rFactor 2 Publishes October Release Candidate

rF2-RC-Release-header-1024x585.png
Studio 397 releases its October early build to the public. According to the description, this update focuses on "fixing and enhancing a few core fundamentals of the rFactor 2 code base, as well as working hard at enhancing the AI single-player aspect of the software". Full release candidate notes are below.

In anticipation of the Q4 content drop, which will be announced "in the coming weeks", the October release candidate has been unveiled to the public.

"Release Candidate" means this update is in beta, but you can already download and try it out for yourself.

Personally, I find any AI improvements very important, that's why I was delighted to read:
In this new Release Candidate, we have spent some time fixing and enhancing a few core fundamentals of the rFactor 2 code base, as well as working hard at enhancing the AI single player aspect of the software – an area that we have noted has been high on the priority list for a number of our community in recent times.

AI and single-player experiences are sadly sometimes only an afterthought of the competitive online experience. It reads well to see a focus on this. Unfortunately, despite the words in this opening paragraph, only 3 dedicated AI fixes seem to be listed. Granted, they do seem major and if "erratic throttle and brake inputs" and "jerky steering motion" are really fixed in this update, it's a great step forward.

Particularly interesting to me is the first point made in the log: "Enabled Alt+F4". Nice to see the rage-quitting community get their will.

Here's the full log:

October 2022 Release Candidate Notes​

Client: 9737077

Dedi: 9737090

General
  • Enabled Alt+F4 and X closing the game
  • Fixed various cross compiler issues
  • Fixed a rare crash when changing cameras
  • Refactored hdv file reading
  • Added Key Assignment to toggle Freelook Mouse Control
  • Fixed upgrades being broken on develop
  • Package installs should now be faster
  • Updated DRS regulations to be restricted in all zones by default and not allowed if there are no DRS zones.
  • Added RFM parameter “RearFlapNoZonesAllowed” to allow DRS when no zones are available.
  • Fixed online temp car not lighting correctly at night.
  • Improved visibility of pitbox marker at night.
Track Limits
  • Added Relaxed Track Limits Mode
  • Added Penalties Only display mode
  • Added Test Day support for GDB Settings (via Practice settings)
  • Increased penalties for passing illegally and increased time to return place.
  • Made it possible to change modes in Dev Mode
  • General improvements to pit lane, removing unnecessary reports inside the pitlane, and fixing pit exit line cut detection if content is setup correctly.
  • Reworked Track Limits dialogue to use HUD Font and add indicator strip
  • Updated track limits display, showing all warnings and penalties via messages.
  • General tidy up and bug fixing on message displaying.
  • Fixed AI editor adding connections from pit lane to main path where the game should not (in some cases due to waypoint locations)
  • Fixed an issue where going off track again before penalization would not continue the investigation.
  • Added ability to configure Track Limits display in HUDs, but fix to set display if not configured.
  • Added “HUD” option to Display position options for Track Limits Info, when set at this it will be placed where the HUD configures. You can manually adjust the position otherwise.
  • Added sample parameters to default HUD
  • Removed loose fonts from ModDev and fixed font loading from mas files
  • Added HUD editor support for Track Limits element
Headlights
  • Added Headlight Pulse. Defaults to J key. On activation headlights will pulse 4 times for a second. Previous headlight state is retained and this will not cause issues with headlight requirements.
  • Set Auto Headlights to turn on at night even if not required.
  • Fixed an issue with Headlight assignment not being kept after a driver swap.
  • Fixed Max Headlights PLR value not being respected
  • Updated Headlights to be culled based on the position of selected vehicle. Note in Freelook mode to make sure you have selected the vehicle you are focusing on if you are having issues with the headlights not being rendered.
HUD / Graphics
  • Improved in Game Exposure in VR
  • Fixed omni lights being falsely applied to objects with Omni not enabled
  • Added ability to set an emissive map on the Terrain shader. Intended for baking distant lighting into terrain.
UI
  • Settings across the UI can now be adjusted more quickly:
  • Right mouse button: 10x multiplier
  • Middle mouse button: 50x multiplier
  • Holding down left mouse button:
  • 5x multiplier after 2 seconds
  • 10x multiplier after 4 seconds
  • Greyed out setup settings (including the name and value) that cannot be adjusted
  • Fixed camber setup setting description
  • Ambient and track temperatures in the event screen are now shown in Celsius of Fahrenheit based on the selected units
  • MultiView monitor side angle setting has been limited to 90 degrees in graphics settings
  • Updated refreshing of setup list
  • Fixed subscribing to “All” content collection in the First Launch Wizard
  • Fixed setup settings becoming greyed out when one of the step values is “N/A”
  • Fixed multiplayer admin session controls
  • Fixed setting next race length (note: new race length will be displayed after switching to another session, e.g. practice → qualifying)
  • Fixed restart race button being disabled during a race session
  • Fixed showing percentage for the singleplayer “Race time” setting when “Race criteria” was set to “% Track Time” or “% Track Default”
  • Fixed “Torque split” setup setting description typo (read wheels → rear wheels)
  • Merged store into RC
  • In multiplayer session controls, fixed selecting spectators when there are more than one
  • Fixed selecting driver/spectator in multiplayer session controls when there’s a driver and spectator with the same name on the server
AI
  • Fixed erratic throttle and brake inputs
  • Fixed waypoint lookahead to fix jerky steering motion
  • Fixed an issue with driveline noise that could cause AI to brake partially off track and spin, or cut too much
Physics
  • Refactored engine code
Modding
  • Added the ability to animate any maps UVW via Scroll and Step options on IBL Standard and IBL Standard Blend shaders.
  • Fixed buggy background on telemetry debug screens in ModDev.
  • Added OnScreen ModDev Tweakbar for debugging Car Cockpit readouts and debugging of LED values.
Known issues
  • Skip updates button on package installation is unresponsive
  • ISI Formula 2 does not load correctly

