Automobilista - March 2017 Development Update

Discussion in 'Automobilista - News & Announcements' started by Renato Simioni, Apr 1, 2017.

  1. Renato Simioni

    Renato Simioni Administrator Staff Member

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    Hello everyone - as another month wraps, it´s time for our regular Development Update with all the latest news on AMS development. Here ´s what we´ve got to share with you from this past month :)

    V1.3.5 Release

    Just yesterday we´ve deployed our latest v1.3.5 update, packing several fixes and general improvements to the sim.

    On the graphics front, @Alex Sawczuk has developed a series of all new SweetFX profiles, including a new default setting - these can be previewed and set from AMS Config. These new profiles have been overhauled and use a much better tone mapping layout, a nice improvement over the previous offerings.

    We have two categories of profiles. The 'A*' category offers a progression in terms of amount of saturation, the digit in the identifier indicates how much saturation there is. Vivid profiles have roughly same lighting as none vivid profiles. but with extra contrast in them. There is then a 'B*' category. These offer a variety of fun post-FX settings for you to try out, the higher the number the generally the more strange the effect.

    The new default profile is 'A3 Natural Vivid'. Older profiles remains available in the "Legacy" category.

    We expect different monitors to show up the differences in different amounts - hopefully from one of these new configurations you can find one that you like best.

    Below are some album previews of the new SFX profiles:



    Another important new feature in v1.3.5 is the option to fetch setups from other users as ran in their fastest lap in Time Trial mode. To do that, click on the name of the driver you wish to fetch the setup from, and click the "Fetch Setup" button:

    [​IMG]

    The setup will then be available for you to load from the Garage Files menu, in the respective track folder:
    [​IMG]

    Keep in mind only laps set from this release onwards will have a setup available for fetching.


    Virtual Xperience TT Rank & Official TT Challenge

    We have recently introduced a new TT Rank via VX for users participating in the TT leaderboards. This is basically how that works:
    • Rank Points are calculated using the position of each driver´s best lap in every series irrespective of track user - the important thing is to register at least one lap with each individual series in the sim.
    • If driver has not registered a lap in any one given vehicle, they are attributed a penalty position (one place higher than the current largest leaderboard in VX)
    • The higher the driver´s points tally, the better his ranking.
    • Full details of laps counted towards a drivers ranking (and penalties applied) are listed on the driver´s profiles.
    We strongly recommend users to work on putting together their complete TT Rank - we´ll be offering a few things in the coming months which will surely make it worth your while, and not only for the top guys!

    Further news on the VX front is that our regular "Time Trial of the Week" fun challenge will be evolving into a full-blown official prize-awarding competition covering 12 weeks, starting April 9th - keep an eye out for the official announcement sometime next week!


    V1.4 Development

    Work is already ongoing on v1.4 development - we´re pushing hard to release it before the end of april.

    Focus currently is on concluding the much anticipated Custom Season Tool for single player championships. We are working on some interesting new options which should hopefully add some extra dimensions not only to championship mode but to the race weekend in general.

    Another area receiving attention for v1.4 is AI - we have compiled a number of AI issues and general areas for improvements and have allocated a few weeks over the remaining months of AMS development to be dedicated towards addressing as many of those issues as we can. While it´s uncertain how much ground we´ll cover already for v1.4 and subsequently for v1.5, we´re hoping to see some substantial improvements before AMS development wraps.

    The long overdue support for Steam Achievements is also in progress and scheduled to make it in for v1.4.

    There have been many enquiries about improving support for the Fanatec CSL and Logitech G29 / G920 - we´re working on those and hope to have news in time for the next release.

    Major developments also coming in the audio front for v1.4, as @Domagoj Lovric is making some great gains introducing new filters which should hopefully greatly enhance the aural experience in AMS.

    One of the results from these changes is that we´ll be able to reduce audio samples from the currently huge 16bit / 96kHz WAVs to much smaller 44.1kHz rates. This yields a number of benefits, including smaller RAM usage due to audio samples being considerably smaller size, smaller game footprint on disk and potentially fixing some audio related stutters and glitches.

    As a visual reference, the images below show a comparison with the introduction of the new filters. First image the filter is OFF - notice these dotted sweeping lines (almost looks like fireworks of noise) above thick line in the bottom:
    filter_off-default.png

    Now with filter ON, there is much less dotted lines or "noise":
    filter_on.png

    The real proof of course is in the pudding - below you can check a preview of how all these developments sound in-game:



    New 2017-spec Formula
    fe17_01.jpg
    Work is also progressing on the yet-to-be-named 2017-spec Formula - it´s a looker!

    The new 2017 car will be added as a free base content to AMS. Along with bundles of extra grip, the big news with this car will be the introduction of new physics models as Turbo & ERS are being developed and will be added not only to this car but to others in the sim which feature either or both. This however is unlikely to be completed in time for v1.4 release - we´ll expand on the topic of these new features in our next Dev Update.


