I see this sentiment about the decline of gameplay lamented by many ack-ack... Decline how? and by who's standards, the megahour a month furballers that have no other life? I fail to understand the "furballing is the only valid pastime" crowd and their disdain toward all that might not have 1000 hours a month to perfect the "art" of the perfect pick. The great thing about Aces High is that there is room for the toolshredders, the land grabbers, the GVers and even the furballers, even though there is a furballing only arena (DA). If "your" crowd despises all the others that MIGHT like to spend their $15. doing something beside furballing, there is a Dueling Arena available that caters specifically to the furballing is supreme mindset.
Personally i enjoy doing all the options available and not limiting myself exclusively to endless furballing.
I guess it's something you really won't understand unless you were here prior but I'll try to explain because from your reply, you're assuming I'm talking about something else entirely.
I'm not referring to Furballer vs. Toolshedder, hord vs. non-hord, angles fighter vs. energy fighter, etc. I am referring to a decline of game play that I've noticed since the contest. Since then, the game play has decidedly shifted into the "play for score/rank" style of play which breeds timid behavior. Let me preface this by saying that score potatos and those that are timid have been around since time immortal and will always be, they were in AW, WB and in this game. However, since the contest, this sort of playing style has become the norm and it has had impact on the game play.
People can also say that the commercials have also had an impact besides drawing in more players. It can be argued that it also attracted a more casual gamer that isn't as inclined as the more dedicated gamer to learn how to dogfight, which breeds a herd mentality (i.e. the hord) and will usually readily engage in head on situations to get a kill.
It's that type of decline of game play that I am speaking of, not a mine camp vs. your camp kind of thing.
ack-ack