Question for everyone

[Mad0Max]

I see that there are alot more problems with HTC, AH, and the forums than I thought.

So the question is this. With so many complaints and issues related to the split areas, treatment of paying customers, and quality of the game, should'nt everyone just stop for a minute(including HTC) and take a look at the complaints seriously for a change? People usualy have valid complaints and usualy can be quite irate when they post them so everyone should expect that and not give the typical reply of  "stop complaining"

Stop fighting, listen to what some people have to say. The simple fact that there arent as many paying people online now with this wacky setup is a clear indication that something is going wrong.

I'm asking for people to take a good look and for HTC to say to their paying customers that this is the way the game is going to be from now on if HTC is not going to listen, or not going to try and help with the issues at hand. If this was an off the shelf game that we hosted on our computers at home than I would understand this mentality, but its not. AH is a MMOLG and HTC gets it's money from it's monthly customers, so we should have some say in which direction the game is headed.

I dont hate HTC, I dont hate the community, I just want the numbers back to the way they were before all this, when I could log on and see 650 out of 750 people in the main arena plus people in other arenas as well, those were the days where I didnt have to spend a half hour flying somewhere just to get shot down at the end of my trip. I really miss being able to spawn, get airborne and be in a fight with-in a few minutes if that.

But whatever, flame on.

[Stang]

And flamed you shall be...

[RTR]

I kinda suspect there is at least as many (if not more) online now as there was before. Only difference is they are spread over more arena's.

The old MA was stale and had become a daycare. It's dead Jim.

I have just recently (in the last few days) been able to spend some time online. I have to say, I like the changes.

RTR

[Soulyss]

Originally posted by Mad0Max
AH is a MMOLG and HTC gets it's money from it's monthly customers, so we should have some say in which direction the game is headed.

Just because we pay for the service that HTC provides does not equal us having a say in how HT runs his bussiness.  We are not share holders here... a closer analogy would be comparing HTC to somthing akin to a utilities company... we give them money and they provide a service for that.  We have the choice to take our money elsewhere if we do not feel that the service is worth the cost.  Or I suppose you can think of it as a subsription to a magazine... just because you pay them doesn't mean you can edit the issue, or write the articles.

[hubsonfire]

Something to keep in mind, is that the most vocal types, both in game and on the boards, are a minority among HTC's entire customer base, and HTC is, and has always been, by my reckoning, far more interested in the happiness of its entire customer base, than it is with the comparatively small group who are represented on the forums.

FWIW, I haven't played any game where I got to order the developers around, and I haven't played one where the minority ruled. I don't think HTC's any different in that regard.

Yes, for the most part, I like the changes. Not saying things are perfect, but I think they're better than they were.

[DaPup]

I still don't like some of the changes but after playing a little more lately I must admit that I'm beginning to come around.

I took a look at myself as a business owner and asked what I would do in Dales situation. I certainly don't think that Dale was at his desk in the morning drinking coffee and wondering how he could upset a portion of his client base. I would imagine that they had many discussions about what changes to make and why they needed to make them.

I'm sure that they are looking towards their future with these changes. I sat back and wondered what I would do if I noticed a part(s) of my company where I was unhappy with either the performance or products that I offered and if I would have the spine to risk some unhappy customers. The answer is yes, I have switched product lines when I felt it was the right thing to do regardless of some of my customers initial reactions.

Sometimes you must risk short term stability to attain your long term goals, especially in a business. I know they have a firm belief that they are heading in the right direction and I trust them to give me the best WW2 online sim game that they are capable of.

I've had issues that were on my PC end and called Skuzzy and he has helped me out, they are hands down the most customer friendly company I've ever encountered on an online game.

The game is really what you make of it not HTC, they supply the product but you must supply the fun.

just my $.05 (inflation)

[Max]

Originally posted by Mad0Max
I see that there are alot more problems with HTC, AH, and the forums than I thought.

