Get Started Here (how to purchase, faq, etc)
Hello,
Thank you for your interest in rFactor2 during it's beta phase.
What is a beta, and what are you doing
The first thing to understand entering the process and before you make a purchase is that this software will slowly build up. It's not finished, and even after we finish the beta process there will still be both content and features added for years to come.
Beta software might not work on your system at times, even if you meet the minimum specs. It may have bugs, poor performance, issues and problems. We will be working to fix them, but you WILL have problems at some point or another.
You will be required to pay for the software, making an early purchase, in order to use the software. This all helps us to test, refine and adapt our purchasing system to our future needs.
Advice from staff may be lacking during the testing and development phases, so a lot of advice has to come from members of the community.
If this is all not something you agree with, then don't buy it. We will produce a free demo AFTER the testing period is completed and you can check it out at that time.
Purchasing
rFactor2 is currently purchased within the software itself. Follow this guide for more information, but the basics are that you install, run the rFactor2 launcher and go to the Purchase tab. You should also make sure you at least meet the minimum specifications (rFactor2 will not perform well, or at all, if you do not):
MINIMUM:
PU: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 or 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon x2
Memory: 2 GB
Video Card: nVidia 8600 GT or ATI/AMD 3850
Video Memory: 256MB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
DirectX: 9.0c
Storage: 4 GB
Internet connection required.
RECOMMENDED (over above minimums):
CPU: 3.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or 3.0 GHz AMD Athlon II x2 or better
Memory: 4 GB+
Video Card: nVidia 250 GTS or ATI/AMD 4870 or better
Video Memory: 512MB+
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista 64bit, Windows 7 64bit
Storage: 4 GB+Notes:
1 – 2008 C++ Runtimes SP1 required (included with installer).
2 – rFactor 2 executable is 32bit. 64bit OS recommended above to allow more than 4GB RAM.
Current version (Build)
If you are installing rFactor2 for the
first time, this is current version: Build 69.
Download it here.
Note that this includes no cars or tracks, they are downloaded seperately as RFMOD files.
Standard or Lifetime version
When purchasing, you are given two options. Both are the same product, they simply have different pricing structures and limitations on online services.
STANDARD:
Single payment of $43.99, then (after one free year) an additional yearly payment of $12 every year.
LIFETIME:
Single payment of $84.99.
Other regional prices may vary.
STANDARD:
Online services (including multiplayer and automatic updating) require the yearly payment to be made.
LIFETIME:
Online services are free for the lifetime of the product.
Refunds
You may request a refund for rFactor2 if eligible. Your eligibility depends on when you made your purchase. Both Moneybookers and Paypal have a two month refund policy, so that is what we will be doing. Two months should be more than enough time to see if development is moving at a pace you are happy with, or if the product is outside your tastes.
To process a refund, please run the rF2 launcher, click the purchase tab, click manage account, login (if not already), click Request refund and follow the instructions on-screen.
Note that in some cases, we may have to wait to receive your money before we can send it back to you. We also cannot refund any money to you if you were given rF2 for free by another organization, you should be refunded for their product/service by them. Allow at least two working days for your refund to be processed.
Updating
To manually install updates, drop
the relevant file into the updates directory of your rF2 data directory. Run the launcher, LOGIN on Simulate tab, go to update and it should detect the file and run the updater. Never rename an update executable.
To automatically update, simply run the launcher, LOGIN on Simulate tab, go to update and follow instructions.
Installing Cars/Tracks (Mods)
Download RFMOD files and put them into the packages directory of your rF2 data directory. You can then click 'manage mods' in the launcher (right click on each mod for actions) or install at the series selector within rF2.
You update them in the same way. Download RFMOD files and put them into the packages directory of your rF2 data directory. You can then click 'manage mods' in the launcher (right click on each mod for actions) or update at the series selector within rF2.
Current RFMODs Available
RFMODS and Components released by ISI can be downloaded in
this thread.
Modding
You can make mods (cars, tracks, plugins) for rFactor2. We provide as many tools and guides as we have time to produce. Tools are provided “as is” and are not supported.
