rec.autos.simulators

What's cooking in Noonans' kitchen?

Eldre

What's cooking in Noonans' kitchen?

by Eldre » Sun, 21 May 2000 04:00:00



>NTT - the infamous Nail The Track series - initially with invited drivers
>from around the world, it culminated in a mad fortnight when Jack ran three
>series - America, Europe and Australasia. The series ran with registered
>drivers with heats and finals in each series.

>The aim was to create a world auto sim association whose drivers were all
>licensed and the races governed by appointed officials of the said body.

>The three series would evolve to a world final.

>The concept was to treat sim racing in the same light as real racing, with a
>recognised ruling body which ensured fair play and guaranteed a quality of
>driving (not necessarily the fastest drivers) on a global scale only
>previously available in small private leagues. With all the organisation
>that goes with running such a body.

>Jack was considering this as potential job - running the overall series with
>aid from associates in the three continents, financially rewarded by a
>driver registration scheme which would benefit both the sim racing community
>by providing a professional body and pay Jack a wage.

>The "mad" fortnight saw Jack run NTT in three continents EVERY DAY as he
>guaged whether he could somehow create his dream governing body and make a
>living for himself & his family.

>Reality finally slapped him the face as it became clear the sim racing
>community was too small, and too reluctant to pay for such a service. So the
>NTT series collapsed as the exhausted Jack finally had to give up his dream
>to manage a sim racing body on a full time basis.

>It all sounds a bit bizarre now. No doubt from a business perspective it was
>very naive but somehow in this business orientated world it had a refreshing
>innocence in approach.

>The NTT series was sorely missed as a genuine world championship, and Jack
>made many friends on RAS in the process - many will remember those NTT
>announcements, and the NTT races had a popularity seldom equalled.

>Tony

You're KIDDING, right?  That sounds like too much work for about *10*
people...<g>
But, I'd say that 98% of GPL(for example) drivers wouldn't pay.  The hotshoes
would scare them away.  I refuse to pay for something I don't have a chance in
HELL of winning... :-)

Eldred

--
Tiger Stadium R.I.P. 1912-1999
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Never argue with an idiot.  He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
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Tony Rickar

What's cooking in Noonans' kitchen?

by Tony Rickar » Sun, 21 May 2000 04:00:00

"EldredP" wrote

The NTT series was going to be SO big that it would cater for all levels of
drivers from novice to hotshoe with mini championships at each level.

The aim was to provide a professional organsiation for sim racing as we have
for real racing. Now if you want to start racing you start at a local club
not F1 - NTT recognised that.

Paying for it is the big stumbling block. IMHO Jack never saw the GPL
community as an opportunity to get rich - but (perhaps optimistically) could
provide sufficient income (probably with other ventures) to enable him to do
it.

He proved he could run the thing but the reaction to payment was luke warm.

Most of us don't expect to pay for the work provided by an enthusiast
community.

I think it is more pyschological than financial - how many of us blow money
on at least one duff title a year in the optimistic belief it will be good -
in our quest for improving our hobby. Whereas spending money on an existing
product (track converter excepted) goes against the grain.

If you consider the value each title you buy judged by the hours you have
played it then playing GPL seems remarkable value!

I sometimes wonder that some serious GPL add-ons could be created if RAS
clubbed together and employed some programmers or rewarded the spare time
enthusiasts. It is quite possible a number of them are self employed and
could give more time if they got paid for the time they lose for working
elsewhere.

Just some thoughts...

Tony

Tony Rickar

What's cooking in Noonans' kitchen?

by Tony Rickar » Sun, 21 May 2000 04:00:00

<snip>

That's not to say the add-ons so far haven't been serious!

Just we could have more time devoted to their creation, and maybe develop
GPL into a GPL 1.5 or something :)

What the sim community has done out of enthusiasm has to be applauded.


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