Seasonals are getting disappointing

[Mercury1]

I am ok with you up to this point.



Really?! Only 3 years? Ok, I guess I will give this one.



Now you are waaay off. What about the store's share? Sony's share? Taxes? Cost of discs, packaging, shipping, distribution, etc (small, but it adds up)? PD are lucky if they made $100,000,000 total from GT5. And this doesn't count the cost of developing GT5 for all those years, unless you think that they got 100% of the money from the sales of GT4, TT, and GT5 Prologue and that was enough.




Congratulations on your progress, but its not PDs fault you finished the game. I am actually happy with the seasonals. What other game continually adds free content? What about racing online? I have more fun online that with anything else in the game.



For those of us without all the used cars, this is a good thing. Would hate to find that car I have been looking for (VW Nardo for me) and then have it gone once I get enough credits to buy it.



Other than the seasonal (which I still believe we are luck to get so much of) I wouldn't expect any other A-Spec changes until GT6.


I hope you don't feel like I am picking on you, I just disagree with some of your opinions and I think you might have written about the money that they received without thinking about all the others taking their share.


Thanks for replying and some of your breakdowns are certainly valid but my point is that the game is a 'cash cow' and they can well afford free content - and more user oriented. To be honest at my age on-line stuff and drift just doesn't interest me - and I agree that is just me - but they have enough assets to cater for people like me and all their other demographics.

BTW Peter I have several Nardos - very cool car - and if you explain the process of how to, to me I would be more than happy to gift you one.

 

[Mercury1]

Thanks for replying and some of your breakdowns are certainly valid but my point is that the game is a 'cash cow' and they can well afford free content - and more user oriented. To be honest at my age on-line stuff and drift just doesn't interest me - and I agree that is just me - but they have enough assets to cater for people like me and all their other demographics.

BTW Peter I have several Nardos - very cool car - and if you explain the process of how to, to me I would be more than happy to gift you one.

 

[peterjford]

Thanks for replying and some of your breakdowns are certainly valid but my point is that the game is a 'cash cow' and they can well afford free content - and more user oriented. To be honest at my age on-line stuff and drift just doesn't interest me - and I agree that is just me - but they have enough assets to cater for people like me and all their other demographics.

BTW Peter I have several Nardos - very cool car - and if you explain the process of how to, to me I would be more than happy to gift you one.

Unfortunately the Nardo is above the 1,000,000 credit limit for gifting cars.

To gift car (or paint or other item, etc) you just select it in the garage or items section and there is a little icon that looks like a bow. Click that and there should be a list of your PSN friends and you select which person you want to send it to. Then you can enter a short message and confirm. There is a one car per day limit and you cannot gift cars that cost over 1,000,000 credits. For other items its 5 per day or something like that. I usually use it to send ugly paint chips or interesting museum cards to my nephew.

 

[viperbeatsvette]

I have to agree with the general gist of the thread. I am too old to be a 'fan boy' but I do think GT5 is fantastic ... however. Those that say everyone should be grateful for anything etc etc - here are some solid facts: As of last week GT5 has sold 7.13 million units worldwide. Although I paid full price for mine, lets allow for discounts and round each game off at $50.00 - believe that is more than fair. Thats $356,000,000 dollars. Lets now take 3 years (which I think is generous) for develpment of GT6. That is $119,000,000 per annum; divide that into 52 and PD have $2.28 million dollars per week gross at their disposal. Bottom line: they can well afford to be more vigilant and compliant of the wants of people like myself who have reached the 2000 car limit have been lvl 40 in both A and B spec for at least 6 months and rely on the seasonals for my fun. The TT's don't even turn the UCD over for goodness sake - that just makes no sense at all. Much as I love GT5, if they dont come out with some major A-Spec overhaul in the near future I will be dragging out Formula 2010 again and the unspeakably bad Shift 2 just for some variety.

just because a game costs say $50, doesnt mean PD gets $50 from the sale.

