The game has potential to make tons of money

[Cramby]

The only problem is that the learning curve is too steep. I think like myself, others tend to steer away from the game because although it can be very fun, it can also be frustrating to those that just want to hop in a plane and fly. I like to compliment the HTC staff for a great job that they have made with this game and the community of the players. I have finally found a place where I dont see a lot of immature children going around just being idiots. But the game is too hard!!! lol I just wish they had like a walk through tutorial like other games and have lines that you can follow to show you basic manuevers. I tried this training arena and no one is rarely in there. The only person that I saw in there was Revor and he was kind enough to help me out in the game. He spent about an hour and a half explaining the different aspects of the game. He also told me that it took him about 3 months to know a little bit of what's going on and he's still trying to learn a lot of other things. He also said someone name Schatzi and Pooface could help me out.
   
  This is a great game but I think you have to have the time and patience to get in a game like this. I am more of a battlefield 2, Air Warrior, type of player that really doesnt have patience for this. Well what I am saying is that if the Aces High people put a arena in for beginners maybe that will attract more people because I've seen a full room and only 589 people at the most?? This game should be drawing thousands. You guys could make a killer at this. Well that's my feedback from a first time user I hope it helps you guys out in the long run. I'm going to give it another shot and see if I can actually get the hang of it

[Golfer]

I believe sunday night around midnight I saw 680ish in the MA.

With several thousand members throughout the world consider it a blessing that our small arena of 750 isn't full most of the time to allow you to play.

That happened in AW fairly often and was a real downer when you wanted to play.


Doh...half my post died.

To summarize:

This game has and will always have a learning curve.  There are just too many features to master and a simple keycard won't do the trick.  The training arena and offline practice are there for a reason and compared to the number of new players...the TA is rarely used.

There is an on-staff group of trainers in addition to experienced MA players giving their time to help new players through the beginning.  I actually have had a unique view of a new player in the last couple months.

A coworker of mine had never played a flightsim before had seen some of the movies I made and heard me talk about the game before.  While on the road he ran into someone who also mentioned the game.  When he got back from the trip he asked if it was what I played so I gave him all the links and a shiny brand new X-45 to get going.

He in 30 days (with multiple daily phone calls to ask questions) went from can get the airplane up and down to someone who's an asset in a strike package or on your wing.  It took time, instruction and patience but he did it.

His attitude helped as he was very enthusiastic and focused on improving...kind of strange since I see it as simply a game and hobby I've done for 12 years now.

It can be done and the tools are there to help you.

[Dichotomy]

For me the fact that it is complicated make it more fun.  Different strokes and all of that.  Have you looked at Netaces.org.  That site is a veritable gold mine of information on how to fly these planes.  Have you spent some time offline learning how to maneuver your chosen platform?  I spent a week offline before I activated my 2 week trial.  If you post in the help forum about needing a trainer I guarantee someone will be there shortly to set up an appointment to assist you.  I've been here about a month and I learn something new every day.  One of the greatest things about this game / site is that the guy or gal who is sending you flaming to earth one minute will, for the most part, happily spend time with you in the TA teaching you different aspects of the game.  

I'm not technically skilled enough to train anyone but I'll happily share with anybody especially new people what I do know.  

Good luck and good flying

[Simaril]

Cramby---


The challenge is what makes this such a great game, and making it easier could hurt as much as it helps.

Many guys who like the pure adrenaline of FPS's find Aces High very difficult. Most dont stick around, to be honest. And that's where things are different from what you're used to...

How long does a First Person Shooter stay hot? How long till you burn out on what Battlefield 2, or Counterstrike, or Call of Duty has to offer -- and you move on to another one?

Now look at this game. There are guys here who have played for 7 YEARS straight. Some of those had played Aces High's ancestors for 6-8 years before THAT. No other game type can hold interest and challenge for that long.

I used to get a new computer game every 1-2 months, trying new stuff and squeezing the games dry. I've played Aces High for 2 1/2 years, and I havent felt the need to try a different game since.

If you invest the time in learning this game -- how planes fly, how to aim, what the chess game of air combat maneuvering is all about -- you'll see that AH is already a big success.

[Krusty]

Originally posted by Cramby
I have finally found a place where I dont see a lot of immature children going around just being idiots.

Where?? WHERE?!?!?  *looks around*

hey, waitaminute!

[Guyver]

QUOTE]This is a great game but I think you have to have the time and patience to get in a game like this. I am more of a battlefield 2,  [/B][/QUOTE]


i know what you are saying. i have a battlefield 2 team and we have all stoped untill the new bf comes out. untill then i play this game. it was a steep learning curve but so is battlefield as if you dont know what to do you get shot in the head. you just have to go in to the learning area and train a little or if you do come into the MA go to a quiet place with a few planes and get the hang of it there.

you will soon pick it up. i love this game and i have only been playing near 2 months.

keep it up. you will love it

[FX1]

I play a FPS about 1 hour a week. Im am a AW AH guy so it was really nice to find this game two years ago. First day in the main i was in the same squad as AW flying with the same guys. Today i can kick all of WOT"S ash (:

[Balsy]

Cramby...

