The current thread is a perfect illustration of why the game is what it is today and why it stands on the brink of extinction. Why as a genre, WWII MMO air combat is very nearly gone. With very few exceptions, no one seems to be really thinking about the game itself but are much more narrowly focused on what they as individuals like to do. If HTC were to read through this as some indication of what the players want (and I’m very afraid they do), the conclusion would be, players want the game to do and be the same thing it has always been and maybe some more players would be nice. Problem is that doesn't tell you how to pull back from the brink.
Like lemmings on a mass migration to a terminal swim, no one is focused on the end, on the cold and the isolation and eventual expiration. Each lemming is only concerned about their own cheese (or whatever it is that lemmings eat). “As long as I have my cheese, I’m happy!!” And really that’s ok because you are players and NOT game designers, NOT owners of the company. Players risk little, players are here for the cheese and stay till there is no more cheese. Could players do something? Sure! There are plenty of examples of communities that have done great things. But that requires an attitudinal shift from "My Cheese!" It may be hiding here but its hiding pretty good.
If / when AH goes away, it will have been due to the cumulative actions of the developer and this community. Having been witness to many “beloved” games going to the game graveyard, you may wish to record where you came down on this. That way in 2025, you can remember what you did or didn’t do about that great WWII air combat game you used to play in 2014 (“What was it called? Gee I wish we had something like that now!”)
So let’s boil it down to what seems least scary or "requires me to change my thinking" for all.
Adhere to these three simple ideas.
a. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP MORE PLAYERS PLAYING OVER MORE TIME: Not just GVers, not just base takers, not just furballers, not just bombers, but more players. If the current player population, plays for longer periods, that effectively increases the numbers playing which will in turn encourage new players to play. People WILL leave because there is nothing to do.
b. BENEFIT THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PLAYERS ALL THE TIME: Aces High is too SMALL to cater to special interest fanboy groups (if you want to find them, read up the thread). Features benefiting a small segment to the detriment of the rest need to go.
c. MORE PLAYER INTERACTIONS IS BETTER THAN FEW: Whether people want to admit it or not, interactions over time is what drives MMOs. Whatever increases these interactions is a good thing.
Do these three things:
1. GET RID OF THE BIG MAPS – NOW! Particularly after 1 am EST. AH doesn’t draw the numbers anymore. It won’t get back to those numbers unless players can find each other and interact. When the game was small, you had smaller maps. Hold off on new features until you have a complete set of appropriate size maps. This may require you to build them yourselves.
2. GET RID OF ENY, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE ARENA HAS LESS THAN 100 PEOPLE IN IT: ENY as a balancing mechanism is dubious. It drives away more people than it retains. See (a) above.
3. GET RID OF THE “FEATURE” THAT A SINGLE BOMBER OR SMALL GROUP OF BOMBERS CAN KNOCK OUT THE RADAR FOR A COUNTRY. What is the best outcome of this feature? You make one bomber pilot happy, perhaps some proportion of his countrymen happy and you make 1/3 of the people on line (one country) leave or want to leave.
In the final analysis, this is the logic:
1. What got us here is: Doing what has always been done. Nearly out of players, nearly out of give a hoot, nearly out of time.
2. Einstein said it was the definition of insanity to do the same thing over and over again and expect it to come out different.
3. HTC can keep doing the same thing, in which case we can expect more of the same. This has been proven to create less. Less players, less revenue. Bit by bit and day by day.
4. HTC can change, take action. Game may still go away but at least there was an attempt to alter course and speed. The above changes are pretty safe, as safe as anything you could do. In other words, they aren’t likely to drive people out. Less costly and quicker than a graphics upgrade.
I normally try to spare people’s feelings but this is like when the doctor tells you to knock off smoking and drinking because it’s going to kill you. The ultimate kindness in that case is to be brutally honest.
So Dale, I’m going to lay this one at your feet. Don’t expect answers from this forum. These folks don’t have the same skin in the game. You own the company, and no one can make this decision for you.
Do something, do nothing. It’s up to you.
