Managing Director Marcel Offermans Leaves Studio 397


The rumblings under the Motorsport Games umbrella do not seem to stop: While news on the rFactor 2 side have been positive recently with the announcement of exciting content due this month, the end of May is going to be the end of Studio 397’s Managing Director Marcel Offermans at the company.

Offermans is not the first higher-up to decide that it is time to move on: In early April, it became known that Motorsport Games' President Stephen Hood had left the company, just as the planned BTCC game faced a delay that by now looks like a complete cancellation of the project.

What Offermans’ departure means for the future of rFactor 2 remains to be seen. He shared a YouTube video (see above) titled “So long, and thanks for all the fish!”, a reference to a famous book by Douglas Adams with the same name. The video shows his beloved GTE Corvette exiting the final turn of Circuit Zandvoort at night, followed by a statement regarding his departure.

“By the end of May, it is time to move on”, states Offermans while simultaneously expressing his gratitude for his time with Studio 397: “Over time, we grew the user base by an order of magnitude, improved just about every aspect of the simulation and did some really cool projects and collaboration.” Offermans has been with Studio 397 since 2016.

Update: according to this SEC filing the heads of Luminis, the previous owners of Studio 397, received a million dollars to complete the acquisition of the company but with 2.2 million being differered for undisclosed reasons.​

Interestingly, his successor is apparently already in place to take over in June: “I am leaving rFactor 2 in very capable hands”, reads the penultimate line of Offermans’ statement – although it is not yet known who is going to take over the reigns or what the future holds regarding the simulation. The next content drop including two BTCC cars plus Donington Park, Brands Hatch and Laguna Seca is expected sometime in May.

What are your thoughts regarding this news? Let us know on Twitter @RaceDepartment or in the comments below!
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About author
Yannik Haustein
Yannik Haustein
Lifelong motorsport enthusiast and sim racing aficionado, walking racing history encyclopedia.

Sim racing editor, streamer and one half of the SimRacing Buddies podcast (warning, German!).

Heel & Toe Gang 4 life :D

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Comments

Austin Ogonoski
boxer said:
Fact is rF2 has an unmatched driving experience... IMO ACC is the only sim that comes close to it.
(All the corporate noise you post about is meaningless to the game experience)... we are not investors and don't give two cents on the money side of things. NONE of that affects our/your experience on how rF2 drives. Give you some perspective... some thought when ISI sold rF2 to S397 that was the end, but in reality S397 it gave it new life. Lets hope this is the same.
Click to expand...
ACC is pathetic and you need to trailbrake with the precision of a serial killer to have any speed at all. This is not how big squishy rubber tires operate.
 
Austin Ogonoski
kart1 said:
I don't watch random videos, I make my own opinion and to say that rf2 physics are less good or of the same level as rf1/ams1 is to lose all credibility, the physics are not irreproachable but far from rf1 or ams, moreover the physics of AC or Iracing also have their share of problem you don't know it you don't play it or you close your eyes maybe...
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Physics mean nothing if the AI is driving into walls or braking in the middle of a straightaway.

It's like sim racers forget that these are games, not science projects, and you need to be able to do more than solo laps in them.

I tried to do an IR18 race at Sardian Heights the other day and the AI all wrecked on the front straightaway right as we took the green. I spent the first 10 minutes of the race under caution riding around behind Scott Dixon in 5th place, watching him bash into walls at 50mph, only to be waved around him with one to go because he didn't catch up to the leader. In fact nobody did. So just two cars were behind the pace car on the restart, with the rest of the field half a lap behind.

If I took video of this, which I did, you'd claim you "don't watch random videos."

If I didn't take video of this, you'd claim I was lying to try and smear rFactor 2.

Always moving the goalposts and unable to admit that maybe this game isn't very good.
 
Sebastian Skinnari
kart1 said:
I don't watch random videos, I make my own opinion and to say that rf2 physics are less good or of the same level as rf1/ams1 is to lose all credibility, the physics are not irreproachable but far from rf1 or ams, moreover the physics of AC or Iracing also have their share of problem you don't know it you don't play it or you close your eyes maybe..
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you are the definition of a fanboy...
Every "Racing game" has positive side and negative one. The news article was about the studios "situation" right now and not about the physics of RF2!

edit: Yes Racing Sims are video games, only more expensive than more arcady ones :)
 
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kart1
Austin Ogonoski said:
Physics mean nothing if the AI is driving into walls or braking in the middle of a straightaway.

It's like sim racers forget that these are games, not science projects, and you need to be able to do more than solo laps in them.

