On Sun, 02 Jan 2011 10:23:18 -0500, GaryR >
wrote:

>>On Sat, 01 Jan 2011 06:00:04 -0500, Tim O > wrote:
>>I stress out about racing clean in multiplayer racing sims/games,
>>nearly to the point where it can remove the fun for me. I'd probably
>>be a neurotic mess in iRacing.
>>When I'm playing something like GT5 offline and find that I can
>>exploit a weakness, I can't help but do it. I wind up taking advantage
>>of how the AI slows too much for the first corner, go in way too hot
>>then bounce off of them in the apex to keep me from going off the
>>track. This slows them down and makes me faster. Once I'm in front, I
>>just block as best I can. Its horrible, because its the perfect
>>example of doing everything the wrong way to great success.
>>Where I'm gonna get screwed is when I finally work up the nerve to
>>race online. I'll try to race clean, be slow as hell and its going to
>>be an all-around awful experience. Will probably have a bunch of 15
>>year old creeps yelling "GET OUT OF THE WAY FAGGOT!" the whole race,
>>too.
>>Tim
>
>Tim - You decribe how online racing has always been on any given day
>on open servers for any race sim. It's always been the biggest reason
>open, unrestricted servers usually suck. There is no penalty for
>smashing your way to the front, chopping corners, and doing other
>infantile things to "win". IMO iRacing, though certainly not perfect,
>is the closest thing to real world you will get. On a real racetrack
>with real cars we do everything in our power to avoid ANY contact, and
>that's what iRacing dictates. As time goes on and the service
>improves, i'm sure they will tweak it so minor rubbing isn't an issue
>(may even be there now, i've been away) as it isn't in most RL series.
>The tracks are darn near perfect, the damage model is very good and
>always improving, the onlinecode is the best available, etc. etc. The
>only reason not to play is funds, but for $150 per year or so (that
>includes buying a couple extra cars and tracks) I don't see cost as an
>issue..
>
>No vested interest in iRacing though I do have a decal on my 911 race
>car.. :-)
>
>GR

2 years ago or so in Live For Speed is probably the last time I spent
any substantial time in a racing sim. That was actually a pretty
polite group once you found the regulars.

Might subscribe to iRacing in the future. Subscription seems
reasonable and fee's of any type probably help to keep out the rabble.
Lack of time is the main hurdle for me on anything by-the-month.

I actually entered the hop lapping online contest in GT5 today. I'm
abysmally slow with the gamepad, but I had a lot of fun with it. This
really made me want to snag a G27. I can always put the old MOMO on
the second machine for LAN games.

Tim