Better late then never.
If AH goes to steam and has needed gameplay changes the numbers will easily go beyond 500.
People want good gameplay first, graphics are second - look at latest super mario trailer on nintendo switch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGQHQc_3ycE
It has graphics from 15 years ago, but has good gameplay, that's what people want and it has 10 million views in 5 days.
That is a different game genre..it's a stylized game in which ppl could care less about graphics.think about it..creativity of the Mario series is the draw...now in air sims and air combat games like ours creatively is limited. Let's say a game that claimed to be an enthusiast car game/sim in 2017 had graphics from 2008.No one would even give it a chance let alone look at gameplay.The flight sim community is similar and really holds graphics close to heart..evident even since AH's early days when ppl would compare AH to Il2:FB graphics wise...Many flight sim guys can't get past the graphics Bc it is tied into the fidelity and feeling of the game and environment. Understandable but sad Because AH has gameplay no other flight sim/game can offer). Think about it..the feeling of flight in AH, perfectly fine for me ,however no clouds...2005 sounds..."on the rails"feeling of flight at times.I know I sound harsh but it's just to prove that in flight sims graphics matter, but your 100% correct..so does gameplay.
Now in the gameplay department I get the feeling hi tech moves at a snails pace and the game feels static compared to other flight games. Which receive constant updates.plus barely any communication with community is my personal gripe , although ppl have explained why it is the case.(ppl literally crucified the clouds progress ) this community is amazing at times and sometimes plain out of touch with the gaming times and age we live in.
I have not played as long as you vets to give any gameplay improvement suggestions but I've flown flight sims for about 8 years and the learning curve in this one is at the top...and I love that fact as it challenges me more than any other game I own .<S> however I feel as if mostly the fights are...extremely outnumbered by your enemy or extremely outnumbering and destroying your enemy .probably a result of low population numbers.This is not to say I dont have amazing fights day in and day out..just gotta find them and have fun at the end of the day . <S> This game is what you make it .
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