I think I'm a decently smart guy, and I've played a good variety of games in my life. Every game I've played I pretty much can jump into and at least do basic stuff. A game either has intuitive controls or has those "Welcome to the game. Press 'X' button to start moving forward' screens when I get inside.
This game does have a very steep learning curve, but I'd have to agree with this. A getting started screen would be nice.
Unfortunately this is a SIM, not a "press button to fly" game.
Setting up your controls and getting a bit of very basic knowledge about them is necessary.
When read "how to fly" I always tell them to read the telling "Getting Started". It actually IS the easiest and fastest way to get in the air, even if many newcomers do refuse to believe me.
Talking a new player through set up of his controllers and getting airborne is more time consuming than reading that short section, which takes no more than 10-15mins.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is also a simulator (albeit not the best IMO), and it has a very comprehensive help and getting started section. I can't think of any reason why this game can't have a "getting started guide" integrated into it.
Well I get into this game and I'm sitting on a field. Hmmm now what? I press W for forward, then try Up arrow. ... start randomly pressing keys to see if anything will happen, and nothing happens. I think I found a button to shoot bullets though. So I figure it's inside the options menus somewhere. I click through the options menus, find a controls part, and it's got like 6 radio buttons and so I try the flight one ... hmmmm don't see anything about how to get in the air there. But I see an option for controllers, so I think I'll plug in my LogiTech Rumblepad and maybe the controls will be more intuitive. ... Press a few buttons. Still can't get off the ground. I think I found a button that does chat '/', so I press it and ask a few questions. Don't get any help.... hmmmm oh someone says something about training.hitechsomething.com. ... that website and it starts talking about rudders and some other stuff. I know what that is in real life, but what does that mean inside the game? Read around some more. Finally get back into the game. Press some more buttons on my controller, and after almost half an hour give up.
This is exactly what happened to me when I first downloaded this game. I couldn't work out what to do, so I eventually got into the game, managed to select a B-17, then spent 10 minutes working out what the NW, SE, H etc buttons on the clipboard meant. From what little I'd seen of the HTC homepage, I thought it had something to do with missions I'd fly in (this was probably around a year ago). Eventually I gave up and forgot about the game.
However, about 6 months ago, I 'rediscovered' it, and had a bit more luck. I happened to have my joystick plugged in this time, and eventually got took off in a Corsair. I managed to land it successfully.
I leave the game, never to return. I don't believe I am alone in this experience, and feel that what could be an otherwise great game is loosing customers because of bad first impressions.
This is a type of game that, if done well, I would realistically pay money to play or at least recommend to friends so they can pay money to play it. Unfortunately I can't do that because I can't figure out how to get off the ground. I almost didn't post, but thought it would be good to convey my experience as what I hope is constructive criticism. While I was inside the game, each time I saw people "How do I get off the ground" so I at least know I'm not alone. I truly wish this game the best, and only post this in hopes they can somehow do more to make a better first impression on future players.
I fully agree with this. Aces High is an excellent game (yes, I know it may technically be a simulation, but at the end of the day it's a game, like it or not) but I'm sure most people who download this game have a similar experience.
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As already mentioned this isnt a "game". The problem lies not in your experience but in your expectations. You expected "easy" and you got a does of reality. I'm not aware of any online "game" that has a full time training arena, exceptionally capable training cadre and a relatively supportive general community...and still takes at least 18 months do become reasonably proficient at.
It sounds like your used to (or want) either a 1st person shooter or MMOG with pixie dust and magic wands....
I disagree with this post almost entirely.
a) It is a game, as I said above, but that's irrelevant here.
b) I fail to see how his expectations have anything to do with the quality (or rather existence of) an in-game help section/getting started guide.
c) I know I'm going back to point a) again, but I wouldn't call chasing pixels around on a screen realistic (yes, this is an immense, pedantic generalisation).
d) I'd agree that the TA is excellent, but there aren't always trainers (or anyone, for that matter) in there
e) It can be difficult to work out how to get online in the first place, and once you do, if you come across the wrong person, the accuracy of your statement about "a relatively supportive general community" would seem very suspect to a new player.
Sorry if this sounds harsh/aggressive, I don't actually mean for it to be.
Anyway, from the perspective of a new player, when I first downloaded this game, I assumed it was one of those old, no longer updated, primitive games. My impression of the graphics supported that opinion.
For a completely new player, even the simplest thing becomes a nightmare. The best way I can describe it is as if you were trying to use a computer, but
without a mouse or a keyboard. If you click the "close" button on the clipboard, chances are you won't know how to open it again.
The simplest functions in this game are NOT obvious to a new player.
Whilst there is actually EXCELLENT help documentation, it's ridiculously well-hidden. The main website has nothing obvious on it (you need to go through a page or 2 to arrive at even a few links), and if you do track down the forum, chances are you'll be jumped on for asking a question such as "how do I get off the ground". I am STILL finding new websites with brilliant Aces High tutorials etc, and I've been playing for around 6 months now.
Interesting idea. Maybe hitech could write some coad so new players (and small mammals) could push keys at random to get into the plane of their choice and into the air?
There is a big box on the home page that blinks Click Here! to Get Started Now.
It leads you by the hand, step-by-step, on:
....
Those seem like constructive steps to get started.
This post is a typical example of what I said earlier about how "if you do track down the forum, chances are you'll be jumped on for asking a question such as "how do I get off the ground". "
In conclusion, I would like to recommend TWO things:
1. That HTC asks everyone on this forum to submit links to any help pages they know of, and that these are made into a list, and that this database is then shown on the HTC home page2. That HTC make an IN-GAME getting started guide, that includes details about how to begin flying, that links to the list requested in (1), that tells people how to do basic, yet critical things such as how to open and close the clipboard. This should DEFINITELY be opened automatically each time a new version/patch is installed. Also, in the first screen of this, it should tell a player HOW to open/close this help window.
