Why Level-R Japan falling down?

I was surely remember that Level-R had been started with desire and expected so much from many β test player when they launched Closed /Open β on Dec2006 and APR2007. on the same year 2007 Project torque had started closed beta on August 2007 and open/ commercial release on October 18.

On the first stage of its Open beta on Level-R , it was so expected and hustled from many player. but. maybe June2007, game balance had been changed more childish dynamics altough they informed it was "realistic-tendency" network race game more than "fun-taste driving game"(e.g. drift city).

On 4-gamer net ,Director of Level-R Naonari Kaga comments this policy change ,making level-R more arcade like than real phisics for more Child player.(『リアル志向で進めるか，カジュアルに留めて万人向けにするか』 )
http://www.4gamer.net/games/021/G002189/20081020030/

Director Kaga said:
most of request from customer are " real-trend phisics" and "improvment of Tuning system". becayse Level-R is the simulation-trend and those core player requests so.

(加賀氏：　一番多かったのは「リアルにしてほしい」というものでした。もう一歩進めて「チューンの幅を広げたい」というものも多かったですね。Level-Rはシミュレータ寄りのゲームですので，やはりコアなプレイヤーから車の挙動についての要望が多かったように思います。)

4Gamer said; But..Is it problem that realistic trend makes newbies and light user/player avoids playing the game?
(4Gamer：　でもリアルに寄せすぎると，新規のプレイヤーやライトゲーマーにとって，取っつきにくくなってしまいますよね。)

Mr Kaga said; Yes you are right. Most of player were workers around 20-30 years old workers (when open beta starts). But,,,,situation become change that more and more primary and junior high, high school player after the summer vacation (notice summer 2008). If I were Primary or Junior high school student I would feel Level-R is hard to control for me. (so we decided Level-R downgrade)

(加賀氏：　そうなんですよね。Level-Rのプレイヤーは，もともと20代後半の社会人男性が中心だったのですが，今年の夏休みくらいから高校生どころか小中学生に至るまで層が広がったんです。
　じゃあ，そういった方々がリアルなシミュレータを楽しめるのかというと，少々難しいかなあという疑問が出てきてしまったんです。僕自身を振り返ってみても，小中学生の頃だったら難しく思うだろうなあ，と。)

4Gamer said; Those hard control issue makes less player to participate in, although this game is free-to-play to encourage participation in.
(4Gamer：　せっかく基本無料でハードルが低いのに，別の部分で引き上げてしまっているかもしれないと。)


加賀氏：
　その点に関して，Invictus Gamesのリードクリエイターとも非常に頭を悩ませまして。彼が日本に来たときには，日本のゲームセンターに連れて行ってレースゲームを片っ端からやら せてみたんですよ。「日本ではこういう挙動が好まれる」とか，「このタイトルはドリフトが楽しいから人気なんだ」とか逐一分析しました。
　世界でも地域によって好まれる部分が違うので，ニッチ的に一極集中するのか，誰でも遊べる無料オンラインゲームとして幅を広げるのか，実のところ着地点はまだ悩んでいるところです。これも最重要課題ですね。

So, the conclusion is, they ignores Core player and not free-to-play player, but they think importance on Child and free-to-play nerds and make LevelR more easier. Their policy change makes many ppl disappointed of Japanese player. Most of tester of Level-R Japan had been irretated also because there had no news about commercial release on Japanese edition til October 2008, although they were waiting and playing it from 2006Dec. It was over 1 year and half test. During long-term beta test on Japan, Project Torque had many Japanese immigrant who they were playing Level-R because they have more "real" car than Japanese edition. So, Level-R Japan had no longer been expected by those heavy supporter" and their fate falling down.

It was said that there are some regional distribution terms and condition toward each publisher. e.g. Gamepot for Japam market and Gamigo for German/Swiss/Austria, and Joyzone for China, and Aeria for north american market. Level-R would fellow those regional publishment contract on the other hand Aeria would ignored of those regional terms and condition? It is not "world" version Level-R, It is north American version of Level-R.

Actually the advantage of regional restricted service' makes less lag so it is suitable for ghost off races. Ghost off race is more excited than suck ghost-On races time attack. To promote cool pass, and cover up the gap between high spec car and low spec car on the Ghost-off race, better to intruduce "reverse pole position system which lower car must be front line and fast car last low to promote "cool pass".
PT can buy some performance increasing backpack by RP(PP) and nitro2-4 can buy with AP only, on the other hand Level-R Japan can buy Nitro by RP and performance backpack for CP(AP) only. I think level-R decision about item is reasonable to promote ghost off race with thrill and tension.

My personal opinion to revival on Level-R Japan as follows;

1. Back to the Basic, back to the realistic-tendency race game! (PT's VS Sim mode nowadays seems as if it is poor ex-Drift-mode ) . Open β tester who are most expected for Level-R wanted for "real tendency Engine when it was so in early stage of Open beta!.

2. Introducuction of G.S system , same like Aeria and Gamigo to ban overrule player easily
to keep the fairplay order. The management Gamepot are too lazy against overrule player , multiple computer user with XP/RP farmer and hate speecher. The Gamepot GM, they cannot control order of game morality. Especially, leave those farmer alone, the game will ruins because of "No-money-pay player. Thay have too much time to play , on the other hand, paid player tend to be less log-in hours so they will lose those "free-of charge car " user. So paid player left the game and only kids remains to stay level-R Japan.

3. Need renovation of BBS. Abolish BBS today and should be change same system like Aeria and Gamigo which can promote discussion to collect "customer's voice"!

4. There are too many non-charged player （mostly they are jobless tards or school kids) and PP(RP)farmers, so they should abolish non-real car as far as possible. Introduce real Lambo Miura ,Porsche 996 , Ford Mustang or Lancia Delta Intergrale and abolish upper-level those fantasy cars. It is nonsense and think little of cusomer who buy in-game-money that some PP-fantasy car driven by Jobless can easily beat real money-cost car who paid real money. It seems absurd and unable to maintain management. Who want slowr Real car in game with real money than faster fake fantasy with in-game-money(RP) car?

4.Need More significant real car for Japanese market e.g. Nissan R35 Spec-V , Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept（Prototype Honda NSX：already it had cancelled of its developement), and Lexus LF-A which they would be possible to compete with other class-6 car Panama(a.k.a Fake Porsche 996) or Corvette C6 LS2 , and concept camaro. It is absurd that we can buy fastest performance car by RP(PP) and it defeats AP(CP) car easily.

Cf: Lap time for Nurburgring North track (german)

Anyway, It is not only Level-R problem but also Project Torque which they will have strong competitor of Need For Speed World Online. It was said that they did closed beta on Taiwan on last March and will be release summer or autumun 2009. They already checked the problem of Level-Rs so it is hard to think they do same mistake like them?
http://www.nfspc.tw/nfswo/