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GTR: The Ultimate Racing Game

Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360
Genre: Racing
Publisher: Atari / THQ
Developer: SimBin

About Judy

As WP's managing editor, I edit review and preview articles, attempt to keep up with the frantic pace of Rainier's news posts, and keep our reviewers on deadline, which is akin to herding cats. When I have a moment to myself and don't have my nose in a book, I like to play action/RPG, adventure and platforming games.

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'GTR: The Ultimate Racing Game' (Xbox/PC) - Screens

by Judy on Nov. 17, 2004 @ 3:59 p.m. PST

The game is based on the FIA GT Championship racing series and GTR includes all of the cars and drivers from the season of 2003 as well as the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa race. Developed and tested by the FIA GT drivers utilizing actual racing telemetry data from the featured teams, GTR will deliver the most realistic driving experience the world has seen to date.

The game and its features

  • “GTR – The Ultimate Racing Game”, is a next generation racing simulation, based on the FIA GT Championship and includes all the cars that race in the series.
  • The FIA GT Spa 24H event is also included in the game, featuring more 3D cars running on track simultaneously than any other title in history. It features mind-blowing endurance racing from dusk to dawn.
  • The world’s greatest supercars modeled with the most intricate detail ever seen in a game.
  • All of the real world tracks meticulously recreated using GPS and CAD print data with detail and accuracy surpassing any other title.

Two completely different Game modes.

  • Simulation mode
  • Arcade mode- with individual physics to suit every game fan.

The company structure and it’s deep roots in real racing and it’s affiliate companies from the racing industry provides the perfect setup for making a racing Simulation.

In addition to the most accurate racing simulation on the planet, GTR has a completely separate Arcade mode for those gamers who love to throw the car around with wild abandon. The arcade mode is all about fun with thumping music and forgiving handling - a perfect introduction to real racing for the average gamer.
GTR is the Ultimate Racing Game which appeals to ALL kind of gamers.

GTR Contains

  • 10 officially licensed real world tracks
  • 68 officially licensed team specific GT and NGT cars
  • Additional unlockable bonuses.

The following car models are included

  • Ferrari 550 Maranello
  • Ferrari 575 GTC
  • Ferrari 360 Modena
  • Chrysler Viper GTS-R
  • Lister Storm
  • Lamborghini Diablo GT-R
  • Lamborghini MurciĆ©lago R-GT
  • Saleen S7-R
  • Mosler MT900
  • Chevrolet Corvette C5-R
  • Porsche 993 GT2
  • Porsche 996 Turbo
  • Porsche 996 GT3-RS
  • Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
  • Seat Toledo
  • Morgan Aero 8
  • BMW Z3 M
  • Lotus Elise
  • Vertigo Streiff

The following official tracks are included.

  • Barcelona
  • Magny-Cours
  • Enna-Pergusa
  • Brno
  • Donington
  • FIA GT Spa 24H
  • Anderstorp
  • Oschersleben
  • Estoril
  • Monza

The development team

SimBin Development Team is a new studio which has brought together some of the most experienced professionals in the industry and a worldwide network of developers focusing on what they know and do best – making racing games that simulate reality. The company itself is based in Sweden and was established
during mid 2003. At present, 32 people are employed working around the clock on GTR and the Development Group comprises 25 highly dedicated individuals, all experts in their field, led by the Head of Studio, Ian Bell.

SimBin has a genuine passion for motor racing as well as racing simulations.

The development method

The development team has been attending FIA GT races since mid-season 2003, gathering masses of reference material (including video footage, sounds, and thousands of photographs) which have all been utilized in the development of GTR.

In addition, GPS measurements taken at each circuit and 3D CAD prints sourced from the track designers and constructors have been used for modeling the circuits with unprecedented detail and accuracy.

Working from within the FIA GT = Access to privileged information = Greater Realism

Working with both drivers and teams is not a new concept in game development, but never before has the relationship been so close. Cooperation between Simbin, the SRO organization ( Organizers of FIA GT ) and the racing teams is all the more important since realism is one of our primary goals. The teams competing in the FIA GT Championship have provided us with real telemetry data from their cars during each race. We input this data directly into GTR’s physics engine and this in turn provides the gamer with the most realistic physics engine and car handling ever seen (or felt!) in a racing game.

SimBin’s Doug Arnao (a former racer with three US GT season championships to his name) who is responsible for the game physics modeling and driving dynamics, has received highly sensitive data – data that is normally not available to game developers – from the teams and the tyre manufacturers. This means that we have been working with real life slip curves, temperature curves and additional up-to-theminute tyre engineering data; data that not even the racing teams themselves have access to! Doug brings over 20 years experience in chassis dynamics/design on real racecars with him.

GTR utilises ISI Motor 1.0 technology from Image Space Incorporated.

“Image Space Incorporated is proud to announce, a new generation of technology modules designed to elevate racing and entertainment products to new heights of realism and fun. With over a decade of experience, ISI is a veteran of the PC racing simulation market. ISI Motor 1.0 is the product of over 10 years
of research with commercial applications in man-in-the-loop simulators and award winning racing games.”

Gjon Camaj - VP of Product Development

KW Suspension - a partner from the real racing sphere.

KW Suspension has provided real racing suspension data that will be adding further to the realistic physics represented in GTR. Quote: “Working closely together, both KW Suspension and SimBin will gain from this joint venture. We are extremely excited about this cooperation, and are very much enjoying our cooperation with SimBin in the making of the most realistic racing simulation ever.”

Klaus Wohlfarth, CEO, KW Suspension

Motec - an external partner also from the real racing.

MoTeC Engine Management Systems are used worldwide in the highest levels of motor sports for data logging of the physics and handling in the real race cars.
Quote: "We are pleased to contribute to the GTR project and hope that the inclusion of our dashboard and data analysis system will take the gaming experience to the next level. With “real” data analysis tools the gamer will be able to tune the car like never before. This will be great exposure for Motec"

Tony Whitfort, Engineering Director, Motec.

Sounds - sampled from the real thing…

Engine sounds recorded directly from the real cars has been used to create a sonic experience which puts the gamer directly in the driver’s seat. SimBin’s detailed implementation of engine and environmental sounds represents a quantum leap beyond any other title.

Music – An original Soundtrack, plus tracks from several pop/rock groups are featured

The game includes an original electronic soundtrack composed by Stephen Baysted (Simbin’s Sound Director), music for the user interface and some exciting new tracks from several pop/rock/hip hop bands. Henrik Roos – an experienced racing driver – the CEO and company leader of SimBin Development Team

Henrik Roos, SimBin’s CEO, is also a real-life “racing junkie” and is participating in the 2004 FIA GT Championship. Henrik, driving a Chrysler Viper GTS/R, competed in several races during the 2002 season, and contested the full 2003 FIA GT Championship. In 2004 he will be again driving a Viper GTS/R in a team with GTR The Ultimate Racing Game as its main sponsor. Henrik Roos held the title of Swedish GT Champion for three consecutive years: 2000, 2001, and
2002.

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