VDrift

VDrift
File:Vdrift-logo.png
Developer(s)	Joe Venzon, Chris Guirl, Dick Maurer, Matthew Nicholson
Engine	unknown rendering engine, and Vamos physics engine
Platforms	Linux, FreeBSD, OS X, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	March 29, 2005
Genre(s)	Racing simulator
Mode(s)	Single player

VDrift is a cross-platform, free/open source driving simulation made with drift racing in mind. The driving physics engine was recently re-written from scratch but was inspired by and owes much to the Vamos physics engine. It is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) v3. It is currently available for Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows.

Goals

The goals of the VDrift project are:

• to be a high-quality, open source racing simulation featuring enjoyable and challenging gameplay;
• to take advantage of modern computing hardware to accurately simulate vehicle physics in rich and immersive racing environments; and
• to provide a platform for creative experimentation to a community of developers and artists.

History

VDrift was created by Joe Venzon in early 2005. A fan of Gran Turismo, Joe had a lot of fun trying to drift in GT4, though he was disappointed with GT4's physics after loss of traction. Looking around online, the open source Vamos Automotive Simulator performed much better, although the graphics and features were minimal. Building around Vamos, using code adapted from his earlier 3D engine experiments, Joe created the first version of VDrift.

So far, every release has been a testing/development quality release. For this and other reasons, dates are used instead of version numbers.

Features

This game is in the early stages of development but is already very playable. Currently the game features:

• 45 tracks based on famous real-world tracks
• 39 cars based on real-world vehicles
• Very realistic, simulation-grade driving physics
• Mouse/joystick/gamepad/wheel/keyboard support
• Fully modeled tracks, scenery and terrain
• Several different camera modes
• Basic replay system with Skip Forward/Skip Backward
• Fully customizable controls
• Joystick, mouse and keyboard input filtering
• Brake and reverse lights
• Driver aids: automatic shifting, traction control, anti-lock braking
• Experimental force feedback
• Race against up to 3 AI with variable difficultly
• Engine and road sounds

Stunt Rally

Stunt Rally another open-source video game that is based on VDrift and uses OGRE.

See also

• TORCS, another open source 3D car racing simulator.

External links

• Official site
• Wiki
• Vamos Physics Engine
• Chris Barylick (July 25, 2006) The Slacker's Guide - VDrift: Open Source Racing on the Mac, macobserver.com
• John Knight (November 1, 2008) VDrift—Open-Source Drift Racing Simulator, Linux Journal New Projects - Fresh from the Labs
• Marcel Gagné (November 1, 2007) Cooking with Linux - Because Nothing Says High Performance Like a Good Race, Linux Journal
• Jon Riggall, A free racing simulator, Softonic review of 2009-06-15 version