 

[Mercury1]

@viperbeatsvette

Lets not split hairs; by their own media releases the GT franchise is extremely profitable. I am a huge fan of the game but do not see the point of people being PD apologists no matter what the circumstance. I agree with what many others are saying - they seem to have taken their eye off the ball and could and should be doing more. Sure they update for free - and so they should; I run a bookstore chain and we do promotional give aways regularly also - this is what you have to do these days to stay in the game and look after your loyal customers. PD do charge for DLC and they are more reasonable than crooks like EA, but then again I do not like giving companies like EA my support. Again - my observation is that for people like me that have basically finished the game, if they want me to keep playing - I need more A-Spec. Whether that is in the form of major DLC which I am more than happy to pay for or a more attentive approach to seasonals that is up to them. I am not bagging the game by any means, nor am I actually saying they have do anything. My point is that IF they want to keep people like me interested they can afford to.

 

[BWX]

The point about ''free'' seasonals doesn't apply to me. I'd happily PAY for an A-Spec expansion even though it should have been five times the size from day one.

Anyway, how much does it 'cost' them to write the 4 lines of code to create an A-Spec seasonal race? Four lines may be an exaggeration, but not by much. I boyght all that DLC, I expect them to dream up awesome A-Spec/ seasonals/ Driver's club races for me to race them on. Online is ok, but it's so buggy...

Kaz basically promised us this mysterious ''Drivers Club'' when everyone realized how short, easy, and lame A-Spec was after game release. I think his exact words were ''Coming very soon''... Yeah.. a year later and they remove most of the online seasonals without warning, then dole out A-Spec seasonals once a month while TT, DT, and BS-spec are plentiful.

Kaz admitted A-Spec sucks in GT5, he said was disappointed, yet he does nothing to fix it in this new age of half complete game releases and DLC. It's just a slap in the face to loyal GT fans and supporters.

The thing that pisses me off the most is that it would be sooo damn easy for them to fix this problem. It would be easier than making new tracks, it would be easier than making new premium model cars, it would be easier than making new helmets and race suits, it would be easier than fixing the sound, it would be easier than big bug fixing patches, it would be easier and quicker than almost all the other things game devs have to do to update and fix a current game. That's what gets me frustrated. They say their going to do something, and just do everything but. I bet GT6, if it ever comes out, won't be nearly as successful as past GTs or even GT5 because LOTS of people are pissed off about the crappy single player part of GT5. Not everyone signs up on forums to talk about it either, most just find a different game and forget about GT. GT6 won't be a day 1 purchase for me, that's for damn sure.

/RANT - I guess I'll go spend 20 minutes beating the TT and then wait another month for a lame unimaginative A-Spec seasonal. :-/

 

[silverstar189]

I'd just like some actual races to run on the DLC tracks I've spent money on. Classics and GT cars at spa, a slipstreaming battle on route X. Is that really so hard for them? Might encourage further sales of any more DLC they put out.

 

[Short Bus]

I get pretty bored with the seasonals pretty quick as well.

I wish there was a better arcade mode, I'd get a lot more use out of this game. Aside from a few license tests and endurance races I've basically finished the game and I'm struggling to find the motivation to keep playing. The only reason I keep loading it up is to practice the Nurburgring.

 

[dahcmai]

I'd just like to see more event in general even if they aren't all that interesting. Just something to do other than grind is ok by me.

 

[Caliber]

Why don't they add a new game type.. something like Cat and Mouse like I use to play on project gothem racing on xbox back in the day.. You have multiple teams, One car would be a mouse. Such as a Mini and one would be a fast car that GT5 can provide or you can use your own cars and you can use that faster car to push the mini or block from other faster cars. This would make the game experience fun and not so "Real", I've always fancied games that were "Real". I just want a few game types that could be under oh how about Arcade mode, or something for online so maybe it can separate it self from the "real" racing online. So PD can feel they have made themselves happy as well as players. I think they should also add Drag racing to the game as well, not just a group of guys/gals lining up behind another car on a track with a long straight away.. But using the Test course or another course were we can max out our cars and test and tune online and race other people.. Maybe even buy parts online.. I think there needs two arcade games. Drag racing and Cat N' Mouse. this would bring more of a fan base that won't be so tired of the same old same old because eventually it just gets old and it's all the game that repeats itself .. it's a "real" driving simulator. But when it comes down to it, consumers want to have fun sometimes and have fun with their cars, show them off and drag or play a game type. Look at what modern warfare has done in this last mw3. They have added on what was already existing which PD has done but the new game types the did add are a lot better then what was in Black Ops.

