16.11.2012 Category: Site news
by Kevin Deselms (Dec. 2012)
For years, VRC Pro has been one of the secret weapons in the training arsenal of computer-sawy, on-road RC racers, including world championship touring car contender, Ronald Volker. This robust piece of software simulates virtually every aspect of tuning and driving RC vehicles, making it a valuable way for racers of any skill level to stay in practice and improve their driving. Experimentation with setup changes is as easy as clicking a mouse button, no wrenching or vehicle breakdown required and best of all, there's no risk of breaking parts!
Using an optional USB adapter (sold on the website), players can connect a spare radio receiver and drive their cars using the very same radio as their real-world vehicles, This provides a nearly identical control experience and all of the functionality the radio offers. Alternatively, any USB gamepad can be mapped to the software's controller settings (an Xbox controller used via Windows 7 worked flawlessly), and if no other option exists, even a keyboard can be pressed into service. A wide variety of real-world tracks, cars, and components are available for purchase via micro-transactions, using VRC's in-game V-Euro currency, which can be earned by competing in official events and through a variety of other means (including inviting friends to sign up). It all sounds like a lot of fun; however, in the years since the simulator's introduction in 2004, it has only ever offered on-road simulation-until now. The founder of Virtual Racing lndustries, Pieter Bervoets, and his small but dedicated team of software developers in the Netherlands have finally released an off-road expansion pack to VRC Pro and most racers will agree that it was worth the wait.
ln the initial release of the off-road expansion pack, users were able to choose from two tracks: Germany's Rhein-Main outdoor circuit (modeled after its 2007 layout) and a smaller indoor clay track based on Mike's Hobby Shop in Carrollton, TX. Each course represents a different style of off-road racing, with the average lap times at Rhein-N4ain being roughly double those at Mike's Hobby Shop. Together, they represent an excellent opportunity for drivers to sharpen all of their driving skills. The VRC World Off-Road Indoor track was made available a week after the expansion's release, free of charge.
Designed for use with the stock 17.5 motor, it features a barrier-free "bashing" configuration, lf the wide selection of available on-road courses is any indication, off-road users can expect many more tracks to be introduced in the future. VRC Pro requires a monthly subscription that is charged in euros, so players should be aware of any bank fees they may incur as a result of the currency exchange, A full, three month, prepaid subscription is €29.95 (roughly $37) and the game's virtual currency is priced at around $12.35 per 10v€ (virtual cash).
Only one type of truck is available with the expansion: a 4WD, belt driven chassis, that's modeled after Team Associated's SC10 4x4, in either a "mod" or "box stock" version (a non-adjustable chassis that only supports the 17.5 motor). interestingly enough, most users seem to agree that the version of the chassis in VRC Pro is actually far easier to set up and drive than its real-world counterpart. The software features virtually all of the same setup options that exist on a real-world truck and for the most paft, setting changes create the same effects on the track that an experienced driver would expect in the real world. Some users have expressed that the hardest tension of the sway bars and springs feels significantly softer than their real-world equivalents, but the development staff has proven very responsive to user input and several tuning tweaks are reportedly already planned for the next software patch. ln terms of parts, there is not a wide variety of options available for purchase yet. The expansion pack includes four brushless motor types in'17.5, 13.5, 8.5, and 7.5-turn flavors, as well as both VRC-created and brand-name options for speed controllers, batteries, and body shells. Unfortunately (and most likely due to the required research and development time), the options that are currently available for use with the 4WD chassis do not include the newer four-pole motors or more powerful speed controllers, so users will be installing electronics that would probably be better suited to a 2WD chassis. However, among the product licenses and endorsements, the game boasts some of the biggest names in radio control electronics. These include LRP, Novak, and Tekin, so over time we can probably expect to see many of these options introduced as micro-transactions. At the moment, none of the official events make any class distinctions between motor types, so "stock" 17,5 racing will be confined to events organized at the club level, and in order to compete in official organized events, drivers will need to brlng as much motor as their driving skills can reasonably handle. First-time users can opt to install the equipment that is included in the purchase of the expansion or purchase name brand options using their V-Euros; many of which often offer additional benefits (higher capacity batteries with greater current draw, etc.). There are four sets of wheel/tire types offered for sale; however, the differences between them are purely cosmetic in nature. VRC programmers have stated on the user forums that alternative tread types are not currently at the top of their "todo" list. This will probably come as a disappointment to many racers who typically rely on alternative treads as a tuning option. Modeling the behavior of a tire tread is a serious challenge for a small staff of software engineers. However, their focus is most likely better off being spent on offering new tracks and chassis types. The experience of playing VRC Pro extends beyond the confines of the included tracks. The software features heavy web integration, offering users a custom profile on the official website (vrcworld.com), tracking racing performance and lap times for every event that a driver has entered.
Players can also organize clubs for other members to join and host their own club events, along with a variety of other features we've all come to expect in a social networking site. Players have the ability to sign up for events online via their profile and be reminded of these entries on their race calendar. The item shop is also available via the web, so while users are not logged into the game, they can browse through and purchase the various chassis options and track offerings. As an off-road racer, the experience of driving around the two introductory tracks while using the USB adapter and my trusty EX-10 Helios radio was as close to the real thing as I could have hoped. Tweaks to my truck's setup had the effect I expected, and I have found the ease of experimenting with my setup to be a real boon-although I admit to some disappointment at the lack of at least one indoor, high-traction indoor/clay tire tread in addition to the default tire. The clay surface at Mike's Hobby Shop is just begging me to bolt on a set of high-grip treads ... but alas, the option doesn't yet exist. Joining a friend's club (The SoCal Racing League) and participating in club races, joining in on official VRC-hosted events in the hopes of winning spendable V-Euros, jumping into random multiplayer sessions and seeing my name and times on event leaderboards (though always lower than I would like) is adjust a whole lot of fun. Having my lap times recorded and tracked online, and comparing them to my friends' times, is a constant motivator... and also an occasional source of embarrassment, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of the offroad component since VRC-Pro hit my radar over four years ago, and while the update has been hit with repeated delays over the intervening years, its release has now been met with resounding praise online and only a few minor complaints (mostly regarding payment methods and subscription pricing). For the weekend warrior who has very little time to hit the track for practice, VRC Pro could be the ultimate training tool-and the monthly fee is pretty reasonable. At around S10-12 per month, it's really not much higher than what most racers would expect to pay for a single day of practice time at their favorite local track.
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