Thinking about rfactor 2

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pilAUTO

Registered
I took a look for the first time at the steam statistics for rfactor 2.

If I understood the statistics correctly, there has been a very sharp drop in the number of users of rFactor 2 for a number of months.

Knowing that the number of users has never been high and even very very low.

When we add to that the fact that motorsport game has completely abandoned the game on all aspects, I think that this time there is no doubt :

The game is completely dead commercially. I find that a shame.

For my part, I have not found shoes that fit me elsewhere :

LMU does not suit me at all (incredibly reductive car and circuit content compared to the automotive universe, much too little diversity to work on my driving skills and my attraction to simulator driving).

Assetto corsa evolution doesn't interest me at all, their priority doesn't seem to be realism and driving at all, but purely commercial aspects to promote money (there's nothing wrong with that, and it doesn't mean it's completely rotten either of course).

Even though I haven't used the simulation for a very long time, the one and only simulation that has suited me for 11 years after I stopped using rFactor 1 is AMS 1.

For my part, unsurprisingly, I plan to continue using rfactor 2.

When I add up all the cars that seem realistic to me, mostly from s397 and ISI, for modded cars I only use some cars from slow motion and mantasig...

But we must still reach almost 100 cars when we add all that up, and I only drive what I consider to have reached an impressive level of physics.

I don't know what you think, but almost 100 relatively varied cars is already very good.

In addition, for the little that I also play simracing (2-3 hours per week), I am content with my favorite circuit which is the Nordschleife, as well as the absolutely fantastic Targa Florio circuit (version currently being developed by abulzz via Patreon).

These two circuits, because they are totally incredible, satisfy me and mean that I don't need to use other circuits.

I would have gladly given rFactor 3 a chance instead of LMU (however, it is absolutely not certain that I will really give rFactor 3 a chance if it comes out in 2 or 3 years, it will be too late for me).

But as you can see, what I'm looking for is a very wide variety of different cars.

NOT a few recent GT or recent proto type cars fucking ABS/traction control, and NOT triple A circuit like on LMU (of course these circuits are very good and particularly well done on LMU, but they are just 10000 times more boring than the two I currently use, and which will probably never come to LMU).

The other simulations available do not suit me at all :

I hate iracing for many reasons (many of you will understand these reasons without me even mentioning them), AMS 2/AC/ACC/ACE are not up to par at all in terms of physics (I'm not saying it's rotten, I'm saying that I have a very high level of expectation at this level, 99.9% of what I expect in a simulation is the realism of the driving), I don't like raceroom at all.

So yes, what to do except continue to use rFactor 2 ??

Especially since absolutely all the parameters of rFactor 2 whether in the files or in any aspect of the game or the interface are set extremely precisely, everything is optimized 100% exactly so that I have the best experience according to what I am looking for.

So... Of course rFactor 2 still satisfies me, and of course I will continue to use it for many years to come... but this voluntary abandonment of motorsport game of rFactor 2 and its commercial death which is in my opinion totally factual now, with no prospect of update and almost no car modder up to par in terms of physics displeases me greatly.

What is the point now of spitting on Motorsport game ? It's too late, and it's done, it's done.

I just wanted to express a little bit my thoughts about rFactor 2 :

Continue to use it exclusively
? Concerning me yes, 100%.

Being deeply disappointed ? One word : disappointment.

Basically it's not death, but it's annoying.
 
Good exposition of the current situation, which I agree with almost everything.
I only see one way out that would satisfy me: that the companies in the sector buy the physics, tire and ffb engine from rfactor2 and implement it in their games. Without exception.
Then I would have free choice.
 
delapecs said:
Good exposition of the current situation, which I agree with almost everything.
I only see one way out that would satisfy me: that the companies in the sector buy the physics, tire and ffb engine from rfactor2 and implement it in their games. Without exception.
Then I would have free choice.
Click to expand...

Lke I been saying for decades.

