AMS 2 | Latest Big Update For Automobilista 2 Has Been Deployed

[Paul Jeffrey]

Reiza Studios are a development team that seemingly never sleeps - with yet another major build release having been deployed for their Automobilista 2 racing simulation.

Commendably sticking to the weekly release schedule during this Early Access phase for AMS 2, Reiza Studios have again deployed a new build to the public version of sim - bringing an array of fixes and improvements to this rapidly developing title.

Working to further fine tune the force feedback and handling model within the Automobilista 2, this latest release once again marks an impressive step forward in development for a title that has been received with mixed opinions in some corners of the sim racing community. Improving both the way cars behave behind the wheel, plus further enhancing the rapidly improving AI within the game, this is arguably one of the more impressive builds within the Early Access development phase to-date.

Before firing up the sim for the first time since downloading v0.9.2.1, be sure to check out the included notes from Reiza Studios, which can be read in full below.

AMS 2 V0.9.2.1 Update Notes

This update is largely focused on FFB, physics and AI developments, but it also features a large assemble of improvements & fixes in all fronts, adds the option to save Replays to your Replay Gallery , new options to the HUD system along with new gameplay features and the first stage of our revamped lighting, featuring HDR & climate revisions.

As usual, when there are substantial physics & FFB changes some recallibration is in order to bring car-specific FFB & AI values up to the latest specs - both of those fronts have already been largely revised to suit the new developments but it may take another build to get the best of them for all cars in the game.

There is one last round of FFB developments to come before v1.0, at which point the "Old Default" profile will be discontinued. We recommend switching to "New Default" in the FFB configuration screen if you haven´t done so already.

With this FFB update tyre flatspots from a hard wheel lock-up under braking will be more perceptible in high performance slicks,, although currently most tyre compounds will allow for only mild tread flatspotting - further development to come here.

Be advised you must reset your car setups to properly experience recent physics developments - setup changes are auto-saved and reloaded whenever you choose the same car so if you have an old setup change it will still be applying with potentially incompatible changes from the new build- to avoid such issues, upon loading a car in v0.9.2.1 make sure to go into Setup screen & click "reset to default"; if in doubt or to assure you´re running current default settings, a fresh player profile is recommend (you can create a fresh profile by deleting your local My Docs/Automobilista 2 folder - be advised this will delete all your game settings).

UI & HUD

• Added Replay Gallery
• Added "Save Replay" button to replay screen (only available at end of session)
• Fixed "Cancel" button not working on keybinding and similar confirmation screen
• Removed redundant ABS / TC ranges from setup screens of cars with no assists available & disable TC/SC/ABS values from Gameplay options screen when aids are 'OFF' or 'Authentic'
• Added KERS / BOOST / P2P display to HUD;
• Slightly increased width of leaderboard and added a first pass strategy for longer driver names
• Applied grey text for position and driver name text for AI drivers
• Added 'Full' variant of car info HUD gadget (enable via hud editor)
• Fixed telemetry screen unit text localisation
• Fixed telemetry screen right side temp bars escaping tire outline
• Corrected number of corners for Kyalami (15) & Santa Cruz (14)
• Corrected vehicle stats for Karts & Trucks
• Fixed page title on in-game gameplay options screen

FORCE FEEDBACK

• FFB calculations now account for any change in caster trail and scrub radius, with improved braking feel, overall smoother output & better weight transfer feel
• Fixed issues with FFB spiking & occasionally producing strong jolts when wheels loose contact with ground (load loss) and added filtering to smoothen out abrupt transitions
• When front tyres are not loaded FFB will now present only gyroscopic torque, fixing bug that could cause steering to get very heavy in some airborne situations
• Improved parking force function

