Automobilista have now released their 1.4 update, there are many updates including more DLC. We now have another legendary circuit Hockenheim, we have the 1977, 1988, 2001 and 2016 configurations. Also included is the Rallycross layout which will be added soon. Season pass owners and purchasers of the Hockenheim circuit will only have access to this new Rallycross layout.
This circuit fits nicely in the current crop of legendary circuits already available. Look here for Adelaide and Imola. You can read/watch our preview of the Hockenheim circuit here.
The Hockenheim circuit being paid DLC unless you have a season pass.
Its good the see the old “Hockenheim Ring” included with the 4 monster straights all connected by a chicane. Flat out racing at it’s best. Another addition is the new open wheel racing car, the F – Ultimate series. These are the quickest cars currently available in Automobilista and are a real challenge to hook up quick consecutive laps. You can really feel the down-force working and your mind is telling you, you are going too fast into a corner, but the car sticks to the tarmac!
The F – Ultimate cars are as close as possible to the current FIA F1 spec, but without the Hybrid engines. Good old V10 power and sounds. You can read our spy preview here.
Here is the changelog for the 1.4 update:
CONTENT
- Added Hockenheimring (1977, 1988, 2001 and 2016, along with extra modern layouts – the Rallycross layout will be added shortly) (AVAILABLE ONLY FOR HOCKENHEIM OR SEASON PASS OWNERS)
- Added F-Ultimate series
FEATURES
- Added Custom Season Tool (available as a launch option on Steam) *
GENERAL
- Fixed bug with AA setting not saving in AMS Config
- Downscaled series icons in main menu series selection by 20% & changed layout from 3 x 7 to 3 x 8;
- Added new Main Menu ordering parameter to SRS files & re-ordered positions for F-Ultimate & Lancer Cup Series
- Various minor UI fixes & adjustments
- Adjusted orientation rate in all cockpit cameras to better absorb track oscillations vs the horizon
- Updated all helmet shaders to be same as the one used for car paint
- Fixed bug in roadnoise replay saving (fixing potential CTD)
- Added new driver model & new customized suits & gloves to all vehicles
- Added configuration option to all vehicles for visible driver arms in cockpit view **
- Fixed bug with radio spotter announcing final lap one lap ahead of time in timed races
- Fixed error in fog logic which could cause fog to appear in cockpit
- Added function to discard next lap in Time Trial mode if track limits are abused in the preceding lap
- Fixed bug that could cause FFB to be lost if instant replay command was hit during a multiplayer event
- Globally increased lowest LOD from 500 meters to 600m
AUDIO
- All audio files resampled to 44.1kHz (decreasing files size / cpu / memory usage)
- increased max simultaneous sounds from 32 to 64
- polished loops and pops in several audio files
- Introduced advanced audio filters for external cameras
- Added cockpit muffling for closed cockpit cars
- Opponents volume setting is no longer effective for trackside cameras (all cars same volume)
- Enhanced replay of surface sounds (roadnoise, dirt, curbs)
- Added new options to Audio menu for master volume, trackside volume, Audio PostFX levels & button to restore default audio settings
- Minor adjustments to audio samples on Ultima Race, F-V12, F-Trainer
- Reset volume multipliers on all cameras to address volume inconsistencies
AI
- Added function to stop AI from refuelling during pitstops in all series where that is forbidden – only series that allow AI to refuel now are StockV8, SuperV8, F-V12, F-V10, Metalmoro, Boxer Cup & All Cars / Tracks; for custom long distance events with any of the other series where AI would need to refuel, user should run All Cars / Tracks; likewise for proper AI race strategy with non-refuelling series running close to their default full distance, user should use the respective series instead of All Cars / Tracks
- Added function for AI to partially lift off the throttle when receiving a blue flag – their cooperation is now a function of “Courtesy” value in driver RCD files, and thus will vary from driver to driver and from series to series; they will generally be equally cooperative in practice / quali, in races they will be more cooperative in high profile series compared to smaller / historical ones
- Added function for AI to coast to the pits after checkered flag (rather than racing on at full speed)
- Added function for AI to slightly lift during in and out laps in practice / quali
- Added function for AI to lift back to the pits when car has substantial aerodynamic damage
- Added function to prevent AI from lurching to the side on starts & generally improved their composure through the first corner
