General questions and queries

[rich32g]

There are a few things that bother many people, potential customers. PiBoSo, if you read this, please take it as an attempt to communicate and hopefully help. So, here are some issues that I have had highlighted to me by people in my sim racing community and on youtube via comments on videos.

• Seemingly random update schedule
• lack of teasers
• no idea about future features
• Netcode prediction code

To expand further. Please note, this is feedback gathered from many sources, seasoned sim racers. No trolling, just genuine concerns or advice. Anyone with any clarification would be welcome.

Update schedule
It seems very random. With each of the PiBoSo titles it seems very "You will get it when it is done, whenever that may be" with Kart Racing Pro being the primary focus of updates. Maybe this reflects the revenue stream and that PiBoSo are simply supporting the title more which brings them most income. I agree with that, bills need to be paid. This assumption has no basis and is 100% speculation.

Lack of teasers
There were two screenshots of vehicles, which is nice...... but, there is nothing I can "sell" people. I honestly have so many people ready to buy, but nothing to entice them with. This is part of the reason I made the video to showcase the dynamic features of the sim. As much of a "hey guys, look at this!!!" I could muster.

Future Features
What is the direction of the sim? What do you intend to do with it? No matter how long term with no ETA. Lots of people I speak with have...... well, no idea why they should buy, because they have no idea what the future holds.

Netcode
I don't know the technical term. But basically this is pretty much the most common thing people comment on. The jittering about of other players on servers. Of course, this could also be because of the clients terrible connection.


There are probably more and to be complimentary I often hear that the driving is superb and that the dynamic effects of the dry line and track rubbering are also brilliant. I personally feel all of the building blocks are right here.....it just needs......focusing? (Probably the wrong word.

Please, please, please, don't take this as a bashing, it's not. I absolutely love all of the PiBoSo titles and promote them to anyone I can in any medium I can. I'm not asking for exclusive access to sensitive data or anything.

If some of this stuff has been answered already, maybe more established members can point me in the direction of the details.

Thank's so much for reading.
Rich
(A passionate sim racer and fan of your products!)

[iVolution]

As far as I think I can give an answer to your comments I will.

Update schedule
It seems very random.

I think Piboso does not really enjoy the pressure of hard deadlines, as with anybody i guess. My assumption is that he puts the time in making the games when he has some, making it really hard to predict when something is finished. Not releasing anything that isn't finished is not neccessarily a bad thing, in my opinion there is just a bit lack of focus which makes it a long wait. Because we are in such a niche he has to develop multiple products/projects to get some revenue going.

Lack of teasers
but, there is nothing I can "sell" people.

He does not really want to market the products while they are not finished yet. Understandably so, but in my eyes this creates the following vicious cycle:
1) multiple projects are developed to generate more revenue
2) "old" projects stay in the Beta state longer because focus is divided between all projects
3) unfinished products shouldn't be marketed (advertised)
4) projects sell little because no marketing
5) return to step 1
And by marketing I do not only mean paid marketing by Piboso, but us users spreading the word on forums, youtube, friends etc.  I know all projects run on the same engine and Piboso argues that developing all games at the same time does not take longer, that might be true to some extent but the fact is that everything will take a lot longer.

Future Features
What is the direction of the sim?

I think the overall direction is more realistic physics for the most part. At least that is the feeling i get. With every new update some new unexpected stuff is added (ability for bike mods in Beta4) but thats more the kind of stuff to expect. Do not expect something as a AI or a singleplayer campaign anytime soon.

Netcode
The jittering about of other players on servers.

Thats not really a problem for me and most others i think. If you are located outside of europe you might have this problem more often, but since most of us here are European based i must say that it is something I hardly experience. In the replays however it is pretty bad, but thats more of an replay issue. Netcode predomonantly has some persistent bugs which makes online racing a bit of a pain in the arse sometimes. It has become better in Beta4 but when racing with a few guys always someone has this issue and "core.exe'd"

[BOBR6 84]

Good questions!

But.. (Im probably the only person with this opinion)

Whats the hurry? Things get rushed and overlooked with pressure and deadlines..

[rich32g]

Thanks for your input, iVolution & BOBR6 84:)

I really hope that I do not come across as if I am bashing PiBoSo, that's not my intention. I just feel a little clarity may help sell far more copies of all of these titles. I understand not marketing sims while unfinished and in beta state, but there shouldn't be a problem doing that if sold as such. Like an early access steam title, I knew what I was getting in to here by purchasing but others are less inclined to do it, just to support a developer.

I agree with your whole "vicious cycle" list, 100%.

As for AI or single player, I had seen PiBoSo's comments on this, so knew they were not coming.

I dunno, as someone who is taking time out to make videos, take screenshots and actively promote all the PiBoSo titles, it's tough to properly answer these questions when asked. I guess I would just like to be able to say "well PiBoSo said this".

Maybe I ask too much, I'm just genuinely looking for more ways to promote these sims and "shout" about them.

As for "what's the hurry"....... My opinion is that these sims are niche within a niche. Like on Reddit the other day, someone asked about a "go kart simulator". EVERYONE was raving about KartSim, the game that just got greenlit, the game that isn't even out yet. Yes, some mentioned Kart racing Pro but very much as an after thought behind GSCE, KartSim and even rFactor 2. To me, something isn't right there. My fear is that while "not hurrying"......everyone will just simply forget or carry on ignoring these sims.

Sorry for going on, I honestly only want to be constructive and help.

[iVolution]

I agree, but for me it is more a thing of a sim getting a bit outdated visually. Aside from wrs and krp having increasing competition by other sims, time is sort of important here. Physics will never get outdated as the bar is set pretty high already,  but my worry is that other people won't buy GPbikes anymore in a few years simply because it looks old. For me that is not really an issue but if there are no newcomers we'll end up racing alone in the long run. And if GPbikes (or other) ends up selling really well, it will give piboso more room to expand his operation and make a proper studio of it. Would like to enjoy his work for the comming years.