iRacing 1-Year New-Member Subscription

by iRacing

Product Features

• World's most accurate racing simulation, used by members to race online. Laser-scanned vehicles and racing facilities. Officially licensed and precisely modeled. Constant development of new content and features. Real-world racing drivers like Justin Wilson, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Alex Gurney and AJ Allmendinger can often be found alongside thousands of other members.
• Includes unlimited seat time, rookie season cars and tracks, competition license for oval/road racing and access to the iRacing members Web site. You can race in professionally sanctioned online racing against thousands worldwide.
• 1-Year New Subscription code (new accounts only - existing members renew your account via iRacing Web site). 3 and 1-month also available. Code will be delivered via email and postal services - so you don't have to wait!
• Minimum Specifications: Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista - Hyperthreaded Intel CPU, AMD Athlon 64 CPU, or any dual-core CPU - 128MB Pixel Shader 2.0 (ATI 9700Pro or nVidia 6600 or better); 256 MB Pixel Shader 3.0 (ATI X1600 or nVidia 6800 GT/GS or better recommended) graphics adapter - 1 GB system RAM - 3Gb free hard disk space - Steering wheel and pedals required - Microphone optional, required for voice chat.
• Minimum Internet & Browser Requirements: Firefox 1.5, Internet Explorer 6, or newer - Javascript enabled - Cookies enabled - Flash Player - 56K dial-up at a minimum, Broadband (DSL or Cable) highly recommended. Satellite broadband is excluded.

Product Details

• ASIN: B002C3SA4G
• Media: CD-ROM
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,583 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

1-year subscription code for new members (existing members should renew their existing membership via the iRacing Web site). iRacing subscribers are part of a global community of racers and enthusiasts that includes drivers of all types (amateur to pro), interests (oval and road racing), and nationalities. Members can develop friendships - and racing rivalries - with drivers from all over the world, and do so in an environment that emphasizes respect and civility towards fellow racers. From the makers of NASCAR Racing 2003 Season and Grand Prix Legends.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Go for it! You owe it to yourself to give it a try., July 19, 2009

By 

P. Edwards (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: iRacing 1-Year New-Member Subscription (CD-ROM)

If you're looking to have a great experience with online racing, and you want to know what a track truly looks like from the cockpit, then this is for you. Many would say it's pricey, but you really do get what you pay for.

Anyone who has been involved in online gaming knows that there are a few things that can ruin the whole experience. In online racing you have those that come in, wreck everyone, laugh, and leave. Well, with the iRacing (FIRST) sanctioning body, this problem has been removed. People here are friendly, respectful (for the most part), and the staff take their role of creating a "professional" environment seriously.

As for the graphics, you won't find much better. Although this is a bit of a subjective topic, there is probably a unanimous agreement that the tracks are spot-on accurate. The signage, bumps, curbs, and marks have been laser scanned and digitized to create the most realistic experience out there. These are not created in someone's home office based on info off the web. These look and feel realistic!

The physics of the cars are incredible; however, they're not exactly like driving a real car. We're never going to be able to feel the g-forces or true feedback from a brake pedal, so there is a bit of unrealisticness (is that a word) here. However, you will have a tough time ever playing one of your boxed up simulators again after this. Their press reports say that their cars' physics are perfect, but I've never seen that statement from a pro driver...it only is said through their press releases. Still, you won't be disappointed.

The competition is where you're going to truly start seeing the major difference between this and other sims. This is not a CD that comes to you in the mail, you install it, and that's what you run offline with. Everything is run via a web-based console which fires up a program on your machine. You can run all the solo practice sessions, or solo time trials that you want, but you must be connected to the web. If you want to run a qualifying or race session, you will be on track with other real-life people. There are no computer AI cars. You will grow to absolutely love this!

Don't worry about not knowing which server to connect to anymore. These servers are ALL run from iRacing's service. You simply say you want to race, and when the race begins, you are grouped with others at your ability (iRating) level. Sometimes you will be the leader of the pack, and others you will be pushing hard to keep up. Every session is a learning experience.

