| Live for Speed | |
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| Developer(s) | LFS Team (Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey and Victor van Vlaardingen) |
| Publisher(s) | LFS Team (Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey and Victor van Vlaardingen) |
| Released | June 24, 2005 (S2 alpha) |
| Genre | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Media | Client (Download) |
| Input methods | Steering wheel recommended [1] joystick, gamepad, TrackIR supported, mouse steering supported |
Live for Speed (also known as LFS) is an online racing simulator developed by a three person team comprising Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey, and Victor van Vlaardingen. Main focus is to provide a realistic racing experience, emphasis being on the online multiplayer game but also in single player one may race against AI cars, try to set lap records in hotlap mode, or take driving skills lessons. LFS is distributed via Internet. The full game can be downloaded for free from the official website and installed, but unlocking all features requires purchasing a software license. Without a license it can be used as a demo with only the demo content available. License acquiring right to use all of the content and features can be purchased only from the official website with a price of GBP £24 ($47.45).
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Releases
The game is intended to be released in three parts, S1 (Stage 1), S2, and S3. Each stage will feature improvements in many areas, such as physics model, graphics and sound. Technical improvements introduced in each new stage become available for previous stages as well, with the main difference between stages being additional cars and tracks, as well as the maximum number of players connected to a server. Owners of each stage are also able to access servers for previous stages and demo servers. A fully working, commercial, alpha version of LFS S2 was released on June 24, 2005. Despite the alpha tag, updates to the game usually adds features instead of only improving current features. List of recent major patches:
- Patch S2 T, released on April 21, 2006, included improved tyre physics, track updates, as well as the addition of a new car, the BMW Sauber F1.
- Patch S2 W, released on March 31, 2007, included improved car sounds with new features in the synthesized sound engine and various graphical updates.
- Patch S2 X, released on June 9 2007, contains many minor fixes and improvements but mainly a possibility to make false starts and support for additional drivers; 32 simultaneous players online were made possible.
Patch Y
Patch S2 Y was released on December 21, 2007. Main features are:
- New car - Formula BMW, developed in conjunction with V1 Championship and Fortec Motorsport.
- Physics: vastly improved clutch simulation; clutch overheating and engine stalling, gearbox simulation; now simulating different kind of gearboxes from H-pattern to sequential with ignition cut and semi-automatic transmission and improved engine simulation; engines have more realistic redlines and inertia.
- Improved AI; AI controlled cars are now much faster, can deal with the changing state of the car (damage, tyre wear) and make pit stops and have slightly better awareness of other cars on the track.
- Graphically updated Blackwood and South City tracks including a new track configuration.
Simulation
The physics engine simulates tyres, different suspensions, aerodynamics, drivetrain, several gearbox types, clutch overheating and damage to suspension, car body and partial engine damage. Some features of the mathematical tyre model (not based on Pacejka formula) created by Scawen Roberts are; every tire is divided to 48 sampling points (arranged as 16 along the circumference by 3 across the width of the tire), dynamic wear, dynamic dirt on tyre surface, flat spots, hot spots and visible real-time deformation of the tyre walls.
Gameplay
LFS, like most car simulators, requires smooth, controlled movements of the steering, throttle, and brakes in order to get the fastest speed through a lap. There is support for wheel, mouse, keyboard, joystick, or gamepad steering control. LFS is unusual among racing simulators in offering FPS-style mouse steering, which fills in the gap for racers who don't own racing wheels but would like more precise control than using keyboard steering. Races can be from one to hundreds of laps or be set to run for a certain length of time, as is seen in endurance racing. There is support for refueling and tire changes in pit stops and mid-race adjustment of pit strategy. During an online race, driver changes between two real drivers are possible. Pit lane speed limits of 80 km/h (50mph) are enforced by penalties similar to those seen in real motorsport. These include drive-through, stop and go, or time penalty. Starting grids can be set by random chance, finishing positions in the previous race, or a qualifying period before the race. A training mode is included as a driving school to help new drivers acquaint themselves with basic driving skills and the handling characteristics of each car. The lessons cover subjects such as cornering, throttle and brake control, and negotiating traffic. To pass, they have to be completed within a certain time without touching any obstacles or other vehicles. They are arranged as in sets, one for each car and ordered from slowest to fastest. Each set must be completed before moving to the lessons for the next car. However, completing them is not necessary to unlock cars, as all are available for racing from the beginning.
