Live for Speed
| Live for Speed | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | LFS Team (Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey and Victor van Vlaardingen) |
| Publisher(s) | LFS Team (Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey and Victor van Vlaardingen) |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | June 24, 2005 (S2 alpha) |
| Genre(s) | Sim racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
Live for Speed (LFS) is an online racing simulator developed by a three person team comprising Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey, and Victor van Vlaardingen. Its main focus is providing a realistic online multiplayer racing experience. However, it does contain single player support, where one may race against AI cars, try to set lap records, or take driving skills lessons.
Releases
The simulator is intended to be released in three parts, S1 (Stage 1), S2, and S3. Each stage will feature improvements in many areas, such as physics model, graphics and sound. Technical improvements introduced in each new stage become available for previous stages as well, with the main difference between stages being additional cars and tracks, as well as the maximum number of players in a server. Owners of each stage are also able to access servers for previous stages and demo servers.
A fully working, commercial, alpha version of LFS S2 was released on June 24, 2005. Patch S2 T was released on April 21, 2006 and includes several physics and track updates, as well as the addition of a new car, the BMW Sauber Formula One.
Patch S2 W, was launched on March 31, 2007. It has new car sounds, various graphical updates, including improvements to the level of detail, and some improved 2D displays and mirrors.
Patch S2 X was released on June 9, 2007 and it contains many fixes and improvements, such a system that makes false starts possible.
Gameplay
LFS, like most car simulators, requires smooth, controlled movements of the steering, throttle, and brakes in order to get the fastest speed through a lap. There is support for wheel, mouse, keyboard, joystick, or gamepad steering control. LFS is unusual among racing simulators in offering FPS-style mouse steering, which fills in the gap for racers who don't own racing wheels but would like more precise control than using keyboard steering.
Races can be from one to hundreds of laps or be set to run for a certain length of time, as is seen in endurance racing. There is support for refueling and tire changes in pit stops and mid-race adjustment of pit strategy. During an online race, driver changes between two real drivers are possible. Pit lane speed limits of 80 km/h (50mph) are enforced by penalties similar to those seen in real motorsport. These include drive-through, stop and go, or time penalty. Starting grids can be set by random chance, finishing positions in the previous race, or a qualifying period before the race.
A training mode is included as a driving school to help new drivers acquaint themselves with basic driving skills and the handling characteristics of each car. The lessons cover subjects such as cornering, throttle and brake control, and negotiating traffic. To pass, they have to be completed within a certain time without touching any obstacles or other vehicles. They are arranged as in sets, one for each car and ordered from slowest to fastest. Each set must be completed before moving to the lessons for the next car. However, completing them is not necessary to unlock cars, as all are available for racing from the beginning.
Cars
The S2 release offers a total of 19 different vehicles. They range from beginner-friendly models to cars more suited for players with more experience. There is a broad power spectrum compared to most racing games, from under 100 horsepower (70 kW) to over 700 hp (500 kW) in the high performance race cars. The cars range from fictional GT cars akin to DTM and JGTC to family front wheel driven hatchbacks and three real cars; BMW Sauber F1.06, McGill University's Formula SAE and RaceAbout concept sports car. The game also offers vehicle deformation.
Tracks
Live for Speed has 7 different fictional track areas, including one loosely based on eastern central London, one based Jamaican surroundings and one near Kyoto, Japan. Each one of them has several different configurations and each of those also have reversed counterparts. Altogether, there are 54 unique configurations. Additionally, users can create their own custom layouts using cones and other objects with the in-game autocross editor; the two car park environments in the game are ideal for creating such layouts.
LFSWorld
LFS integrates with LFSWorld.net, a real-time comprehensive statistics website and database. Each racer's online race statistics are updated, including per-lap personal bests, lap counts, distance traveled, fuel burnt, among others, and users can view other racers stats, as well. Additionally, an official world record lap time chart, where racers can upload hotlaps, is maintained for each track configuration and car combination, and other racers can download hotlaps to be viewed in-game. Users may also upload custom car skins to the website, from where the skins then downloaded in-game to other racers.
Reviews and awards
Justin Kranzl of APC magazine called the S1 release of LFS "the best PC racing simulator ever." [2]
Pelit 2004 review of LFS's S1D release said "Saloon cars and meticulous simulation. Absolute Cream of the Simulation Crop. Score: 92/100." (free translation from Finnish) [3]
Bytesector 2005 review of LFS's S2 release said "nothing short of going to a track actually compares to the experience. Live for Speed is, by far, the most intense and demanding game I've ever played." [4]
In 2005, AutoSimSport magazine gave LFS their "Best simulation" award, [5] and Blackhole Motorsports readers voted to give LFS the following awards: [6]
- BHM "Game of the year" award
- BHM "Best multiplayer" award
- BHM "Best physics" award
Trivia
- Some of the in-game track sponsor billboards are fictional, such as Cromo Tyres and GripMaxx, but some are real, such as ATL Racing Fuel Cells, Castrol Motor Oil, Petronas, BMW, Credit Suisse, Intel and Michelin. The same goes for the tires.
- One of the fictional sponsors, Scavier Solutions, is actually a pun on the developers' names, Scawen, Victor, Eric. Scavier is also a name used collectively for all three members of the development team.