while back he was speaking with a developer about the possibility of a BTCC game.
Uff
October 23rd, 2008 at 22:57
I do hope they’re developing something based on Lizard too: there’s no evolution at all in remaining on a 4 years old engine…
Ok, the new serie may be interesting, but the time has come for something more than just another add-on.
DW
October 23rd, 2008 at 23:05
It says the next release “will will come as a big happy surprise to all racers around the world.” and I don’t see the BTCC having world wide appeal. But the BTCC could be the 2nd release – I would think the market for a BTCC sim was bigger than the market for an STCC sim though modelling the tracks will also be more expensive.
Ryan Gilmore
October 23rd, 2008 at 23:17
I would hazzard a guess @ A1GP or BTCC. BTCC more & hope :)
Michael Lam
October 23rd, 2008 at 23:33
BTCC has a Bigger Appeal than some people think.
Granted it is not the same as it was in the 1990s, a lot of drivers from other countries did come to join it as it was regarded as the best.
morning_wood
October 23rd, 2008 at 23:34
ALMS would be a logical series
trebor901
October 23rd, 2008 at 23:40
BTCC does have a world wide appeal, all you need to do is make a thread on a forum somewhere and ask what BTCC is and people from a range of countries will be able to tell you. And it is more exciting than rubbish WTCC, and also has a lot more variety in terms of cars, like the Honda Integra, MG ZS, Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch, Honda Civic etc. Also there was a BTCC Civic being made for Race07 on a certain known forum and then the thread was closed and someone from Simbin asked them to contact them.
The Lonely
October 24th, 2008 at 00:12
I’d say GP2 is more likely than A1GP…
Darman
October 24th, 2008 at 00:42
I vote ALMS and Formula A
, oh and DTM would be nice… :mrgreen:
DW
October 24th, 2008 at 00:46
I would have thought Codies would have bought GP2 as part of their F1 game. Codies usually include several series in their games and some kind of career. GP2 would fit with this.
Rasmus
October 24th, 2008 at 01:03
To me, BTCC is quite similar to WTCC and STCC. Many of the same cars, same type of racing, maybe equally good drivers…
The way I see it, there would not be that big of a market for a BTCC game, cus a lot of the people who bought Race07/GTR Evo probably would not consider paying a lot of money for a new game with the same physics and maybe only 5-6 new cars.
I don’t own GTR Evo myself, but if I did, I probably would not consider buying a very similar BTCC game.
It would, however, make much sense, as the gMotor engine is PERFECT for touring car racing. But realeasing a BTCC expansion for GTR Evo would be sweeeet… That way, we could have both WTCC, STCC and BTCC in one game!
RJC_pt
October 24th, 2008 at 02:50
PTCC! :mrgreen: unlikely :lol:,
What about VLN? mmm no
Could be LMS… or ETCC…
Hope they anonce it soon :mrgreen:
scca1981
October 24th, 2008 at 03:18
ALMS is not likely. If they could not get the license for the Ferrari and Porsche for evo, I doubt it’d be able to be had for a full alms game by them. While I REALLY want a true 2007/2008 season ALMS game made by a game maker its just not going to happen with out LMP2’s top car and the top 2 cars of GT2.
Gopher04
October 24th, 2008 at 08:06
Personally i like it to be the A1GP series, but i very much doubt that..Shame we’re not getting the new Lizard engine, sure they have their reasons..
gregerson888
October 24th, 2008 at 09:58
i would pay a lot of money for Australian V8supercars
RKipker
October 24th, 2008 at 11:30
Well, Grand AM would be nice, but I would love to see a ALMS/LMES/LMS game. Maybe SCCA, they’ve just landed the livense for Porsche and Ferrari, MAYBE
One can hope :mrgreen:
grimes
October 24th, 2008 at 13:50
I realy want to know what serie it is :mrgreen:
I hope it wil be A1, but i think it wil be the lemans series.
The most simbin games are about gt’s so i thning thay do the same with this one and ad some prototypes to it.
scca1981
October 24th, 2008 at 13:52
it’ll probably just be BTCC as it fits in with the theme of the game already having WTCC and STCC.
grimes
October 24th, 2008 at 13:53
“thning” must by think sorry
mmed
October 24th, 2008 at 16:26
Don’t forget that Simbin has modelled Laguna Seca and Road America for Race Pro. A Champ Car addon would be nice.
JimmyB
October 24th, 2008 at 17:02
I dunno. The way it’s worded doesn’t make it sound like another touring car series.
“…meaning rules, cars, tracks and features specific to this new series will instantly become available in GTR Evo and STCC if you also own those.”
Namely – rules and features? Either way, I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with. On the flip side, I’m starting to get sick of the gMotor engine, it’s becoming seriously outdated these days, and will be even moreso when this new game comes around next year.
nobutora
October 24th, 2008 at 17:26
WRC would be nice! :mrgreen: