BeamNG.drive

BeamNG.drive
Developer(s) BeamNG GmbH
Publisher(s) BeamNG GmbH
Engine Torque
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s) Vehicle simulation
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

BeamNG.drive is a vehicle simulation video game developed and published by Bremen, Germany-based video game developer BeamNG. The game features unique soft-body physics, and was released into Steam Early Access for Microsoft Windows on 29 May 2015.

Development

On 28 May 2012, BeamNG released a YouTube video titled "Revolutionary soft-body physics in CryEngine3".[1] Originally, BeamNG.drive was to be based on CryEngine 3, but the implementation to the driving game filled it with bugs, leading development to be rolled over to Torque.[2] BeamNG.drive relies heavily on coding in Lua, and uses packets of local data using the Lua network system while the game is operating in order to complete the complex physics equations during gameplay.

BeamNG's website, beamng.com, was opened on 8 May 2012, to begin rolling out news of their development of the simulator.[3]

The game was placed on an open vote on Steam Greenlight on 12 February 2014,[4] and was greenlit eight days later.[5]

On 29 May 2015, the game was released to Steam Early Access.[6]

Gameplay

BeamNG.drive features three modes: Scenarios, which are checkpoint-to-checkpoint-based races, Campaign Mode, which is a collection of small scenarios which are scored based on different factors such as damage, time, etc., and there is Free Roam Mode, the player can drive and crash several different vehicles on a few provided default environments. The game implements its soft-body physics to both control vehicle dynamics as well as to control the collisions between objects and vehicles.[7][8][9]

Physics

BeamNG.drive uses a real-time, soft-body dynamics physics structure to simulate its vehicles. Algorithms have been written for the physics equations to be carried out.[10] Vehicles in the game consist of a soft-body, node-beam structure, similar to the vehicle structure in Rigs of Rods. The physics engine simulates a network of interconnected nodes and beams which combine to form an invisible skeleton of a vehicle with realistic weights and masses. In terms of soft-body physics, vehicles realistically flex and deform as stresses to the skeleton, such as impacts from collisions are applied. The game's engine constantly calculates physics equations and problems in real-time during gameplay.[11]

Reception

Jack Stewart of BBC mentioned that BeamNG.drive "has received interest from the film industry to model vehicle stunts, so that they can be prototyped and tested exhaustively – but cheaply – before a stunt driver smashes up a car on set."[9] Polygon's Nick Robinson lauded the game's simulated physics and user-created content support, leading him to create an ongoing video series for Polygon, "Car Boys", in which he and Griffin McElroy spotlight new BeamNG.drive content each week.[12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Reilly, Luke (30 September 2012). "The Most Impressive Physics Engine You've Never Seen". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "BeamNG and Torque3D". BeamNG. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "new website". BeamNG. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  4. ↑ Savage, Phil (13 February 2014). "BeamNG.drive crashes onto Steam Greenlight". PC Gamer. Future US. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "We have been greenlit!". BeamNG. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Steam Early Access release". BeamNG. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Reilly, Luke (7 August 2013). "Finally, BeamNG's Soft-Body Physics Are Available to the Public". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  8. ↑ Futter, Mike (5 August 2013). "BeamNG's Amazingly Realistic Car Crashes". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  9. 1 2 Stewart, Jack (3 July 2014). "Video-game wrecks get real". BBC. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  10. ↑ Stamatogiannakis, Lefteris (12 June 2014). "A faster selection algorithm". BeamNG. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  11. ↑ Fischer, Thomas (5 August 2013). "BeamNG DRIVE alpha release". GarageGames. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  12. ↑ Feldman, Brian. "Car Boys, the Hilarious and Terrifying Car-Crash Series, Is the Best Show".
  13. ↑ Orlove, Raphael. "There Is Only One YouTube Channel Worth Watching And It's Car Boys".
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