Is it possible to bring AH graphics engine up to par?

[titanic3]

Many MMORPGs offer a hybrid system.  You can pay a monthly fee and have full access, perhaps barring some cosmetic things that everybody has to buy if they want it, or you can purchase things al la carte but play for free.  Sometimes there are other restrictions on the free players, such as loot quality that can drop being capped below where it is if you pay for it.

In terms of AH this could be translated as something like:

Free to play, but only have access to a limited number of units/weapons and perks earned at 1/4th normal rate and having to purchase the access to other units and weapons or you could opt to pay a monthly fee as now and have full access and regular perk earning rates.

FTP units might look something like:

A6M5
B5N2
Bf109G-6
C.202
C-47A
*F4U-1C (perk fighter)
G4M1
He111H
Hurricane Mk IId
La-5FN
LVT(A)2
*Mosquito Mk XVI (perk bomber)
P-51B
Panzer IV F
SBD-5
Sd.Kfz. 251
*Sherman VC (perk GV)
Spitfire Mk V
500lb/250kg class bombs

As a starting lineup that hits key points without giving away the farm, you get a P-51, but not the D, a Bf109, not the K-4, a Spitfire, not the XVI.  All functions in the game can be done, including something to spend perks on, but in all cases there are better, tempting things to get.  Unit costs would probably have to be based on ENY rating or such so a Spitfire Mk I might cost $0.50 and a Spitfire Mk XVI might cost $4.00.

*A strong argument can be made that no perk units should be in the base FTP package, but rather that the temptation to buy something to spend the perk points the player already has earned would be a good way to make more money.


Ultimately, I have no way of knowing the economics of such a system as applied to HTC.

This will just result in a "bad review about a pay to win model". Those planes you listed are marginally inferior to things like the K4, XVI, or P51D. Either you give free players the whole package or make everyone pay for the whole package. Pay to win/pay to unlock superior planes will just result in negative reviews. Gamers in general HATE this business model. I sure as hell do.

[Lusche]

I know it's just a quick example, but with this

A6M5
B5N2
Bf109G-6
C.202
C-47A
*F4U-1C (perk fighter)
G4M1
He111H
Hurricane Mk IId
La-5FN
LVT(A)2
*Mosquito Mk XVI (perk bomber)
P-51B
Panzer IV F
SBD-5
Sd.Kfz. 251
*Sherman VC (perk GV)
Spitfire Mk V
500lb/250kg class bombs

collection I would instantly go from paid to free account.  

[Karnak]

This will just result in a "bad review about a pay to win model". Those planes you listed are marginally inferior to things like the K4, XVI, or P51D. Either you give free players the whole package or make everyone pay for the whole package. Pay to win/pay to unlock superior planes will just result in negative reviews. Gamers in general HATE this business model. I sure as hell do.

I dislike any FTP business model.  I much prefer to just pay $14.99/month as it makes it a lot easier to evaluate the value I get for my money.  I feel that all FTP systems fall into two categories, 1) nickel and dime way more out of you than you'd be paying with a monthly fee for the same service and hope you don't notice or 2) optimistically allow full access other than some cosmetic frills and make not nearly enough money to keep the company in business.

[titanic3]

I dislike any FTP business model.  I much prefer to just pay $14.99/month as it makes it a lot easier to evaluate the value I get for my money.  I feel that all FTP systems fall into two categories, 1) nickel and dime way more out of you than you'd be paying with a monthly fee for the same service and hope you don't notice or 2) optimistically allow full access other than some cosmetic frills and make not nearly enough money to keep the company in business.

#1 is World of Tanks

#2 is League of Legends

Guess which one has millions of playing members? They released a stat a few months ago, over 1 million people were watching the live streams to the competitive tournaments that was being held. So I have no doubt they actually have a few million players instead of a few million accounts. #2 works when the game you have is great and people are willing to shell out money for cosmetic items because they feel the company deserves their money. #1 works when the game is mediocre and the developers pretty much force people to pay in order to win. Sure you can play WoT for free, but it's stupidly hard to do so. I remember having a Tier 8 tank that lost more money in a match by just firing its cannons than it can make since I had a free account. That's just blatant pay to win.

I know AH will never reach League of Legends status. So my opinion is that AH should turn into a pay once and get full access if HTC wants more players. $40 is a reasonable price at the current stage it's in. The graphics does NOT make it fit to be worth $60, the same as a grade AAA game title like Battlefield, Skyrim, Call of Duty or something similar.

[guncrasher]

So I'm guessing you didn't read any of my posts.

Then color me intrigued, do you want a small puny playerbase or do you want a large expansive playerbase? Because people here are crying for more players but then there's people who want AH to remain as small as possible so they can say "hi" to their buds. Make up your mind. If you want small, then let the game stay the way it is until it dies. If you want large, advertise, change the business model, do something to attract more players.

really? you think players are gonna pay to customize the nose art?  or color of their airplane?  cause sure as hell I will not.  and the main reason is because the only time it looks cool is in a video.  while in the game you rarely will notice anything other than the color of airplane if that.





semp

[Karnak]

I know AH will never reach League of Legends status. So my opinion is that AH should turn into a pay once and get full access if HTC wants more players. $40 is a reasonable price at the current stage it's in. The graphics does NOT make it fit to be worth $60, the same as a grade AAA game title like Battlefield, Skyrim, Call of Duty or something similar.

