Assetto Corsa Build 1.14.4 Update Released!

[Paul Jeffrey]

Kunos Simulazioni have deployed a small update to Assetto Corsa today, adding a couple of very interesting new things...

Released without much fanfare for the PC version of the title, the new 1.14.4 update does address a few minor issues existing within the latest build 1.14 version of the title, however perhaps the most noteworthy item in the new change log should be the live axle update for not one but five of the cars already in the simulation.

Kunos developer Stefano Casillo‏ recently took to social media to congratulate Assetto Corsa physics engineer Aristotelis Vasilakos who "finally solved a problem on the solid axle that have been troubling my sleep for years", however players of the sim never expected the fruits of those labours to be deployed to the public version of the title quite so soon. It looks like with the first deployment to the Alfa Romeo GTA, Ford Escort RS, Maserati 250F 6cyl & 12cyl, Toyota AE86 (in both stock, drift & tuned variants) of the new live axle 'breakthrough' we are starting to see a slight shift in direction for some of the cars in game, all for the better in Kunos' quest for realism with Assetto Corsa.

Other highlights from the new build include some further AI tweaks on a couple of cars and a number of real world liveries for the awesome Maserati MC12 GT1 that was introduced to the sim as part of the recent 'Ready to Race' DLC pack.

Build 1.14.4 Change Log:

• Improved Ferrari 312T and Lotus 72D AI
  
• Renamed CPU line in Render Stats app "MAIN_T" as "Main thread" to avoid confusions
  
• Corrected Mercedes C9 front tyre wear
  
• Corrected Glickenhaus SCG003 setup dampers slider numbering
  
• Improved live axle simulation
  
• Updated live axle physics for Alfa Romeo GTA, Ford Escort RS, Maserati 250F 6cyl & 12cyl, Toyota AE86 stock, drift & tuned. Old setups might need to be tweaked again.
  
• Added seconds in timeline when replay length is over 1 hour
  
• Fixed Delta Graph script on Mclaren P1 GTR
  
• Real-life racing liveries added for the Maserati MC12 GT1

Available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, Assetto Corsa is a racing simulation from Kunos Simulazioni currently has up to 75% off on Steam.

More fun happens at the RaceDepartment Assetto Corsa Racing Club, so sign up, head over get racing today! Its a blast and you won't look back once you've been bitten by the bug! If you just want to catch the news or hang out with fellow AC fans then fear not, we accommodate that too! We have a thriving Assetto Corsa Sub Forum where you can do exactly that, or even check out and download some of the great mods on offer and upload and share custom car setups! Its all here at RD, what are you waiting for?!?

Live axle update... made a different to the cars in your opinion? How is the game post update? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[Rupe Wilson]

yes stick to track limits and your ok..
I did a test with it in our club event for the most it was ok but some guys were caught out by cars slowing in front of them and it spoiled there race.. A penalty should only effect the driver who committed it, not a innocent bystander.. that is my issue with it ..

 

[After_Midnight]

Cant wait to try this out.. thanks for the update..

Maybe on day they will sort out the stupid gas gut penalty system that's in place at present for online racing

This is a hotlapping penalty system and it works for exactly this. Maybe also for the qualy online. But don't blame Kunos for it. They have already give us the possibility to set it up in the server options and so its up to the server owner to make the right settings and we should always respect the track limits also without a penalty system

 

[Rupe Wilson]

They make the game they are responsible for it.. nobody else. it just doesn't work to good online even if its working as designed. and causes more issues than it solves in races.
the tires out option works perfectly in places.
its called RACE GAS CUT in the server config... so in my mind its used for race conditions.

 

[RasmusP]

Yes indeed..
Good for them that it's a hotlap penalty system. I would like a race penalty system too

 

[Radu Oros]

Yes indeed..
Good for them that it's a hotlap penalty system. I would like a race penalty system too

There is a race penalty system The problem is that some people don't find it good enough. Yet they suggest another system where at the 3rd cut you have a drive-through penalty. What happens if you cut 2 times and get in first position for the win? It means you can win the race by doing 2 illegal cuts. @Rupe Wilson I think you need to suggest a better race penalty system with rules that are more fair than you suggested previously.

 

[RasmusP]

There is a race penalty system The problem is that some people don't find it good enough. Yet they suggest another system where at the 3rd cut you have a drive-through penalty. What happens if you cut 2 times and get in first position for the win? It means you can win the race by doing 2 illegal cuts. @Rupe Wilson I think you need to suggest a better race penalty system with rules that are more fair than you suggested previously.