The advantages of one engine for hardcore sims outweigh the disadvantages ( shrugs )
 
I think rFactor2 may be the single achievement in race car physics simulation.
It fulfills almost all of the race driving experience one can expect in the average home.
I'm glad I came across this simulator.
At the same time, I am disappointed that a legitimate sequel to this simulator, or any other simulator that could compete with it, has not appeared over the years.
The other simulators do not meet my hopes. (Realistic graphics, online features, and gameplay are not important to me.)
Would a pure vehicle simulator like the rFactor series not be commercially viable?
Also, the mod culture has been a great feature of the series, but there are concerns that it infringes on real rights, and relying on it may be risky, since the demands on modders increase significantly as physics simulation becomes more sophisticated.
In any case, I hope that a new true simulator that we can call “rFactor3” will emerge again, and until then I will not leave rFactor2.
 
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Thanks for the mention @pilAUTO :)

I also think about rF2 often, what will be ? Will there be something more ?

As always everything is up to demand, even greatest of things disappear and gets hidden under thick layers of dust if they are forgotten. Chances are with rF2, if it is going to be forgotten, it might be rediscovered eventually.

To me single weirdest thing is how when AC development stopped, people did not quit. Maybe it shows how relatively large portion of active rF2 players were actually people related somewhat closely to developer, S397, MSG. Of course huge factor for AC was that it kept on being "updated" by modders. And it appears that todays average person mentality is that if thing is not being updated, it is not a thing anymore. Everybody wants to be popular and have latest gadget.

Regarding every single new project, every single new sim that is coming, or has recently arrived. I see no other option than to be extremely scepticistic, it comes naturally. Simulations needs to prove themselves. At least to me, for the qualities that I am looking for. Flashy, nes, just updated - meaningless to me. But I must say, there is a good feeling when what you do is popular. But if it was very much important, I would have never quit AC1, or would have even came back there.

It is interesting what will happen with ACE. I think it will be what it is now and it is ok, fun, and actual simulator, but nothing impressive at all. Apart that perhaps it will have cool gamey features later, and thats great.

I wonder what will Reiza will be up to. But aparently after AMS1 they have realized that there is a sweet spot somehwhere between what is true simulation, and what is still a simulator, but also appealing for a lot more people. It is nice, but also not impressive.

Whatever Ian Bell is doing is whatever.

The Last Garge by Marcel is indeed a bit intriguing. I must say it is a worst simulator name ever. It has LAST and GARAGE. So it is last and not even on track. But maybe it will be eventually cool. But I also have a hunch that it will be more of a AC path taker, than rF2.

iRacing. iRacing is always interesting. Serious sim, grand development. But expensive, no interesting cars. These guys don't know how to make cars handle, except few. Not moddable.

LMU/RF3. They will forever be current rF2 tech with nothing stretched very much further. It is optimised, a little polished rF2 tech. Also not moddable. No interesting content (to me).

rF2 is the only choice to be had for anyone who has little bit advanced sense of how cars work. AC is good, it is very good, but due to its sepcifics I think it is only good to simulate modern cars, old cars also feel a bit modern. Tires are simplistic. AC people don't even know word "chassis"....

Numers show there aren't many people that knows and chooses rF2. But numbers might be deceiving. Much less kids a choosing. A lot of people who belongs to rF2 doesn't have that much free time to use it often.

I was recently enjoying modding cars for rF2, it keeps getting more fun with each car. I can do it better and faster. It is nice hobby. I have been thinking about how little engagement there is. But I do least popular cars in one of the least popular sim. I guess my recently released Lancia D50 will be ripped by someone to AC soon, and with mediocore physics and everything it will be used by 40x more people. Better not think about it lol These people will drive 1955 F1 car with Ford GT40 physics with 14inch rear tires and downforce and won't tell it is wrong.
 
Part of the sales pitch to get the LMU Plus subscription is the availability of both LMU & rF2 catalogs. So we may see some users return.
At least briefly.
 
