A Cars forum. AutoBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AutoBanter forum » Auto newsgroups » Simulators
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 12th 08, 04:01 AM posted to rec.autos.simulators
jeffareid
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 176
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?

My guess is about 3 years, although it could go longer if the
money guys are willing to keep plowing money into the program.

Once the newness wears off, some players will lose interest, just
as with any game or activity. I think it will be sometime late
this year or early next year before a trend is truly recognizable.

For some older, long time racing players, iRacing may turn out
to be the last "fling" with spending a lot of time online.

If iRacing were to cease being a subscription service and converted
into a purchaseable game, what would players be willing to pay for
it?

The only previous subscription racing game I can recall was EA's
Motor City Online, which lasted almost 3 years (October 2001 to
August 2004). It was never released as an offline game.

Another failed subscription game was URU Live, part of the Myst
series. The online content of the time and some stuff in the
works was eventually released as two games.


Ads
  #2  
Old August 12th 08, 06:50 AM posted to rec.autos.simulators
Andrew MacPherson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 192
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?

(jeffareid) wrote:

> My guess is about 3 years


I think I agree with you on just about everything. I will be very
surprised -- no doubt pleasantly -- if iRacing survives in its current
form for more than a few years... perhaps less if funding is pulled after
any early disappointments. When push comes to shove it is 'just another
sim' no matter how high their hopes of drawing in a wider audience, and
they don't exist in a sim vacuum.

With 40 staff or so to support (judging by interviews given in the past)
that's going to require very significant revenue streams, and I don't see
it coming from the current financial model.

I may be wrong, but once the public release happens they'll finally get
an idea what kind of pent up demand there is for their product. I'm
anticipating some disappointment, though they may have enough funding in
the bank to allow for a very slow & steady (hopefully) build up in
subscribers.

We'll see. It's a brave attempt to break the simming mould, and I'm
increasingly finding myself inclined to keep subscribing until after the
public release (at least) just to keep in touch with how iRacing
responds.

> If iRacing were to cease being a subscription service
> and converted into a purchaseable game, what would
> players be willing to pay for it?


I think there's no alternative to a basic subscription service (with a
premium bolt-on for higher leagues available?), given their aims. However
the subscription price needs to come down to the point where people don't
have to think twice about continuing even if they don't race much. That
would probably involve scaling down their operation and aims, but it
might ensure the project's survival for more than a short time once
Henry's investment money runs out. He can;t have a bottomless wallet.

Andrew McP

PS Currently I believe (from reading the forums) there are between 3 & 4k
subscribers. That's not bad considering its a closed programme. However
so far invites have only gone out to those most likely to subscribe. I'll
be genuinely fascinated to see what happens after the public debut.




  #3  
Old August 12th 08, 10:09 AM posted to rec.autos.simulators
hoover
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 57
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?


The recent demise of 10tacle and the resulting loss of all internet
racing capability in GTR2 (unless you jump through burning hoops using
OpenVPN to simulate a "LAN event" to the software) shows again that
it#s a bad idea to put all your online eggs into one company's basket.

No idea what would happen to the rF lobby should ISI close shop
tomorrow, but I guess with all its moddability rF could be tweaked to
use an alterate lobby system.

All the best, Uwe


--
  #4  
Old August 12th 08, 12:04 PM posted to rec.autos.simulators
Byron Forbes
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 212
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?


"jeffareid" > wrote in message
...
> My guess is about 3 years, although it could go longer if the
> money guys are willing to keep plowing money into the program.
>
> Once the newness wears off, some players will lose interest, just
> as with any game or activity. I think it will be sometime late
> this year or early next year before a trend is truly recognizable.
>
> For some older, long time racing players, iRacing may turn out
> to be the last "fling" with spending a lot of time online.
>
> If iRacing were to cease being a subscription service and converted
> into a purchaseable game, what would players be willing to pay for
> it?
>
> The only previous subscription racing game I can recall was EA's
> Motor City Online, which lasted almost 3 years (October 2001 to
> August 2004). It was never released as an offline game.
>
> Another failed subscription game was URU Live, part of the Myst
> series. The online content of the time and some stuff in the
> works was eventually released as two games.
>
>


Subscription has nothing to do with it. There is a constamt influx of
youth into the world and also older people who consider sim racing for the
first time later in their life. When either group check out what's
available, they will simply migrate to the best sim that offers what they're
looking for.

It's just that simple.

What so many of you are failing to understand also, is that iRacing is
not just a sim - it's a service that offers MUCH more than any sim in a box
ever will. It has been my view for donkeys years that what iRacing is doing
right now is what sim racing has always needed - organised and officially
sactioned sim racing as a sport. They have taken it a step further by making
it a proper training tool for real life racers.


  #6  
Old August 12th 08, 12:08 PM posted to rec.autos.simulators
Andrew MacPherson
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 192
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?

(Byron Forbes) wrote:

> It's just that simple.


Hopefully you're right.

Andrew McP

  #7  
Old August 12th 08, 12:39 PM posted to rec.autos.simulators
jeffareid
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 176
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?

>> Once the newness wears off, some players will lose interest, just
>> as with any game or activity. I think it will be sometime late
>> this year or early next year before a trend is truly recognizable.


