SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

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The Steward
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SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by The Steward »

SimHorseRacing.com will have a booth at the first "Equestricon." This first-ever international horse racing convention will take place in Saratoga Springs on August 14 and 15. Tickets are on sale now; if you are going to be there, please stop by and meet the Steward, Admin and Nena.

We could really use your help in preparing for our first ever trade show booth. Our goal is to meet new people who would enjoy playing the SIM. As people wander by our booth, we only have a few seconds to make an impression and pique their interest. We plan to have a TV monitor showing screen shots of the SIM with brief, descriptive words and testimonials.

Let’s face it. The SIM is very vast and difficult to convey completely. If you describe all of the features, (like racing, training, jockeys, weather, breeding, vet, assistant trainer, workouts, contests, betting, live broadcasts, community etc), it sounds confusing and complicated. If we only have a few seconds to make an impression, what should we say?

-What are the most concise and compelling reasons that you joined the SIM?
-What made you decide to sign up for the SIM?
-What is the first thing you tell people when you want to excite them about the SIM?
-What sets the SIM above all other racings games?

Please let us know your thoughts. Thank you for your ongoing support of the SIM!

The Steward
"There's no secret to training a good horse. It's a matter of being fortunate enough to get one."
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Regina Moore
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Regina Moore »

I don't have a marketer's aptitude, but I'll mention that --

Usually people who love both horses and horse racing are into the breeding aspect, at least to some degree. An emphasis on pedigree being a big part of how good a horse is -- let alone what type it is -- is what sets the SIM apart. Pedigree is something made me take a hard look at SIM initially.

In the racing industry, everything is "by, out of" in referring to horses, which is referring to its pedigree. Maybe someone could coin a catchy phrase that includes the "by, out of" idea, which would get people's attention, in terms of the SIM being a realistic game.
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Dave Trainer
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Dave Trainer »

The Sim is for anybody who loves horse racing. Whether its dirt or turf, flat or jumping, racing or breeding, it has something for all horse racing lovers everywhere. For the casual user and the fanatic. In short - for everyone.

Edit Definitely mention the community. I've never known a game where people are so friendly and willing to help newbies.
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Gwayne's World
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Gwayne's World »

Cleo's excitement when Conquerer won the Louisville Derby, emotionally, couldn't be any different than actually winning the Kentucky Derby!

Winning a race at any level is an emotional rush!

The challenge of someday racing your own champion(s) is what keeps you playing the game!

Besides, what other game has Mr. Awesome podcasts?
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Carole Hanson
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Carole Hanson »

I definitely agree that the breeding aspect is the absolute best thing about the SIM! I think this is personally why I play the game. It's like gallop racer but you skip the jockey part and become more of a trainer as well as being an owner and a breeder. And it's online so you can easily trade with other players, race against other players, chat to them etc.
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Tammy Stawicki
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Tammy Stawicki »

I really like that you get to feel like a "real" owner. You get to breed, train and then race your own horses. I had previously played another game and if memory serves me correct (which is admittedly is a big if) the breeding was nowhere near as well developed
Turf Miler studs
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Chris Everett
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Chris Everett »

I came into the Sim due to researching horse breeding for a reason I no longer remember. So I gave it a try, considering up till then, sims of any kind seemed boring to me. I am a gamer, someone that plays FPS games and even table top(like AD&D). Back then, there wasn't a lot of documentation around to help new players like their is now. Just a few rules which I read and then did my best to stumble though and make my way.
I saw a pretty big gap with some of the mixed breeds(Paints which I adore). By happenstance i started making CAMs(create-a-mares) and with only Kya's information I managed to get my first SC winner. Mixers or TBs, a SC is still a SC and for a new player, that was something that kept me here. I think the one thing that STILL sum's up the sim is: The horses may not be real but the emotions are.
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Scott Eiland
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Scott Eiland »

All the stuff you love about horse racing with a small fraction of the politics you hate. You become the owner and operator of your own corporation. You train breed and race. You advertise. Your experience what it's like to have your own horses competing worldwide for the best prizes in the game.
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Robbie Dee
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Robbie Dee »

I'm not trying to be negative here, but you might want to get someone to program some better graphics even if just for your display.

Other games with a lot less depth and complexity will be attracting players simply because folk like their race graphics.
I know when I first found the Sim I moved on because I didn't like the graphics. even though now that I'm involved, I get as excited as watching real racing when my horses are running.

However, as the saying goes "You only get one chance to make a first impression" so improved graphics might go a long way to attracting new players.
(even if they are only in a few races for Equestricon and not for us)

This game has a lot more going for it than the others out there and it would be a pity if the graphics let you down.
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Irving Faulkner
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Irving Faulkner »

The opinions are, to help present the game, in the Stand, or to get an idea of what we like in the game, or why we are here?
For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
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Dan Kauffman
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Dan Kauffman »

"The most realistic horse racing/breeding simulation on the Internet."

That's about as concise as I can be.
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Nick Gilmore
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Nick Gilmore »

This is the closest to owning a racehorse I'll ever get. And I have to agree with Chris, they may be pixels, but I'm pretty proud of my wee beasties. Considering some of the "heated conversations" we've had on the forum, I'm not the only one who feels that way!

PS....everything you mentioned Irving, if you think it will help, put it out there!
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Ronnie Dee
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Ronnie Dee »

With so much going on at Equestricon, I think you will need a "hook" to get people walking by to actually stop at the Sim booth. Maybe try to enlist a "recognized voice" (such as Tom Durkin, Trevor Denman, Larry Collmus, Dave Johnson, etc.) to record a stretch call of a classic Sim race. I think the playing of this stretch call could get a good percentage of people to at least stop and look at the Sim booth.
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Lori Hamill
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Lori Hamill »

The very best thing about the Sim (especially compared to other games) is that there is no end, no single "quest", no special items to find and gather, etc... and it is different every single day. The Sim is exactly what each of us makes it - very individual. And of course, FREE FREE FREE is always a big attraction.

And oh yeah, be sure to take along some nifty headshots for the booth!
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Ashley Gibson
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Re: SimHorseRacing at Equestricon

Post by Ashley Gibson »

I think that you could definitely play on the "It's not the horses that are real, but the emotions." We may be playing with a bunch of computerized codes, but it doesn't stop us from getting overjoyed, angry or even crying over them.

Perhaps another thing you could potentially do is have something where the players tell you their favorite parts, kind of like a brief call-in show. I'm visual so I get attracted to shiny things, if you don't catch my attention, no matter what you have to say, I'll only be half listening.
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