gameplay
Graphics did not change the fact for the people 'been there, done that'
Sorry if I may sound harsh sometimes, but I'm just telling things like they are.
Nope. Gameplay improved the first month or two after the upgrade and AH-lll started pulling in 200+ nightly into the main arena. If the numbers improve the game play improves, thats like the E=Mc2 of Internet gaming.
I know FSO is a tradition and I'm not suggesting anything but for a noob to see 100+ players go <poof> on an exciting Fri. night is a downer. Hell, its a downer even for a long time player. And like all the PPM MMOGs that are left most of Aces High are long time players probably more interested in staying to maintain their long time squad friend ships and have little interest in training new people or even bringing them into their squads.
Sorry but thats the truth, at the least my observation. Compared to the game at its height there is almost zero training and squad recruitment effort for new players. Ergo less recruitment and retention. Ergo worse game play.