Author Topic: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes  (Read 4690 times)

Offline bozon

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Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« on: January 07, 2019, 01:54:05 AM »
1)
While a free account with limited plane selection is not something that will be right for this game, HTC must allow some free access to the main game - players expect to taste the full game before they put money into it - and the 2weeks trial is not good enough for this.

HTC should have “free events” that allow unpaying accounts to play in all arenas during these limited-time reoccurring events.

Now, if they do that 1 weekend every month this will not create a population of freeloaders that play 1 or 2 evenings per month. Players that are willing to put money into a game will want to be able to play at least once a week, and likely much more. That big free weekend will serve as a taste that will make eager players want to play more and not wait another month for the next session. Those undecided can try play again in a couple of weeks and then decide - no pressure.

This free weekend will be an opportunity for the community to arrange special events to showcase that aspect of AH and contribute to recruiting + getting enough players to run large walk-on events like we used to, to the enjoyment of the paying subscribers.

When creating a free account, players should be able to ask to be reminded via email (or sms also?) that a free weekend is starting, so they don’t miss it.


2)
Allow unpaying accounts to enter the main arena and observe the game - without the ability to spawn. Lets them see the game!
They should be able to send “.join” requests. Text and Vox privileges may be considered, but this could be problematic.

I know that this opens the door for easy spying, but we have enough of that already, and I am not a fan of stealth game tactics anyway.
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Offline TWCAxew

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #1 on: January 08, 2019, 01:39:19 PM »
+1

I like the idea. It's something different than the other ideas I have seen before. I know on steam other games have free weekends as well and it seem to bumb up the population by a fair size. (Depending on the game of course)

At point 2 I would like to add "join guns on a plane as well" I would even go as far as "join all ack guns". Maybe gives people a sence of accomplishment when they kill someone.

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Offline Shuffler

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #2 on: January 08, 2019, 02:26:09 PM »
Fair enough....

Why is two weeks not good?
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Offline puller

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2019, 02:48:32 PM »
+1

Having a free weekend or 2 weeks every year would be a hell of an idea!!!
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Online The Fugitive

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2019, 04:57:47 PM »
+1

Having a free weekend or 2 weeks every year would be a hell of an idea!!!

And it would only work if you advertise the crap out of it to bring in new players, and we all know how that goes over around here.  :noid

Offline Vulcan

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2019, 08:24:23 PM »
and it seem to bumb up the population by a fair size.

No bumbing the population please.

Offline bozon

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2019, 06:02:17 AM »
Fair enough....

Why is two weeks not good?
A one-time two weeks trial puts pressure on the player to play as much as he can or waste the only opportunity he will get. If he wants to try again two months later he cannot get another trial without “work arounds”. Maybe he did not have enough time during these two weeks? Maybe the timing was bad because Fallout 11 just released? Maybe he played it without a stick so he quit afer 30 minues, but now he got a good one? Who knows? But a month or two later he may want to reconsider AH.

Player today are not very decisive and there is a large competition for their playtime and money. They are used to playing first, and then decide if they want to invest money to get more out of the game (micro-transactions, added content, locked areas, locked levels, etc).
Mosquito VI - twice the spitfire, four times the ENY.

Click!>> "So, you want to fly the wooden wonder" - <<click!
the almost incomplete and not entirely inaccurate guide to the AH Mosquito.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGOWswdzGQs

Offline Shuffler

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2019, 12:39:14 PM »
A one-time two weeks trial puts pressure on the player to play as much as he can or waste the only opportunity he will get. If he wants to try again two months later he cannot get another trial without “work arounds”. Maybe he did not have enough time during these two weeks? Maybe the timing was bad because Fallout 11 just released? Maybe he played it without a stick so he quit afer 30 minues, but now he got a good one? Who knows? But a month or two later he may want to reconsider AH.

Player today are not very decisive and there is a large competition for their playtime and money. They are used to playing first, and then decide if they want to invest money to get more out of the game (micro-transactions, added content, locked areas, locked levels, etc).

