What do you think is the most significant reason AMS2 userbase is so small?

AMS2 base is small because ACC is so popular. I do see the user base growing, my entire group are now talking AMS2 more and more.
The latest updates are game changers for AMS2. Myself and guys in my acc league are playing way more AMS2 lately and are about to setup a league on it.
Here is a video with some of my thoughts as an ACC guy.

 

If they are able to implement something that other sim communities are wanting, then i think that would certainly help bring people over.

I know they stated in a previous dev diary they were looking at implementing full course yellow. if they were able to do that i think a lot of people would take notice.

Also, the lack of endurance options. ACC showed that there's a big following for sim racers who want to do 4-6-12 hour races with driver swaps. at the moment AMS2 doesn't offer that.

 

But exactly that is the problem with all this policy of DLC content. In short terms, it CAN boost the money earned, but at long terms, just put barriers to new player adhesion, because most people don't know the game, are not that much into the genre or simply can't spend much money. That is exactly what kept me away (the not having that much money to spent) from games like Raceroom, rF2 and, principally, iRacing.

If a company add all future content for free, it will only create value and, probably, bring new players to the userbase.

In the end, none of those options is right or wrong and each case must be analyzed by itself. IMHO, Reiza did it spot on because AMS2 is the simulator with the best relation between quantity, quality and final price in the simulation market and pushing their price policy to one side or another will have unpredictable results. The major AMS2 problem still it's genre and always be. Even the best selling competitors aren't exactly the best examples of market success

 

We've consistently seen huge temporary jumps with all of the major releases starting with 1.1 so I would expect the peak to hit 1100-ish when 1.4 drops. However, with 1.3 we were able to basically double the permanent player base and I don't see why we can't see a similar increase this time, now that the physics and tire updates are just about finished.

As for the DLC, the fact that you can use the content if someone else hosts it is awesome. We just need more people hosting it lol...so hopefully 1.4 can help there too.

It was mentioned last year but I really think weekly time trial events would be a good way to keep people around and introduce content. I would've thought it would be easier to implement than the huge MP features the community is requesting but since it's been so long I am sure it isn't so easy.

 

That sounds pretty real to me...porpoising, etc. F1 seems to get these "updates" pretty often lol.

 

Not really. For the amount of content it is peanuts compared to the unit price for a track or a car in iracing, RF2 or even ACC.
Some of the content is not available in PC2 and for some of the tracks from PC2 there are additional variants of historic or national layouts.
If people want to remain on PC2 because it can be bought for $15 it's ok, but that can't be used to devalue AMS2 and its DLCs. Makes no sense IMHO.

 

Not really. People can race in MP even on tracks they do not own. If they like them then they will likely buy them.
I think popularity for a sim comes from elsewhere: advertising, having affiliated streamers and all that. It's not just about giving content for free, which anyway is not financially sustainable for a developer. If they want free content they can go to AC and use mods.

 

You didn't disagree with my premise or conclusion... the logic of game developers having to deal with the aggregated value vs the "undesired extra paying" (because I doubt that anyone would prefer for an extra track or car if given the option to get it for free, unless the folk go charitable) and any extra pay (subscription, P2W or whatever) when planning their marketing strategy is what it is. That is the reason why that I pay for AMS2 and it's contents but don't for the competitors (other than AC and ACC).

 

PC2's permanent player base is pretty remarkable given the title hasn't been updated in years. It matches RF2 and Raceroom lol, which are still being developed. It's been going down steadily but AMS2 should be able to carry the torch.

Bring on 1.4!

 

A lot of that player base is quite dedicates to the Hyper, Super, Sports ad Road/Rally Car content. Nothing we need to talk about in AMS2. California Highway, Azure Coast, Bannochbrae, those roads go strong there.

 

Which is why I look forward to the Street Supercar and the Adrenaline Pack DLCs!

 

Using pC2 as comparison doesn't really work though because its development budget came from Bandai, the publisher, and the cash revenue was split between SMS and Bandai. And while pC1 was crowdfunded, that also cannot be compared because it was a multi-platform game from the start, with a potential wider reach and a marketing genius who talked (convincing) sh1t out of his ass and got maaany people investing into the game both as devs (WMD) and investors (I know some people who got a nice gain on their spending).

This means both pC1 and pC2 had the money for the initial licenses from the get go and probably some more for the initial DLC content, with DLC revenue ensuring licensing of the remaining content. Their big budget and bigger market potential (PC+Consoles) allowed them to sell the DLC cheaper than Reiza who effectively is doing things at quite the smaller scale.
It takes longer for them to acquire the funds to purchase licenses. SMS' ROI% was perhaps smaller, but the ROI itself was bigger.

 

Maybe when the game is done and all DLCs and updates are complete; Reiza will release an AMS2 GOTY edition that includes all the DLC for a lower price. By then Reiza will be working on rolling out AMS3 on the next gen Madness engine. Until then, there are always Steam sales to capitalized on getting a good deals on AMS2.
The way I see it, DLC pays the bills for Reiza and keeps the lights ON. It helps them keep developing the game and bringing out constant updates.
I'm still of the opinion, realistic physics/tire model and a well designed and robust multiplayer will increase replayability and bring higher player numbers to AMS2. If a product is good people will pay for it.

 

I think, People rather like depictiions of "reachable" cars in games, Porsche Caymans, BMW M3, Subarus STI and Mitsubische Lancers etc.

