Home page love

[deadstikmac]

I am going too take a stab at trying too add things such as NEW screenshots and a few videos... The reasoning behind this is:

I had a friend over last night and showed him the game. He was instantly hooked. So as a small test I got him to the main page and asked him to go through the whole process of account creation without my help. I just wanted to watch what and how he used the website. The very first thing he clicked on was the movies and screenshots and said: "if I was a new player this would make me not even look any further into the game"


Got me thinking.... New players in the first week want to be self sufficient or as much as they can be. He did not even think to ask me about the forums as a source of information as he tried to find the information on the help page of the website. Which eventuly brought him to ahwiki and even then he was lost.

We keep suggesting to new players how and where they can find information... After they have figured out some things on their own. After being the key word. I am going to personally take time once a week and contribute to the Front Page of the website and less to the forums.... What say you?

[Latrobe]

When I first look into a game, the first thing I do is look at gameplay footage on YouTube. Pretty screenshots and cinematic videos are nice and all, but you don't really get a feel for how the game really looks and feels. That was one of the major reasons I started putting gameplay footage up on YouTube. If someone new wants to see how this game plays I think the first thing they do is go to YouTube and search for "Aces High 2 Gameplay". I think Vudu has the same idea with his gameplay footage he posts.

What if HTC put a video right up front and center on the homepage showcasing actual in-game footage? We, the players, could even do all the work for them. We can cut out a small clip of our favorite moments (a real nice crossing shot kill, huge buff raid, squad chatter on climbout while flying in formation, etc) and make a really nice 2-3 minute video. When we get a graphics update then we can do it all over again. 

[deadstikmac]

They could have a front page video contest once a month where the winner gets his video on the front page.

[guncrasher]

I only joined the game because old squadies from the 327th told me about it.  so I downloaded the game, about a year later I found out there was a bb. 3 years later I found out there was a wiki.  imagine what I can find out about the game tomorrow.


semp

[Volron]

One of the reasons it took me so long to finally try out Aces High (other than forgetting that I had bookmarked it for later look-see) was the lack of screenshots.  Specifically, screenshots of what planes/gvs/boats are available.  I like to see multiple screenshots (at least 3) of each plane/gv/boat, not just the single you see in the Wiki.  Some planes listed in the wiki don't have an in-game shot at all.  And a lot of the ones that are in there are a bit small, far too small in my opinion.


When I finally decided to look in detail and try it out, it wasn't a, "Ooooo...  I've gotta try this out.".  It was more like a, "Let's take a jump into the unknown and hope for the best.".  Primary reason being the lack of screenshots.


As for in-game footage, plain and simple is best way to go.  Not only of you getting kills and bombing stuff, but of you being shotdown and getting bombed as well.  Show BOTH sides of the coin.  And you can't just show fighters, fighters, fighters; with a hint of bombers and a drop of gv's.  Got to cover more Bombers and gvs on the films.  Not everyone joins because of fighters after all.

I made "the jump" because I was curious about the strategic aspect of Aces High.  The thought of flying bombers to hit strategic targets is very appealing to me (hell, I'm getting the urge to login right now to do just that because I'm talking about it ).  The lack of screenshots of this type of action, yeah...

[Pepprr]

What if HTC put a video right up front and center on the homepage showcasing actual in-game footage?

This one is on the front page at the moment and it is definitely my favorite video done so far.
Just something about it that makes me want to play.. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLvWpIEOXFM

[Babalonian]

I am going too take a stab at trying too add things such as NEW screenshots and a few videos... The reasoning behind this is:

I had a friend over last night and showed him the game. He was instantly hooked. So as a small test I got him to the main page and asked him to go through the whole process of account creation without my help. I just wanted to watch what and how he used the website. The very first thing he clicked on was the movies and screenshots and said: "if I was a new player this would make me not even look any further into the game"


Got me thinking.... New players in the first week want to be self sufficient or as much as they can be. He did not even think to ask me about the forums as a source of information as he tried to find the information on the help page of the website. Which eventuly brought him to ahwiki and even then he was lost.

We keep suggesting to new players how and where they can find information... After they have figured out some things on their own. After being the key word. I am going to personally take time once a week and contribute to the Front Page of the website and less to the forums.... What say you?

First beer is on me.    (Thank you)

[The Fugitive]

There are a dozen videos on the web page as well as a screen shot windows that puts up a random screen shot from a pool each time you refresh the page.

I agree that the website doesn't do a very good job at "selling" the game. It looks to have been designed as an information site more than a "LOOK AT ME !!!!" type site. Checking out the competitions sites shows they are all about the pizzazz trying to lure new customers in with their excitement!

[Babalonian]

The "windowshopping" issues though can best be resolved by someone donating some time like Mac.  IE: the old videos randomly sampled on the frontpage with the newer or "better" screnshots (and videos), can be easily resolved if the random sampling is limited to only a select list of "premier" pictures and videos.  Now, who has time in the next couple of days to sit down and review screenshots and videos and compile this list?...  I don't, but if that is what Mac is offering, then power to him.  I hope he shares/emails that list to HTCs and they can find the time to impliment it.

Same with compiling some fluffier-n-puffier "inventory" of the game's available planes and GVs (and boats).  If I understand what Mac's windowshopping friend was trying to do: The Wiki is lacking in some areas or is very dense with information in others, thus having some trim-downed list with more shine (IE: a flash ap) of what this game has to offer with a purty picture or two and just abbreviated stats I think is what is lacking there.

[Arlo]

This one is on the front page at the moment and it is definitely my favorite video done so far.
Just something about it that makes me want to play.. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLvWpIEOXFM

Nice. Facebook sharing worthy. (Look, I'm advertising.) 

[deadstikmac]

A small "tune up" if you will just to make finding information a one click adventure and not a scavenger hunt.  

The way he described it too me was:

"The front page made me want to see screenshots and videos of shyt going boom." (he then clicked on the top left corner) "uh... Wtf is this? I thought there were videos here. How do I find, never mind where is the list of planes I can fly?" (random clicking on main page content not even noticing the bar at the top with the drop downs) "dewd wtf is this... They need to make it obvious on what to click for retards like me"



Which is where the light bulb came on for me and this idea was recognized as something I or we collectively can or should do.  


Edit:
Makes me nervous when I see Arlo posting   

[deadstikmac]

First beer is on me.    (Thank you)

 

[deadstikmac]

And just strictly as an example!

Embedded YouTube videos of players that can be clicked and played like found on my site about Ripleys Pawns & Ponys.  Www.flightlinepodcast.com

[BaldEagl]

A small "tune up" if you will just to make finding information a one click adventure and not a scavenger hunt.  

The way he described it too me was:

"The front page made me want to see screenshots and videos of shyt going boom." (he then clicked on the top left corner) "uh... Wtf is this? I thought there were videos here. How do I find, never mind where is the list of planes I can fly?" (random clicking on main page content not even noticing the bar at the top with the drop downs) "dewd wtf is this... They need to make it obvious on what to click for retards like me"



Which is where the light bulb came on for me and this idea was recognized as something I or we collectively can or should do.  


Edit:
Makes me nervous when I see Arlo posting   

I'm sorry but if your friend doesn't know about top and/or side menu bars on web sites (every site has them) then he's a hopeless case.

[deadstikmac]

I'm sorry but if your friend doesn't know about top and/or side menu bars on web sites (every site has them) then he's a hopeless case.

It was more about videos, screenshots, more visibility for the Trainers Website, just a bunch of small things which might make a difference to those not in the know whom are looking at the front page for the first time.  


Edit:
He is not the brightest crayon in the box at times