Open Letter to Hitech

[DoKGonZo]

Originally posted by culero
Here's the problem I have personally with that, Ghost - the country I settled in with IS my equivalent of a squad. And I don't think I'm alone.

... snip ...

As a point of reference, I'm in a similar situation. I got back into AH because the guys on a mailing list I'm on (a bunch of old-time players, mainly) mentioned the new version and I wanted to see what cool things HT had cooked up since the last time I played.

They just happen to fly Rook ... so that's where I fly. We discuss tactics and stuff on our mailing list. We're also loosely associated with another old-timers squadron who also happens to fly Rooks. The hours and numbers we fly in are unlikely to affect the odds - the most I've seen of our combined crew on at once was like 7 or 8.

I've been everything from a C-lander to a Gold and now a Rook. Like I care what things are called? I fly where I know people. On any given week I'll fly 6 or 7 different planes in the hours I do fly. So this balancer doesn't affect me much. That said, I don't like having the choice of planes taken away from me for reasons not of my own making. That bothers me at a different level.


Next ... I've known HT for over a decade. We've met, talked, flown together, and even worked together. While he and I often disagree on many things (and I know he's just thrilled to see me back on the BBS ...heheh), I've never known him to do something intentionally unfair. So the balancer in and of itself isn't intended to be unfair ... it just needs to be tuned. Don't go cancelling your accounts, don't threaten to strike ... just stand down for a week if it really bothers you. It looks like the collision code needs to be looked at anyway. If you're really upset, take it offline to email so as not to incur the limp-wristed wrath of the f-lamers.


Lastly ... is Rooks the only country that holds a Joint Ops night? If so, why? If not, then the other countries have no grounds for whining about numbers.

    -DoK

[Vad]

Originally posted by DoKGonZo
I've never known him to do something intentionally unfair.

    -DoK

I I don't know him so close as you but woudn't make such sentence. There an lot of whiners here who whine about overwhelming Lalas and mustangs. But THIS IS by design, in accordance with the rules HTC established for MA. Changing the rules on the road after contract has been signed is not good business practice.
I want to fly P51D. At the moment I entered this game P51D wasn't perked. I didn't chose 262 or Temptest because they were perked, it was the rule and I agree with this. But now HTC has changed their rules. And obviously I have the right to complain. It is absolutely similar if I have signed contract with cell phone company, got my deal for 35 free minutes per month, but after 2 months they call me and tell that I have only 25 minutes. This is a business, guys! I play this game in way I want to play. I have spent 2 months searching Inernet looking for tactical and technical datas of P51D - not just climb and speed but energy diagrams, etc. I'm former engineer, and I like to play this game in this way. And now two months of my work is in drain.

BTW, those who tell me "change the plane" even don't understand that they bit themself. They don't want to see hords of Lalas besause they can't beat them using their favorite Hurries. So, they whine - and HTC forbids Lalas!

If you can't beat Lala in your Hurr or Spit I - CHANGE THE PLANE, IDIOT! Take Lala!

[Arlo]

Originally posted by dtango
Hi Arlo:

I thought the point was sufficiently clear regarding the stats.  Every customer that complains represents a group of larger disaffected customers that are unseen.  This is a rule of thumb for ANY business.  This was all mentioned in the overall context of trying to bring a little balance to a needlessly heated discussion.  How that was translated into an indictment against HTC I have no idea.

So typical businesses aren't the passion of their owners?  Come now, that's really stretching it if not insulting to others.  I'd venture to say that businesses that are this way don't last too long.

Yes, you offered a counterpoint.  I just haven't seen data that supports it.

Cheers !

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs

Hi back atcha again.

Using statistics to prove a point has one inherent flaw .... statistics.

And no ... not every complaining customer represents a larger portion of customers that are equally dissatisfied for the same reason. Case in point:

A customer ahead of me in line at McDonalds orders a Big Mac with no pickles and no sesame seeds, pays, steps aside and waits. I order a regular `ol Big Mac. I pay ... it's slapped on the tray ... and I walk away. Behind me I hear the other customer begin to loudly complain about my getting my order first. From my table I can still hear the tirade as the counter help apologizes for the delay. Finally the next customer in line tells the loud one to keep his britches on, his pickless, seedless Gay Mac is being made.

Now I'm going to ask you to do the same thing about gettin' all defensive about my telling you that you were indeed implying a poor business decision on HTC's part when you decided to list a bunch of statistics about how businesses lose their customer base when their customer base in disgruntled.