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LMU is obviously constrained in content range and we are going to see limited new content over the next few years as the WEC series isn't looking at an increase in tracks or too many new cars.
I'd like to think that "SHOULD" free up time for updates to rF2, and would explain why the LMU Plus subscription includes rF2 content.
Of course, that depends on when MSG decide that they have got to the stage that LMU comes out of Early Access.
Undoubtedly when this happens we'll get the normal LMU can't be v1.0 as it's missing X, Y and Z features.
 
Until recently I wasn't impressed with LMU and like many I miss the updates and feature enhancements that S397 would release.
Of course I want to take laps at Daytona so it prototypes & GT's via rFactor. Same for IndyCar, F1, vintage everything too.
The future is wide open. The product is the best for the money.
 
We're in rF2's third life right now, having gone through initial development (one UI change and a couple graphic changes), the S397 overhaul under Marcel's guidance (essentially the foundation of LMU's philosophy), and then MSG's refinement guidance. MSG failed to capitalize on Low Fuel Motorsports (LFM) while simultaneously promoting their own competition system.

Until something better comes along, rF2's future niche will continue to be the race series that are not being commercially modeled. Generally speaking those are historic by nature, but not necessarily. It has online features that are not available in AC (AI, driver swaps, rolling starts, adjustable competition rule sets, safety cars, and better retirement method), but is sorely lacking in well-developed tire models for those periods (ISI and S397 dropped the ball there).

***
ACE is going in a direction that I do not find attractive. The graphics are no longer ground-breaking, like they were when AC & PCARS gained attention, so the addition of an open world with the continuing road car fixation is not compelling. We don't even know if it will receive rolling starts or driver swaps or touch on oval racing or offer different competition rule sets. Modding is still at least a year away.

***
Last Garage appears to be going somewhere since Marcel is finding commercial cooperation, but it will be a couple years until it gets to where we'll be able to touch it in a meaningful way and it needs a better graphics wrapper to be commercially viable.

***
AMS2's greatest strength, historic & current F1, is virtually ignored by the marketplace these days. The limited modding is too limited to be meaningful. Reiza has made good inroads via recent content releases & updates & using LFM, basically doubling the exisitng community.

***
Raceroom is still there. No modding, no skins, yet playable. How many times have they re-organized their finances?

***
Despite Ian Bell's association, I'm hopeful for Project Motor Racing. Without news, though, it's hard to tell when/what it will be. They're probably smart to avoid getting smothered by the ACE marketing blitz. Hopefully they are setting up their strengths rather than aimlessly changing directions. However at some point we need some peeks to believe this Project is still alive.

***
LMU is looking good, still needs those last few touches (driver swaps, etc.) and to make the leap out of Early Access with some well-advertised competitions. This year's Le Mans might be make-or-break time.
 
It would be a story if Last Garage would eventually reach Top of the Grid or something like it haha.

A little bit off topic. I remember one very kool advertisement supposedly directed by David Lynch for Playstation. It said "Welcome to the third place". Which sounds like you came third, but it was about it being an alternative reality with its own rules. I wonder what is the second place then, a simulation ? To me rF2 is a second place I like to spend time at.
 
Marcel Offermans said:
I do not have a name for the sim yet.
Click to expand...

The Car Company
Cars & Co
Car Coop
Carz
Just Cars

Cars for Dummies :p
200.gif
 
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I think it would be fun to troll entire simracing by having a title name that would result in acronym "FFB".

"I like FFB of FFB"; "FFB has best FFB"; "Are you talking about FFB, or are you talking about FFB?". "Best thing about simracing is FFB, I like FFB so much. I just eat, sleep, FFB and repeat";"I think my antivirus was messing up with my FFB.".
 
Marcel Offermans said:
Keep those ideas flowing!
Click to expand...

You should build a free roam track and add walk around mode ............ :confused:

So central in the map is a burger joint, garage, car wash etc.
Around perimeter you have roads to drift, donut, play silly buggers, whatever.

Point is as a meeting place, to chat, watch people do silly things not allowed in sessions.

Just like MCO had :)
 
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