This is analogous to buttons on modern racing car steering wheels, and most computer wheels have buttons that can be mapped to keystrokes. The keyboard is also used for some actions, like requesting pit service and adjusting brake bias.
The vehicle is best controlled using a computer steering wheel, although a joystick or even keyboard can be used. The player's car can be driven from multiple viewpoints, but the two most popular are termed the Cockpit view (from the driver's eye) and Swingman view (above and behind the vehicle). RFactor has a detailed interface during offline race sessions or online games, allowing players to control the mechanical setup of their cars, chat to other players, and enter the racing arena in their vehicle. As an example, the USPits recently hosted the Bullrun 1000 in which drivers swapped the car during the race.ĭriving and Racing File:RFactor screen1 jh.jpgĪ Formula 1 car skidding at the Lime Rock Park circuit With release 1.150, it is now possible to have multiple drivers share a car for longer, "enduro" races. Access to these games or "rooms" can be restricted by password access, or even by game setup status, so that if a room is using a different car-engine model, only players using that model are allowed to play. computer game modes, such as single car tests, single race weekends, and full championships.Ĭonnect is for online play, and shows online games being played globally over the internet. Its main control window consists of a menu to the left, with categories named in the tag line, Customize, Control, Connect.Ĭustomize, Control, Connect File:RFactor Basic Screen.pngĬustomize allows the user to configure the games basic settings, including user profiles and hardware settings.Ĭontrol allows the user to select offline, user vs. The game is played in full screen mode (windowed mode is an option). Ultimately the fate of rFactor will depend on two factors: How well extensions to the base game are received, and how well ISI deals with the game community and their product activation scheme for rFactor. Ultimately, I expect to see every car, of every paint scheme, from every year driving on every circuit both current and historical, which has ever held an event where an internal combustion engine was used to decide the winner of a race.
RFactor is a serious simulation that is both challenging and fun to play. Others have noted that the head movement (literally the way the driver's head moves when driving), set to maximum by default in the game, is mildly overdone, and while it makes for a better experience, it may be a little unrealistic. The latter is very subjective, but some have claimed the default cars sometimes feel more like an arcade game than F1 Challenge, particularly in the way the car slides and "breaks loose" (transitions from four wheel grip to skids). Negative comment is generally confined to the AI cars (computer controlled vehicles), and the reality of the racing experience. That being said, there is greater freedom and more definability than any ISI game before, with more tools being released on the official rFactor website. The extendability appears to be fairly substantial, it is simpler to modify than F1 Challenge, due to enhancements and extra features. The graphics are a notable improvement, and have generally been lauded. Initial reactions have been generally positive from the small race sim enthusiast community.