Side-balancing idea/question

[Vraciu]

The steam bubble has burst, they need to look forward to bring in more new players.

Again, once they have them coming in they have to make changes to make it easier for these new players to get up and running.

The number of people trying the game is extremely high.  The issue is a high percentage don't stay longer than twenty minutes.  We need to figure out why.  This game would have the arenas maxed out in no time if that riddle was solved. 

[Vraciu]

Yeah, its unfortunate the game wasnt ready for the new players.  There are so many negative reviews on steam that could be addressed with ease.

Care to list a few

Just curious. 

[The Fugitive]

Care to list a few

Just curious.

poor support, can't fly with vr controls, 15 bucks is too much or antiquated , too hard to figure out.

Sign up for Steam and you can read them all.

As to why they leave, gamers are use to having everything handed to them. They don't want to have to go through the trouble of finding out how to setup controls, get off the ground, or even the most basic things of the game.

Clue that and the difficult way the help page are set up and the huge learning curve of the game and I can see why they leave and never come back.

[Arlo]

poor support, can't fly with vr controls, 15 bucks is too much or antiquated , too hard to figure out.

Sign up for Steam and you can read them all.

As to why they leave, gamers are use to having everything handed to them. They don't want to have to go through the trouble of finding out how to setup controls, get off the ground, or even the most basic things of the game.

Clue that and the difficult way the help page are set up and the huge learning curve of the game and I can see why they leave and never come back.

Well, a virtual or downloadable manual may help with part of that. I'm not sure about the effort it takes to set up controls and such. Guess it's generational when it comes to things or experiences worth having taking effort on one's part (though I never thought the technical aspect of playing AH was all that difficult). I don't see AH hiring a 'Geek Squad' (so to speak) to go to their house and do it for them. Skuzzy (and most of the players on this forum) could explain it to them and even the laziest players usually see links to forums on the respective game websites (then we go back to a horse vs. water thing).

I'd still like to think we're on the verge of a potential epiphany but that may be my optimism talking.

[Vraciu]

Somehow I think they will not be reading any manuals.  Too much work.

You need to lead them by the hand with a voice-over instructor and arrows pointing to everything step by step.

[100Coogn]

Well, a virtual or downloadable manual may help with part of that. I'm not sure about the effort it takes to set up controls and such. Guess it's generational when it comes to things or experiences worth having taking effort on one's part (though I never thought the technical aspect of playing AH was all that difficult). I don't see AH hiring a 'Geek Squad' (so to speak) to go to their house and do it for them. Skuzzy (and most of the players on this forum) could explain it to them and even the laziest players usually see links to forums on the respective game websites (then we go back to a horse vs. water thing).

I'd still like to think we're on the verge of a potential epiphany but that may be my optimism talking.

As much as I like the idea of a user-manual created by the community, I see this not happening.  (see how your post is getting pushed down?)
This is something HTC should have done IMO.
I won't get into skinning and maps...

Coogan

[Wiley]

Well, a virtual or downloadable manual may help with part of that. I'm not sure about the effort it takes to set up controls and such. Guess it's generational when it comes to things or experiences worth having taking effort on one's part (though I never thought the technical aspect of playing AH was all that difficult). I don't see AH hiring a 'Geek Squad' (so to speak) to go to their house and do it for them. Skuzzy (and most of the players on this forum) could explain it to them and even the laziest players usually see links to forums on the respective game websites (then we go back to a horse vs. water thing).

I'd still like to think we're on the verge of a potential epiphany but that may be my optimism talking.

No.  It needs to be ingame.  If people aren't led by the hand in the game, they're not going to bother looking elsewhere.  A very small percentage of people ever visit the forum.  If google were to turn up something totally perfect, maybe, but even then that's likely too much to ask.  If people haven't got it right in front of them when they start the game they aren't going to go hunt it down.

https://youtu.be/W1ZtBCpo0eU?t=57

We may laugh, but it's what people expect and it's all they have patience for.

Wiley.

[Vinkman]

I see the thread was successfully hijacked. 

hoarding is a local phenomena not a macro one. Lusche could probably provide side population deltas by time. I don;t see big differences during peak hours.  When numbers are very low IE wee hour of the day, they can be lopside by percentage but what difference on a huge map is a significant one?

I believe side balancing is a non-issue.

And to address the hijackers of the thread..

Side balancing has nothing to do with player retention.

Biggest issue in player retention is...
1) Lack of peripherals required to play (fly) properly.
2) The game is too difficult to play (fly) without the proper peripherals.
3) the game is very difficult and requires a large time commitment to acquire the skills to be effective.

You have to come into this game with a strong desire to become a good pilot, and be willing to invest the money on the proper controls, and time to learn how to use them, and the game. If you just stop by to check it out because you came across it, you quickly learn you are in over your head and will leave in frustration for something easier.

I like this game because it is hard.
that may be the very reason the younger generation is not flocking to it.


...but it ain't side balance.   

[100Coogn]

I see the thread was successfully hijacked. 

I blame Vracui...
Can't take him anywhere.

Coogan   

[Vraciu]

I blame Vracui...
Can't take him anywhere.

Coogan   

Har!

  

[Vraciu]

No.  It needs to be ingame.  If people aren't led by the hand in the game, they're not going to bother looking elsewhere.  A very small percentage of people ever visit the forum.  If google were to turn up something totally perfect, maybe, but even then that's likely too much to ask.  If people haven't got it right in front of them when they start the game they aren't going to go hunt it down.

https://youtu.be/W1ZtBCpo0eU?t=57

We may laugh, but it's what people expect and it's all they have patience for.

Wiley.

+100

Somehow I think they will not be reading any manuals.  Too much work.

You need to lead them by the hand with a voice-over instructor and arrows pointing to everything step by step.

[Oldman731]

I like this game because it is hard.
that may be the very reason the younger generation is not flocking to it.

I echo your sentiments.

- oldman

[LilMak]

<EDIT> There looks to be some issue with the scoring page. It says my squad didnt fly 6 months ago and I know it did. This problem may be why the ranks are "0" on the individual players pages.

No issue with the scoring page if you’re using the CO’s name to dig up the stats. Squad changed hands if you remember.

Don’t know what the cure is for the side imbalance. A couple personal observations. I’m attracted to the fight. I go where the red is. Given the smaller numbers. Finding the red gets difficult. It used to be that I could single handedly stir a fight up. Which would often start a whole second front. Now it takes a pretty good sized group to have a chance to get anything going. If you bring too many, there is little to no defense. If you bring too few, you have the same problem. No one bothers to defend.

I believe a lot of the tools and incentives were built around a much larger and diverse population. Over time, tools were developed to fight the horde. These tools are still in place but the truly large hordes are gone. You almost need a horde to get things done now. I honestly believe making captures easier would go a long way to making fights quicker to develop everywhere. Could be wrong. Not scared to experiment though.

[The Fugitive]

No issue with the scoring page if you’re using the CO’s name to dig up the stats. Squad changed hands if you remember.

<snip>

I dont think that is it, I check a couple other squads and theirs are the same. It shows all other numbers, but just no rankings with the 0 flights.

[Arlo]

Incentive to defend. There may be a key in this.

A perk per minute if you are part of an active defense of a field (in flight or in a vehicle only)?