AH3: Steam Edition?

[Vudak]

Steam nor F2P is not the cure for AH.  Just putting a game on Steam or making the game "Freemium" or F2P isn't going to bring in the masses again, what will bring in the masses and keep them is the game play and that is what needs a major revamp.

I know you're in the industry (or at least used to be).  From my outside perspective it seems like many games these days are either F2P for basic content, or have a set price for the initial game and then spam DLC (think Borderlands, Battlefield, really many of the popular games). 

To me it just seems kind of weird to see that a game wants $15 monthly these days. 

Have you studied any modeling or had observations as to how people prefer to purchase games these days?  Again from my perspective which is admittedly completely uneducated it seems like AH's model is no longer the norm but perhaps I'm way off base.

I'm just curious what you've seen or are seeing in your career if you're still in the field.

[rvflyer]

That is the truth, I do not understand the clamor for steam it sucks big time.

Why would you log in through Steam to get to this game and wreak havoc on a connection that is the tightest and most refined I have ever experienced?
You have to be right to get a kill, nearly everything else out there, just get close. 
This is not a mass appeal game, it's a niche game.  It changes slowly but the changes matter and are well thought out.
After years of playing games through steam I've finally ripped that garbage out of my system and won't play a game through that junk ever again.

[Zacherof]

Steam nor F2P is not the cure for AH.  Just putting a game on Steam or making the game "Freemium" or F2P isn't going to bring in the masses again, what will bring in the masses and keep them is the game play and that is what needs a major revamp.

Revamping the gameplay, would be difficult as the common theme is to take the easy way it seems... So how to change that

[Chilli]

Vudak,

Monthly subscription, is something that is an "all access pass" (not really accurate, but close enough). 

Several times this month alone, I can recall moments during login time that I have said to myself or someone else online this is what we pay $ub$cription for. 

When folks drop off or find  other entertainment, they tend to find their way back eventually.  It is understandable that when a player finds him/ herself in the "Groundhog's Day" loop of tracing their own footsteps, they try and walk away.

[Gman]

This is my entire point AckAck - tictactoe with sheep does NOT represent revamped gameplay - that isn't going to bring anyone new in.  The alpha looks and plays pretty  much just like the current model, so unless there are major surprises in store, I can't think of anything else that could work.  I also believe the game at root leve/concept is sound, a large open world that exists in real time, and has WW2 combat equipment split between various teams.  Changing how base capture works, or the overall strategic goals of the game, or adding AI opponents isn't really revamped gameplay either, most of the fun still comes down to outfighting your human opponent and shooting him without getting shot yourself.

[DmonSlyr]

To be diddlying honest, the fact that I got to play H2H for as long as I did, to really make me love this game, would never had the same effect as if I only had 2 weeks just to try the game.

I didn't even know how to type for the first week.


Now I know more about my any fighter than most players in this game.


You have a great model Hitech but I think you should take a risk and allow certain early war planes to remain free for players who need more time to develop their interest. 

[38ruk]

I'd like to see a change in the 2 weeks free part for new players. Maybe 2 weeks free with a full plane set then 2 weeks with up to mid-war plane set.  2 weeks isn't long enough for a newb to become competitive to where they might stick around awhile IMHO. 

[Slate]

   I hope HTC considers a new pricing structure now or when AH3 rolls out. I would offer a 4.99 WW1 arena to get the noobs a taste of what Aces High is with the free 2 week of course for the MA.

   Advertising is needed to sell product and I haven't seen any since they hooked me years ago. 
   
          It's like they are working on their new boat hoping to get it done before the old boat sinks. There may not be any passengers left to jump on the new one. 

[Chalenge]

This is my entire point AckAck - tictactoe with sheep does NOT represent revamped gameplay - that isn't going to bring anyone new in.  The alpha looks and plays pretty  much just like the current model, so unless there are major surprises in store, I can't think of anything else that could work.  I also believe the game at root leve/concept is sound, a large open world that exists in real time, and has WW2 combat equipment split between various teams.  Changing how base capture works, or the overall strategic goals of the game, or adding AI opponents isn't really revamped gameplay either, most of the fun still comes down to outfighting your human opponent and shooting him without getting shot yourself.

