Ferrari Virtual Academy

[Terronium-12]

Ferrari has announced their Virtual Academy 2010, giving Formula One fans all around the globe access to a true-to-life simulation of their current Ferrari F10 Formula One race car.
The Virtual Academy will include Ferrari’s current Formula One challenger as well as three laser-scanned (!) tracks – Fiorano, Mugello & the Nürburgring. The Academy comes with a global hotlap competition as the fastest drivers can win Ferrari merchandise every week. The five quickest drivers will even be invited to Maranello, participating in the official Ferrari Driving Academy.
The simulator does not just look pretty stunning as you can see below, Ferrari also promises a very realistic approach as the car has been designed based on official CAD data. In terms of physics, Ferrari has not cut any corners either, promising the most accurate virtual reproduction of a Ferrari F1 single-seater in computer simulation to date. Ferrari’s Formula One drivers have been heavily involved with testing the virtual car, making sure the driving dynamics and tyre behaviour is as realistic as possible.
The simulator will be using the same setups as the real-life F10, players will be able to match themselves against the top times set by Ferrari’s world class drivers. Furthermore, the simulation also includes a replay system and real-time global leader boards to track your progress.
This is stunning news as Ferrari is the first Formula One team to give sim racers access to an official simulator, the ingredients sound very promising and could provide for a new benchmark in open-wheel simulation.
Download of the Ferrari Virtual Academy will be available starting September 9th, for more visit the official website or just stay tuned to VirtualR!

Seems some of us won't have to wait until the 24th to get our 2010 F1 fix. What do you think?

I'll certainly be downloading, and it'd better be free too.

 

[The Outlaw]

Utter sickness. (great find btw!) I'm going to put in a lot of effort into getting the best times I possibly can 👍

Just another reason to be a fan of the most passionate team in motorsports

 

[Terronium-12]

I'm looking forward to next week. I'm curious if my video game alter-ego "Michael Bernhardt" has some inner talent, yearning to set itself free. All jokes aside, I really am looking forward to this and the annoyances that should come with the territory.

Roll on September 9th!

 

[Timppaq]

Wow, nice find!! 👍

 

[Nam67]

Great, another game my pc can't play. Does look very good.

 

[Voltaic]

I saw the news but can't find the system requirements/support anywhere. Anyone know?

 

[G.T.Ace]

The price will be 15$, that's what I've read at least.
Too much in my opinion.

 

[SuperShouden]

sounds like Ferrari got a little something out of their partnership with PD. Sweet!

 

[Terronium-12]

sounds like Ferrari got a little something out of their partnership with PD. Sweet!

What?

 

[eSZee]

What?

agreed, what?

 

[Reims_]

He said, "sounds like Ferrari got a little something out of their partnership with PD. Sweet!".

 

[Terronium-12]

He said, "sounds like Ferrari got a little something out of their partnership with PD. Sweet!".

I know what he said.

I don't, however, get what he said as there's no correlation between the two whatsoever. If the implication was PD has an exclusivity deal with Ferrari, then, no....they do not. That's Microsoft.

If the implication was (even if PD had exclusivity rights) that PD "allowed" them to use their F1 cars to release their own game, then still, no. That's handled by the FIA. Ferrari may own everything they make, but I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that still has to go through the FIA first.

 

[jjaisli]

About a year and a half ago, they released a PC title called "Ferrari Virtual Driving Simulator" which allowed you to race several road cars around Mugello. I'm wondering if this new game was created by the same people.

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Community/Ferrari_Virtual_Race/Pages/Game_home.aspx

 

[Alex.]

It'l be based on Rfactor 2 I think.

 

[Ibonibo]

So free or gonna cost something???

Also Alonso has a big fat head in the picture on the side of the vid. Lol

 

[G.T.Ace]

Cannot give you a proper source but:

The price will be 15$, that's what I've read at least. Too much in my opinion.

I've read that at gtr4u.de, from a reliable forum member, so expect this price.

 

[Voltaic]

It will release soon and no one knows if this is PC/Mac based and the system requirements? No site seems to be asking/saying.

