Solution for the low numbers???

[AAIK]

If we follow the trend and try to predict the next *big* thing, historically its been:

First. Pay full price upfront for game.
Second. Subscribe per (insert time unit here) to game.
Third. Provide game for free and charge micro-transactions.
Fourth (predicted). Pay people to play the game.

Thats as far as I can see. I am not sure these idea will make anyone happy but its just prediction.

[1stpar3]

  TODD,Sir...you have a pretty good idea there Talk about LEARNING CURVE...try DCS   They handle this in a good way, you can do offline missions and training in A REDUCED REALISM/Game Mode, with more crutches to help newer players. Auto Rudder, pre flight trim settings(so you dont have to keep trimming)sort of like our Combat Trim, it does make it more Fly by wire and less simulator. In my opinion, this was best way to get a players feet wet. It was relaxed enough to at least let you figure out if the platform was a good fit for you,BEFORE buying Mods to play Online(or Off line if thats your thing). The online is a bit complicated with DCS(nowhere near as good as we have) but its same situation only talk about fish out of water...NOWAY a player can jump into DCS and go straight to ONLINE-FULL reality. We would just need Training missions to run in offline-basics.even WT has training sorties when you first start. We have offline drones, but that gets old quick...need action to set the hook. I believe this would ABSOLUTELY get folk addicted. Its hard to expect a new player to go to TA and plead for help(its a pride thing) and they sure as heck wont stay, if while trying to learn how to taxi-they get shot on runway, over and over

[Arlo]

I think a better solution would be to have 6-8 planes and vehicles be free all the time in the MA.

Agreed. Although I would go as far as 18 items on the menu comprised of one air and two ground transports, eight early war fighters, three early war dive-bombers, one early war level bomber, the Storch, the Jeep and the PT.

My 'freebie' suggestions:

C-47A
F4F-4
P-40B
SBD-5
Hurricane Mk I
Spitfire Mk I
Bf 109E-4
Fi 156
He 111H
Ju 87D-3
B5N2
D3A1
A6M2
I-16
Jeep
M-3
SdKfz 251
Elco 80' PT Boat

There's a fair degree of limited fun there without much chance of griefing. Plenty of latitude but none of the late war iconics like the Mustang, Corsair or late war 109s, 190s, Japanese or Russian hotrods or heavy bombers. I suppose the level bomber could be dropped as well as the Zero and Wildcat. That still leaves 15 toys (out of over 100). It's a pretty good carrot (with potential for steak upgrade).

[Max]

Before I share my first impressions of Aces High III, I would like to preface my statements by saying that I think it's a wonderful game and my hat is off to the developers. These are my personal opinions for what it's worth. They are offered as constructive consumer feedback.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I sincerely hope Hitech reads your review. It's well constructed, unbiased and offers some great ideas...most of which I agree with.

Welcome to the game!

[Warface]

My 'freebie' suggestions:

C-47A
F4F-4
P-40B
SBD-5
Hurricane Mk I
Spitfire Mk I
Bf 109E-4
Fi 156
He 111H
Ju 87D-3
B5N2
D3A1
A6M2
I-16
Jeep
M-3
SdKfz 251
Elco 80' PT Boat

If I might offer my humble opinion I think that list, taken just for example, is far too comprehensive and any new revenue generated would likely be offset by current players taking a temporary payment hiatus while you would still see them playing in the arena.

I was thinking of something closer to they way Rise of Flight offers one central and one allied fighter for free in multiplayer. Everything else is paid. When I started playing that game I flew those two planes for nearly six months before making my first purchase. Now, a few years later, I've paid for just about every plane, map, or upgrade available in the game store.

I'm of the opinion that two or three early war planes available in the MA is easily enough content to provide a free player plenty of time to decide if they'd like to support the game, as well as boost player numbers/action/targets for the paying members. Remember, everything is free to try offline and in the training arena. Free rides in the Main Arena should exist only to provide a window into MA multiplayer action (the games only real lure) for more than two weeks.

Building personal relationships with other players is the BIGGEST hook any multiplayer game has, but these things take time.

[lunatic1]

Telling potential customers that they might not like this game is not a good idea IMHO. I think it would be better for everyone to try and see if this is the realism level they want and accept. Some have said that few current game features are too arcade, like 6k icons for example.

have you not played world of warthunder and armored warfare==you're tank and or plane reticle  shows were the tank is-behind a tree-wall or a hill-dive bombing too easy as there is a bombsight on the ground all you have to do is line the sight up with the object, boom. not to mention that those games list player distance and player name for both sides.

all you have to do is go to youtube and watch the gameplay of these games.

Aces High3 heck even AH2 was and is a lot better.

[DmonSlyr]

I definitely feel like allowing early war aircraft for free in the MA is a great idea. I bet you anything it would get more people to stick around longer and thus end up buying a subscription for the "good" planes.

[lunatic1]

Designate a squad that all “New” players get automatically assigned to. Have several “Vets” lead said squad. Up the free trial from 2 weeks to 4.

yep sure another sure fire way to bash new players. HEY I'M NEW come kill me and my squad we are all new players.

HiTech already said that giving a 1 month free play won't help. if a player don't like the game in the 1st 30 minutes to an hour they are not coming back. and I have seen new players whine about this and that, or the game is too hard, and they don't come back.

you said have vets lead said squad. vets log on to play and have fun-often have limited playing time, and don't want to waste it training people-I may be wrong.

ideas for getting new players has been posted over and over.

[Vulcan]

My 2 cents. If you let them in for free on a limited plane set, let them spend perks to fly better rides. This is how most games work today, play for free, get the nice goodies for ingame coin. Eventually you'd get to the point when it just is easier to subscribe.

