rec.autos.simulators

If the full "core pack" is going to be just one car on one track, both
non-licensed, what's the demo going to be? I can't see how it can be
any less than that unless it's a time-limited demo (which is a concept
I ****ly* despise), the car is greatly "detuned" (which would make
it pointless - imagine if the GPL demo had been an F3 Cooper with all
driver aids stuck permanently on), lots and lots of options are "greyed
out", or the track is a very basic oval or test pad. Only the last two
of these are even close to being acceptable.

As to the pricing: when I said I'd be willing to pay 100, that was
assuming there'd be *some* variety. This isn't it, I'm afraid. Let's
assume that cars and tracks cost an average of a tenner each (and it
might well be more) - that means that getting to GPL level (5 licensed
cars, 11 tracks) would cost an additional 40 for the cars and 100 for
the tracks. I'm really sorry, but 240 is too much for me. It's not
that it can't be worth it - though it would have to be as good as is
promised, with *superb* customer support (ie *not* a premium-rate
answerphone) - it's just that I can't afford it. Also, there's no way I
could sign a bit of paper saying "I commit to buying RL" without having
at least some idea of the cost of addons.

The pay-to-beta thing, conversely to what some posters have thought, I
think is actually a *good* sign in some (*some*) ways. That's because,
if people have actually handed over their money on the understanding
there'll be a product, then there'd damn well better be one, or the
Wests will be, at the very least, devoid of any credibility ever again
- and possibly even up in court (though I'm sure there'll be
disclaimers in the beta contracts).

I still love the idea of RL, and think it really could be revolutionary
- but I hope there'll be a lot more solid info very soon. (Oh, and
*please* don't make all the beta-testers sign Empire-level NDAs - that
would be amazingly hypocritical!)

--
"After all, a mere thousand yards... such a harmless little knoll,
really" - Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh.

The GPL Scrapyard: http://www.racesimcentral.net/~gplscrapyard

  I tend to think the beta will BE the demo.

dave henrie

"David Buttery" <

I tend to believe the demo will be the only thing ever delivered, they'll
get paid and that'll be it. Could be wrong, just have a feeling.

And quite possibly the final game.
:)

Don Burnette

I'd have to agree, also.  Before everyone just ponies up the bucks,
shouldn't there be some sort of guarantee that something rather than a demo
is going to be released?  If nothing is released, demo funds are returned.

This is like baseball: without the fans there is no baseball.   Without
assurances that something will be released that can be considered a full
version of the product (as spelled out in the agreement, say), everyone
should just stay home.  I do not think it would be too much to ask for WB to
develop a sort of EULA, which indicates just what is going to happen with
this product; and if it doesn't happen, what kind of remuneration is called
for.  Otherwise, taken in total, this is a risky adventure (and a profitable
one for WB), considering the track record of these fellows.

No one can say what will happen.  I'm hoping it's all legitimate, as I would
like to see such a simulator as WB supposedly plans on building.  But just
to go into this without absolutely no guarantee that what will happen is
what we expected will happen is complete folly.

Alanb

I'm not too worried about not getting my money's worth if I do give them $50
and join the damn beta.  I don't know whether the Wests can pull this off or
not but I do know that I would like them to.  So they get my $50 and I get
to run this fabled piece of code and take a look for myself.  They get to
work on it a little longer and we get to keep reading all this delightful
drivel for a good time to come.

It's not like I'm sinking all my retirement funds into Enron stock or
anything.    ;o)

Elrikk

I really, really hope you're wrong. There has to be some form of demo
available free of charge, or the chance of getting (say) 5,000 users is
zilch.

--
"After all, a mere thousand yards... such a harmless little knoll,
really" - Raymond Mays on Shelsley Walsh.

The GPL Scrapyard: http://www.btinternet.com/~gplscrapyard

For $100, I would expect at least 3 cars and 3 tracks. Of those, at least 1
car and 1 track should be fully licensed and reality based. Anyway, I don't
see why the Wests couldn't find some less well-known cars and tracks that
are only too happy to be promoted in a computer game for nothing.

Otherwise there are other moddable simulators that will take my money (F1
2002, NASCAR Heat and their successors spring to mind . . .).

100 pounds is a lot of South African rands.

Ryan

-----------== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Uncensored Usenet News ==----------
   http://www.newsfeed.com       The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----= Over 100,000 Newsgroups - Unlimited Fast Downloads - 19 Servers =-----