Help for Protential New Players

[earl1937]

  I am sure Hi Tech has thought of this, but, looks to me like, if when someone downloaded the game on their PC, considering if he or she is not a trained pilot, how about a required 1 hour training period for them! I think it would help retain more pilots as a lot of people get discouraged and leave after their two week trail period. I wonder if there are any figures on how many players stay after two weeks and how many leave? Might be a clue there as to why we are not growing as much as I would like for us to grow.
Since this is a "game" and we want people to try it and then stay, looks to me like we should do some things to encourage people to stay!
Suggestion, during the two week trail period, everytime a mission is posted on the "pickup Missions" link in the hangar, a newbie gets a PM, stating that a mission has been posted? Most new guys love the missions and that would certainly help generate some excitement on their part to stay in the game. Don't say, well its posted and people are notified in the text buffer because that is not always the case. Most newbies don't even know how to step up their radio bar for use! I know that there are links in the training section for things like this, but for what ever reason, I had to help I don't know how many guys set up their radio bar to where it is useful to them. Most people who down load the game just want to "kick the tires, light the fires and leap off into the blue and start shooting down bad guys". With a little knowledge, they would enjoy the game more, and probably stay!!
Sorry guys, didn't mean to ramble, but we have all got to do what we can to encourage new members to stay in the game, or it will go away!

[Zacherof]

I like it it

[Onyx13]

I am with you. I have been playing for about 4 years now and when I first logged on I had no clue what was going on. The trainer I contacted was a total dick. All he would tell me is read more about it. If dumb luck did not rear it head. When I met a couple of guy's that knew what was going on and they helped me with the REAL basics of the game, I would have given up in a week.

[EskimoJoe]

I am with you. I have been playing for about 4 years now and when I first logged on I had no clue what was going on. The trainer I contacted was a total dick. All he would tell me is read more about it. If dumb luck did not rear it head. When I met a couple of guy's that knew what was going on and they helped me with the REAL basics of the game, I would have given up in a week.

I'd bet my next paycheck that they weren't a real trainer! I admit that reading up on things will give you greater insight on certain things, but all you need to know can be explained and (almost) every question can be answered by the real trainers!

[uptown]

EskimoJoe raises a valid point. 

[matt]

+1  Put tosh in charge.

[SEraider]

Trainers are typically volunteers and to coordinate a time can be difficult even in a 2 week trial.

However, I can see that to improve retention of new players, perhaps a message pop-up for a 2 week trial can say something like "Weekly New Player training to take place Friday, 10pm eastern in the TA or Training Arena at Field A3." 

Turn off the mics except for the trainer and go over the basics of the game in 1 hour.   

[Aspen]

I like it except for the "required" part.  An interactive tutorial they could run offline on the basics would be a big help.

[earl1937]

I like it except for the "required" part.  An interactive tutorial they could run offline on the basics would be a big help.

The tutorial idea is a great idea! I know they have links for all these things we have talked about, but nothing beats a voice re-enforcing things that you read!

A good instructor is one who can verbally say something which will allow the student to make a picture of what the instructor is talking about in his or her mind!

[dedalos]

I'd bet my next paycheck that they weren't a real trainer! I admit that reading up on things will give you greater insight on certain things, but all you need to know can be explained and (almost) every question can be answered by the real trainers!

I ll take that bed. Have you met badboy or his 'son'?  Pm me for directions on where to send your paycheck. Thank you!

[Dragon]

I am with you. I have been playing for about 4 years now and when I first logged on I had no clue what was going on. The trainer I contacted was a total dick. All he would tell me is read more about it. If dumb luck did not rear it head. When I met a couple of guy's that knew what was going on and they helped me with the REAL basics of the game, I would have given up in a week.

and just look at what a train wreck we made outa ya.  

[fuzeman]

   As an ex-Trainer, official at that, many of the new players do not want to put in any time and minimal effort to get good results in Aces High. It doesn't work that way. They ask about shortcuts and cheats, note- not as in actual cheating but more unlocking powers or abilities that you need to learn for Aces High opposed to 'ALt-F4' for more 'skill'.
   And you may not like it but dogfighting is a thing that you will get more out of it if you read some stuff and build a little foundation of your own to build further on, just for terminology and communications sake. You may not understand alot of it, if you have no flight sim experience, but as you learn and train, with an official trainer, the stuff you didn't understand will come into focus and you progress. We all started off at the bottom rung of the ladder, its up you the player how far up that ladder they want to climb, and chances are if you try to skip a few rungs you're going to fall off and land on your keester.
   And as mentioned you don't need a official Trainer but you do need to make sure the person 'teaching' you just isn't throwing BS at you to see if it will stick.

[BaldEagl]

Suggestion, during the two week trail period, everytime a mission is posted on the "pickup Missions" link in the hangar, a newbie gets a PM, stating that a mission has been posted?

I got someone to join once.  I got to fly with him once during his two week free trial.  He quit because he thought people were always telling him to do things (probably in the text buffer) and didn't get that it was up to him to do what he wanted so he didn't subscribe.  I'd guess your plan might backfire on someone like that.

[Tinkles]

I got someone to join once.  I got to fly with him once during his two week free trial.  He quit because he thought people were always telling him to do things (probably in the text buffer) and didn't get that it was up to him to do what he wanted so he didn't subscribe.  I'd guess your plan might backfire on someone like that.

Not to mention would get annoying after awhile.

Join the mission!
JOIN!
JOIN THE MISSION !&U!*(&!(*&#!

17 in need 60 more!

Seriously, gets old. While he didn't HAVE to join the mission, I understand why he would be upset over it. I know I am when it happens.

Tinkles

<<S>>

[Vudu15]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMrdrYzbuQY&list=PL54E5CE4C59347B00&index=1

tell your new guys.