Live for Speed

Live For Speed ​​(LFS ) is a realistic, more capable player race simulation, which was published in July 2003. The first demo ( 0.04k ) was made in September 2002 to the Internet. The current version is S2 Alpha, which was completed on 24 June 2005. Since patch U (29 April 2006), the simulation includes the BMW Sauber F1, the Formula 1 2006 season. Currently patch is 0.6E.

LFS is expected to appear staggered in three parts. The first retail version Stage 1 (S1, v0.3 ) was released in July of 2003. The current version of Stage 2 (S2, v0.5 ) was released on 24 June 2005. It was a not 100 percent finished alpha version. The developers decided to take this step, as the work on S2 had lasted much longer than expected, and many players who had pre-ordered over a year ago, were impatient.

A certain popularity has Live for Speed ​​obtained in Germany by the work of ambitious members of the community, including through various presentations at the television station GIGA, organized leagues (ESL Europe) and demonstrations of the game at the Games Convention in Leipzig, the CeBit in Hannover and other smaller fairs. Especially the support otherwise found only in professional simulations of fully mobile simulators contributes to this.

Development method

The LFS Development Team, consisting of Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey, and Victor van Vlaardingen has opted for a far more unusual form of software development and marketing: The three developers act without a publisher and rely on the marketing of their game only on word of mouth and independent distribution over the Internet.

The path that have been harvested in touch with their "customers" these developers is perceived positively by the community, because any time a direct exchange of ideas and suggestions is possible.

So it is possible, among other things, publicly discuss in forums about bugs and features and thus to exert a certain influence on the development of the game. The feedback allows developers direct customer contact, the comparatively often perceive this by the way. Meanwhile (more precisely since the patch U) is common in LFS to provide the community called test patches available which at irregular intervals (often on a daily basis ) reported by advancements as well as by users in test mode errors and their fixes are being replaced. In the patch W whose history goes back to a total of nine test patches (patch V1 to V9 ), while the patch X almost 50 test patches ( to test patch W47 ) preceded. The enormous number of patches here is mainly caused by the changes to the multiplayer system from Live For Speed ​​.

A disadvantage of the small development team became clear in the course of the development of LFS S2. The originally planned release date in the summer of 2004 could not be met by far. Finally, an alpha version was released in June 2005. The final release version still waiting on what the realistic gameplay but does not detract. This is also caused by the fact that LFS S2 is almost error-free despite alpha status.

Registration system and cost

A special feature of Live for Speed ​​is the clearing system. So the game is fully playable after downloading the demo version with all the features, but the car selection to three and the track selection is limited to a single. The full functionality and all cars and tracks can be used only after a online activation. With the one-time purchase of an S1 or S2 license can be taken part in all relevant online games. In addition to the normal connection costs are no additional fees. A license upgrade to the next version is again half the license price.

The system used has been completely programmed itself and is considered extremely safe. The registration system was indeed already bypassed for offline games, online it is yet succeeded anyone to play without purchased license. Furthermore, LFS can be purchased exclusively via the Internet, because the developers have decided to self-marketing.

Multiplayer & Community

One of the most important features of Live For Speed ​​is the good accessibility and easy entry into the online racing. Organized leagues like ESL Europe will offer players the opportunity to compete with each other and compare best times. In general, numerous servers with different routes are available, can be appear on facing up to 46 other drivers. For newcomers, there are at LFS partially own server, the most experienced driver cavort on a few servers where generally a very fast pace is driven close to the best times.

Furthermore, there are so -called Racing Team, in which LFS enthusiasts have joined together in a community to drive each other or simply to entertain just about the game or everyday things. Racing teams are a good springboard to compete in the game, because it can be learned by better players during a training session for beginners. Often there are team leagues or team events, with the team's performance against individuals is paramount.