 

[Gejabo]

Please don't compare GT to COD 👎

And lets keep GT about driving (racing) cars.
I really don't understand why every body wants to add all kind of other things like cat 'n mouse or cops 'n robbers or even the whole free roam thing.
I can wait for trafficlights in real live that's not why I play GT

But everyone is in title to their own opinion off course

 

[NJ72]

I have to disagree with most of the opinions in this thread that say seasonals are a waste of time. I have yet to find another game that constantly gives free offline content (essentially what the seasonals are) so long after the initial release. GT5 is in no danger of becoming a "cash cow", especially when compared to the likes of the NFS series or any of the DiRT games in which half the game is available from the start and you have to buy the rest through over-priced DLC.

I know this is just my opinion, and not the opinion of everyone, but if you think GT5 is a cash-cow for PD yet you still own shift 2 then maybe your rose-tinted glasses are a little strong...

I have had far more than my 'money's worth' out of GT5, especially in comparison to other games. I highly doubt that is going to change in the near future either as I have yet to find another game that I repeatedly find myself playing, be it online, offline or whatever.

and as for the requests for cat n mouse style games, they are adding new variants to gameplay, but realistic ones, as a driving simulator should. Just find the loose change to buy the 'Speed Pack' and you can test the acceleration and top speed of your vehicles accurately.

N.B. all the opinions contained above are just that, but please consider the validity of these points before replying with a "you're stupid because" style remark. Cheers'en!

 

[C_Raccoon23]

The point about ''free'' seasonals doesn't apply to me. I'd happily PAY for an A-Spec expansion even though it should have been five times the size from day one.

Anyway, how much does it 'cost' them to write the 4 lines of code to create an A-Spec seasonal race? Four lines may be an exaggeration, but not by much. I boyght all that DLC, I expect them to dream up awesome A-Spec/ seasonals/ Driver's club races for me to race them on. Online is ok, but it's so buggy...

Kaz basically promised us this mysterious ''Drivers Club'' when everyone realized how short, easy, and lame A-Spec was after game release. I think his exact words were ''Coming very soon''... Yeah.. a year later and they remove most of the online seasonals without warning, then dole out A-Spec seasonals once a month while TT, DT, and BS-spec are plentiful.

Kaz admitted A-Spec sucks in GT5, he said was disappointed, yet he does nothing to fix it in this new age of half complete game releases and DLC. It's just a slap in the face to loyal GT fans and supporters.

The thing that pisses me off the most is that it would be sooo damn easy for them to fix this problem. It would be easier than making new tracks, it would be easier than making new premium model cars, it would be easier than making new helmets and race suits, it would be easier than fixing the sound, it would be easier than big bug fixing patches, it would be easier and quicker than almost all the other things game devs have to do to update and fix a current game. That's what gets me frustrated. They say their going to do something, and just do everything but. I bet GT6, if it ever comes out, won't be nearly as successful as past GTs or even GT5 because LOTS of people are pissed off about the crappy single player part of GT5. Not everyone signs up on forums to talk about it either, most just find a different game and forget about GT. GT6 won't be a day 1 purchase for me, that's for damn sure.

/RANT - I guess I'll go spend 20 minutes beating the TT and then wait another month for a lame unimaginative A-Spec seasonal. :-/

👍

Also, I have to disagree with the "free" argument. Why should I be impressed or thankful seasonals are free when PD decided to take away a large number of them for no reason and without warning? Why should I be happy they're free when a lot of them were just extensions of already existing events, and really add nothing new to the game?