The customer base is already disgruntled. A portion of it will always be disgruntled. Over lots of things. Some can be helped ... some can't. Some there's a choice to make. Lose the customers that are tired of disparity amongst sides (some lost already) or lose the customers that have to fly a Rook or Knight or Bish LA-7 or P51-D or nothing at all. Maybe one demographic or the other can learn to adapt. Maybe one demographic actually outnumbers the other. I'm sure statistics can prove something there, as well.

Either way, HT ain't ever gonna please everyone all of the time.

Common sense doesn't need "statistics."

[flyingaround]

Originally posted by Vad
BTW, those who tell me "change the plane" even don't understand that they bit themself. They don't want to see hords of Lalas besause they can't beat them using their favorite Hurries. So, they whine - and HTC forbids Lalas!
If you can't beat Lala in your Hurr or Spit I - CHANGE THE PLANE, IDIOT! Take Lala!

La7 EASY kill (most lala drivers are HORRIBLE pilots with little to no skill) in ANY plane i'm in.  Hurri, 110's, 205's, 109's etc.  I think you are missing the point here.  I don't need a lala to kill a lala.  Nothing about the plane is so fantastic, that it overrides the inherant dweebness and lack of ACM of it's pilot.

(sigh)

[RedTop]

Originally posted by Vad
I I don't know him so close as you but woudn't make such sentence. There an lot of whiners here who whine about overwhelming Lalas and mustangs. But THIS IS by design, in accordance with the rules HTC established for MA. Changing the rules on the road after contract has been signed is not good business practice.
I want to fly P51D. At the moment I entered this game P51D wasn't perked. I didn't chose 262 or Temptest because they were perked, it was the rule and I agree with this. But now HTC has changed their rules. And obviously I have the right to complain. It is absolutely similar if I have signed contract with cell phone company, got my deal for 35 free minutes per month, but after 2 months they call me and tell that I have only 25 minutes. This is a business, guys! I play this game in way I want to play. I have spent 2 months searching Inernet looking for tactical and technical datas of P51D - not just climb and speed but energy diagrams, etc. I'm former engineer, and I like to play this game in this way. And now two months of my work is in drain.

BTW, those who tell me "change the plane" even don't understand that they bit themself. They don't want to see hords of Lalas besause they can't beat them using their favorite Hurries. So, they whine - and HTC forbids Lalas!

If you can't beat Lala in your Hurr or Spit I - CHANGE THE PLANE, IDIOT! Take Lala!

If your thinking that 51D is gone bye bye forever then you are mistaken. If you think that all your work is down the drain the I would disagree.

Why is it down the drain? Cause you cant fly a 51D for a little while? Thats not even an argument. Same stats and all the stuff you learned about the 51d still applies even when it is disabled.

I would hate to see so many people leave because they think its "unfair" or the "Rules Changed". But , by the same token if all people are going to do is moan about something that is at BEST in its infancy and not even give HT a chance to fine tune it , and threaten to quit , then I must say as I did earleir..Bye

Perhaps opening the door for you may be a bit much. I get tired of HO's. Tired of stick stirring. NIK's are fine...51D , Spit IX's Run90's 10dies...F4Udeads , all of em...WHO CARES...just FLY.

When the Pony or LaLa is disabled simply grab something else for probably 30 minutes (which some of you make sound like a friggin life time) and just fly. It's simple.

All this "It's anti squad" is just another way of saying "WE want our ride and you have no right to take it from us". NEWS FLASH there Bud....It's not your ride...your server..your game..your anything. Its your money and you pay to play a game. Thats all of this entire deal that is "Yours"

I agree with Dok...you guys need to just chill..relax..and let it play out a week or so. See if there is a change. A tweak in the making. See if this is doing what it was designed for. NUMBER BALANCE. NOT TAKING "YOUR" PLANE AWAY.

Youll get it back:)

[Buzzz]

It's quantity of fighters that will even out the sides not the quality.

-Buzzz
----------------------------------------------
Interesting ideas there Buzzzzz.... however.. amount of of real estate controlled needs to be factored in as well... Just because a country has numbers... they shouldn't be immediately penalized if they are sitting with 4 fields and survival rations.  

But... If the plane restirctions were only applied to buffs, you still have lots of fighters to put up a strong defense.  From a tactical viewpoint, you also still have strong Jabo potential to hit strat targets and you can still take bases... you just have to send waves of JU88s instead of just a few Lancasters.  Again the balance comes from having to pull personel out of fighters and put them in buffs in order to take bases (go offensive.)  If you use the current system for bombers only then defensive efforts and players who just want to furball are not effected at all.  It might be the perfect answer to keep one side from totally blitzing another when the numbers are skewed.

