That would be great, but the main issue is who does the hosting? These aren't always simple config or script files being transferred. It's often a ton of art content which is very big.
The server admin hosts the files.
Every time you connect to a server, it checks if you have the currently used content and if not, you download it from there.
*They need a great connection to be able to upload multiple .5 gig plus files to multiple users, as well as running the actual game without causing lag.
ISI hosts the files.
Mods are now submitted to a central database of mods that ISI serves to customers as they need it.
*Would trademarked content be a problem if ISI themselves were hosting and providing this stuff?
*What would happen if server admins wished to use variants of mods, they or someone else might have tweaked?
The usual places host
Server admins could set up a direct dl link to the usual places we get our mods
* Will rFactor central or similar be happy with people getting files from their servers without visiting their site?
Peer to Peer
A portion of upload bandwidth is reserved from each player to upload their content to others who need it. If the user wishes, they can leave the mod manager running even when they're not playing, to add to the global speed.
* It would have to be shown that there is no negative impact to gameplay if people are uploading and racing at the same time.
* How would good uploaders be rewarded? What is the impetous for someone to do it and not throttle the connection?
* What would happen when lots of people want stuff that not many people have?
I would love to see an easier method to get the files I need, but even if something really good could be done, the actual time between seeing a server I want to play on and playing on it would be pretty much the same. My connection only downloads as fast as it does. Having it in game means I don't have to alt+tab out to my browser and find the file, which is nice, but it only really saves me 5 minutes.
One idea
I think what I might like to see is a stripped down in game browser or simple mod viewer with room for adverts, that used an open format for sites like rFactor central to hook their mod database into. We browse the files or are simply linked directly to what we need - all the while being exposed to the advert belonging to the mod hosting site, perhaps encouraging us to visit their site for other useful services they provide.
