Assetto Corsa

Assetto Corsa
Developer(s)	Kunos Simulazioni
Publisher(s)	Kunos Simulazioni 505 Games (XONE, PS4)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One
Release date(s)	Microsoft Windows Early Access: 8 November 2013 Full release: 19 December 2014 PS4, Xbox One 22 April 2016
Genre(s)	Racing simulation
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Assetto Corsa (Italian for "racing setup") is a sim racing video game developed by the Italian video game developer Kunos Simulazioni. It is designed with an emphasis on a realistic racing experience with support for extensive customisation and moddability. The game was first released through the Steam's Early Access program on 8 November 2013,^[1] while the final version of the game was released on 19 December 2014.

505 Games announced on 3 June 2015 that it would be bringing the game to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in 2016^[2] and on 20 January 2016 revealed the release date of 22 April 2016.^[3]

Development

Kunos Simulazioni built Assetto Corsa on the experience acquired with the development of netKar Pro and Ferrari Virtual Academy. Kunos Simulazioni acquired practical knowledge working closely to real motorsport as their R&D office is located on Vallelunga Circuit. The game includes renditions of international circuits (surveyed using both traditional and laser scanning technology), global car brands, racing prototypes, historic cars, single seaters and iconic cars.

Assetto Corsa started development in 2010 with a driving school project for Automobile Club d'Italia. In 2011, Kunos moved to developing the game in Unity engine, however, due to constraints of external integrability – not being modding friendly, and due to long loading times, they decided to leave it. Eventually, they ended with building a completely in-house engine at the end of 2011.^[4]

The game is coded in multiple programming languages. C++ is used for the simulation part, and Go for multiplayer server. The user interface and launcher core is coded in C#, but the interface frontend in HTML to allow users to create interface modifications. Python can be used for developing plugins for retrieving simulation data in real time. APIs used are DirectX 11 for graphics, FMOD for sound and ODE for collision detection and rigid body physics.^[4]

Demo

The Assetto Corsa Technology Preview was a playable benchmark that was released on 22 February 2013. It offered one car, Lotus Elise SC, and one track, Autodromo dell'Umbria in Magione, Italy, as well as two playing modes, free practice and time attack. The preview's main purpose was to allow users to get their first taste of the engine, test it, and report back feedback. The preview required a player to own a netKar Pro license.

Early Access

The game was released through the Steam's Early Access program on 8 November 2013.^[1] This service allows developers to release a functional but yet-incomplete product, such as beta versions, to allow users to buy the title and help provide funding, testing and feedback towards the final production. As part of the early access program, starting by the first release, an update with new cars, tracks and features was available around every two weeks, adding new contents and improving the existing ones.^[1]

Release

The Release Candidate, a feature complete version of the game, was released on 15 October 2014. The final version, following general bugfixing and performance optimizations, was released on 19 December 2014. After the official release the game continues to receive free updates, new features and paid DLC such as new cars and tracks. In May 2015, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One version of the game was announced.^[2] It is set to be released on 22 April 2016 and published by 505 Games.^[3]

Reception

Assetto Corsa was initially well received by some in the sim racing community, with general acclaim for the accessible handling, choice of road cars and the meticulous reproduction of the visual models,^[6] photo mode and beautiful visuals. Another much appreciated feature was the constant development of the game and the attention to the feedback from the users. The consensus was not entirely one sided however, with the more serious sim racing community feeling neglected and being disappointed with the compromises on features such as lack of pit-stops,^{[9][10][11][12][13]} content and physics.^{[14][15][16][17][18]}

Although the game has been out of early access since 2014, it is still plagued by severe issues which were overlooked during the initial build-up for the game, such as lacking features, physics that can't cope well with the aerodynamics, tires and suspension of stiff aero dependent race cars,^[15][16] highly problematic AI,^[10][19] unreliable netcode,^[10][11][12] and modding not working as intended,^[20] despite Kunos having more than a decade of experience in this field.^[21] Due to these issues, interest from the more serious sim community has also declined and has relegated the title to a hotlapping game.^[10][12][13]

Kunos has stated that due to engine limitations and demographic, the game will never support features such as rain / wet weather conditions, night racing,^[22] nor AI tuned for multiclass racing.^[23][24]

According to simulation engineer James Dover the game does deliver in terms of graphics, but he reckons its physics engine "lacks seriousness".^[18]

Petros Mak, founder of a well known simulation modding company, states that the physics of Assetto Corsa are not of simulation value, saying that it’s a mix between more casual racing game physics and simulation (also referred to as “simcade”), allowing the game to cater to a wider audience.^[25]

ExpertReviews sums it up as "a lot of cleaning up is required if it's going to be able to keep bringing in - and keeping - new players."^[20]

Modding

The game was designed to support extensive modification and creation of additional cars and tracks by users themselves. A special WYSIWYG editor, bundled with the game, enables importing of 3D models (in FBX file format) and allows artists to assign properties and material shaders to objects, with an emphasis on ease of use. The editor exports a single game model file and does not allow opening of, or addition of objects to, an already exported file. The game also supports addition of third party widgets and plugins written in Python, C++ and C#, for uses such as telemetry or interface enhancements.

Thanks to these features and to the success of the game, a vast and ever-growing library of mods is available. Kunos Simulazioni has decided to recognize the quality work and dedication of the modders by including some of the mods as official content of the game, such as the Shelby Cobra, Lamborghini Miura and Audi Sport Quattro.

Downloadable content

Kunos released the Dream Pack 1 DLC on 11 March 2015. This DLC brings a number of new car licences to the game: Alfa Romeo 4C, Alfa Romeo GTA, Alfa Romeo 155 Ti V6 1993, BMW M235i race car, Chevrolet Corvette C-R GTE, McLaren P1, McLaren F1 GTR, Mercedes 190E Evo II, Mercedes C9, Nissan GT-R NISMO. It also introduces the laserscanned Nürburgring Nordschleife in 3 different layouts that took over 2 years to make.^[26][27][28]

Kunos released the Dream Pack 2 DLC on 8 October 2015. This DLC brings a number of new cars to the game (Audi R8 LMS, BMW M4, Ford GT40, Glickenhaus SCG003, Lamborghini Countach, Lamborghini Huracan GT3, RUF RT12 R) and introduces laserscanned Catalunya circuit.^[29]

Kunos released the Dream Pack 3 DLC on 15 December 2015. This DLC brings a number of new cars to the game (Abarth 500 Assetto Corse, Ford Escort RS 1600, Lamborghini Huracàn SuperTrofeo, McLaren 650 GT3, Mercedes AMG GT3, Lotus 25, Lotus 72, Lamborghini Gallardo SuperLeggera), and introduces laserscanned Brands Hatch circuit.^[30]

See also

• Forza Motorsport
• Gran Turismo
• Driveclub
• Project Cars
• Grid Autosport
• Need for Speed: Shift
• Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends
• Ferrari Virtual Academy
• rFactor 2
• iRacing

References

External links

• Official website