Q&A with Slightly Mad Studios: Ian Bell [Read OP]

[Bfann22]

Ok I guess I have one question. Can we expect some more big reveals in the days leading up to Le Mans? Having grown up in Indianapolis I really enjoyed some of the coverage and reveals leading up to the 500 this year. (Really don't want to wait much longer to try it out.).

 

[Ian Bell]

Ok I guess I have one question. Can we expect some more big reveals in the days leading up to Le Mans? Having grown up in Indianapolis I really enjoyed some of the coverage and reveals leading up to the 500 this year. (Really don't want to wait much longer to try it out.).

We have a nice surprise coming in this area

 

[Mike_grpA]

We shipped exactly the same content updates on console as we did PC and we kept to an insane monthly schedule

This is an important point to make. After console owners have had to put up with being treated to a half arsed port of AC, and the fact that the PC version has, until recently remained way ahead of the console versions in both content and physics updates, and even to this day the PC version has content and features that aren't, and may never be, in the console versions, it's important to remember how hard SMS worked to keep all platforms on the same version of Pcars. What's even more impressive is the fact the they did this despite releasing monthly updates. It takes months for Kunos to release each console update, and even then the updates don't ever catch up to the PC version.

Edit: To clarify I'm saying this as a big fan of both games.

 

[Bfann22]

@jake2013guy agreed. Which is another reason why I can't figure out why these guys are still being slated for early days of pcars. Where there where issues the sms guys not only admitted them, but then fixed them. The original game in my albeit limited and humble optinion is still the most competitive proper racing title out to this day. After revisiting and trying other titles they just don't compare for me because this is the closest thing I can find to what I watch on the weekend. Not only that but they've been really honest and upfront about how to avoid some missteps while talking about features and improvements that will take the genre on consals to the next level.

 

[jake2013guy]

We have a nice surprise coming in this area

Just say it's the 2016 WEC license and we'll be done. Although waiting can be fun...is what I say before I go to sleep.

 

[Elitekilla29]

We have a nice surprise coming in this area

More LMP2 love this time around please Those cars were fun to drive on pcars1. Especially the oreca 03 Nissan.

 

[Bfann22]

@IanBell sorry one more question. Really enjoyed the Patrick long video. Have you guys thought about a longer film about the development from track to game with the drivers and development team? That would be really interesting to see the process.

 

[Ian Bell]

@IanBell sorry one more question. Really enjoyed the Patrick long video. Have you guys thought about a longer film about the development from track to game with the drivers and development team? That would be really interesting to see the process.

We have a few more of these coming soon. We also have tons of footage not used so yes this could well happen.

 

[breyzipp]

We have a few more of these coming soon. We also have tons of footage not used so yes this could well happen.

Great stuff to hear about Le Mans context reveals soon and I also loved the "built by drivers" episodes with Chris and Patrick. I read somewhere that there will be a total of 7 of these built by drivers towards release date, is that true?

 

[TexasTyme214]

There is a full manual pit option

Actually, I've just re-read. We had the car auto slow to the pit speed limit the first time around...

I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth I hope, but I think their question is about penalties for crossing the pit limiter line above the speed limit? For example, at Monza GP in a high downforce car, you can come around Parabolica and enter the pits at over 150mph. Yes, the AI would eventually slow you down, but you will gain an advantage since you're not penalized for reaching the pit speed limit line at high speed. I'm real life, you'd need to reach that line at the appropriate speed or you will be penalized for speeding in the pit lane. Will PCars 2 have that speeding in pit lane penalty?

 

[wicken]

Great stuff to hear about Le Mans context reveals soon and I also loved the "built by drivers" episodes with Chris and Patrick. I read somewhere that there will be a total of 7 of these built by drivers towards release date, is that true?

In total, there are 6 episodes. The remaining videos will feature racing stars such as Tommy Milner, Vaughn Gittin Jr, as well as with automakers such as Mercedes-Benz.

 

[The_American]

I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth I hope, but I think their question is about penalties for crossing the pit limiter line above the speed limit? For example, at Monza GP in a high downforce car, you can come around Parabolica and enter the pits at over 150mph. Yes, the AI would eventually slow you down, but you will gain an advantage since you're not penalized for reaching the pit speed limit line at high speed. I'm real life, you'd need to reach that line at the appropriate speed or you will be penalized for speeding in the pit lane. Will PCars 2 have that speeding in pit lane penalty?

Yes. We have a penalty for exceeding Pitlane Speed Limit (37mph) anywhere between the entry line and the exit line.

To take it further we even have a penalty for crossing the pit lane exit line too early and joining the main racing area. So you guys better behave now during your pit stops.

 

[The_American]

@IanBell it must be discouraging to from time to time hear criticism

We would always like to hear things are great in the game. But it's quite a deep game and hard to perfect. We absolutely need those criticisms to make the best game. That's why WMD is not just a crowd-funding mechanism like Kickstarter. We _need_ to hear from players where things are not working well. I don't know of any studio that works more closely with their community. When Valve was finishing Cs:GO they invited their top CS1.6 players to try it out. We do this daily since 2011. We hire pro drivers to tell us where the physics is breaking down, so we actually "invest" in crticism. I think to make software this complex but to remain deaf to criticism is a quick way to shutdown your studio. The risks are too high. Finding and listening to negative feedback is a fundamental part of how we operate.

Finally re: the WMD forum and about people getting kicked out. I was a moderator there for 4 years before getting hired (might tip-off my identity to some of you now). I calculated that ~99.96% of the WMD people did NOT get kicked out. So it was quite a low bar to meet, though a tiny fraction could not meet it. C' est la vie.