Worth mentioning is, that the footer image of the update makes it look like there will be more BTCC content coming up:

rF2-RC-Release-Footer.png


What do you think about this update? And what are you hoping to see in the Q4 content drop? Let us know in the comments below!
About author
Julian Strasser
Motorsports and Maker-stuff enthusiast. Part time jack-of-all-trades. Owner of tracc.eu, a sim racing-related service provider and its racing community.

Comments

As has been stated many many times, the covers are the responsibility of the creators. NOT S397. Cars that have not yet received the proper icons will most likely never get the tarp removed as the modders have had several years now to create the necessary files. The modder has to have the desire & time to create the icons needed, or they may have left modding all-together. The only avenue other than the original modders creating the icons would be to have 3rd party users present them as downloadable additions. S397 will not touch other people's work. It is a price we pay for having a moddable game.
The following default / official RF2 content still has covers:
- Boxmaster MT-55
- 2010 FR3.5
- 2014 FR3.5
- Historic Open Wheel Challenge Eve F1 Matra MS9
- Historic Open Wheel Challenge McLaren M4B F1 Matra BRM P56
- Honda NSX
- ISI Interceptor
- Kodi 2005 ZRL
- Lola T70 Spyder MK1 / MK2
- Lola T70 Spyder MK3 / MK3B
- 2013 Skip Barber

That's 11 vehicle types, and you're saying it's only un-official mod-content that still has covers. Come on.

Also, that's not including some cars that say "Custom Motorsport" that I somehow have (no idea how I got them). I'm assuming "Custom Motorsport" is the name of a modding group of people and nothing official so I left those out but I'm not 100% sure.

So, no, it's not just mod-cars that have the cover.

