Player Names

[Skyyr]

So you want him to not engage?

No, I'm pointing out that there's a double-standard here. The majority here is saying that allowing nametags would allow people to prey on noobs. However, that doesn't prove to be the case, because what happens in practice is that the noob (or lesser-skilled player) engages someone very skilled and they have no way to know that they're outclassed... until it's too late.

I'm not saying I want them to run, but just as in WWII with unique color schemes like Eric Hartmann's black tulip or the Redtails' red Mustangs, nametags allow players to identify each other. It allows new players to say "Oh yeah, that Zoney guy - he usually goes into steep, climbing turns and usually gets me. Let me try this new move and see if it works against him this time!" It encourages players to evaluate their skill and go into a fight armed with knowledge.

So you want to call him out on 200 or PM because you don't like the way he is flying?

No, it allows players to build reputation. When everyone sees X player refusing to engage, it universally lets everyone know "Hey, this X guy is horrible" and helps identify players who may not even be worth the effort in the future. On the flip side, seeing Y player take out 4 guys 4v1 lets everyone know "Hey, this Y guy is really, really good." Currently, the only way to know who people were fighting is to ask or get an assist.

This change quite literally allows players to directly build reputations, instead of through hearsay.

So you need to know who they are?

It's a competitive game - that's the goal, by definition. Otherwise, why even bother showing who you shot down? Why not say "SYSTEM: You shot down P-51D #3"?

So you want to call him out on 200 or PM's

See above regarding reputation.

[-ammo-]

Perhaps you're not a real pilot. I am, and tracking real planes is tens of times easier than in AH. Why? Because in real life, you can see planes 10+ miles off. In real life, you can see markings on the planes and you can see exhaust stains, you can see dents, etc. - things that make it very easy to identify which aircraft you're looking at.

In AH, you have 6k (that's not even 4 miles) and a preset of X number of skins.

Not only that, but on real WWII planes, pilots' names were written on the side of their aircraft. Eric Hartmann, the leading ace of all time, had a black tulip painted on his aircraft so his opponents would know who he was... and he was readily and easily identified. Many planes ran when they saw the black tulip, to the point he let new pilots fly his plane as the enemy all but refused to engage that airplane, making it safer for the new pilots.

The point, is that not only did real flying in WWII make it exponentially easier to identify an opponent, but that limitations of computers and of AH itself actually make it less realistic by removing nametags than by allowing them.

oohh thanks.  You are correct, I'm not a "real pilot".  However, how does your statement bolster the argument for nametags on enemy AC? There were thousands of AC flying around in each theater and if every allied pilot recognized Hartman's AC (LOL), what would that prove or change.  A 109 was a 109 -  a target. Please explain. I have read Hartman's book.

[Kruel]

Aces High is a simulation of WWII.  Pilots saw an AC detached from a pilots persona and you and kruel think its a good thing to add name tage on enemy AC.  think about it.

Chess pieces fought eachother in a land that doesn't resemble EU in any way in WW2?
 
Persona was EVERYTHING to Aces, from the Red Baron, to Erich Hartmann, they were known for their skills, and they made themselves IDENTIFIABLE with markings/paint schemes on their planes. It's the equivalent of name tags, If there ever was one.

[Skyyr]

Funny.

Why don't you guys just go play the other game that already has this feature, and let all of us who enjoy the various aspects of this game that have been thriving through the generations dating back to the late 80's?

HTC, and the dedicated players who have come, gone, and come back, know what they like, and why they like it, and 'gaming' isn't the number one facet.

It's obvious you guys come from a gamer's background and not from the early days of these flight sims. 

Ah, the ad hominem attack.

This isn't a gaming request, it's a request to allow for a facet of competition. You, like every other poster thus far, has failed to provide one single, valid, logical reason as to why this wouldn't work. That, along with your comment, violates the HTC policy of posting rules.

That said, I come from an actual background in aviation (re: I actually fly the damn things). There are several things that are very easy to do in real aircraft and in a real combat environment that are difficult to do in Aces High due to the limitations of the game itself; this requested change addresses that.

[-ammo-]

Chess pieces fought eachother in a land that doesn't resemble EU in any way in WW2?
 