The only reason I couldn't give this 5 stars, as bad as I wanted to, was because of this final (and sometimes the best) quality. This product is constantly under development. It is constantly being improved. Major enhancements come every 3 months at the end of each full season. Minor enhancements come at fairly regular intervals. Tracks are constantly being added, and tweaks to the competition are always under consideration.

Because of this, sometimes the product feels unfinished; it is, and always will be. This, at times, can become frustrating when you see a problem and there are so many solutions proposed in the forums, but new problems sometimes are created. However, the staff is there! The forums have not been left behind by the creators. If you type a post, they will read it, and often respond.

Your voice matters here! You're buying more than a game. You're buying an experience unlike any other online game you've been a part of. If you're a racing fan, you owe it to yourself to at least give this a try!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's the only place to be for real sim racers..., June 4, 2009

By 

Scott B. Husted "Informational Barista" (BETHLEHEM, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: iRacing 1-Year New-Member Subscription (CD-ROM)

I've been on iRacing since the BETA and it only keeps getting better. iRacing has the best physics, the most accurate tracks, and a growing community. iRacing continues to add to it's arsenal of vehicles and tracks that are available to purchase.

If I have one warning to anyone out there, it's that if you are a console gamer and think you can just jump on and smash your way through it, this is NOT what iRacing is about. You won't be able to just sign up and start driving the NASCAR COT (Car of Tomorrow) and other higher series vehicles. You have to earn it. However, if you are willing to learn the system, the rules of the community and sporting code, and willing to put the time into practicing to learn the actual handling characteristics of the various vehicles - then iRacing can be a place for everyone from the novice to the advanced sim racer as long as they have the right mindset. I encourage everyone to at least give it a try!

Also note that you aren't going to just pay your membership and be done. You'll have to pay for new content as it's released and as you want to race it. Once you pay for it, you won't have to pay for it again - you own the right to use it. You don't "have" to purchase everything, only that which you want to compete on and in. Some complain about the cost, but I think it's very reasonable considering the service and product.

If I have a complaint about iRacing, it probably falls within the scheduling of races for certain series. Although I understand why they do it, I just don't agree that it is the solution to the problem they are trying to solve. That aside, I think iRacing does a great job managing the service and are fairly open about the development process.

Pros:
- Very accurate cars
- The best accuracy of tracks
- Very good sound and feedback system
- "The System" - series / points / incidents system / licenses / stats
- Great "Eye Candy"
- Excellent controller setup. Best Force Feedback implementation yet.
- Good people and community - For the most part! ;)


Cons:
- Lack of races in select series. Schedule manipulations.
- Race lengths are too long in higher licensed vehicles. There should be "sprint" and "normal" length races.
- Damage modeling is still being developed.
- More emphasis and recognition for people who like to compete in the lower licensed vehicles
- No umbrella girls (Hey.. it's MY review!)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Iracing rocks, June 4, 2009

By 

Daniel Zacharias - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: iRacing 1-Year New-Member Subscription (CD-ROM)

I would like to say that I joined Iracing about a year ago and for myself, this IS the best simulation of racing I have been a part of in a 6 years of sim racing. Laser scanned cars and tracks, competition and racing REAL racers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. is great. You can even see every race Dale Jr has ever raced and when he raced it.

What really makes me continue my journey with Iracing is the constant improvement and that they actually care and listen to their customers. This is already the best sim to date, but it will remain that way by bringing out new cars and tracks plus always improving the service in any positive way that is possible. Anyone looking for a true sim racing experience, its just a no brainer to give Iracing a shot. You will not be disappointed.

The one year option is the cheapest option. Along with a 1 year option, you receive 60 dollars in Iracing credit to use towards the purchase of cars and tracks that you may purchase to add to the default inventory that you get when you sign up.