This game is a complex flight sim, requiring months of playing just to reach competent levels. Anything to 'dumb-down' AH would be short-changing the quality of the simulation, and be in conflict with the interests of the majority of the present playerbase. Knowing the kind of work that Hitech & Pyro have put out, it would be highly improbable that the depth and complexity of AH's engine would ever be compromised.
Now, given the quality of the AH engine and the game, I ask this: why have icons that are not in synch with the level of this game? Of course, whether the icons are on the same level of competency as the game is debatable to some extent, but I do feel that the existing playerbase would be accepting of icons that allowed for a more accurate simulation of air combat in WWII. As many historical references point out, a vast proportion of combat aircraft shot down in WWII never knew they were coming under attack. Thus, one could say that there is a conflict of interests when a game as complex as Aces High contains an ID element that hinders a realistic implementation of the WWII aerial combat experience.
That being said, if reduced icons were to be implemented, then any new players to Aces High would be at an even more severe disadvantage than at present. One possible measure to lessen that unfortunate condition would be to allow new subscribers to use larger icons for a set period of play time, say two month's worth of playtime hours.
In any case, I would urge HTC to seriously explore any and all ideas for reduced icons, thereby allowing Aces High to better represent a simulation of the WWII air war experience within an online environment.
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leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA"Our cause is just. The enemy will be crushed. Victory will be ours."
