Help - Does AMS2 drivers really want to race online?

@roszman This is what happens when I click on Link Your Steam Account. Cannot signup.

 

I had the same issue, but somehiw it worked. Just try to log in.

 

Nope, no luck. I even tried Chrome and Edge, same error. Perhaps, the authentication token or redirect URL is not working...

 

Posted by mistake, again

 

I get it, but if you are underperforming because of lack of preparation, when you don't know given track that much, then you shouln't be rewarded with first place and points

Later on AI will match to your skill and with enough races you will get good results.

I know it's not the perfect solution, but imo it's optimal for now.

Such design can have good side effect: maybe drivers will practice more before the race? If so, then quality of racing will be higher and that's what I am after

From two extremes I want RCO to be harder than easier.

Also RCO is about competition, i want drivers to practice and compete.

 

Maybe RCO could look at you race history and if there are no races with given car/track combo, then maybe it should go little easier on you, for example 5% percent slower than usual.

It would also simulate that other drivers also dont know track so well at the beginning of the week.

But then such adjustment will only happen at the beginning of new weekly event and AI will get faster and faster each day. So if you start racing on Thursday instead of Monday then the AI will be only 2% slower than your last AI skill level

 

I can see some value to having AI set a little lower if RCO is able to recognise no car/track combination history. All that would do is give some encouragement to drivers using that combination for the first time. I'm not so sure that increasing the AI value as the week goes on is fair to those unable to drive for the first time until, say, Thursday. Wouldn't it also be unneccesary as the AI would improve as you practice and get better with that combination - if that's the case then I'd presume (I'm always presuming when it comes to AI...or math in general) that it would stop any advantage someone may get by practising as many races as possible on the Monday and Tuesday as opposed to only starting practice on Thursday?

Personally, I'm trying to ignore any of my statistics (beyond a general interest of what effects certain actions may have on them) and just get in as many races as possible. I'm keen to see where I feel I am against this adaptive AI after a good number of races across both tracks and cars I know and don't know - mostly don't know as I'm guilty of overlooking so many different layouts, which is another thing I'm enjoying about RCO in the same way as joining a good lobby and sticking with it through whatever tracks are chosen by the host.

 

EDIT TO ABOVE: That first paragraph is assuming one believes practising against lower AI is an advantage to practising against higher AI - both cases could be argued.

 

I think I agree about having it slightly easier in unknown conditions. Not everyone will want to race 50 seconds off the pace for 20mins to calibrate the AI. By that time you might lose a user forever.

 

Thing is that RCO doesnt guarantee that you will race against AI only. I can change RCO so that it accounts for lack of experience in a given car&track combo. But it will all go for nothing when you will be paired with faster humans in one race.

As far as my experience goes with the online systems like iRacing or LFM, or even GTS.), if you dont have time to practice and you start racing at the end of the week, you will be at disadvantage.
Since I would like RCO to be more sync than async multiplayer, why not try to simulate real world drivers behaviours?

I get your points, I will add Adaptive AI improvements in to RCO backlog

 

What if he will be faster than AI already?
Wouldnt he get bored lapping AIs.

Its difficult problem to solve, but I want to use my time working on multiplayer features first.

 

Questions is: Why were you slower? AI was adapted to you already.

You didnt knew the track? You should learn the track first.
New car? Maybe RCO should adapt AI per car class? Or maybe you should learn the car before going online?

But even with all that preparation and practice we can have few edge cases which would be hard to support.

You have 25% buffor www.racecraft.online/faq#Points
So yes, train AI first, but if you encounter faster humans you will be last no matter what - unless there will be disaster at T1 and you will survive that . Also drivers makes mistakes, so fastest driver in the qualy is nit aways the one who is winning the race

I believe that the only solution would be to make RCO single player experience only, but I am not planning such change yet.

 

I completely agree regarding multiplayer and that being the focus. That was the intial premise and that is what has been the hook that caught me. Any suggestions around AI that I make are simply around any possible improvements to the system and are secondary to multiplayer. Perhaps we're talking too much about AI as they're just there to make up the numbers.

Anything that will get the interest of other players joining is going to be more valuable in the medium and long term. We also talk alot about the Rookie series and Rookies generally but getting the interest and participation of veteran/experienced Sim racers will also be a huge benefit.

Anyway, I've got a race in half an hour - I need to go and meditate, clear my mind and envision nothing but the track and my progress through it

 

The main issue is that there is a pain point for your users: people don't like racing alone in last place for 20 minutes. This issue exists in multiplayer races as well as solo races.

I don't know what is the best way to address this pain point, but it exists. Yes, maybe it is their fault that they are slow, but punishing slow racers with boring races will just result in lost users - people always blame the devs and never blame themselves.

Personally I would rather practice a new track by racing on RCO instead of doing offline races. I don't think it makes sense to encourage users to practice offline rather than engaging with RCO and doing more races online.

 

The only way it can be properly solved is like the more populated races in iRacing.
Because here the several splits in more populated races does mean that even the slower aftlanterns are offered a split filled with other aftlanterns.
But also in iracing this problem does exist in low or less populated races where slow(er) drivers have to enjoy themselves quite alone - because the split does include fast(er) drivers.

 

I get your pain points, I am experiencing the same on RCO as you do.

Thing is that that RCO is not punishing drivers for being slow, it's not punishing them at all. RCO expects that you will be as fast as you've been in the last week. That's all.

If we add real humans in to equation then this problem can be solved only by hundreds of users being online at one time, so RCO can match by skill, but even then someone will always be last.
Without large number of users be prepared that you will encounter faster and slower drivers and that the experience will not be tailored to you. Sometimes you'll win and sometimes you'll be hotlapping - use hotlapping as a practice, change your mindset a little

For other drivers safety you should practice new track in RCO practice session and not in the race
I am doing a lot of practice in races but i know that i can finish last.

Edit.
I am not forcing anyone to anything

 

What if you will have the data about the AI/humans times on a given track and ability to compare yourself to AI/humans before the race?

Or

Maybe RCO could offer private "AI training" sessions where you could train AI without worring about other drivers or your stats?

So you could do one or two races against AI in private environment. But even then sometimes you will have private races where you will be last.

 

Oh dear.

Fuel miscalculation, ran dry on the last lap whilst in second place after qualifying eighth.

Gutted

 

Had the same few times, annoying thing

 

...and a massive -10 points from my pace. Ouch