instead of two weeks free

[ccvi]

When do the free 2 weeks start? When signing up, or when entering a non-free arena first time?

[100Coogn]

We've hashed this subject out many times on the BBS.
If HTC wants to only give two weeks, then make it actual in-game time.
14 days x 24 hours per day = 336 in-game hours. 

Coogan

[TequilaChaser]

We've hashed this subject out many times on the BBS.
If HTC wants to only give two weeks, then make it actual in-game time.
14 days x 24 hours per day = 336 in-game hours. 

Coogan

I would look at it more realistic as like 30 hours to 40 hours a week.... So either "60 hours in-flight time" minimum or "80 hours in-flight time" maximum...

Even if it is a new player that is beginning, I don't see them playing no more than 4 to 5 hours a day on the minimum to 8 to 9 hours a day maximum...

Edit: in-game time is different from in-flight time....

Just my thoughts

TC

[100Coogn]

I would look at it more realistic as like 30 hours to 40 hours a week.... So either "60 hours in-flight time" minimum or "80 hours in-flight time" maximum...

Even if it is a new player that is beginning, I don't see them playing no more than 4 to 5 hours a day on the minimum to 8 to 9 hours a day maximum...

Just my thoughts

TC

Those are respectable numbers.  I agree 336 in-game is a bit much.  I'm just thinking, what good is free two weeks if the new player has a job or school?  They won't have
much time to try out the game.

Coogan

[EskimoJoe]

I would never have gotten into AH if it wasn't for H2H in the days of old. I probably spent months in there off and on as a younger teen learning just how to play the game and goofing off.

Have a main-menu option of "free online arenas" that takes players straight to the free section. Have the TA and a couple small, persistent arenas there.

[lunatic1]

Unlimited time in 6-10 planes/vehicles doesn't cover that?

I think with 100 players trying out the game every week .... for free... that a decent number of those can be converted into paying subscribers. With player help, guiding these players over the tough spots I think the added numbers will help with both arena numbers, as well as subscriptions.

I agree with Ack-Ack they already face a limited plane set and gv set in them other games why have it here, they can fly any of the unperked planes here until they get perks to fly the perkies.

[lunatic1]

How about each new player gets 100 free sorties in the MA?

They can fly or drive anything not perked and have a little more time to get used to things if real life interrupts their trial period.


Not a huge difference for most but maybe enough for a few.  At this point, it can't hurt to try.

I and most people here can burn thru 100 sorties in less than a week^^ bad idea

[lunatic1]

"Unlimited time in 6-10 planes/vehicles"

This would keep the new player involved with the game if they singed up with a squad at the very least. At least it will give them something to do and gain friends which might lead into trying the game for real. The only reason I play Pubg for example is that I have friends playing it.

I am also in favour of the extention of the free period of play.

DutchVII

most squads won't take on a new player-esp one that doesn't know anything.
and another what if the plane they wan't to fly is in that list of limited plane they will say goodbye.

since the game went on steam 2 types of players have been coming on- the person who wants to fly ponies and the ones who want to fly bombers
maybe 1 out of 10 for gv's.

[lunatic1]

Free trial periods should be measured in actual game time, not offline real time.
So simple.

Let's say you expect a new player to play 2 hours a day, every day, for 2 weeks. That is 28 hours in-game time. That is probably more than what trial accounts actually use, but I don't really know. So give a new guy 30 hours to play and let him decide how to split them to fit his own schedule. He can relax and spend these hours when he is really ready to play and R/L do not get in the way.

lol so 2 weeks and a day-that's what you're saying-that doesn't make any sense

[TequilaChaser]

Free trial periods should be measured in actual game time, not offline real time.
So simple.

Let's say you expect a new player to play 2 hours a day, every day, for 2 weeks. That is 28 hours in-game time. That is probably more than what trial accounts actually use, but I don't really know. So give a new guy 30 hours to play and let him decide how to split them to fit his own schedule. He can relax and spend these hours when he is really ready to play and R/L do not get in the way.

I didn't see your post, bozon, when I posted my reply to Coogan's post....

Looks like the both of us were thinking of it the same way....

