I was wondering if ISI had any real drivers on board or if any big name drivers have tested the sim so far?
Yes, mostly either at the internal testing level, or privately. No name dropping required though really.
Would love to here from a top driver on a video or something. You could even use an Andy McNabb style interview if you had too. Ha
ISI has never been into paying drivers to hype up their sims. Their sims are used by race teams, no real need to do their own interviews.
It can be frustrating at times. Had a driver contact earlier this year saying they used our software to train, talked for a while, then it was suggested we could sponsor and pay for promotional stuff. We just don't see that as being worthwhile. If you use the product and it benefits you, it shouldn't be about the money.
Can't really argue with that. I was just wondering what the people that have driven these cars think, I personally don't think you can get any closer to the real thing at the moment but I've never driven a race car in anger.
There are drivers that claim certain console sims are the closest to the real thing you can get... So I wouldn't really trust any of that promotional material.
Wise words. Oh man, those F1 Young Drivers a couple of years ago, hailing F1 2012 as being sooo realistic. Yikes, CM really had to let go of some dough there, I guess... OP, interesting thread.
I'm so down with this attitude. I'd go one step further: "If you're a fan and you love the game, feel free to tell everyone about it if you want to" There's already more than enough meaningless advertising hype in the sports world. -- Spadge Because he's worth it
Well, it's a matter of influence. They know that their endorsement would carry weight and would be of financial benefit to ISI. They're just trying to get their cut for their endorsement. I, like many people, can talk 'till I'm blue in the face about how good rF2 is, but if a.) I've got nobody to talk to, and b.) no influence over those people, then of course, there's no value in it for ISI. But someone who can send out one thing on twitter, and it sends droves of people to your website, then certainly there's value in that; and why shouldn't they be compensated for that? They're then becoming salespeople for you, and they can be VERY effective if they actually know what they're talking about (i.e. by using it to train). For example, I sell TVs; it's a lot easier for me to sell a Sony, because I own a Sony; it's much easier to come across as passionate and genuine about it, as opposed to another brand TV. However, there's no way I'm going to loiter around my local electronics dealer and sell TVs for them without getting paid for it no matter the brand. Granted, nobody's going to want me to sell TVs for them if I'm asking for $100/hr, either (unless I'm selling 1000 TVs per hour, anyway ). Anyway, my point being: that saying that there's no value in it seems short-sighted.
Unfortunately when each customer isn't worth $1000 average in subscriptions and micro transactions, it makes no financial benefit at all. They wouldn't generate the sales to cover it and pay us for what we do. Sent using Tapatalk - excuse the short post, etc
I agree. Maybe I misunderstood and made an assumption. You mentioned earlier that a driver was talking with you about sponsorship. I assumed a professional driver. I totally agree that the average Joe ain't worth it.
No, I think you just misunderstood Tim's saying even a professional driver isn't worth sponsoring to get the ISI/rFactor name out there because we, as users, don't pay enough to make it worthwhile for ISI (the new users they attract won't offset the sponsorship). If we had to pay more for the software, or the professional driver asked less, maybe that wouldn't be the case. Tim's obviously the one with all relevant figures here, so if he/they think it's not worthwhile I'm inclined to think it's not.
I showed a friend RF2 and he had already made the jump by the next time we talked. Sometimes the best promotional material is the product itself.
Ahh..yes, that makes more sense. Makes one wonder how much they were asking for, then, if ISI would need a return of $1000 per new customer for it to be worthwhile.
Well, sure, the product has to be able to sell itself as well--there needs to be some discernable value in it. But there's also tremendous value in "celebrity" endorsement as well, otherwise you wouldn't see it even in big-budget marketing.
Yeah, it is. I much prefer watching 'let's play..." videos on youtube before buying a game over ANY trailer. Just as an example. It's seeing the 'average guy like me' doing it, and having fun at it, that makes me want to do it, because I KNOW I'm not as good as an F1 driver in a sim.
I've been involved in a few sponsorship deals, honestly I think it's a waste of money in the VAST majority of cases. I don't know why some companies do it.
I have to agree with Tim here. A good product will always sell itself. Paying a driver thousands of dollars to endorse an already good product...without knowing whether his opinion will influence sale or offset his cost, is risky. I'd much rather see that capital secure the work of great track builders or physics specialist. Ultimately, a good product will generate buzz amongst drivers and the racing community. I have a few buddies who race GT2 cup and when we sit down to have a beer and talk simracing, the good ones always come up.