And as BWX said, adding new races should be easier than making anything else for this game such as the DLC we have had so far. The cars and tracks are already there. So how hard is it to make some events? It must not be, since PD put a lot more effort in GT3's and GT4's career than in GT5's. Heck, even GT2's is better.

 

[NJ72]

👍

Also, I have to disagree with the "free" argument. Why should I be impressed or thankful seasonals are free when PD decided to take away a large number of them for no reason and without warning? Why should I be happy they're free when a lot of them were just extensions of already existing events, and really add nothing new to the game?

And as BWX said, adding new races should be easier than making anything else for this game such as the DLC we have had so far. The cars and tracks are already there. So how hard is it to make some events? It must not be, since PD put a lot more effort in GT3's and GT4's career than in GT5's. Heck, even GT2's is better.

Because most other game developers dont give you ANY content for free?

 

[Dumpy]

Because most other game developers dont give you ANY content for free?

It's definitely uncommon for any developer/publisher to give a console title this much 'free' support after release. That is impressive in my book. The only other games I know of that get this sort of treatment are subscription based games. MMOs.

I theorize the reason why the previous Seasonal Events disappearance is some kind of technical issue. I can only guess, but it probably had something to do with server or code re-evaluation that led to it. Sad to see them go, but hopeful for more events that are interesting/diverse.

There was another thread about seasonal patterns;

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=243435

Not to go completely off topic, but I'd be grateful to see some rally/mini-enduros for the next batch.

 

[viperbeatsvette]

It's definitely uncommon for any developer/publisher to give a console title this much 'free' support after release. That is impressive in my book. The only other games I know of that get this sort of treatment are subscription based games. MMOs.

I theorize the reason why the previous Seasonal Events disappearance is some kind of technical issue. I can only guess, but it probably had something to do with server or code re-evaluation that led to it. Sad to see them go, but hopeful for more events that are interesting/diverse.

There was another thread about seasonal patterns;

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=243435

Not to go completely off topic, but I'd be grateful to see some rally/mini-enduros for the next batch.

They can't keep up 25 different series if no one is racing them as each had 3+ races and that is taking up unnecessary space. It'd be good to see more series like these though. Also more rally and enduros in the game full stop would be excellent.

 

[Chadders85]

...
But what about those 'seasonal events' from GT5rologue? Remember the races you could join that were already pre-defined? I'd love to see that again too.

4 pages and only one person mentions this??

This is what I've been waiting for since the game was released.

Change the seasonals so that we race EACH OTHER, instead of the predictable A.I. I think a lot of people playing GT5 never experienced Prologue and it's online mode.

I spend ages just looking for a room in GT5 that has what I want, then I find one and it wont let me join, then I join one and the racing is not close due to people exploiting the PP system etc. I've tried hosting my own room many times but its usually just me hotlapping waiting 20+ minutes for someone to join. My connection is only 2mb so I probably have a low connection rating.

Actually when they first introduced seasonals in GT5 my eyes lit up thinking it would be online racing (they are called online seasonal events). Oh how disappointed I was when I realised it was against the A.I.

 

[ScouserInExile]

I have to agree with the general gist of the thread. I am too old to be a 'fan boy' but I do think GT5 is fantastic ... however. Those that say everyone should be grateful for anything etc etc - here are some solid facts: As of last week GT5 has sold 7.13 million units worldwide. Although I paid full price for mine, lets allow for discounts and round each game off at $50.00 - believe that is more than fair. Thats $356,000,000 dollars. Lets now take 3 years (which I think is generous) for develpment of GT6. That is $119,000,000 per annum; divide that into 52 and PD have $2.28 million dollars per week gross at their disposal. Bottom line: they can well afford to be more vigilant and compliant of the wants of people like myself who have reached the 2000 car limit have been lvl 40 in both A and B spec for at least 6 months and rely on the seasonals for my fun. The TT's don't even turn the UCD over for goodness sake - that just makes no sense at all. Much as I love GT5, if they dont come out with some major A-Spec overhaul in the near future I will be dragging out Formula 2010 again and the unspeakably bad Shift 2 just for some variety.