Cars
The S2 release offers a total of 19 different vehicles. They range from beginner-friendly models to cars more suited for players with more experience. There is a broad power spectrum, ranging from under 100 horsepower (70 kW) to over 700 hp (500 kW) in the high performance race cars. The cars range from fictional sports cars, GT race cars akin to DTM and former JGTC series cars to road legal family front wheel driven hatchbacks. While LFS' car selection mainly includes fictional cars, it also has four real officially licensed cars:
- BMW Sauber F1.06
- Formula BMW
- McGill University's Formula SAE (in conjunction with McGill Racing Team)
- Raceabout '03 concept sports car designed by Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia
Tracks
LFS has seven different fictional track areas, including one loosely based on eastern central London, one based on Jamaican surroundings and one near Kyoto, Japan. Each one of them has several different configurations and each of those can be also driven in reversed configuration. Altogether, there are 54 configurations including three rallycross tracks. Additionally, users can create their own custom layouts using cones and other objects with the in-game autocross editor; the two car park environments in the game are ideal for creating such layouts.
Intel Racing Tour and V1 Championship
LFS was used in Intel Racing Tour, a competition arranged in Germany in 2007 with a brand new BMW M3 car as the main prize for the winner. Thanks to Intel Racing Tour, BMW Sauber F1 was introduced in the game. LFS is also related to upcoming V1 Championship which will be shown on TV in the United Kingdom. The game will be used as part of the driver selection process before testing in real cars. LFS acquired a license to Formula BMW car and to help at modelling it to the game, Scawen Roberts was invited to have a test day in the real car provided by Fortec Motorsport.
LFSWorld
LFS integrates with LFSWorld.net, a real-time comprehensive statistics website and database with a unique online skin support. Each racer's online race statistics are updated, including per-lap personal bests, lap counts, distance traveled, fuel burnt, among others, and users can view other racers stats as well. Additionally, an official world record lap time chart, where racers can upload hotlaps, is maintained for each track configuration and car combination, and other racers can download hotlaps to be viewed in-game. Users may also upload custom car skins to the website, from where the skins then are automatically downloaded in-game to other racers.
Reviews and awards
Justin Kranzl of APC magazine called the S1 release of LFS "the best PC racing simulator ever". Similarly, COMPUTEAM Race Authority (CTRA) states that Live For Speed is "the worlds most advanced commercially available motor racing simulator."[2] Pelit magazine's 2004 review of LFS' S1 release by Mika Äärilä scored 92/100 and said "Saloon cars and meticulous simulation. Absolute cream of the crop". (free translation from Finnish)[3] Bytesector website's 2005 review of LFS S2 release said "Nothing short of going to a track actually compares to the experience. Live for Speed is, by far, the most intense and demanding game I've ever played." In 2005, AutoSimSport magazine gave LFS their "Best simulation" award[4] and Blackhole Motorsports website readers voted to give LFS the following awards:[5]
- BHM "Game of the year" award
- BHM "Best multiplayer" award
- BHM "Best physics" award
See also
References
- ^ http://www.lfs.net/?page=moreabout
- ^ http://www.raceauthority.com/
- ^ Äärilä, Mika: "Pelit 1/2004", pages 58-59. Sanoma Magazines, 2004
- ^ http://www.autosimsport.com AutoSimSport magazine award (2005)
- ^ http://www.bhmotorsports.com/awards/4/winners Blackhole Motorsports awards (2005)
