Should AC business model be more like iRacing's ?

[Alexandre Guzu]

edit : A great post by Tom Van Put on page 5 that sums my thoughts pretty well :

The best part about iRacing, in my eyes, are the sanctioned races they organise through their servers.

I really hope AC is considering something like that. They just have to make sure it isn't mandatory.

I prefer leagues over racing on public servers. But I don't always find a league that fits my needs or at timeslots that suit me. Racing on open, unsanctioned, servers is just terrible...

So if AC would impliment some sort of organized and sanctioned races with a championship structure this would be a great ad-on.
They don't have to do this for every car but only for some popular series that would apeal to a big audience. eg:

• Le Mans Series
• GT3 races
• Lotus Racing Series
• Historic DTM Racing
• Formula (1) Racing
• Historic Formula racing

Charge a few euros a month for this for those who are interested and other people can just play the game off-line or in leagues.

One thing a lot of people always seem to forget when they are on the internet is that a company needs to make a profit to create new content or new games. You can't get everything for free or at a cheap price and expect the best product/game ever.

so yeah, I agree thoroughly with this post. In my opinion, fixed schedule races are very convenient, people can plan their evening knowing they'll take part of a certain race without wondering what servers/races will be up (which often demotivates me from setting up my rig and launching rfactor/netkar/..). So originally I was thinking about something like this :

- you buy the game 40/50 euros with all the cars and tracks they announced so far. You can buy DLCs packs later.
- you can race AI and people on servers you host.
So far nothing changes.
- (optional) you pay a small monthly fee (5/10 euros) to access high speed servers with iRacing-like services : series, events, licenses and eventually leaderboards. The irating system is awesome too, it keeps people avoiding mistakes and wreckages.

I'm aware many won't agree. But seeing how many sims have failed to keep their customers when iRacing succeeds, I think Kunos shouldn't be afraid to copy their system and services. They're so expensive because they have no competition, and Assetto Corsa's potential is huge. If it becomes a cheaper version of iRacing with better physics and graphics, they get to swim in pools of money, and we get the best racing experience. Win-win.

 

[nijeat]

Thats the case with all games? if you stop playing them you don't use them longer...

I don't think the iracing account will be deleted if you pause to play it one or two years..will it?

Haha but providing you just keep paying. That's not the case with all games.
My account is not deleted but just rotting in their server.

 

[Hampus Andersson]

iRacing has no offline mode (WORST PART),

Unless you get your internet from holding two metal rods up in the air while there´s thunder i´m sure this is not a huge problem in 2013.

 

[Hampus Andersson]

The most annoying thing about iRacing is that you RENT the game, once you stop paying you can as well say goodbye to all those tracks and cars. The more you invest, the more you're committed.

You license it. And people think that because you own a CD that says Assetto Corsa it means you are now a shareholder.
Fact is you don´t own sh*t other then the plastic CD that came with the game.

Your issue is the subscription model. Without it, it´s the same as if you buy a game on steam.
The buying for cars and tracks is also identical to a DLC with the difference being that you pay for every individual car/track.

But you don´t own anything other then an empty CD when you buy a game in a store.
The actual game on it is a license as well that you are allowed to play without paying a monthly fee.

 

[Ian Strom]

Unless you get your internet from holding two metal rods up in the air while there´s thunder i´m sure this is not a huge problem in 2013.

 

[Marcel Pfister]

Of course not. It´s good as it is!

 

[LaFail]

You license it. And people think that because you own a CD that says Assetto Corsa it means you are now a shareholder.
Fact is you don´t own sh*t other then the plastic CD that came with the game.

Your issue is the subscription model. Without it, it´s the same as if you buy a game on steam.
The buying for cars and tracks is also identical to a DLC with the difference being that you pay for every individual car/track.

But you don´t own anything other then an empty CD when you buy a game in a store.
The actual game on it is a license as well that you are allowed to play without paying a monthly fee.

Haha, nice twist, you licence it. No buddy,you freaking rent it, that's all. With AC, you buy it, you own it forever, Steam isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[Hampus Andersson]

Haha, nice twist, you licence it. No buddy,you freaking rent it, that's all. With AC, you buy it, you own it forever, Steam isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Edit: shorten things down instead.

1. You don´t and never will own the game Assetto Corsa. You will own the RIGHT to play it whenever you like.
2. iRacing sells licenses to use their software, but with a twist. You must pay a subscription to use it.
3. What steam´s future looks like i have no idea how you managed to cramp that into the discussion.

You can do a simple test if you want. When AC gets released, take the game "you own" and make copies of it, then take these copies and sell them.

If you could record all of this as well as the consequences of that and send it to me that would be great.

 

[LaFail]

Edit: shorten things down instead.

1. You don´t and never will own the game Assetto Corsa. You will own the RIGHT to play it whenever you like.
2. iRacing sells licenses to use their software, but with a twist. You must pay a subscription to use it.
3. What steam´s future looks like i have no idea how you managed to cramp that into the discussion.

You can do a simple test if you want. When AC gets released, take the game "you own" and make copies of it, then take these copies and sell them.

If you could record all of this as well as the consequences of that and send it to me that would be great.

1. BS. I own a copy of the game, never said i own THE game. Of course i can play it whenever i want, it's MY copy so...
3.Because AC is steam-only, as long as Steam is there i will be able to play it whenever i like, not so sure about iRacing's future(5> years).

