Revamped Free Trial

[Triton28]

The current 2 calendar weeks of free trial gameplay isn't a very good deal for working adults or even kids with a decent school workload.  A thousand and one things can happen in two weeks to prevent enough gameplay for a person to get properly hooked and subscribe, so I propose we update things to allow a free trial based upon actual time spent in game instead of the calendar.  The amount of time needed to properly evaluate the game is of course debatable, but there are a myriad of games out there now that can't be really gone through in under 200 hours.  I'd say Aces High is squarely in that category, but to be honest, 50 hours of actual game time is probably better than two calendar weeks for the average working/school age person. 

I look forward to an interesting discussion.        

[ImADot]

With the addition of the free arena area, non-subscribers can play as long as they want for free (as long as a subscriber or HTC set up an arena in that area).

[Ack-Ack]

Either change the two week trial to a 30 day trial or keep the two week trial and add 30 day buddy passes.

[Triton28]

With the addition of the free arena area, non-subscribers can play as long as they want for free (as long as a subscriber or HTC set up an arena in that area).

Just saw that addition after I posted.  A definite step in the right direction, IMO.  I still think the free trial could use some massaging though, especially for those who might be more interested in MA style bombing, base takes, etc. 

[Vraciu]

Make the Hurr I, Spit I, and HE-111 free to all.   They'll become addicted and upgrade to the full subscription.   It's worth a shot and it will give the rest of us more people to shoot at!

[ImADot]

Make the Hurr I, Spit I, and HE-111 free to all.   They'll become addicted and upgrade to the full subscription.   It's worth a shot and it will give the rest of us more people to shoot at!

Yeah, you try flying a Hurri MkI in the melee against all the LateWar monster planes. How long would you stick around when you get blown up over and over while never even being able to fire a shot.

[Vraciu]

Yeah, you try flying a Hurri MkI in the melee against all the LateWar monster planes. How long would you stick around when you get blown up over and over while never even being able to fire a shot.

I did it in Brand X.

I'm still around.

[Ack-Ack]

Yeah, you try flying a Hurri MkI in the melee against all the LateWar monster planes. How long would you stick around when you get blown up over and over while never even being able to fire a shot.

I agree.  Limiting free trial members to early war planes only in the MA is not a smart way of retaining the new player.  Most will give up before the trial is over.

Some of the things that can be done is 1) increase the free trial period from 2 weeks to 30 days or 2) keep the free trial at 2 weeks and also provide "buddy passes" to players that they can give out to friends for a free 30 day trial.  Buddy passes have proven to be a way attract new players and retain them after the free period.

You can add incentives for the player base to go out and recruit friends.  You can give an existing player a certain amount of perks (or other reward) for every buddy he brings in that ends up subscribing to the game after the 30 day free period. 

[Oldman731]

increase the free trial period from 2 weeks to 30 days

This is the best idea.  It's also not news, having been suggested many times over the past few years.  I sense that HTC has opted for the "free arena" approach instead, similar to the old H2H arenas.  Could be a good pick.  We'll find out.

- oldman

[Dawger]

Don't hand out crackers if you want them addicted to crack. Give them the crack.

[Vraciu]

I agree.  Limiting free trial members to early war planes only in the MA is not a smart way of retaining the new player.  Most will give up before the trial is over.

Some of the things that can be done is 1) increase the free trial period from 2 weeks to 30 days or 2) keep the free trial at 2 weeks and also provide "buddy passes" to players that they can give out to friends for a free 30 day trial.  Buddy passes have proven to be a way attract new players and retain them after the free period.

Seems to work for other companies. 

It will work better than nothing at all.   

Your other ideas have merit.   Worth a try. 

[Mister Fork]

How about you let them decide?

30 day free trial for everything ... or...

A 200 player Early War arena with access to all 1939 aircraft.  Let them play indefinitely in this arena and if they want to fly something more serious, access to special events arena, and access to the AvA - that's $15 a month.

[bustr]

What is the player cap limit for the custom arenas? If it is 16, you are only giving them a sniff and a finger dipped taste of 50 year old single malt with all rides enabled. And if HTC keeps a CA open every day in good faith for FTP, abusing it won't be taken kindly. Even 16 vets will get tired of each other after awhile trying to have AH3 for free. One of them will be on the hook to pay for a subscription to let 15 free load. Though some bored vet will figure a way to abuse this as usual to single finger salute Hitech just because, like that invitation only forum in the squads forum some years back.

[Traveler]

What is the player cap limit for the custom arenas? If it is 16, you are only giving them a sniff and a finger dipped taste of 50 year old single malt with all rides enabled. And if HTC keeps a CA open every day in good faith for FTP, abusing it won't be taken kindly. Even 16 vets will get tired of each other after awhile trying to have AH3 for free. One of them will be on the hook to pay for a subscription to let 15 free load. Though some bored vet will figure a way to abuse this as usual to single finger salute Hitech just because, like that invitation only forum in the squads forum some years back.

I've already seen discussions of sharing a common account and using a serive like PAYME to split the cost of the subscriber account and 16 guys playing for $0.90 cents a month each. 

[BowHTR]

I've already seen discussions of sharing a common account and using a serive like PAYME to split the cost of the subscriber account and 16 guys playing for $0.90 cents a month each.

They better be prepared for that account to be banned if caught.