"Well now that I have your attention here is the latest from a well connected West Coast U.S. source.
My source is actually from with the EA empire, but EA is not involved.
Apparently Chris & Tony were recently approached by former Papyrus employees about joining forces to produce RL with financing supplied by these former Papy employees. The only decision factor being that Chris & Tony must move to the U.S. and the project must be finished within 12 months.
This would be distributed by a newly named company and the RL name may be changed. The newly formed group is rumored to be named SimWestGroup and the final product would be released in modules named for each racing type..... with the modules to be labelled....
1. SimWestGroup's Module: Early Grand Prix 2. SimWestGroup's Module: World Class Racing 3. SimWestGroup's Module: Dragway Machines 4. SimWestGroup's Module: Production Street Cars 5. SimWestGroup's Module: Rally Realism 6. SimWestGroup's Module: Formula One 7. SimWestGroup's Module: Nascar 8. SimWestGroup's Module: Motor Cycle Grand Prix 9. SimWestGroup's Module: Italian Production Cars 10.SimWestGroup's Module: American Production Cars
The modules are to be released in two packs and they all incorporate into the main game called SimWestGroup's Vehicle Simulator Engine.
Apparently the physics engine would be based on the West's code since the ex-Papy guys know the West's code can be used for ALL the module types.
If the West's agree to this partnership a release date of May '05 will be announced with a Demo release projected to coincide at E3 .. the Demo will have one car and one track from each of two undecided modules.
The game will be designed to allow an infinate number of modules, tracks and vehicle types. It will be PC only and cost around $150 USD for the initial game and 2 pack modules to be in the $50-$100 range and released every 4 months. Plans are in place for a multiplayer ranking system that would culminate in an annual Live Championship for users who would race for $100,000 in prize money over 3 days with expenses paid for all qualifiers.(I guess you'd just bring your own wheel/device).
Word is each module would contain 5 vehicle types and 5 track types, but the game will also have a community Dev section that will allow user made tracks and vehicles to be added in .... however the online Rank play will have very elaborate server checksums allowing only the SWG's vehicle data and physics onto the Rank Servers. I assume there would be separate servers for usermade tracks and vehicles. A monthly fee is being contemplated for the SWG Rank servers to promote serious racing only and the kiddies and newbies would stay on the free public servers.
If half of what I've heard pans out this could be the biggest Sim Racing Development to happen in years. And by the sounds of the talent in the Dev Group a Spring '05 release is very likely.