PHYSICS

• Thoroughly revised tyre physics for all cars
• Revised FFB values for all cars to suit new tyre physics & FFB developments
• Fixed error in Ultima Race / P1 tyre treads resulting in a much faster hard tyre compound;
• Added initial implementation of Push-to-Pass rules & functionalities for Stock Car V8 (still missing first lap block, 5s delay between pressing button & boost deployment, windshield LEDs for boost use/availability)
• Added KERS functionality to F-Reiza;
• Added temporary max boost button for F-Classic Gen1 cars
• Revised ERS system for F-Ultimate
• Thoroughly revised brake systems for all cars covering response curve, torque, optimal temp ranges, effects of being off temperature, cooling properties & default brake pressure
• Removed brake duct values from cars that don´t have one
• Fixed error in F-Classic Gen1 (both models) diffuser properties leading to no loss of aero efficiency with yaw & other diffuser revisions
• Reduced undertray scrape friction for all cars
• Set default Traction Control setting to 10% for all cars when the assist is enabled
• Adjusted head physics properties & reduced range of movement
• Revised body aero effects for MRX, Roco, StockV8, Sigma P1
• Further reduced body drag for all Caterhams
• Revised Super V8 power, weight, weight distribution to more up-to-date references
• Fixed Sigma P1 fuel consumption & overheating
• Fixed errors in Opala´s wheelbase / track width / height offset
• Adjusted torque curve on lower RPM ranges for Caterhams, F-Classic Gen1, Roco engines
• AJR Chevy & Honda Turbo variants from P1 class, now have Traction Control and ABS available when driving assists are set to 'Authentic" as per real-life counterparts
• MRX from P2 class now has Traction Control available when driving assists are set to 'Authentic" as per real-life counterparts
• Increased downshift protection for all cars

AI

• Increased AI speed midcorner for all cars
• Reduced AI speed drop when conceding position to overtaking cars
• Slightly reduced AI start reaction range
• Increased AI care when around human players
• Fixed bug cuasing Fusca from Copa Classic FL to occasionally rol
• Revised AI performance in practice & qualifying
• Adjusted AI performance to more realistic ranges when accelerating or skipping a session

AUDIO

• Further polished Sprint Race onboard audio samples

TRACKS

• Added first pass for ongoing lighting revamp with HDR & climate visual updates
• Added new armco textures to Brands, Oulton, Interlagos and Kyalami
• Added new gravel detail maps to Brands and Oulton
• Created a library of various detail / normal tarmac maps for various surfaces (rough / new / smooth etc) - currently only applied a few of them to Oulton Park, Kyalami, VIR, Cadwell, Jerez
• Added customization pass to trackside marshalls & crowds
• Revised track limits for Kyalami 2020, Donington Park
• Brands Hatch. Fixed misaligned sector 2 trigger on GP layout causing lap times not to register
• Fixed bug with 1st lap not registering at Imola 1988 & 2001
• Cascavel: Fixed timing bug where delta time would read incorrectly when crossing S2 trigger; removed excess garage/pit spots to match grid spots count
• Santa Cruz: Fixed issues on rolling starts & repositioned rolling start location; added more garage spots; Corrected missing animated marshals/crowds (change winter to autumn).

VEHICLES

• Puma P052: Fixed RPM LED scaling; Fixed LOD C tyres
• F-Classic Gen1: Fixed cockpit carbon material
• MetalMoro MRX Duratec P2: Fixed lights on LOD B
• Passat Copa Classic B: Fixed cockpit side mirrors
• Formula Vintage Gen2: Fixed exhaust position
• F-V10 Fixed gap between wheel rim and tyre from cockpit view
• Puma P052, GTB: Fixed rain streaks direction
• Puma GTE: Added rear lights
• MetalMoro AJR & MRX::Updated headlights color
• Sprint Race: Improved exterior mirrors
• Fixed Copa Classic Fusca fender lodding out
• Opala Old Stock: Fixed UV mapping in bonnet
• F_Ultimate: Adjusted collision mesh
• StockCar V8: Fixed central mirror position
• Adjusted brake glow ranges for carbon brakes
• Several updates to Sigma P1 model & cockpit
• Added new Sigma & MRX liveries in P2 class
• Revised MCR Sports 2000 liveries: #01 #02 #03 #04 #05 #06 #07 #08 #09 #11 #12 #15 #16 #25 #26 #29 & Community liveries #17 #18 #42

Original Source :Reiza Studios

AMS 2 is available now in Steam Early Access.

If you need help and support getting the most from AMS2, start a thread in our AMS2 sub forum here at RaceDepartment and let our great community help you out.

 

[kmanitou]

Can you help me understand what you mean by "making it feel more like rFactor"?

