Talk:Speedrush TV Challenge - Season 3/@comment-27247687-20160103005853/@comment-26715739-20160103074821

In previous TLEs the "finish in time x" challenges have acted as a "reset" on the bots.

This was most apparent in one of the challenges where they followed the "finish in time x" by an endurance event. IIRC we first saw this with the LM:PoV events. In the cup race, I was against Existent, in the Endurance I was against Rattlesnack (ie the top bot). So you had to spend time slowing all over again.

So there is no point in spending a lot of time slowing the bots before a "finish in time x" event. You will want to make sure that they're slow enough that you can coast to the line, but you don't need to take it all the way down.

The thing to remember about TSM is that it is considered a *feature* of the game. And from an "encourage people to spend" perspective it also works on that level too (because if you race flat out, their built-in leveling up mechanisms should keep you needing to upgrade).

I'd imagine a lot of their play balance testing is about making sure that you can still win with a fully upgraded car even if you're using all the assists. Because if you spent money to upgrade and you still can't win, you won't spend any more.