The MikkOwl SimBin Next-Expansion Analysis:
SimBin wrote:
“We have secured licenses for a couple of highly requested series and we think our next scheduled title will come as a big happy surprise to all racers around the world.”
“The release which is scheduled for release 2009, should lock into the new GTR Evolution base the same way as STCC does, meaning rules, cars, tracks and features specific to this new series will instantly become available in GTR Evo and STCC if you also own those.”
Assuming we can take it at 100% face value, we can assume the following information:
-The licenses are highly requested, meaning probably quite popular known among race fans.
-The licenses appeal to people internationally, supporting that they are international series rather than a national one.
-There are at least two such licenses.
-There will be new cars.
-There will be new tracks (relevant to some options below as you will see)
-There will be new rules.
A question for us to ponder is if these two licenses are related to each other, such as support series etc.
Formula 1 - Licensing issues
License held by Codemasters. Otherwise, a few tracks are missing and many cars to be made, but an enormous market to sell it to.
GP2 -
Highly Likely
An international and well known feeder series for Formula 1. Much requested and with only 4 tracks, most of them in Europe, and one car to be made, and races and rules that suit the Gmotor engine perfectly. A strong contender.
A1GP - Highly Likely
The new expansion was announced around the first race of the A1GP season which was Zandvoort, which is already modeled. A1GP is in financial difficulties and probably wants to advertise the series badly to anyone who will listen, just like the STCC did by commissioning the SimBin expansion. 7 to 8 new tracks need to be created, but only one car. The game engine supports this format of racing very well, too, with perhaps some reservations to the complicated qualifying system. But the tracks are scattered in remote places all over the world. It's an international series that appeals to people in many countries, and it's also highly requested.
IndyCar Series - Too expensive
License open. Just one car to create (?) but with 18 tracks far away from the developers' base that need to be visited and created, it looks grim. The game engine support for oval racing (the AI specifically) also raises issues. Otherwise reasonably highly requested by the community indeed, and has serious potential on the american market. Certainly the most likely american pick.
SuperLeague Formula - Too impopular
License available. Just one car to model and two tracks which are both in Europe. Engine supports it well. Only question here is: is it highly requested by the community?
International Formula Masters - Too impopular
License available. Again just one car to model, and every single track used has already been modeled. But community requests for this series has been nearly non-existent (if not completely so), and the nature of the car - 250hp open wheel, is similar to the Formula BMW we already got in Race 07. Yet SimBin did speak of multiple licenses, and this would do well as the 'second' lesser licensed series.
Formula Three Euroseries - Impopular
License available (?). Similar work needed as GP2. But the car is similar to the Formula BMW we already have and community request for it has been mild. GP2 looks much more attractive for the same amount of work.
DTM -
Licensing issues
License probably held by Codemasters. Otherwise, only two cars to create, some tracks already created, very very close physical proximity to the ones that haven't been made, SimBin popular in Germany, game engine supports it superbly, highly requested.
Japanese GT Championship - Impopular & Too expensive
Far, far away with a huge amount of cars and tracks that need to be done. In other words, a super expensive production. Not very highly requested either.
Dutch GT series - Too impopular
License open, there's a track already made and it's geographically close, yet it's not highly requested in the slightest.
ALMS - Race 07 technical limitations & too expensive
There's 11 tracks that need to be made which are far away geographically (thus expensive to make), and there's still plenty of cars that need to be created. Moreover, race 07 platform unsuitable for big fields, which are a necessity for three classes of races going on at the same time. There's also the issue of the night racing which the engine does not currently properly support.
LMS - Race 07 technical limitations
Needs a few more cars made, but only two and a bit more tracks made/updated, and they aren't far away either. Certainly highly requested. The biggest problem is the engine support for the types of racing done. Yet, who knows?
V8 Supercars - Licensing issues & Too expensive
License rumored to be owned by Codemasters(?). Aside from the questionable status of the license, at first glance it looks good - just two cars that need to be created mechanically. They are touring cars, which they know how to do well, day racing and highly requested. But then have a look at the cost and effort that would go into making it: Consider that the massive number of tracks that would need to be visited and created lie as far away as physically possible from SimBin's HQ in Sweden. Here's a list of them, spread out all over Australia (which is huge in itself), New Zealand and Tasmania:
1 Adelaide
2 Sydney
3 Melbourne
4 Hamilton
5 Perth
6 Darwin
7 Ipswich
8 Benalla
9 Phillip Island
10 Bathurst
11 Surfers Paradise
12 Sakhir
13 Symmons Plains
BTCC -
Licensing issues
License taken but rumor has it they are looking for other game developers to give the license to. Also fulfills the "much requested" criteria. Some tracks and cars exist already and Britain is not far away geographically for track making visits.
WTCC 1987 -
Too impopular
Many who tried the cars fetured in Race 07 loved it. But the series as itself is not particularly requested, and an old series like that which wasn't absolutely legendary has a very poor market. Even worse, partial WTCC 1987 content is already featured in Race 07.
FIA GT Historic -
Licensing issues
Licensing has been occupied by 10tacle for some time. But it's been years and perhaps they've sold it or done some accolmmodation. It's extremely much requested by the community and the engine supports it very well, with most 3d groundwork done in the old GT Legends title and most tracks already done.
Most likely results
1. A1GP
2. GP2
3. LMS
Most likely results (Ignoring some License Issues)
1. DTM
2. A1GP
3. GP2
Most likely results (Ignoring Cost)
1. A1GP
2. GP2
3. LMS
Most likely results (Ignoring Cost & Some License issues)
1. V8 SuperCars
2. DTM
3. A1GP
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God damned, my fingers hurt now, and this took forever to write. If you enjoyed this analysis, at least click the "thanks!" button in the corner of the post! :good: Any discussion welcome (factual errors or just different opinions!
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