I think I count as one of "those who left 2009". My reasons back then were simply feeling a lack of purpose. Same old, same old. I was waiting for "combat tour", which never materialized. Hoping for more historical gameplay, etc. Saw how numbers in early war/mid war/AvA arenas dwindled. Just getting tired of being raped by La7īs and Nikis back then, trying to fly in a "realistic way" like real WW2 pilots would have flown.
Why am I back now? Well, the advent of VR is certainly the biggest reason. Itīs just very cool to fly and fight in VR. The updated graphics engine is reason #2. The third one is me reaching an age where I look back in melancholy to things I did when I was young (like play Aces High!) and unlike some other things (cough) I can still do this and compete! It doesnīt require crazy reflexes and the gameplay feels mature and sophisticated. It rewards experience and smart thinking. I like that at my age.
People get tired of games eventually, especially younger ones that move with their peer groups. Playing Battlefield for a while, then World of Tanks, finally Fortnight - the next craze will surely come!
Aces High is different and a way of living for a lot of people, there are names you see in the arena EVERY DAY for hours and hours! I bet a lot of the players are retired, having nothing else to do and it keeps them mentally and socially engaged! In a way this is like my fitness center during the mornings - average age is 60+, but the folks love to be there for the company, having a sense of purpose and something to do.
So what does HT want to do? Keep catering to the old folks? I think this is not viable, because unlike the fitness club (where old timers are driven by their aching bodies and the desire to stay healtyh), there is little infusion of "new old people" here. The people now playing got introduced to Aces High when they were still young and the game was competitive with its contemporary competition. People at that age NOW are used to "modern" games - quickly rewarding, easy to learn, casual and with a strong "carrot" system that makes them yearn for the next level.
So here we are - a bunch of old-timers slowly fading away. We donīt like change, we glorify the "past" (did you see that thread with screenshots of AH2 and people raving how those were the good old times?), we are getting stubborn and inflexible. The target group for replenishing (or even growing!) the population is "young old people", maybe in their 30s. They need to have an affinity to flying (no one plays this game JUST for the GV game, its just too bad for that), history, need to be frustration tolerant, willing to learn an outdated UI, go without tailored instruction or a set purpose and be able and willing to invest time and money into Aces High.
I work as a captain for an airline, flying A320s. I make it a point to mention (without getting on their nerves, I hope) Aces High and how much fun it is to me to all of my first officers, young men in their 30s. Some ask some questions, but when I mention the requirements (hardware) and payment model, their eyes glaze over.
We are approaching the level of players where this game will just implode, going below the critical mass. Already it is not playable during european daytime, with numbers <50 (and only 20 of them in the air) most of the time. I can fly bombers unopposed offline just fine as well, thank you.
In my opinion, its do or die for HT. We heard a lot of good and also bad ideas in this thread already, but in my opinion he needs to look at the contemporary gaming market and what makes persistant games successful or not. Payment model, ease of access, in-game reward system and hardware requirements is where "we" are totally lacking behind the competition, in my opinion.
Cheers, Litjan