Comprimises have been known to work you know.

(Work with me on this Soup... I'm trying to get those FW factories running around the clock for you again: )

-Buzzz

[Chortle]

Vad, you seem to be the target audience for what HTC is trying to achieve. No mention of squads, no mention of country specific loyalty - just a P51 enthusiast

So why not change sides?

Plus you seem to feel HTC has screwed you because they've somehow changed the rules. Would it be better for you if your subscription went up every time they added a new plane/vehicle? New Ki84, subscription goes up $1 a month?

As for punishing P51/La7 pilots, these are amongst the most used planes in the MA. Denying people the right to fly the SBD on the biggest team isnt going to achieve the target of levelling the sides because no-one flys it.

[Murdr]

Originally posted by Vad
I I don't know him so close as you but woudn't make such sentence. There an lot of whiners here who whine about overwhelming Lalas and mustangs. But THIS IS by design, in accordance with the rules HTC established for MA. Changing the rules on the road after contract has been signed is not good business practice.

Not that I dont appriciate your concerns with the pony but, with that kind of policy, gameplay issues would never be addressed.  Alot has changed since I came here in 01.  Alot of the changes were for better gameplay, and were prompted by issues caused by player behavior.

[Vad]

Originally posted by flyingaround
La7 EASY kill (most lala drivers are HORRIBLE pilots with little to no skill) in ANY plane i'm in.  Hurri, 110's, 205's, 109's etc.  I think you are missing the point here.  I don't need a lala to kill a lala.  Nothing about the plane is so fantastic, that it overrides the inherant dweebness and lack of ACM of it's pilot.

(sigh)

I think that you are missing the point. If La7 is easy kill, and Hurri or 110 can do better WHY IS LA7 BANNED? Or in my case P51?  According to your post HTC has made  great mistake. They banned wrong planes. They should restrict Hurri and 109, not P51D and La7.

Or may be you just allude that HTC has to ban the better pilots not the better planes? It would be great solution, I really do think so! If number of rooks increased other sides on 10 pilots just ban everybody with K/d more than 2. According to your post it is more logical. And HTCs will achieve its goal - side balancing, -  and everybody will be happy. It will be not only number balancing but skills balancing. And newbies will get chance to try planes like Hurry or 110  - they will not be afraid to meet ace and lose plane in few second. And aces with high k/d will be happy - they will be able to chat a little on 200 or here. Anyway they do that more than fly.

[Flayed1]

The thing is we don't seem to have much of a problem with bombers and as far as I can tell there arn't  a huge # of us buff pilots flyin. Its the vast amounts of LA's, 109's, 190's, 51's and the like all flyin in a large mass at the same place at the same time and thats all you can see in the area.
 Did people forget that there are other planes to fly???
    I thaught it was great the other night when either the rooks or knites did an HQ raid on us bish with JU87's and they actually killed the dar.
   I would love to see more variation in the planes flown in the MA and if it takes HTC  to disable some planes to get the mass of  easy mode flyers to try somthin else so be it.
  I'm not tryin to start a fight here, its just my op.

[dtango]

Hi Arlo:

Sorry man, I can't see the logic in your statements.  Not sure how your big mac story illustrates the invalidity of the statistics.

Also if replying to your claim that I was indicting HTC's business is being defensive - wow sorry you see it that way.  I would assume that a reasonable person like yourself would respond the same way if someone claimed you said something you didn't and try to clarify the message no?

And why do you keep insisting that I am somehow implying HTC made a poor business decision?  That was certainly not the intent.

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs

[flyingaround]

Originally posted by Vad
I think that you are missing the point. If La7 is easy kill, and Hurri or 110 can do better WHY IS LA7 BANNED? Or in my case P51?  According to your post HTC has made  great mistake. They banned wrong planes. They should restrict Hurri and 109, not P51D and La7.

Or may be you just allude that HTC has to ban the better pilots not the better planes? It would be great solution, I really do think so! If number of rooks increased other sides on 10 pilots just ban everybody with K/d more than 2. According to your post it is more logical. And HTCs will achieve its goal - side balancing, -  and everybody will be happy. It will be not only number balancing but skills balancing. And newbies will get chance to try planes like Hurry or 110  - they will not be afraid to meet ace and lose plane in few second. And aces with high k/d will be happy - they will be able to chat a little on 200 or here. Anyway they do that more than fly.

