iRacing Adds More Free Content

Although I have gotten iRacing subscriptions literally for free multiple times, I testify that most of their "free" content is garbage that isn't acceptable in 2008 standards.

I also think that the comment that questioned why they call it "free" if you pay to purchase it and if it gets revoked from you after a while makes sense.
Just marketing lies.

Iracing adds more paid content

or

iracing adds more content

Anyway, No more time for forum banter, Battery has charged so I need to go run my plastic car around the yard....

Kenny Paton said:

All this could have been avoided if it had added "for subscribers" to the sentence.

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or removed the word free, because it's still not free if you're a subscriber

tr1v1um said:

I think many people - me included - don't have a problem with paying for a service. I think the analogies presented here are pretty interesting to say the least though. The only example that makes kind of sense is Amazon. But I am not entirely sure how it works when you buy movies there. Can you still watch them after you don't renew?

The problem that I have with iRacing is that you buy content that you can't use once you stop paying the sub, elegantly described as a "one time fee". That's entirely different than paying for a month of Netflix for example. I atleast don't pay for content on Netflix and can watch all the stuff. The expensive hardware analogy is equaly stupid. I don't buy a shifter or pedal set for 500 Euro, to pay an additional sub to use it and if I stop paying I can't use the set? Nope, not the same thing. And that's exactly what iRacing is doing and it's the reason why iRacers don't spend a few 100 dollar max as with the other products but end up spending a few thousend dollar incase they really keep at it. What they normaly do as their investment into the content is otherwise worth nothing. It's a neverending cycle of spending money.

I also find it interesting that people call the pricing transparent. Just having a look at their website I have no idea how much I have to spend to race one month and race my desired track X with my desired car Y. There are no clear prices on their website and it's described all pretty vague.

And now before the iRacing-brigade enters the ring and says "but you get the service": that's to some extent right. If that service is really that good that it justifies spending a few thousend dollar on something that you can't keep is something I would argue though. I spend three months in iRacing and made up my mind. The racing certainly isn't better than in a well organized league or than on LFM and I especialy have a problem with the no-contact mentality. No paint scrubbing in a touring car race simply doesn't feel right.

In the meantime I have spent that money on a 1400 Euro guitar that I can keep till the end of my life and that brings be joy for the next 50 years and not just 5 or 10 playing a computer game. This isn't me trying to stear up trouble btw, but giving an explaination to your question. At the end everyone is free to waste their money how he or she sees it fitting, but I still think that long lasting enjoyments are the more valuable ones. My "two cents"

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You're right. The analogies here are interesting to say the least. I'm honestly in awe.

Johnr777 said:

Were you ever a customer?

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why? At some point ALL Iracing "customers" were "not customers". Your comment has no bearing on what I said.

kart1 said:

Strange how the iracing and rF2 topics get out of hand every time...

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name me one sim were the topics don't go awry?

Damage Inc said:

why? At some point ALL Iracing "customers" were "not customers". Your comment has no bearing on what I said.

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What you said made no sense. How did iRacing lose your business when you were never a customer?

azaralamouri said:

Although I have gotten iRacing subscriptions literally for free multiple times, I testify that most of their "free" content is garbage that isn't acceptable in 2008 standards.

I also think that the comment that questioned why they call it "free" if you pay to purchase it and if it gets revoked from you after a while makes sense.
Just marketing lies.

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Weird, the Formula Vee and the IR-04 are great to drive in my mind and I've been enjoying them a lot. In fact I haven't run any paid content this season.