If you'd said "making it feel more like AMS1", I could have reasonably suspected that you were referring to Reiza's particular way to do FFB?

I'm not quite sure what to make of your "to its full potential" comment. Is it related to driving feel? AI behaviour? Racing Rules? Wet weather? Snow? Day->Night->Day transitions? Multiplayer? Sound? Graphics? Something I haven't thought of?

Inquiring minds would like to know.

P.S. If your argument/opinion is "I don't much care for the direction of AMS2" then OK. Horses for courses and all that.

I meant a stiffer turning reaction, with less suspension movement and tire flex, less sideways nuance, more like a brick. What I don't understand is that it didn't feel like that the following day. Now it's fine again. Raceroom had changed my wheel's rotation (I hadn't played RR in a long time), and I did a full reboot.

The full potential is the detailed physics and contact patch, as opposed to the primitive simple model that people are used to. I've seen the Ian Bell Derangement Syndrome in action here, but Reiza seems to be moving forward, not backward nevertheless.

 

[UMC 22]

Do we know when the V1.0 release is now due?

Reiza recently said we are "about halfway through" the EA period. So it seems there is about another month to go until v1.0.

 

[Emery]

The more I drive, the more I'm drawn in. The slow Lancer felt perfectly natural. The Puma has scary front end lift and is hard to see out of at VIR. I know I'll do an MCR2000 series and an FVee series when we get custom championships.

Still, what I miss relates to content. I miss having a GT40, a Cobra, a Stingray Corvette, a Porsche 906, a Ferrari 250LM... and the historic tracks to run them on. Fortunately there are moddable sims that offer such things.

 

[BrunoBæ]

I miss having a GT40, a Cobra, a Stingray Corvette, a Porsche 906, a Ferrari 250LM.

Oh man if they just created a Chaparral or how about a LeMans DeltaWing

 

[BillGuy]

Oh man if they just created a Chaparral or how about a LeMans DeltaWing

I don't have Chaparrals in my AMS 2, but at least I get to have them by my AMS 2. This is on my wall above my monitor. Signed by Jim Hall and Phil Hill.

 

[BillGuy]

I don’t think anyone has mentioned this before so I’m going to say it. Reiza really needs to change the current manner in which the save replay option becomes available.

Hopefully this is essentially another “placeholder” sort of implementation since this release is the first with the feature available. As things currently are though, I find not being able to save your race replay if you run out of fuel or otherwise can’t make it back to your pit box after the checkered flag a very disappointing state of affairs. I just really hope this isn’t a limitation of the game engine similar to how I worry about neutral gearbox control.

 

[Spinelli]

Is there a semantics bug going around RD or something? This is literally the fourth example this week of someone getting pent up over little more than words. I guess with the lockdown people have nothing better to do but worry about petty issues?

It's a game patch. The tyres have been changed and they now feel better. I for one don't care how they word that in the patch notes. Why? Because it really doesn't matter...

It does matter to some people. When I read tyre physics, to me that's the physics that dictates tyres (ie. the tyre model/engine). Changing the tyre model/engine is changing the very game itself but not touching the tyre model/engine and just changing the tyre of a vehicle (eg. like a modder would do when updating one of his/her mod-cars) is not updating the game itself but just updating content.

You cannot achieve truly core-fundamental differences/progression without updating the engine - be it physics/tyre engine, sound engine, graphics engine, UI engine, etc.). Everything is dictated by the ENGINE. Just like in real-life, no matter what type of tyre is created, it's overall behavior is still limited to & dictated by our "real-life physics engine".

There's a big difference between refining content and actually working on the physics/tyre engine that all content is based on and dictated by. Just like in real-life there's a big difference between a company coming out with a new tyre (updating content in a game) and "God" literally changing the universe's laws of physics/chemistry/biology (updating a game's physics/tyre engine).

 

[Salvatore Sirignano]

It does matter to some people. When I read tyre physics, to me that's the physics that dictates tyres (ie. the tyre model/engine). Changing the tyre model/engine is changing the very game itself but not touching the tyre model/engine and just changing the tyre of a vehicle (eg. like a modder would do when updating one of his/her mod-cars) is not updating the game itself but just updating content.