Persona was EVERYTHING to Aces, from the Red Baron, to Erich Hartmann, they were known for their skills, and they made themselves IDENTIFIABLE with markings/paint schemes on their planes. It's the equivalent of name tags, If there ever was one.

Too much TV

[Lusche]

Too much TV

 

[Skyyr]

oohh thanks.  You are correct, I'm not a "real pilot".  However, how does your statement bolster the argument for nametags on enemy AC? There were thousands of AC flying around in each theater and if every allied pilot recognized Hartman's AC (LOL), what would that prove or change.  A 109 was a 109 -  a target. Please explain. I have read Hartman's book.

Why did Eric Hartmann paint a tulip on his aircraft? He wanted EVERYONE to know it was him. He painted it specifically to make himself identifiable. If you read his book, then you know this.

The same with the Red Baron.

All allied pilots (and most WWII pilots, for that matter) had their names were written on the sides of the fuselage.

Individuality and identification was easily identifiable (and still is) - the mechanics and limitations of the game do not allow us to reproduce this; thus, nametags solve this while using an existing game mechanic.

[GhostCDB]

-1

Enough trash talk in the game as it is, just leave the icons how they are.

[Skyyr]

-1

Enough trash talk in the game as it is, just leave the icons how they are.

So because someone might be insulted, don't turn them on? Again, an emotional argument that has no weight.

There was a conversation on 200 about sex toys the another night - somehow I doubt that some smack talk that might arise from someone being identified when running is less of a concern than overtly sexual and otherwise distasteful conversations already happening.

[Kruel]

Too much TV

Nice, what does this mean?

[Zoney]

Ah, the ad hominem attack.

You, like every other poster thus far, has failed to provide one single, valid, logical reason as to why this wouldn't work.

The reason that you are choosing to ignore is that players who do not want to be harassed for what ever reason would be.  Even more so then happens now.

[Wiley]

You, like every other poster thus far, has failed to provide one single, valid, logical reason as to why this wouldn't work.

Preferring the unknown is the simple reason.  Having to evaluate who/what you're up against is part of the game.  You can take the educated guess by plane and skin and area of operation if you've had an interaction with somebody earlier in your gameplay session but it's not the same as knowing in no uncertain terms that it's Name Player X who fights with this style most of the time.

You apparently want to know what you're up against all the time.  To a lot of people myself included that takes away a lot of the mystery and a lot of depth of an engagement.  It allows you to prioritize your targets far too effectively.

Wiley.

[-ammo-]

Nice, what does this mean?

What I mean is in combat, pilots saw an enemy AC, not a specific person.  They attacked or otherwise.  They didn't try to identify anything other than meatballs, crosses or stars.  IOW, HTC has it right, right now.

[GhostCDB]

So because someone might be insulted, don't turn them on? Again, an emotional argument that has no weight.

There was a conversation on 200 about sex toys the another night - somehow I doubt that some smack talk that might arise from someone being identified when running is less of a concern than overtly sexual and otherwise distasteful conversations already happening.

 

You will come to realize that "emotional arguments" have a strong weight. If it is just going to cause more provocation
why would HTC encourage it?

[Skyyr]

The reason that you are choosing to ignore is that players who do not want to be harassed for what ever reason would be.  Even more so then happens now.

Which is an emotional argument. If a player harrasses you, report them or squelch them - HTC is very good about taking action. There are mechanisms in place to mitigate this, making the "harassment" angle a non-issue to begin with.

The core of the issue here is what is actually being stated: Players don't want to be identified for their actions. They prefer to fly anonymously and not be identified. Let's apply that principle now to ANY major gaming event, sports event, or even real life. What other sport allows you to play, where you don't identify yourself whatsoever except through the team you're on? None.

A nametag is like a car license plate - it holds you responsible for your actions in-game. Nothing more. Those who have nothing to hide should have nothing to be afraid of. Those who are afraid of others causing problems obviously have a problem with HTC's squelch and report system, which is another issue entirely and should be addressed as such.

Once again, the concern of "smack talk" is irrelevant, as there are already devices in place to address this.