Kunos Previews Version 1.5 Track Improvements

[Alex Franchini]

Kunos Simulazioni have outlined future developments for the upcoming version 1.5 of Assetto Corsa.

The announcement comes from the official Facebook page for the game, and makes a short recap of the development process during the last couple of years and what to expect for the track quality in version 1.5.

"The development of Assetto Corsa began in 2011. Since then, we have vastly improved our modelling techniques – today we have more resources (budget and manpower) and expertise, and the latest laser-scanning technology also allows us to obtain a better and wider scan, offering an opportunity to grab a higher number of objects surrounding the track. Moreover, during the development of Assetto Corsa, we have changed our approach to texturing and track modelling, creating more secondary details and trackside objects and also featuring 3D trees and camera-facing objects and crowds, something that resulted in nicer scenarios and better immersion. However, as a result there is now a visible gap in terms of graphics and details if you compare some of the first and the latest circuits created for Assetto Corsa.

Last year we made some tests with a new laser-scanning device, testing it at our HQ at Vallelunga race track, where we made our preliminary tests in early 2010 in preparation for the Ferrari Virtual Academy videogame. Since our aim is to offer our fans the best of our skills, know-how and quality, we are glad to tell you that we have started the process of optimizing and improving all our existing circuits, including Vallelunga, Nurburgring GP, Mugello, Magione, Imola, Silverstone, Monza, Spa Francorchamps, as well as the Nordschleife. The upgraded versions of these tracks will be available as a free update with build 1.5, currently in development.

Thank you very much for your great support!"
​

Update 1.5 will include the upgraded versions of all existing circuits. The update will be free, but there's no mention of an estimated release time or any other aspects of the changelog. You can check out the rest of the comparison screenshots of Vallelunga here:



Stay tuned for further information, and in the mean time lets us know what you make of this!

 

[ZethGAF]

Fishing for a pull-quote in the next blog post I see

 

[Radu Oros]

Christian von Koenigsegg, the owner and creator of Koenigsegg cars said that no car ever will be identical.

Identical meaning: "similar in every detail; exactly alike." From that, tell me which car in AC is identical.
If by identical you mean similar, then yes, certain generations of cars are similar.

 

[Hyunsoo Lee]

So for example when Mclaren said they completely revised the suspension of the 650s gt3 compared to mp4-12c gt3, and when these two cars share very similar platform and architecture, couldn't it mean that their performance/durability of certain components changed between the two cars but the actual place where these components are located is about the same on the two cars?

Even if you're completely right about what you've said, how you gonna explain the exact same values such as gearbox ratios, engine torque and etc?

it's not even a controversial topic.
it's a fact.

 

[ZethGAF]

Why we still got monkeys?

 

[Blimey]

Identical meaning: "similar in every detail; exactly alike." From that, tell me which car in AC is identical.
If by identical you mean similar, then yes, certain generations of cars are similar.

Kunos already told us that McLaren didn't give them all the info and Kunos said they had to copy from mp4-12c GT3, enough...regardless, I really doubt that 650s GT3 and mp4-12c GT3 are identical underneath..

 

[Stereo]

Gearboxes use the same ratios because they're using the same gear ratios in the real cars... this is just a simple engineering problem. You want gears of a certain radius (to fit into the gearbox) and with a certain minimum number of teeth (for smoothness) and minimum tooth size (for strength); this means that every gear in every racing gearbox has between 15 and 35 teeth on it. The number of teeth on the gear pairs should have a GCD of 1 for durability; the end result is that there are only about 350 possible ratios and of those, <100 get used in any real transmission.

Plus, GT3 in particular homologates the specific set of gears available in each car; this is part of why they're relatively affordable compared to last decade's GT1s. The transmission in an MP4-12C may have been strengthened when they built the 650s but none of these factors would change, so the same gear ratios is completely plausible.
It also restricts engine intake size; there's no incentive for them to change the torque curve of the new model, adding usable power would just get a tighter restriction put on so if anything, they'd only spend money on making the engine last longer between teardowns. Same torque curve means the same gear ratios are still the best option.


As always, something a little more substantial than "McLaren announced the suspension is different" would be nice if you want to attack any single number for being the same. If there's a press release announcing that the new one has specific gears that you can't pick in AC, post it on the forums and they will almost certainly fix that.

 

[Radu Oros]

Screen taken from the blog, but numbers removed as they are from protected files.

The only difference was in the inertia value.

Quote taken from mclaren website, of the 650s gt3 announcement:
"The new car produces around 500PS – the same as the 12C GT3, as the power output is governed by FIA regulations – but the McLaren ECU controlling the award-winning 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 has been upgraded, and the engine is now coupled to a new six-speed sequential gearbox."

What does a "new six-speed sequential gearbox" actually mean and why should the change up and down time, and auto cut off time be different between the two cars? The inertia time is slightly different.

About engine torque, the blog doesn't talk about it, at least couldn't find. If you mean Brakes max_torque (which is, Maximum Brake torque in Nm), maybe you could explain to us...

But hey, take a look at the car description on Blancpain webpage:
http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/car/7/mclaren-mp4-12c
http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/car/35/mclaren-650s-gt3
Did Blancpain also just copy pasted with slight differences (but enough to possibly make it a better car overall) because ain't nobody got time for it so?

 

[Hyunsoo Lee]

About engine torque, the blog doesn't talk about it, at least couldn't find. If you mean Brakes max_torque (which is, Maximum Brake torque in Nm), maybe you could explain to us...

