Automobilista - June Development Update

Discussion in 'Automobilista - News & Announcements' started by Renato Simioni, Jun 14, 2016.

  1. Renato Simioni

    Renato Simioni Administrator Staff Member

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    I´ll be trying to make this a monthly feature from now on :) Here´s a round-up of our recent progress in various fronts.

    v0.9.4 Release

    Last friday we released our latest v0.9.4 update. While this update hasn´t added any new content or features to the sim, there has been some valuable progress in particular to graphics & Artificial Intelligence.

    @Alex Sawczuk has been spending some quality time developing the shaders & RGB settings in order to improve lighting & color accuracy across the 24h cycle. The changes are subtle individually but all add up to a noticeable overall improvement - the environment is more lively and the slightly desaturated & bluish haze from previous versions is now gone. The changes are mostly already present in v0.9.41, and along with @ilka ´s beautiful new sky/cloud sets, make for some pretty nice sights:
    screenshot_branding_2.jpg

    A lot of man-hours & late nights have also gone into fine-tuning AI performance and behavior in close racing conditions across the board - as a result v0.9.41 features our best, most well-rounded AI yet.

    Road to v1.0

    Things continue to progress nicely towards v1.0, some are further along than others but while official release will not represent the end of new features or content for AMS, we´re pushing to wrap up a rock-solid v1.0 within the next few weeks.

    With single player gameplay now mostly in pretty good shape, focus now is on wrapping up remaining functionality tasks, adding a few more options & ironing out the most significant bugs.

    Multiplayer in particular will be at the forefront for v1.0 - the AMS Dedicated tool is already available for those who own AMS via Steam Tools, and if you are a league runner you may also PM me for a free Steam key for the Dedi Tool.

    Content-wise, things are progressing at a nice pace - there´s a good chance the new Formula Vintage series will be added in time for v1.0 (and not post-release as estimated in the original dev roadmap). Below is a preview showing how the 3D modelling is coming along:
    F-Vintage_WIP1.jpg

    The beta is already up to v0.9.5 and it features two new pieces of content - the Copa Montana, which is the last piece of content remaining from our crowdfunding campaign back, and the wonderful semi-fictional Mendig Flugplatz, a vast scenario roaming in and around a german airport, which will present some very unique challenges.
    AMS_Montana_Mendig2.jpg

    Unfortunately we have had a setback with implementation of driver animations as the developer in charge has left the project, so that´s one feature unlikely to make it in time for v1.0. This remains an important development for AMS though and we´ll be aiming to add it post-release.

    Virtual Xperience - Automobilista Web Portal
    mockup-vx.jpg

    We´re pleased to announce the Virtual Xperience portal (VX), the place we hope will help stimulate the community´s engagement with & around Automobilista.

    From VX you´ll be able to check the multiplayer lobby and join sessions, register & find a league for your favorite car in a time slot that suits you, measure your hotlapping skills in the AMS leaderboards, join one of our official public servers, share your setups & replays and more.

    The most complex VX module is the AMS leaderboards and its integration with the game, so this is what @Luis Miguel, @Dave Stephenson & @Thiago Izequiel who are the headlining this project have mostly been focusing on - currently only AMS Beta v0.9.5b is hooked up with the leaderboards so those who have it can already get your times up there :) We hope to integrate the system into the next EA release as well.

    The leaderboards are linked to the Time Trial mode, which as you may have seen is effectively a practice session run under fixed configurations (but not fixed car setup) - noon time, max track conditions, no AI, no tire wear or fuel consumption - the sole purpose is scoring hotlaps to the leaderboards & future hotlapping competitions. Player times are automatically synced up with the leaderboards via Steam, and you can check how it ranks against the others both from the in-game monitor while running a time trial session, as well as from the Virtual Xperience leaderboards, selecting the car / track combo you´re looking to check out.

