There’s a hero in this saga of the coronavirus pandemic, and nobody saw it coming--not even the hero.
"iRacing has been around a long time, and it’s just something that keeps evolving, and they’ve perfected it. Here we all are, just longing for some sports action, some competitive action that we can broadcast and show the fans, and boom! Here …
First off where is the rest of the story? I click on the link and I don't see any more than what is written above? I was hoping for more. .. .
But back on subject:
I actually prefer watching eNASCAR races versus the real thing. The biggest thing is the lack of cautions.
I really am hoping that iRacing develops there software to be more TV broadcast friendly and virtual racing becomes the norm and on track racing resets back to being (dare I say) more Grassroots.
With a bit of tweaking and working closer with the networks I bet they could augment the broadcast quality to that of other games (or possibly better). Add in ray tracing and work a bit more on the virtual fans, pavement textures, water textures etc. You don't need it for the on line racing participants. Only process the feed to the TV broadcast as it would take some computing horsepower (like the graphics/rendering workstation computer I am using to type this message) It would only applied to the feed for the broadcast so the live racing would not be effected keeping the latency to a minimum for the competitors. I think with just a bit more work from iRacing in conjunction with network partners you would be hard pressed to tell iRacing from the real thing.
In reply to dean1484 :
It's a teaser for something in the upcoming issue. That's where you'll find the rest of the story.
Then they should say that and not have you clicking in circles.
Sorry dean; that hardwired "Read the Rest of the Story" link on the forum post is already on our developers' to-do list. They're making faster progress than usual thanks to our generous forum supporters, but it's still a little bit out as they focus on higher-priority items.
As I opened to your feature article on iRacing and began reading, I was saddened to find not only that Steven Cole Smith felt the need to bring politics into your magazine, but that the editor apparently saw no problem with it, either. I simply closed the magazine and went on to the next part of my day. In this politically charged environment we find ourselves in, I look to my automotive hobby as a refuge and a source of enjoyment. If I want politics I can go to social media. Even there, most groups I belong to don't tolerate discussion that is not related to the group's purpose. Steven Cole Smith must be in such a small political echo chamber that he feels he cannot possibly offend what may be half your readership. I want to think that echo chamber is not the GRM staff office, but really, I don't want to think of it at all. I don't often write letters, but my disappointment in your otherwise fine publication compelled me to do so this time.
I have to agree with Snaab on this one. There is a pretty blatantly political statement in there, and a couple of completely unnecessary paragraphs, which could have been easily replaced with something like "because of the pandemic shutdown...".
I do hope that GRM learns from this and tries harder to avoid such unnecessary provocations.
There was a two-paragraph timeline to the shutdown that included two statements from our president, which were presented without comment and in context, to show how suddenly the shutdown happened, and how quickly and thoroughly our world changed. It set the tone for sim racing's sudden coming to the forefront. Let's ease off those triggers a bit.
Margie
Just to fill everybody in, here is the opening of that story. 
I too have to agree with Snaab I read GRM to escape all of the garbage we're going through. Also I'm old (72 this weekend) and I'm not in to any kind of video games or computer racing. I read the articles but as B.S. Levy said in one of his books talking about racing at airport circuits there is no pain when you make a mistake. Sorry I prefer getting out with like minded people, making some noise, smelling burnt rubber and unburned hydrocarbons.
OK, one thing is that is not clear, and may be misconstrued is the "(it used to be greater!)" part (that is the part I thought might be a political statement). It's not entirely clear that that is a quote or comment (looking at it again, I think it's a quote since it's within the rather long quote, which is easy to miss). The whole presentation of it though....
Either way, I think, in consideration of how things have been going, avoiding such things in the future would be a good idea.
I would not have a problem discussing the nuances of this more specifically, but I don't think that would end well here, and now....
In reply to Marjorie Suddard :
I understand the writer's intent perfectly. Your readers will decide for themselves. Having subscribed for 17 years I consider it an aberration and a lapse in editorial judgement. However, now I will find myself applying a political filter to your stories, and to me that's sad.
It is straight up facts. Weird how that is now construed as a political statement.
The board has always had an obvious political tilt. Strange how even the slightest hint of a movement in the opposite direction brings such a strong and possibly even organized protest.
SnaabWagon said:As I opened to your feature article on iRacing and began reading, I was saddened to find not only that Steven Cole Smith felt the need to bring politics into your magazine, but that the editor apparently saw no problem with it, either. I simply closed the magazine and went on to the next part of my day. In this politically charged environment we find ourselves in, I look to my automotive hobby as a refuge and a source of enjoyment. If I want politics I can go to social media. Even there, most groups I belong to don't tolerate discussion that is not related to the group's purpose. Steven Cole Smith must be in such a small political echo chamber that he feels he cannot possibly offend what may be half your readership. I want to think that echo chamber is not the GRM staff office, but really, I don't want to think of it at all. I don't often write letters, but my disappointment in your otherwise fine publication compelled me to do so this time.
