iRacing - price drops - class updates mid-season
rcgldr
take place. Definately headed in the right direction in my opinion.
Based on recent posts at RSC, the price drops are significant, yearly down
from $149 to $99, but without the credits. However, the content prices are
also lowered substantially, $12 to $15 now (versus $15 to $25).
The class updates will occur more frequently. I'm not sure how much faster,
but apparently someone could advance to A class in a season rather than
it taking a year. This will allow some to skip buying intermediate content
that they aren't interested in, a secondary beneficial effect.
I also read that leagues and hosted servers are to be enabled sometime
during the next season.
I (and many others) are still hoping that once there's enough content and
progress made with the game basics, there will be a retail version of the
game being sold.
Andrew MacPherson
> I thought it would take 2 to 3 years before drastic changes like
> this would take place. Definately headed in the right direction
> in my opinion.
Agreed. Things are starting to move at iRacing, which was inevitable --- despite
what they said -- given the slow growth in race participation. With more content
(and probably quite popular content at that) about to dilute the pool even further,
something drastic was needed.
However given that they're removing the subscription credits as well as lowering
the prices, effectively neutralising much of the apparent price drop, I do think
this may not be enough to produce the desired results.
To existing subscribers this will look like a great deal. To the many thousands
required who have yet to be convinced by the pricing model, this may not look a
whole lot different. Buying into a whole new series is still going to cost a fair
chunk of money, and the faster access up the promotion ladder will mean --
potentially -- more money spent more quickly.
Anyway, despite my cynicism it is a move in the right direction, and that has to be
applauded. I'm just less enthusiastic than I was when I saw the first report.
Still, it'll be worth $14 just to re-join soon just to observe the forums during
the start of the next season. I have plenty of popcorn stockpiled. :-)
Andrew McP
Byron Forbes
> progress made with the game basics, there will be a retail version of the
> game being sold.
Sorry, but I hope you're wrong about that.
schooner
"Byron Forbes" <choc...@caramel.com.au> wrote in message
news:4ad7...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
---
Highly unlikely, doesn't fit their current model at all.
Tony R
> However given that they're removing the subscription credits as well as lowering
> the prices, effectively neutralising much of the apparent price drop, I do think
> this may not be enough to produce the desired results.
The yearly sub was $156 with $60 iRacing credits whereas the new yearly
sub is $99 with a potential $40 iRacing credits each year for
participation. In summary completing at least 50% distance in eight
races in a twelve week season (excluding rookie cars) so it should be
quite easy to achieve.
There is also a two year deal at $179.
Cheers
Tony
David G Fisher's Left Testicle
"rcgldr" <rcg...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:xAEBm.103950$u76....@newsfe10.iad...
iRacing accessible to people who maybe only want to race once or twice a
month.
Mobile phone companies manage to make a profit out of pay-as-you-go, so why
not have pay as you race? Just top up your account if you fancy and
afternoon of racing.
Of course the fanboys hate that idea. Cunts the lot of 'em.
Andrew MacPherson
> $99 with a potential $40 iRacing credits each year for
> participation.
I thought that might have been binned when I saw the new prices. With the
participation bonus in place that certainly makes it look like a better deal.... as
long as pootling around the back of one race a week, admiring the scenery, counts.
:-)
Mind you, I must admit that -- as I found before when I was lured back by a good
deal -- the longer I stay away from iRacing, the less I miss it. Especially now
Shift has unexpectedly sparked my enthusiasm and reminded me that I'm probably not
an iRacing kind of person (there's a big difference between loving the cars &
tracks and loving the service itself). I don't really have the courage to race hard
against real people when the stakes are so high.
I have, however, contemplated abandoning my old account and starting a new one;
never buying any content and focusing on the SRF. If I am ever to learn how to deal
with the dangers of racing on iRacing it will be through focusing on only one car.
But I know that if I return to my old account I'll just end up racing whatever's
due to start when I have time to race. That's never going to make me a competitive
and safe driver.
Andrew McP
Andrew MacPherson
> But I think they need to go further and make
> iRacing accessible to people who maybe only want to race once or
> twice a month.
