MA Off-peak is dying

[pembquist]

A lot of these suggestions are essentially abandoning the entire concept of a flight simulator.  I get that we want to attract new players, but sacrificing what this game is at its core is entirely the wrong way to go about doing so. 

I can't speak for others, but for me, the difficulty and learning curve were a very large part of the draw for me to begin with.

If HTC wants to bring in more players, the answer is marketing.  You advertise, you update your website (so much needed here - there's a whole thread for it, but in short: a blog for generating lots of fresh content - which will help the next part, optimizing the site for search engine visibility {this is SEVERELY lacking at present}, and modernizing its design), extend your trial period to allow new users to get their feet under them before having to pay, and maybe offer incentives for referrals.  Say, get a month or so free for any referrals that subscribe after their trial.

The loss of quality players that would likely result from scaling down the realism and difficulty would FAR outweigh any benefits of an influx new, inexperienced, and unskilled (not that I have much room to talk here) arcade-jockeys.   

I don't think anybody wants to dumb down the game. I know what you mean about the challenge of the learning curve. That said if there was a little non compulsory structure to enhance learning I think you would see more free trial to subscriber conversions. Everything you say about marketing is true but I would argue that before spending on that the game should be better prepared to convert new players, it just isn't now. The low hanging fruit has fallen and the new crop is harder to pick.

[Vraciu]

A lot of these suggestions are essentially abandoning the entire concept of a flight simulator.  I get that we want to attract new players, but sacrificing what this game is at its core is entirely the wrong way to go about doing so. 

I can't speak for others, but for me, the difficulty and learning curve were a very large part of the draw for me to begin with.

If HTC wants to bring in more players, the answer is marketing.  You advertise, you update your website (so much needed here - there's a whole thread for it, but in short: a blog for generating lots of fresh content - which will help the next part, optimizing the site for search engine visibility {this is SEVERELY lacking at present}, and modernizing its design), extend your trial period to allow new users to get their feet under them before having to pay, and maybe offer incentives for referrals.  Say, get a month or so free for any referrals that subscribe after their trial.

The loss of quality players that would likely result from scaling down the realism and difficulty would FAR outweigh any benefits of an influx new, inexperienced, and unskilled (not that I have much room to talk here) arcade-jockeys.   

Letting noobs have the computing gunsight until five or ten kills in is not sacrificing anything.   It baits the hook.

[Vraciu]

...

How about increasing the trial period from two weeks to a month? Two weeks possibly too short to get anywhere on the learning curve.

...

This couldn't hurt.  They could look at the stats and see what happens.  If it drives numbers it was a good idea.

[fd ski]

Smaller maps. Takes way too long to find and get into a good fight. When numbers are down (<200 people in arena) - automatically smaller map.

[SirNuke]

change the map rotation plz?

[wpeters]

                                                           SUMMARY OF THIS DISCUSSION

1 Two weeks more of free subscription.       I.e. 1 month.

2 Lead computing gun-sight for the first 10kills

3 Smaller Maps for off peak ours ( under 200) people

4  Marketing ( Aces High as unique.) Point out why it is better than other FPS flight simulators.

6 Tutorial

7 Movies made by players.  (i.e sent in by other players)

8 Run a add in War birds magazine.



Anything else I am missing

[Mister Fork]

                                                           SUMMARY OF THIS DISCUSSION

1 Two weeks more of free subscription.       I.e. 1 month.

2 Lead computing gun-sight for the first 10kills

3 Smaller Maps for off peak ours ( under 200) people

4  Marketing ( Aces High as unique.) Point out why it is better than other FPS flight simulators.

6 Tutorial

7 Movies made by players.  (i.e sent in by other players)

8 Run a add in War birds magazine.



Anything else I am missing

9 Up subscription fees to 19.95 per month

[Lusche]

9 Up subscription fees to 19.95 per month

And you are sure this won't mean less subscribers?

[SirNuke]

9 Up subscription fees to 19.95 per month

  yeah right Hello this 2013, not 1993

[PFactorDave]

And you are sure this won't mean less subscribers?

If anything they should drop the pricing to 9.95, in my opinion.  You don't increase your base by raising prices.

But I would add...

10.  With the release of the new terrain system, re-release the game as Aces High 3 to generate a little new buzz.

And I really think you can give the LCG to noobs for much longer than 10 kills. 

[Vraciu]

yeah right Hello this 2013, not 1993

Exactly, smacktard. Kids buy used games for 29 bucks at GameStop and play as much as they wish for no charge.  Way to go Einstein with the whole reasoning thing....

[SirNuke]

Exactly, smacktard. Kids buy used games for 29 bucks at GameStop and play as much as they wish for no charge.  Way to go Einstein with the whole reasoning thing....

    

[Vraciu]

9 Up subscription fees to 19.95 per month

Nobody would care but I would quit with that price...   Not worth it.

[BluBerry]

If anything they should drop the pricing to 9.95, in my opinion.  You don't increase your base by raising prices.

But I would add...

10.  With the release of the new terrain system, re-release the game as Aces High 3 to generate a little new buzz.

And I really think you can give the LCG to noobs for much longer than 10 kills. 

+1..

holy !@$% PFactorDave is back?! Good to see you sir.  

[Ack-Ack]

2 Lead computing gun-sight for the first 10kills

It's not a good idea to enable the LCGS for new players for a limited time as it does really nothing for them at that point and gives then an unfair advantage over the regular player base.  If you really want to help new players, the other suggestions about a tutorial for new players or a 'training academy' (similar to the one Air Warrior used to have) or even a dedicated new player arena (again, similar to what Air Warrior had) would be more beneficial in not only helping new players get over the steep learning curve but also increase retention rates.

If you were to give a new player the LCGS in the MA for a limited time, all you are doing is a crutch that he's going to be forced to rely on and once you remove it, the new player will flounder and in most cases, would probably end up leaving the game.

ack-ack