Why do people mod their racing games? Why go through the arduous tasks involved with creating a piece of software? And how does history fit into all this? Let’s explore the breath that keeps sim racing alive and evolving.
The simple reason is mods. If there were no metric ton of content available at one’s fingertips, Assetto Corsa would be struggling heavily for players. There are other sims with better graphics, physics, and user experience but the vast amount of content alone that dedicated modelers and programmers have provided the community is breathtaking. Almost as breathtaking as racing your 60s Formula 1 car around the Südschleife, but I digress.
The amount of available racetracks and vehicles one can race remains a top reason why people bother with the ever-aging Assetto Corsa, amongst others.
Just add a few mods and you can have it all! Next-gen graphics, updated textures, rain, night. All are available. All thanks to the dedicated work of a few individuals.
Mods can make the digital Nordschleife look more like the green hell it is. Driving through the night. Rain comes in. You need to pit, but you are only at Flugplatz. Sweat drops start forming on your forehead. Will I make this lap? – you ask yourself. You brake heavily for the Mutkurve.
Suddenly it clears up. Just a small shower? As you continue driving on, you decide not to pit and stay on slicks.
Currently, this exhilarating experience would only be available thanks to the modders.
But this German track is by far not the only example of a racing venue forgotten to time. There are hundreds of circuits all around the world you have never seen. Researching on various websites regarding historic race tracks even allows you to realize there are examples of which we have completely forgotten the layout already. In some cases, even the location is unknown. And judging by the fact that motorsport has only started about 130 years ago, it’s sad to see we are already forgetting about some of it.
Not only circuits may suffer this fate, but who knows how many of the early 1900s car manufacturers pioneering the sport suffer a similar fate? Not only the classics but modern vehicles too, lack digital representation! While everyone keeps talking about the Porsches, the Ferraris, and the Corvettes smaller marques are left out in the cold. In a perfect world, every circuit and every vehicle would have a digital form available.
Tools to work on modding can be 100% free to use. Meaning everyone with a computer can do their part to digitalise a more obscure part of motorsport. The only requirement is determination. It’s simple to start any project but seeing one through is admirable.
So, if you want to help the worldwide community of sim racers, get a 3D-design tool like Blender, learn it and work away on your project. And don’t forget to share!
Are you a modder? Have you ever tried modding for sim racing titles? Or are there any exceptional people out there you would like to thank for their mods? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
The Obvious: Modding Brings Content
When talking about different sim racing games, what examples will be brought up? One definite mainstay is Assetto Corsa. Released in December 2014, it’s fair to say this piece of software is by far not the newest. But amongst sim racing titles, it keeps ranking at the top of the steam charts. How?The simple reason is mods. If there were no metric ton of content available at one’s fingertips, Assetto Corsa would be struggling heavily for players. There are other sims with better graphics, physics, and user experience but the vast amount of content alone that dedicated modelers and programmers have provided the community is breathtaking. Almost as breathtaking as racing your 60s Formula 1 car around the Südschleife, but I digress.
The amount of available racetracks and vehicles one can race remains a top reason why people bother with the ever-aging Assetto Corsa, amongst others.
The Beautiful: Modding Improves Visuals
The graphics of titles like Assetto Corsa Competizione or the upcoming Rennsport leave us in awe. However, staying with the example of old Assetto Corsa, did you know it can look almost as good as the newer contenders?Just add a few mods and you can have it all! Next-gen graphics, updated textures, rain, night. All are available. All thanks to the dedicated work of a few individuals.
Mods can make the digital Nordschleife look more like the green hell it is. Driving through the night. Rain comes in. You need to pit, but you are only at Flugplatz. Sweat drops start forming on your forehead. Will I make this lap? – you ask yourself. You brake heavily for the Mutkurve.
Suddenly it clears up. Just a small shower? As you continue driving on, you decide not to pit and stay on slicks.
Currently, this exhilarating experience would only be available thanks to the modders.
The Meaningful: Modding Digitalizes History
Have you ever heard of the Opel Rennbahn? The former German oval course which hosted racing in between the wars? If you have, that’s probably thanks to the beautiful mod available for Assetto Corsa.But this German track is by far not the only example of a racing venue forgotten to time. There are hundreds of circuits all around the world you have never seen. Researching on various websites regarding historic race tracks even allows you to realize there are examples of which we have completely forgotten the layout already. In some cases, even the location is unknown. And judging by the fact that motorsport has only started about 130 years ago, it’s sad to see we are already forgetting about some of it.
Not only circuits may suffer this fate, but who knows how many of the early 1900s car manufacturers pioneering the sport suffer a similar fate? Not only the classics but modern vehicles too, lack digital representation! While everyone keeps talking about the Porsches, the Ferraris, and the Corvettes smaller marques are left out in the cold. In a perfect world, every circuit and every vehicle would have a digital form available.
The Powerful: What WE Can Create
In this sense, every digital recreation of a circuit or a vehicle helps preserve the legacy of motorsports as a whole. And here’s the best thing: Everyone can become part of this.Tools to work on modding can be 100% free to use. Meaning everyone with a computer can do their part to digitalise a more obscure part of motorsport. The only requirement is determination. It’s simple to start any project but seeing one through is admirable.
So, if you want to help the worldwide community of sim racers, get a 3D-design tool like Blender, learn it and work away on your project. And don’t forget to share!
Thanks
Let this post be a letter of thanks to every modder out there. Thank you for doing your best to enhance the experiences of users around the globe! Thank you for enabling us to relive the history of racing! And thank you for preserving history!Are you a modder? Have you ever tried modding for sim racing titles? Or are there any exceptional people out there you would like to thank for their mods? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
