Building the next generation of AH2 sticks

[mthrockmor]

So Latrobe is gone....he and others will be back IF all the pieces come together.

Hitech is apparently close (2 weeks or so) to releasing their new graphics based AH2. Maybe it is called AH3.

In the mean time, something has to be done about the culture of AH. I've spent the past decade dealing with small organizations and culture. All organizations have culture. Just as all people have character. Some good, some great, most mediocre to horrible. The culture of AH has become arcadish, which is likely the most positive description of it. Evidence of that is whenever these threads show up we have a healthy dose of veterans who say nothing can be done, or its always been like this, or it doesn't matter, yada yada yada. Those are the voices of failed organizations, which I've walked through the halls of over the past decade.

Top notch organizations speak and act differently.

The challenge here is we are a grabastic organization. In fact, we are a random gathering of varied interests with some version of why we play this game. It makes the cultural shift challenge even greater. Yet, we've got to find a way. Imagine, the new graphics thing comes out, HiTech gets serious about marketing ( ) and we have a flood of new sticks. What will they see? Nearly flawless screen images of PonyDs zooming back and forth in their ack?! Bomb and bail Lancs?! Ho shot after ho shot?!

Long gone is the honor of being able to drag a pursuing fighter out of a "horde" to have a 1 v 1, and everyone would let it happen!!! I don't know how many times that happened!! And I can't remember the last time I've been able to do that!! Do you remember Titanic Tuesday?! Or, organized missions that would attract 20-30 birds?! It can be done, and needs to be done with the launch of the new graphics.

Two things need to happen. As HiTech finalizes the graphic modification they need to get serious about some changes that may facilitate a better environment. Some great ideas have floated around, that MAY work. They need to be tested. The sideswitch timeframe, possibly going to two countries, perks for joining a mission that captures a base, adding small convoys of Liberty ships to attack and defend, etc. This is on HiTech and right now would be a great time to test drive some of these. Example, roll out one map that has only two countries. I know this was done 10 years ago, though much has changed since then. Change the sideswitch, see what happens. Ideas about two-weekers, etc. Perks for joining missions.

The second thing that needs to happen is cultural change among the pilots. The ideal is stronger squad actions. Sticks should be incentivized to participate in squads. And yes, a fine line between squad and horde, though clear difference. Ideas like Titanic Tuesday, etc. Integrity matters, and right now it is the culture of arcade and whine.

With the second action, I would suggest a room for squad leaders, or interested parties to begin brainstorming, planning and seeing what can or should be done. And for HiTech to listen.

Boo

[Coalcat1]

Very well said, I joined the game about a year ago, this fall will be one year, and I do just about everything in here. I furball when nothing else is going on with my squad, I LOVE fighting the horde, I have flown almost 2 hour escort missions, 3 hour bomber missions, and every now and then I'll GV. I can land 5 kills in just about anything, with the exception of 109s, and think of myself as a decent pilot, and no more. In the short time I have been playing, I have seen a drastic decrees in player skill. Allmost all I see in the MA consists of HOing and running LAs, spit 16s and BnZing Ponys. I personally fly the Mossie 6, P51s, P47, F6F, F4U-1, and the spit and hurri 1. Most of the planes I fly can't catch most of the easier planes to fly that inhabit the MA, and if I were to start flying said easier flying , I feel I sink to that level. I only take HO shots when I'm out numbered and in my mossie, or fighting a zeke, ki43, or a brew. Most of my MA 1v1s take place off peak hours, and have meet some very honorable enemys. Have been in a 5v1 with 4 of the other bish staying out so one of them could 1v1 me. That said, 1v1s make up about say... 10% of my fights. The rest I'm out numbered, they are outnumbered   or it's a many v many fight. If I run out of ammo or fuel during a fight, I will sometimes pull up to the enemy AC, rock my wings in <S> and pull away, often resulting in them breaking after me and trying to kill me...    I have even flown escort for enemy buffs, and there are a few screen shots of me doing so. I guess I'm just part of a dieing breed in the game who believes on honor...  
     EDIT: I've also asked a few guys from the knights who a few guys I've fought are, since both us survived and I wanted to give them a big <S>. One of the few resons I stick around are some realy good fights I've had, a recent one that comes to mind was my F6F v Jeep00's F4U-1A, where we both wound up being critically damaged, but I wasn't able to pull out of a split S due to my damage

[Coalcat1]

The moral of the above story is that most players coming in, and staying only care about wining the fight and landing kills by any means possible, wether that be HOing, ramming, picking, ganging, vulching, running, ack hugging, stick suturing, ect. But hopfully there will alway be ones that believe in honor in a cartoon plane game.     