 

[jake2013guy]

We know that there are cars of Time Attack and RallyX in the game. How is RallyX and Time Attack implemented in the game?

 

[05XR8]

Yes. We have a penalty for exceeding Pitlane Speed Limit (37mph) anywhere between the entry line and the exit line.

To take it further we even have a penalty for crossing the pit lane exit line too early and joining the main racing area. So you guys better behave now during your pit stops.

Are players allowed to drive thru another player's pitbox online? Such as short pitlanes or when none else is pitting?
Will online teams use the same pitbox or are pit boxes assigned to cars? And if teams use the same pit box, will there be a possibility to stack?

 

[Konan]

I have a question for Mr Bell to conveniently overlook.
After the release of Project Cars on XB1 and (to put it as politely as possible) the less than favourable attitude by yourself and certain members of the game's forums towards the console's community, I was wondering how exactly SMS are planning on restoring the faith with those that, as a result of past experiences, don't feel inclined to want to reinvest in your software?
Whilst nobody can deny that the content of Project Cars 2 is indeed quite spectacular, the underlying problem for myself (and probably many others) is that I don't particularly want to have to endure a repeat performance of two years ago because it's just not worth the hassle - and probably far easier to simply take the Forza option.
At the end of the day all people want to hear this time around that ''99.5% working'' means exactly that and not some PR stunt to mislead the games playing public into parting with their money.

See...this is something i simply cannot understand...being a console player myself i never felt discriminated by SMS.
Agreed that some pc players acted like elitists sometimes but they always got set right by the mods and even some members...
I've been active on The official Pcars forum from the start and had some disagreements in the past but i have never got an infraction let alone being banned...the key is (as IRL) being able to communicate in a civil manor.
I would have NEVER accepted the offer of becoming a mod if i would have had any doubt that SMS would favouritise one platform above another...
I even remember getting into some arguments with Ian himself back in the day but never has it crossed my mind that i was on the verge of getting banned...why? Because despite that you are just typing words,you are still interacting with real people...you reap what you sow...

 

[mister dog]

Agreed as long as you can relate your criticism in a civil manner there is no problem. I've been quite vocal myself about all sorts of things I deem wrong with the series for a couple of years now, and I have never felt that SMS wants to shut me up for doing so. Instead the Wookie and his team have always listened and taken note so they could improve the game.

That's also why I love the WMD experience now, it feels like I actually make a difference with my feedback if I relay it right.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

Ok I guess I have one question. Can we expect some more big reveals in the days leading up to Le Mans? Having grown up in Indianapolis I really enjoyed some of the coverage and reveals leading up to the 500 this year. (Really don't want to wait much longer to try it out.).

We have a nice surprise coming in this area

I wonder if this is the much rumoured Le Mans 'Classic' layout from the 50s / 60s...

Also, it would be great to see you get the Toyota TS010 '92 / '93 licence as quickly as you did Interlagos. Apologies for turning another post into a wishlist. The TS010 is a monster that is criminally overlooked in games.

 

[Castrol96]

Bought PCARS recently and love it! 👍 @IanBell


I'm curious if retro cars will be included like the Testarossa or Countach?

PCARS 2 looks stunning.

 

[TheoSkullz12]

looking at dirt 4, will there be qually heats and separate races for rallycross like someone else mentioned?

 

[The_American]

looking at dirt 4, will there be qually heats and separate races for rallycross like someone else mentioned?

Yes very similar. There will be a full write-up on our RX-mode coming soon.

 

[jake2013guy]

Yes very similar. There will be a full write-up on our RX-mode coming soon.

You could have said this earlier.

Will the same happen for Time Attack?

 

[The_American]

Time Attack (we call it Time Trial) is pretty similar to how we did it for Project CARS 1. You can race up to 3 ghosts from the leaderboard at the same time.

 

[jake2013guy]

Time Attack (we call it Time Trial) is pretty similar to how we did it for Project CARS 1. You can race up to 3 ghosts from the leaderboard at the same time.

I meant in terms of the Mitsubishi Time Attack car.

 

[fortbo]

I am doing a time attack event next week, and the way it is set up is like a normal race weekend, a practice, a qualifying session, and a number of heats. It would be nice to have this implemented.

 

[jake2013guy]

I am doing a time attack event next week, and the way it is set up is like a normal race weekend, a practice, a qualifying session, and a number of heats. It would be nice to have this implemented.

That's what I meant in terms of Time Attack.

 

[Esgaloth]

So, since we aren't getting updated versions of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE and the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE, will they be amped up in Balance of Performance to compete with the likes of the newer GTEs? Larbre Competition for example is lighter and more powerful this year at Le Mans and they are running a 2014-2015 Spec C7.R

 

[ozwheels]

So, since we aren't getting updated versions of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE and the Chevrolet Corvette C7.R GTE, will they be amped up in Balance of Performance to compete with the likes of the newer GTEs? Larbre Competition for example is lighter and more powerful this year at Le Mans and they are running a 2014-2015 Spec C7.R

When was that confirmed about old spec cars? The ford article sure made me think the Aston is the 2016 one.

 

[breyzipp]

Time Attack (we call it Time Trial) is pretty similar to how we did it for Project CARS 1. You can race up to 3 ghosts from the leaderboard at the same time.

Will that Time Attack be part of the career mode as well? Would be great if there was an event for it as well in that Mitubuishi EVO Time Attack.

 

[Esgaloth]

When was that confirmed about old spec cars? The ford article sure made me think the Aston is the 2016 one.