    The other VX modules are coming along as well but these will be topics for our next dev update,

    Further good news is that VX should be hopefully nicely complemented by developments being made to the Sim Racing System to better integrate it with AMS - @Henrique Alves has presented more info about it here.

    DLC development - Presenting the "Brit Pack"
    ^D7550A715D52E84B7CE39B9DFC82DB2BDD393B1EE66224FBC2^pimgpsh_fullsize_distr.jpg

    Very glad also to confirm the Brit Pack as our initial lot of premium DLCs for Automobilista.

    Besides the previously announced 3 tracks (Brands Hatch / Cadwell / Oulton Park) and the Ultima GTR (both road and GT versions), we will also be adding the MCR Sports 2000 and several Caterham models to the roster.

    As usual our target with AMS is to assemble a package that delivers the most diverse & fun racing experiences possible, and with the upcoming premium DLCs we aim to retain that focus, at the same time expanding into more international & well-known tracks. England is arguably the mecca of european motorsports with some of the most interesting tracks and cars in the world, and the brits happen to make up a sizeable portion of our user base so it´s only fitting that our first premium pack revolves around a sample of their vast motorsports scene. Most importantly, these kit cars on these tracks represent some of the most fun to be had on four wheels, and that´s what we´ll be push to capture in the sim :)

    The 6 components of the Brit Pack will be sold in a package as well as individually via Steam, with prices at release ranging from US$ 1.99 (for the MCR) to US$ 4.99 for each track, or US$ 19.99 for the complete pack.

    You can however secure all this content, plus all the other upcoming premium DLCs by acquiring our membership packs , currently selling for US$ 54.99 (full membership including base game) / US$ 24.99 (membership upgrade for those who already own AMS). Please note that these prices will still be upgraded to US$ 59.99 / US$ 29.99 respectively in time for AMS v1.0 release, so those who have not yet joined in should push not to miss the current pricing. The membership pack also grants access to the Reiza 51 dev forum, Beta development version of AMS, and the chance to try out all this content in advance as they reach beta status.

    Worth noting also that while some of this content had already been announced earlier on, the Caterhams and the MCR 2000 have just been added to the roster - that makes our membership packs pretty smart investing for those who had already bought into it at the original US$ 49.99 / US$ 19.99 pricing, as these extras will come at no additional cost to them (or indeed for those who participated in our crowdfunding campaign last year). With a couple of potential additions to the DLC roster still in the horizon, you should expect us to continue the trend in which the sooner you buy into our offerings, the more value you get for it ;)

    The contents of the Brit Pack are all officially licensed and we´re working in close proximity with the car manufacturers to ensure maximum accuracy; Alex has recently done recon trips to Brands Hatch & Cadwell Park, with Oulton Park scheduled for the end of the month.

    The team is already well advanced on Brands & the road Ultima as you can see below:
    AMS_BH_Ultima1.jpg

    We estimate the initial components of the Brit Pack to become available soon after v1.0 release, sometime in july, with Beta hopefully before the end of the month.

    This about covers it for this June update - this was a big one! We hope you all enjoy the news. I look forward to catching up again in July, hopefully with AMS v1.0 release already behind us :)
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2016
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  2. Kevin Pheiffer

    Kevin Pheiffer Owner of Shadowracingrsa

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    How cool is all this!!!! Greta stuff guys....;)
     
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  3. alexSchmurtz

    alexSchmurtz Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Really great! First a monthly status update like this is nice; and really good news here. Looking forward to the tracks but also the MCR and Catherham, really great cars. That should be fun. Congrats for getting the licenses for all these, that's even better to have an "official" stamp!
    The new online features seem really promising too; time trial in the beta works really well so far, with promising additions coming.
    A bit surprised by the ability to buy each piece of the DLC individually, I was only expecting the full package; but that seems a good move, each one is free to make his choice. I'm a bit surprise by the price of the full package tho: it starts to get close to half of the game, no? And 2/3rd of the price for all DLCs, right? I'm not involved, being a backmarker from the Indego compaign… But that really promotes the full package imho… We still don't know how many DLCs there will be… :p
    Thanks a lot for all the pleasure this game has given me so far. Keep up the good work! Just one last wish: make online as stable as offline, please! :)
     
  4. Paulo Gomes

    Paulo Gomes Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    You can call it the Brits Lightweights pack :) with such diversity of cars and crazy tracks, I think this new content is spot on in terms promising some good fun and selecting some of the best that uk motorsport heritage have to give.
     