This may be the core problem. iRacing needs to be cheap enough (in some form or
other) that 'the average racer' doesn't mind leaving his cars in the garage. There
is very little relaxed racing to be had on iRacing at the moment (this may change
when hosted races are realistically priced, or not priced at all), so you can't (or
shouldn't) join a race unless you're ready to take it very seriously.
Most of us -- and I think that's most human beings, not just the small demographic
interested in iRacing -- just don't take racing that seriously that often. It's *a*
hobby, not our *only* hobby. Hence the slow start, relatively low participation,
and steady stream of changes to iRacing's structure trying to boost activity.
My recent experiences with NFS Shift have served to remind me that there is more to
this hobby that the hardcore quest for virtual reality. But then GPL should have
taught everyone that... superb product, but not the widespread success we might
have hoped for. [Though obviously it had a very long burn at the enthusiast end of
the spectrum]
I remain hopeful that iRacing will eventually split into two services/products. One
serving the small hardcore audience they originally designed their product for
(because it works very well for that audience). The other for those of us who enjoy
racing too much to take it that seriously.
Andrew McP
Andrew MacPherson
> $99 with a potential $40 iRacing credits each year
> for participation. In summary completing at least 50% distance in
Copied from a quote at RSC:
_______________________________________________
The details of the �Credit for Race Participation Program� are as follows:
� To qualify for iRacing credits a driver must participate in eight different race
weeks in the course of a normal 12-week season in an individual official iRacing
series. (Only Race Sessions in Official Series Count; sessions in Pro and Rookie
series do NOT count, nor do sessions in Week 13.)
� For the purpose of the �Credit for Race Participation Program� a driver satisfies
the participation requirement by scoring championship points in his or her race
session, and completing at least 50% of the number of laps completed by the class
winner. Races with an odd number of laps will be truncated. e.g. If the winner of
an individual�s car class completes 17 laps other members of that class need to
complete only eight rather than nine laps.
� In the case of a race with no finishers, the race will still count as an official
session for the purposes of this program. Drivers who complete 50% of the laps
completed by the driver in that class who has completed the highest number of laps
will receive participation credit.
� For the purposes of this program a driver may participate at any series for which
he or she is eligible. (e.g. A driver holding an A license may participate in B, C,
or D level races.)
� Payouts are $4.00 iRacing credit per official C or D level series and $7.00
iRacing credit per official A or B level series. Maximum credit per season is
$10.00.
� iRacing Credits earned under this program will be calculated during Week 13 of
that season. A promotion code will be generated for the proper amount of credit for
each member and then e-mailed to the member prior to the start of next season.
_______________________________________________
Well, that's that settled then. Pass the headache tablets somebody! ;-)
> a driver satisfies the participation requirement by scoring
> championship points in his or her race session
I hope that includes negative points. I suspect it will.
Andrew McP
Byron Forbes
"schooner" <scho...@accesswave.ca> wrote in message
news:IcJBm.48926$PH1.32326@edtnps82...
Yeah, well as a paying customer now the idea of them even thinking of
spending 1 moment or dollar on this offends me! :) Plenty of infinitely more
important things for them to do imo.
Andrew MacPherson
> Yeah, well as a paying customer now the idea of them even thinking
> of spending 1 moment or dollar on this offends me! :)
As someone who's 'invested' $450 with iRacing so far it offends me that even $1 of
that has gone towards pointless development of the Pro series, WDC, free road
racing adventure for John Prather, and assorted other iMarketing jollies which I
see as chasing a fantasy business model doomed to eventual failure.
iRacing will eventually have no choice but to go with the flow of subscribers. It
is still too early to tell which direction that will be. But to me it is clear that
-- behind the smokescreen of positive spin which oozes from every iPress release --
iRacing has already had to move away from its original pure, hardcore model. In
time it will shift even further. The trick will be disguising that move from the
hardcore user base which has so far helped stunt its growth.
IMO anyway. :-)
Andrew McP
mookytc
wrote:
LOL :-)
Fanboys...
schooner
"Andrew MacPherson" <mcp.a...@DELETTHISgmail.com> wrote in message
news:memo.2009101...@mcp.andrew.c...
Far more of John Henry's money has gone into this than yours so I wouldn't
worry too much.
Lotta haters that can't seem to just let go of iRacing...