Mainly that was for the Club events here at RD. If you cut the track and you overtake someone by it, the other driver can report him. He knows WHEN and WHERE it was. So he won't win due to that
If you gain a bit of time for the 2 times cutting... Well I think that would be "okay". Not perfect, but also not really harmful.
The main problem with the AC penalty system is that if you get hit and fly off the track you get 30 seconds slow down for it and your race is over...
If you don't cut deliberately, you can get kicked off the track 3 times. Not likely to happen!
That's all not perfect and the only penalty system that is fair would be an algorithm that knows if a car has an accident or not and who is at fault. But that's not possible...

 

[Rupe Wilson]

Thanks RsmusP you understand were i was coming from with my suggestion, and the frustration i have with it in its present state. you have also read the rules of RD club racing, and know how we work
I do not need to say more..

 

[Emery]

That's all not perfect and the only penalty system that is fair would be an algorithm that knows if a car has an accident or not and who is at fault. But that's not possible...

No need for an algorithm that looks for accidents. For instance, rF2 cut detection pays attention to whether you are gaining time or not as a result of the cut. rF2 trackbuilders can finetune the default setting.

Detecting accidents between cars shouldn't be hard, either, since there's collision information already collected (e.g. as used in Minorating). All you'd have to do is combine that contact data with exceeding track limits.

 

[Terry Rock]

Much as I like AC, the penalty system is in serious need of a major overhaul.
The simple answer from some guys, is to stick to the track limits. That's not always practical.
The reality is that during any evasive maneuver (running off track to avoid crashed cars, etc..) your race is as good as done.
When have you ever seen that in a Grand Prix, or for that matter... any live race?
Drivers get warning and the occasional penalty only after exceeding track limits multiple times.
They certainly don't get penalized for leaving the track during avoidance.
I think penalties should have been long ago, tied to steering and braking inputs.
Those are parameter you can track using the existing software.
Approach a corner with no brake and steering input and go off....penalty for the cut.
If you spin on a corner or go wide, you've effectively penalized yourself with a loss of time anyway.
Either way, you'll gain nothing and it won't spoil the racing by having half of the field exit, as a result of feeling they'll never be able to catch up after one of those 'Draconian' penalties.

 

[Stereo]

The long penalties are only in the places where that's necessary for how big a time gap you can gain, like Monza's first chicane. Most of the rest of them you can clear by coasting a little bit extra into the next braking zone and not lose anything near the amount of time the penalty lists. It just means knowing where the penalties are harsh and being extra careful there.

 

[Radu Oros]

Mainly that was for the Club events here at RD. If you cut the track and you overtake someone by it, the other driver can report him. He knows WHEN and WHERE it was. So he won't win due to that
If you gain a bit of time for the 2 times cutting... Well I think that would be "okay". Not perfect, but also not really harmful.
The main problem with the AC penalty system is that if you get hit and fly off the track you get 30 seconds slow down for it and your race is over...
If you don't cut deliberately, you can get kicked off the track 3 times. Not likely to happen!
That's all not perfect and the only penalty system that is fair would be an algorithm that knows if a car has an accident or not and who is at fault. But that's not possible...

For you is okay to cut 2 times, gain time, and win the race, but is not okay to get cutting penalty in evasive situations or if another car pushes you out the track. If you suffer an accident and you go flying off the track into the sand you already lost a lot of time and most likely track position as well. Any cutting penalty you get when you rejoin, if you get any because several times the system doesn't give extra penalty when you come from the sand, will be meaningless.

The idea I'm getting from both Rupe and Rasmus is that the current race penalty system is bad because you should be allowed to cut the track without penalties.

 

[RasmusP]

The idea I'm getting from both Rupe and Rasmus is that the current race penalty system is bad because you should be allowed to cut the track without penalties.

Then I am very sorry for giving you that impression!
It's 100% the opposite! The only reason why the penalty system was enabled in the Le Mans event (Audi TT) was BECAUSE some guys were cutting the track too much!
I never cut the track (and when I did it actually cost me time)!
Why the penalties are normally disabled: in the Club Events we are told to race like in real life and that means to go over the track limits rather than crashing or forcing other drivers to risk their car. When you drive like that you get penalized for being "nice and fair". Also these events should be fun and that means going side by side quite often and therefore also go slightly off track. Of course I give back the gained time or position! But can't accelerate for +10 seconds is ruining that "go side by side, have fun and be fair"

 

[Radu Oros]

Then I am very sorry for giving you that impression!
It's 100% the opposite! The only reason why the penalty system was enabled in the Le Mans event (Audi TT) was BECAUSE some guys were cutting the track too much!
I never cut the track (and when I did it actually cost me time)!
Why the penalties are normally disabled: in the Club Events we are told to race like in real life and that means to go over the track limits rather than crashing or forcing other drivers to risk their car. When you drive like that you get penalized for being "nice and fair". Also these events should be fun and that means going side by side quite often and therefore also go slightly off track. Of course I give back the gained time or position! But can't accelerate for +10 seconds is ruining that "go side by side, have fun and be fair"

In real life there is no automated system for penalties (maybe there is electronic system with sensors that detects cuts in F1 tracks). So if you want a real life experience in the sim game then you gotta do it like that as well. Use real people to evaluate penalties and attribute them during or after the race.