Ignoring the fact that you maths is miles out, what you've basically said there is "I've finished the game and now I want more for free!". PD are pretty good for giving us free content, I can't think of another game that has had so much. PD aren't a charity, the content the add will only give them minimal new sales, do it shows a commitment to fans that they are doing anything at all.

I just think the free content is reaching it's natural end...

 

[C_Raccoon23]

4 pages and only one person mentions this??

This is what I've been waiting for since the game was released.

Change the seasonals so that we race EACH OTHER, instead of the predictable A.I. I think a lot of people playing GT5 never experienced Prologue and it's online mode.

I spend ages just looking for a room in GT5 that has what I want, then I find one and it wont let me join, then I join one and the racing is not close due to people exploiting the PP system etc. I've tried hosting my own room many times but its usually just me hotlapping waiting 20+ minutes for someone to join. My connection is only 2mb so I probably have a low connection rating.

Actually when they first introduced seasonals in GT5 my eyes lit up thinking it would be online racing (they are called online seasonal events). Oh how disappointed I was when I realised it was against the A.I.

I feel your pain. The part I bolded is why I think GT5's online is a pathetic joke and why I rarely put up with it.

There was supposed to be something in the game similar to Prologue's online events called "Matchmaking" as it's mentioned in the manual, and this was the feature I waited for since the game was released. But over a year later and it still isn't here. I pretty much gave up on it. 👎

 

[BWX]

Yeah those online predefined events in GT5P were cool.. not sure why they were axed in GT5.

 

[NJ72]

Yeah those online predefined events in GT5P were cool.. not sure why they were axed in GT5.

Probably axed as fans asked for the lobby system...

 

[Tyger]

I generally enjoy the seasonals but am always a little disappointed to see hardly any make use of the quicker production cars in the game, events seem to go up to 400-500pp or so then jump up to race cars. I would like events where I can dust off my Veyron, F1, Enzo or even my Astons, 8C, Spyker, TVRs etc. against similar opponents.

 

[Chadders85]

Probably axed as fans asked for the lobby system...

You're probably right.

Just a shame that online has connection issues (I can connect to about 30% of rooms I try, if that) which seems to have affected many players some more than others, and other bugs which people have mentioned although I can't really comment on those due to not being able to access rooms in the first place.

Prologue though, even I could connect to race after race. Set parameters by PD so you could just set your car up then then a simple click to join the network for some of the closest racing you could ask for.

Basically, seasonals as they are now (probably with tyre restrictions), replacing the A.I. with humans. Now tell me that doesn't sound like a good way to make seasonal events much more exciting than they are now?

 

[Dumpy]

Basically, seasonals as they are now (probably with tyre restrictions), replacing the A.I. with humans. Now tell me that doesn't sound like a good way to make seasonal events much more exciting than they are now?

👍

 

[PAWEL17]

Not to mention, every 600-650pp time trial seasonal, everyone uses a 2J

 

[greg666]

For most people, this is the only events you race on.
Either you have finished A Spec, or just simply no custume reward/less money for racing A Spec.
This is what they should do to Improve the Sesonal Events.

- Improve the Interface UI
( categorize either in folders or icons for the A spec/B Spec/Time Trial/Drift ....etc. So it's not just simply scrolling to the right. As the currently Seasonal Events GI looks like un-finished work, feels like someone just dump some stuff into this directory/interface)

- Release time/content of new events
( PD should be able to release all different kind of events at the same time once per week or 2 weeks, instead of just 1 event per 2 weeks plus. For example: 1 A spec, 1 B Spec, 1 Time Trial....etc. Since the data is all inbuild, just different title different tracks)

- Increase the varieties of A Spec events
( Since PD is so determine about PP, then A Spec events should get more varieties. So far we only have 400/500/650 PP. They should add 550/450 PP...etc)

This is only the beginning, there is alot of potential here.
Only thing is if they want to improve this?

