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Live for Speed

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Live for Speed
File:Lfs logo.jpg
Developer(s)LFS Team
Publisher(s)LFS Team
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseJune 24, 2005 (S2 alpha)
Genre(s)Sim racing
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

Live for Speed (LFS) is an online racing simulator developed by a small team comprised of Scawen Roberts, Eric Bailey, and Victor van Vlaardingen. Its main focus is providing a realistic online multiplayer racing experience. However, it does contain single player support, where one may race against AI cars, try to set lap records, or take driving skills tests.

The game is intended to be released in three parts, S1 (Stage 1), S2, and S3. Each stage will feature improvements in many areas, such as physics model, graphics and sound. Technical improvements introduced in each new stage become available for previous stages as well, with the main difference between stages being additional cars and tracks, as well as the maximum number of players in a server. Owners of each stage are also able to access servers for previous stages and demo servers.

A fully working, commercial, alpha version of LFS S2 was released on June 24, 2005. The latest patch for LFS, S2-Q, was released November 27, 2005.

Gameplay

File:Lfs so gtr.jpg
GTR-class race in South City
File:Lfs ky fox.jpg
Formula XRs in Kyoto Ring

LFS like most car simulators, is best controlled with a steering wheel and pedals. Getting the fastest speed through a lap requires smooth, controlled movements on steering, throttle, and brakes. There is also support for keyboard, mouse, joysticks, gamepads, and it is generally possible to still be competitive using these.

The S2 version offers a total of 18 different vehicles. They range from beginner-friendly models to vehicles more suited for players with more experience. There is a broad power spectrum compared to most racing games, from under 100 horsepower (75 kW) to around 500 hp (370 kW) in the high performance race cars.

The current version features seven separate racing areas, each containing several layouts of different distances. Altogether, there are 49 unique configurations. Additionally, users can create their own custom layouts using cones and other objects with the in-game autocross editor; the car park environments in the game are ideal for creating such layouts.

Races can be from one to hundreds of laps or be set to run for a certain length of time, as is seen in endurance racing. There is support for refueling and tire changes in pit stops and mid-race adjustment of pit strategy. During an online race driver changes between two real drivers are possible. Pit lane speed limits of 80 km/h are enforced by penalties similar to those seen in real motorsport. These include drive-through, stop and go, or time penalty. Starting grids can be set by random chance, finishing positions in the previous race, or a qualifying period before the race.

A training mode is included as a driving school to help new drivers acquaint themselves with basic driving skills and the handling characteristics of each car. The lessons cover subjects such as cornering, throttle and brake control, and negotiating traffic. To pass, they have to be completed within a certain time without touching any obstacles or other vehicles. They are arranged as in sets, one for each car and ordered from slowest to fastest. Each set must be completed before moving to the lessons for the next car. However, completing them is not necessary to unlock cars, as all are available for racing from the beginning.

Cars

S1

File:Gti evo.png
Evolution of XF GTI and LFS graphics through time
S1 cars
Model Abbrev Layout Drive Engine Output Weight
XF GTI XFG FF hatchback FWD 1.3 L inline-4 120 hp 2072 lb
XR GT XRG FR coupe RWD 1.8 L inline-4 140 hp 2573 lb
XR GT Turbo XRT FR coupe RWD 2.0 L turbo inline-4 247 hp 2697 lb
RB4 GT RB4 FR coupe AWD 2.0 L turbo inline-4 243 hp 2723 lb
FXO Turbo FXO FF coupe FWD 1.9 L turbo flat-4 234 hp 2495 lb
LX4 LX4 FR roadster RWD 1.3 L inline-4 140 hp 1100 lb
LX6 LX6 FR roadster RWD 1.8 L inline-6 190 hp 1192 lb
MRT5 MRT MR kart RWD 600 cc turbo inline-4 64 hp 486 lb
  • XF GTI (XFG) - Front wheel drive hatchback, appears to be based on various European 'hot hatches' such as the Peugeot 306 and Golf GTi
  • XR GT (XRG) - Rear wheel drive, front engined coupe, appears to be based on the Porsche 944, Mazda RX-7 FC, and the Mitsubishi Starion.
  • XR GT Turbo (XRT) - XR GT with increased power
  • RB4 GT (RB4) - All wheel drive, front engined coupe, based on the old Toyota Celica GT-4.
  • FXO Turbo (FXO) - Front wheel drive, front engined coupe with power comparable to the XR GT Turbo
  • LX4 - Front engined rear wheel drive lightweight roadster, a clone of the Lotus 7.
  • LX6 - Larger, heavier, more powerful version of the LX4
  • MRT5 (MRT) - Small open wheel race car somewhat larger than a kart. Based on the real MRT5 built by the McGill Racing Team to compete in the Formula SAE championship.