Your theory is broken, you're suggesting piracy which is illegal. This is also doesn't work with physical objects, you can't buy a Ferrari, make copies of it and sell them. I really don't see your point.

 

[RaceNut]

I think the gist of the point being made here is this: you play GTR2 for 5 years and it cost $40 vs. playing iRacing for 5 years = cars + tracks cost + subscription @ $50 - $90 per year, it easily costs 10x as much to play as GTR2 does - best case scenario. Now consider how many or few hours you actually play it and you'll quickly figure out which one makes more sense for you.

To me, it's a little like going to a buffet for dinner. It's all the food you can eat for $12.95. That may be a great deal if you can eat a lot. If you can't, then it's a waste of money when you can be satisfied with a meal that cost a fraction of that amount. Multiply the cost over time and and the differential is huge. It might be the best deal in the world but, if you can't take advantage of it, then it's a waste of money.

 

[Hampus Andersson]

1. BS. I own a copy of the game, never said i own THE game. Of course i can play it whenever i want, it's MY copy so...
3.Because AC is steam-only, as long as Steam is there i will be able to play it whenever i like, not so sure about iRacing's future(5> years).

Your theory is broken, you're suggesting piracy which is illegal. This is also doesn't work with physical objects, you can't buy a Ferrari, make copies of it and sell them. I really don't see your point.

Omfg....you seem inept at understanding basic stuff so you proceed to contradict yourself, and even though you bring up your own examples you still have no grasp on how things work.

It´s like you don´t want to understand it for what it really is.
It doesn´t feel like i´m talking to a grown up person.

 

[LaFail]

Your argument is so stupid that you don't know what to say anymore, lol. I don't contradict myself, my example works, not sure what's wrong with you.

 

[Cote Dazur]

No, one Iracing is more than enough.

 

[Hampus Andersson]

Your argument is so stupid that you don't know what to say anymore, lol. I don't contradict myself, my example works, not sure what's wrong with you.

Yep, definitely a child. Nevermind then, don´t let facts stay in your way.

 

[LaFail]

What facts ? You posted a very stupid example of what you think "owning" a thing means. (in most cases) Owning something doesn't mean you can make copies of it an sell them. This is true for software (piracy), also for physical things like cars (copyright infringement).

So tell me, when you buy a Ferrari, do you own it or not ? It seems not because by your logic, you can not make copies of it and sell them. You only have the right to use it whenever you can haha.

Other dumb things to say ?

 

[Stelios]

On topic : No.

 

[Mapu]

someone has to be brain damaged (no offense towards the handicapped intended) to even think about bringing up such a topic - let it die already

p.s. sorry

 

[Hampus Andersson]

Owning something doesn't mean you can make copies of it an sell them.

It does. If you own something, let´s say 100% of Ferrari. You can do what you want with the brand Ferrari.
But since you never own 100% of Ferrari you will never be able to do that, regardless if you have a Ferrari or not.

You don´t understand what the word "own" means.
You own a CD with a license, not Assetto Corsa.

Kunos OWNS Assetto Corsa. NOT YOU. Do you comprehend this fundamental thing? I don´t think you do.

Maybe now you understand that the only thing separating AC and iRacing is that iRacing demands a subscription.
AC does not.

 

[Michael Hornbuckle]

"Maybe now you understand that the only thing separating AC and iRacing is that iRacing demands a subscription.
AC does not."

That's far from the only difference...pretty sure we won't get raped buying (or renting, leasing, licensing, or whatever) every individual car or track while waiting years for a single car to drive somewhat realistically.

If somebody were to get permission from Kunos and opened a couple server farms with a rating system, more power to them; I probably wouldn't subscribe though.

 

[Hampus Andersson]

"Maybe now you understand that the only thing separating AC and iRacing is that iRacing demands a subscription.
AC does not."

That's far from the only difference...pretty sure we won't get raped buying (or renting, leasing, licensing, or whatever) every individual car or track while waiting years for a single car to drive somewhat realistically.

If somebody were to get permission from Kunos and opened a couple server farms with a rating system, more power to them; I probably wouldn't subscribe though.

Geez... I could say yea AC has Pagani, iRacing does not, however that would be irrelevant in the discussion about the licensing.

You are not forced to buy cars in iRacing, just as you are not forced to buy DLC´s in AC.

You are however forced to buy a subscription in iRacing, something you are certainly not in AC (and thank god for that)

 

[LaFail]

It does. If you own something, let´s say 100% of Ferrari. You can do what you want with the brand Ferrari.
But since you never own 100% of Ferrari you will never be able to do that, regardless if you have a Ferrari or not.

You don´t understand what the word "own" means.
You own a CD with a license, not Assetto Corsa.

Kunos OWNS Assetto Corsa. NOT YOU. Do you comprehend this fundamental thing? I don´t think you do.

Maybe now you understand that the only thing separating AC and iRacing is that iRacing demands a subscription.
AC does not.

I knew you were incapable of understanding this....

I've told you you OWN A COPY of the game, not THE game, for the second time on this page. I've NEVER ever said that you acquire the rights for the game by buying it, THERE IS NO SUCH THING, no game sells their licence and lets you do whatever you want with it for 60$. I thought a 5 year old could understand this ? Seems not.

In my example i said ONE (1) Ferrari, i did not said the whole Ferrari Corporation. If you buy ONE, as in 1, car, you do not have the right to make copies of it and sell them.

Is that clear enough for you ?