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The hugely anticipated racing simulation game, Project CARS released worldwide last week and has been racking up impressive reviews. We managed to hook up an interview with South African Stephen Viljoen, the Game Director for Project CARS, to discuss the game. See what he had to say below:
Project CARS is available for Playsyation 4, Xbox One and PC. This game has had us glued to our screens and on the edge of our seats, adrenaline pumping for hours on end. Have you got your copy yet?
What 5 words come to mind when you think of the game Project CARS?
The Most Authentic Simulation Ever.
How long was Project CARS in production for?
The project itself has been running for roughly four years. The game though has been in development for ten years, as every game we’ve worked on up to this point has been building the foundation for Project CARS. This game is the culmination of all those years of development. It truly is the game that we’ve been wanting to make all this time.
What was your role in the creation of the game?
My official role is Project CARS Game Director. That’s mostly coordinating with the team of coders and artists to help pull all the bits together, pushing the singular design aspects of the game towards the bigger picture of what we intend the game to be. I also do the design and script programming of the career mode, and all the replay cameras for the tracks.
How long have you been in the industry and how many games have you worked on?
Not counting all the years of doing free ‘mod’ work, I’ve been doing this as a paid job for just over a decade now. Project CARS is the 8th title, plus two other unreleased games, so ten in all!
Launch Trailer:
What have been some of your top titles you have helped produce?
Trick question. In my mind, they were all great in their own way. Going by sales and popularity, these would probably be Need for Speed Shift, Shift 2, and GTR2.
What were some of the most challenging developments in the game?
Firstly, developing a AAA multi-platform game that looks and runs great on all platforms, with no compromising when it comes to gameplay, physics and visual fidelity. It was a massive undertaking, but we are very proud to say that we believe we’ve pulled it off! The game looks and plays beautifully on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Both consoles manage a solid 60fps, which is critical for a racing simulation. Other major challenges were developing a brand new physics and tyre model that would on first release be best of class; working with real world race drivers like the Stig (yea that same white-suited guy) who had no interest in racing sims (he called them rubbish) and trying to build a simulation that they would be happy to use when practicing; building a fully-dynamic day-night cycle and weather system that is real-world accurate. The list goes on! What the team pulled off with Project CARS is, in my opinion, nothing short of amazing.
What can gamers expect from the game?
The most intense, authentic, fun, thrilling, engaging, and brilliant driving simulation you can play!
What type of cars and courses can gamers expect to play with and on?
Project CARS feature a large selection of motorsport types, ranging from Karts, to Touring, GT, Classics, Le Mans Prototypes, all the way to Formula 1 style open-wheel racing. We feature the largest track roster of any driving game, including famous locations such as Silverstone, Nordschleife, Spa Francorchamps, Monza, Road America, and lots more. There are also a number of road courses that run along coastal routes, for those who enjoy their scenic driving.
How does Project CARS differ from other racing games?
It is the most intense, authentic, fun, thrilling, engaging, and brilliant driving simulation you can play! Seriously though, Project CARS brings a level of simulation to the consoles and PC that has never been done before. Not only in the physics and handling simulation, but in details such as the environment, how the fully dynamic weather and day-night cycle works, all the various motorsports series that the player can participate in, and a whole lot more. Project CARS goes beyond just the bits and bytes of car simulation. It simulates the thrill of being a race driver. It puts you in the best seat in the house and lets you feel what it’s like to be ‘that guy’ that hordes of fans come to see race. Project CARS brings personality to simulation. The sweet symbiosis of man and machine.
Project CARS Photo Gallery:
