Just a thought...

Having read many of the threads from few months back about the future of this game, I have some thoughts. Don't want to stir things up necessarily but put across a new (maybe I've missed someone suggesting it already?) idea. 
I'm not qualified in anyway when it comes to game development, but I have years of experience playing other F1/sports online games. 

One of the main issues is lack of funding/resources/staff: the big answer to that I guess is money, right?

Why not do what a few other games have done and split the game into two: one is Pay-2-Play, one is the current one (where you can pay a nominal annual fee if you wish still). In a few of the games I've played over the last 2years some have involved P2P - and we're talking big bucks here. I would rarely spend more than £15 per month but others I knew would plough towards £50 each month. These games used the original databases/match engines (or whatever) but simply allowed big advantages to those who paid. For instance, in one football game - you'd pay for credits which could be used for numerous things one being extra training, which would make your team much stronger.  From what I have been informed, the money they gathered in from the P2P accelerated revenue within a year, which was then ploughed into development of both games (remembering that it's actually based on one game). New features and so forth came rolling through for the next year or two to both games, making regular users and new users very happy. One of the games I still play two years on still has (rough guess here) 200 regular managers who spend about £10 each month (the price of 3 beers per month?!). You'd be surprised how many people will pay to win.

Yes - feel free to 'slag' them off saying what a waste of money / it's not fair that they buy success.......but hey it's meant the gameplay for the F2P game has improved dramatically and if it's their money then that's up to them whether they spend £500 a year on gaming or £500 on a short break holiday or £500 on booze (like many who probably don't get slated for it!).

The games are based on the same concept as I said, and yes the F2P managers still slag off the P2P ones, saying they've done it the easy way, but isn't that life - look at Man City, Chelsea etc buying their way to the top (?). But at the end of the day it has benefitted all communities and everyone is happy (within reason - there's always some moaners who want it exactly like real life!).

You guys (Jack I guess?) know the business models, data, finances and simulators etc better than me, but it just seemed a simple (ish) idea which I have seen work in a few places, so thought this game could benefit too.

jh

Jack,

I've sent you a few extra bits re the idea above if you're interested in my thoughts.

jh

So what would be the benefits of the paying section of the game?

Not a criticism, but this idea needs a bit more thought imo.

I've only been playing this game for a few days so am not sure what you guys would consider suitable bonuses, but give it a day and I'm sure anyone out there could make a long list of things they'd want - it'd then be up to HQ to decide which are chosen (and perhaps easiest to implement).

The main things the most recent game I play offer is (and yes it's football, so doesn't apply here - but I'm sure those creative minds amongst you could adapt):
[list]
[*]Extra training however it goes up in increments, so 1 token for 1ET, 2 for 2ETs, 4 for 3ETs, 8 for 4ETs etc
[*]Scouting (without limits)
[*]Friendlies to improve tactics
[*]Build more facilities and at a quicker rate
[*]More transfer listing options (1hr instead of day, for quick private deals)
[*]Advertising your players better
[*]Ability to set formations for coming week
[*]Set reserves in case injury/suspension hits to stop the Assistant Manager putting the tea lady in place
[*]Larger scouting network
[*]Ability to see training speeds of shortlisted players, rather than having to calculate them yourself over a few days
[*]More detail of youths
[*]Save more tactics for future matches
[*]Better filtering when on transfer market
[*]and so on..
[/list]
Like I say, I imagine the 100s of managers here could easily come up with a shortlist of key features to be worth paying the money for.

jh

 Sean Riley, 17 minutes ago Reply #6being able to watch a 2D replay of a previous race for that season would be an excellent addition to subscriber options, imo.
would certainly be good for anyone not able to attend a live race.
at present, if you miss a race, you only get to "enjoy" a data sheet.

i say only for that season, rather than multiple seasons, because the storage of races for multiple seasons would become a problem i think.

Devs, is such a thing technically possible?

That's another suggestions straight away
jh

I don't see anything wrong with the basic idea although I think the original concept was for a 'level playing field'.  However this is real life and making money is vital.  The problem is the lack of time and developers - your suggestion sounds easy but is actually a lot of work - on top of what already needs to be done.  But I can't speak for the devs as I am out of the loop in the direction the game might take.

You're right Jake: even this would take some setting up and a major change in direction I guess: so for that reason they (Jack?) would have to offer the simplest things first. Like I say, once set up the money should pour in. You'd be amazed at the amount some people pay for a non-level playing field. Keep the games separate so these guys who have played here for two years don't see all their hard work down the drain. I recall some of the guys paying £20-50 per month easily. Get 200 guys doing that and you've got yourselves ~£84,000 per year - surely enough to pay for a few top notch quality game developers?? I probably spent about £180 per year on it and was small fry compared to those guys. Hundred of 'me' and there's £18k: not sure whether that would pay for a developer??? 

And that's just the start.

jh