[bustr]

If you have ever looked at the WT initial setup interface, you are reminded of a collusion between Photo Shop and Blender in black livery with more choices and menu items than Adam. If you play the game the play interface looks like a collusion of an xBox console and a smart phone game. Lots of lights, bells and whistles constantly feeding the senses along with more HelperBots than Eve.

Our interface is rudely stark in comparison along with being so simple it can be vague. Bless Hitech and his floating tool tips. No bells, whistles or HelperBots.

In the face of this, what keeps a new never before player grinding through the WT nightmare more choices than Adam GUI, and willing to launch out into the WT environment with no experience flying anything in a simulator? Do they not get shot down as quick? Do the helper aimbots concede to the idea that gamer's need enhancements or they won't play your game for very long? Much of the WT interface is full of HelperBots telling and showing you everything you could ask for that would get you banned from our game for life.

As for free rides in the MA, give them only the spit9. It's easy mode, very competitive, and would make it quicker to gain positive feed back with kill strings. Less than that won't keep them trying for very long against vets constantly in late war monsters hunting newbies in spit9. Anything from Arlo's list would quickly be a give away the player was a green newbie.

[DmonSlyr]

If you have ever looked at the WT initial setup interface, you are reminded of a collusion between Photo Shop and Blender in black livery with more choices and menu items than Adam. If you play the game the play interface looks like a collusion of an xBox console and a smart phone game. Lots of lights, bells and whistles constantly feeding the senses along with more HelperBots than Eve.

Our interface is rudely stark in comparison along with being so simple it can be vague. Bless Hitech and his floating tool tips. No bells, whistles or HelperBots.

In the face of this, what keeps a new never before player grinding through the WT nightmare more choices than Adam GUI, and willing to launch out into the WT environment with no experience flying anything in a simulator? Do they not get shot down as quick? Do the helper aimbots concede to the idea that gamer's need enhancements or they won't play your game for very long? Much of the WT interface is full of HelperBots telling and showing you everything you could ask for that would get you banned from our game for life.

As for free rides in the MA, give them only the spit9. It's easy mode, very competitive, and would make it quicker to gain positive feed back with kill strings. Less than that won't keep them trying for very long against vets constantly in late war monsters hunting newbies in spit9. Anything from Arlo's list would quickly be a give away the player was a green newbie.

Yeah I sort of agree with you about the spit9. Would be a perfect plane. Could probably throw in a 109F and a CV plane like the sea fire or a6m3.

[caldera]

Yeah I sort of agree with you about the spit9. Would be a perfect plane. Could probably throw in a 109F and a CV plane like the sea fire or a6m3.

Agreed that the difficulty in flying Early War planes versus vets in uber rides would make noobs quit even faster.  The choices needs to be somewhat survivable.
I like the limited choices too.  Three fighters, three bombers and three GVs. 


The Spit IX and something faster, like the P-47D-40, along with the A6M3.

For heavy bomber, the Lancaster because it's slow and vulnerable.  The Ki-67 for medium bomber.  The Il2 for attack/bomber role.

Add in the Panzer, T-34/76, M-16 and PT Boat.


No ack guns for free.



edit: maybe even rotate the choices every tour.

[Oldman731]

the spit9. Would be a perfect plane.

This is genius.  Gives even the rawest recruit a ride in which he/she can kill the most experienced vet.  Not hard to learn how to fly it.  Noobs can succeed on their first day.

Why didn't I think of this...?  Even worse, why did Bustr beat me to it?

Hitech, could you do this tomorrow?  You need to post it in big letters on the web site, though, or no one will know.

- oldman (possibly a USA Today advertisement:  Free Spit 9s.  Kill at will.  Go here.)

[toddbobe]

To those that are saying give the new players early war planes I think you would be making them cannon fodder... no one likes that. How about the inverse. Give them a all planes and a perk point DISCOUNT. That way a 2 week player can up a 262 and blasts 999000 out of the sky... the new guy gets a WTG and is happy.

Another thing I think we need to do is to make new players feel welcome. I would suggest that HTC make a few select players know that player X is new, that way the vets can reach out to them and make them feel at home. If a player ID's himself as new we should ALL make a concerted effort to make them feel welcome and part of the group.. no cont-alt-F4 toejam... While I LOVE the game I have to say that the true draw of this game is the player base, you guys are the best out there. If you Bish or Rook players happen to see a Nit P-47M a bit less accuracy would be appreciated! :-)

Thats my $.02 worth.. and its over priced.

Todd

[Vraciu]

If you have ever looked at the WT initial setup interface, you are reminded of a collusion between Photo Shop and Blender in black livery with more choices and menu items than Adam. If you play the game the play interface looks like a collusion of an xBox console and a smart phone game. Lots of lights, bells and whistles constantly feeding the senses along with more HelperBots than Eve.

Our interface is rudely stark in comparison along with being so simple it can be vague. Bless Hitech and his floating tool tips. No bells, whistles or HelperBots.

In the face of this, what keeps a new never before player grinding through the WT nightmare more choices than Adam GUI, and willing to launch out into the WT environment with no experience flying anything in a simulator? Do they not get shot down as quick? Do the helper aimbots concede to the idea that gamer's need enhancements or they won't play your game for very long? Much of the WT interface is full of HelperBots telling and showing you everything you could ask for that would get you banned from our game for life.

As for free rides in the MA, give them only the spit9. It's easy mode, very competitive, and would make it quicker to gain positive feed back with kill strings. Less than that won't keep them trying for very long against vets constantly in late war monsters hunting newbies in spit9. Anything from Arlo's list would quickly be a give away the player was a green newbie.

Very true.  Spit IX.

But they're still not staying past ten mins.  We have to fix that.