 

[goofycool]

A-spec seasonals along with most of A-spec GT Life events are nothing more than Roller Derby. You try to catch the "Jammer" by getting through all of the "Blockers". The AIs (Blockers) will always slow down at stupid places such as THE EXIT OF A CORNER in order to trap and block you. I have watched the replay of numerous seasonals from the perspective of the AI that I am about to pass to see this happen. That AI will go 30-50% faster at that exact spot on the track on every other lap. This will happen with EVERY AI that has a chance to trap you. So to beat the more difficult events, you have to learn where the traps are and time them accordingly. This is NOT racing. This is Roller derby or Super Mario and I find it VERY unsatisfying.

Giving us more of the same won't float my boat.

This model of play has no racing in it. You can NEVER come up with a PP level for your car that will allow you to have RACE with a car or group of cars for the entire race,derby,gauntlet,thingy... whateveritis. You HAVE to be faster than every AI by a considerable margin in order to win. I.E. If the McLaren F1 is running 1:48s you have to run 1:44s to catch and pass him. You'll never be with him for more than a small portion of a lap. There can be no duelling. You can't even have a race with the last AI in line if you wanted to because he will slow down in an effort to block you.

I would like:

1. Grid starts and/or closely grouped rolling starts.
b. AIs that RACE US TO WIN, not block us from the "Jammer" or rabbit.
N. Similar starting cars on the starting grid. If its a bunch of 625 pp cars, NO 705pp Jags. I would like the event to be competitive while running the same level equipement as the AIs.

The Super GT and NASCAR series in GT Life are a good start but the AIs are too slow. (yeah, yeah. Run comfort hards if you want a REAL challenge.... see N.) The last NASCAR challenge is almost a perfect example of what I would like to see. Such an event could probably use some wiggle room for tuning your car higher than the AIs so that the event would be accessible to a broader range of players.

 

[BWX]

A-spec seasonals along with most of A-spec GT Life events are nothing more than Roller Derby. You try to catch the "Jammer" by getting through all of the "Blockers". The AIs (Blockers) will always slow down at stupid places such as THE EXIT OF A CORNER in order to trap and block you. I have watched the replay of numerous seasonals from the perspective of the AI that I am about to pass to see this happen. That AI will go 30-50% faster at that exact spot on the track on every other lap. This will happen with EVERY AI that has a chance to trap you. So to beat the more difficult events, you have to learn where the traps are and time them accordingly. This is NOT racing. This is Roller derby or Super Mario and I find it VERY unsatisfying.

Yup, I noticed exact same thing by watching AI from their POV. A while ago there was a racecar seasonal at Grand Valley, and in one of the turns the AI in front of you would slam on brakes and literally almost STOP on the track coming out of one of the corners.

The stupid part is that Kaz left the AI like this after one of the patches that contained ''AI Improvements'' .... This current seasonal AI is absolutely ridiculous, yet Kaz/PD just leave it like this patch after patch after patch. It's truly insane and frustrating as hell.

I'd rather have mindless bots that stuck to racing line but that were fast enough to be competetive with you.

 

[mister dog]

I'm quite angry today waking up and seeing the new update being a B spec event again (wich i never play i want to race myself), and the OCD update being boring also to give us another dull week, hoping they are gonna throw us something good in 7 days.

The 2012 seasonal events formula sucks, and limits the cars you can actually use for them, like you both said the racing formula also sucks with the 11 moving blockers and the first one getting away, wich you need to chase.

And on top of that in all these A spec events the competition is always the same, just feels like they say at PD "right let's give em their weekly seasonal, tamagotchi will you please transfer the bots on 3 different circuits and load it up for them?"

I've got 400 cars in my garage i want to try out, and i don't feel like doing the standard A spec in the game as the price money is **** compared to the dull seasonals... man just some minor tweaks to their dull formula and the game would be great, or increase the price money in standard A spec so i can go and race there at least for a proper reward.

 

[bigburt82]

B-Spec is pretty stupid if you think about it. Gamers buy games to play them themselves, not to watch the AI play the game for you

Imagine the B-Spec concept in other games. Would you be interested in COD watching the AI shoot down enemies and run through levels?

More A-Spec please.