ScreenRacer is a 3D screensaver program for windows 98, Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems. The program was created by Lugnut Studio using 3impact Engine Technology.

This 3D racing screensaver features Nascar Voice acting from Jeff Hammond and Kenny Wallace. Many real life companies and organizations can be found on the tracks and vehicles. Several version of ScreenRacer are available from the official website, as well as a free demo to preview the program.

About ScreenRacer

According to the official website, the screensaver was an attempt to create an experience similar to watching a televised race or saved replays from racing games to run as a screensaver. The screensaver was created with 3Impact game engine technology. The 3Impact engine utilizes Microsoft's 8.1 DirectX technology, tided in with the ODE Physics system.

Despite Lugnut Studio being a very small company. Lugnut Studio attracted the attention of a Nascar marketing company. The marketing company teamed up with Jeff Hammond and Kenny Wallace to voice record the announcer audio lines for screenracer. According to the website, this feature was added at the end of production.

Several different products are available from the website, 2 basic packages and a full release version. The basic packages feature 2 race tracks and one car type. The full release version contains 10 different race tracks, 5 car classes adding up to 60 unique race cars. One of the most notable car types is the AC Cobra Replica built by Factory Five Racing.

Organizations involved with ScreenRacer

Factory Five Racing replica on the track

Factory Five Racing

National Auto Sport Association

race-depot.com

Lee Roy Mercer NASCAR Driver prank call CD

Masgrafx racing graphics

3Impact 3D game engine

Theinviron.com: PC race car environment

Pitboxes.com: Racing pit boxes

Billet race products: high quality racing products

Race Sim Central: Online racing forum

VP racing fuel

Whitby Motor sports: Turn key replica builder

According to postings at the Race Sim Central forum, Lugnut studio obtained the rights to use the above logos and likenesses to help make the screensaver more authentic. Originally the studio wanted to sell the cars and tracks as advertising space much like in the real world. But because of the company size, and being the first release of any product like this, the studio was unable to fill any of the advertising slots. An early goal of the project was to make the screensaver completely free to the public, using an adverting revenue to pay for release. Using a similar in-game adverting system used in computer games. Remnants of the robust adverting system can still be seen in the screensaver. If the user presses the space bar, while the screensaver is running, the program ends and opens up a web browser. Based on what vehicle the camera was following, the screensaver will load the correlating sponsor's website.

Modifying Screenracer

Screenshot from 3D Nascar Screensaver free add-on

Much like many racing computer games, Screenracer can be modified much like many other popular racing titles like Nascar Racing 2003. Masgrafx.com created a mod kit to help users add their own car to the screensaver. The kit included many of the raw art files and text to help users get start creating.

Free Nascar add-on

MasGrafx also created the first fully installable mod for screenracer. This free Nascar mod contains new new models featuring many of the top nascar drivers such as "Dale Earnhardt Jr" and "Jeff Gordon". MasGrafx used models and textures from their existing library to build the mod for Screenracer. The mod can be freely downloaded from the MasGrafx website.