Kartsim Releases Incredible First Official Gameplay Video
By Karting1 ~ September 2nd, 2011. Filed under: Kart Racing News.
They say good things come to those who wait, and Kartsim may possible prove the very worthiness of that phrase. The developers of the potentially revolutionary simulator have released their first official pre-alpha gameplay video.
In the footage we witness a couple of hot laps onboard a KT100 powered Arrow kart around the clearly rather bumpy Oakleigh circuit in Australia. The developers are keen to stress the detailed and accurate physics model that Kartsim uses to replicate a real life kart. Their work clearly shows as we see the kart hopping, bouncing and gripping up on the tough Oakleigh track.
Here’s the footage -
On their website Kartsim.com the developers had this to say
Hi Zach (Kartsim Developer), Can you explain just exactly what we are seeing here?
The video is 100% unedited real-time footage taken straight from an onboard camera mounted on the sidepod of the kart. With the driver display switched off to better show the front end steering working, the footage shows a lap being driven around the Oakleigh Go Kart Racing Club Circuit. As the onboard camera is mounted to the sidepod which is loose for setup reasons, we’re also seeing quite a lot of movement due to the vibrations and bumps on the circuit making the sidepod shake independently of the chassis.
It seems in certain parts of the lap that the kart starts to bounce violently, what’s happening there?
This is what you call ‘hopping’. When the Centre of Mass of the kart is too high, or the rear track is set too narrow or even when the kart is driven incorrectly, the outside rear wheel can start to tip over and suddenly lose the grip it had. This causes the inside rear wheel to come crashing down back onto the track and the kart starts to regain the grip it had. The process then repeats itself, causing the kart to ‘hop’. Because the chassis is simulated using a real-time FEM model, it behaves exactly as it would in real life.
One last question for you: Is this the quality we can expect from the final product?
Absolutely! In fact the quality will be even higher once the assets are given their final pass. As this video represents an Alpha build, some of the assets, particularly the sounds and some of the trees will be completely redone prior to shipping. It’s worth noting that I modeled and textured this track about 4 years ago, so all the new tracks will be of an even higher quality. Fans of the game are in for something spectacular!
We’ll keep you updated with any news from what could be one of the best simulators on the market today.
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September 2nd, 2011 at 7:37 pm
WOOOOOO Look at the chassis flex on that bad boy
Does look good though
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:47 pm
The movement is exaggerated because the camera is mounted on the side pod which is ran loose on that kart
September 5th, 2011 at 8:40 am
I dont know if its because of the hype that this sim has but.. The track is great, it looks really good, the movement exaggerated because the side pod is loose great, ideas to play with xbox360 and ps3 GREAT, but the kart? I personally dont like the sound of the engine, neither the tyres scrubbing, come on in real life they dont sound like that..
I know this is an alpha version, and I cant judge a book by its “cover”, but everybody seems amazed because the chassis flexes and the tyre is actually lifting.. Have you taken a peek at kart racing pro? The chassis flexes too and man the sound of the engine and tyres is GREAT, the physics for me is just as in real life.. and yes its created from scratch but the creator isnt saying on his website, THE CHASSIS FLEXES LIKE IN REAL LIFE, and things like that, I think that it should be more like ‘more doing and less talking..’
I really wanna test the beta version, and hope they improve that..
my two cents.
September 5th, 2011 at 9:04 am
I have studied KRP in some detail and it appears the tyres/wheels move independently from he actual chassis which suggests suspension within the physics code. That’s the way it feels to me anyway we I drive it. This video demonstrates that – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v12C_WKKkCE