Post 08, I've exclusively played offline as AU LFS scene slumped. Pretty simple really, nothing sinister or some greater agenda. After all I've been here since day 1 and at RSC before that and my online playing habits have pretty much matched the rises and falls of LFS development.
You seem fixated on a point that really is irrelevant. S2 was released mid 05 and we haven't seen a major content update since then. If you think that's okay... Great... But clearly from the evidence in this thread and countless others before it, many aren't and I doubt they care for any of this pointless debate of acceptable playing habits.
With all due respect, he hasn't been asking for content. So the beef you have with him is really redundant.
The idea that it's NOT possible to experience all the content offline is nonsense. Clearly every combo is available online and offline.
If you were to say you haven't tried every aspect of LFS, until you've played x races online, maybe there's a degree of validity to that. But what's the threshold?
Not into weed, despite living in the growing capital of Australia.
If you want to conclude that players who haven't played every combo "online", can't justify asking for more content, then they fail your test. Is it a reasonable or reliable test? No. Because for what ever reason some people can't play online. Maybe you live/work in a technology back water and only have access to dial-up or satellite. Who knows, but peoples situations change and it's certainly acceptable to play off-line (else why would AI exist) and those who do shouldn't be judged.
The point I have been making, is that LFS is on the decline. Even if those that don't meet your test were to start playing online again, the opportunities of the past sadly aren't there. The only thing that will revive the LFS online participation and "hopefully" bring players/leagues back is a significant update to content.
Chill out. If you have something more credible to add to the original argument, then make your point.
People are entitled to present their view on LFS. If you don't agree fine, but trying to somehow discredit others whom you disagree with, by making obvious assumptions and judgements on their playing habits doesn't help your cause.
Judgement or observation, it really doesn't matter. It comes off as cheap talk.
You assuming everyone plays on line and ignores other factors (which might not be as obvious to EU based players), but don't let that get in the way of discrediting anyone that dares to disagree with you PoV.
Personally LFS competitions at LANs with a live TV projected for others to view and where drivers can interact beats online any day. It's amazing how clean driver race when you are in punching distance.
Yep that's right, haven't played online since AU LFS scene took a nose dive. I now only play at LANs.
Since you are so keen to judge other LFS users online participation, perhaps you would enlighten us to what the threshold is that you deem acceptable to "moan"?
You can't have it both ways. Either you a moaner or a fanboy. No fence sitting. Sorry that's the rules.
I agree. 'Different' it encompasses all these. Nothing remotely came close the LFS.
Sure it doesn't need GT5 scale cars and the vast majority don't expect that, but there are many categories that aren't catered for currently.
Why would you have to manage people with community help with content? The time and effort involved wouldn't be any more than what is currently done with InSim.
Besides... The bulk of complaints are about stale content. Scawen has made his reason clear, which you have pointed out, but the reasons behind the lack of content updates is a real mystery. Most are happy to wait for physics updates. Having multiple content developers doesn't pose the same management and technical challenges as with code development. The reasons for not releasing more content have never been made clear, mainly due to the recluse nature of Eric.
Sure it's one of the big selling points, but alone it means little with the mechanisms (as in content) to experience it, much like having a motor without the car.
What evidence backs up generalising tyre physics is traditionally a one-man show?
But there's plenty of people here that are happy to use them a reference, that LFS is going strong and there's nothing to worry about.
Promises, expectations, whatever. To say the community created this problem is just plain wrong. This may seem harsh, but you reap what you sow. Seeds were planted and it wasn't managed at all. Credits to Scawen, he has since admitted this, but you have to dig around in the forum to get a reasonable perspective of where LFS is.
Every forum has them, but just because their approach is immature or offensive or unreasonable, isn't grounds to ignore their complaints, which often has some basis of merit.
That may seem like a bad thing at face value, but if you think about it, it's really amazing that people give a f#ck enough about the game to come here and comment.
The developement and engagement died off way before the so called "era of moaning" began.
Only if LFS had the number of players that rFactor has, then this whole thread wouldn't exist.
I love your optimism. Everyone wants to see LFS rise again, but it's very doubtful.
What everyone fails to see (excusable for those that haven't been along for the whole ride), LFS was successful because it was different. It started off way ahead of the curve, generating excitement and attracting the masses. Devs engaged the community , making regular improvements/updates and the community grew over time. This carried on for several years (2001-2005). The devs then took a break, but never returned to the same vigour of engaged/development the community become accustom too and here we are now.
The devs have have made it quite clear that they aren't going to change their ways and become even more recluse to an extent that has pretty much decided LFS fate IMO.
Sure there will be a bump in popularity with the next release (if we ever see it), but restoring the community to it's former glory will take more than just a release of S2 final or S3, especially with all the scepticism of LFS development future.
It's doubtful those who have invested time/money into developing leagues/communities and see them suffer a slow death, will make a repeat investment, without their faith being restored.
If you look back to S1 and S2 release, there was plenty of announcements, videos and screenshots of pending content. Apparently we're approaching S2 final (S3 alpha?) and we're yet to see any evidence that substantiates any unannounced content will be released. As much as everyone hopes there is, I wouldn't hold your breath.
The Scawen has said a few times in the past that they aren't concerned with competition. Besides the two other games you've meantion both have several magnitudes more content.
Looking all the way back from 2001, the perspective is vastly different. It's all a matter of context. If you look only at post S2 then things might not seems as bad in some people eyes.
As you said, any comment here is really just speculation. Some comments are uniformed, or short sighted, and some are based on experience and history.
No offence... but if you witnessed rise of LFS popularity from RSC days (circa 2001) to 2005, the overall LFS picture is vastly different. The steady decline from this point, bar the old release/update is saddening. S2 looked like it was going to turn things around and it did to a degree.But ultimately the string of uninspiring updates (some necessary and important but still uninspiring) dampened spirits and the rest is history and here we are now, clinging to drifters and cruises as evidence of LFS's popularity.
It's really hard to comprehend why they let a vivid community wither away along with the massive opportunity to take LFS mainstream.
Unfortunately the longer this circus continues, the harder to believe any update will be good enough to revive the community, based on the evidence to date.
To me... LFS is a victim of it's own success. It's progressed from a serious business to a hobby project. Development will probably continue to limp along until funding becomes an issue and forces something to change.
If it weren't for the masses of Drifters and cruisers, LFS would be very dead.