[Panic]

Coalcat1, I am totally on board with you, the idea of chivalry in the skies of Aces High is just that now a days, just an idea. There are very few pilots who are chivalrous and and would gladly die to those pilots if I can't get them first simply because they won't chase you down if you out of ammo or fuel just to kill you. +1

[Copprhed]

Thanks, boo, for a great post. Unfortunately, I've been more of a complainer than a builder lately, and as of now, I resolve to correct that. I think the ideas you suggest are good, and we all can work with them, no matter our playing style. Thanks again 

[The Fugitive]

So Latrobe is gone....he and others will be back IF all the pieces come together.

Hitech is apparently close (2 weeks or so) to releasing their new graphics based AH2. Maybe it is called AH3.

In the mean time, something has to be done about the culture of AH. I've spent the past decade dealing with small organizations and culture. All organizations have culture. Just as all people have character. Some good, some great, most mediocre to horrible. The culture of AH has become arcadish, which is likely the most positive description of it. Evidence of that is whenever these threads show up we have a healthy dose of veterans who say nothing can be done, or its always been like this, or it doesn't matter, yada yada yada. Those are the voices of failed organizations, which I've walked through the halls of over the past decade.

Top notch organizations speak and act differently.

The challenge here is we are a grabastic organization. In fact, we are a random gathering of varied interests with some version of why we play this game. It makes the cultural shift challenge even greater. Yet, we've got to find a way. Imagine, the new graphics thing comes out, HiTech gets serious about marketing ( ) and we have a flood of new sticks. What will they see? Nearly flawless screen images of PonyDs zooming back and forth in their ack?! Bomb and bail Lancs?! Ho shot after ho shot?!

Long gone is the honor of being able to drag a pursuing fighter out of a "horde" to have a 1 v 1, and everyone would let it happen!!! I don't know how many times that happened!! And I can't remember the last time I've been able to do that!! Do you remember Titanic Tuesday?! Or, organized missions that would attract 20-30 birds?! It can be done, and needs to be done with the launch of the new graphics.

Two things need to happen. As HiTech finalizes the graphic modification they need to get serious about some changes that may facilitate a better environment. Some great ideas have floated around, that MAY work. They need to be tested. The sideswitch timeframe, possibly going to two countries, perks for joining a mission that captures a base, adding small convoys of Liberty ships to attack and defend, etc. This is on HiTech and right now would be a great time to test drive some of these. Example, roll out one map that has only two countries. I know this was done 10 years ago, though much has changed since then. Change the sideswitch, see what happens. Ideas about two-weekers, etc. Perks for joining missions.

The second thing that needs to happen is cultural change among the pilots. The ideal is stronger squad actions. Sticks should be incentivized to participate in squads. And yes, a fine line between squad and horde, though clear difference. Ideas like Titanic Tuesday, etc. Integrity matters, and right now it is the culture of arcade and whine.

With the second action, I would suggest a room for squad leaders, or interested parties to begin brainstorming, planning and seeing what can or should be done. And for HiTech to listen.

Boo

Please don't start rumors like that. They are just now looking for people for Alpha testing. If all goes well, maybe a month, the same for Beta testing. Then a few weeks to a month for the final tweaks before the release. I would be VERY surprised if we saw the update by Christmas.

As for the "tests" you suggest, I doubt very much if you see them. HTC has a pretty good handle on THEIR product and have run these tests before. The 12 hour switch time has been explained in detail why it won't change, as well as night time and numbers of countries.

What they COULD change is game mechanics. Everyone plays this game for one goal. What that goal is may be different between one player or the next but what HTC could do is change HOW you attain these goals. If you want to effect change in the scoreboarders, maybe make points for fighting more important and hiding in a horde and being detrimental to a good score. For base grabbers, make it easier to capture a base with less players and harder with more. This way hordes will be less frequent and many smaller attacks along a front more frequent.

