The only way I would see it would be with some internal design tool like the one in forza series or NFS. Once the design is made inside the game itself, you can control it.. As soon as you open the files to allow third party design tool it's over you lost total control on your content.
Looks like the liveries are in a separate folder that's being created upon loading a car and then you can place your custom one in there. http://faq.iracing.com/article.php?id=112 But I assume the default ones are in that folder as well then, so I guess they would at least need to give up protecting their liveries. Where? Which content? Afaik nothing has been ripped so far, except for sounds maybe that can be recorded while the game is running.
Did J-F just turn 24 or something? Or have I been staring across the pitlane at the animated people too long? That was interesting he said that. Considering that the livery (car color, colors of decals on the car, details....) needed to be approved by the licensing company. I would think this was more of an issue than just free modding competing with their pay liveries? Say, someone were to create a Marlboro McLaren livery. Couldn't they be sued by Marlboro AND McLaren?
I think this (licensing) would be an issue if they were to publish custom liveries themselves, if they did it so people have to send them their liveries for approval and then they publish the liveries via their platform.
I agree with this idea, its a better option and doesn't complicate and throw another "micro" transaction for people to bash against, by having livery slots you can buy and only use once... Just include all the stuff in the car purchase, and open up customization, leagues would be happy the general players would be happy, community grows because of it. I don't know how much you should raise the cost of the car because of this, or just leave the cost as is, and reimburse vRP for purchased liveries or maybe offer a loyalty discount on future purchases to "balance the books"? Its a financial problem that the product/sales managers have to come to agreement on...
I could see that. Send the liveries in for approval so the livery does not run afoul of any current/future licensing agreements....as well as prevent skins that were made in poor taste. Don't get me wrong, I would buy a custom car livery with Pamela Anderson painted on the hood in all her previous glory. I probably would run off track more! .... *edit. I meant to say, I would probably stay on track more chasing that car down!
Perhaps, if some of these modders submitted designs now, just to backup their positions when they approach and ask for approval by someone above their paygrades? Like the Racing clubs who want their own logos on the car? I do like the idea of customer liveries. But my artistic ability....well... I wouldn't say it's great?
Sorry i don`t want to be the whiner, but... That might sound like a really good idea...if you like to have several liveries. But everybody doesn't care about liveries. Some just buy the car and the included livery and are happy with that. Why force them to pay for anything they not want to have. Everybody should pay for their own content..There is already a lot of complains about high prices in R3E. It sounds like socialism, and that is something we have enough of in Sweden, if you ask me
So a lawyer examines the livery and writes a letter of approval. How expensive do you think that would be?
the logistics around approval when you also have all that official licensed stuff must be ugly. Other reason is probably their engine that very likely has all that DRM stuff ingrained, so loading some "custom" files from disk withouth going through that system is probably another reason. Judging by the slow progress in all things code, wouldn't want to put people on that. As for business model and loyalty or ability to prefund: It may be nice to subscribe to car classes, or class groups. That would work well for some real franchises (WTC, ADAC, DTM) as well as other themed bundles "retro" (dtm, touring, g5, gto...), "open-wheelers", "high-end racing" (gt1, prototypes..), "cup sport" (m235i, audi tt...) Hardest thing is to find a good balance of not too many such subscriptions, as well as how to deal with new car-classes, should be a rather transparent system in which groups they go. another subscription could be just all tracks. While some years may have less tracks then others, its probably balanced by the track complexity. That way those who are good with pumping in the money can get some "discount" and don't have to wait for some special sale, but give the developers the money up-front. And by grouping you still have some control over your interest. however if the whole business setup of raceroom wouldn't allow the developers to get this type of pre-fund, then well...