TORCS
Encyclopedia
TORCS is an open source
3D
car racing simulator
available for GNU/Linux, FreeBSD
, Mac OS X
, and Microsoft Windows
. TORCS was created by Eric Espié and Christophe Guionneau, but project development is now headed by Bernhard Wymann. It is written in C++
and is licensed under the GNU GPL
. TORCS is designed to enable pre-programmed AI
drivers to race against one another, while allowing the user to control a vehicle using either a keyboard, mouse, or wheel input.
(Robot Auto Racing Simulator). When Espié and Guionneau acquired a 3dfx
graphics card for game development, they made the first 3D
version of the simulator with OpenGL
and renamed it Open Racing Car Simulator (ORCS) so as not to be confused with the Revision Control System
.
The early versions of ORCS did not include cars with engines, making the game a Soap Box Derby
-style, downhill racing simulation. When engines and engine sounds were eventually added, the simulation was given its final name, TORCS, as the name seemed more relevant to automobiles given its similarity to the word torque
.
Later, Guionneau added multiple camera angles during game-play. Guionneau developed much of the original graphics code in TORCS and eventually added texture mapping
to give more detail to the cars. Espié then worked on piecing together and finalizing code for release.
, enhanced car interior detail, and replays.
considered TORCS to be the best open source driving game in their October 18, 2007 issue, highlighting the ability for players to design their own cars, realistic graphics and vehicle handling.
-connected clients simultaneously, the TORCS Racing Board is a competition between artificial intelligence
"robots" developed and uploaded by users.
Faculty from the University of Würzburg
and Politecnico di Milano host two AI competitions, the Simulated Car Racing Championship and the Demolition Derby
Competition; the latter uses a patched TORCS server.
into several projects, for example Speed Dreams
(formerly known as Torcs-NG).
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
car racing simulator
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
available for GNU/Linux, FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. TORCS was created by Eric Espié and Christophe Guionneau, but project development is now headed by Bernhard Wymann. It is written in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and is licensed under the GNU GPL
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
. TORCS is designed to enable pre-programmed AI
Ai
AI, A.I., Ai, or ai may refer to:- Computers :* Artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science* Ad impression, in online advertising* .ai, the ISO Internet 2-letter country code for Anguilla...
drivers to race against one another, while allowing the user to control a vehicle using either a keyboard, mouse, or wheel input.
History
Development of TORCS began in 1997 by Eric Espié and Christophe Guionneau as a 2D game called Racing Car Simulator (RCS). It was influenced by and based on RARSRARS
RARS is an acronym for Robot Auto Racing Simulator. It is an open source 3D racing simulator. RARS is designed to enabled pre-programmed AI drivers to race against one another. RARS was used as the base for TORCS. It was used as an example in the book Intelligent Information Processing and Web...
(Robot Auto Racing Simulator). When Espié and Guionneau acquired a 3dfx
3dfx
3dfx Interactive was a company that specialized in the manufacturing of 3D graphics processing units and, later, graphics cards. It was a pioneer in the field for several years in the late 1990s until 2000 when it underwent one of the most high-profile demises in the history of the PC industry...
graphics card for game development, they made the first 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
version of the simulator with OpenGL
OpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
and renamed it Open Racing Car Simulator (ORCS) so as not to be confused with the Revision Control System
Revision Control System
The Revision Control System is a software implementation of revision control that automates the storing, retrieval, logging, identification, and merging of revisions. RCS is useful for text that is revised frequently, for example programs, documentation, procedural graphics, papers, and form...
.
The early versions of ORCS did not include cars with engines, making the game a Soap Box Derby
Soap Box Derby
The Soap Box Derby is a youth soapbox car racing program which has been run in the United States since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio...
-style, downhill racing simulation. When engines and engine sounds were eventually added, the simulation was given its final name, TORCS, as the name seemed more relevant to automobiles given its similarity to the word torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
.
Later, Guionneau added multiple camera angles during game-play. Guionneau developed much of the original graphics code in TORCS and eventually added texture mapping
Texture mapping
Texture mapping is a method for adding detail, surface texture , or color to a computer-generated graphic or 3D model. Its application to 3D graphics was pioneered by Dr Edwin Catmull in his Ph.D. thesis of 1974.-Texture mapping:...
to give more detail to the cars. Espié then worked on piecing together and finalizing code for release.
Future goals
Aside from bugfixes and maintenance of TORCS code, the next features planned include network multiplayer mode, improved physics enginePhysics engine
A physics engine is computer software that provides an approximate simulation of certain physical systems, such as rigid body dynamics , soft body dynamics, and fluid dynamics, of use in the domains of computer graphics, video games and film. Their main uses are in video games , in which case the...
, enhanced car interior detail, and replays.
Critical reception
Linux JournalLinux Journal
Linux Journal is a monthly technology magazine published by Belltown Media, Inc. of Houston, Texas. The magazine focuses specifically on Linux, allowing the content to be a highly specialized source of information for open source enthusiasts.-History:...
considered TORCS to be the best open source driving game in their October 18, 2007 issue, highlighting the ability for players to design their own cars, realistic graphics and vehicle handling.
Competitions
The TORCS Racing Board hosts a competition on its website among players in the TORCS community. Unlike traditional network multiplayer events in which players compete in real-time on local network or InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
-connected clients simultaneously, the TORCS Racing Board is a competition between artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
"robots" developed and uploaded by users.
Faculty from the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
and Politecnico di Milano host two AI competitions, the Simulated Car Racing Championship and the Demolition Derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
Competition; the latter uses a patched TORCS server.
TORCS forks
TORCS has been forkedFork (software development)
In software engineering, a project fork happens when developers take a legal copy of source code from one software package and start independent development on it, creating a distinct piece of software...
into several projects, for example Speed Dreams
Speed Dreams
Speed Dreams is an open source racing game.The project is a fork of the TORCS project, aiming to create a racing game that is more geared at the casual player.-External links:*...
(formerly known as Torcs-NG).
See also
- VDriftVDriftVDrift is a cross-platform, free/open source driving simulation made with drift racing in mind. The driving physics engine was recently re-written from scratch but was inspired by and owes much to the Vamos physics engine. It is released under the GNU General Public License v3...
, another cross-platform, open source driving simulation - X Motor RacingX Motor RacingX-Motor Racing is an indie racing simulator. The game features high precision physics simulation.Featured is a fully customizable physics model — the tire model, suspension, or motor are available to tune in the game, including an advanced tire model with adjustable parameters, such as...
, TORCS compatible UDP interface