Advice

[earl1937]

  Hi Tech, you have built a heck of an  air combat sim and my hat is off to u sir....I have one wish today! We have some very knowledgable players in this game and I am sure that you listen to some of the suggestions they offer. I would wish that  you listen to Pand, Tazz69, Colombo and 80HD. These guys have suggested some great "wishes", which would improve the game, and it might help obtain more paying customers.

[Karnak]

HTC has implemented many player wishes over the years.

That said, the vast majority of player wishes (mine included) are fatally flawed as most people who post wishes don't even try to think of how their wish could be abused or hurt the game.  HTC has to watch out for that stuff for the good of the game.  Players don't always know what they want, but they think they do.  As a business it is HTC's job to give players what they really want, not what they say they want.

[RTHolmes]

Give people what they want, not what they ask for.

I used this in a meeting recently, a colleague nodded thoughtfully and replied "Oooh ... thats good!"

Thanks HT, I scored a few points with that

[Arlo]

... as most people who post wishes don't even try to think of how their wish could be abused or hurt the game. 

Even with the number of examples I've seen of wishes that were carelessly or hastily presented, I still find this viewpoint rather presumptuous.

[Karnak]

Even with the number of examples I've seen of wishes that were carelessly or hastily presented, I still find this viewpoint rather presumptuous.

Perhaps, but it is my experience in the 13 years I have been here.  Most wishes are of the "Gee whiz, I'd have fun with x!" kind and nothing more.  The problem is that most people aren't trained to look for those kinds of failure modes and don't work in environments where it becomes part of their thinking.  I also see people post wishes and get very defensive of any criticism, making it much too personal rather than thinking about if the criticism is valid and, if so, how to improve the idea to address the criticism.

This is common to all game BBSs I have participated on.

[Arlo]

Perhaps, but it is my experience in the 13 years I have been here.  Most wishes are of the "Gee whiz, I'd have fun with x!" kind and nothing more.  The problem is that most people aren't trained to look for those kinds of failure modes and don't work in environments where it becomes part of their thinking.  I also see people post wishes and get very defensive of any criticism, making it much too personal rather than thinking about if the criticism is valid and, if so, how to improve the idea to address the criticism.

This is common to all game BBSs I have participated on.

Between your 13 yrs and my 15 (AW and AH) we probably saw a lot of wishes that appeared to be redundant, non-productive, trollish .... or just not all that well thought-out. Then again, I don't know about you but I've seen wishes made that initially started out as impractical that, through discussion with veteran players and developers, lead either to a refined version of the wish or maybe even took a different direction to a whole new wish ... that were pursued and implemented. I don't pretend to know the true intent of wishers, when it comes to 'not trying to think how their wish could be abused.' It may well be a case of inexperience and ignorance. But then it can also be a case of differing opinion.

[Karnak]

Of course.  I am not trying to discourage wishes from being posted at all.  The more the merrier, but try to think of ways your idea can be abused and try to include remedies for those abuses and try to take criticism in a positive way.

[Arlo]

... but *(contributors should) try to think of ways *(their) ideas may be abused and try to include remedies for those abuses and try to take criticism in a positive way.

*Recommended editing to make this a general statement. 

[Karnak]

That works for me.

[Arlo]

Having side-barred, somewhat, requesting that HT and company pay more attention to specific player's suggestions rather than the merit of suggestions, overall, (as I believe is already the case) is merely expressive of personal favoritism attempting to foster same of the developers.  

[Butcher]

Having side-barred, somewhat, requesting that HT and company pay more attention to specific player's suggestions rather than the merit of suggestions, overall, (as I believe is already the case) is merely expressive of personal favoritism attempting to foster same of the developers.  

Exactly the answer needed. Picking certain people will generate a "Fan boy mentality" - meaning i.e you pick Pand, he would ask for a dozen more P-51 variations instead of other airframes (this is just an example of how favorism can effect in general).

I used to argue for specific things, however over the years I realized of every 1 GOOD wish that came about, there were 99 bad ones. There are some I agree with, and some I don't. HTC should keep it as it is and pick the ones he wants after all its his game.
Were just here to give our ideas and see what happens. In an ironic twist I've had 6 planes picked that I had a wish for in the previous years (dont ask me why, but things like C.205, I-16, Brewster, Hurri 2B etc) and i'm sure hundreds more asked for it long before me, perhaps HTC never read one of my topics I wouldnt know.

Anyhow the idea is to post, and make it count - post photos, documents anything you can get your hands on - it will greatly improve your odds of getting something looked at.

[RedBull1]

Nothing against any of those guys, they're great guys! However this is a bad idea.. and not because of the players, guys like 80HD and pand often do have some very good ideas..but why should HTC only listen to a select few players and no one else?

As you said.. There are many knowledgeable players in AH who have some great suggestions and should be given equal an equal opportunity

[Pand]

Having side-barred, somewhat, requesting that HT and company pay more attention to specific player's suggestions rather than the merit of suggestions, overall, (as I believe is already the case) is merely expressive of personal favoritism attempting to foster same of the developers.  

At no point did Earl say NOT to listen to anyone else's suggestions, all he did is open a separate tread to do an overall +1 on the people he listed.

I gave an extra +1000 to 80hd's most recent post regarding CVs.   I did it in that thread and I'm also doing it here.

 

Pand, he would ask for a dozen more P-51 variations instead of other airframes (this is just an example of how favorism can effect in general).

While this is no longer applicable based off the OP's post... you obviously haven't flown in the past five or six months have you butch?   It's just common sense that if you're not playing the game, your opinion doesn't matter.  Either via the submission of ideas or by trashing them.

and hope you make it back soon!

[MrKrabs]

We would all shad-dup if they would just give us a nuke! 

[Arlo]

At no point did Earl say NOT to listen to anyone else's suggestions, all he did is open a separate tread to do an overall +1 on the people he listed.

True, but Earl's suggestion (wish) was for HT to pay particular attention to the individuals listed by him because he felt their suggestions (wishes), overall, were superior. A truly heartfelt opinion, I'm sure .... but what HTC tends to pay particular attention to is already comprised of recommendations (presented via the entire community that wishes to participate) seen as having merit (adding to an already good game design without undue effort on their part). An attempt to bring his attention to a limited few presumes both lack of attention, already, as well as marginalizes the rest of the community that Earl doesn't think deserves a '+1.' Neither good advice nor a good wish, IMO.