    Legendary Tracks Pt 3 - Hockenheimring

    Development of our next DLC is also coming together nicely as the legendary Hockenheim circuit is taking shape, with meshes for both modern 2016 & 2001 versions pretty far along. Here are some early previews:

    AMS_hockenheim2.jpg
    AMS_hockenheim1.jpg

    These 2 versions are expected to be ready in time for release of v1.4 towards the end of april, with 1972 & 1988 version to be added soon after.

    We are looking to confirm the full release schedule for the remaining DLCs as well as some new free base content in the works for Automobilista in time for our next Dev Update, so stay tuned!

    Worth reminding that the AMS Season Pass which secure all currently available DLCs along with the ones still to be released is currently on sale with 35% off - if you haven´t grabbed that yet make sure to do it now :)

    That covers it for our March update - look forward to catching up with you all again around this time next month!
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2017
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  2. Chris Stacey

    Chris Stacey Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Oh my god well that's just too much awesomeness to take in one day. I'm gonna need to lie down.

    <3
     
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  3. Lorencini

    Lorencini Luciano Lorencini AMS2 Club Member

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    Amazing stuff guys! Awesome!

    Looking forward the Custom Championship Tool and all the AI Changes! I really hope you could tackle the biggest AI issues.

    about upcoming DLC's, will Divisão 3 happen? Doesn't need to answer WHEN, just YES or NO would be enough :)

    You guys rock!
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2017
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  4. PIO79EK

    PIO79EK New Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Neat, I hope there is going to be steam trading cards also.
     
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  5. Angelo dos Santos

    Angelo dos Santos Member AMS2 Club Member

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    2 here.
     
  6. maxspeed

    maxspeed New Member AMS2 Club Member

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    :hurrayreiza:Another area receiving attention for v1.4 is AI -
    (a.i blue flag awareness) I hope is high up on that to-do list:hurrayreiza:
     
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  7. Schlitty

    Schlitty Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    I've been dreaming of the Custom Championship Tool every night for a long long while now. Been here before but once again, excited and cannot wait! Mind is running a little thinking about; "We are working on some interesting new options which should hopefully add some extra dimensions not only to championship mode but to the race weekend in general." Sounds good to me! Looking forward to it all. Keep up the good work fellas!
     
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  8. Dean Ogurek

    Dean Ogurek "Love the Simulation You're Dreaming In." AMS2 Club Member

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    Love the progress on Audio and the AI updates sound great as well.

    :hurrayreiza:
     
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  9. Marc Collins

    Marc Collins Internal Tester AMS2 Club Member

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    The external car sound has been nailed!!!

    Can't wait for the improvements to the interior sounds and fixes for small glitches, too (Domago knows which one in particular I am talking about ;) ).
     
  10. hex

    hex Damage, Inc. AMS2 Club Member

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    It's so good! I read it 3 times already, just to keep smile on my face :D
    Wait a minute... this isn't some April fools joke? *suspicious*
     
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  11. pitkin

    pitkin New Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Which areas of AI will you be improving? Hopefully blue flag behaviour and willingness to pull out of the slipstream for an overtake will get some attention.
     
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  12. ozcanuck

    ozcanuck Active Member

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    Looks awesome...Hockenheim will be great. I've grown to like it doing DTM in another game. The old ones will be a blast. The short version is really fun too if you can squeeze that in. Always like more F1 cars too.....
     
  13. F1Aussie

    F1Aussie Well-Known Member AMS2 Club Member

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    I don't suppose they are going to improve the driver arms are they? Rotation I mean
     
  14. hex

    hex Damage, Inc. AMS2 Club Member

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    ^
     
  15. F1Aussie

    F1Aussie Well-Known Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Thanks for that, was that a recent comment?
     
  16. GT Fan 8899

    GT Fan 8899 New Member AMS2 Club Member

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    I´m still curious what you guys going to do with Mendig. Uppon release of the track you said you also wanted to add some form of a freeroam map. I would really like to see this being added, this track concept still has some unused potential.

    Also there was the track "Ibarra" that was part of free post-release content updates, I assume that one will come alongside with the Historic Brazilian Race Car DLC ? And last but not least you talked about the implementation of rally stages into AMS being featured with a Group B car DLC and a rally stage...I think you stated it would be Pikes Peak ?

    Now, I don´t want to sound unpleased with your work, I´m just wondering what happened to all these great content ideas.

    Anyways, good job on all the stuff you´ve shown us here. I´m very excited for Hockenheim. :)
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2017
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  17. DaVeX

    DaVeX AMSUnofficial Staff AMS2 Club Member

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    Yep, I remember it too, A to B tracks support and 1 rally car...
    Btw, lovely update here, the RF017 (fantasy name) looks damn sexy!
    Really interested for AI updates and for some new "free content"...
    @Renato Simioni, you guys are aiming for a 1.5 release at the end of May?
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2017
  18. hoss2852

    hoss2852 New Member

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    Thanks for the update and for all the hard work its greatly appreciated.
     
  19. alexSchmurtz

    alexSchmurtz Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Lots of god news there! Pretty happy after reading each paragraph… and each time happier after the next one! :)
     
  20. Ernie

    Ernie Active Member AMS2 Club Member

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    Awesome news, guys. Keep up the great work. :hurrayreiza:
     

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