Rash of 109s and 190s

[shiv]

I really don't know. There wasn't any internal factor, like remodeling any plane or a general change of the flight model.

But here's some nice food for thought: We had a significant reduction in the AH population after 2009, especially in 2010. Which coincidentally matches the 'decline' of the Spitfire. Or is it not coincidentally at all? 

Could it be related to larger maps? Spits don't have great range or ammo, so I would think Trinity resetting every Tuesday might have an impact.

[Lusche]

Could it be related to larger maps? Spits don't have great range or ammo, so I would think Trinity resetting every Tuesday might have an impact.

Hardly. We had large maps up before, they weren't suddenly reappearing. Also I checked plane usage on different maps last year. The only major impact maps did have on fighter usage was a drop in blue plane usage on pure land maps. Short range fighters like the Spitfires are see about the same level of usage on all maps


Another theory of mine is that we maybe lost more European (British) or generally non-US players than Americans... but that theory is completely unfounded beyond my very subjective perception that off-hour player numbers had dropped more than prime time US numbers.

[shiv]

Hardly. We had large maps up before, they weren't suddenly reappearing. Also I checked plane usage on different maps last year. The only major impact maps did have on fighter usage was a drop in blue plane usage on pure land maps. Short range fighters like the Spitfires are see about the same level of usage on all maps


Another theory of mine is that we maybe lost more European (British) or generally non-US players than Americans... but that theory is completely unfounded beyond my very subjective perception that off-hour player numbers had dropped more than prime time US numbers.

I was getting at could perhaps the single main arena coupled with the Titanic Tuesday auto map reset have an effect on the number of spits flying. Trinity is in it's own class as far as big maps go, I was thinking it might have an effect on the prevalence of Spitfires.

I'm sure you're right, just making sure we're talking about the same thing. And ty for the "hardly," very amusing.

[Lusche]

I was getting at could perhaps the single main arena coupled with the Titanic Tuesday auto map reset have an effect on the number of spits flying.

We had two arenas & TT until June 2011 and single arena, no TT from then on.

And for trinity alone to have such an impact on overall, long-time Spit usage, it must have been almost completely devoid of any - something that we would surely had noticed. On top of that, there was not really more long range-combat. It's just that the action was mainly reduced to 2-3 initial spots and a lot of ganging on one country once a breakthrough was made.

And ty for the "hardly," very amusing.

You are welcome...  

[shiv]

Got it, I think. So what would you attribute the falloff in Spitfire usage then, if it is indeed statistically significant? Or isn't it that big a shift?

[Lusche]

Got it, I think. So what would you attribute the falloff in Spitfire usage then, if it is indeed statistically significant? Or isn't it that big a shift?

I already posted my only guess - less non-US players -, but I also stated I have nothing much to support it. The only numerical thing that I could 'prove' is that it happend along with a reduction of overall player numbers (and once that decline stopped/slowed down, the Spit 'decline' stopped as well), but that still doesn't prove anything.

And yes, the shift is very much significant as you can see by the chart - For years the Spits had a very high share of about 20% which they could hold up despite more and more fighetrs getting added to AH. And then all of a sudden it dropped by almost 25%.

[shiv]

Very interesting, nothing like stats. The non-US thing seems sketchy but best candidate. Maybe less new new players might equal less spits? Reaching I think, but there must be an explanation.

 Looking forward to the stats megathread if you decide to do it.

[Bruv119]

I blame Midway and the whole anti Spitfire crowd. 

They are just jealous that the Spitfire's awesomeness will always make them look fat and Ugly in their B38's and emo Luft rides.   As an in built defensive mechanism they cry easy mode soon as someone with a better appreciation of the Flight Model and ACM comes along and woops them in anything they choose from the hangar. 

I will fly more Spitfire sorties as a result of this alarming news.   

[Bruv119]

I really don't know. There wasn't any internal factor, like remodeling any plane or a general change of the flight model.

But here's some nice food for thought: We had a significant reduction in the AH population after 2009, especially in 2010. Which coincidentally matches the 'decline' of the Spitfire. Or is it not coincidentally at all? 

was 2009 when they split the arenas causing havoc amongst GMT players who had to deal with the reset right on login time? and fly in an empty arena for 3 hours?  or stuck away from their squaddies?

