To an outside observer who doesn't play either AH or WB's online (currently):
I think the only reason WB's is moving to a flat-rate is fear. It sure as heck isn't for want of more customers. I wanted to be able to play WB's since about 1995 but never could afford the massive charge--WB's is made for rich people, not cash-strapped college students (high school at the time).
Suddenly, a game which feels a lot like an updated version of WB's hits the market--for a flat rate. Over a year later, that new game is doing perfectly fine, and is costing WB's business in two ways--
1) Some people flat-out cancelled their account.
2) Other people divide time between games, which equates into lost revenue for a hourly plan.
On top of that, ANOTHER WW2 game is about to be released (WW2OL), which will also be flat-rate. AND, furthermore, a completely new version of "the ancient one" is finally in the works with an interim version about to be released.
WarBirds had no choice but to go flat-rate. Hourly charges for online flight sims are going the way of the Dodo bird. As for their specific price....charging 25 bucks a month looks like a probverbial "middle finger" to Aces High.
No, I am not part of the "anti-WarBirds" crowd. I am just saying what their change of price plan looks like to me.
J_A_B