I would like the idea to drive my Golf GTI on different tracks visrtually too., not only the two tours to Nords and Bilster Berg in 2020. But what I like most, is when Sims can bring me back my old cars from the past.
Currently only possible for me in Dirt Rally 2.0 and Forza Horizon 5.

I was quite hyped for the Polo TSI, only to find out that it's brasilian cousin has nothing in common with my wife's car. (110hp, 7 speed DSG) The real one is a lot more "sporty" and agile than the one in AMS2.

 

The street tires that Reiza releases will be very important to modders, as I think they use GT4 tires at the moment. This won't be important for most players as I don't even know if the mod cars work online but if there's potential for more street cars to arrive in this manner I'm all for it.

Obviously I'd prefer Reiza-made cars but while another 100-150 race cars could satisfy most categories that have ever existed, the number of road cars is basically endless...add a handful and then stick to racing. Leave chasing the moving target that is road cars to GT/Forza.

Nurburgring track days with Japanese street cars in AMS2? Maybe someday...until then AC will have to suffice.

 

I would argue it comes down to 3 things.

1. Jimmy Broadbent
2. "You can't put gameplay on the box"
3. Missed/unclear deadlines around the season pass along with it's immense cost.

1. I don't know exactly what happened between Reiza and Jimmy, but him refusing to cover this game flat out has definitely hurt this game's popularity. A lot of people flat out refuse to play it because their favorite YouTube influencer doesn't, plain and simple.

Plus. The videos he does have on AMS2 are less than flattering if a bit unfair and hypocritical IMO. A lot of the issues he brought up exist in other games, but he just chooses not to cover them. Instead focuses too heavily on Reiza who has maybe 1/5 the budget of the titles he's comparing too, and who has at least clearly attempted to fix the issues with several rewrites of the physics to this point.

2. Spreading out to other influencers, a lot of people describe AMS 2 as what Project CARS 3 should have been, and that comes with a certain amount of emotional baggage. People like me, who were flat out lied too by SMS twice (I still want my money back you ****s) wouldn't have given this game a look if I hadn't played AMS 1 first.

The adage, "you can't put gameplay on the box" comes to mind. For the people burnt 2-3 times by project cars, they see AMS2 as a continuation of that and want no part of it. Despite this game being x1000's of times better to drive and to play than PCARS 2. Reiza NEEDS to do something to educate people and advertise, and I think the VW demo was a good step. But street cars are AMS 2's weakest point IMO. Add a single formula classic car, and see if the turn around from the demo is higher? I bet you it will be!

3. The simple fact is, every single planned DLC has been late by a matter of months in some cases, incomplete, or just not released at all for whatever reason. (Where is the Nissans?) Granted, the DLC that have slipped through have been of extremely good quality and Reiza has been at least active with the community on what is going on behind the scenes. But, most people don't read that stuff, or care... From the outside, it looks like people payed $100 for a season pass or a Project CARS clone that has utterly stalled on the first major pack for over a year. (Remember, EVERYTHING in Racing USA was supposed to come out as 1 massive pack.) Instead we're getting 3 smaller packs, which is fine. But part 2 took several months to get out, and there has been nearly complete radio silence on part 3.

TLDR, Reiza needs to patch things up with influencers, get their DLC rolling out again, and get the best content in this game into the hands of more people to let the gameplay sell itself!

 

About Jimmy... I think that he only got frustrated (as a huge amount of people) that AMS2 don't play as AMS1 (what for me was a relieve because I since the very first release my impressions were that AMS2 is way better than AMS1). But that became an issue at the point that he begins to believe that he is some kind of racing expert, what his RL racing driver "career" is proving the opposite. And them he mounted this battle horse against AMS2. At least he tries to not roast Reiza and I prefer that he completely omits the game in his channel that do those lazy videos he did about it. But I wouldn't get surprised if someone proves that he did it just because Reiza didn't paid him enough.

BTW, if there is something Reiza is done terribly is marketing AMS2. And, yes, the FACT that they release and charged for incomplete DLCs is a very good reason for people to don't buy the game. Some of us have trust that Reiza will deliver great things, but most of people don't.

 

Oh yeah, I agree in the 2nd part 100% reiza has said this is a long term passion project and as far as that's concerned they've knocked it out of the park and I really think AMS2, should development continue, will become a landmark racing sim of the generation. But the average, casual sim racer see a Pcars clone with stalled out DLC and an apparently struggling dev. Reiza needs to fix that.

As for Jimmy, eh... I don't think you can accuse him (or Reiza) of failing to pay him off for a review. That's not right, regardless of what you think of him and I doubt he would do that considering how he panned both Grid Legends and PC3 which he got for free and or had a hand in making.

I can understand him saying AMS 1 and 2 don't drove the same, because until recently they didn't. That was 100% true, but what pissed me off is he can look at reiza and say all these things, and then ignore the exact same sort things in Iracing in the Audi R18 or Corvette DP.

Tire physics not being completely there and acting oddly in certain situations? That's what Iracing was famous for before this newest tire model! Yet, the only time he hammered this issue home? The DPI AMS 2 video

Too much grip in the wet? Beaten to death and into the afterlife in the Group C AMS 2 video dispite being the same basic physics as Pcars 2.

I could go on, but it was just very hypocritical of a man who I respect and trust when it comes to sim racing opinions, and again, at least reiza was actively trying and eventually did fix those issues. (For the most part, wet weather racing is still a little funky but no one has mastered that yet.)