BeamNG.drive

BeamNG.drive
Developer(s) BeamNG GmbH
Publisher(s) BeamNG GmbH
Engine Torque
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s) Vehicle simulation
Mode(s) Single-player

BeamNG.drive is a vehicle simulation video game developed and published by Bremen-based video game developer BeamNG. The game features unique soft-body physics, and was released into Steam Early Access for Microsoft Windows on 29 May 2015.

Development

On 28 May 2012, BeamNG released a YouTube video titled "Revolutionary soft-body physics in CryEngine3".[1] Originally, BeamNG.drive was to be based on CryEngine 3, but its use in a driving game uncovered numerous bugs, leading development to be rolled over to Torque.[2] BeamNG.drive relies heavily on coding in Lua, and uses packets of local data using the Lua network system while the game.

BeamNG's website, beamng.com, was opened on 8 May 2012, to begin rolling out news of their development of the simulator.[3]

The game was placed on an open vote on Steam Greenlight on 12 February 2014,[4] and was greenlit eight days later.[5]

On 29 May 2015, the game was released to Steam Early Access.[6]

On 15 June 2018, BeamNG announced a partnership with Camshaft, developer of the vehicle tycoon game Automation, where they offered a promotional sale starting on 13 July 2018 for both games.[7] An update included the Automation Test Track level, set in New Zealand.

Gameplay

BeamNG.drive features five modes: Scenarios, which are checkpoint-to-checkpoint-based races; Campaign Mode, which is a collection of small scenarios that are scored on different factors such as damage, time, etc.; Free Roam Mode, where the player can drive and crash several different vehicles on a few pre-provided default environments; Time Trials, where the player selects the vehicle, the map, the course, and gets ready to make the best time; and Bus Routes, which puts the player behind the steering wheel of a bus. The game implements its soft-body physics to both control vehicle dynamics as well as to control the collisions between objects and vehicles.[8][9][10]

Physics

BeamNG.drive uses a real-time, soft-body dynamics physics structure to simulate its vehicles. Algorithms have been written for the physics equations to be carried out.[11] Vehicles in the game consist of a soft-body, node-beam structure, similar to the vehicle structure in Rigs of Rods. The physics engine simulates a network of interconnected nodes and beams which combine to form an invisible skeleton of a vehicle with realistic weights and masses. In terms of soft-body physics, vehicles realistically flex and deform as stresses to the skeleton, such as impacts from collisions are applied. The game's engine constantly calculates physics equations and problems in real-time during gameplay.[12]

Reception

Jack Stewart of BBC mentioned that BeamNG.drive "has received interest from the film industry to model vehicle stunts, so that they can be prototyped and tested exhaustively – but cheaply – before a stunt driver smashes up a car on set."[10] Polygon's Nick Robinson lauded the game's simulated physics and user-created content support, leading him to create an ongoing video series for Polygon, "Car Boys", in which he and Griffin McElroy spotlighted new BeamNG.drive content each week.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ Reilly, Luke (30 September 2012). "The Most Impressive Physics Engine You've Never Seen". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  2. ↑ "BeamNG and Torque3D". BeamNG. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  3. ↑ "new website". BeamNG. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  4. ↑ Savage, Phil (13 February 2014). "BeamNG.drive crashes onto Steam Greenlight". PC Gamer. Future US. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "We have been greenlit!". BeamNG. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Steam Early Access release". BeamNG. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Announcing Automation & BeamNG.drive collaboration!". BeamNG. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Reilly, Luke (7 August 2013). "Finally, BeamNG's Soft-Body Physics Are Available to the Public". IGN. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Futter, Mike (5 August 2013). "BeamNG's Amazingly Realistic Car Crashes". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  10. 1 2 Stewart, Jack (3 July 2014). "Video-game wrecks get real". BBC. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  11. ↑ Stamatogiannakis, Lefteris (12 June 2014). "A faster selection algorithm". BeamNG. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  12. ↑ Fischer, Thomas (5 August 2013). "BeamNG DRIVE alpha release". GarageGames. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  13. ↑ Feldman, Brian. "Car Boys, the Hilarious and Terrifying Car-Crash Series, Is the Best Show".
  14. ↑ Orlove, Raphael. "There Is Only One YouTube Channel Worth Watching And It's Car Boys".
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