Thank you for all you did Ian

**EmilGlockner** · 30-10-2021, 02:22

Thanks for starting all of this madness, Ian. And good luck for whatever you may plan to do in the future.

**Olijke Poffer** · 30-10-2021, 07:40

Sad to hear but nothing last forever. That said, I hope Pcars will continue as a serie. If not than that is a pity but not the end of the world.
I wish the Wookiee all the best with his new chosen path. Drink a beer on my account. Bottoms up Ian.

**David Wright** · 30-10-2021, 09:27

I am very grateful to Ian for saving simracing in the early 2000s. EA dropped ISI and Papyrus was closed. Ian stepped into the gap with the original GTR and followed up with GT Legends and GTR2 which remain my favourite sims of all time. I am sure that Simbin's licensing of the ISIMotor2 really helped ISI survive as an independent developer and the original Simbin went on to spawn the new Simbin, and Blimey Games which then became SMS when 10Tacle went bust.

Ian's ambition and drive were perhaps a mixed blessing. Great in taking a modding team to a class leading racing sim developer, and the Project Cars concept rescued a talented development team after EA dropped them, but the idea that SMS should take on Gran Turismo and Need for Speed head to head has led to his downfall. After the disasters of Fast & Furious Crossroads and PC3 it is surprising he didn't go sooner but it was hard to imagine a good relationship with EA given their past history.

So I wish him well and hope Codies recognise the talent in the SMS team, and make the most of it.

**BorisK** · 30-10-2021, 12:03

It is unlikely that we will soon find out the true reason for this act of Ian, but I think that there is also the reason that Bill Gates once said: "If you want to get a software product, first of all you should fire all super programmers except one." I hope that Ian will find a worthy application for his strength. And thanks for PCARS 1/2 and AMS2

**Robert** · 30-10-2021, 14:17

What does it mean for the future of simracing?

**Konan** · 30-10-2021, 14:21

I would imagine it doesn't change much,the team he worked with,and shared his visions with,are pretty much all still there...

**cluck** · 30-10-2021, 14:23

Originally Posted by Robert

What does it mean for the future of simracing?

No more cunning plans?

Other than that, who knows. If you've got somebody at the head of the team who has enough drive to push the genre forward then the future would still be just as exciting

EDIT: Ninja'd harder than a hardened ninja on a hard day in toughsville.

**John Hargreaves** · 30-10-2021, 15:45

Originally Posted by Robert

What does it mean for the future of simracing?

Ian should phone up some of his old mates from the Reiza team, inject a ton of cash into Automobilista 2 and turn it into the best simracing game ever. Circle complete.

**mcarpenter** · 30-10-2021, 21:17

We all should appreciate what Ian did for simracing.
But I can't imagine he's the guy that just takes the money and walkes away.
Well, time will tell. Whatever he's up to, I hope he enjoys it.
Ian and all the people behind him, thanks for plenty of fun.

**John Hargreaves** · 31-10-2021, 08:27

Looks like he's going back to one of his earlier lives

https://www.gtplanet.net/ian-bell-le...dios-20211029/

Originally Posted by Bloke off of GT Planet

According to his updated social media profiles, Bell will make a quite a left-field move, into the area of mental health. Stating that he is a British Psychological Society-registered psychologist, his new venture is aimed at providing therapy for those who cannot afford it.

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