By the way, I don't even know where I got half these cars. Half the cars installed, I never subscribed to. It's just a completely random list of stock and 3rd-party content. When you first install the game, there should be an option to install every single "official" piece of content that's free. So all content from ISI, S397, and any official collaborations they had with others like Reiza, independent modders, etc. All "official" content should be under one subscrition. I shouldn't have to subscribe to ISI and S397 and Reiza, etc. to get the official content. How are people supposed to know and make sure they have all the "official" RF2 content under the current subscription system? I, for one, have no idea. What I do know, though, is that I have a bunch of non-official content that I never subscribed to. It's all very messy. Someone mentioned subscribing to other random people in the Steam Workshop who create lists for all official content. I'm sorry but that's not a solution. Subscribing to some random person's list, assuming they they didn't miss a single piece of content, and assuming that they always keep the content up to date is NOT a solution. I can go and make a list right now and call it "official content" and then skip a bunch of cars and tracks. The user won't know, they just have to trust the list is 100% accurate and up-to-date. That is NOT a solution.

Anyways, the covers on some cars is, by far, the least important thing out of the things I mentioned in my previous post.
 
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Premium
This title is not playable for me. RF2 simply got close to zero online drivers except leagues and extremely long practice/lemans races or very ugly/stoneage looking modded content. And the competition system always forces me to buy stuff, I bought already 60-70% of the DLC's but it still always want me to buy exactly what I don't have..

And the singleplayer of RF2 is unplayable because of the AI bugs.

In AMS2 I can (almost, 95% of the time) always find a fun server to race on in a couple of minutes(only to many times the "last 2 mins of quali cannot join bug").

RF2 has some great content and physics but the game is unplayable for me because of all the bugs, mixed content quality(mods are almost all terrible looking) and because there are simply not enough online drivers.
Again, you are also living in the past.
Release Candidate fixed the throttle input bug.
A 2 minute adjustment to the player.json file on the AI parameters turns the AI extremely raceable.
And LFM has lobbies crammed with people playing rF2, including a series with free content (Alpine Cup mod) and free S397 tracks and workshop mods, many of which are actually DLC level (just check OBD / Digga / Schumi 's tracks).
 
Premium
A 2 minute adjustment to the player.json file on the AI parameters turns the AI extremely raceable.
I'll do a clean install anyways once the RC goes into the live release, but do you have any more info on the AI params I'd need to adjust, or a link to a resource somewhere?
 
Premium
I'll do a clean install anyways once the RC goes into the live release, but do you have any more info on the AI params I'd need to adjust, or a link to a resource somewhere?
S397's Forum, under Third Party Content, Track AIWs.
Just use the replacement parameters which TopSecret/Mark Pearce states on the first post.
And then make sure to run practice, quali and only then race.
As you can speed up practice and quali (CTL+X), it's not much of a chore.
 
In AMS2 I can (almost, 95% of the time) always find a fun server to race on in a couple of minutes(only to many times the "last 2 mins of quali cannot join bug").
Sorry for the offtopic, but that's an intended "feature" that was present since pCars days to prevent people with slow PCs make the whole lobby wait for them to load.
 
Sorry for the offtopic, but that's an intended "feature" that was present since pCars days to prevent people with slow PCs make the whole lobby wait for them to load.
That's quite insane then. Because it's not just 2 minutes, it's 2 minutes before the last lap of the quali. So you can add, depending on the track, 2-3 to it. So they think that some people have a loading time of the game of 4-5 minutes? Are they insane?
 
Probably just a bit of slimming down the code. In programming "Refactoring code" means changing the code without changing what it does.
We may expect some optimization I assume. Not on the installation process though. :D

I decided to install the game and the updating/installing packages (around 650 packages) is just atrociously long! At this pace, it will be done in around 2 or 3 hours (515 packages remaining....) I hope it is just for the first launch...

EDIT : it went faster than expected, some packages must have been lighter. It was a 2 hours process in total. But I'm stuck in a bland menu, only able to change my name, my parameters, and to exit! Anyone with that issue? I launched the release candidate version
 
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Premium
I'll do a clean install anyways once the RC goes into the live release, but do you have any more info on the AI params I'd need to adjust, or a link to a resource somewhere?
Apparently, some of the changes to the player.json file which I used in the past conflict with the RC update*.
Hence, I would probably only change the "learning parameters" as those - from experience - seem to allow the AI to improve their performance visibly.