I just deleted the HUGE post i typed to respond to you (yet again) and decided against it.  Not going to waste the time arguing w/ someone that obviously doesn't understand something.  

INSTEAD here is an offer.  
I'm in the Training Arena every day (usually) for an hour or two.  If i'm online (even in the MA) grab me and I will be happy to show you how those "other" planes can OWN a lala, or runstang.  I will be happy to spend some time teaching you how best to fly a diff plane.  All broadening your horizons w/ other plane types can do is make you a better pilot.

[Vad]

Originally posted by Chortle
Vad, you seem to be the target audience for what HTC is trying to achieve. No mention of squads, no mention of country specific loyalty - just a P51 enthusiast

So why not change sides?

 

You know , it is very very difficult to explain. Frankly, I don't know. Something inside me protests against that. And this is very slippery subject... National characters, you know... I really do think that something wrong with the idea to change your country (even if it is chess country) just because you will get better plane. Sometimes we make such decision in real life, but this is hard and painful decision. And we pay high price  - VERY HIGH PRICE - for what we did. And this is not about loylity to chess country, it is something deep.... I don't know how to explain.

OK. Just take it as fact. Some nationalities on this planet can't accept the idea of changing their chess countries just because of inability of some resources. It is the same like most of Europeans and Americans wouldn't like obscene jokes about Christ, but  Chineses wouldn't understand why.

 And I really don't want to deepen into this.

[phookat]

Originally posted by Vad
I think that you are missing the point. If La7 is easy kill, and Hurri or 110 can do better WHY IS LA7 BANNED? Or in my case P51?  According to your post HTC has made  great mistake. They banned wrong planes. They should restrict Hurri and 109, not P51D and La7.

Or may be you just allude that HTC has to ban the better pilots not the better planes? It would be great solution, I really do think so! If number of rooks increased other sides on 10 pilots just ban everybody with K/d more than 2. According to your post it is more logical. And HTCs will achieve its goal - side balancing, -  and everybody will be happy. It will be not only number balancing but skills balancing. And newbies will get chance to try planes like Hurry or 110  - they will not be afraid to meet ace and lose plane in few second. And aces with high k/d will be happy - they will be able to chat a little on 200 or here. Anyway they do that more than fly.

I don't agree with you, but that was nicely put.  First language or not, you got the dry humor down. No sarcasm intended

[culero]

Originally posted by DoKGonZo
As a point of reference, I'm in a similar situation. I got back into AH because the guys on a mailing list I'm on (a bunch of old-time players, mainly) mentioned the new version and I wanted to see what cool things HT had cooked up since the last time I played.

They just happen to fly Rook ... so that's where I fly. We discuss tactics and stuff on our mailing list. We're also loosely associated with another old-timers squadron who also happens to fly Rooks. The hours and numbers we fly in are unlikely to affect the odds - the most I've seen of our combined crew on at once was like 7 or 8.

I've been everything from a C-lander to a Gold and now a Rook. Like I care what things are called? I fly where I know people. On any given week I'll fly 6 or 7 different planes in the hours I do fly. So this balancer doesn't affect me much. That said, I don't like having the choice of planes taken away from me for reasons not of my own making. That bothers me at a different level.


Next ... I've known HT for over a decade. We've met, talked, flown together, and even worked together. While he and I often disagree on many things (and I know he's just thrilled to see me back on the BBS ...heheh), I've never known him to do something intentionally unfair. So the balancer in and of itself isn't intended to be unfair ... it just needs to be tuned. Don't go cancelling your accounts, don't threaten to strike ... just stand down for a week if it really bothers you. It looks like the collision code needs to be looked at anyway. If you're really upset, take it offline to email so as not to incur the limp-wristed wrath of the f-lamers.


Lastly ... is Rooks the only country that holds a Joint Ops night? If so, why? If not, then the other countries have no grounds for whining about numbers.

    -DoK

Rgr all. I'm not even on the same page with any of the "WAH! I'M PERSECUTED! I'M GONNA QUIT!" approach here.

I'm certain HT is making judgments about what to do based on what he thinks is best for business, and is cognizant the community is important in that. I'm just offering some feedback.

I'm like you, this balancing scheme ain't gonna hurt me, the possibility it inconveniences me (as in can't fly my current scenario ride) is pretty slim. I'm just responding here to the idea that anyone who won't swap sides to balance numbers is somehow selfish or wrong. I disagree with that.

And I think there's prolly better ways to deal with numbers imbalance problems (but that's being discussed in other threads )

culero