S2

S2 cars
Model Abbrev Layout Drive Engine Output Weight
UF 1000 UF1 FR hatchback FWD 1.0 L inline-4 55 hp 1323 lb
Raceabout RAC MR convertible RWD 2.0 L turbo inline-4 245 hp 1762 lb
FZ50 FZ5 RR coupe RWD 3.6 L flat-6 360 hp 3041 lb
XF GTR XFR FF race car FWD 2.0 L inline-4 240 hp 1843 lb
UF GTR UFR FF race car FWD 1.4 L inline-4 180 hp 1323 lb
Formula XR FOX MR formula RWD 2.0 L inline-4 190 hp 1079 lb
Formula V8 FO8 MR formula RWD 3.0 L V8 458 hp 1323 lb
FXO GTR FXR FR race car AWD 2.0 L turbo flat-4 490 hp 2492 lb
XR GTR XRR FR race car RWD 2.0 L turbo inline-4 490 hp 2424 lb
FZ50 GTR FZR RR race car RWD 3.6 L flat-6 490 hp 2425 lb
  • UF 1000 (UF1) - Small front wheel drive car similar to a Mini
  • UF GTR (UFR) - Higher powered version of UF 1000 with wider track and slick tires
  • XF GTR (XFR) - Lighter, higher powered racing version of the XF Gti with slick tires
  • XR GTR (XRR) - Lighter racing version of the XR GT Turbo with 490 hp (365 kW), a rear wing, and slick tires
  • FXO GTR (FXR) - Four wheel drive racing version of the FXO Turbo with 490 hp (365 kW), a rear wing, and slick tires
  • FZ50 (FZ5) - Rear wheel drive, rear engined sports car, based on the venerable Porsche 911.
  • FZ50 GTR (FZR) - Lighter racing version of the FZ50 with 490 hp (365 kW), a rear wing, and slick tires
  • Raceabout (RAC) - Rear wheel drive mid engined open-top sports car based on the real Raceabout built by Finnish university students
  • Formula XR (FOX) - Small open wheel race car similar to Formula Renault 2000 cars
  • Formula V8 (FO8) - Open wheel race car similar to Formula 3000 cars

Tracks

S1

S1 tracks
Track Circuit Abbrev Length
Blackwood GP Track BL1 2.1 mi / 3.4 km
Rallycross BL2 1.2 mi / 1.9 km
South City Classic SO1 1.3 mi / 2.1 km
Sprint Track 1 SO2 1.3 mi / 2.1 km
Sprint Track 2 SO3 0.8 mi / 1.3 km
City Long SO4 2.5 mi / 4.0 km
Town Course SO5 2.0 mi / 3.2 km
Fern Bay Club FE1 1.0 mi / 1.6 km
Green Track FE2 1.9 mi / 3.1 km
Gold Track FE3 2.2 mi / 3.5 km
Black Track FE4 4.1 mi / 6.6 km
Rallycross FE5 1.3 mi / 2.1 km
RallyX Green FE6 0.5 mi / 0.8 km
Autocross Autocross AU1 0.3 mi / 0.5 km
Skid Pad AU2 0.1 mi / 0.2 km
Drag Strip AU3 0.7 mi / 1.1 km
Eight Lane Drag AU4 0.7 mi / 1.1 km
  • Blackwood - one road and one rallycross configuration, plus reverse for each
  • Fern Bay - four road and two rallycross configurations, plus reverse
  • South City - five road configurations, plus reverse
  • Test Area - a group of non-circuit environments that include:
    • Autocross - large flat rectangular parking lot with placeable marker objects for custom track layouts
    • Skidpad - circular pad for testing a car's cornering ability
    • Dragstrip - long, straight drag racing track

S2

S2 tracks
Track Circuit Abbrev Length
Blackwood Car park BL3 Arena
Kyoto Ring Oval KY1 1.9 mi / 3.1 km
National KY2 3.2 mi / 5.1 km
GP Long KY3 4.6 mi / 7.4 km
Westhill International WE1 3.2 mi / 5.1 km
Aston Cadet AS1 1.2 mi / 1.9 km
Club AS2 1.9 mi / 3.1 km
National AS3 3.5 mi / 5.6 km
Historic AS4 5.0 mi / 8.0 km
Grand Prix AS5 5.5 mi / 8.9 km
  • Blackwood car park - The Blackwood track now has a parking area for autocross.
  • Aston - The Aston Racetrack has several long and short configurations within a setting patterned after the English countryside, full of forest and small hills. The five road configurations, plus reverse for each, include the longest in S2 at 8.8 kilometers. Fast and slow turns, some altitude changes and a fast chicane are the main ingredients to this racetrack.
  • Kyoto Ring - In this Japanese environment, the atmosphere is set by the tri-oval - the 'ring', which links together all configurations. One oval and two road configurations, plus reverse.
  • Westhill - The 5.2 km long Westhill circuit, situated in a farming area, provides fast and wide turns. It contains one road configuration so far, plus reverse.

Reviews and Awards

Justin Kranzl of APC magazine called the S1 release of LFS "the best PC racing simulator ever" . A Bytesector 2005 review of LFS's S2 release said "but nothing short of going to a track actually compares to the experience. Live for Speed is, by far, the most intense and demanding game I've ever played."

In 2005, AutoSim Sport magazine gave LFS their "Best Simulation" award, and the users at [ BlackHole Motorsports] voted to give LFS the following awards:

  • The BHM "Game of the year" award,
  • The BHM "Best multiplayer" award,
  • The BHM "Best physics" award.

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Live_for_Speed&oldid=47281160"