Andrew MacPherson
> Lotta haters that can't seem to just let go of iRacing...
Lotta defensive types who can't recognise the difference between dissatisfaction
and hate. I still love the cars and on-track experience Kaemmer has created. I
still dislike the service currently called iRacing because it lacks sufficient
relaxed racing for my -- and many others' -- tastes. Presently I have no choice but
to tolerate one if I want the other.
Still, comments like yours help remind me why I left iRacing repeatedly, so
hopefully you'll have done me a favour.
Andrew McP
schooner
"Andrew MacPherson" <mcp.a...@DELETTHISgmail.com> wrote in message
news:memo.2009101...@mcp.andrew.c...
Glad I could help. Hit a sore spot it seems with you.
Just find it curious you talk of iRacing so often in a negative light, if
you don't like it why not just move on?
Still so many seem to watch their every move so as to complain.
Andrew MacPherson
> Hit a sore spot it seems with you.
Says the man threatened enough to call me a hater. Shall we play a game of 'my sore
spot's bigger than yours?' ;-)
> if you don't like it why not just move on?
You haven't digested any of my posts have you... just reacted to them. I have said
repeatedly that I want iRacing to succeed. I just believe it would be better to
split it into two forms... one for the hardcore masochists who've been the core
audience so far, one for the many, many thousands of amateur, Sunday drivers like
myself who appreciate good code but not restrictive environments.
Then we can all enjoy the best sim code on the planet in peace and harmony, with
never a cross word, sneery comment, or flaming row on the race track over lost SR
or a prematurely ended race.
Who am I kidding. We'll always find *something* to argue about. That's what the
internet was made for after all!
The danger in the current evolution of iRacing is that it's heading for some kind
of middle ground which will annoy both sides of the debate equally. That's why I
remain critical... hopefully in a good 'iceberg ahead!' kind of way, though I
appreciate that in some cultures and personality types the phrase 'constructive
criticism' doesn't really exist.
If I didn't care, I would, as you suggest, bugger off and leave iRacing and related
topics forever. I could equally suggest that if you're so happy with iRacing, why
feel the need to defend it? If I'm being a complete and utter iCock, then why not
let me damn myself with my own fingers?
Silly question, eh? The bottom line is we're here to discuss sims, and that's what
we're doing. Well done for helping keep the newsgroup alive, and thanks for the
opportunity to explore my complex iOpinions in more detail. I appreciate the
counselling session. ;-)
Andrew McP
Tony R
> Just find it curious you talk of iRacing so often in a negative light,
> if you don't like it why not just move on?
> Still so many seem to watch their every move so as to complain.
Andrew is our resident iRacing manic depressive member :)
The Skip Barber will lure him back eventually and he will have another
whirlwind holiday romance, be smitten with iRacing again, make videos to
express his love and spend a small fortune on monthly subscriptions
before going back to the cheap alternatives and getting a bit of rough
with Shift.
One of these days he will settle down and buy a two year deal and save
himself some $ but he still feels he needs to play the field :)
Cheers
Tony
Andrew MacPherson
> One of these days he will settle down and buy a two year deal
Wash your mouth out!
Seriously, all I probably really want from iRacing at this stage is one, single,
solitary permanent 'fun' server. Then I could support the project with a permanent
subscription, while -- most of the time -- racing in a relaxed way which suits my
temperament.
Until then, I anticipate my love/hate, in/out, iHokey-cokey to continue. If I'm
lucky iRacing may even start paying me to stay away!
Andrew McP
PS Shift is a very cheap date, and I haven't caught anything yet. Except maybe
oversteer-itis. I think a dose of penicillin should sort that out though.
Tony R
>> One of these days he will settle down and buy a two year deal
>
> Wash your mouth out!
>
> Seriously, all I probably really want from iRacing at this stage is one, single,
> solitary permanent 'fun' server. Then I could support the project with a permanent
> subscription, while -- most of the time -- racing in a relaxed way which suits my
> temperament.
Hosted racing will be here next season, whih should cater for varying
tastes all being well. We will see.
> Until then, I anticipate my love/hate, in/out, iHokey-cokey to continue. If I'm
> lucky iRacing may even start paying me to stay away!
