GTR - The Ultimate Racing Game - first look

By (3 April 2004)

It's the fairy-tale story of the gaming world. A bunch of racing enthusiasts pool their talents to create one of the best racing simulation mods ever, then in the quest for perfection, start working full time on their own title. Racing fans, get excited.

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IF YOU'RE A FAN of EA's Formula One racing sims, chances are you have heard or played the GTR 2002 free mod by the SimBin Development team where you got to park your F-1 and take a number of the world's premier super-cars out onto the track. Calling GTR 2002 a mod is understating the achievements made by SimBin. GTR 2002 was regarded as the benchmark for add-ons, and every bit as complete as its donor game, and would not have been out of place in its on box on store shelves.

SimBin have since moved away from the free mod development scene and set up as full game development company. Their first project, GTR - The Ultimate Racing Game, is due later this year, and revisits the FIA GT Championship racing series that it brought to life in GTR 2002. This time, however, they have the freedom to go beyond what was possible with a mod, and they have the support of the actual FIA GT teams, tyre makers and detailed track data from the FIA. With SimBin's reputation not just for quality, but for their dedication to the pursuit of realism in all areas, all indications so far look very promising.

GTR will come with 2 modes of game-play, arcade and simulation the latter having all the advanced set-up options, car configurations, and physics expected in a high end racing sim. SimBin have worked on every aspect of the simulation mode to offer the most realistic experience possible. They have even gone to such lengths as to model increasing amounts of dirt and rubber one the track as the race progresses. They have also promised a few surprises and features never before seen in racing simulations. Arcade mode will have a relaxed physics engine, a multi function HUD and will allow much more bump and grind racing. Arcade mode will reward race wins by unlocking extra tracks and cars that can be used in Simulation mode, thereby encouraging players to take the step up to the harder level.

SimBin have licensed the same engine that was used in F1 Challenge and Nascar Thunder, and while there may be similarities in the graphics, don't be fooled into thinking GTR will be closely related. SimBin have reworked the graphics engine to allow the greatest level of detail with the maximum number of cars on the track. Up to 56 cars will be possible for the 24hour Spa race. There will be 3D pit crews and marshals, detailed tress, advanced weather and lighting effects with shadows that move with the position of the sun. Even the complete engine bays have been modeled, but this all takes a back seat when racing bumper to bumper at 250 kph.

We won't really get a taste of the level of physics modeling until the demo is released. That is expected to be a few weeks away yet, but it is a good sign of the current level of development. SimBin have stated that they plan for GTR - The Ultimate Racing Game to be the first of a number of racing titles, but it will be the hub for many of them. With the two big players in racing sims, EA and Papyrus turning away from their traditional gaming markets, this is very welcome news indeed, even if we are reserving our final judgment until we see the finished product. Will do know however that we can't wait for that day.

Game features:

10 officially licensed real world tracks -

• Barcelona
• FIA GT Spa 24H
• Magny-Cours
• Anderstorp
• Enna-Pergusa
• Oschersleben
• Brno
• Estoril
• Donington
• Monza