- Adjusted AI awareness to get them to hesitate less when trying to overtake another car in a straight (very minor adjustment for now to avoid side effects)
- Revised AI tire wear functions & added custom pit thresholds for every tire compound in every car to minimise issues with AI needlessly stopping for tires
- Added AI function to stop them from pitting for tires in last 10 minutes of a race – even if they cross their tire wear threshold they will soldier on for the remaining distance rather than doing a costly late-race pitstop
- Customized AI throttle functions at race start to a realistic behavior for each series
- Changed AI reaction time to green lights so it´s no longer instantaneous but within a more human range of 0.1s-1.0s
- Added new TireManagement & AIStartSkill to driver RCD files – the lower the first value, the more the AI will wear its tires; the lower the 2nd value the more chance AI driver will bog down at the start
- Globally upscaled Composure, Aggression, Crash & MinimumRacingSkill in driver talent files
- Doubled max AI to AI collision rate from 40 to 80 (needs setting from PLR file)
- Adjusted base Safety Car speeds for various series to more compatible levels
- Added a randomization function to Opponent filter gizmo when running a multiclass event with a specific class count (where before it would just load the same cars for each class in team order)
- Added config overrides to search correct driver talent folders (fixing bug with drivers present in multiple series occasionally loading the wrong file and misperforming as a result) ***
- Upscaled AI aggression ranges (max setting is now double what it was before, with lower settings adjusted to suit)
- Various AI physics adjustments to improve their racing ability and line adherence
- Generally increased AI reaction to front tire slip
- Adjusted AI brake performance for all cars
- Adjusted AI fuel strategy so they don´t pit on the very first lap it gets on low fuel range
- Updated AI performance ranges for several tracks
- Adjusted AI spring / damper multipliers on stiffer cars to further reduce AI jittering over sawtooth curbs
PHYSICS
- Revised tire wear functions for several cars
- Revised fuel consumption & estimates for several cars
- Globally raised undertray friction to minimise advantages of unrealistically low setups in some cars
- Adjusted default setups for low downforce configs in Formula cars
- Reduced default suspension packer settings in several cars
- Added speed limiter to MCR2000, Ultima GTR Race
- Adjusted engine wear / reliability ranges on soem cars
CONTENT UPDATES & FIXES
- Added new 2017 GP layouts to Interlagos, Montreal, Kansai, Spielberg & Hockenheim featuring updated tire compound rules & DRS zones
- Roughened up flat curbs at Taruma, Londrina
- Spielberg: Fixed fuel use range causing excessive fuel consumption for player & AI
- Oulton: Adjusted AI line through chicane so AI don´t clip high curb
- Brasilia: Fixed cars going into the pits in rolling starts
- StockV8: Corrected max opponents; Corrected & added missing talent files: fixed LCD laptime info
- Montana: Fixed max opponents
- F-V12: Adjusted ride height ranges, increased rake in default setup
- Mini: Fixed auto-shifting bug; minor adjustment to external sound loops
- Boxer Cup: Updated rear brake light; Updated cockpit materials & textures; added configuration option to install / remove rear view camera display
- Karts: Updated skin alphas to suit latest car shader
- F-Vee: Adjusted AI performance
- ARC Camaro: Fixed reflection bug in cockpit gauges
- F-Vintage: Adjusted longitudinal CoF for front tires; tweaked AI performance
- F-Extreme: Completely revised drivetrain physics including new ERS throttle map; revised default setup; Updated V6 Hybrid engine sounds
- F-V10: Adjusted TC sound
- F3: Reduced aero loss in draft
- SuperV8: Fixed pit timings to realistic values
A very good feature is the custom championship tool, so you can now set your own parameters, with car and track combos. A quite in-depth scoring system for basic attributes like points for positions to more complex points systems like separate points for heats, and laps led etc is also achievable. Then further still you can adjust car combos, AI strength, tyre wear multipliers . So this feature should be fairly self explanatory and a welcome addition.
On a final note I did give the Porsche Boxer Cup cars a blast and it felt a lot better, what was also noticeable was the AI racing with you. The grip and feel of the car losing traction when cornering was simulated through the wheel superbly along with AI who seemed to respond to you when battling for position. Like a lot of race sims and off-line racing, getting the difficulty set to your own ability is worth spending time with. Well done Reiza Studios.