I believe the point to the game style modifications is to give map builders a few more options. Hitech is also allowing (or may allow) map builders to create custom objects, which so far has been mentioned but no limit has been placed so it must not be a completed plan yet. There have been some modifications to the factories, and HQ, so there is the possibility that the strategy of the game may change more than we think. If it does, that would be a good thing. I for one would love to see a more in-depth strategic approach that would involve more assistance from AI in rebuilding, rather than filling out missions. Something like that might require a modification to the scoring in the game to monitor drone kills, for instance, but should certainly get players involved in supporting the factories more even if it is just fighter support for the drone suppliers.

The factories and strategy have always been the weak side of AH, but I believe Hitech is working on something to make things more interesting. The achievements were a wonderful addition to the game that helped to get more of every type of AH activity thriving, and I would love to see it reset on an annual basis. That is one thing I hate about Steam. Achievements on Steam games are the best part of games, but there is no way to reset them that does not risk a ban.

[The Fugitive]

I don't think AI is a viable answer for the main arenas. FSO, scenarios sure, but not the main arenas.

The achievement side of the game is "fun" for those who are after that kind of grind type of play. Does it add to the main purpose of the game? Well that depends on what you think is the main purpose. I always thought it was a combat game. You got together with other players making plans and executing them with the goal being to be fight for a base and ultimately the win the war.

The issue isn't with the game in the sense that all those options to fight and wage that kind of battle, like we use to do in the old days with squads going against squad are still there. What has changed is how the players.... gamers.... of today use these tools. They forgo most of the options in favor of the quick and easy way to get to the final "win the war".

Steam won't work due to the money conditions that will work against a small company like HTC. The graphics update will help if only to bring old players back to check it.... well those that left because of how it looked. What is needed is some new game mechanics that bring back the fight. The need for the "squad" dynamics. Creating these fights/combat type of action again will make it more fun for more players again. Furballers will have a fight to go to, base takers will have more players fighting for and against a base take, strat runners will have something other than dead time flying to and from strats, and GVers will be able to fight under it all instead of waiting for those few spawn camp areas on each map to come up.

Today the top skill in this game is AVOIDing a fight and most players are very skilled at it.

[Chilli]

I too am beginning to wonder if the days of 600 or more online players at a time has passed.  Giving into that premise, I still believe there is room for a bump in the numbers.  Re- configuring the game to be more accommodating to smaller numbers and/ or low (almost dead) time zones could be a better bang for the buck.

Luring new potential players to the fold, should merit them some immediate positive feedback.  Here achievements could go a long way.  Award perks with achievements, current perk model depends on skills that won't be as readily available to the true "newbee".

As far as Steam goes, I say move a much smaller area of AH2 (say Early War) over there after AH3 has been released.  Those longtime players that may be unable to play AH3 due to equipment, may still be able to remain active through steam until they are able to upgrade to suitable AH3 friendly components.  It may also, be an area where folks that play during low populated time zones may find a larger audience (if what proponents of Steam say is true).

AH3 however, should remain available thru subscription and 2 week trials, and map size / gameplay modified to cater to the < 600 online player new norm.  The option to adjust to a larger population should be easier than it has been to retain the numbers getting lost in the soup of large, inactive, or stagnant terrains.

[caldera]

I would like to see either a 30 day or preferably 100 sortie hours as the trial period.  If you really want them to get hooked and they aren't hooked, just for being WWII fans, they need a little time to figure things out.  Life gets in the way and 2 weeks can evaporate quickly.

[The Fugitive]

I would like to see either a 30 day or preferably 100 sortie hours as the trial period.  If you really want them to get hooked and they aren't hooked, just for being WWII fans, they need a little time to figure things out.  Life gets in the way and 2 weeks can evaporate quickly.

Agreed. Years ago we started playing because we were all WWII nuts. Now people play a game. With the learning curve this game has it takes awhile just to get to the point to actually "play" the game. You spend a long time just trying to figure out what does what.

[Chalenge]

I don't think AI is a viable answer for the main arenas. FSO, scenarios sure, but not the main arenas.

We already have AI.

[SirNuke]

Steam nor F2P is not the cure for AH.  Just putting a game on Steam or making the game "Freemium" or F2P isn't going to bring in the masses again, what will bring in the masses and keep them is the game play and that is what needs a major revamp.

agreed