Longer Free Trial

[Triton28]

Don't semp my thread bro

[bustr]

You missed Hitech's wish that we would know the differences between our good wishes and our bad wishes.

Barring that, we seem to only wish for ourselves or without showing we are willing to look at both sides of the wish. Which implies you believe it's Hitech's job to do that. Rather than you as the wisher to be as honest about the initial good as well as listing unintended consequences. After all, wishes are like mini business proposals since you want Hitech to change his business based solely on your word alone.

In some respects the wishlist could be separated into three sub categories.

1. - Asking for aircraft, vehicle's and toys only has the downside of fitting the inclusion requirements and if Hitech wants it in his game.
2. - Asking for modifications to rides and toys.
3. - Asking for new game functions or changes to existing functions is asking for coding changes to the game, which fit into a business proposal change. Asking for a longer free trial period fits into a business proposal change.

And business proposals in any for profit company require impact and exposure statements, since you are talking about management investing funds in your idea.

 

[Triton28]

You missed Hitech's wish that we would know the differences between our good wishes and our bad wishes.

No I didn't.  This is a good wish.  If I didn't think so, I wouldn't have wished for it.

Barring that, we seem to only wish for ourselves or without showing we are willing to look at both sides of the wish. Which implies you believe it's Hitech's job to do that. Rather than you as the wisher to be as honest about the initial good as well as listing unintended consequences. After all, wishes are like mini business proposals since you want Hitech to change his business based solely on your word alone.

Just tell me, in as few words as you can - How will the extension of the free trial result in rampant abuse? 

[100Coogn]

I've been playing some other games recently, and was chatting on Teamspeak with another guy and the conversation shifted to WWII history, and specifically WWII aviation.  He mentioned that he flew War Thunder a bit and liked it, so I say to myself, "Self, tell this dude about Aces High".  So I did.

He downloads it, and we play for a bit.  I set about explaining everything to him and it hits me... there ain't no way I can get this guy up to speed and hooked in two weeks.  It's one thing if he can play every day for 6 hours for two weeks... and we can be on at the same time, but with jobs, families, and other games and hobby interests.  No way.

How much longer is up for debate, but two weeks don't cut it. 

+1  I like this idea.  This game has quite a steep learning curve.  2 weeks just isn't enough time for a new player to even get familiar with the basics of the game.

Coogan

[Tinkles]

No I didn't.  This is a good wish.  If I didn't think so, I wouldn't have wished for it.

Just tell me, in as few words as you can - How will the extension of the free trial result in rampant abuse? 

Simple Answer : people would abuse it.


Explanation.. of his explanation (his post before the one you replied to), if I wanted, I could make a trial account, fly for a month, make a new one and do it again.  Unless HTC has some way of preventing that, then it would be abused. Someone returning like ManAWar or Midway    , it's about the only con in-game that I can think of. The only other con would be finances, HTC is sticking their neck out further, offering a longer trial, but no guarentee that the player will stay just because they extended the trial.. however, there isn't a guarentee they are going to subscribe if it's just at 2 weeks either.

[Oldman731]

Simple Answer : people would abuse it.


Explanation.. of his explanation (his post before the one you replied to), if I wanted, I could make a trial account, fly for a month, make a new one and do it again. 

This is so for a two-week intro, as well as a 24-hour intro. 

As some have mentioned, interested persons fifteen or twenty years ago had already been playing Flight Simulator, Chuck Yeager, Battlehawks 1942 and SWOTL...the AW manual was explicit that the game designers assumed you knew how to take off, land and generally navigate a computer plane.  I don't believe that assumption holds with the current generation of interested virtual pilots.  So I think the OP is correct, and it would be nice to have a longer grace period for newbs.

- oldman

[Triton28]

I am assuming HTC can track IP addresses and if a player continually reups a new account, they'll be able to find out.

[The Fugitive]

Simple Answer : people would abuse it.


Explanation.. of his explanation (his post before the one you replied to), if I wanted, I could make a trial account, fly for a month, make a new one and do it again.  Unless HTC has some way of preventing that, then it would be abused. Someone returning like ManAWar or Midway    , it's about the only con in-game that I can think of. The only other con would be finances, HTC is sticking their neck out further, offering a longer trial, but no guarentee that the player will stay just because they extended the trial.. however, there isn't a guarentee they are going to subscribe if it's just at 2 weeks either.

If this were true 2 weekers would abuse it as well.

Giving a new player a couple extra weeks doesn't cost HTC any money as all the systems are there and they are paying for it all ready. If they had to add more servers to accommodate longer free time then I could see your "cost" issue, but they don't need to as it has been said by HTC that the servers aren't at 10% capacity.

