News rFactor speeds onto Steam ten years after original release
News
Ten years after its original PC release, rFactor has finally sped onto Steam. Yes, it's belated, but think of it as a tenth anniversary celebration, as well as another milestone in showcasing sim racing to the masses.
The new Steam version includes new achievements along with a few new bug fixes. It's completely cross compatible with the original non-STeam release, but existing players can request a Steam key here.
Releasing rFactor on Steam has allowed Image Space to ascertain the options and limitations of the platform to pave the way for the ineveitable Steam release of rFactor 2. While ISI's Tim Wheeley tells us they "can't yet be tied down to a definitive answer" if we will see rFactor 2 on Steam, "it looks quite likely at this time."
You can relieve rFactor on its Steam page, where it's currently on sale with a 15% discount for £16.14 until March 9th.
For the uninitiated, here's a complete breakdown of rFactor's featureset taken from the Steam listing:
Physics
- Updated 15 degrees of freedom physics engine
- Advanced tire modeling
- Support for 4-link rear suspension
- Engine boost modeling
- Complex aerodynamics
- Head physics, cockpit vibrations, detailed bump modeling
- All-new track-specific terrain data file system
Graphics/Sound
- DX9 advanced graphics engine
- Real-time day/night transitions
- Projected headlights for nighttime driving
- Adjust player and opponent volume ratio
- See the apex with the Look Ahead slider
- Adjust your seat and mirror while in the driver’s seat
- Updating real-time scoring towers
- Expanded and enhanced gauge and LCD features for vehicle cockpits
- Improved loading times
- Updated sound engine
- Changing engine sounds based on upgraded vehicle performance
Gameplay
- Career mode with upgrades that affect the vehicle’s appearance, performance, and sound
- Define AI opponent types, strength and aggression
- Races can be lap based, time based or both
- Vehicle upgrade system
- Vehicle economy including mileage
- Ambient and track temperature changes throughout the race
- More configurable keys than you can shake a stick at
- Multiple Racing Series with vehicle and circuit filters
- Grid editing
- Camera/Replays
- Full screen monitor and ability to rewind
- Freely move camera from any position including the ever famous exclusive ISI Swingman
- Spectator mode
- Greatly enhanced replay system including clip splicing
- Move, duplicate or delete replay clips while assigning camera movements to each
- Export replays to AVI files defining compression and size options
Multiplayer
- Completely new multiplayer engine
- Built in race statistics reporting to web based RaceCast system
- Built in friends list
- Server bookmarks
- Dedicated server, including single click option
- Native voting system
- Add AI to multiplayer games
- Built in IRC chat
- Boot and ban player lists that can be passed around
- Security checks to combat potential cheating
- Open Architecture
- Extensive support for modders
- Easy to use customizable multi-language support
- Define a league schedule
- Rules to simulate different types of racing
- Completely customize your controller
- Drop in new vehicle liveries
Vehicles
- 2006 Formula IS – High Performance Open Wheel (Video)
- 2005 Hammer – Full Bodied GT
- 2005 Howston – Full Bodied GT
- National Stock Car – Stock Car
- Panoz – Full Bodied GT
- 2005 Rayzor – Rally Turbo
- 2006 rF3 – Quick and Nimble Open Wheel
- 2005 Rhez – Small FWD Sport Compact
- 2006 Rhez – Small FWD Sport Compact
- 2005 rTrainer – Low Speed Open Wheel
- 2005 Venom – Rally
- 2005 ZR – Affordable High Performance Sedan
- Circuits
- Barcelona – Permanent Road Course
- Brianza – Permanent Road Course
- Essington Park – Permanent Road Course
- Jacksonville Speedway – High Banked Superspeedway
- Jiading – Permanent Road Course
- Joesville Speedway – Paved Short Track
- Lienz Festival – Country Roads (Video)
- Mills Metropark – Permanent Road Course with two layouts
- Montreal – Permanent Road Course
- Northamptonshire – Permanent Road Course
- Nuerburg – Permanent Road Course
- Orchard Lake – Banked Tri-Oval with Infield Road Course
- Sardian Heights – Street Circuit with two layouts
- Toban Raceway Park – Permanent Road Course with four layouts
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