GTR - FIA GT Racing Game
Encyclopedia
GTR is a sports car
racing simulator
developed by SimBin
for the x86 PC. An Xbox
version was announced very early on, but never materialized. In April 2006, an Xbox 360
version was announced. The Xbox 360 version of the game was to be published by THQ
. However, THQ later announced they would no longer be working together with Simbin on the title. Race Pro
was released for the Xbox 360 in February 2009.
As a racing simulator, it attempts to recreate real-world physics as accurately as possible, rather than exaggerating speed and handling abilities for the sake of easier gameplay. Some games that compare to the realism featured in GTR include Grand Prix Legends
, Live for Speed
and F1 Challenge
. It has a full license from the FIA for their GT championship
, so it features the original FIA GT Series
cars and courses. All tracks were constructed from satellite data to improve accuracy, and the developers were helped by many teams in the GT- and NGT-classes. The game engine produces and outputs telemetry data in a format that is usable by the telemetry software i2 by MoTeC—a software tool used by real racing teams.
The game has three modes, one with full realism and the two others with reduced levels of realism for intermediate players and newcomers. The user is provided with a great deal of control over the setup of the car, e.g. dampers, springs, anti-roll bars, gear ratios, wings and brake pressure can be adjusted in detail.
Although the user is allowed to map the controls to e.g. a keyboard or joystick/gamepad, a wheel/pedal set is really a requirement for a complete racing experience. GTR fully supports the TrackIR
device. StarForce
copy protection is used to prevent illegal copies of the game from being produced.
Some consider the graphics to be only mediocre whilst others praise the attention to detail in both car modelling and texturing. What is certain is that GTR does lack some effects seen in contemporary games. However, GTR does enable the player to participate in races with over 60 competitors. The game has been criticized numerous times for poor netcode which often can result in an online game failing during the start. GTR also suffers from virtually no automatic enforcement of rules and regulations, and so "fair racing" is only seen by a few on public servers. The open nature of multiplayer sessions makes it easy for a single player to cause disruption for other players, or even to ruin the entire race. Consequently, joining a GTR league or community often proves beneficial for players who wish to participate in clean online racing. GTR's rating has been suffered by the comparatively long amount of time needed to load a race.
Here is a list of the 20 models originally included in the game:
). Simbin has also released an "add-on pack" called "Kings of Ovals" which contains a set of new oval-style tracks.
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
racing simulator
Sim racing
Sim racing is the collective term for computer software that attempts to simulate accurately auto racing , complete with real-world variables such as fuel usage, damage, tire wear and grip, and suspension settings...
developed by SimBin
SimBin
SimBin Studios is a Swedish video game developer- and publisher founded in 2003 that develops racing simulators for Windows and the current-generation consoles. The company has its headquarters in Vara and the main development studio in Gothenburg...
for the x86 PC. An Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
version was announced very early on, but never materialized. In April 2006, an Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version was announced. The Xbox 360 version of the game was to be published by THQ
THQ
THQ Inc. is an American developer and publisher of video games. Founded in 1989 in the United States, the company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices...
. However, THQ later announced they would no longer be working together with Simbin on the title. Race Pro
Race Pro
Race Pro is a sim racing video game developed by SimBin and published by Atari exclusively for Xbox 360. The game is described as having "ultra realistic car models" with cars ranging in power from to . The game uses the new Lizard game engine whereas the PC SimBin games used the Gmotor engine...
was released for the Xbox 360 in February 2009.
As a racing simulator, it attempts to recreate real-world physics as accurately as possible, rather than exaggerating speed and handling abilities for the sake of easier gameplay. Some games that compare to the realism featured in GTR include Grand Prix Legends
Grand Prix Legends
Grand Prix Legends is a computer racing simulator developed by Papyrus Design Group and published in 1998 by Sierra Entertainment...
, Live for Speed
Live for Speed
Live for Speed is a racing simulator developed by a three person team comprising Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey, and Victor van Vlaardingen. The main focus is to provide a realistic racing experience for the online multiplayer game and to allow single player races against AI cars...
and F1 Challenge
EA Sports F1 Series
The EA Sports F1 Series consists of five racing simulation games based on Formula One motorsport. The games were released annually between 2000 and 2003, stopped selling, then continued in 2006...
. It has a full license from the FIA for their GT championship
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
, so it features the original FIA GT Series
FIA GT Championship
The FIA GT Championship was a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation at the behest of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The championship was mostly concentrated in Europe, but throughout the years has visited other continents including Asia and South...
cars and courses. All tracks were constructed from satellite data to improve accuracy, and the developers were helped by many teams in the GT- and NGT-classes. The game engine produces and outputs telemetry data in a format that is usable by the telemetry software i2 by MoTeC—a software tool used by real racing teams.
The game has three modes, one with full realism and the two others with reduced levels of realism for intermediate players and newcomers. The user is provided with a great deal of control over the setup of the car, e.g. dampers, springs, anti-roll bars, gear ratios, wings and brake pressure can be adjusted in detail.