  5. DaVeX

    DaVeX AMSUnofficial Staff AMS2 Club Member

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    [​IMG]

    Are those dlc free for lev 5 backers???
    Prototypes, yes yes yes!!!
    I can die happy now!!!But I have to become a Brit master first...
     
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  6. Guilherme Silva

    Guilherme Silva Member AMS2 Club Member

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    The Ultima 3d model looks great, actually I would say it looks a step up on all current AMS content. Plus the Caterham announcement has put a big smile on my face, love those cars!
     
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  7. DaVeX

    DaVeX AMSUnofficial Staff AMS2 Club Member

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    Nooooooo!!!
    Please someone here goes helping them now!!!
    Weird question, prototypes are full licenced...so you can't add lights to them right?
     
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  8. Msportdan

    Msportdan Well-Known Member AMS2 Club Member

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    being british that makes me proud, well done reiza.. Some great tracks and track cars to race there!!

    with AMS great physics the caterham could be the best yet produced on a PC!

    @Renato Simioni Just one thing. As you said the Ai is pretty much there and yes possibly i would agree. However and this is big however, I've seen few people ask this, but is there Any chance you can add blocking paths/ manoeuvres to the AI.
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2016
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  9. Roberto Moraes

    Roberto Moraes New Member

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    Ao melhor

    automobilista, melhor game a cada dia que passa.

    Parabéns Simioni, parabenos Reiza Studios !!:)
     
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  10. Oscar Hardwick

    Oscar Hardwick Member AMS2 Club Member

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    @Renato Simioni I am so down for this. The university I study at in Wales runs two of the three cars you've just announced in real series. So it'll be massively cool for me to run in simulated versions of them at home then go and work on the real cars at the university.

    Also heads up folks. The road going ultima that is used to race in some sports car series in the UK. From footage I've seen, not so easy to drive xD
     
  11. hariseldon

    hariseldon New Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Can't wait to throw a Caterham around, I've had the pleasure of doing it for real with an R300 at Silverstone (GP layout) and Donington (also GP layout) and if you guys can get close to it I'll be delighted. Also Oulton is the best track in the world!
     
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  12. emillinator

    emillinator Member AMS2 Club Member

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    You guys are unbelievable. I'm actually speechless. Great news!
     
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  13. Will Mazeo

    Will Mazeo Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    That's a great dev blog :D:D:D
    Renato any chance you guys could implement the spotter plugin with NASCAR mode ON by default? Would be soooo much helpful in online races, specially now that you are going to put a lot of effort in it.
     
  14. CCKaren

    CCKaren Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    The Ultima wasn't getting me too excited, but good grief I am delighted to see Caterhams. Spent a lot of time with the Caterham mod for SCE.
     
  15. Kevin Peat

    Kevin Peat Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Great update. I'm all for more club level cars that you don't need to be an alien to race.
     
  16. Jan Mikuž

    Jan Mikuž Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    What car is the Formula Vintage based on ?
     
  17. DisarmingBaton5

    DisarmingBaton5 Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Formula Vintage looks like an Eagle T1G
     
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  18. DaVeX

    DaVeX AMSUnofficial Staff AMS2 Club Member

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    Ok we need a belgium pack, italian pack, french pack, etc etc... right guys?
     
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  19. David Wright

    David Wright Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Looks like a 1967 AAR Eagle T1G (as featured in Grand Prix Legends).
     
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  20. roby13

    roby13 Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    such incredible news!!! those models are screeming for a HQ environment map :)
     

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