First HTC has to admit they need a change, then you will see some different game play options, but until they believe they need change you won't see anything.

[mthrockmor]

Fugitive, this is classic failure.

This game is driving into the gutter and your answer is so typical, 'everything is fine and by the way they are smarter than everyone else.'

We are losing players in droves, with a smattering of new players, who are being introduced into a failed culture. Having been in a position to watch literally dozens of firms and organizations fail and close their doors over the past 20 years....there they go again.

Great organizations take a completely different approach than what HiTech is. We'll see if they can pull this out of the hopper. They seem to think that a new paint job will fix the bleed. It is far, far more than new graphics. But by all means, repeat yourself, ad nausea. HiTech and their lackeys have been saying the same thing for quite some time now. All I can think is Yogi Berra, this is "dejavu, all over again." But maybe, to your point, this time is different.

As for HiTech knowing their business better than anyone else. C-L-A-S-S-I-C hubris right before. How many times have I sat down in a board room, or gone for a walk with an ED, reality having just hit that they are dead on their feet, and weeks away from shuttering with zero options, realizing they were wrong and had blown off sound advice for quite some time, but now it was too late.

So HiTech, knowing their business better than anyone else, the "plan" was to intentionally lose half of their clients? Hhmmmm, so I'm running a burger shop and it makes sense to dump half my clients, call myself Dorothy and go on vacation. I've not been fortunate to have ever been around a firm that had too much business. I know it happens, but not been around it. So maybe this has been the plan all along, drive half the sticks away....the clouds parted, I get it now.

[Stampf]

And for HiTech to listen.

First HTC has to admit they need a change, then you will see some different game play options, but until they believe they need change you won't see anything

And there you have it.  Those two things just are not happening...and if anyone thinks cute cottages and shiny water are the answer to saving this game...well...enjoy your delusions.

[Zerstorer]

Long gone is the honor of being able to drag a pursuing fighter out of a "horde" to have a 1 v 1, and everyone would let it happen!!!

Good post, Boo, and I agree with you on a lot of what you posted.  I only take exception to the statement above as it still occurs all the time....you just have to drag them a bit farther away from the horde than you used to.   

 

[Meatwad]

I just resubbed a week ago and of all whining thats going on, im still having fun playing 

[mthrockmor]

Good post, Boo, and I agree with you on a lot of what you posted.  I only take exception to the statement above as it still occurs all the time....you just have to drag them a bit farther away from the horde than you used to.   

 

I havent been able to drag a 1 v 1 for such a long time. I can't remember the last time. You used to be able to do it all the time.

[wpeters]

Fugitive, this is classic failure.

This game is driving into the gutter and your answer is so typical, 'everything is fine and by the way they are smarter than everyone else.'

We are losing players in droves, with a smattering of new players, who are being introduced into a failed culture. Having been in a position to watch literally dozens of firms and organizations fail and close their doors over the past 20 years....there they go again.

Great organizations take a completely different approach than what HiTech is. We'll see if they can pull this out of the hopper. They seem to think that a new paint job will fix the bleed. It is far, far more than new graphics. But by all means, repeat yourself, ad nausea. HiTech and their lackeys have been saying the same thing for quite some time now. All I can think is Yogi Berra, this is "dejavu, all over again." But maybe, to your point, this time is different.

As for HiTech knowing their business better than anyone else. C-L-A-S-S-I-C hubris right before. How many times have I sat down in a board room, or gone for a walk with an ED, reality having just hit that they are dead on their feet, and weeks away from shuttering with zero options, realizing they were wrong and had blown off sound advice for quite some time, but now it was too late.

So HiTech, knowing their business better than anyone else, the "plan" was to intentionally lose half of their clients? Hhmmmm, so I'm running a burger shop and it makes sense to dump half my clients, call myself Dorothy and go on vacation. I've not been fortunate to have ever been around a firm that had too much business. I know it happens, but not been around it. So maybe this has been the plan all along, drive half the sticks away....the clouds parted, I get it now.

+1

[Zerstorer]

I havent been able to drag a 1 v 1 for such a long time. I can't remember the last time. You used to be able to do it all the time.

