It isn't as simple as you describe. Those players are spending years in demo simply because they have no intention in paying even a penny for the game. If you removed the demo feature, or didn't even implement it in the beginning it wouldn't double the number of S2 users, I'd even guess less users would have paid for the game. That is a dead assumption, which has been made ages ago and as wrong as possible.
I respect Scawen for his technical skills, but he obviously sucks at project management,...
Yeah. That.
I can respect Scawen for having his own vision for LFS, and not compromising that vision to make a quick buck or to hop on some trend that he's not passionate about. It may not be what we desire, or at the speed we desire, but it was made extremely clear before we purchased our LFS licence that LFS was in development, and that things could change at will.
Yeah. That.
And that is the most appealing thing about it to me.
I could care less about coding and whatnot as I like sunlight.
But I do know a little about mass production and final output decided by committee. The only way that works is with compromise. All sorts of reasons demand that compromise. What in LFS would you want compromised so this committee can get S3 out there?
I figure when LFS was developed, or started out, it was done with the attitude of a garage band. Now this garage band is asked to perform at Wembley Stadium.
LOL the Black Keys of video games. No wait LFS has old cars... Timbuk 3
Yeah the Timbuk 3 of video games.
I wouldnt be surprised if it happend ! many Studios took that way for their sim Iracing Rfactor2, R3E and even Assetto Corsa will have a DLC program!!! it's the only way to make money and keep the sim up to date without loosing money ! No money no update no update no players. I prefere paying for a full service instead paying 40$ for a game that has only couple years of life and will die like LFS. I will pay the membership without any argue if the sim is good
or they could change everything and let you pay for example
10 bucks to get access to one car turbo
10 bucks for aerodynamics
20 for suspension
100 to get your own setup
finally since this model will slowly rise up to EA levels each skin will be 200 bucks
also pit stops will be like real life you want fresh tyres and more fuel? well pay them with real life currency exchange!
LFS is dead. Nothing has happened in a very long time and what was a great simulator with a great community has turned into a frustrated community and a dead simulator.
If Scawen & co have any sense they have quietly moved on to pastures new and left you lot to the sinking ship.
Move on - or don't - whatever. No one cares anymore, this is an ex-parrot.
@Gabox There is a time in development when you overcome most challanges and the challanges remaining are too much time consuming without big effect or just not interesting enough.
I think thats what is happening as Scawen working on this sim for years pretty much personally. I think he already overcome his biggest challanges so isnt as motivated. This isnt his main job also. Thats my opinion.
I agree, you get a half-decent support and consistent service for you money. I don't see how anyone is fancy by getting iRacing. You've never thought about the fact that some racers would love to compete online regularly, right?
I want online racing without children, and a number of reachable short-terms goals to achieve. Show me a better one then according to my preference.
gtr 2
its free(nowdays)
there are tons of mods for it (some really high quality..if you like historical models too..)
kids dont play it because they dont even know about it
and it doesnt have too much of a community (worse than lfs but it still going)
then is lfs (or was or or or..)
the good thing with iracing is the payment model that is the main reason that you dont get idiots/kids/divebombers/jihadists
(i personally think that achivements is the worst things that could happen to them game genre as a whole..suddenly you see rankwhores and achievement whores everywere destroying the fun )
So you are suggesting that I can fire up my GTR2 and/or LFS any night and jump into a balanced grid of 30 cars? I think I didn't experience that in LFS for years now, not even in league races. Also in most of the Simbin games, I tend to find the kids online, simply because it's too forgiving for a kamikaze action. I can only wish Assetto Corsa hurries up with fixing their netcode and the joining system so even pickup racing can be enjoyable at some point. It will never reach the standards of the iRacing matchmaking in a popular series though.