You cannot achieve truly core-fundamental differences/progression without updating the engine - be it physics/tyre engine, sound engine, graphics engine, UI engine, etc.). Everything is dictated by the ENGINE. Just like in real-life, no matter what type of tyre is created, it's overall behavior is still limited to & dictated by our "real-life physics engine".

Big difference between refining content and actually working on the physics/tyre engine that all content is based on and dictated by. Just like in real-life there's a big difference between a company coming out with a new tyre (updating content in a game) and "God" literally changing the universe's laws of physics/chemistry/biology (updating a game's physics/tyre engine).

But how much is the engine and how much is the numbers put in? New tyre models can be overrated, look at AC, iRacing, they've got through 20+ revisions between them and still neither are exactly convincing. Isn't it better to have a simple one and fudge/ tweak the numbers to make it feel /behave as 1:1 as possible according to real driver feedback? What's better, a sim with 1 tyre contact patch which handles convincingly, or one with 27 but which is like ice at the limit? Better to have a simple model yielding accurate handling than an overly complicated one which gives duff results, no?

 

[Spinelli]

But how much is the engine and how much is the numbers put in? New tyre models can be overrated, look at AC, iRacing, they've got through 20+ revisions between them and still neither are exactly convincing. Isn't it better to have a simple one and fudge/ tweak the numbers to make it feel /behave as 1:1 as possible according to real driver feedback? What's better, a sim with 1 tyre contact patch which handles convincingly, or one with 27 but which is like ice at the limit? Better to have a simple model yielding accurate handling than an overly complicated one which gives duff results, no?

I agree 100%. It's not about how complex the engine is, it's about how realistic & natural the final result/output is. I never said anything about the physics or tyre engine being too basic and needing to be more complex. What I said was, for there to truly be core-fundamental progression in physics / vehicle behavior of a videogame (especially at and over the limit), the engine itself needs to be worked on.

You can drive 100 different cars/tyres in the same game (AC or AMS2 or whatever game) and no matter how good or bad each of those 100 cars/mods/tyres are, you can always tell from overall general vehicle handling & behavior that you're driving the same game (the same "universe" or physics/tyre engine) despite driving 100 different cars/tyres. But, all it takes is driving 1 or 2 cars in a totally different game engine (let's say going from AMS2 to AC, or LFS to iR, or whatever) and you instantly know you're driving in a different "universe." No matter what numbers are punched into new content, if the physics/tyre engine - the background numbers, formulas, algorithms, coding, etc. - doesn't change then you'll still have the same overall tyre/vehicle behavior. If there's work on the physics/tyre engine though then true fundamental progress & changes can be made to the core driving experience.

You can have humans (physics engine) of all different shapes, sizes, colours, personalities, etc. (mods/content). We all still have the same basic behavior to eachother, same basic look, same basic intellect, abilities, non-abilities, bodies, eye-sight, strength, balance, anatomies, chemistry, etc. etc. However, if you go from a human to a bird or spider or a flower then you have fundamentally a totally different creature (physics engine).


P.S. If you go far enough then we're all the same because we're all just atoms or quarks or whatever and all games are the same because they're all just 1's and 0's but ignore that for my analogy


Anyways, I'm off to play some AMS1 (don't have AMS2 yet)

 

[maelstrom]

Isn't it better to have a simple one and fudge/ tweak the numbers to make it feel /behave as 1:1 as possible according to real driver feedback?

There’s a limit to how much you can tweak a simple model (see below). You can’t make a simple model carry out complex calculations.

What's better, a sim with 1 tyre contact patch which handles convincingly, or one with 27 but which is like ice at the limit?

Whilst I agree in principle, it depends a lot on how well the more complex model is implemented. iRacing’s new tyre model was seen as an improvement but still has plenty of critics. That said, many people considered that almost anything would have been an improvement over the old model. On the other hand, the introduction of the 5-point tyre model in ACC (over the original single point model) significantly changed the handling of the cars for the better. For example, the original model couldn’t detect when only part of the tyre contact patch was on a curb so tended to make the car more unstable as you started to run off the track. There was nothing you could really tweak in those circumstances with the old model to make it react more realistically (Kunos tried).

