The Future

[republic]

Let me preface this by stating the fact that I love Aces High.  The best WWII flight sim hands down, online OR offline.

I understand dev time is currently going to CT....but...

What happens after Combat Tour is released?  Will attention go into creating a full planeset, or will CT itself require full dev attention to maintain, expand, and bugfix?

Is there a budget to create a dedicated position of 'plane maker extraordinaire'?

What is the future of the MA's?  Are there plans for new maps, or changes to the base capture method, or strategic?

What do we have in store for us?  I want to read a few chapters ahead in the AH story.  

[Simaril]

HT has said (somewhere or other, but I know I read it in one of his posts) that the "MA" has always been the priority. When the changes were implemented last fall, he made it clear that CT development was decelerating till the MA settled and the ripples calmed down. Same thing with the new graphic tools....things like releasing skin packs and new planes went to back burner, because the grapics affect EVERYONE who flies AH.


I can't see the MA experience ever becoming a minor issue for this company. Since 1999, they've kept well ahead of all competition by focusing on their core product...and they've seen numerous fiascos happen in the field, when others forgot "what got them to the big game."

About the planes -- as far as the MA goes, we have a pretty full planeset. Developing a plane costs HTC money, and it doesnt pay to spend money that doesnt add to the product's value. So don't hold your breath waiting for the Catalina....

[tedrbr]

From what I've read, they are also dealing with the reality that is Windows Vista being shipped with new machines that new players will often be saddled with.  That monstrosity will effect many online games and gamers in the coming years.

Then, at what point do you decide that it may be time to develop AHIII ?

[FrodeMk3]

Simaril, I would say that New aircraft introduced into this game will help more than even CT at this point.

why?

Simple. You can get boxed sims all over the place. You can fly multiplayer sims that are modeled on historical scenario's/events all over the place.

But, the MMOG MA's are unique, outside of maybe WB 3.

That said, If I were HTC, I'd do what I could to make the MA's improve.

Even if that meant changing code to allow for things like amphibians and floatplanes.

Expanding the planeset would do wonders, look at all the excitement over the firefly and the election for the new plane.

[Masherbrum]

I wish, as I'm sure that HTC does, that CT was never announced.    

90% of the whining would cease to exist.

[storch]

I don't foresee myself becoming too interested in the CT.  If I wanted to fight AI there are excellent boxed games for that.  having opined, I will at least try it a bit once it premieres.  far from the CT being an impediment to future model developement, I think it will be a catalyst for more models as there are signifacant gaps in the plane set.  I'm pretty sure HTC will be working to solve this issue for those who will be looking for an intensely immersive scenario type game.

[Simaril]

Originally posted by FrodeMk3
....
That said, If I were HTC, I'd do what I could to make the MA's improve.

Even if that meant changing code to allow for things like amphibians and floatplanes.

.....

IMHO, that's the attitude HTC has too. They get into BBS "trouble" because their professional judgement about what the MA needs is sometimes different than what we BBS experts think the MA needs. The fact that HT has EXPERIENCED some of the disasters that follow our (not new after all) ideas doesnt prevent us from loudly complaining about HTC's supposed blindness, though.

And BTW, I've never heard that the Catalina isnt in the game due to coding problems. The major reason should be obvious -- it was a DOG from an air combat standpoint. Underarmed, slow enough easily passed by expressway traffic -- and worst of all, completely POINTLESS inside the game. For crying out loud -- we have maps and radar. WHo wants to do recon at all, much less recon in a plane that never gets past vulch target speed?

Only Commander Akira's squad has seriously discussed recon.....


Here's the immortal blue angels/CDR Akira thread

[hubsonfire]

Agreed, Storch. As exciting as the USAAF over Europe is for some folks, I'd be more interested in the Russian, Med, or Pac fronts, and I would think those would be big draws as well, so a full planeset would serve CT or whatever as well as the MAs and Spec Events.

[FrodeMk3]

I dunno, Simaril. My stance is that every plane is what you make of it. If a Catalina had bombs or torps, someone would find a use for it. If a SAR function was added to the game, the Cat could be used there too.

[ROC]

As NASCAR brings improvements to the daily drivers, CT will bring new stuff to the MA.

Developing CT will surely have dual benefits.

[Helm]

So let me get this straight? ...the only planes we need are planes that are going to revolutionise the MA?? I'm so damn sick of hearing that!!

If this is SO TRUE??...then what is the 1941 P39 still doing in the running if all anybody wants is planes that change the world??

I say the notion that all the MA wants?...or needs? is some 1945-46 bird is rubbish...

case in point:  P39..still alive in the voting ...and the Yak3 made it almost the last round ....neither plane is gonna set the MA on fire...yet I'm THRILLED to get a chance to fly either!!

I'll say it for the 100th time....if it served in WW2 ...I'd like a chance to fly it!!
and ANY plane that ANY player wants should be supported by us all!!!
So please dont waste my time explaining why we dont need plane "A"  or "B" ...get behind it...and support it!!!....geewhiz!!

[storch]

Originally posted by Helm
So let me get this straight? ...the only planes we need are planes that are going to revolutionise the MA?? I'm so damn sick of hearing that!!

If this is SO TRUE??...then what is the 1941 P39 still doing in the running if all anybody wants is planes that change the world??

I say the notion that all the MA wants?...or needs? is some 1945-46 bird is rubbish...

case in point:  P39..still alive in the voting ...and the Yak3 made it almost the last round ....neither plane is gonna set the MA on fire...yet I'm THRILLED to get a chance to fly either!!

I'll say it for the 100th time....if it served in WW2 ...I'd like a chance to fly it!!
and ANY plane that ANY player wants should be supported by us all!!!
So please dont waste my time explaining why we dont need plane "A"  or "B" ...get behind it...and support it!!!....geewhiz!!

I agree.  irrespective of numbers produce blah blah blah.  if a sample flew a single mission it should be represented, moreso with the three phases of the war arenas.  the early war is woefully lacking models that would be a blast to die in.

[Simaril]

Whoa there.

Never meant that some planes don't belong in the game (although I still say that recon is so boring that practically no one would do it). Just meant to point out that believers in "if it was in ww2, it should be in the game" are doomed to disappointment, on economic factors if nothing else. Additions to the game need to add interest or meaningful gameplay variety, or there just isnt anything to be gained by producing them.

That's  a pretty liberal standard -- but no matter how you slice it, there will be limits.

[FiLtH]

The trouble with the planes is most people want to fly the best. So no matter what you add, if it isnt better than the last one, it wont be used as much. What I'd like to see are planes with unique systems. Like the JU87 with the big guns, or the B25 with the big gun.  Frankly I'd rather see no new planes. Just improvements in the gameplay. Strats come to mind.

[BigR]

Originally posted by ROC
As NASCAR brings improvements to the daily drivers, CT will bring new stuff to the MA.

Developing CT will surely have dual benefits.

LOL too bad your average low end auto has 10x the tech that a nascar has. Nascars engine tech is stuck in the 1960's ...no joke. Carborated, push rod motors =).