I came to Aces High a couple of years ago with a background in flight sims. My very first PC (windows 3.1) flew Microsoft flight simulator. Badly, but it was flight. I have tried most sims over the years, but never a live online version. I was looking for a WWI combat sim when I stumbled in here. I figured out right away I had hit the jackpot. Good flight models and you get to shoot down bad guys. And sometimes they even PM you and cuss you out! Combine that with an almost chess-like approach to strategy and a very interesting and unique community and there is nothing out there that even comes close.
I had the good luck to be invited to be a 49'er early on. Lots of folks really hate the 49th. I don't really care. They are all at least as unhinged as I am and we have a great time doing different stuff. Gunship B-17's anyone? They have taught me so much about the game that would have taken a lot longer to learn on my own. They take me as I am and I am grateful to them.
There are a lot of great squads out there and I have been shot down by all of them.
But I digress...
I am addicted to this game in the worst (best) way. Interestingly, I have never taken issue with the parameters of the game. The rules were the way things were and you learned them and adapted to them and for me, that was part of the fun. I have seen a few changes over the couple of years I have been here, especially with the transition from AHII to AHIII, and none of them have had much impact on my level of fun. I adapt my gameplay to fit the rules.
This is a hard game to play well. I want it to be a hard game. I am a chess player, and I take great delight in getting beaten soundly by other chess players. I came here to fly fighters but I enjoy all the other parts of the game too. And I'm better at those things than fighters, but I still love getting shot out of the sky. And rather than wanting the rules changed to make my experience more satisfying I would prefer to master the existing parameters. I really have no interest in making the game fit my personal style. In my opinion, that would be like changing the rules of chess.
That being said, I realize that improvements can always be made. Once in a while I see a post that seems like it might add something valuable. I saw an interesting idea about CV stuff on the wishlist earlier. But I do see a lot of complaints about the "sorry state of the game." Funny, I have never had anything to complain about. I applaud HiTech and his partners in crime for their never-ending hard work and care to make AH what it is. I trust their judgment.
I never have a problem finding a fight. Pork a base and you'll get lots of action. Any time of day. Last night we had a great series of battles in the MA. It was great fun and I expect more of the same when I log on later on today.
As to the "dwindling" numbers... I missed the "glory" days and I'm still having fun. I think the steam move is a good one. It will not boost the numbers greatly in the short run. A lot of folks will find it too hard and too confusing. You really have to know your history and study hard to get any good at this. But more addicts like me will turn up. And they will stay. There were a couple of new guys last night that seem to have the hunger.
To me the answer to the smaller numbers is FLY. Don't wait for the game to fit your expectations. Improvise, adapt, overcome.
This is the best $15.00 I have ever spent on entertainment. And the only video game I even bother with. I will be playing this game till it's just me and HiTech and a few more stubborn crazies fighting in Spads.