 

[David Wright]

Still, what I miss relates to content. I miss having a GT40, a Cobra, a Stingray Corvette, a Porsche 906, a Ferrari 250LM... and the historic tracks to run them on. Fortunately there are moddable sims that offer such things.

I don't know if you have access to the beta forum but there are strong hints that historic content will be significant going forward. Not sure we will get the cars on your list but it should be interesting, and there are historic tracks to go along with the cars too.

 

[Alex72]

Are the few reviews saying AMS2 physics is exactly like PC2 talking out of their butts? Cant wait til i can get it.

 

[Deleted member 197115]

Are the few reviews saying AMS2 physics is exactly like PC2 talking out of their butts? Cant wait til i can get it.

Physics engine and tire model are the same. The input data could be more accurate.

 

[kmanitou]

Are the few reviews saying AMS2 physics is exactly like PC2 talking out of their butts? Cant wait til i can get it.

It's more Project CARS 2/rFactor 2 than Assetto Corsa/Raceroom/Automobilista.

 

[DarkPino]

I’ve tried AMS2 last weekend for the first time. Installed my controls and tried it with the F3 but it seems I need to turn my wheel way to far to have something happening? It doesn’t feel as direct as it should? My wheel on the screen is 1:1 with my real wheel so it doesn’t seem a problem with the DOR, is this normal behaviour?

 

[Adrian Herrera]

It's more Project CARS 2/rFactor 2 than Assetto Corsa/Raceroom/Automobilista.

That’s weird.. I would have put rF2, Automobilista & Raceroom in the same category. Given that they all have a common ancestor. I am not questioning your comment.. just found it interesting.

 

[BrunoBæ]

I’ve tried AMS2 last weekend for the first time. Installed my controls and tried it with the F3 but it seems I need to turn my wheel way to far to have something happening? It doesn’t feel as direct as it should? My wheel on the screen is 1:1 with my real wheel so it doesn’t seem a problem with the DOR, is this normal behaviour?

I dont know if this is useable for you - but when I calibrated my rather unusual wheel - I undercalibrated it.
So when the menu asked me to turn fully left I just turned it half way.
And when asked 90%(?) then I just turned it half of the originally half way (=1/4 way).

CatsAreTheWorstDogs: It doesnt cost anything to try something like that.

 

[kmanitou]

That’s weird.. I would have put rF2, Automobilista & Raceroom in the same category. Given that they all have a common ancestor. I am not questioning your comment.. just found it interesting.

What I find common between nK Pro/rF2/PC2 and AMS 2 is the free nature of the steering, without baked-in resistance on turn-in to "protect" the driver from wild inputs. Whether that's accurate or not, I wouldn't know. Besides, most of that stuff is on a car-to-car basis.

 

[BrunoBæ]

I don't have Chaparrals in my AMS 2, but at least I get to have them by my AMS 2. This is on my wall above my monitor. Signed by Jim Hall and Phil Hill.

Oh man you are lucky.
When I was a teenager I had a picture in my room of Jim Hall and one of his first cars (The LeMans thing if I remember right).
And he was my hero because it sounded like he was quite a selfmade man with some quite crazy and revolutionary ideas.
I can remember it was discussed if the LeMans car actually had automatic gears or was it just some kind of torque converter.

CatsAreTheWorstDogs: Im glad your pic dont include his most awfull creation - the most ugly racing car ever build. I wont even mention its name.

 

[Stephen O'Sullivan]

I’ve tried AMS2 last weekend for the first time. Installed my controls and tried it with the F3 but it seems I need to turn my wheel way to far to have something happening? It doesn’t feel as direct as it should? My wheel on the screen is 1:1 with my real wheel so it doesn’t seem a problem with the DOR, is this normal behaviour?

Perhaps your wheel is not correctly calibrated? The text accompanying the wheel calibration is ambiguous and can lead to confusion. After turning the wheel to its maximum extent and pressing "Save", the user is prompted to turn the wheel so that it is 90° left or right.

What the wording doesn't make clear is if the wheel should be returned to its original position (yes, it should) and then turned 90° or if it should be turned 90° immediately. The correct action is probably clear to the devs, but a user could unwittingly set the wrong angle of rotation and spoil the whole driving experience.

I've asked Reiza a couple of times to amend the instructions but to no avail.