I would just recommend that HTC if they decide to change the current "2 free weeks" offer to free in-game hours/time, that they would consider using "in-flight time" verses using "in-game time", since it is currently 2 completely different things regarding the free account for 2 weeks offer....

A new player signing up for the current free trial starts their free trial as soon as they first login to a "pay to play arena" and their time starts counting down from there....even before they get a chance to setup controllers, etc...

I think it to be more beneficial if it only counted towards "in-flight time"

I can login to the AH MA and just sit in the tower and watch what is going on, but if I don't fly/play,  noone can see that I was even there, if they were to look at monthly stats and it shows that I did not fly/participate for that tour....

Just my thoughts

~S~

TC

[The Fugitive]

I agree with Ack-Ack they already face a limited plane set and gv set in them other games why have it here, they can fly any of the unperked planes here until they get perks to fly the perkies.

The point is to get players in the game, just like in those other games. First just to get numbers up, second to add subscriptions.

most squads won't take on a new player-esp one that doesn't know anything.

That is a problem with squads. They use to hunt for new guys and train them up.

and another what if the plane they wan't to fly is in that list of limited plane they will say goodbye.

or maybe they join up and get a subscription.

since the game went on steam 2 types of players have been coming on- the person who wants to fly ponies and the ones who want to fly bombers
maybe 1 out of 10 for gv's.

Didnt know you had questionnaires out and had all this vital data. I very much doubt that you are right. Sure many want the uber planes because they need the crutch going against the sharks we have flying in here. However giving them a number of "free" planes/GVs forfills the "Play for FREE!" tag ( another thing the Steam players complained about, It not being FREE unless you wanted to play in empty arenas>), it get more players in the arena, and COULD lead to more subscriber all with little trouble/work on HTCs part. 

[lunatic1]

I don't think we really should pay attention to fugitive-he's always down on the game-says AH3 will die in a certain about of time. and I may be wrong.
but 1 problem many, many people/players veterans of the the game are living in the past, ant least once a day almost everyday reference's to the old days are made.
GET OVER IT-THE OLD DAYS ARE GONE- AH3 will never see 600 people in a arena any more.
people have quit to play other easier and cheaper games.
people have quit because of real life stuff.
people have quit because they can't afford the upgrade, and did you know that a lot of the old players think they need a new rig to play this game. and a certain 49'er said he was quitting in june if changes to gv'ing weren't made-I  guess he can't fly-you know try something else.
and until those other game either games go away or start charging to play, we are going to stay low.
there have been a few regulars quit and a few talking about quitting, and the way I'm reading it, it's because they aren't getting to play their way, or they are quitting because of the way others play-how can people not have fun rolling with the flow, play the game my way or I quit, and we say goodbye-which we shouldn't-we should offer some type of game play game to them--change sides-rides tatics etc. I change to rook for a week once what a world of difference it made-spent the following week apologizing.

something else that has bugged me FSO Friday nights--last I looked before it started Rooks had 88 people on Bish had about 80 Knights approx. 60--where the hell are these extra players at and why don't they play Melee at all, you pay 14.95 Tx players 16.03 a month just to play 3 or 4 times a month that is to me silly in a way, but I am happy you are still playing but does seem like a waste-those are bodies we could use in the weekday mornings to help curtail bish base takes- and more stronger and longer fights in prime time.

2 weeks ago we had 2 new guys on 1 was Involved in a CV vs AF fight he had fun-was laughing and said that defense/fight was intense-the other couldn't figure out what the goal of the game was or the purpose even though 5 or 6 of us explained it to him several times.

haven't seen either one of them back.
no matter what you do nothing works.

although I have never tried to tell HTC how to spend their money- and always attacked those who did.
+1 for Atlau.

but would be niuce if a lot of those FSO only players would spend more time in Melee bye

