Wow....four years later.....different sim drivers (but not all
different).....same complaints!
"Pick up racing" is never going to be "ideal"......and "league racing" will
always be the best choice, regarding the "quality" of the competitors and
the racing.
Although I believe Papyrus has provided an excellent set of tools and
procedures for improving online racing (passworded races, a driver rating
system....and so forth), they have failed to provide one or the other....of
the necessary "tools" needed for serious Internet-based sim racing to take
place. They are:
1. The ability for "users" to charge for services of running leagues,
establishing broadband racing league servers (this cost money, a lot of
money...and a relatively inexpensive, cable or DSL line does not have enough
upside bandwidth to hold a serious league race......30 or more
drivers....requires around 600 kbps...upside bandwidth); and/or,
2. Provide a serious online "driver licensing" system.....similar to
several used in real-world racing (SCCA for amateur racing...and NASCAR for
professional racing...would be two prime examples). An "Internet"
cookie......attached to your login name, signifying your racing license
level (Novice, National, Pro, etc.)....and allowing only like licensed
drivers to enter races ....or take part in league racing events.....wouldn't
fix everything 100%....it certainly would go along way to fixing the "mess"
you get now with a typical Sierra.com "pick up race." Wouldn't it? And,
"yes"...there would be administrative problems with something like
this.....but those are not insurmountable in scope or detail.
While Papyrus' EULA has mostly valid provisions, the provision against
"making money" using one of their products is probably not. I have shown
this provision to several Internet attorneys here in the Bay Area - Silicon
Valley.........and have had several discussions with more than one Havas
"legal department" attorney....the two groups are at opposing odds on the
matter (for obvious reasons, Havas thinks the provision is valid). That
provision, as described by several attorneys who I have shown it to......say
its tantamount to Hoyle saying, "You can buy our playing cards to play
poker...but you can't play poker for real money with them." Or, Microsoft
saying, "You can't use Word.....to write letters that make you money."
Needless to say, the ongoing "saber rattling" from Papyrus, Sierra and Havas
legal departments, scares off most people who attempt to provide "expensive"
services for racing (leagues, broadband servers and Internet connection
lines, racing schools, licensing programs, etc.)....just because the "cost
of defense" is formidable. They count on that sort of thing...you know?
But, if a class action suit were to be filed, on behalf of N4 "users".....I
doubt seriously if Papyrus, Sierra or Havas legal...would ever allow it to
go to trial.....because they know they'd lose. There's just no legal
ground....no reasonable legal basis.....for that provision.....not unless
Papyrus was running leagues.....racing schools......licensing programs...and
charging (meaning making money) for those services. If they are not doing
it....then they are not being harmed or damaged in anyway....by someone else
doing it.
However, that does not take into account what restrictions.....are imposed
on Papyrus.....in order to obtain the various licenses they need to put a
serious racing sim like NASCAR 4.....on the market. We are not privy to the
details of those agreements. My bet is, Papyrus has been a "whimp" in those
negotiations....and the scope of the their "license" is incredibly narrow
(meaning, they are allowed to sell a racing game software...and that is it).
One can only wonder how many real-world race track owners and groups,
privately laugh at the whimps.....who continue to pay them for the
"likeness" of their race tracks. When, in fact, the track owners would
probably agree to pay them.......to have their tracks in a good racing sim
because it advertises their products, and strengthens their fan base! Go
figure!
Where does this all lead us? Probably nowhere.....as long as we are talking
about a Papyrus racing simulation (game). Come to think of it, Papyrus kind
of reminds me of some of the old railroad companies of the early 20th
Century. The ones that you've never heard of......because while they were
"giants in their time"....they died out like the dinosaurs because they
didn't realize what business they were in. They "thought" they were in the
railroad business. Others, went on to become world-wide
conglomerates......because they knew what business they were in....and it
wasn't the railroad business! They knew they were in the "transportation
business"......and they went on to become airlines, and shipping companies
and parcel post companies and on and on and on! And, these same companies
knew how to value their assets. They knew their greatest asset value....was
not in railroad cars and locomotives.....it was in real estate! Papyrus,
you are in the "leisure-time, entertainment business".....wake up!
Oh well.....guess I'll go see if I can get into a decent pick up race
online. See you guys later?
Tom Pabst