iRacing - price drops - class updates mid-season

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.

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.

(rcgldr) wrote:

> 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

> 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.


Sorry, but I hope you're wrong about that.

"Byron Forbes" > wrote in message
...
> 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.


Sorry, but I hope you're wrong about that.

---

Highly unlikely, doesn't fit their current model at all.

Andrew MacPherson wrote:

> 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

"rcgldr" > wrote in message
...
>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.
>
> 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.
>
That's encouraging to see. 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.

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. ****s the lot of 'em.

(Tony R) wrote:

> $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

dfg.myass@aol (David G Fisher's Left Testicle) wrote:

> 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

(Tony R) wrote:

> $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

"schooner" > wrote in message
news:IcJBm.48926$PH1.32326@edtnps82...
>
> "Byron Forbes" > wrote in message
> ...
>> 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.
>
>
> Sorry, but I hope you're wrong about that.
>
> ---
>
> Highly unlikely, doesn't fit their current model at all.
>

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.