I'm going to try and explain from my perspective what LFS is missing, and how it could significantly increase its player base and quality of the game.
1. Problems with LFS:
a. It is clear that currently, LFS has two fundamental problems. First, the lack of updates. I understand that the game is old, and it probably doesn't receive a lot of attention from developers. The latest news we had of any update is the day/night cycle which should've been implemented in my opinion way earlier. The last update we've heard of this was 4 months ago. This means that the devs have either given up, or this update will come out when there's no one left playing the game anymore.
b. Secondly. LFS, considering its age and current state, has surprisingly a decent player base. However, this player base is slowly drifting away and will not return due to the previous issue I highlighted. Many friends of mine agree that the game has become dull and boring over time due to the lack of updates and purpose in playing anymore. There's no real 'objective' or 'purpose' left in playing the game. There are better, newer racing simulators out there with bigger communities as well. Players need a reason to keep playing the game.
2. A likely solution:
I'm a strong believer in the idea that LFS could release their game to the modding community. Taking Skyrim as an example
(thanks Daklan), the vanilla game itself is not great, however since the game allowed mods to be made by the community the game has exponentially become better. Better graphics, better physics, better content, environments, etc, you name it. Whatever you can think of, it's probably been done by someone already.
If LFS were to follow in the tracks of Skyrim, I'm positive that the game would once again become a popular choice of entertainment for an average player and even returning veterans of the game. Instead of developers who clearly aren't prioritizing the game
(because they probably have better things to do, or are just not getting paid enough, if at all) why not let the community do most of the work? They're willing to do it. The 'day and night' cycle could've easily been implemented already by modders instead of having to wait for 4months+ for it and counting as of right now. Here are just 2 ideas that I can name off the top of my head:
1. Environments and Graphics --> Just like with Skyrim, graphics mods could be created to improve the look of the game or perhaps by improving the environment of tracks. Weather effects like rain, fog, snow and ice could be added for a more unique driving experience. Distant mountains or buildings to fill the edges of the maps instead of badly textured leaves or trees. Road conditions like cracks in the concrete, potholes etc. The list goes on.
2. Custom maps/tracks --> Cruise servers could download or create maps that are specifically designed for the 'cruise' gamemode. Tight cities (like some Italian village) or big open roads (somewhere in America). Race servers could also do this, modding in popular tracks like Spa, or perhaps just making completely new race tracks. Drift servers can design new exciting routes and lines from wherever they want and so forth.
It sounds like this would be an incredible amount of work but the reason it's not is because it is up to the community what happens. Enthusiastic players such as myself are willing to put in the work for free to make the game better. Players are constantly trying to improve the game by modding car models, interiors, textures etc. with the little wiggle room they have to work with. Opening the game completely to allow people to work with whatever they feel is missing from the game could be life changing for LFS. However I do realize that perhaps the game engine will need to be improved for this to be able to happen, however I think that if this idea is acknowledged by the devs it can happen.
Perhaps people would worry that the game wouldn't be "LFS" anymore, however the game would still have its fundamentals that make it feel like its still LFS and not some completely different game, but now, the popular requests from the playerbase can be actualized and implemented instead of waiting months or even years for updates to come out that change something minor.
This is my perspective on helping this game strive once again, and not to just let it rot away in silence. I am open to any feedback or criticism of this idea and will gladly discuss it further with those who want to. Thank you for reading, I hope this will reach the developers and leaders of Live for Speed.
Vilix