But hey, take a look at the car description on Blancpain webpage:
http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/car/7/mclaren-mp4-12c
http://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/car/35/mclaren-650s-gt3
Did Blancpain also just copy pasted with slight differences (but enough to possibly make it a better car overall) because ain't nobody got time for it so?

Sorry, I mistyped my post, you're right it's brake torque.
Here's what I don't understand.
According to Mclaren 650S GT3 press release in 2014, it has "a newly-developed braking system with monoblock six-piston callipers on the front, and four-piston on the rear, with ventilated discs (380 x 35mm front / 355 x 32mm rear)." which means it's hard to believe they've same brake torque and distribution rate..
and why they share same fuel consumption rate and weight when it has new aero and more lightweight body parts?
anyway.. since Kunos admitted they had to copy some of the physics values, it's no use to discuss about it.
I'll end my comment, I want to apologize if you feel offended.

 

[Radu Oros]

Maybe you need a reminder of what Aris said about copy pasting, since I think you already forgot and are too certain of yourself. Link.

edit, how do you know the "newly developed braking system" doesn't have the same max brake torque? In fact, have you checked if all the other GT3 cars don't have the same or about the same max torque for the brake pedal?

About the car weight, if you'd have checked the links from Blancpain, you'd see the weight difference in both cars is pretty minimal or sometimes the same. Btw, don't all GT3 cars have a similar weight? Why is it so skewed 650s gt3 has so similar kg weight to the older generation? Just check each GT3 on blancpain website and you'll see every one has about the same weight, then a bit changes for each race/series, due to BOP.
More lightweight body parts doesn't mean the car lost 100kg. It will have weight added in another form.

 

[Glaurung]

Totally off topic, but...the MP4-12C GT3 and the 650S GT3 share so much physics in AC that the first at Spa or Zandvoort is about 1 sec faster than the second.
And the gap becomes about 5 sec in the Nordschleife Endurance ..
Definitely, looking how much well the 650S performed in the recent 12h Bathurst, Kunos should look after the BoP of this car in order to improve its performance.

 

[Antonio Crinò]

the MP4-12C GT3 and the 650S GT3 share so much physics in AC that the first at Spa or Zandvoort is about 1 sec faster than the second.
And the gap becomes about 5 sec in the Nordschleife Endurance ..

Maybe you need a reminder of what Aris said about copy pasting, since I think you already forgot and are too certain of yourself. Link.

http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/assetto-corsa-2015-and-beyond.115468/page-27#post-2159462
http://www.racedepartment.com/threads/assetto-corsa-2015-and-beyond.115468/page-27#post-2159470

 

[David Dominguez]

Maybe you need a reminder of what Aris said about copy pasting, since I think you already forgot and are too certain of yourself. Link.

Well, he also said that real formula drivers don't attack kerbs at Mugello when we were discussing the kerb of death bug (even when there are countless videos showing the opposite), just to put things into perspective. He's there to promote his game after all, don't forget it.

 

[Brandon Wright]

IMHO AC is the best thing that's ever happened in sim racing in the past 2 years. It allows people to constantly arguing over which has best most realistic better than others' FFB/physics, and constantly complaining what they want is still yet in the game. Top two activities that sim racers enjoy, closely followed by actual sim racing in third place

You sir, are my new Forum Hero. And all the proceeding posts have proven that sim racing is a distant to third to arguing and complaining when it comes to sim racers preferred activities.

 

[Alex72]

One thing i would love as an update cosmetically is the grass at places where cars drive often, like at the apex of kerbs. There should be yellow grass with dirt showing through since so many Wheels rough those areas up. Its too clean on the tracks. This would make it feel more natural. Not that its super important, but it would give more life to the tracks.

Im happy though that the tracks get an overhaul.

 

[Radu Oros]

Well, he also said that real formula drivers don't attack kerbs at Mugello when we were discussing the kerb of death bug (even when there are countless videos showing the opposite), just to put things into perspective. He's there to promote his game after all, don't forget it.

So by what you said in your post, you agree these cars are copy pasted and each one isn't simulated on its own?

 

[Matheus Machado]

Definitely, looking how much well the 650S performed in the recent 12h Bathurst, Kunos should look after the BoP of this car in order to improve its performance.

It is a track that is suited for the car. The same way it is the fastest around Brands Hatch. GT3 cars have different advantages and it is up to the drivers take the max out of their equipment to make up for those differences.
The cars aren't equal in real life and there is no reason it should be different in sim counterparts.

 

[David Dominguez]

So by what you said in your post, you agree these cars are copy pasted and each one isn't simulated on its own?

Just read again Aris answer, heck he's even admitting that it could be possible that some geometries are copy pasted (due to homologation issues etc for example).

 

[Radu Oros]

Just read again Aris answer, heck he's even admitting that it could be possible that some geometries are copy pasted (due to homologation issues etc for example).

Is cool that you only interpret the first half of this sentence where talks about suspension geometries, and leave out the part where again talks about suspension geometries, and says that some identical numbers on a 3d coordinates map doesn't result in the same suspensions geometry, performance, bump steer, kinematics.

 

[Skazz]

The sheer weight of some of the shoulder chips in this thread is stunning.

"Oh look, free stuff. Quick, I can use the thread to moan my same old moans again. W00t!"

 

[David Dominguez]

Is cool that you only interpret the first half of this sentence where talks about suspension geometries, and leave out the part where again talks about suspension geometries, and says that some identical numbers on a 3d coordinates map doesn't result in the same suspensions geometry, performance, bump steer, kinematics.

So?

By the way, have you ever cared to check yourself how much does the bumpsteer, camber etc change?