So interesting that most of these political posts come from new readers with no history of posting here before.
Just because they don't post, does not mean they don't read. If they are inspired to make their first post because of it, maybe that should be a consideration as to how strongly they feel about it.
Regarding "Facts": I entirely agree, all that was written certainly happened. There are many facts though, that could be presented (and / or selectively presented) that could be considered very offensive to some (from any perspective), so that is really no excuse. In this case, not offensive, just unnecessary.
If you honestly can't see why presenting it in that way could cause someone to see it as unnecessarily political, I don't know what to say other than we all should try to do a bit better at seeing things from others perspective that we may not agree with in general, and, more importantly, avoid ANY political related discussions when possible. That has been a rule on the board for a while (for good reason), I see no reason why it shouldn't apply to the magazine also.
To be clear, I could easily see why someone from either "side" could see the presentation as, at least, unnecessary.
To also be clear, GRM is entirely free to do as they wish, I am only making the suggestion as a good business practice.
aircooled said:Just because they don't post, does not mean they don't read. If they are inspired to make their first post because of it, maybe that should be a consideration as to how strongly they feel about it.
Maybe if this happened once, but multiple times? I smell a rat.
In reply to aircooled :
You're essentially telling them to stay in their lane during an event the likes of which has not occurred in a millenium.
The quotes simply set up the pace at which things escalated. Any filters you apply on top of that is on you.
Some tough love maybe, but I really mean it with love:
Receiving feedback isn't always easy. And you shouldn't make changes based on all the feedback you receive.
Listening, thoughtful consideration, and a simple "thank you" are pretty good tools in my experience. Best of all, the feedback giver then 'out of ammo'. If you respond to feedback defensively, you give the feedback giver more 'ammo'.
In reply to Snowdoggie :
It is interesting to me that you characterize my post as political, when I'm clearly objecting to politics in GRM magazine. I'm not organizing anyone, or organized by anyone, just a reader of GRM, cover to cover, for 17 years. I'm lamenting the loss of a refuge from political discussion, which should not be controversial or provocative except to those who can't keep their politics to themselves.
In reply to SnaabWagon :
You sound just like the others. I don't think you are what you say you are, and you have done nothing to convince me otherwise.
Sigh, before another thread goes down the poopoo shoot as people want to read political conspiracy into everything, can we talk about iRacing in general?
I wonder what cross section (age mainly) of people enjoy playing and/or watching sim racing? Personally I just can't get into it. I've watched non on the virtual racing from F1/Indycar/IMSA/ACO. I tried watching a clip someone sent me, but to me it's just a game and I clicked away before it finished. I can see the point for learning a new track, practice, familiarization etc. as a pure tool, but as a form of entertainment to either play or watch I have no interest. I realize that at 51 I'm probably on the older end of the potential gaming set, but I know plenty of people my age who are interested, it's just not me.
Background. When I was 13 I spent my whole six week summer break (in the UK kids only get six weeks, not twelve, off in the summer) writing and playing computer games. I suddenly realized a couple of days before school re-started that I'd 'wasted' my whole break and hadn't been outside. That moment killed any interest I may have had in computer games forever, I just can't get into them since then. I realize mine is possibly a minority view, but I am interested in who, especially of the over 40 set, likes playing or watching iRacing.
Adrian_Thompson (Forum Supporter) said:Sigh, before another thread goes down the poopoo shoot as people want to read political conspiracy into everything, can we talk about iRacing in general?
I wonder what cross section (age mainly) of people enjoy playing and/or watching sim racing? Personally I just can't get into it. I've watched non on the virtual racing from F1/Indycar/IMSA/ACO. I tried watching a clip someone sent me, but to me it's just a game and I clicked away before it finished. I can see the point for learning a new track, practice, familiarization etc. as a pure tool, but as a form of entertainment to either play or watch I have no interest. I realize that at 51 I'm probably on the older end of the potential gaming set, but I know plenty of people my age who are interested, it's just not me.
Background. When I was 13 I spent my whole six week summer break (in the UK kids only get six weeks, not twelve, off in the summer) writing and playing computer games. I suddenly realized a couple of days before school re-started that I'd 'wasted' my whole break and hadn't been outside. That moment killed any interest I may have had in computer games forever, I just can't get into them since then. I realize mine is possibly a minority view, but I am interested in who, especially of the over 40 set, likes playing or watching iRacing.
I look at it the same way. I could spend my time and money on computers, monitors and a simulation rig or I can spend my time and money fixing up my old 914 and modifying my Miata and driving them in the real world and going to real autocrosses, track events, rallys and car shows. I spend too much time on computers and phones as it is. I don't want to wake up one morning, look out in my garage and see unfinished projects rotting away because I spent all my nights and weekends looking at a computer screen.
In reply to Snowdoggie :
Not my problem. I said what I wanted to say. Over and out.
SnaabWagon said:In reply to Snowdoggie :
Not my problem. I said what I wanted to say. Over and out.
See you next fake name.
Bye.
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