Modders should make sure they keep all their working files during the testing phase, as mod compatibility between updates cannot be guaranteed. Advice from staff may be lacking during the testing and development phases, so a lot of advice has to come from members of the community.
You can download guides, examples, etc from
this thread.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Should I download the EXE/RFMOD, or the TORRENT?
A. A torrent is a 'shortcut' that allows you to download a complete file in a torrent client. If you don't have a torrent client, it won't work and you should download the HTTP link. A torrent file is NOT a complete installer/mod.
Q. I have purchased, but all my options on the launcher are grayed out.
A. You need to try reactivating your software. Do this on the purchase tab in the launcher.
Q. My multiplayer button is grayed out in the launcher.
A. You need to login using your email and password used when purchasing. If that doesn't work, try reactivating.
Q. How do I 'reactivate' my software?
A. Run the launcher and go to the purchase tab. You can reactivate the product there.
Q. Can I install rFactor2 on another machine?
A. Yes. Install the software on the other machine, run the launcher and go to the purchase tab. You can reactivate the product on that machine there. Note that we have a soft limit of five reactivations per purchase.
Q. How do I check what version/build I have?
A. This can be seen on the Update tab of the rF2 launcher, or in the readme.txt in the core installation directory.
Q. How often will you release updates?
A. We never have and never will have a set date or time to release updates. There tends to be a negative reaction any time we miss a set date.
Q. Do you tell us what is coming in updates before they arrive?
A. Probably not. This tends to lead to negative reactions if anything we said would happen, does not happen.
Q. Why don't you tell us what you're doing all the time?
A. We are constantly working, but telling you that serves no purpose. This is a development phase, so the majority of information comes to us (for us to act on), not from us. We will have more open communication in later stages, when we begin marketing the product.
Q. My simulation seems to be running in slow motion.
A. Apparently some drivers can't handle a quick FFB update rate, so use this hack to skip the given number of updates:
Open controller.ini with notepad and adjust:
Skip updates="0" // (0=full update rate, 1=half, 2=one-third, 3=one-quarter, etc.)
Q. I have a strong noise/rattle with my controller.
A. See
this thread for more information - OR - see below.
Q. The Force Feedback is strong and noisy on my Logitech G25/G27?
A. Yes. This is because most racing games and simulations filter Force Feedback. We, by default, do not, because most wheels can take it unfiltered without issue. However, the G25 and G27 are noisy when it is not filtered. If you want to add filtering:
Open controller.ini with notepad and adjust the following line to a number we recommend between 2 and 8 (maximum is 32):
Steering torque Filter="0"
Q. My simulation does not start?
A. If you do not have the DirectX runtimes installed, rF2 will not start. To test this is the problem you can run the rfactor2.exe in the core directory, and an error will popup.
Q. What is the graphics 'sync' option?
A. This determines the method you use. Some work better/worse depending on your system.
Software sync is a software VSync.
GPU sync is a “Flush Previous Frame” setting. This setting is not recommended for SLI.
Video sync is our VSync option.
None will behave like our older software, without VSync enabled.
Q. How do I reset my files to the state you released them?
A. During a testing phase we always advise using unaltered installations and checking that any problem isn't being caused by someone else's mod or plugin first. If you are certain the problem is caused by the current build (and not an issue with someone else's files) you can try uninstalling and reinstalling. For an even fresher installation, you can delete the rFactor2 folder in the Documents folder (or wherever you told the installer to put the 'data' files). When doing this, you should save the rfmod files you downloaded so you do not need to re-download them, and note that all options will be reset when you reinstall.
Q. Can I paint my cars?
A. Yes. Templates are posted
here.
Bonus of testing
Before we started testing, we announced that people who purchased during testing would receive a longer period than 12 months free for the online services mentioned above (standard version only). This is still current and we will make sure that people who have helped us during this period are given extra time in that way no matter when testing ends. A refund request obviously invalidates this.
Thanks,
Tim
