In the alleys of Rome there are not only monuments and timeless beauties, but scrutinizing with attention it is possible to find a group of young nerds busy developing software in front of a screen. Who are they? The guys from Kunos Simulations, that is the creators of the sensational video game “Assetto Corsa Competizione”.
What is it? Assetto Corsa Competizione is the official game of the Blancpain Gt Series, the automotive championship dedicated to Gran Turismo cars and recognized by the International Automobile Federation.
The guys from Kunos try again
The “made in Italy” in the field of videogames probably won’t be able to compete with the overseas giants, but the stories of the Kunos boys represent a story that is worth being told. A minimum common denominator unites them: the passion for cars and programming. It all began back in 2005, when the company was founded and the headquarters was established. Guess where? Just near a motor racing circuit, to be precise, the Vallelunga Autodrome “Piero Taruffi”, a few steps from the capital.
Their first job was “NetKar“, a small simulation jewel. For the leap among the greats in the world of software development they had to wait until 2014, when the first “Assetto Corsa” was published. Despite some improved aspects, a real community of enthusiasts was formed around the game, and still today it is one of the most popular driving simulators ever, with thousands of additional content created by users. The current year saw a further upgrade take place with the creation of Assetto Corsa Competizione, which is not trivially the sequel to the video game of five years ago, but a new attempt to shorten the distances between the real and the virtual.
Assetto Corsa Competizione, the watchword: realism
The gaming experience proposed by Assetto Corsa Competizione is very close to reality. Using a simple joypad to enjoy the work of Kunos Simulations would be rather reductive. Furthermore, the various accessories for automotive simulation games (steering wheels and pedals) are no longer just a niche product, but have also been found to be cheap for some years. This has certainly facilitated the approach of the curious to the world of motor fanatics. The Assetto Corsa Competizione developers did a painstaking job, collaborating directly with the official Blancpain GT Series teams and drivers. This mania of video games is expressed in the graphic detail and in the level of fidelity achieved. The guys from Kunos have impeccably recreated every livery, cockpit, and even every piece of asphalt in the circuits.
The scenarios during the races approach photorealism, and even the weather conditions change during the race, affecting the difficulty of driving. Experts in general have given Assetto Corsa Competizione excellent reviews with scores ranging from 8 to 9 on a scale of values up to 10. The only flaw found in the game is the possibility of using only the machines of the FIA GT3 championship, and exclusively the official circuits, which unfortunately are barely ten. However, in the style of Kunos, new updates will soon come to satisfy even the most demanding players. All that remains is to sit in front of your console, grab the steering wheel and make the engines roar!