A 'Tour of Duty', why not an all-out war?

[Ack-Ack]

Warbirds downward spiral had nothing to do with the use of a rolling plane set and everything to do with lack of game development, poor customer service and weak management.

We all know the history, Warbirds and AH were created by the same people. But the games eventually went in two different directions. Warbirds chose to focus on the historical aspect while AH became geared towards the “alternate universe” fly your favorite plane experience.

Beyond that, an RPS works best when the plane set is complete. An RPS will work in a fantasy main environment, but is better suited to historical terrains with an Axis / Allied split. In this type of set up the player can experience the technological swings as one side introduces a new aircraft that tilts the balance while the other side has to get by until they counter with their next generation ride.

An alternative to the RPS is the “generations” approach. Instead of releasing aircraft by service date (RPS), mini plane sets are released by generational match ups. For example; the Spit V and the 109F-4 are released together, the 190 and the Spit 9 and so on. This adds some balance while keeping the time line historical.

What we have now is three different main arenas that offer essentially the same style of game play with a slightly different cast of characters. I don’t see anyone saying the main arenas should be closed. Some players are just asking for another gaming experience to compliment what we have now and a greater emphasis placed on filling out the early to midwar plane set.

The fact that HTC committed the resources it did to Combat Tour indicates an awareness and willingness to provide an experience emphasizing historical WWII air combat. With Combat Tour shelved indefinitely, the creation of an arena like we’re talking about to fill this niche could be done relatively easily and inexpensively with what we already have.

Sure, you can't place the blame on WB's decline squarely on the shoulders of the RPS or on any one factor.  However,  you're just kidding  yourself if you think that the RPS system didn't have a hand in the decline of WB.

Again, if it was such a popular feature in WB (which it really wasn't), then why didn't HiTech choose to add it in AH?  No one has been able to answer that question so far.

The AvA arena caters to players that want a more 'historical' match up without having to force an unpopular system like RPS on the rest of us.


ack-ack

[trap78]

However,  you're just kidding  yourself if you think that the RPS system didn't have a hand in the decline of WB.

What do you base this statement on? I flew WB's when the WWII arena was at its' peak and continued flying through the decline. I witnessed the entire event and it had nothing to do with the RPS.

Again, if it was such a popular feature in WB (which it really wasn't), then why didn't HiTech choose to add it in AH?  No one has been able to answer that question so far.

I believe HiTech is more qualified to answer that question than I am.

The AvA arena caters to players that want a more 'historical' match up without having to force an unpopular system like RPS on the rest of us.

While the AvA does run the occasional organised mission or battle/war scenario it's roots remained firmly based in the dueling arena concept which isn't intended to recreate historical WWII air combat. Besides that, the AvA isn't officially supported by HTC like Combat Tour was. HTC has simply provided some server space to a group of players and tolerates what goes on there. It's an arena kept at arms distance from the rest of the game. Also, how does the existence of a separate arena force an RPS on anyone? The decision to fly there is the players' choice, no different than any of the other arenas.

[Ack-Ack]

What do you base this statement on? I flew WB's when the WWII arena was at its' peak and continued flying through the decline. I witnessed the entire event and it had nothing to do with the RPS.

What do I base my statement on?  From playing the game myself and yes, RPS was a contributing factor to the decline as it was not a popular feature with the majority of the player base.

I believe HiTech is more qualified to answer that question than I am.

HiTech has already answered by virtue of not adding a RPS feature and he's also answered in replies to other threads on this subject.  But it was't his answer I was looking for. 

While the AvA does run the occasional organised mission or battle/war scenario it's roots remained firmly based in the dueling arena concept which isn't intended to recreate historical WWII air combat. Besides that, the AvA isn't officially supported by HTC like Combat Tour was. HTC has simply provided some server space to a group of players and tolerates what goes on there. It's an arena kept at arms distance from the rest of the game. Also, how does the existence of a separate arena force an RPS on anyone? The decision to fly there is the players' choice, no different than any of the other arenas.

While having a seperate arena for only RPS wouldn't force the issue on anyone, it would not be a very populated arena.  I'd be willing to bet that it would have a population level lower than that of the EW arena.  It is not a popular feature with the majority of the players.  It would also be rather redundant since we do have three other arenas that cater to specific time lines (EW, MW and LW arenas) and an arena that offers historical setups (as much as the current plane set allows).  Furthermore, the lack of key planes in the planeset is another issue.


ack-ack

[Chilli]

{SNIP}
While the AvA does run the occasional organised mission or battle/war scenario it's roots remained firmly based in the dueling arena concept which isn't intended to recreate historical WWII air combat. Besides that, the AvA isn't officially supported by HTC like Combat Tour was. HTC has simply provided some server space to a group of players and tolerates what goes on there. It's an arena kept at arms distance from the rest of the game. Also, how does the existence of a separate arena force an RPS on anyone? The decision to fly there is the players' choice, no different than any of the other arenas.

  Straight through my heart........  I guess I will just go there right now..... hope that I will be.....  tolerated some more..... 

  AvA staff members and players, I  that the server space provided is enough........ I know that it will never be large enough to compensate the size of your hearts.

[Nemisis]

I think it might work if it is optional and doesn't replace any arenas, otherwise some people will be PO'd. I personally would like to see arenas that will allow more players like mabey 400, something like that, to keep the teams pretty even, if you have 12 people, then even one player joining could tilt the tide of the war as it will allow their team to cover more ground, while if you have 50 people, the teams can't be even anyway but the numbers make it so it is not that big of an advantage, and 5 people join it is still not that big of an advantage, they might shoot down a couple more transports or kill a few more tanks, but still not that big a deal, same principle