I tried to do an IR18 race at Sardian Heights the other day and the AI all wrecked on the front straightaway right as we took the green. I spent the first 10 minutes of the race under caution riding around behind Scott Dixon in 5th place, watching him bash into walls at 50mph, only to be waved around him with one to go because he didn't catch up to the leader. In fact nobody did. So just two cars were behind the pace car on the restart, with the rest of the field half a lap behind.

If I took video of this, which I did, you'd claim you "don't watch random videos."

If I didn't take video of this, you'd claim I was lying to try and smear rFactor 2.

Always moving the goalposts and unable to admit that maybe this game isn't very good.
Click to expand...
I don't play against AIs since online racing exists, I don't enjoy playing solo, I play iracing, AC/ACC, AMS1 & 2 and rF2 exclusively online with humans (try it out it's much more fun and rewarding) so AI is of no use to me and never will be!
 
Jasje
Premium
Austin Ogonoski said:
Physics mean nothing if the AI is driving into walls or braking in the middle of a straightaway.

It's like sim racers forget that these are games, not science projects, and you need to be able to do more than solo laps in them.

I tried to do an IR18 race at Sardian Heights the other day and the AI all wrecked on the front straightaway right as we took the green. I spent the first 10 minutes of the race under caution riding around behind Scott Dixon in 5th place, watching him bash into walls at 50mph, only to be waved around him with one to go because he didn't catch up to the leader. In fact nobody did. So just two cars were behind the pace car on the restart, with the rest of the field half a lap behind.

If I took video of this, which I did, you'd claim you "don't watch random videos."

If I didn't take video of this, you'd claim I was lying to try and smear rFactor 2.

Always moving the goalposts and unable to admit that maybe this game isn't very good.
Click to expand...
Sardian Heights is a mod from 2015 that probably doesn't have the correct AI paths set.

I agree there are moments that RF2 falls short but with official content (tracks & cars) and good mods it's an absolute blast. I've been doing the weekly Friday evening races here at RD for a couple of years now and never had any issues.

When I practice offline with AI on the tracks we race on Fridays it's also more than decent, sorry that you are facing those issues, I really think it's most likely mod/track related.
 
B
I really appreciate what Marcel has done for rF2 all these years, and as a developer I know these things are not easy with a myriad of constraints along the way. There's what you wished you can do and what you realistically can do...
Although I think it is really a good time for a change in leadership at S397 to bring a fresh perspective and (I hope) make stuff happen much faster. Assuming S397 does not sink in the coming months due to the MSG thing. That would be a tragedy.
Marcel had very ambitious plans for rF2 is you re-watch past interviews, many of which never happened for a variety of reasons, including probably how it is difficult to develop and improve rF2.
The one thing that stick in my mind is the "new UI" that should have been released in beta in 2017 (I think, from memory) only to be released 2.5 years later in an unsatisfying state, to finally be remade properly a few months ago to what it should have been day one. It took 4-5 years which is insane by any standard.
I wonder what Mr Offermans adventures will be next... Maybe a job at that new announced sim whose name escape me and that is Germany based ? That's pure speculation though.
I suppose we'll never have Marcel's side of the story anytime soon on how it was developing rF2 all these years, because of the ongoing MSG drama. All we'll have is this YT goodbye message, which is not a lot...
 
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Austin Ogonoski
kart1 said:
I don't play against AIs since online racing exists, I don't enjoy playing solo, I play iracing, AC/ACC, AMS1 & 2 and rF2 exclusively online with humans (try it out it's much more fun and rewarding) so AI is of no use to me and never will be!
Click to expand...
You're talking to the #1 ranked Assetto Corsa player in North America there bud. I've done my share of online racing.

But when all online lobbies are GT3 at Spa, or NASCAR Trucks at Talladega, AI racing serves an integral purpose.
 
Ryan Soucy
Will Mazeo said:
The last 3 sim studios had their main guys leaving after they were bought by some bigger company so this isn't really shocking, is it?
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Except 505 and EA are well capitalized and successful publishers. MSG has released what, one game. And it bordered on a dumpster fire. My guess is Marcel decided being paid only in MSG stock was not looking like a good trade anymore. I'm glad he got out somewhat whole. A lot of lower down coders are going to get hosed.

Maybe Marcel's going to Rennsport?!
 
Austin Ogonoski
Jasje said:
Sardian Heights is a mod from 2015 that probably doesn't have the correct AI paths set.

I agree there are moments that RF2 falls short but with official content (tracks & cars) and good mods it's an absolute blast. I've been doing the weekly Friday evening races here at RD for a couple of years now and never had any issues.