Pay once, get full access is not a viable business strategy for a product with ongoing development costs and maintenance costs such as AH unless, possibly, it is massively popular such as Guild Wars.

[Bear76]

 

#1 is World of Tanks

#2 is League of Legends

Guess which one has millions of playing members? They released a stat a few months ago, over 1 million people were watching the live streams to the competitive tournaments that was being held. So I have no doubt they actually have a few million players instead of a few million accounts. #2 works when the game you have is great and people are willing to shell out money for cosmetic items because they feel the company deserves their money. #1 works when the game is mediocre and the developers pretty much force people to pay in order to win. Sure you can play WoT for free, but it's stupidly hard to do so. I remember having a Tier 8 tank that lost more money in a match by just firing its cannons than it can make since I had a free account. That's just blatant pay to win.

I know AH will never reach League of Legends status. So my opinion is that AH should turn into a pay once and get full access if HTC wants more players. $40 is a reasonable price at the current stage it's in. The graphics does NOT make it fit to be worth $60, the same as a grade AAA game title like Battlefield, Skyrim, Call of Duty or something similar.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

most will play with pos puters that wont be able to handle ah.  my gf's laptop can play wot with about 15 fps at minimum settings while only gets 5 fps in ah with minimum settings.

btw I have a good fast computer and play ah with full frames and everything on except em and shadows at 2096.  I only get about 35 fps and lots of stutters if playing with everything maxed in wot.  and zoomed in, I cant keep track of action in heavy fights.



semp

Heh, I assure you that most players today play with computers that can easily handle WoT and AH. Haven't you ever read Steam user statistics? AH being heavy now doesn't mean anything especially if you use the weird raytracing slider which does nothing visible. With an updated engine it could theoretically run much faster than now and with higher image quality.

[guncrasher]

Heh, I assure you that most players today play with computers that can easily handle WoT and AH. Haven't you ever read Steam user statistics? AH being heavy now doesn't mean anything especially if you use the weird raytracing slider which does nothing visible. With an updated engine it could theoretically run much faster than now and with higher image quality.

which engine would you recommend and what would the advantages be over the "dated" engine we have?   


semp

[titanic3]

really? you think players are gonna pay to customize the nose art?  or color of their airplane?  cause sure as hell I will not.  and the main reason is because the only time it looks cool is in a video.  while in the game you rarely will notice anything other than the color of airplane if that.





semp

Yep, go take a look at almost every F2P game out there. You might not spend, but a lot will if they like the game and are willing to pay money to support a free game and stand out from the free players.

Pay once, get full access is not a viable business strategy for a product with ongoing development costs and maintenance costs such as AH unless, possibly, it is massively popular such as Guild Wars.

Rise of Flight isn't exactly a popular game either, it's still getting updates. I bought the Iron Cross Edition and it's more than enough to keep me entertained ($30).

 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

which engine would you recommend and what would the advantages be over the "dated" engine we have?   


semp

Just look at any of the new titles that came out within the last 5 years. They're all miles ahead graphics engine wise.

[Karnak]

Rise of Flight isn't exactly a popular game either, it's still getting updates. I bought the Iron Cross Edition and it's more than enough to keep me entertained ($30).

Rise of Flight also doesn't match your description of pay once, get full access, nor does it have significant ongoing maintenance costs.

1) It is not pay once.  It is pay for the base game, pay for additional airplanes as they are released.
2) It is not an MMO and hence does not have the ongoing costs of server maintenance and internet traffic.
3) As a single player game you would continue to enjoy your copy even if the production/publisher went away.  If HTC goes under AH is gone.  Sure, you can play on your FE, but the fun aspect of the game is gone.

Just look at any of the new titles that came out within the last 5 years. They're all miles ahead graphics engine wise.

You're aware that most engines won't be suitable due to their short view distance that that using another company's engine is expensive, yes?

[guncrasher]

Just look at any of the new titles that came out within the last 5 years. They're all miles ahead graphics engine wise.

dude i can look at boxes and boxes of pron and they all have some really nice pictures.  but that's not what i am asking.  I am asking you to enlighten me and please point out which graphic's engine would give us better results.  as if I recall correctly you got burned the last time you brought this up.


semp

[guncrasher]

Yep, go take a look at almost every F2P game out there. You might not spend, but a lot will if they like the game and are willing to pay money to support a free game and stand out from the free players.

ok I am asking you the same question as before.  what exactly would you spend extra money to in ah?  do you think people would spend money to get their airplane to look a certain color or most wont give a crap as long as they can fly for free?


semp

[Eric19]

my computer is not that old maybe 5 years old at the most and I still can't run AH full blast and WOT I have to run at minimum graphic settings to even get close to 20fps oh and the slider makes your plane look shiny not in the hangar though but get it out on the runway and if you have a bare metal skin on it you can see reflections in it

Heh, I assure you that most players today play with computers that can easily handle WoT and AH. Haven't you ever read Steam user statistics? AH being heavy now doesn't mean anything especially if you use the weird raytracing slider which does nothing visible. With an updated engine it could theoretically run much faster than now and with higher image quality.