When Fighter Ace was closing I think HTC extended the free time to 30 days. So it can be done.

Personally I think they need two things. A training program That shows up first time you open the game. Nothing to long, but a short video explaining the training arena, how off line practice and missions DON'T count toward your free trail time and to encourage new players to get familiar with the game BEFORE logging in, along with a couple print outs.... dot commands, keyboard commands, and links for "More info" like the new videos Skuzzy is adding the trainers site ,BBS, and so on. Force feed the availability for HELP to these people.

Second, an extra couple weeks on the free ride. A way for them to fly in the training arena with out it counting toward their trial time would be good to. Keep the no damage, but at least this way they could get training without feeling like they are "wasting" their "free" time in training. They could get some time working on flying against people instead of drones, a bit more realistic taste of game play. Maybe a 30 free trail for the training area that is separate from the 30 day game trial.

They need to give these new players a chance to survive and learn long enough to get hooked.

[ImADot]

It might not be a small effort, but how about something like this:

40 in-game hours for free, even if it takes a player a month to use them. Time spent in the Training Arena does not count against these hours. This way, new players can spend as much time as they need to practice and get help, and still have plenty of time available for "the real thing".

[Triton28]

It might not be a small effort, but how about something like this:

40 in-game hours for free, even if it takes a player a month to use them. Time spent in the Training Arena does not count against these hours. This way, new players can spend as much time as they need to practice and get help, and still have plenty of time available for "the real thing".

I like this idea. 

[Tinkles]

It might not be a small effort, but how about something like this:

40 in-game hours for free, even if it takes a player a month to use them. Time spent in the Training Arena does not count against these hours. This way, new players can spend as much time as they need to practice and get help, and still have plenty of time available for "the real thing".

Works for me.



To those who responded to me : Oldman, Triton, Fugitive

That's fine, was just saying a worst-case-scenario.  Since that apparently wouldn't be an issue, then I fully support it.   I really like the idea of hours rather than days, because if you only fly for 1 hour, that counts as a day for the trial.

[bustr]

As HTC posts more "How To" videos at their YouTube page, much of this will be moot for the getting started and game mechanics problems. If all of the future videos are as professional and to the point as the initial ones there now, new players will get through the game play and game mechanics issues quickly. The thing that keeps you coming back, is how you were treated by the community as your first impression. That ancient bit of wisdom most mothers tell their children. "First impressions count."

The OP identified the real magic in retaining a new player. Ourselves and our involvement in helping others to like our game as we do. HTC is already doing their part in the face of a new generation of potential customers not growing up with flight sims. Getting their introduction instructions and How To answers for games from videos.

So the OP has finally had that transformative realization about new player first impressions. Very similar to young adults when they start paying taxes and mortgages. And discover themselves thinking and talking just like their stogy boring parents did to them about life. Then the first thing out of their mouth, government(HTC) has got to do something about this horrible tragedy. Supported with a laundry list of why individuals "Can't" accomplish it.

[SlipKnt]

 

I also like ImADot's add to the point. 

Great idea!

[Triton28]

Blustr, you really should just answer how there's going to be rampant abuse with lengthening the trial rather than typing just to hear the click of the keys.  There is no metaphor between HTC and government.  I haven't had a transformative experience.  I've long thought this game should have a longer free trial.  The only reason I brought it up was because it was fresh on my mind.

<3

[guncrasher]

Blustr, you really should just answer how there's going to be rampant abuse with lengthening the trial rather than typing just to hear the click of the keys.  There is no metaphor between HTC and government.  I haven't had a transformative experience.  I've long thought this game should have a longer free trial.  The only reason I brought it up was because it was fresh on my mind.

<3

wont bustr telling you exactly how it can be abused will basically get him banned?

but you are still missing one basic point.  bringing bustr onboard to your idea doesnt mean crap.  the person you have to convince is hitech.

but in reality 2 or 4 weeks is not enough to get somebody to "learn" the game.  heck I was here for a year before I found out there was a bb and for that long I thought the training room was for squads to train together.

what would really help the new player is an easy to access list of basic things.  something like

-a tutorial on how to set up your stick. 
-which way is the training arena and what it is for
-set up a time with a trainer while online.  just something like and ingame message board "i'll be here tomorrow at 3pm will anybody be available".  and hopefully an answer back in an email saying we dont have any at that time but 4pm is good.
-some really basic stuff like that that we take for granted but makes a big difference to a new guy.



semp