[RedBull1]

I blame Midway and the whole anti Spitfire crowd. 

They are just jealous that the Spitfire's awesomeness will always make them look fat and Ugly in their B38's and emo Luft rides.   As an in built defensive mechanism they cry easy mode soon as someone with a better appreciation of the Flight Model and ACM comes along and woops them in anything they choose from the hangar. 

I will fly more Spitfire sorties as a result of this alarming news.   

Spitfire's are ugly and for noobs

109's are too sexy for you

Also, pie is amazing


Zack, where is my $50?

[Debrody]

I blame Midway and the whole anti Spitfire crowd. 

They are just jealous that the Spitfire's awesomeness will always make them look fat and Ugly in their B38's and emo Luft rides.   As an in built defensive mechanism they cry easy mode soon as someone with a better appreciation of the Flight Model and ACM comes along and woops them in anything they choose from the hangar. 

I will fly more Spitfire sorties as a result of this alarming news.   

So following your logic...
1: Spitfires are awesome, better than the other planes, ergo its easy mode.
2: The luftwannabe crowd are just a bunch of crybabies. Ergo, the spitfire isnt as awesome as they state, isnt as easy mode.
uhm... allright... cuz you are... the perfect... 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XiYUYcpsT4

Btw, 109s are for the amazinghunks. Spits are for the (forever) newbies or the score chasers. Be a man, turn that 190 
aaaaaand pies are awesom!! 

[Bruv119]

for score purposes i'd much rather take a 262 or 190D,  get more kills per sortie that way.   

don't get me started on the easiness of the 109 F, G2 G6 and K4  (probably in the top 3 non perked A2A fighters in game)  1 hit 1 kill, point and click, might aswell fly it with a mouse!!       

embrace the Spitfire because without it we would all be living in a much darker place!!  I often lie awake at night thinking how Hitler would have assaulted mainland America had they not agreed terms.   

I'm not into self harming ie flying a 190D and trying to out turn everybody.  I'll leave that to fruitcakes like Pervert and yourself.   

pies are awesome!   

[Lusche]

was 2009 when they split the arenas causing havoc amongst GMT players who had to deal with the reset right on login time? and fly in an empty arena for 3 hours?  or stuck away from their squaddies?

The Great Arena Split happened in 2006

[SmokinLoon]

I welcome a more diverse plane representation in the virtual skies of AH.  Seeing 109's is a good thing, along with the 190's.  It actually takes some time to learn the tricks and quirks of those 2 planes, neither are simply "hop in and go" like the typical easy mode planes.  There is nothing more fulfilling than being in a 109G or a 190 and handing a P51/La7 their tail section and sending them back to the tower.  One of the most memorable dogfights I had was hanging out in a 190A-5 at 20k and taking a few minutes to out maneuver a P51D on equal E footing, then having him go nose down to run away.  By a stroke of luck I was able to land enough 20mm hits at 600+ yards as he dove away to hand him vertical stabilizer. I sent him a friendly PM congratulating and thanking him on a very fun and entertaining dogfight, he was not amused and had every excuse in the book as to why he lost and downplayed my "luck" in staying with him.  Anyways... I think having more aircraft in the skies than the typical rubber stamp set list is welcoming.               

I'm so tired of being able to predict a horde plane set, or being able to even predict long visuals out enemy contacts out of icon range.  The horde monkeys would impress me with their 30v1 hordes if they got the job done in P40N's, 190F-8's, or other such aircraft that would force them to work.  But alas... that is too much of a challenge.    

[Debrody]

Good Sir, let ME start on the easyness of the 109s, you in the named 109, me in the named spit, you wouldnt win one fight, and vice versa too
They are so easy, especially since the G2 has the 1 round 1 kill tater gun 
Also, i dont want to idsappoint you, but balding the G6 wont take the wanted effect as i did not fly that aircraft for a good while. 
By the way, Pervert never or very rarely turns the 190. He energy-fights as long as possible. Yup, he is much wiser than me 
You were wise enough too not to come down in those KOTHs too... you knew what would have been the result