Stefano Casillo (ai più conosciuto come Kunos) e DrivingItalia.NET sono lieti di presentarvi un nuovo progetto legato al mondo di questo fantastico simulatore: netKar nK|dK developmentKit, un progetto che permetterà, a dei team prescelti, di creare ed inserire dei veri e propri mod all'interno di netKar. Tutto questo, sotto il controllo della netKar's crew e, ovviamente, dell'occhio di Stefano, permetterà di avere all'interno di questo titolo altre macchine, sicuramente contestualizzate, per esempio, in una stagione di un determinato campionato. Questo a cosa porterà? All'espansione più veloce di netKar e al miglioramento della parte fisica e grafica con maggiori possibilità di riuscita. Ma cosa ci presenterà più nel dettaglio? Lasciamo la parola direttamente a Stefano (in inglese):

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Tokyo, December 2003
nK Development Kit (nK|dK)

The nK Development Kit is a suite of applications and documentation targeted to the creation of additional content for netKar.
Additional tracks are already supported by the game using the netKar authorisation system, but now, with the nK|dK devolpment teams around the world will be able to add cars and, in the future, game modes to netKar.

What is in the kit?

The nK|dK is composed of many elements. The core element is netKar Developer Edition, a special version of netKar containing "HUD-like" additional info about the physic behaviour of the car. Using the Developer Edition, car creators will be able to see the movement of the suspension, roll centers, camber gain and so on, in real time, rendered in wire-frame on the screen. Additional informations about aereodynamic forces, temperature related changes and so on will also be reported, making it easy to analyse the setup and handling of the car.
netKar is a complex simulation, and a complex simulation needs complex tools to tune its behaviour. Together with the netKar Developer Edition, the kit features the nK Tire Editor, the nK Suspension Layout Editor and the nK Engine Editor. These 3 additional application will help the developers to modify and optimise the trickiest elements of the cars.
A series of scripted files will then control the graphics layout of the car and the instrumentation of the cockpit.
A full set of documentation and tutorial will be provided too.

Why and Who?

The reason to relase this kit is having netKar as a proposal for the free simulator for the hardcore sim-racing community. In the past 2 years, the growth of the "MOD" community, both in quantity and quality of productions was impressive and surprising. Giving these individuals a free product to work with, a development team to ask for new features and share a knowledge could be the path to a new generation of racing simulations.

How much does it cost?

Like the entire netKar project, the nK|dK is free of charge for free add-ons. Using the kit to create content for commercial purpose is against the licence that will be provided with the kit. Any commercial product based on netKar should be authorised by the author.

What about quality control?

netKar was always quite strict about quality checks and control. The release of nK|dK will not change this. Cars developed with the nK|dK cannot be used with normal editions of netKar, to create a full compatible netKar car the data and material developed has to go through a content compiler that will generate a file that normal netKar version will be able to use.
The compiler will not be distribuited with the kit, so, every new car will have to pass a quality check control.

The first step to the global solution

nK|dK represent the first step into the creation a unique solution for the sim racing community. An instrument designed to be the center and the core of a new generation of development teams.
The future implementation of AI and custom managment windows will allow more and more control and power to the modding teams.
To apply for a copy of nK|dK please write now to nkdk@drivingitalia.net.

Per maggiori informazioni potete visitare direttamente il forum dedicato all' nK|dK developmentKit.

Come annunciato qualche giorno fa, ecco arrivare l'aggiornamento, alla versione 1.2.0, dell'NRTV, programma che ci permette di visionare in diretta le gare di Nascar Racing 2003. Le novità introdotte sono interessanti perché si va oltre all'implementazione di ulteriori piste:

Per il download visitate la pagina ufficiale dell'NRTV e seguite il link download. Potete scegliere se scaricare la versione aggiornamento (se avete già installato la 1.1.0) o la versione completa di 23 Mb.

