Project CARS is an ever-evolving game and whilst the 2015 season was a successful one with the inaugural SMS-R Driver Network Championship, there were a number of areas we felt could be improved.
Over the last few months therefore we've been working even harder on ensuring the 2016 season is:
With that said, please find below the three headline changes for 2016...
Over the last few months therefore we've been working even harder on ensuring the 2016 season is:
- BIGGER - in both scope and spectacle
- BETTER SUPPORTED - both via our partners and a dedicated internal team
- WELL STRUCTURED - with clear rules & regulations and publicised formal processes
With that said, please find below the three headline changes for 2016...
OPEN & FIXED SERIES
2015 was full of blisteringly-fast drivers. However, in some cases, the one thing that prevented them from being able to compete at the very top level was their relative lack of tuning knowledge compared to others.
Whilst we still believe it's important for teams to have members under the hood as well as behind the wheel, we also want participants to have an avenue whereby they know that their win came down to pure driving skill as opposed to a feat of engineering.
The 2016 season will comprise of two separate Series therefore - an open Championship Series sponsored by Logitech G and a new Challenger Series sponsored by NVIDIA that will run cars with fixed setups. We hope that this new Series will provide a proving ground where drivers can lay down some great lap times with the knowledge that everyone is on an equal playing field.
Whilst we still believe it's important for teams to have members under the hood as well as behind the wheel, we also want participants to have an avenue whereby they know that their win came down to pure driving skill as opposed to a feat of engineering.
The 2016 season will comprise of two separate Series therefore - an open Championship Series sponsored by Logitech G and a new Challenger Series sponsored by NVIDIA that will run cars with fixed setups. We hope that this new Series will provide a proving ground where drivers can lay down some great lap times with the knowledge that everyone is on an equal playing field.
CONSOLE & PC DIVISIONS
Whilst we're confident of parity between the PC and console versions of the game, we're aware of driver feedback that has been requesting separate divisions for those that prefer to race on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and those that choose PC as their main platform.
In 2016 therefore, we will no longer be aggregating the fastest times across all platforms, but will instead only aggregate across consoles.
For both the Championship and Challenger Series therefore, there will be separate PC and Console Divisions for each whereby players on PS4 and Xbox One will be in competition with each other, whilst PC players will compete against others on PC.
This means closer competition within each division and twice the number of prizes, which can now be specific to the division too :-)
In 2016 therefore, we will no longer be aggregating the fastest times across all platforms, but will instead only aggregate across consoles.
For both the Championship and Challenger Series therefore, there will be separate PC and Console Divisions for each whereby players on PS4 and Xbox One will be in competition with each other, whilst PC players will compete against others on PC.
This means closer competition within each division and twice the number of prizes, which can now be specific to the division too :-)
PRESEASON DRAFT & TRANSFERS
Project CARS Esports games are free for all to enter (and will remain as such). However, some teams are naturally larger than others which can give an unfair advantage when it comes to gaining valuable leaderboard points.
As such, for the 2016 season we will be instituting a Preseason Draft wherein teams must register with us the (maximum) 5 members for each Series and Division that are going to participate via the official Draft Registration Form.
Teams and drivers can register for both the Championship and Challenger Series and compete in both if they wish. However, they may not compete in both PC and Console Divisions within the same Series. Teams wishing to compete in both Divisions must register different drivers in each.
The Preseason Draft is open until April 1st. After this time, only drivers that were registered with their team will have their points counted. Any drivers that participate that were not part of the registered team will be ignored.
Teams cannot change their team roster until the Transfer Window re-opens during the Mid-Season Split. When they do, the points from any team member being changed remain with the team they they are leaving. Ie.. if Team A were to swap in a player from Team B, the points that the Team B driver had earned so far during the season remain with their old team.
The concept of the Draft and Transfers..
As such, for the 2016 season we will be instituting a Preseason Draft wherein teams must register with us the (maximum) 5 members for each Series and Division that are going to participate via the official Draft Registration Form.
Teams and drivers can register for both the Championship and Challenger Series and compete in both if they wish. However, they may not compete in both PC and Console Divisions within the same Series. Teams wishing to compete in both Divisions must register different drivers in each.
The Preseason Draft is open until April 1st. After this time, only drivers that were registered with their team will have their points counted. Any drivers that participate that were not part of the registered team will be ignored.
Teams cannot change their team roster until the Transfer Window re-opens during the Mid-Season Split. When they do, the points from any team member being changed remain with the team they they are leaving. Ie.. if Team A were to swap in a player from Team B, the points that the Team B driver had earned so far during the season remain with their old team.
The concept of the Draft and Transfers..
- Ensures teams remain balanced throughout the season
- Ensures teams cannot 'buy their victory' through recruitment late in the season
- Allows teams to manage their rosters better - dividing it by Series and Division
- Formalises team participation in a manner common to most other Esports
- Encourages strategy when building a team
- Provides a stepping stone to full promotion/demotion possibilities in subsequent seasons
A full list of rules & regulations for each Series and Division can be found on the Series-specific page. We encourage all teams to spend their time during Preseason effectively: training existing members, recruiting new ones, deciding which should compete in which Series and Division, and developing their own programs to hit the ground running when the season begins in April.
Good luck!
Good luck!
