What to expect?

[Hoagi]

Be very careful with the "wife ack".  Its the most deadliest in the game.

[Max]

What should I expect after installing the game?

1. Spend at least an hour looking thru the info at http://trainers.hitechcreations.com You can arrange time with a trainer via this website.
2. You'll also find a wealth of info, printable maps/references for dot commands, plane info etc at www.netaces.org
3. Get yourself a joystick, preferably with a twist handle for rudder input. Saitek makes the most reliable sticks in the under $50 range.
4. Stick with one plane for awhile. The Spitfire V or Spit9 and great entry level aircraft.
5. Spend time in the Training Arena...that's what it's designed for.

Word to the wise...before flying any of the Main Arenas, have a good working knowledge of the game. Other players are happy to help out and answer questions, but an endless stream of "how do you...." on radio text bar tends to get a bit annoying.

My .02  Good Luck and welcome to the game.

[Carwash]

I'm downloading the game right now. Looks fun. What should I expect after installing the game?

Don't expect to land much at first.

[Saurdaukar]

i could totally image your first flight in the MA...

"im up! hey im flying everyone!"
*he looks around, nobody in sight*
"hey this is kinda cool so who do i"
*SWWOOOOOOOSSH DOOM COMES IN A PICKS HIM OFF*
"HAHAHAHAH im on Fiya!!....ya FIYAAA"
"Doom comes back and kills him with one shot"
*SWOOOOOSH!!!........TOWER IN*
"What the heck happened!?"
"you died Holmes..."
"well......this game SUCKS!!!.....imma go play some Halo"

im kidding!

That would be an ideal situation.

In reality:

"im up! hey im flying everyone!"
*he looks around, nobody in sight*
"hey this is kinda cool so who do i"
*doesnt get a response*
"guys HEY WHAT DO I DO"
"Try turning off caps lock and press Alt-F4"
(5 minutes later)
"SYSTEM: Continued use of abusive language will result in suspension of radio privileges."
"OMG guys WTF"
"LOL, he's BAAAAAAAACCCCCCK"
(20 minutes and four augers later)
"WTF!! whay do I die every time shoot someone down?"
"Shoot the red guys."
"where?"
"Red dar bars on map."
"what"
"Read the manual"
"SYSTEM: Continued use of abusive language will result in suspension of radio privileges."
"wwwwwwttttttttttfffffffffffff ff"
(3 hours later)
"hahahah i found red guys w00t!"


An ace is born. 

[whiteman]

When I started I read through all the support sites twice before downloading the game, that way I have a clue of what i was doing. I printed some of them out that explained the clipboard map, dot commands and keyboard commands.

after i downloaded i spent the next week off line shooting down drones and bombing towns just to get acclimated to the game. Then i got online and was shot down 95% of the time, 3 months later it all comes together and improvement starts to climb at a nice rate.

[~Pyroman~]

That would be an ideal situation.

In reality:

"im up! hey im flying everyone!"
*he looks around, nobody in sight*
"hey this is kinda cool so who do i"
*doesnt get a response*
"guys HEY WHAT DO I DO"
"Try turning off caps lock and press Alt-F4"
(5 minutes later)
"SYSTEM: Continued use of abusive language will result in suspension of radio privileges."
"OMG guys WTF"
"LOL, he's BAAAAAAAACCCCCCK"
(20 minutes and four augers later)
"WTF!! whay do I die every time shoot someone down?"
"Shoot the red guys."
"where?"
"Red dar bars on map."
"what"
"Read the manual"
"SYSTEM: Continued use of abusive language will result in suspension of radio privileges."
"wwwwwwttttttttttfffffffffffff ff"
(3 hours later)
"hahahah i found red guys w00t!"


An ace is born. 

What makes this so funny is I remember my first experience just like this.  Well I did do reading and stuff, but even so, when I saw my first red guy, I was shaking in excitment quickly followed by getting owned.

[texasmom]

  Saurdaukar, that was great.

[Bravado]

I definately wont be flying a plane. I cant seem to steer it right. I also cant seem to find a map as where Im going and what im supposed to be doing. I'd much prefer to be a gunner or on a ship or in a tank. How do I do I join a ship or a tank?

Don't give up on the plane's yet.  Remember, there's a very steep learning curve, listen to what other players have said.  Spend the time looking through the trainer's files and checking out some of the other training sites.  As the other's have said, give it time and you'll get addicted.

[ink]

NHolmes:
Are you using a joystick or trying to fly with a mouse?
If It's a mouse then you have a long road ahead. I recommend getting a cheap stick to try out.
Second, follow Larry and Donkeys' advice. DO read the help files, and spend a little time offline in practice and against the AI. It's an excellent primer for leaning in the Training Arena.
A couple of stops in the TA will not take long, but it will be a big help to surviving in the Main Arenas.
A new pilot cannot do enough reading on the subject. Check out the guides on netaces.org and others, there will be links to be found:)

 
he said surviving the main arenas

[WMLute]

I would like to talk to you about the term "steep learning curve".

In 'most' games this means you can master the game in a few weeks, or at least get 'good'. 

So when you hear "steep learning curve" you typically equate that to a few weeks or a month max.

Now then...

As it pertains to AcesHigh "steep learning curve" means you can practice 8 hours a day for a year still be a horrible pilot.
Eight hours a day for two years and you will only be "ok" at the game.

The BEST thing to do is to focus on the fun, which is really the bottom line.  BECAUSE of it's incredibly steep learning curve AcesHigh is the most fun you can have on planet Earth for fifty cents a day.  Just make sure to have fun with it and try to not get too overwhelmed.

[angelsandair]

well, I hope you're bishop. We got your side, I learned almost everything I know about dogfighting in knight and bishop land. I reccomend 1 of those. 

[LYNX]

well, I hope you're bishop. We got your side, I learned almost everything I know about dogfighting in knight and bishop land. I reccomend 1 of those. 

I hope all newbies would adhere to the above doctrine.

[storch]

I hope all newbies would adhere to the above doctrine.

I second this

[snowey]

heck i didnt know how to land for about 2 months after i bought the game mainly becasue i ddint know how to put down the landing gear so i belied every one of them get youst to geting shot down a lot hope you have fun