E' finalmente disponibile, per il divertentissimo Live for Speed, la nuova patch ufficiale versione S1E (anche in versione dedicated hosted), che, oltre alla nuova vettura MRT5, porta con sè una lunga serie di novità ed upgrade.

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New S1 car is included : MRT5
Added Norwegian language pack
Hotlapping mode displays sector times
Handbrake is applied when leaving pits
MP Replay can now be paused with P key
Added drivers with grey and black suits
Mouse can be selected as a control axis
Resets with direction towards racing line
Shiny helmets - can change colour or skin
Improved AI speed (a bit) and reliability
Car is displayed in on-screen race results
View heading and view pitch stored per car
Follower view starts behind car when selected
Virtual mirror moves up when view pitched down
Graphical speedups - spokes, subobjects, drivers
Distance measurement in autocross editor - Press D
Refresh rate is selectable if supported by drivers
Can use command file instead of a long command line
Car is drawn at full resolution in pits / garage
FIX : Position of shadow has been improved
FIX : Minor change to smoke output by cars
FIX : Lighting bug at the edges of tyre tread
FIX : Overlapping timing text in translations
FIX : message logging crash with % in message
FIX : Replays going OOS on use of reset key
FIX : SO reset in mid air or on top of flyover
FIX : AI drivers can now get off the long grass
FIX : Added protection against some cheating methods
FIX : Crash caused by overflow in name and plate entry

Il portale di GameSpy ha pubblicato la propria recensione del nuovo Need for Speed Underground: il titolo targato Electronic Arts viene premiato con un voto globale di 4 su 5.

Need for Speed Underground has a few major faults that can't be ignored, like the lack of replays and tuning options, multiplayer hassles, and particularly the limited, repetitive courses. Even with those problems, however, it's still a great racing game -- its addictive career mode should keep you busy for a long time, the gorgeous presentation really draws you into the racing scene, and the racing itself will definitely get your adrenaline pumping.

Ancora un nuovo aggiornamento beta per l'ottimo Live for Speed, in attesa del rilascio della versione finale denominata E: oggi potete scaricare la patch versione D16, che apporta le seguenti migliorie.

Il portale di Blackhole Motorsport ha pubblicato una interessante intervista alla Moon Byte Studios, riguardante il loro prossimo titolo Crashday, atteso nella prima metà del 2004; potete inoltre ammirare alcuni screenshots inediti ed ascoltare un esempio del sonoro del motore nel gioco.

BHMS: The eyecandy is nice, but it looks like the physics will be of the "entertaining type". Is this true?
MOON BYTE STUDIOS: Physics are based on real-life equations, i.e. the underlying engine is quite realistic. However we wanted the physics to be adjusted to the game's fast gameplay so we set up the car's driving parameters to some more arcade-like values rather than to do it all too realistic.

Tutti gli appassionati di Grand Prix 4 saranno contenti di sapere che è stata rilasciata la nuova versione della famosa GPxPatch, la 3.54. Ecco la lista delle migliorie:

Per il download ecco il link.

Direttamente dal forum ufficiale della Electronic Arts, arrivano notizie interessanti riguardanti il gioco in LAN con il nuovo Need for Speed Underground: per saperne di più consultate questo link, mentre a questo indirizzo è già possibile prelevare una prima release beta del software che vi permetterà di collegarvi in rete.

Inoltre sul sito ufficiale dedicato a Need for Speed Underground Ã¨ disponibile una completa guida in formato PDF e ricca di immagini che spiega in dettaglio tutti i vari tracciati e le migliori strategie da adottare in gara.

Il portale di Game Spot ha pubblicato un first look completo di screenshots dedicato al prossimo MTX Mototrax della Activision, titolo che ci permetterà di emulare le tipiche acrobazie del motocross.

You'll find three main modes in the game, each with its own unique race types, as well as a robust track editor that lets you create your own custom tracks. The first mode in the game is the expected career mode, which will send your virtual self--in the form of a custom rider that you'll create to represent you--through a series of competitions (normal races, free ride, and free style) on tracks that are set throughout the world...