[lunatic1]

and criticism from  player who only played 22hrs 52 minutes and 1 second in tour 216-january 30hrs 57mins 51 sec. so far in tour 217 feb.
 I spend more time on the game then you. tour 216 jan-206hrs 37 mins 4 sec  tour 217 Feb 233hrs 14 mins 15 secs. so far.
and before you say anything-no I don't go to bed and leave the game on. my internet is satellite and has limited data- would disco at anytime 3 or 4 times a day as it is-I log off if I'm not going to play. no I don't put out questionnaires. I don't need to, I'm there to see it you're not

[The Fugitive]

and criticism from  player who only played 22hrs 52 minutes and 1 second in tour 216-january 30hrs 57mins 51 sec. so far in tour 217 feb.
 I spend more time on the game then you. tour 216 jan-206hrs 37 mins 4 sec  tour 217 Feb 233hrs 14 mins 15 secs. so far.
and before you say anything-no I don't go to bed and leave the game on. my internet is satellite and has limited data- would disco at anytime 3 or 4 times a day as it is-I log off if I'm not going to play. no I don't put out questionnaires. I don't need to, I'm there to see it you're not

I'm sorry I have a life with responsibilities and cant play all day, all night. This however doesnt mean I cant see or reason out how things are going in the game. Take your rose colored glasses off for a minute and look at things logically. We use to have 600 players, now we dont. We had 600 players for a reasonable amount of time, why? Because we were bringing in as many or more NEW players and RETAINING them. Today we are losing players weekly, why? because we are not bringing in as many new players as we lose due to GV dar, boredom, lack of time to invest, or what ever other reason that makes people cancel their subscriptions.

Cancellations ARE going to happen, HTC admits it and for many of us we have long ago passed that point were we should have found a reason to leave. For HTC its one of the reasons the game is still rolling along.Us old timers, and those guys who dont want to bother with the "antics" in the MA but prefer to only play in FSO and Scenarios. SO, FACT we are going to lose players.

As our numbers continue to decline, slowly but surely it is logical to say that they are not bringing in as many players as we are losing. In the 16 years and almost 6000 hours I have played and payed my subscription to HTC, I have seen and done many things in this game. Being fairly intelligent I can see the writing on the wall, can you? Sure the game may limp along for months, maybe even a year or two, and I hope Im wrong, but unless something is changed it isnt going to get better. You said it yourself, "GET OVER IT-THE OLD DAYS ARE GONE- AH3 will never see 600 people in a arena any more", why? Because the old model doesn't work any more. HTC needs a new model. Those of us who love this game post suggestions of what we think may help. Its up to HTC to decide what is good for them.

Can this game get back to 600 players in an arena again? Hell yes! It is THE best WWII combat game on the market. With all the options available for different types of game play it can appeal to a wide range of players. Whats needed is to get the word out to that wide range of players, and then to set up a program to help KEEP these new players.

Step one, make it easier for the new players to come in. Give them unlimited free play in a number of planes and GVs WITH the paying customers in the MA.

Step two advertise this new setup, ads, social media and so on. Plaster it everywhere.

Changes are needed, if not why dont we still have 600 players in the arenas?   

[Ack-Ack]

The point is to get players in the game, just like in those other games. First just to get numbers up, second to add subscriptions.

That is a problem with squads. They use to hunt for new guys and train them up.

or maybe they join up and get a subscription.

You're just putting up another barrier for the new player by forcing them to fly lower tier planes that will automatically put them at a disadvantage.  In the MA environment, flying low tier planes is a lot harder than flying then flying the higher tier planes.

Didnt know you had questionnaires out and had all this vital data. I very much doubt that you are right. Sure many want the uber planes because they need the crutch going against the sharks we have flying in here. However giving them a number of "free" planes/GVs forfills the "Play for FREE!" tag ( another thing the Steam players complained about, It not being FREE unless you wanted to play in empty arenas>), it get more players in the arena, and COULD lead to more subscriber all with little trouble/work on HTCs part.

You can read the reviews on Steam and the forums posts there and you'll see what the comment complaints were from the players that didn't matriculate to a paid subscription.  I also took the time to ask some of the new players I saw online that liked the game but weren't going to convert.  They echoed the same things the players were saying on the Steam reviews and forums posts.

New player's aren't going to subscribe if they feel they can't get past the things that are giving them troubles getting into the game.