Game Features

Control

LFS can be optimally controlled with a force feedback steering wheel, which is specifically recommended by the developers because it depended as in real motor sport in a gentle and controlled regime in order to achieve personal bests can. But the control via keyboard or unusual in this genre, the mouse is possible.

Rolling stock

In the version of Live For Speed ​​S2 offers a choice of 20 different vehicles. Among them are both beginner-friendly models and vehicles, players need some experience for their successful management. The special feature of the vehicle selection is that there is an extremely wide range of services in comparison to other racing games. The player can choose from a 55 -horsepower compact cars up to a 720 - hp, faithfully modeled BMW -Sauber Formula 1 racing cars. The BMW Sauber, together with Formula BMW FB02 ( FBM) (new since patch Y) MRT5 and Raceabout, a real vehicles contained four in Live for Speed ​​. For all other vehicles, the similarity allows for real vehicles (eg, Mini, Porsche 911 and Toyota Supra ) does not deny, but are fantasy of developers.

A special feature of the game is also the possibility of Skinnings their own vehicles: Using a two-dimensional graphic skin can customize the paintwork. The self-created design will be sent to other players in the online racing. There are separate forums and websites that deal solely with the LFS - skinning.

For the upcoming version is provided as a next vehicle with real model of the new Volkswagen Scirocco. Here, the otherwise lush setup options are limited to those on which no complicated conversions you have access in real life. As with the BMW Sauber Formula 1, the developers have here in cooperation with Volkswagen also to the relevant design data back to achieve a realisitisches possible driving behavior within the simulation. In addition, both exterior and interior are extremely close to the original; also in things such as the ESP is working.

Stretch

In the current version seven track areas are included, each area offers different track layouts that can be traveled in the reverse direction also. Overall, the game is on route 49 configurations.

In the S1 version of the game users have three routes and parking made ​​available. The three routes were Blackwood, South City and Fern Bay. Former is the most popular track on the users of Live for Speed ​​in configuration Blackwood Grand Prix. About 412 million kilometers have been on this journey according to the statistics page lfsworld covered (as of November 16, 2012 ); This is partly because this route is part of the demo version.

In the parking lot, not only vehicle setups can be tested, but also the function of external barriers (eg, to a shortening in a bullying prevention ) can be tried out.

In the version S2 followed by further large distances. These were Aston, which is in its longest configuration 8.8 km long, Kyoto Ring, which has among other things a tri-oval configuration, as well as West Hill.

In the overall Live for Speed ​​has a wide range of different track configurations of short and very curvy, over longer distances with higher full throttle as well as to specific flange combinations. Due to the variety of different vehicles in conjunction with appropriate setups Live for Speed ​​provides long term enough challenges for players.

LFS InSim

With LFS InSim developers can program server-side extensions. The system stores the game data in a database and evaluates them. There is a direct interaction between the database and player possible. In addition, the game features can be customized. Important adjustments are: Automatic punishment of players, display texts or server-specific game results on the screen. LFS InSim allows server-specific statistics and player status. Most of the InSim for license point system is used in which the player must draw up a score before he is allowed to drive the next best car.

Particularly on so-called Cruise servers is clear that the InSim opens another field of activity for players. Here a particular virtual sum of money will be transferred to the virtual account of a player by Mileage meters, of which he may be new vehicles " buy ". There are also delivery missions (eg for a pizza service ) may be accepted, for you get more or less money depending on the required time. In addition, there is a police system; ie if a player has met certain conditions (eg 1000 mileage and one with stock online training ), he must be provided with a police vehicle paintwork and track speeders and ask the cashier.

Instantaneous development

Live For Speed ​​currently seems to have stopped at the last ( or current ) version 0.6b. The last message of the developers pointed out first, a patch, the "early 2009 " should appear. Until now, no such patch has been released, this should contain a retreaded tire physics and a VW Scirocco and Rockingham racetrack. Due to the shift of the release date of the patch already resigned some virtual teams with withdrawal from the scene. A detailed feedback on the appearance of the patches remained from the past.