Turn1Hero said:

Everyone moaning about Iracings ‘subscription’ needs to get a grip. I love multiplayer racing and Iracing is light years ahead of every other sim despite being the oldest, so what other developer is offering the same level of multiplayer infrastructure for free? It’s not only the 24/7 racing in any car class you care for but forums for each car where people post setups and weekly race guides, it’s the anti cheat software, the fact I can look at my statistics for my entire career or any other drivers career, there’s the years and years of development. There’s so much more going on than people give Iracing credit for.
I tried LFM and rFactor2 the other week and it’s woeful in comparison. Fair play to LFM for providing a free service to sim racers but you get what you pay for.
Until another developer offers the exact same level of multiplayer that Iracing does for free or without a subscription then how can anyone criticise?
The main reason I hear is that it would be way too costly for a developer to do it! So a developer has provided it, but you have to pay for the service. Go figure!

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I've been saying this for over 10 years... I don't think it's simply iRacing's subscription that people criticize and complain about, I think it's the fact that iRacing charges for both a subscription and content. If it was just one or the other, I think people would be more than glad to pay, but the fact that you have to pay for the monthly/yearly fee and content (cars & tracks) on top of that is what makes it a little ridiculous.

Spinelli said:

I've been saying this for over 10 years... I don't think it's simply iRacing's subscription that people criticize and complain about, I think it's the fact that iRacing charges for both a subscription and content. If it was just one or the other, I think people would be more than glad to pay, but the fact that you have to pay for the monthly/yearly fee and content (cars & tracks) on top of that is what makes it a little ridiculous.

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Clearly, "ridiculous" is working... over 10 years like you said

Johnr777 said:

Clearly, "ridiculous" is working... over 10 years like you said

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I'm assuming it's working. It may have not been working for the first 5 or 10 years of it's life but that's not a huge problem if you have tons of financial backing. iRacing has huge financial backing. They even had 20-30 million dollars just for the initial budget. I personally don't think iRacing would have made it even close to this far with their pricing model if they didn't have a huge budget.

Racerdave said:

I've put over 2k USD into iRacing, now I don't even use it. It's so darn expensive for what you get

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Thanks for the reply! Wow, and I thought i'd spent alot on RF2 over the years, thats staggering! See if i'd spent that much, I'd be very upset about not ever being able to drive the content (just drive the tracks and cars I own) even without multiplayer or A.I. Just drive them! Im happy to pay for top notch multiplayer and A.I. if its that good, but if I have a bad couple of months and just cant afford it, not being able to just drive what I own would make me very angry! Of course I'd start paying the sub as soon as I could to get back into the comp. I don't see why they don't allow you that, they'd loose no money over it! Infact I think it would actually give folk a really good insentive to sub again, as if the driving is that good (it does look pretty good!), you'd be offline, driving on you're own, thinking, God I wanna race these again soon! I think it would help them retain players they might otherwise lose.

eg01st said:

Try it, it made other sims obsolete for me. Maybe I could still play rF2 for single player and ffb pleasure.
iR physics are better than I expected from stories, almost like rF2, definitely better than ACC. FFB is more like AC, but without that light front lockup feel.
I've been renting it for few months, and already spent 300 euros, so there's that... But online racing is unbelievably close, and apart from wreckfest moments, really rewarding.

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"it made other sims obsolete for me" See thats what I worry about, its gotta be pretty damn good for folks to spend all that money on, and i would'nt mind at all, I just would heavily resent not owning the stuff I pay for, for the reasons outlined in the replky above. Thanks very much for your reply! The way the cars move on reply footage looks to me more realistic than any other sim to be honest!

the_last_name_left said:

It's one case in which a pirated demo is justified. I did and then signed up for a period. No moral issue.

OTOH, try it on a deal? It isn't that expensive to just try it. It's very good, as you'd expect. But it doesn't take long to really feel all those negatives you mention about it being 'a service'. And the costs!! You can't race much of interest with the base content and you can't do much (for long) even with purchasing a few tracks and cars. AND I have to keep paying rent to even access my paid-up licenced content? Sheesh!

Or I can stick to AC Ultimate for one $5 payment and access thousands of cars and tracks and multiplayer servers? Pffft. No brainer.