So the question is this. With so many complaints and issues related to the split areas, treatment of paying customers, and quality of the game, should'nt everyone just stop for a minute(including HTC) and take a look at the complaints seriously for a change? People usualy have valid complaints and usualy can be quite irate when they post them so everyone should expect that and not give the typical reply of  "stop complaining"

 

OK. QUIT complaining.

[wolf8u]

I wonder if McDonalds would change there menu back to the way it used to be, or if theyed just say Burger king is down the road.

[BugsBunny]

Originally posted by Mad0Max
The simple fact that there arent as many paying people online now with this wacky setup is a clear indication that something is going wrong.
 

LW1:220
Lw2:170
MW :60
EW :45

Total: 495 (k, close.  I dont remember the exact numbers)

For a Thursday night, not bad at all.

[lazs2]

some of us are playing more now than ever before... some of us really like to be able to fly early war planes without every HO newbie in a Lala7 or spit 16 fighting with 10 of his buddies to see who gets the lucky head on kill shot on us.

Some of us like not having the fighter hangers or cv taken out at the first sign of a good fight...   some of us like to fight even numbers and guys that can do a little acm because they cared enough to learn.

Some of us like the fact that adults will switch sides to balance and don't milkrun undefended fields and call that "strat".

Some of us can't figure out why you just don't go to the late war arena where all those things still exist and be happy.

lazs
Public Relations Officer for the BK's

[Simaril]

Originally posted by Mad0Max
...snip...

 The simple fact that there arent as many paying people online now with this wacky setup is a clear indication that something is going wrong.


...snip....

HT -- who actually SEES and analyses the numbers -- has said that there has been steady growth, and that the numbers are HIGHER since the change. For example, he noted that one thursday in the last couple weeks had higher numbers than any in the past quarter. Last night I saw very good numbers in MW, best overall totals I can remember.

There is not a crisis.

HT is NOT ignoring us. He's made multiple adjustments when we're made suggestions that HE thought were good.

Do not confuse the confident application of a specialist's judgement with "not listening to the customers." When you need any specialty service, you dont take a poll -- YOU go to someone who knows what they're doing, and you give them the respect they've earned by getting good results in the past.

Treat HT that way too. I cannot think of ANYONE with more experience in online MMO simulations, and in running those businesses. You liked AH2 before the changes...so obviously his past decisions worked out well. Do you honestly think that the advice from interested amateurs should outvote the guy who's done it all, and who has the greatest interest in the product's success?

I'd hope none of us are that arrogant

[storch]

I like the changes very much.  I believe the changes to be the single most significant and beneficial change HTC has implemented as long as I've been a subscriber.

the only people who seem dissatisfied are the toolshedders and the euros.  the euro concerns I consider valid.

[Airscrew]

I am playing more now than I have in a long while.   I actually got to fly a Spit 1 in the EWA and didnt have to worry about La's or P-51s.  except for AvA I've never flown the Spit 1 in the MA.  
I also have channel 200 up.  People are saluting each other, discussing the fights, giving help.   The change is good, its just going to take awhile for everyone to adjust

[uberhun]

I have never seen so much "wine production" with this change to the arenas. This game is a "Take it or leave It" product. All this @#$P about it was so much better before. Hitech is running a business, I am sure he did his do dilligance and research before he made the change. I for one like the change. "Because it is change". The old MA was so predictable. You new exactly what would happen day in day out. It was freaking boring. Eventually Combat Tour will be out, and that will more then likely test our abbillities in the cockpit. So maybe You "Ernest and Jullio Gallo" types should get some flight time in the early and mid arenas. to acclimate yourselves for the inevitable. I believe the segmenting of the MA is partly for that reason. my $.02
Respectfully

[Shuffler]

Originally posted by Mad0Max
The simple fact that there arent as many paying people online now with this wacky setup is a clear indication that something is going wrong. snip  

And you base this on??


Although I had misgivings about the original change, I do really like it now. With the quick adjustments and the attention to feed back that HT has shown..... I fear my addiction to Aces High will continue unabated.