SimHQ.com - Motorsports Zone - Preview: Live for Speed S2 Alpha

What you are about to read is not a full review, but a preview of LFS S2 Alpha. Being in Alpha status means that despite LFS S2 now being available as a full release, the product is still being enhanced by the developers; Scawen Roberts, Eric Baily and Victor v. Vlaardingen.

Born out of the developers' wishes to build themselves the kind of sim that they wanted to race, the resulting S1 (Stage 1) was very well received when it was released a few years ago.

Building upon the current S2 version some day S3 will mark the final development stage for Live for Speed, as we know it. S2 Alpha is here now though, and we'll try to introduce you to the Live for Speed world.

If you are wondering whether Live for Speed can at all be regarded or classified as a simulator — after all, the tracks and the cars simulated in LFS do not exist in real life — I feel that the answer is a resounding YES: LFS is a simulator.

Considering its Alpha status, Live for Speed is very impressive, featuring lots of different cars, very good and convincing physics, interesting tracks and a multiplayer mode which ranks up there with the best as defined by sims from Papyrus.

On their web site, the developers present S2 with these highlights compared to the previous release:

Further developed physics and multiplayer systems (from S1)
2 new single seater racing cars (not for the faint hearted)
3 GTR racing cars of around 500 bhp (keep your hair on)
2 front wheel drive racing saloon cars
2 sports cars, one rear and one mid engine
1 1000cc front wheel drive road car (where's that corner)
Kyoto Ring, Japan - with an Oval configuration
Westhill, England - a high speed track
Aston, England - long and short configurations
8 S1 cars with graphical and physical developments
3 updated S1 tracks (Blackwood, Fern Bay, South City)
New objects added to the S1 Autocross arena
Various types of suspension with realistic motion
Support for symmetric and asymmetric setups
Tire wear, surface and and air temperatures
48 sampling spots per tire allowing flat spots
Simulated and visible tire deformation
Fuel usage, pit stops, speed limits and penalties
F12 Pit instructions system to change strategy
F11 Live settings : anti roll bar and brake balance
Yellow Flag and Blue Flag warning systems
Driver changing for time-based races e.g. 24 hour

Note: Screenshots were taken at 1600x1200x32 screen resolution, with no, or 2xAA and 2xFSAA used.

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