On the plus side, if I ignore the fact I've spent a ridiculous amount of cash so far, it's now just the usual subscription and $50-60 each 13th week/update which is a little bit more manageable.
There is a lot to be said for diving into iRacing with both feet, or not at all. Ok, now you can actually get a pretty rewarding experience with the just the Rookie stuff (thanks mostly to the SRF, which livens things up considerably). But, as I've found, it's all too easy to end up buying extra in 3's & 6's 'just for the discount'. Classic marketing traps... I hate falling into them.
But if you just buy all the stuff you're nearly always going to be able to find a decent race to join (one you're eligible, obviously). That makes a big difference to the feeling of 'exclusion' you can get when you're sitting there watching races you could join if you parted with more cash. That leads to some very mixed emotions, and I'm not sure the 100% club (iRacing's biggest fans) and iRacing themselves (who have to pay for nowt!) really understand.
They have annoyed me though, cutting the SK down from a full week last season to just 2 days this season, as well as cutting the Silver Crown off completely does annoy me.
I understood the frustrations expressed, but I also think iRacing has got way, way, *way* ahead of itself. They should be doing everything possible to maximise race fields.. that's when the whole split system comes into its own and produces rewarding racing. So I'm actually in favour of a *massive* content cull, because even with the Nascar announcement I doubt we'll get the huge influx of racers iRacing really needs. And even if we do, I think a lot of them will not have been following the project, will expect something similar to other games/sims, and there'll be a big rise in discontented rumblings.
Of course the Dale Jr. effect may calm a lot of that. Some people seem to worship the ground he drives on. All he has to do is post on the forums and the Red Sea of doubts parts.
Only other sim I have installed/use is rFactor now
Sounds like you have very good reason to. I have my fingers crossed for rFactor2. I daren't expect too much though.
I wonder how iRacing will fair come July/August
Yes, it'll be interesting to see if that combined with the summer holiday effect causes a tumbleweed effect. I tend to race in the morning (I work nights) and it can be pretty deserted then at the best of times.
However, speaking as someone's who's on his third, and longest trip to the iZoo, it can be hard to stick to your resolve and stay away. You're only ever a few clicks away from reactivating your credit card details (though you do have to enter them again after about three months away).
I'm hoping to take the summer off after my 3 months runs out late in June, then benefit from another deal when iRacing panic and try to lure a lot of 1-year leavers back. I may just bottle it and cough up after two days away though. The more you've 'invested' in renting cars & tracks, the easier it is to justify the basic subscription.
I also must admit to enjoying both the internal and external politics of iRacing. It's a fascinating development whether you like it or not. It's almost worth the cost of entry just to read the forums.
Andrew McP
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