When I practice offline with AI on the tracks we race on Fridays it's also more than decent, sorry that you are facing those issues, I really think it's most likely mod/track related.
Click to expand...
I hope it's mod related but the same scenario played out at Port Newark as well as Daytona.

AI can't draft. AI brake check on straights. AI run into walls. AI have binary brake/throttle inputs and "bounce" in corners.

Yes online racing is a thing but rF2 isn't even that populated. The lone person I know who plays rFactor 2 is an Estonian guy who is contractually obligated to lol. You're better off playing iRacing, AC, or R3E which all have sizeable online scenes.

Then you come to the forums and rF2 is vehemently defended as if it's the most popular/revolutionary sim. All of the accounts behave like astroturfers who have been given talking points, like the one guy in the thread who's just going on and on about it's physics when that's not even what the article is about.
 
Steve Worrell
It's a shame to see this thread diverted to motorsport games chat. I think this should be an opportunity to thank Marcel for the input he's had in both rf2 and the industry.

So here's my message of thanks.

Rf2 was my sim of choice for years and I was an instant buyer of dlc when it landed. I've had hundreds of hours of fun with the content produced by S397 and Marcel's team. It's only because of time recently I haven't been able to turn any laps in rf2 but I still hugely respect the title.

Good luck Marcel in whatever you do next and like Bram says, big shoes to fill for whoever follows.
 
N
The only thing personally I can take from this, is never for me to put money into games that never get finished. Marcel was doing what he set out to do, fair play to him and the team.

But RRE and RF2, are money pits. At least RF2 attempted to get itself into the modern era with day/night and weather, which is unlike the 'same garbage different year' model of RRE. In future I'll likely just stick with Kunos tbh. Oh, and Forza 8 for console kicks lol.

I'll happily steer clear of software that needs dlc to stay afloat. I'd much rather buy into something with a dedicated and planned life, such as AC and AC2, Forza 8, etc. If WRC 2029 is shite, I can choose to pass on it. I've not supported RRE for years, it's going nowhere, and in fact is helping to keep simracing in the dark ages. Geoff Crammond managed rain decades ago, S3 can't be arsed. It's a cash-cow side project. Off topic, whoops.

RF2 did show promise, and that could all turn on its head...
 
Austin Ogonoski
kart1 said:
join a league with nice people...problem solved!
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Your overlords have given you the worst talking points.

If I want to race IndyCar on a whim, at 11am on a Thursday, at the track of my choice, AI racing lets me do that.

In online racing you not only have to find a league, but the league has to be competent drivers otherwise it's not even remotely fun, and not be a discord full of children with anime/cat girl avatars, and have that specific track on your schedule. And then you might find out the race is three weeks from now, at a time when it's your mates birthday.

So basically you end up racing GT3 at Spa a whole lot.
 
kart1
Austin Ogonoski said:
Your overlords have given you the worst talking points.

If I want to race IndyCar on a whim, at 11am on a Thursday, at the track of my choice, AI racing lets me do that.

In online racing you not only have to find a league, but the league has to be competent drivers otherwise it's not even remotely fun, and not be a discord full of children with anime/cat girl avatars, and have that specific track on your schedule. And then you might find out the race is three weeks from now, at a time when it's your mates birthday.

So basically you end up racing GT3 at Spa a whole lot.
Click to expand...
If you can't find a good league with competent and mature people that's your problem not the game problem, again if your only problem is AI you can stop simracing because no sim has good AI...

End of the HS for me, sorry moderators!
 
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W
Ryan Soucy said:
Except 505 and EA are well capitalized and successful publishers. MSG has released what, one game. And it bordered on a dumpster fire. My guess is Marcel decided being paid only in MSG stock was not looking like a good trade anymore. I'm glad he got out somewhat whole. A lot of lower down coders are going to get hosed.

Maybe Marcel's going to Rennsport?!
Click to expand...
Well capitalized or not, they'll want their own guy leading things. This isn't really surprising imo. But it's the internet, everything for the clicks and drama.
 
Peter Kerényi
Good luck Marcel for you future plans, and kudos for the HGTG reference!

To give you my view of your collective work at S397... on one hand priorities were given to certain things that shouldn't have gotten such priority from my perspective, I still criticize your business model (also I understand you guys were between a rock and a hard place money wise with rF2), however nobody can deny that rF2 has evolved a LOT since its acquisition from ISI thanks to your work. When all the things are starting to look very promising (proper new UI, AI improvements finally, good looking high profile content) all this MSG stuff gets public, and very quickly after that you leave the company (Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. Only you know). As a user, unsure what comes next, I can only thank you for your work so far and wish you the best going forward, and wait for what's going to happen to this sim in the future.
 

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