Comparison of racing simulators

The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of racing simulators. Please see the individual products' articles for further information. This article is not all-inclusive or necessarily up-to-date.

In each table, the simulators list follow the same order; the ordering is by sim engine and evolution:

* NASCAR 2003 (all developed with David Kaemmer)
* Racer
* F1 Challenge 99-02, GTR, GT Legends, GTR 2, rFactor, RACE (using evolutions of the ISI engine)
* netKar Namie, netKar Pro (Using Stefano Casillo engine)
* Live for Speed (by Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey and Victor van Vlaardingen - Not to be confused with the Need For Speed series)
* Richard Burns Rally, Driver's Republic (1st beta) (different engines, but both physics engines are developed by lead physics designer Eero Piitulainen)
* Virtual Grand Prix 2
* X Motor Racing
* TORCS The Open Racing Car Simulator
* Grand Prix Legends (all developed with David Kaemmer)
* Grand Prix 4 (developed by Geoff Crammond and the MicroProse label)

Physics

Tyre simulation - part 1

Note 1: Instead of dynamically modeled suspension components, Racer uses parameters that define linear camber and toe change per unit of suspension deflection. This allows a rough approximation of the camber and toe effects that a dynamically modeled suspension has. Roll centers are static, and their placement is defined by a parameter.

Note 2: Suspension geometry in LFS can move only in X-Y plane, so trailing arm is approximated by moving the wheel up and down along the Y-axis.

Note 3: As of the beta version, suspension geometry in DR is completely customizable in the number, position and characteristics of any suspension rod, spring, damper and axis.

Drivetrain

Note 1: The undertray angle is not adjustable and the undertray angle does not vary with the pitch of the car. The ground clearance of the car does not affect undertray downforce.

Note 2: The physics engine that Grand Prix Legends shipped with did not model downforce. Downforce was added to the model with the release of the 1969 mod for GPL. For its 1966 Mod, this was changed to 'upforce' since the wingless F1 cars of 1966 tended to generate lift at higher speeds.

Chassis

Note 1: Optional implementation from 3rd party also available - [http://forum.rscnet.org/showthread.php?t=291072 Real Feel] plugin.
Note 2: Disabled in netKar Pro version 1.02.

Artificial Intelligence

Note 1: Possible by server uploading results to a third-party website.
Note 2: Possible by killing the program then the next driver connecting with the same name.
Note 3: Results (XML) log contacts and incidents and these stats can be viewed, for example, when uploading XML results file for viewing with rFactor Report (one example).
Note 4: Ability for multi-class results possible in the CTRA servers.
Note 5: Ability for Crash Ratio via yellow flags possible in the CTRA servers.

ound

Note 1: Rain is available for some tracks as a third-party add-on. It does not affect physics.
Note 2: A configuration file hack allows players to change the driving view to the rollbar (top) view.
Note 3: Currently implemented in the demonstration build taken with BMW and Intel to demos based on the current 1.250 build, to be implemented in the public version at a later date.
Note 4: Available as 3rd-Party add-on for some mods. Then only attacthed to steering wheel

References

External links

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