It's a shame because IR is good. Wouldn't we almost all signup if it the content was 'free' bar the subscription? As it is it feels relatively extortionate to have subscription and licencing - and all only 'a service' (which could disappear tomorrow).

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Like i said in replies above, don't mind paying a sub for great multiplayer and Ai even, but i want to won the cars and tracks I buy, and I mean OWN! Drive on them whenever I like sub or no sub, they aint gunna lose money over that, and I'll always pay the sub when I can for racing! In terms of a demo, I think its the least that could be done. You don't go buy a car without a test drive, it could even increase sales! Folks like me could then try it, and think, right this is damn good, now im buying it!

On the subject of trying it on a deal here is my problem. I'd love to just pay for a month and see if i like it, thats pretty cheap, and i'd do that tomorrow! But as I understand it (i could be wrong but its what the offers suggest) if you take the month you then cannot take the fist time offers. For instance they are currently offering two years for $99, so if i like it, it makes most sense to but that. However because of lack of demo, i'd have to buy the one month, but then im already subbed, so I don't get the new sub deal, am I wrong? Thats a bit of a kick in the teeth to long term loyal customers aswell I think.

Thankyou very much for the reply!

Lefthook said:

It would be great if it had an offline piece to it I agree. However, in your scenario I think if you lost internet connection for a month or months you likely wouldn't be simracing anyway.
Honestly give it a go for a 3 month sub just so you can say you did it. You won't need to buy a thing initially. There is the Formula Vee, the incoming Toyota and Mazda on road courses to keep you busy. You have nothing to lose. If you don't like it, simply don't renew. You'll be glad you did, even if you hate it because at least you'll know.

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" in your scenario I think if you lost internet connection for a month or months you likely wouldn't be simracing anyway" I absoloutely would! Just for a drive on my own or against A.I. Its like with Rfactor, sometimes I just wanna drive, for no other reason than just to forget the weather and time of year. I've spent alot on RF2 i'd be majorly hacked off if i'd paid all that money and could'nt at least enjoy just driving what I'd paid for. Maybe this video will help explain what I mean about that particular point: As for the month or three month sub, check my reply above, as I said there, if i pay for a month and like it, I then can't take the two year offer as I understand it, am I wrong on that?
Thankyou very much for the reply!

Will the VIR track refund be applicable to Steam users too?

Tarmac Terrorist said:

Thanks for the reply! Wow, and I thought i'd spent alot on RF2 over the years, thats staggering! See if i'd spent that much, I'd be very upset about not ever being able to drive the content (just drive the tracks and cars I own) even without multiplayer or A.I. Just drive them! Im happy to pay for top notch multiplayer and A.I. if its that good, but if I have a bad couple of months and just cant afford it, not being able to just drive what I own would make me very angry! Of course I'd start paying the sub as soon as I could to get back into the comp. I don't see why they don't allow you that, they'd loose no money over it! Infact I think it would actually give folk a really good insentive to sub again, as if the driving is that good (it does look pretty good!), you'd be offline, driving on you're own, thinking, God I wanna race these again soon! I think it would help them retain players they might otherwise lose.

"it made other sims obsolete for me" See thats what I worry about, its gotta be pretty damn good for folks to spend all that money on, and i would'nt mind at all, I just would heavily resent not owning the stuff I pay for, for the reasons outlined in the replky above. Thanks very much for your reply! The way the cars move on reply footage looks to me more realistic than any other sim to be honest!

Like i said in replies above, don't mind paying a sub for great multiplayer and Ai even, but i want to won the cars and tracks I buy, and I mean OWN! Drive on them whenever I like sub or no sub, they aint gunna lose money over that, and I'll always pay the sub when I can for racing! In terms of a demo, I think its the least that could be done. You don't go buy a car without a test drive, it could even increase sales! Folks like me could then try it, and think, right this is damn good, now im buying it!