Although the user is allowed to map the controls to e.g. a keyboard or joystick/gamepad, a wheel/pedal set is really a requirement for a complete racing experience. GTR fully supports the TrackIR
TrackIR
TrackIR is an optical motion tracking game controller for Microsoft Windows, created by NaturalPoint Inc. that tracks head motions with up to six degrees of freedom in later models, allowing handsfree view control for improved game immersiveness and situational awareness...
device. StarForce
StarForce
StarForce is a software copy protection mechanism developed by Protection Technology, which claims that products protected with StarForce are difficult to reverse engineer.- Product families :Currently known official versions of StarForce include:...
copy protection is used to prevent illegal copies of the game from being produced.
Some consider the graphics to be only mediocre whilst others praise the attention to detail in both car modelling and texturing. What is certain is that GTR does lack some effects seen in contemporary games. However, GTR does enable the player to participate in races with over 60 competitors. The game has been criticized numerous times for poor netcode which often can result in an online game failing during the start. GTR also suffers from virtually no automatic enforcement of rules and regulations, and so "fair racing" is only seen by a few on public servers. The open nature of multiplayer sessions makes it easy for a single player to cause disruption for other players, or even to ruin the entire race. Consequently, joining a GTR league or community often proves beneficial for players who wish to participate in clean online racing. GTR's rating has been suffered by the comparatively long amount of time needed to load a race.
Vehicles
There are more than 20 models of car included, spanning all the classes involved in FIA GT racing. They range from 600 hp GT class, to 400 hp NGT class vehicles. Other classes included G2 and G3. However, with the ability to create your own content, more vehicles have been created by the GTR community.Here is a list of the 20 models originally included in the game:
- BMW Z3BMW Z3The BMW Z3 was the first modern mass-market roadster produced by BMW, as well as the first new BMW model assembled in the United States. The Z3 was introduced as a 1996 model year vehicle, shortly after being featured in the James Bond movie,...
M Coupe - Chevrolet Corvette C5-RChevrolet Corvette C5-RThe Chevrolet Corvette C5-R is a grand touring racing car built by Pratt & Miller and General Motors for competition in endurance racing. The car is based on the C5 generation of the Chevrolet Corvette sports car, yet is designed purely for motorsports use...
- Chrysler Viper GTS-R
- FerrariFerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
F360 Modena Challenge - FerrariFerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
F360 Modena GT - FerrariFerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
F550-GTS Maranello - FerrariFerrariFerrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
F575-GTC Maranello - Gillet Vertigo Streiff
- Lamborghini MurcielagoLamborghini MurciélagoThe Lamborghini Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car...
R-GT - Lister Storm GT
- LotusLotus CarsLotus Cars is a British manufacturer of sports and racing cars based at the former site of RAF Hethel, a World War II airfield in Norfolk. The company designs and builds race and production automobiles of light weight and fine handling characteristics...
Motorsport Elise - Morgan Aero 8Morgan Aero 8The Morgan Aero 8 is a sports car designed and built by Morgan Motor Company at its factory in Malvern Link, England .Notable owners have included Richard Hammond of BBC's Top Gear....
R - Mosler MT900Mosler MT900The MT900 is a sports car built in the United States and the United Kingdom by Mosler. Three submodels have also been produced. The MT900R was a racing version of the MT900. The basic car was updated as the MT900S for 2005, with the MT900S Photon being its racing variant. The original MT900 was...
R - Porsche 911 GT2Porsche 911 GT2The Porsche 911 GT2 is a sports car built by the German manufacturer Porsche since 1994. It is based on the 911 Turbo, and uses a similar twin-turbocharged engine, but features numerous upgrades, including engine upgrades, larger brakes, and stiffer suspension calibration...
(993) - Porsche 911 GT2Porsche 911 GT2The Porsche 911 GT2 is a sports car built by the German manufacturer Porsche since 1994. It is based on the 911 Turbo, and uses a similar twin-turbocharged engine, but features numerous upgrades, including engine upgrades, larger brakes, and stiffer suspension calibration...
Bi-Turbo (996) - Porsche 911 GT3Porsche 911 GT3The Porsche 911 GT3 is a higher performance version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is the latest in a line of high performance models, beginning with the 1973 911 RS...
Cup (996) - Porsche 911 GT3Porsche 911 GT3The Porsche 911 GT3 is a higher performance version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is the latest in a line of high performance models, beginning with the 1973 911 RS...
-R (996) - Porsche 911 GT3Porsche 911 GT3The Porsche 911 GT3 is a higher performance version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is the latest in a line of high performance models, beginning with the 1973 911 RS...
-RS (996) - Saleen S7Saleen S7The Saleen S7 is a limited-production, hand-built, high-performance American supercar developed jointly by Steve Saleen for the initial concept and direction, Hidden Creek Industries for resources and initial funding, Phil Frank for the body and interior CAD design and development, and Ray Mallock...
-R - SEAT ToledoSEAT ToledoThe second generation Toledo was introduced in 1998 and made its debut at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as a four-door notchback sedan. It was more rounded than the previous first generation shape and had a much more fluid design, although both were products of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio...
GT
Modifications and add-ons
The user community has developed several completely new cars and tracks for the game, including some total conversions (to e.g. Formula OneFormula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
). Simbin has also released an "add-on pack" called "Kings of Ovals" which contains a set of new oval-style tracks.
External links
- GTR - FIA GT Racing Game official site (www.gtr-game.com now for 'GTR Evolution')