Sponsored WATCH: MOZA R3 Racing Bundle - Our First Impressions

I absolutely hate the advertising of Moza on the page. It's now clear this site is going to the dogs. So sad

dreamer al said:

I absolutely hate the advertising of Moza on the page.

Click to expand...

At least make it display decently, on chrome it looks like this:



as long as we don't start getting pop-ups I'm ok with some sponsoring, but I'd prefer it to take a smaller portion of the screen.

You know those spearmint coloured/colored hoodies are for girls right.

Less likely to buy or recommend Moza now with these ads. Not interested in reading the article or watching the vid anymore either.

*I get that there's money to be made, but all I can say is that it has the opposite effect on me when gone to this extend. But that's more of a Moza problem.

I know the site needs ad revenue etc.but the domination of the entire homepage by Moza makes it less likely that I will watch the video.The reviewers simply dont have any credibility when they look like paid shills.

dreamer al said:

I absolutely hate the advertising of Moza on the page. It's now clear this site is going to the dogs. So sad

Click to expand...

OverTake and before RaceDepartment depends on ad revenue and premium memberships to pay for it's costs (server hosting, bandwidth, salaries, rent, other overhead etc). This has been the case since 2012 when I added the first Google Ads on RaceDepartment.com as I couldn't keep paying for all the costs myself, so why it's an issue all of a sudden in 2024, twelve years later, surprises me a bit

A background takeover as this advertising form is called is actually very little intrusive as it's doing exatly that: covering the background. No popups, no annoying in content ads, no videos with sound displaying, just a skin with a product launch for MOZA at the background of the page. Also this temporary single background ad substitutes the normal 5 to 6 banners we display on a page.

You don't need to watch advertisements if you don't want to. You can always opt in to become a premium member for less than euro a month (the price of half a cup of coffee) and you will not see any banner or video ads, get tons of benefits and discounts and help to support this community to live on for the next 18 years.

Jonny Austin said:

The reviewers simply dont have any credibility when they look like paid shills.

Click to expand...

This video isn't a review but our first impressions. A full review will be posted later when our team had enough time with the hardware and will also be labeled as a review such as all our other reviews here.

RaceDepartment prior and now OverTake have never been paid for a review and that isn't going to change. If we have any paid content it will be labled as such with a sponsored tag in the title of an article. No label = no sponsorship.

hotak said:

At least make it display decently, on chrome it looks like this:

View attachment 759138

as long as we don't start getting pop-ups I'm ok with some sponsoring, but I'd prefer it to take a smaller portion of the screen.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that report. That looks like a theme issue on our Dark Style with the white advertising background overlapping. I will ask our partner to adjust that if they can. Kudos for bringing that up. (light style user myself ).

Everyone is chewed up over the Moza background, meanwhile all one of us who uses Edge are wondering what the hell everyone is talking about?

Shortbus browser FTW!


As far as this bundle goes, its an ok starter option. Its not some sort of life changer. Low powered direct drives seem to be designed to getting the user to want more power to mitigate clipping. With only 3Nm and some change, the R3 will be better at priming buyers for an upgrade, than most other brands.

edit note: corrected estimated motor torque.

Jonny Austin said:

The reviewers simply dont have any credibility when they look like paid shills.

Click to expand...

Let me put it this way. Would you prefer not having the knowledge of such a deal existing? Taking the words at full face value and finding it out later?

You'll find many people in the review scene that don't disclose that.

I don't mind the ads, especially on a free-access account. Some people are just plain loudspeakers.

Luca [OT] said:

Let me put it this way. Would you prefer not having the knowledge of such a deal existing? Taking the words at full face value and finding it out later?

You'll find many people in the review scene that don't disclose that.

Click to expand...

I dont have a problem with the banners on the site.Things cost money and I certainly dont mind seeing product I might be interested in.
My main objection is that when you click on the homepage you are bombarded by banners,a video that looks like a review and reviewers or journalists wearing Moza merch.My immediate reaction is,that looks like a good product but i will read a review elsewhere.If Karun Chandok turned up at the next Grand Prix wearing a Red Bull t shirt and suggesting you try a can of Red Bull how bad would it look from someone who is supposed to be objective about the subject they cover?There is a line between a youtuber wearing a Fanatec t shirt and what you do here which is journalism.
Anyway keep up the good work.I enjoy reading the sitemost days.

People just looking for anything to complain about: "OHMYGOD I can't believe you're showing me stuff I might be interested in on your website that I voluntarily visit for sim racing news and info. Please figure out some other way to generate revenue that doesn't annoy me. This site has gone to sh!t."

Jonny Austin said:

I dont have a problem with the banners on the site.Things cost money and I certainly dont mind seeing product I might be interested in.
My main objection is that when you click on the homepage you are bombarded by banners,a video that looks like a review and reviewers or journalists wearing Moza merch.My immediate reaction is,that looks like a good product but i will read a review elsewhere.If Karun Chandok turned up at the next Grand Prix wearing a Red Bull t shirt and suggesting you try a can of Red Bull how bad would it look from someone who is supposed to be objective about the subject they cover?There is a line between a youtuber wearing a Fanatec t shirt and what you do here which is journalism.
Anyway keep up the good work.I enjoy reading the sitemost days.

Click to expand...

Ahem... those are OverTake hoodies, no Moza apparel in sight

The article for the video has the "Sponsored" tag and clearly says "first impressions", not review - there's only so much we can do. Rest assured though, the proper review is not paid for, as are all the others we do.

Bram Hengeveld said:

OverTake and before RaceDepartment depends on ad revenue and premium memberships to pay for it's costs (server hosting, bandwidth, salaries, rent, other overhead etc). This has been the case since 2012 when I added the first Google Ads on RaceDepartment.com as I couldn't keep paying for all the costs myself, so why it's an issue all of a sudden in 2024, twelve years later, surprises me a bit

A background takeover as this advertising form is called is actually very little intrusive as it's doing exatly that: covering the background. No popups, no annoying in content ads, no videos with sound displaying, just a skin with a product launch for MOZA at the background of the page. Also this temporary single background ad substitutes the normal 5 to 6 banners we display on a page.

You don't need to watch advertisements if you don't want to. You can always opt in to become a premium member for less than euro a month (the price of half a cup of coffee) and you will not see any banner or video ads, get tons of benefits and discounts and help to support this community to live on for the next 18 years.


This video isn't a review but our first impressions. A full review will be posted later when our team had enough time with the hardware and will also be labeled as a review such as all our other reviews here.

RaceDepartment prior and now OverTake have never been paid for a review and that isn't going to change. If we have any paid content it will be labled as such with a sponsored tag in the title of an article. No label = no sponsorship.



Thanks for that report. That looks like a theme issue on our Dark Style with the white advertising background overlapping. I will ask our partner to adjust that if they can. Kudos for bringing that up. (light style user myself ).

Click to expand...

I appreciate you may need advertising. But to have it take over so much space is annoying (call me crazy). Race Department was never like this. Paul Jeffrey would be sad (to see). That's my rant!!!