* based on recent posts on the S397 Discord
 
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Nice to see more updates to this game, commendable for the developers to keep working on improving many aspects of the game play.

as a Simucube 2 owner, rF2 is superior to any other game
Ha!, that is what I have been missing, I do not have a Simcube 2, thank you for explaining. / sarcasm.
It is a genuine issue that has plagued this game since was introduced in 2018
2018, is along time, to have had such a glaring issue, but better late than never, so kudos to the developers. AI is always a compromise, in any driving game.
Is it really fixed? I have RF2, but I do not use it often, AI being one of the reasons.
 
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Is there a way to install rF2 with minimum contents so I can add more later? I am tempted to re-install rF2 but it usually also install all the workshop items that I have unsubscribed before. I just don't want to repeat the process of downloading many contents that I will certainly going to remove later.
 
wonder what exactly means "Refactored engine code" for the physics. It sounds groundbraking but it doesn't seem to be a thing.

What is refactoring?​

Refactoring is the process of restructuring code, while not changing its original functionality. The goal of refactoring is to improve internal code by making many small changes without altering the code's external behavior.

Computer programmers and software developers refactor code to improve the design, structure and implementation of software. Refactoring improves code readability and reduces complexities. Refactoring can also help software developers find bugs or vulnerabilities hidden in their software.

The refactoring process features many small changes to a program's source code. One approach to refactoring, for example, is to improve the structure of source code at one point and then extend the same changes systematically to all applicable references throughout the program. The thought process is that all the small, behavior-preserving changes to a body of code have a cumulative effect. These changes preserve the software's original behavior and do not modify its behavior.

What is the purpose of refactoring?​

Refactoring improves code by making it:
  • More efficient by addressing dependencies and complexities.
  • More maintainable or reusable by increasing efficiency and readability.
  • Cleaner so it is easier to read and understand.
  • Easier for software developers to find and fix bugs or vulnerabilities in the code.
 
Is there a way to install rF2 with minimum contents so I can add more later? I am tempted to re-install rF2 but it usually also install all the workshop items that I have unsubscribed before. I just don't want to repeat the process of downloading many contents that I will certainly going to remove later.
Yes, that's exactly what I did!

Basically, the game automatically subscribes you to every piece of default content. BUT... before you launch the game for the first time, just go into the Steam Workshop, look at your Subscribed Items, and unsubscribe from anything that doesn't interest you. Can easily craft a very minimal install :)

(Occasionally it does do janky rF2 things and try to resubscribe you to some things - or everything - after an update, but just cancel the auto-updating process, quit the game, and unsub again from anything you don't want)
 
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There is some great stuff happening with this build, has solved even more issues than expected.

IMPORTANT: What ever you do, once you have selected and downloaded release candidate, immediately do a file integrity check through steam, you should find you will have about 8 files or more re-accuated, do this or there will be the odd issue. Loving what they've done with the A.I.!
 
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Great news and fixes. I can't wait for Bahrain track to be released too. And I'm
sure some more BTCC cars will be out by Q4.

By the way, the first pic's track is Laguna Seca, right? Hopefully they release
more tracks this quality. For me it's the best looking track they've made so far
with those great looking trees, very immersive.
 
Yes, that's exactly what I did!

Basically, the game automatically subscribes you to every piece of default content. BUT... before you launch the game for the first time, just go into the Steam Workshop, look at your Subscribed Items, and unsubscribe from anything that doesn't interest you. Can easily craft a very minimal install :)

(Occasionally it does do janky rF2 things and try to resubscribe you to some things - or everything - after an update, but just cancel the auto-updating process, quit the game, and unsub again from anything you don't want)
Thank you very much!
 
And I hope that S397 has finally succeeded in deactivating the engine noises of AI opponents in "all" (especially the GT3 vehicles) vehicles.
 

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