On the subject of trying it on a deal here is my problem. I'd love to just pay for a month and see if i like it, thats pretty cheap, and i'd do that tomorrow! But as I understand it (i could be wrong but its what the offers suggest) if you take the month you then cannot take the fist time offers. For instance they are currently offering two years for $99, so if i like it, it makes most sense to but that. However because of lack of demo, i'd have to buy the one month, but then im already subbed, so I don't get the new sub deal, am I wrong? Thats a bit of a kick in the teeth to long term loyal customers aswell I think.

Thankyou very much for the reply!

" in your scenario I think if you lost internet connection for a month or months you likely wouldn't be simracing anyway" I absoloutely would! Just for a drive on my own or against A.I. Its like with Rfactor, sometimes I just wanna drive, for no other reason than just to forget the weather and time of year. I've spent alot on RF2 i'd be majorly hacked off if i'd paid all that money and could'nt at least enjoy just driving what I'd paid for. Maybe this video will help explain what I mean about that particular point:

As for the month or three month sub, check my reply above, as I said there, if i pay for a month and like it, I then can't take the two year offer as I understand it, am I wrong on that?
Thankyou very much for the reply!

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Just seen this on a Reddit thread about iracing

"Black Friday has a deal, I think it was 20% off, I took up another year. Also, run 8 of the 12 official races a quarter you'll need to do 2 to get the max, but you can make 10 bucks every 3 months just running 1 official race a week, so that's 40 bucks a year off your fee"

Whats this about making 10bucks running races, you can earn money in iracing???

Tarmac Terrorist said:

Just seen this on a Reddit thread about iracing

"Black Friday has a deal, I think it was 20% off, I took up another year. Also, run 8 of the 12 official races a quarter you'll need to do 2 to get the max, but you can make 10 bucks every 3 months just running 1 official race a week, so that's 40 bucks a year off your fee"

Whats this about making 10bucks running races, you can earn money in iracing???

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A couple answers for you. If you sign up you will lose the ability to get the big discount.. But if you look around for a code for a 3 month/$5 sub you can try the service and if you like it then setup another account with the big discount.

The only con is you lose any rating towrads your licenses and if you buy content it wont carry over. If you want to just use bsae content and see whta it is like then you are out $5 and get the bigger discount later with a new account.

I tried to explain before what the $40 was but got blasted about magic imaginary money

When you are a member you can get participation credits. There are 4 iracing seasons in a year, each broken in to 13 weeks. 12 of those weeks have official racing where you join in the racing. There are lots of different series running during those weeks. If you participate in a series and run at least 8 races in 8 different weeks of ther 12 week season you will gain the credits which is $6. Do it for a second series and you will get more credit up to max $10 per season.

At the end of the year you have accumulated $40 credit to put towards whatever, e.g. your next years subscription. Which if you buy during black friday could take your yearly fee as low as $35 after the black friday discount and $40 credit applied.

note: you are not able to spend the money earned thus outside the iRacing system. But still, it's a good incentive to stay with two or three series in order to get the credit. Lower tier series will get you 4 iRacing dollars and higher tier series 6 iRacing dollars, max. is 10 dollars a season, so most players will aim for completing three of the lower tier or two of the higher tier series or one each. I used to get full credit each season for probably the first eight years of my sub, so that would be 320 iRacing dollars I could spend on either tracks / cars or towards my sub. 10 tracks and 15 cars credit for being a regular customer, I rather like it. Atm I only have time to do one lower tier series each season, so that is one track / year I don't have to pay for.

Hmmm

Should add a note that you can only gather racing participation credits after you've graduated from rookie license to D class.

I wish they would bring back some of the old discounts and credits again.
50% off black friday
Yearly service credit for continuing your subscription...$5 or $10?
2 for 1 iracing dollar sale...buy $100 get $200 etc.....that was the best deal combined with the black friday sale.

Yes the service is pricey and I truely hope in the future they do change the rules and allow you access to your paid content....as the ai racing is absolutely fantastic!