rec.autos.simulators

I have stated that it is the FIA which restricts them from doing so, and
have been told MANY times that is nonsense, garbage, etc. I've pointed out
that you can't even type an IP address on the multiplayer screen in F1RC,
and asked for an alternative explanation than my own, but never received an
answer from the critics. I and others have mentioned how Ubi Soft did a
great job with POD's multiplayer over four years ago, and how they had their
own servers with a ranking system, and even sponsored a $10,000 tournament
(which I competed in BTW). The POD experience proved to me that they could
and would give us serious multiplayer for their F1 games if they were
allowed.

The developer of F1 Relay (F1RC online program to be released this weekend
hopefully, which everyone should take a serious look at) posted the
following at the HG forums today (I'm assuming he doesn't mind me re-posting
them here) concerning Ubi Soft's refusal to assist with the program:

The Reason for Ubisoft (Official)
The reason Ubisoft didn't support us in any way was simply because they are
bound by contract from 2 seperate parties, NOT to provide support. This is
particularly the case with online play. They are forbidden by contract to
even discuss the merits, methods, etc.

Ubisoft (I talked to the head guys in charge of F1RC), wished that they
could. Unfortunately they are forbidden by contract to even speak to me on
the topic.

I can understand this, and it is simply the terms Ubisoft are bound by in
contract. Those are unfortunately the required terms for Ubi acquiring the
FIA license.

As best I can tell, Ubisoft are using VideoSystem's FIA license, not their
own, per-se. Video Systems did not purchase/negotiate that second tier
license (online play), and therefore are unable to support/create a game
that uses the FIA license online.

David G Fisher

well...all i can say is.

1) I wish i could get POD running on my Geforce2mx.  I miss it still.
Am i the only person who longs for the multiple ghost system that they
had in Pod?  can't be.  The online multiplayer was excellent and, imo,
way ahead of the competition.  I play from south africa and you won't
believe the ping times. never less than 800ms (and often much more)
and yet Pod was still slick & playable online.  are you listening
Geoff Crammond :)

2) I agree about your thoughts on what UbiSoft have in the past
provided for multiplayer and certainly I believe that they would have
done better if they were given the opportunity.  I wonder if the
official license was really worth it when you consider what it did for
their reputation.

3) Having witnessed their support of their racing games for the last
few years and the support of the online community, i guessed it would
be something pretty huge to make them act as they have lately.  I
guess Bernie Ecclestone & a lot of lawyers certainly do make a valid
bad guy for me to believe in.

I hope that Ubisoft

a) has learned something from this debacle and will be trying to avoid
getting into this situation again

b) will take serious steps to make up for the dent in their reputation
/ credibility.

c) try and win back some of the fans / loyal public who supported them
and made them some money.

healthy competition is good for the f1 scene.  

finally, if i had a killfile for DGF, i wouldn't have made this post.
what would that have gained me, i wonder?
Regards all,
istoff

"Its easy to get lost in thought
if you don't go there often"    - Me, 1993

Rafe Mc

if this is all true it's quite amazing what's going on behind the scenes.

But no matter why online multiplayer doesn't work, IMO it has to be part of
a modern state of the art sim.

Achim

--

Fester

| The way I'm reading this here, they're only forbidden because they were
| too damned CHEAP to go buy their own FULL license.  For that, they
| deserve no pity.  Tell me how this statement can be interpreted any
| other way.
| --
| Fester

| >
| > As best I can tell, Ubisoft are using VideoSystem's FIA license, not
their
| > own, per-se. Video Systems did not purchase/negotiate that second tier
| > license (online play), and therefore are unable to support/create a game
| > that uses the FIA license online.

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do you have ANY idea of the way FIA makes their "negociations" ?

Here's a hint, last year on world council in june 2000, on the 16th I think,
suddenly, at the end of the meeting, while it was not written on the order
of the day they decided to sell the TV rights for F1, for the next.....100
years, yes ONE HUNDRED...

the only guy here with an interest to buy (remember it was not scheduled)
was bernie (well a company belonging to his 26-year old croatian wife), and
he bought these TV right, for the sum of....100,000,000.00 Dollars, yes,
ONLY that...

Knowing that in 2000 the TV right were sold for 2 BILLION dollars how do you
call someone who buys 100 years for 100 million ? A genius ?

That's the way FIA does their business, why do you think they moved from
paris to geneva ? they don't care about the taxes, but switzerland is away
from the EC commissars who started looking into the FIA finances some years
ago, apparently al Capone is a smalltime gas station robber compared to the
dream team Bernie and Max...

So don't be so positive about Ubi being stupid or cheap or whatever, with
FIA you never know how but you'll be ***ed for sure...

I don't work for FIA, for UBI, or for EMTV...

| do you have ANY idea of the way FIA makes their "negociations" ?
|
| Here's a hint, last year on world council in june 2000, on the 16th I
think,
| suddenly, at the end of the meeting, while it was not written on the order
| of the day they decided to sell the TV rights for F1, for the next.....100
| years, yes ONE HUNDRED...
|
| the only guy here with an interest to buy (remember it was not scheduled)
| was bernie (well a company belonging to his 26-year old croatian wife),
and
| he bought these TV right, for the sum of....100,000,000.00 Dollars, yes,
| ONLY that...
|
| Knowing that in 2000 the TV right were sold for 2 BILLION dollars how do
you
| call someone who buys 100 years for 100 million ? A genius ?
|
| That's the way FIA does their business, why do you think they moved from
| paris to geneva ? they don't care about the taxes, but switzerland is away
| from the EC commissars who started looking into the FIA finances some
years
| ago, apparently al Capone is a smalltime gas station robber compared to
the
| dream team Bernie and Max...
|
| So don't be so positive about Ubi being stupid or cheap or whatever, with
| FIA you never know how but you'll be ***ed for sure...
|
| I don't work for FIA, for UBI, or for EMTV...
|
|

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--

Fester

| Yeah that's it.  Mickey the Shoe.  Piss him off, his boys'll boot ya in
| the next GP.  Then again, if the stakes are high enough, he may do it
| personally.
| --
| Fester

| > So Jack basically it is better to make deals with our good ole
| > Mafia, God Bless'em, then the FIA? Damn! So maybe MS's
| > real name is "Miko` Guido Shumalochio?" :)

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Imagine if FOX or NBC or CBS owned nascar and they were "making deals" for
the TV rights....

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

J. P. Hovercraft

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