 

[Terronium-12]

The announcement of Ferrari’s official Formula One simulator as part of their Virtual Academy Competition 2010 has taken the community by storm and here’s more on the surprisingly-announced new title:

As announced earlier, the Virtual Academy 2010 simulator will be available starting September 9th, the first version will include the Ferrari F10 Formula One car as well as the Fiorano circuit and will sell for 15€. Info on when the the other two tracks will be released is not yet available, neither are the system specs required to run the title.

Below are new previews, showing some fantastic details on the laser-scanned versions of Fiorano and Mugello. Also included is another video starring Giancarlo Fisichella, bringing us some new footage of the simulator.

Seems they'll be releasing more news as the days roll on. See the pictures here: FVA 2010 - VirtualIR

 

[Ibonibo]

Cannot give you a proper source but:


I've read that at gtr4u.de, from a reliable forum member, so expect this price.

Great site . 15 bucks is way too much for me on a thing like that.
The M3 challenge at least was free. Thought it would be the same.
So now we know how they gonna afford the weekly prices

 

[sonac]

It'l be based on Rfactor 2 I think.

You think or you know? It could also be based on NetKar Pro, since its authors are Italian and have already created a Fiat 500 game for Fiat.

 

[Terronium-12]

$19.22 is a bit much for one car and three tracks. We'll see what happens next week.

 

[Northstar]

Was interested until I saw they are charging for it, for that price I could buy Rfactor and get the car and race it on a lot more tracks(granted it wouldn't be as accurate, but still).

 

[Alex.]

You think or you know? It could also be based on NetKar Pro, since its authors are Italian and have already created a Fiat 500 game for Fiat.

The teams use Rfactor 2 for their simulators. I think it'l be used in this game.

 

[Gabkicks]

there is a program that racing teams use called rfactor pro. http://www.rfactor-pro.com/

williams F1 team uses it.

 

[Alex.]

This game is infact made by the guy who did Netkar Pro.

 

[SuperShouden]

I know what he said.

I don't, however, get what he said as there's no correlation between the two whatsoever. If the implication was PD has an exclusivity deal with Ferrari, then, no....they do not. That's Microsoft.

If the implication was (even if PD had exclusivity rights) that PD "allowed" them to use their F1 cars to release their own game, then still, no. That's handled by the FIA. Ferrari may own everything they make, but I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that still has to go through the FIA first.

Well, I was assuming that the graphics were GT-ish and since they're using a "ultra realistic physics engine" I just guessed that PD was helping them out. However, after watching the trailer, it looks more like iRacing or Ferrari Challenge. So, you can just strike my previous comment from the record.

 

[Terronium-12]

Well, I was assuming that the graphics were GT-ish and since they're using a "ultra realistic physics engine" I just guessed that PD was helping them out. However, after watching the trailer, it looks more like iRacing or Ferrari Challenge. So, you can just strike my previous comment from the record.

Very well, but for all intensive purposes the physics are going to be on par (if not better than) the model used in rF Pro. Considering both the car, it's performance and the physics are all taken from official data on the F10, comparing it to FC or iRacing is, by comparison, rather (and I can't believe I'm even saying this) "arcade-ish". However, for a single Jackson I'm still wondering whether or not I'll drop the bill for one car and three tracks. No matter how accurate it is.

 

[Shaggy Alonso]

This may seem like a silly question, but I take it this is for PC only?

 

[Terronium-12]

This may seem like a silly question, but I take it this is for PC only?

Yep.

 

[BlacqueJacques]

This is coming to PS3 and Wii

System 3 has announced yet another Ferrari-licensed racing game, Ferrari: The Race Experience, presumably a follow-up to last year's Ferrari Challenge Deluxe. Like System 3's previous efforts, this will be hitting both Wii and PlayStation 3. However, PS3 owners will only be able to find the game on the virtual shelves of the PlayStation Network. Why? System 3 explains that it's become too costly to deal with retail. "The vast amounts of money required in securing a decent in-store presence through co-operative marketing [makes it] easy to see why some games are doomed before they start. By going down a download only route, System 3 is quietly confident that it can service consumer demand directly and efficiently."

No news of academy on PSN (yet?)