Not being decisive is a personal problem not a game problem. How far do we lower the link to meet the weakest link?
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Offline CptTrips

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2019, 01:25:36 PM »
Not being decisive is a personal problem not a game problem. How far do we lower the link to meet the weakest link?

It depends.  How badly does Hitech want to stay in business?

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Offline Spikes

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2019, 03:54:50 PM »
Not being decisive is a personal problem not a game problem. How far do we lower the link to meet the weakest link?
I generally disagree. I think the general consensus is that there's too much to learn in this game in 2 weeks if you are green to flight sims. If you've played something like IL2, War Thunder, hell even FSX, you have a general idea of flight sims to begin with and know the basics (joystick most likely, throttle control, flaps, weapons). Therefore, jumping to AH is simply learning the flight model and nuances of the game.

For someone brand new to flight sims who may not have a joystick or has never played anything similar, 2 weeks is not nearly enough. Sure you can say "well they can practice offline first" but really, who's going to want to do that when they can play various other games and jump right into the action? They may start their 2 week and realize they aren't ready for it yet, but it's too late at that point.

Frankly I don't think there's a good period of time that is sufficient, it probably took me a couple months of on and off play to fully grasp the game, get a joystick, etc. Everyone's different, as bozon said who knows what someone goes through on a daily or weekly basis that keeps them from continuing to learn the game. That's not to say it is HTC's fault that someone has life stuff going on, but it is something to consider.
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Offline bustr

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2019, 04:30:28 PM »
How many of you when you log in would toggle your ID to be in a queue for guests to the game to do vicarious ride along's where they can only observe in commander mode while you play? It would probably be good that they don't hear VOX and maybe see range text. But no communication to anyone playing the game. I know many players who look at join requests from strangers as an irritation. This could also become vicious with live streaming or screen capture to abuse and embarrass someone. A bit of that took place near the end of AH2.

Or they could join a CM or AI CM who did a CMeye trip through the Live MA once every 15-30 minutes like a tour bus at a wildlife park full of battling Velociraptors.
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2019, 04:34:17 PM »
I generally disagree. I think the general consensus is that there's too much to learn in this game in 2 weeks if you are green to flight sims. If you've played something like IL2, War Thunder, hell even FSX, you have a general idea of flight sims to begin with and know the basics (joystick most likely, throttle control, flaps, weapons). Therefore, jumping to AH is simply learning the flight model and nuances of the game.

For someone brand new to flight sims who may not have a joystick or has never played anything similar, 2 weeks is not nearly enough. Sure you can say "well they can practice offline first" but really, who's going to want to do that when they can play various other games and jump right into the action? They may start their 2 week and realize they aren't ready for it yet, but it's too late at that point.

Frankly I don't think there's a good period of time that is sufficient, it probably took me a couple months of on and off play to fully grasp the game, get a joystick, etc. Everyone's different, as bozon said who knows what someone goes through on a daily or weekly basis that keeps them from continuing to learn the game. That's not to say it is HTC's fault that someone has life stuff going on, but it is something to consider.

How long do you get to play Monopoly before you have to buy it. :)
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2019, 04:35:53 PM »
It depends.  How badly does Hitech want to stay in business?

I agree..... free accounts is a great way to go under...... quickly.
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Offline CptTrips

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2019, 04:40:06 PM »
I agree..... free accounts is a great way to go under...... quickly.


The current model seems to be a great way to go under...... slowly.


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Offline Shuffler

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Re: Suggestion: Unpaying accounts - not free planes
« Reply #14 on: January 09, 2019, 04:48:02 PM »

The current model seems to be a great way to go under...... slowly.

Numbers seem to be rising. Knee jerk reactions looking for quick responses can go both ways..... good quicky, bad quickly. Much better to take small steps and watch the road. It is a business, not a ball game.     :salute
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