To further support the re launch of RaceSimCentral, if you missed the news see here – http://www.racesimcentral.com/ – We have decided to deploy race related forums to RaceSimCentral. This will facilitate general discussion on the events and move it off getsatisfaction which is better suited to site feedback and issue management.

We are also going to create “Marshals Logs” for each events so that all users can view all marshal’s decisions relating to particular events.

Please note we won’t be creating a special top level section for these simraceway event threads, rather they will be added to the existing league section (and if any other league or event operator would like one of these set up please just contact the RSC moderators and they’ll arrange it for you)

The first forum for the Open Wheel Challenge Series (OWC Series) can be seen here;

http://www.racesimcentral.com/forum/showthread.php?5505-Open-Wheel-Challenge-Series-1-17-000-Purse

In this vein we are also discussing, with the rfactorcentral community, whether they would like to see their forums ported and hosted on RaceSimCentral. Our feeling is that porting the forums to RSC will create a more efficient and richer user experience.

Inside Sim Racing arrived at the Game Developement Conference (GDC) in San Francisco on Thursday, March 11th 2010 with high hopes of finding some good racing content for the sim community.

Swarms of attendees gathered around booths, most of what appeared to be eager hopefuls trying to land a position at companies such as Activision, Naughty Dog and Blizzard Entertainment.

Amongst all that GDC had to offer, racing titles we almost non-existant. We did manage to run into Chris Pate of Logitech and asked him some questions about the G27 Force Feeback Racing Wheel. As a highly regarded wheel amongst sim racers and gamers, we wanted to know it’s possible future compatability with the XBox 360.

“The technoligies between G27’s force feed back and those of the Xbox are significantly different,” said Pate, “it isn’t a matter of adding a driver.” Since XBox has already established a name in the racing community with titles like Dirt and Forza, “I would imagine they will continue to use their same products…which means we (Logitech) will face the same problems,” said Pate. Doesn’t sound like Logitech will be making a wheel for the XBox.

In this episode Indy 500 Evolution for the Xbox 360 and Formula One Championship Edition for the PS3 are reviewed. They also take a look at the new Buttkicker Gamer2. In additon Top Sim Car shootout featuring the Caterham for Live for Speed, RFactor and GTR Evo.

Introducing an upcoming action-racing video game by Black Rock Studios and Disney Interactive: Split Second: Velocity, coming in May 2010.

A fictional reality show is the setting in this game where speed meets strategy. Players will drive through a city that is rigged for destruction by their opponents. You will also be able to build up your powerplay and create destructive events for your competitors as well. Such events include plane crashes, explosions and building collapses.

Compete for money and glory as you race through dropping bombs and enviromental changes to fininsh a lap. There are three racing events in each episode, with 24 total episodes in the game.

Split/Second is brought to us by Black Rock Studios, formerly known as Climax Racing and based in the United Kingdom. The game has recieved “Best Racing Game” in the Game Critics Awards at E3 2009. Many are comparing it to the Burnout game series. It will be available on the Playstation 3, XBOX 360 and the PC. Enjoy this trailer:

More teasers for us on Polophony’s much anticpated PS3 racer, Gran Turismo 5. I’m actually hoping to get some first hand information at the Game Developers Conference next week. For now, Motor Trend has released another trailer and set of screenshots, this time focused solely on Nascar. GT5 is rumored to be released in the fall of this year, exclusively for the Playstation 3.

Check it out ! I’ve also included the new images they posted in a gallery below.

You can also check out the complete article here at Motor Trend.

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Atari SA, and developer Eden Games announced the newest installment in the Test Drive franchise with Unlimited 2 for the Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 and Windows PC coming Fall of 2010.

Here’s their press release:

Test Drive Unlimited 2 expands on the traditional racing experience providing gamers with M.O.O.R. Massively Open Online Racing immersing drivers in a persistent online environment and revolutionizing multiplayer racing communities as players compete, team up, and share their achievements and creations online. Unlike any other driving game, TDU2 blends the open world experience with realistic vehicles and performance dynamics and for the first time, TDU2 features vehicle damage, weather effects, day and night cycles, and a brand new island to explore.

The first Test Drive® Unlimited innovated the racing genre with an immersive online and offline experience – over 1 million players created online accounts. Test Drive Unlimited 2 blends the single player and multiplayer experiences seamlessly, creating a dynamic world of unique content and challenges. Test Drive Unlimited 2 is “always live,” with automatic updates and seamless online/offline integration. A revamped single player narrative mode can be played offline or as part of the multiplayer experience.

“After the highly successful Test Drive Unlimited which redefined the genre with massively open online racing, Test Drive Unlimited 2 will be an innovative evolution in racing games, expanding its unparalleled multiplayer experience and immersing players in a world full of new online content and lifestyle customization.” said Jeff Lapin, CEO of Atari, SA. “The game fits squarely into our strategy of moving online and generating new revenue streams while maintaining our current retail business.”

Test Drive Unlimited 2 puts the world’s most desirable vehicles in the players hands. These ultra-limited edition masterpieces are flawlessly replicated with Eden’s finely tuned driving technology. Players define their online persona through the customization of their vehicles, and the acquisition of property, clothing and all the accoutrements of a luxurious car-based lifestyle. The challenge comes to life with the most expansive and comprehensive multiplayer offering on the console and the ultimate refinement of the core Test Drive driving experience. All-new race types, vehicle classes, environmental challenges, locations and much more push this epic franchise to new levels of performance and luxury.

I personally thought the first one was pretty good and with some enhanced physics, could be a great title. We’ll see where they take this one.

Check out the new Test Drive Unlimited 2 website here.

Usually when iRacing releases one of these videos, that means the track is close behind. This one shows Zandvoort in real life compared to thier new version. We’ll let you know when the track becomes available.

The Formula 1 2007 series is now available on Simbin’s RACE titles, GTR Evolution and Race O7. Released by Mak-Corp, formerly known as the the Mak Modding Group (MMG).

The sim was converted to Simbin’s RACE series by Mak-Corp’s Gunthar Rowe who based it on the original version for rFactor. Rowe worked together with Eric Kaczmarek and created brand new physics for sim. Sound and appearance have been improved while all the cars are equal in physics. In the future a personal edition will be released giving each vehicle uniqueness and realistic physics.

All of the Formula 1 2007 tracks, teams (11) and cars(22) are now available at racedepartment.com exclusively until the end of March 2010.

I’ve known the guys at Thomas Superwheel, better known as TSW, for a long time. Matter of fact the first quality wheel I owned to sim race with was a TSW.

To this day they are known for making product that lasts and they stand by it with life time warranties.

We’re currently reviewing their load cell pedal set on Inside Sim Racing and in talking to Dave Thomas of TSW, he mentioned some new products coming down the pipeline..

Starting with the 16 button wheel..

Next up.. in response to their wheels only having 270 degrees of rotation, the new 720 degree wheel..

And for those of you that want a realistic sequential shifter.. Check these options out !

Soon as these items become available, we’ll let you know here.. For now if you want to check out the current TSW line up, head over to Thomas-Super Wheels.