More Zwift Layoffs, Co-CEO resigns

[hubcyclist]

@TooManyDogs

I’m surprised IndieVelo doesn’t just add a ton of bots riding around

I think it’s mostly bots, names don’t match country flags and I can’t get over it!

[Joe]

There was a time when you ride with blue bots on Zwift because there were so few real people on. I kinda miss’em.

Joe

[TooManyDogs]

RGT had a fair number of bots.

I don’t really chat with people on Zwift so bots or not makes little difference to me. On Zwift I just like somebody to chase and it doesn’t matter if they’re a bot.

[AlphaDogCycling]

Especially for the 20 minute FTP test, why can’t I have a personal robopacer? Doing the FTP test would be a whole lot better if I could chase a robopacer.

[sasa]

Because this and many other feature desires voiced here are too niche to implement. One of the best ways to release bad software is to lack focus and cram with features very few use.

[kiwifyx]

I agree on the training plans. I wish there was a google calendar output so I can see what workouts are scheduled, and stop this deal where I have 5 workouts available for the week, but no actual “Monday = workout 1, Tuesday = 2, Wednesday = rest) etc.

[Joe]

@AlphaDogCycling

Especially for the 20 minute FTP test, why can’t I have a personal robopacer? Doing the FTP test would be a whole lot better if I could chase a robopacer.

Pacers at a fixed power or a pacer of one of your previous rides were a thing on the computrainer……in the 90’s. Once they got off of the Nintendo onto the pc you could have up to 5 of them and they would draft off of each other and you if you set “drafting on”. Gotta tell ya, those pacer options were really great!

Joe

[Morzak]

@DJWarner

In contrast, I have a few professional connections with a Triple-A console and PC game developer who makes several blockbuster games (each title making 100’s of millions), all with massive worlds, highly complex physics and ultra-realistic in-game graphics. Their total headcount is around 350 people.

A lot of the GaaS Companies are closer to 1000 people, the fact is GaaS needs enough people to run the game then to produce content updates, events cosmetics and then the marketing and community engagement. I have no doubt that it would be possible to run Zwift with less people then they have/had, but htey also did some Hardware development that didn’t pan out.

@Pbase

Having said that, one of the interesting things Tariq said was that the Indie Velo guy specifically said he knew he couldn’t beat the existing players so instead he wanted to quickly turn out cool features that people have been asking for that haven’t materialized in other apps (like verification, more realistic dynamics, average pace, etc.). Once he proved those things could be done, he hoped the other players would want to partner with him. Tariq specifically mentioned TR.

And here is the reason the thing is free and run on a shoestring budget, the hope that one of the big players will pick it up, probably not the best environment currently for that to happen… but if you want to make it sustainable you will need to charge a monthly fee or hope that you can make a predatory MTX model work. (unless you are the UAE and do it part of your sportwashing and have money to burn.

[NWcyclingman]

I’ve supported them through all the layoffs. I finally canceled. There are humans on the other side. Right size the company!