That would be like a newsagent refusing to sell you cigarettes because
you keep giving up and becoming an anti smoker for a couple of weeks...
> PS Shift is a very cheap date, and I haven't caught anything yet. Except maybe
> oversteer-itis.
A bit loose?
GaryR
meh
I've lost asswipe coount but i'm pretty sure it's over 1000 now.
meh
write meh on the wall.. meh.
>On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:47:06 -0700, Beckett <bec...@work.invlaid> wrote:
>meh...still not cheap enough to get me to join. The writing is on the
>wall, iRacing will eventually fail and it is just a matter of when and
>not if.
Andrew MacPherson
> Hosted racing will be here next season, whih should cater for
> varying tastes all being well.
At $1 a race I'd be inclined to agree. I think $3 is the wrong side of discouraging.
But then that's exactly what it's supposed to be. Cheap enough that leagues can
justify the cost, but not so cheap that a mass outbreak of alternative racing is
likely to break out.
I may be pleasantly surprised though, especially in the first few weeks it's
available. And it's certainly a darned sight better than having no options at all.
Anyone up for a 1 hour race at Bristol in the Lotus? ;-)
> A bit loose?
I wish!
Andrew McP
David G Fisher's Left Testicle
"Beckett" <bec...@work.invlaid> wrote in message
news:etthd5d35h81pk3u1...@4ax.com...
> wall, iRacing will eventually fail and it is just a matter of when and
> not if.
And one day we all die. iRacing will probably moph into something else.
David G Fisher's Left Testicle
You're too defensive, you cunt.
Byron Forbes
"Andrew MacPherson" <mcp.a...@DELETTHISgmail.com> wrote in message
news:memo.2009101...@mcp.andrew.c...
>
>> Lotta haters that can't seem to just let go of iRacing...
>
> Lotta defensive types who can't recognise the difference between
> dissatisfaction
> and hate. I still love the cars and on-track experience Kaemmer has
> created. I
> still dislike the service currently called iRacing because it lacks
> sufficient
> relaxed racing for my -- and many others' -- tastes. Presently I have no
> choice but
> to tolerate one if I want the other.
>
You want you cannot have - have a think about the term "relaxed racing"!
It seems you're on the arcade side of racing games.
Andrew MacPherson
> You want you cannot have - have a think about the term "relaxed
> racing"!
I assume it's your turn to deliberately misinterpret what I say today? Is there a
rota I don't know about? ;-)
By my definition, every GPL race which allowed shift-r was a relaxed race. So are
all the 24 heures du fun races on iRacing.
Andrew McP
Andrew MacPherson
> And one day we all die.
And some of us are closer to our statistical chequered flag than others. That's why
I'm in a hurry for iRacing to have some more relaxed options. At this rate I'll
have arthritis in both hands, and no eyesight at all left before iRacing morphs
into something with more options for amateurs like myself.
There is, however, a lot to be said for seizing the moment, so you're right. That's
why I approached Shift with an open mind, and why I can't give up completely on
iRacing, despite my inevitable discomfort within the current restrictive format.
Andrew McP... one foot in the grave, the other on the brake pedal. Live slow, die
quickly! Or something like that.
Niles Anders
multiply that by the max earnings potential for that amount .... it
still can't pay the bills without reaching into JH's pocket. The
hardcore iracing zealot is the biggest enemy to success. They reap what
they sow. It's a Devil's bargin.
Niles Anders
GaryR
>On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:12:00 -0700, Beckett <bec...@work.invlaid> wrote:
>On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:55:37 -0400, GaryR <Ga...@nospamforme.com>
>wrote:
>
>>I'm just glad we have intelligent people like you to follow here.
>>meh
>>
>>I've lost asswipe coount but i'm pretty sure it's over 1000 now.
>>meh
>>
>>write meh on the wall.. meh.
>
GaryR
>On Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:12:00 -0700, Beckett <bec...@work.invlaid> wrote:
>On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:55:37 -0400, GaryR <Ga...@nospamforme.com>
>wrote:
>
>>meh
>>
>>I've lost asswipe coount but i'm pretty sure it's over 1000 now.
>>meh
>>
>>write meh on the wall.. meh.
>
Elmer Fudd
> meh
You need one of these.
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