So for me that's the answer for RD club events "we are told to race like in real life". Necessarily you also need to have people following the race and give penalties like in real life races. If you want to rely on an automated system then also be prepared for drawbacks. Real life penalties don't please to everyone as well.

The cutting and penalties systems in racing games (online racing) are developed to be efficient and simple to follow for everyone and is the same for everyone.
Most of the time in AC you don't need to wait a lot of time to remove the penalty, just wait 5-10sec or reduce speed to 35kmh, something you can do on a low speed corner. If you start cutting multiple times then is possible you'll get a higher penalty.

Do you want this to be changed? Then is better to build a case with video gameplay where we can see how fair or bad the penalty was. Then use the opportunity and also suggest a system that would actually be better than then current one and for everyone involved in the race, good luck

 

[RasmusP]

... So if you want a real life experience in the sim game then you gotta do it like that as well. Use real people to evaluate penalties and attribute them during or after the race.
That's what is done in the Club Events Well, no spectators but most of the time everyone is fair and a gentleman! If one does feel the need to report an incident, then it's judged by very experienced and fair "judges". That is my experience so far, I am only a Rookie and new to online racing!

Do you want this to be changed? Then is better to build a case with video gameplay where we can see how fair or bad the penalty was. Then use the opportunity and also suggest a system that would actually be better than then current one and for everyone involved in the race, good luck

Thank you! A rough suggestion was done here already Maybe I will do such video! Got 4 penalties in that one race, I still have the replay

 

[Radu Oros]

Thank you! A rough suggestion was done here already Maybe I will do such video! Got 4 penalties in that one race, I still have the replay

Unfortunately in the replays it doesn't appear on the screen the message with the penalty, only during live gameplay.

About the 3 cuts drive through penalty system, Stefano already considered it in the past but the conclusion was that you're giving 2 free cuts for anyone to abuse without penalty, if you only get a drive-through the pits at the 3rd cut.

 

[RasmusP]

Unfortunately in the replays it doesn't appear on the screen the message with the penalty, only during live gameplay.

About the 3 cuts drive through penalty system, Stefano already considered it in the past but the conclusion was that you're giving 2 free cuts for anyone to abuse without penalty, if you only get a drive-through the pits at the 3rd cut.

That's true! For the replay: well I would do a little text so you know when I got the penalty. Depressed throttle should be enough "proof"
That you will get 2 free cuts is true. The penalty system would have to switch between single-lap (qualifying) and racing. Even 1 free cut in qualifying is not an option! But in a race... 2 cuts in 30 minutes is not THAT bad. The problem is more that some people cut every corner, every lap.

But to be honest in the end I don't care that much for the penalty system (but to discuss it is fun ). It would be very nice if it would be changed to something complex, pleasing everyone but for club racing I don't bother to watch the replay and play "cutting police" until it's gone

 

[Zoltan76]

This argue about the penalty system is a bit off-topic I think, but I have to admit that this system is totally ruining immersion. Great physics, car, laser scanned tracks ... but this slow down thing is just so unrealistic that I don't understand how could anyone come up with the idea under the development of the sim. Easy as pie: I cut the track one time, I got 5s or 10s penalty after the race. I cut the track three times, stop&go.

 

[Radu Oros]

This argue of the penalty system is a bit off-topic I think, but I have to admit that this system is totally ruining immersion. Great physics, car, laser scanned tracks ... but this slow down thing is just so unrealistic that I don't understand how could anyone come up with the idea under the development of the sim. Easy as pie: I cut the track one time, I got 5s or 10s penalty after the race. I cut the track three times, stop&go.

But people in an online game will keep complaining that they were pushed off track or wanted to avoid an accident so they went outside, and the 5s or 10s penalty was unfair.

Is literally the same reason people are complaining right now about the current system, that they get a penalty for going off track when the intention wasn't to cut the track.

So I don't see what you're suggesting will stop people from coming to the forums and say they received a time penalty because of someone else during the race. Are the same complaints people are having now in this thread, that they received a time penalty because of someone else.

 

[Zoltan76]

Not one system ever will be good enough for everyone. But I think immersion is far more important in a wannabe realistic game than anything else.

 

[dud]

Since this update I have the hangs with "populating favorites" in the launcher. Generally well known and usually associated with broken mods.

However, in my case it is not particular cars, it is number of cars (or skins). One and the same car installed works, and re-adding random cars that work fine will disable the launcher if there are too many cars.

The number of cars triggering this is not constant. Might be number of skins.