Think of the steep learning curve as a "immature children" screening device.  It has a 97% efficacy rate because it doesnt screen out the emotional children that sometimes occupy a 30yr old+ body.



Balsy

Originally posted by Cramby
The only problem is that the learning curve is too steep. I think like myself, others tend to steer away from the game because although it can be very fun, it can also be frustrating to those that just want to hop in a plane and fly. I like to compliment the HTC staff for a great job that they have made with this game and the community of the players. I have finally found a place where I dont see a lot of immature children going around just being idiots. But the game is too hard!!! lol I just wish they had like a walk through tutorial like other games and have lines that you can follow to show you basic manuevers. I tried this training arena and no one is rarely in there. The only person that I saw in there was Revor and he was kind enough to help me out in the game. He spent about an hour and a half explaining the different aspects of the game. He also told me that it took him about 3 months to know a little bit of what's going on and he's still trying to learn a lot of other things. He also said someone name Schatzi and Pooface could help me out.
   
  This is a great game but I think you have to have the time and patience to get in a game like this. I am more of a battlefield 2, Air Warrior, type of player that really doesnt have patience for this. Well what I am saying is that if the Aces High people put a arena in for beginners maybe that will attract more people because I've seen a full room and only 589 people at the most?? This game should be drawing thousands. You guys could make a killer at this. Well that's my feedback from a first time user I hope it helps you guys out in the long run. I'm going to give it another shot and see if I can actually get the hang of it

[Max]

Originally posted by Cramby
 
  This is a great game but I think you have to have the time and patience to get in a game like this.  

So quit posting here and get yourself to the DA and/or TA.

I'm around most mornings (EDT) PM me if you want to go over some of the basics in the TA

[Kazaa]

The steep learning curve is what makes this game one of the best around, but a tutorial would be a nice thing to have for the people who don’t have the time to learn by them selves .

I can still vaguely remember downing my 1st plane, I was in a Spitfire Mk V/XI and came across a lone bomber, B26 I think, at around 8K which at the time I though was really high lol. Boy the enjoyment I had, trying and eventually shooting him down, it still brings a tear to my eye.

[Casper1]

I had the same frustrations you did Cramby, about a year ago.  I found that the learning curve is steep, but has plateaus that you can attain quickly and build on!  it takes about 4-5 months to actually be seasoned enough to fly, kill, and land regularly.

For example...in order of how I achieved the plataeus:

-  landing fighters controllably on concrete is a nice little plateau that doesnt take long to learn (but is satisfying in that you can be sure you can land kills when you get em)

- landing buffs controllably on concrete!

-  shooting down 1 or two guys before dying yourself...satisfying to know you are somewhat lethal!

-  accurate bombing from Buffs or Jabos...satisfying to know you can reliably hit your targets when your teammates need help

-  shooting down 2-3 guys and actually surviving to get home!

-  learning ACM (this takes alot of time and practice!!!) so you can defned yourself and evade foes (maybe even force an overshoot and KILL your attacker!)

-  becoming a master in one or two planes so you can reliably kill enemy and survive in most situations!


STICK WITH IT!!  ITS THE BEST MOST ADDICTING GAME EVER!

[wetrat]

I read up to the part where you mentioned revor... you need to find yourself a new tutor.

[RedTop]

I started and didnt get a kill in the first month other than a proxy. This was after a came from another sim where I could hold my own with anyone.

Now I can get a kill or 2 a day.

Stay with it.

[Murdr]

The Training Areana cannot be manned with a trainer 24 hours a day.  We try to concentrate on peak times which is between 7pm and 1am eastern standard time.  Off peak hours are not covered as heavily, but there are a number of 'unofficial trainers' that stop by the TA to help others.

If you are not on during peak hours feel free to email trainers@flyaceshigh.com if you would like to set up a time to meet with a trainer.


Regarding the number of players...Flight sims have always been a niech market.  Airwarrior on AOL was free with subscription and had all of aol to draw players from with no extra fee which resulted in over 100k players in the database.  When Airwarrior on AOL went to pay by the hour, the subscribership was much smaller.  Simultainously, Airwarrior on gamestorm, and later on EA.com the subscribership barely broke 1/4 of that subscribership (if that), and that was with the support of other games that came with subscription.  Keep in mind that only 5%-10% of subscribers are actually on the game server at any given time.

From the rosters Ive seen AH does better on average than AW on Gamestorm did.

[LePaul]

Originally posted by FX1
I play a FPS about 1 hour a week. Im am a AW AH guy so it was really nice to find this game two years ago. First day in the main i was in the same squad as AW flying with the same guys. Today i can kick all of WOT"S ash (:

Only...Only....in a dweeby Spit16

You start doing that in a P-51, C205 or something else...then I'll be impressed.  

And dont even think of challenging me...my Lanc will just outright embarass ya