And ironically it is you who just "chased off" another customer, Rob.
These types of "gripes" are pointless -- like yelling at the rain to stop. The number one thing you control in the game environment is that YOU get to decide if YOU want to be a positive or negative influence on the game. That's pretty much it. Complaining without suggesting solutions is choosing to be the latter -- you're not helping, you're just making things look worse than they are. There are many great aspects of Aces High. And yes, there are many aspects that can be improved. But just griping about one without offering anything positive, like a suggested change to improve things, just makes you part of the problem.
My point is to the whole community (not trying to pick on you, Rob, but using this as an example). I see many pointless "gripe" threads on the general forum, mainly when people are looking for others to commiserate with them. Instead, post these things in the Wishlist Forum. That's where posts on areas of the game that could use improving go. Maybe actually put some thought into a suggestion or two on what you would rather see or how it could be improved.
Bottom line, if you choose to play, then try to be a positive influence. You want more players in the game? Make the game more appealing! Help out new players. Recruit for a squad. Post fun missions. Participate in events. Make suggestions for areas of improvement. Or sometimes the best thing to do is just shut up and play. But don't post threads like this. What's the point of paying to play a game that you are undermining through your own actions?!
My two cents.
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Ryno
You left out the part about how I got boomhaur to log off last night by vulching him after changing sides.
As far as griping without also providing a business plan to go along with my complaints.... Well when I complained about the 12 hour timer, I assumed they realized I feel it is too long, not too short.
And regarding my gripe about the low number of players compared to when I played before... Well I trust HTC to not need or want my lay-person's marketing advice.
I also cannot chase off a customer who is not paying, if they are not a paying customer, they are not a customer. Potential customers are not customers.
Now I can bring up the fact that when I came back I also sent my lifelong best friend a stick/throttle and got him a 6 month subscription. I know this doesn't mean that I deserve a cookie or even a pat on the back but I am probably actively doing more than you are to help build the customer base.
If you didn't want to read about people complaining, you should not have clicked on the post since it is labled "my gripes". You obviously knew the substance of the thread before you chose to open, read and respond to it with your own complaints about my complaints.