Considering Aces High

[DmonSlyr]

This is the best flight combat game out there. From huge furballs in the Main Arena, 1v1 dueling in the Dueling Arena, and special events like scenarios and Fighter Squad Ops (FSO) that make it seem like you are in a real WW2 battle. Combat Challenge is a special event thats on tonight. You should play in that! It's incredibly fun. This game has it all. I've been playing since 2005. The flight model is stellar.

Some advice.

The / key opens your radio to text chat.

When in the arena and looking at the clip board, go to Options, then preferences, then flight, and turn "Stall Limiter Off. It will help you feel the real stall. Go to Options, Map joysticks, and double click buttons on your stick to bring up how you want to map them.

Like AKAK said, this a pretty hard game. It takes quite a bit of patience. Make sure to ask a lot of questions.


Ohhh... And ALWAYS check your 6.

 

[Brooke]

With regard to length of the learning curve, folks should also remember that air combat maneuvering is what takes a large amount of practice and experience to get good at.  Bombing and ground attack are fun, too, and can be learned much more quickly.

[Mongoose]

As someone already mentioned, there is an offline practice mode, which is free.  Download and install the game, and then try out some of your favorite planes.  Use the offline practice mode to learn how the game works, and learn how to fly your airplane.  Then when you do set up your online account, you will be better off, and you still have your two week trial.

[68ZooM]

THIS GAME SEMS TO HAVE A DIMINISHING NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN IT.   THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN THE PAST,BUT NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE.  I HOPE WE CAN TURN THINGS AROUND.

All you ever do is complain and whine It's really getting old if you don't have anything good to say why don't you just not say nothing at all...

[mach15]

Thank You Pilots,
 The money thing isn't a concern, my kids are grown and out so my grocery bill went from 600 month to feed the horses to 100 for me and the wife, meaning I have a little to burn. My major concern is the joystick reticle bounce I get in WT. I have an X52 with pedals. I love to use the stick(mostly because I'm in my 50's and my brain cant process so many key strokes, its easier to have hotas with buttons for me). becoming good requires hrs of work and testing mechanics to fit me, so becoming an ace after 5 battles is no expectation for me or any sane person, but since being in a clan in WT and WoWP where we train twice a week on acm and squad battles, I think I should have some SOME success fairly quickly if I can get the stick going in the right direction, so I guess I could search the forums for x52 setups. Will download and will try to get a couple of my wingmen to download. Love my 109's and like to fly my spits and ki's for turn n' burn fun. don't worry about the "always gotta be one ney sayer in the group" go look at WoWP forums there are some real winners over there ! I think some people just must hate life and some truly think that because they are good in a computer based game that the U.S.A.F is going to come knocking at their door and offer them a set of keys to an F-15c.
mach15--(<-speed racer reference, but someone stole the 5 from me)

[Zimme83]

I have a X52 w pedals and as long as your is OK u should be fine. Tested WT and it was pretty much unflyable w joystick. AH is WAY better. You migh need to adjust scaling and damping in order to have the controls to respond as you want but it takes about a minute. I fly without scaling cause i dont like the rubber band effect you get from having scaling enabled. (feels like there are rubber bands between the stick and the control surfaces.)

Best thing w AH: you dont need to train a pilot or buy better guns, you get the same plane as everyone else and its 100% up to you to fly as good as possible.

[SlipKnt]

Thank You Pilots,
 The money thing isn't a concern, my kids are grown and out so my grocery bill went from 600 month to feed the horses to 100 for me and the wife, meaning I have a little to burn. My major concern is the joystick reticle bounce I get in WT. I have an X52 with pedals. I love to use the stick(mostly because I'm in my 50's and my brain cant process so many key strokes, its easier to have hotas with buttons for me). becoming good requires hrs of work and testing mechanics to fit me, so becoming an ace after 5 battles is no expectation for me or any sane person, but since being in a clan in WT and WoWP where we train twice a week on acm and squad battles, I think I should have some SOME success fairly quickly if I can get the stick going in the right direction, so I guess I could search the forums for x52 setups. Will download and will try to get a couple of my wingmen to download. Love my 109's and like to fly my spits and ki's for turn n' burn fun. don't worry about the "always gotta be one ney sayer in the group" go look at WoWP forums there are some real winners over there ! I think some people just must hate life and some truly think that because they are good in a computer based game that the U.S.A.F is going to come knocking at their door and offer them a set of keys to an F-15c.
mach15--(<-speed racer reference, but someone stole the 5 from me)

When you get in there, go to the training arena to set up.  Trainers are sometimes in there and can help you to get set up.  If you can't find one, you can use the "HELP" channel in the MAs for help.  If I see you online I am happy to help get you set up with your X52 and show you a few basics you will need to know.  Mu in game name is "SlipKnoT". 

This is a great community.  Most of the people will help you when they aren't too drunk (not because they don't want to.  They are simply focused elsewhere)...   LOL. 

[Brooke]

The large majority of players in Aces High are nice people.  There are a few who are not and who have an outsized effect because of their big mouths.  If you can keep that in mind if you run into any of them,, it will help you not get discouraged by a few griefers.

[SIK1]

Best suggestion I have is to download AH2, (it's free to download) fly offline to get a feel for the flight model and to get things setup. Once you feel comfortable then go to the "Help and Training" forum and request to work with a trainer. The two week free trail doesn't start until you go into an online arena.

I think someone already mentioned that you can fly in the Beta for free right now. Of course it is a beta, and there are still some issues that are being worked out.

 
Sik

[ImADot]

I think someone already mentioned that you can fly in the Beta for free right now. Of course it is a beta, and there are still some issues that are being worked out.

Plus the beta is using a brand-new in-house developed graphics engine. The current graphics in AH2 are ok, but in the new beta the graphics are outstanding. This game has always been about the flight models and being able to fly (and drive) WW2 equipment where the only thing that separates people is their own skills and not who has the most time and patience for the grind to improve the planes' characteristics. With AH3 will come great graphics to match the great flight models.

[Bruv119]

AH is the best overall WW2 Flying experience you can find.  Many here have been around for 20 years+. 

Once you have your stick sorted make sure you turn off the stall limiter.  This prevents you from stalling and losing control but it is like riding a bike with training wheels on.  Much better to have it off from the start so you adapt easier.

[RufusLeaking]

 ... some truly think that because they are good in a computer based game that the U.S.A.F is going to come knocking at their door and offer them a set of keys to an F-15c.

I was an Air Force instructor pilot (KC-135, see my avatar.) As such, I also ran the real simulators.

As Bizman said, real sims are to practice systems failures and emergency procedures. Aces High has perfect maintenance. So, in that sense, AH is a game.

But, the flight models have substantial differences between air-frames. I've never flown any of these planes in real life, but they feel right.

And, there is time to climb, limited ammunition, limited fuel, gunner positions, etc. It is then a simulator.

If you like World War II aviation, like being the guy at the party that knows which model planes were flown by the AVG, you'll like the people in this game. Heck, if you know what the AVG is, even.

Welcome.

[ROC]

If you sign up, join the upcoming scenario, you will come out the other side with an entirely new opinion on what a "game" should be.

[Brooke]

If you sign up, join the upcoming scenario, you will come out the other side with an entirely new opinion on what a "game" should be.

Word!   

[MADe]

the ability to have a server with 400-600 players is whats key for me. war, air combat was about the numbers. 1v1 all fine but thats not what aircraft war wagons are for.
bombers mould the world, fighters kill the moulders, simple.

nothing like sitting in a pony, 1 o'clock low is a bomber flight, 50 and more.......