The promotional machine just shifted into 2nd gear.

http://issuu.com/rfactornews/docs/isi_interview

Interesting parts....


rFactor 2 will go open-beta in 2011 ahead of the official release (possibly in 2011 as well)
There will be no demo before the release
There will be no DirectX 11 mode
rFactor 2 will come with improved netcode
More licensed content will be added after the release
The engine powering rFactor is now called isiMotor 2.5
rFactor 2 comes with an online account system providing matchmaking & updates. It’s free for the first 12 months after purchase and a paid service after that.

This caught my eye too.

The iRacing model may not sit comfortably with me but I don't have a problem with subscription gaming per se. However i'm not sure about my feelings towards this as it goes against everything that makes rFactor so great. It'll be interesting to see what form it takes. If you don't renew, Will we still be free to join private servers? or will not subscribing shut down the online component completely? One of the best thing about rFactor was that it was essentially free to play after purchase and this is what helped it become so popular. It's not fair to pass final comment until we get more details but if it's not handled properly it could be a kick in the teeth for ISI.

If the ability to connect Direct IP is available after the 12 months, then it will be an option that most people can probably live with. Like our races here, they could all be done through Direct IP easily and wouldn't have an effect on events such as these. If it shuts down all multiplayer possibilites, then it's going to be a very major drawback, especially for the casual online racer that hops from server to server, depending on what mods the flavor of the month.

I myself would like to see some clarification on this in detail before I make my purchase. If they're more concerned about capital, which I'm sure any company is, I'd rather see it in the form of making future carsets/tracks a paid for DLC or something along those lines.

I completely agree... This has left a sour taste in my mouth, but as long as the old rFactor servers aren't subscription only I'll be still racing it... I understand the need for money, and by charging by licensed mod will make those mods a little short on entrants to begin with sometimes, but it's better then small grids all the time... I think iRacings success has had a lot to do with this, and ISI is just hoping that the year of free racing online will be enough to entice people in to paying for the sub... For me long term I don't think I'd be able to commit to any series like the SCES on a subscription... Unless I had paid for a years sub I would probably only take part in month long series or on off races... So it would definitely effect my online gaming...

But before I go off the deep and whinge and moan about it, let's hope they clarify that by saying it'll be only for licensed mods or the public servers...

From the way it was worded, it looks like the matchmaker service is what's affected - so without paying, you wouldn't be able to just click a "play online" button and see a list of available servers.

If that's the case, I can see the mod community sidestepping this in about ten seconds via the use of a "Gamespy"-like program.

Well I dont think there will be to much to worry about with their matchmaker subscription as Lugs said, there's always gamespy and the like. Actually I was a bit underwhelmed by the whole Q&A session.Rather than "what is your favourite racing game?" or " how pretty do you think Jessica Lopez is? I would rather have known "How are you going to implement Build up of rubber (marbles) offline?" or "Will we see a working driver swapping functionality for online racing?". To be totally honest, my whelm has never been so far under. But thats just me I guess. I dont publish an online sim magazine so what do I know.

With questions like that it doesn't seem like they do, either.

Maybe it's just ranking or something. I doubt it costs them money to show the server list.

It's not about the cost.

If the modern gaming industry is any example, it's about control via some form of DRM and finding ways to monetize beyond the initial purchase.

Companies are increasingly controlling access to games - even single player ones - by requiring online authentication before you can play.

Some games are being sold now with a key that you have to register to play online...and once that key is used, nobody else can play online with that copy of the game unless they purchase a new online key (think: Gamestop & used game sales).

Games are being sold with locked content on the disc, that you unlock via DLC purchase. It's already there, you just have to pay extra to use what's on the disc you bought at the store (not a new tactic, but still annoying).

That's just the way things are going at the moment.

Or to put it another way...