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I was thinking about buying a game called iRacing. It's an online racing game with chargeable content. Basically, you pay between $7.5-14 per month. You get 7 tracks and 3 cars. These are the rookie cars and tracks. When you've been driving long enough to get your safety rating above a certain level, you progress and buy another set of cars and tracks - about $10-30 I think.

So - that's the game.

However, I was very sceptical about buying the game because online gaming experiences for me have been very, very poor...not just in the sim world, but in any gaming genre. It's true to say if you find a proper dedicated bunch or regulars, your experience is somewhat lifted substantially.

I remember a very good group of people I used to meet up with and race, and even then there were a couple of people whinging and moaning all the time about this or that or the other...like their mortgages depended on their progress...so I tend to stay away from online racing.

Anyway, over on a particular forum I frequent I asked about this game and what people thought of it. Generally the postings were sensible....right up until someone who had only just bought it posted this...

#%&*$# this #%&*$# game. some guy just kept smashing me smashing me smashing me, so i stopped racing and watched it.

I GOT -.61 TO MY SR. I'M AT #%&*$# 1.51 SR.

#%&*$# this game, #%&*$# David Kaemmar, you stupid #%&*$# thief. you charge per month for the god damn game, and then you rape everyone on tracks and cars. #%&*$# YOU

Now - I wanted to post it as an example of exactly why I stay away from online gaming. I mean...is this guy even at pre school.

I don't generally even PBEM - because winning means THIS MUCH to some people and I have no wish at all to contribute to their ego.

Online world is only for the brave and willing. Or those with plenty of free time on their hands. 

Had some weird and offensive experiences online so generally stay away but have also had some good fun with guilds in mmos such LOTR online, Warhammer online and EVE.......

Have to say - I have had some great experiences online...but they've generally been with a dedicated bunch of people. The people I don't like to meet online are the competitive ones. And by that I don't mean "competitive"...I mean those ones (like him above) that simply do not understand the idea of gaming.

I mean, I like to win. Everyone does. But when you lose your head like that, it's time to look for a new hobby...better still, need to get yourself to the doc - 'cos your blood pressure is sky high!

I actually have played a few rounds in test mode on the game...and I'm all over the track. The cars are so twitchy (in a good way)...I find it hard to believe I wouldn't knock anyone on the track! And the track I've been practicing on seems quite narrow too!

I just have no desire to let people like that into my life. Thank god I have a nice, steady, sane life away from the PC. [:)]

I'd never ever buy or play a game that you have to subscribe to. No way.

You should see the 8 year olds playing Counter Strike: Source and Left 4 Dead.....God help us all.[X(]

The sad part is....all these games are rated M.....what are their parents thinking?

EDIT: This is exactly why I only play with my friends in friends only games.....public servers suck except for a few.

There's a popular first person shooter out there with voice comms linked into it. Thought the game was pretty neat, and I loved its theme, but wow the online community is just beyond out there. Voice comms was anything but a free for all of insults directed at whoever talked. Needless to say I stopped playing after a day's worth.

I've been playing Lord of the Rings Online for 3 years now. Good player base. Would I play a shooter online? NO WAY!!!!!!! 

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

I've been playing Lord of the Rings Online for 3 years now. Good player base. Would I play a shooter online? NO WAY!!!!!!! 

Same here..Lotro for a bunch of years..Sometimes EVE..No shooters at all..Will never happen

A tale of two games in this regard...

Call of Duty 2 - My goodness, I couldn't tell whether I was playing against gamers or convicts. I really wanted to play on the Austin, TX server because the latency was so low and the connection so strong, but it was like I had entered into some unfortunate 3rd-Millennium rendition of Lord of the Flies. Canceled my subscription after about ten days.

Austerlitz: Napoleon's Greatest Victory - I suspect that I could spend the rest of my life searching high and low, but I'd never find a nicer, more collegial or sportsmanlike group of people to play with or against. The youngest was a 13 year-old Polish immigrant girl that went by the name of Prophet. I may have been the oldest, but their were some other contenders, IIRC.

I guess the point is that it's hard to generalize. I found my space and enjoyed it mightily. I hope that everyone that's interested in this style of game gets to experience something similar. Life is short; have yourself some fun.

Yeah, shooters are lousy with them. 

You'll know them in MMOs when you see them.  They'll basically be asking everyone to do everything for them.  They're not well received in most of them.  When did having everything handed to you on a silver platter become the expected norm for kids?

I find the guys post humorous and not childish. Perhaps he has good reason to be pissed.

Like I said - I've drove the track...it's narrow and the cars are twitchy. There are going to be bumps and grinds. If the guy doesn't get it, then he shouldn't be playing.

There's nothing humorous about that outburst. It's out and out childish behaviour. Ranting and using that kind of language because you had a bad day at the races??

Red Orchestra has a good community...never heard and saw any problems there at all. Looking forward to RO2.

I started my online gaming with a chess playing site. In my naivety I though people who played chess would be thoughtful and civilized. I was surprised to find that each game was interrupted by obscene chat and every good move received with a torrent of abuse...[:(] Those chess players are a rough bunch.....[;)]

I think the most classic insult thread is this one: http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Cyclot ... a_Nutshell
You probably saw it already, but it is a true story! I followed it at least partly on the Lonely Planet (of all places!) forum where it originated. Classic!

EDIT: The original thread (which was hilarious beyond words!) is unfortunately gone from Lonely Planet, but there are bits and pieces that has survived, so here are a few more from the Troll of all Trolls (Yes, even considering "our" Troll Master (Now gone from this part of the internet)!

http://snarkyspot.blogspot.com/2005/06/ ... emper.html
http://news.scotsman.com/lazyguidetonet ... 2638752.jp

some guy just kept smashing me smashing me smashing me,....... :+: wahhhh !! :+:

I do the same thing whenever I think some dumb punk is trying to pass me. He should learn how to race and stop being a bbabay.

ORIGINAL: wodin

Red Orchestra has a good community...never heard and saw any problems there at all. Looking forward to RO2.

Best shooter out there. I've been playing it for years and the community is great. I also can't wait for RO2.

"Mute 'em and shoot 'em".

There are lots of obvious jerks online but I've also run into good kids & adults playing Call of Duty, Halo, & Borderlands. Most folks fall in between and say little or nothing. The problem is that the bad apples are really bad and can ruin the experience.

Just be happy you're playing on a PC.

Ever hear a a console game w/ voice on it?   I did, once, and thought I was gonna become a mass murderer.