Slothman you've totally over looked the bigger issue with this modID crap. Sure it has potential, Potential to create more problems then it's supposed to fix. That is ever dent right now.
Cars can't be use on any other track then the one assigned to it!
Tracks can not be used by any car mod except the one assigned to it!
If it is a Component you can't use it except with all cars and tracks! (NOT online were 80% of users want to use it!)
At the moment we have what? 4 - 5 Car mods? 3 released tracks and the rF2 content ones.
Already this system has shown it doesn't matter if you have all these things install you still can't join a specific server because you don't have the ModID. People are creating rFMods for their servers and now are asking others to download and install what you have already.
I don't see ANY benefit WHAT SO EVER in this ID thing. Leagues don't need a system like this because they run through a forum so every racing member is kept up to date so laying this on them is rubbish.
The main area were mismatch is more ever dent is in pick up racing, This system doesn't help here, It kill the idea completely.
- Provide more information at the server level including links as entered into the MOD creation process (the information is already there, just not visible at server level).
This is already there in the form of the version number for rF1. ( 1.0 - 1.2 eg eg) When there is more then one version of a track or car mod their names are different. Self explanatory! If you don't take note of these things , Don't blame the game and ask the games producers to fix your laziness! Either way if you want to join that server you need to get the right content.
The BIG difference here is you may ALREADY have the
correct content but the
wrong ID! Do you want to to D/L the same content again? I'll beat NO! I know I don't!
Implement the Skin system as a component (I believe an ISI guy has already commented on this as happening sometime between now and gold release).
If the skins need to be added as a component it's only to suit leagues. Again this hasn't been a problem that require such a system to be needed. Members are required to get a skin packs now which you could already described as a component.
The BIG difference here is IF and WHEN that league want to have their server open to the public, (Which they do from time to time to help get new members) want be able to do so!
With rF1 they message their members to use only DEFAULT liveries on OPEN servers so anyone can join and not need the skin pack from the league.
This new ModID will stop that completely! Dead! For anyone who wants to race online just to have a race or more so the new comers to rF2 WANT be able to get into any server that has people racing without the correct rFMODID whether he or she has the correct content already installed!
I'm sorry Slothman but I really can't see any BENEFITS to this AT ALL!!
The one thing this DOSE do is MAKE SURE you have a legally paid for install of rF2. Ok I get the idea of having you need to have a personal ID that matchmaker reads before you get to race online. I get the idea why we need to go through matchmaker before you can race at LAN's but that's it!
The rest of this rubbish is just a game killer! The old hands at this stuff may put up with it for a while but assure you they'll be looking for a better option.
As for new comers to this they are going to be totally confused as to why they can't use this with that! What have I done wrong? Why can't I.... Why do I need that? I have it installed! It's the correct version? Why want it work? This is worse then iRacing!!!!