User:Skilmore/sandbox

Project CARS (Community Assisted Racing Simulator) is an upcoming racing simulation video game developed by Slightly Mad Studios (SMS) under the World Of Mass Development (WMD) platform. The game is currently in development for the Microsoft Windows, Linux, Wii U, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms with a scheduled release window of Q4 2014. The game will be the first created by the studio using their new WMD platform, funded partially by the studio and partially by the public.

Gameplay And Features
The game is a motorsport racing simulation built using the 'Galileo' engine, a cross platform game engine developed by Slightly Mad Studios featuring vehicle physics attempting to simulate reality as closely as possible [REF]. The game is aimed at both simulation enthusiasts and more casual players with difficulty levels and driver assists designed to make sure the game is accessible to all. [REF] The game will be able to be controlled via Keyboard and mouse, control pads or steering wheel peripherals, dependent on platform. The Wii U version of the game will make use of the second screen on the Wii U Gamepad.

The main core of the game will be a single player career mode allowing players to progress through several different categories of racing as they choose, working their way up to the highest tiers of motorsport. The game will also feature time trial and single race formats as well as an extensive online ?something? , blah blah.

(MERGE THE KEY PARTS OF THIS INTO THE ABOVE PARAGRAPHS)The game uses the Madness engine which was used in the Need for Speed Shift titles as well and which was modified during development. More processing power available in modern computers allowed the introduction a dynamic tyre model named "SETA" to be used in Project CARS, instead of using a steady-state model based on lookup tables as used in previous generation simulations.

Project CARS will also offer support for the Oculus Rift device in the final version of the game.

Content
The game will ship with 33 locations and a total of xx tracks including four laser scanned tracks from the United Kingdom [REF]. All tracks will feature a full 24 hour day/night cycle as well as a dynamic weather system with conditions including haze, fog, variable cloud cover, clear, rain and thunderstorms [REF]. The conditions will also show subtle differences depending on the climate local to the real tracks [REF]. Further locations and tracks are planned for post-release DLC content [REF].

SMS are planning to include more than 75 vehicles in the released game [REF], a mixture of road and race cars from throughout automotive history. To date several official licenses have been announced by the developer including Renault, McLaren Automotive, ORECA, Mercedes-Benz, RUF, Ginetta, BMW, Formula Gulf, Classic Team Lotus, Ford, Pagani, Mitsubishi, Ariel, Caterham and BAC [REF on each]. The cars are all modelled with exterior, interior, engine bay, trunk and underside details. Livery templates are available for custom livery creation with a plan to have an in game livery editor included in the final game.

The career mode is structured around these vehicles and will include many motorsport disciplines ranging from Karting and Clio Cup entry events up to Prototype, open wheel Formulas and GT. Road, historic and 'sister' series will also be present throughout the career.

Due to the nature of development much of this content is already available to WMD toolpack owners, with new content added as it reaches a useable state of development.

Development
The game was first publicly announced by Slightly Mad Studios in October 2011, revealed to be the first project from the studio using their new "World Of Mass Development" platform. This method of developing games allows members of the public to buy ‘toolpacks’ which give them the ability to play and contribute to the game during development. On release the members receive a percentage of profits based on their toolpacks purchased.

Also dependent on the level of investment were the perks and features players would receive during development of the game. Several tiers were available ranging from the €10 'Junior' investment giving a monthly updated build up to a €25,000 'Senior Manager' position, offering daily builds, the opportunity to take part in staff meetings and several other 'perks'.

Throughout development Slightly Mad Studios have kept both WMD members and the public updated with progress including announcements of new licenses and collaborators to the project. Alongside the announcement of the game it was also revealed Ben Collins, former 'Stig' for BBC’s Top Gear would be joining as a contributor and handling consultant. Since then Collins has provided detailed feedback on a regular basis via the private forums set up for the game.

Ever since the initial public announcement daily/weekly/monthly builds (depending on toolpack level) have been released to members, slowly building up the content of the game whilst constantly being tested and debugged.

In May 2012 it was announced that funding from the community had totaled €1 million taking total funding to €2.5 million, the rest coming from SMS themselves. In December 2012 the funding goal of €3.75 million was reached, closing the availability of further toolpack purchases.

In November 2012 SMS announced a second handling consultant would be joining the project, professional racing driver Nicolas Hamilton, brother to Formula 1 driver Lewis. Nicolas provides frequent, detailed feedback on the physics and driving model as well as general feedback regarding the game as a whole compared to his real life experience in multiple racing series.

In November 2013 it was announced that development platforms for the game was changing. A vote by the members determined that the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions would be stopped and development would now be moving to the Playstation 4, Xbox One and Steam OS as well as the originally scheduled PC and Wii U platforms. A release date of fall 2014 was also revealed.