> Subscription has nothing to do with it. There is a constamt influx of youth into the world and also older people who
> consider sim racing for the first time later in their life. When either group check out what's available, they will
> simply migrate to the best sim that offers what they're looking for.


In my area, (USA), most of the youth that are playing games of any type
are either into console games, first person shooters, or role playing games.
Simulation oriented racing games are a tiny market in the USA, so I don't
know how it is outside the USA, but currently, it seems that iRacing
servers will only be based in the USA, resulting in lag issues for players
from other countries.

I just don't see that many people migrating to any racing sim these days,
as it's my opinion that the heydays of sim racing are gone. It was moderately
popular from about 1999 to 2005 and since then interest has waned, for
multple reasons; player burn out, a much larger variety of games available
now, plus all the add-ons for these games splintering the player pool into
small groups. What's left is a dedicated core of racing sim players, and
I question if there are enough of them for iRacing's current business model
to sustain it for more than about 3 years.

> What so many of you are failing to understand also, is that iRacing is not just a sim - it's a service that offers
> much more than any sim in a box ever will.


What is the advantage of a service versus a boxed or downloadable and
expandable game? The disadvantage is obvious, if the service goes away, so
does your game. This is the question that potential subscribers will be
asking.








  #8  
Old August 12th 08, 01:49 PM posted to rec.autos.simulators
Larry[_1_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 577
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?

I have one question.

Are you, or have you, ever signed up for iRacing ?

-Larry

"jeffareid" > wrote in message
...
> My guess is about 3 years, although it could go longer if the
> money guys are willing to keep plowing money into the program.
>
> Once the newness wears off, some players will lose interest, just
> as with any game or activity. I think it will be sometime late
> this year or early next year before a trend is truly recognizable.
>
> For some older, long time racing players, iRacing may turn out
> to be the last "fling" with spending a lot of time online.
>
> If iRacing were to cease being a subscription service and converted
> into a purchaseable game, what would players be willing to pay for
> it?
>
> The only previous subscription racing game I can recall was EA's
> Motor City Online, which lasted almost 3 years (October 2001 to
> August 2004). It was never released as an offline game.
>
> Another failed subscription game was URU Live, part of the Myst
> series. The online content of the time and some stuff in the
> works was eventually released as two games.
>
>


  #9  
Old August 12th 08, 02:37 PM posted to rec.autos.simulators
JP[_10_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 19
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?


"Andrew MacPherson" > wrote in message
ddress_disguised...
> (hoover) wrote:
>
> > shows again that it#s a bad idea to put all your online
> > eggs into one company's basket.

>
> It would be nice to think that if iRacing folded, the enthusiasts on the
> team would ensure their work didn't die with them. But given the
> corporate nature of the company and backing, I suspect if they decided to
> shut the door they'd still want to sit very tight on the intellectual
> property rights. So everyone would have to wave goodbye to their
> investment in time and money.
>
> That's quite a risk really, and that in itself might make it more likely
> iRacing fails... a sort of self-fulfilling prophesy.
>
> Andrew McP



Not only that, but if I'm not mistaken, iracing requires online
activation, etc. If so, good luck running the program you *paid* for,
if/once the activation servers go down for good.

Of course, when (not if) this happens, the usual "we promise we'll release
a patch so that activation, etc. isn't required anymore" line will come out.
In reality, that has yet to happen from all parties that have said it in the
past.

Hopefully I'm mistaken on whether iracing requires such items.


  #10  
Old August 12th 08, 04:16 PM posted to rec.autos.simulators
Larry[_1_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 577
Default How long will iRacing survive as subscription service?

iRacing does not use activation. It does not need it. It is an ONLINE ONLY
service. Everything is done via the web page.

-Larry

"JP" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Andrew MacPherson" > wrote in message
> ddress_disguised...
>> (hoover) wrote:
>>
>> > shows again that it#s a bad idea to put all your online
>> > eggs into one company's basket.

>>
>> It would be nice to think that if iRacing folded, the enthusiasts on the
>> team would ensure their work didn't die with them. But given the
>> corporate nature of the company and backing, I suspect if they decided to
>> shut the door they'd still want to sit very tight on the intellectual
>> property rights. So everyone would have to wave goodbye to their
>> investment in time and money.
>>
>> That's quite a risk really, and that in itself might make it more likely
>> iRacing fails... a sort of self-fulfilling prophesy.
>>
>> Andrew McP

>
>
> Not only that, but if I'm not mistaken, iracing requires online
> activation, etc. If so, good luck running the program you *paid* for,
> if/once the activation servers go down for good.
>
> Of course, when (not if) this happens, the usual "we promise we'll
> release
> a patch so that activation, etc. isn't required anymore" line will come
> out.
> In reality, that has yet to happen from all parties that have said it in
> the
> past.
>
> Hopefully I'm mistaken on whether iracing requires such items.
>
>


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
hummer could be done, the dinosaurs will not survive [email protected] Technology 7 July 15th 08 03:45 AM
Man eats own leg to survive car accident Tom Scales BMW 2 February 9th 07 06:13 PM
Man eats own leg to survive car accident Eugene Blanchard Corvette 0 February 8th 07 12:04 AM
Update on Drive To Survive Iva Mazda 8 October 7th 06 12:56 AM
Audi UK "Long Life Service" Barry Bingham Audi 7 November 3rd 04 02:26 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AutoBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.