They still happen...but agree it's less frequent. 

[The Fugitive]

Fugitive, this is classic failure.

This game is driving into the gutter and your answer is so typical, 'everything is fine and by the way they are smarter than everyone else.'

We are losing players in droves, with a smattering of new players, who are being introduced into a failed culture. Having been in a position to watch literally dozens of firms and organizations fail and close their doors over the past 20 years....there they go again.

Great organizations take a completely different approach than what HiTech is. We'll see if they can pull this out of the hopper. They seem to think that a new paint job will fix the bleed. It is far, far more than new graphics. But by all means, repeat yourself, ad nausea. HiTech and their lackeys have been saying the same thing for quite some time now. All I can think is Yogi Berra, this is "dejavu, all over again." But maybe, to your point, this time is different.

As for HiTech knowing their business better than anyone else. C-L-A-S-S-I-C hubris right before. How many times have I sat down in a board room, or gone for a walk with an ED, reality having just hit that they are dead on their feet, and weeks away from shuttering with zero options, realizing they were wrong and had blown off sound advice for quite some time, but now it was too late.

So HiTech, knowing their business better than anyone else, the "plan" was to intentionally lose half of their clients? Hhmmmm, so I'm running a burger shop and it makes sense to dump half my clients, call myself Dorothy and go on vacation. I've not been fortunate to have ever been around a firm that had too much business. I know it happens, but not been around it. So maybe this has been the plan all along, drive half the sticks away....the clouds parted, I get it now.

Do you know how to read and comprehend what you read? Here, I'll highlight what Im talking about....

Please don't start rumors like that. They are just now looking for people for Alpha testing. If all goes well, maybe a month, the same for Beta testing. Then a few weeks to a month for the final tweaks before the release. I would be VERY surprised if we saw the update by Christmas.

As for the "tests" you suggest, I doubt very much if you see them. HTC has a pretty good handle on THEIR product and have run these tests before. The 12 hour switch time has been explained in detail why it won't change, as well as night time and numbers of countries.

What they COULD change is game mechanics. Everyone plays this game for one goal. What that goal is may be different between one player or the next but what HTC could do is change HOW you attain these goals. If you want to effect change in the scoreboarders, maybe make points for fighting more important and hiding in a horde and being detrimental to a good score. For base grabbers, make it easier to capture a base with less players and harder with more. This way hordes will be less frequent and many smaller attacks along a front more frequent.

First HTC has to admit they need a change, then you will see some different game play options, but until they believe they need change you won't see anything.

I agree that there IS a problem. The suggestions you have put forth have been tested and debated over and over again. Again, UNTIL HTC decides there is an issue nothing will change.

As for HTC knowing whats best, lets see, small company in a small nitch game market and they have lasted over 10 years. I think they know what they are doing.

Should they listen to suggestions? Yup, and they have for years. Many suggestions have made it into the game.

Will the new graphics save the day? I doubt it. It WILL bring in more players just to check it out, but until HTC does something to negate the toxic environment in the arenas and yes even here on the boards they will lose more than players than they keep.

Leading players AWAY from those things that cause poor game play is something HTC will have to look into. Too many people point out issues with declining game play for them to NOT look into it. The posters here are a small percentage of players in this game, but that Im sure that percentage carries over to the main population. At this point we are losing players quicker than we are getting them to sign up. Graphics update will help bring them in faster, but if the toxic atmosphere isn't cleaned up or better game play mechanics they are NOT going to keep them.

But again, it is first up to HTC to admit their is an issue.  

[Rich46yo]

I remember joining during the heady days of AH.

Those days it seemed every type of game play was dynamic. I liked Bombers and flying in Bomber squads. Flying against skilled Bomber hunters. If big furballs were your thing they were all over the place. GV'ing was there but it didnt take up the % of the gameplay it does now. Great Leaders were there on all sides of the ball for spontaneous missions. Regardless of your play style being in or against dozens of warplanes in a mission was exciting.

The Trainer corp was just fantastic. We attracted squeekers by the hundreds. The TA was a happening place.

But at its heart Aces Highs greatest strength was squad life. And the crux of squad life is leadership.

We just dont need a new graphics engine. We need that leadership back. We need the game to be an International game again.