How have we lost so many people to this wonderful game?

[Lusche]

are the huge maps still on with these kind of numbers?

The huge maps had been retired two or three years ago.

[Vraciu]

The huge maps had been retired two or three years ago.

The maps seem huge NOW.  What were they like before?

[Saxman]

Well, #'s are high when and players can find planes, graphics and action. I left AH2 a long time ago. Actually, I'm playing WT (realistic battles) in these days. Yes, the joystick calibration is a nightmare and the mouse thing simply ridiculous. But I enjoy all the italian fighters AH never had and probably will never have. Not to mention the countless planes of all nationality and their variants. I enjoy the gorgeous graphics (I'm lucky to have a powerful PC). Bomber intercepts (I play only those) are fascinating to play. Contrails, rain, clouds, tracers, sounds, graphic effects ... simply beautiful. And when you fly historical you are up against the right enemies, not Bf109 against FW's. Last but not least, yes, I know I'll find my target in 5/10 minutes after take off (or respawn). Anyway, I miss the old AH2 times a lot. However, AH is so behind the new games ...

If AH had graphics and environment effects on par with WT — and ALL of the aircraft were up to that standard. We still have some aircraft that are pre-AH2 models, and only a handful like the Wildcats that are fully AH3 standard — that would go a LONG way towards attracting new players. The dated visuals are one of the main complaints I see on reviews today.

I do prefer the "AvA" setup of WT's Realistic Battles as well, I don't know why that mode was never as popular in AH. Although per usual, the PTO is underrepresented in terms of maps.

And I'm still of the opinion that AH should double down on the simulator aspects as part of its identity. If WT wants to be an arcade shooter, then ramp up the realism of AH to make it stand apart.

[Chris79]

Well, #'s are high when and players can find planes, graphics and action. I left AH2 a long time ago. Actually, I'm playing WT (realistic battles) in these days. Yes, the joystick calibration is a nightmare and the mouse thing simply ridiculous. But I enjoy all the italian fighters AH never had and probably will never have. Not to mention the countless planes of all nationality and their variants. I enjoy the gorgeous graphics (I'm lucky to have a powerful PC). Bomber intercepts (I play only those) are fascinating to play. Contrails, rain, clouds, tracers, sounds, graphic effects ... simply beautiful. And when you fly historical you are up against the right enemies, not Bf109 against FW's. Last but not least, yes, I know I'll find my target in 5/10 minutes after take off (or respawn). Anyway, I miss the old AH2 times a lot. However, AH is so behind the new games ...

I agree. Although I never had and probably never will mess with WT, I have been thinking about giving IL2 a try. From my experience in the small business world one has to constantly adapt to the ever changing dynamics of the market. I willfully admit that I have little knowledge in terms of the WW2 sim market but I do know that if one does not readily adapt to the ever changing market pressures that failure is inevitable.

[The Fugitive]

are the huge maps still on with these kind of numbers?

Define "huge". The original maps were 15x15. Most of the newer map are now 19x19. I dont remember how big the "Fester" map, or the one with the super high mountain ranges splitting the three countries were, but with the low numbers these days the small 15x15 original maps are the only ones that feel like it has a half decent flow.

[Lusche]

The maps seem huge NOW.  What were they like before?

My earlier post above turned out to be largely incorrect. I forgot that with Bowlma, AH still has at least one 20x20 terrain up.
I just thought of the similar huge maps like Ozkansas, TAGMA, Trinity and Compello.
Though Bowlma is somewhat more 'focused' than those.

[Lusche]

I dont remember how big the "Fester" map, or the one with the super high mountain ranges splitting the three countries were,

That was Trinity, 20x20

[TheBug]

..., I have been thinking about giving IL2 a try.

In case you didn't know now would be the time to give it a try.  They are currently having their holiday sale that lasts until tomorrow.  I picked up Battle of Stalingrad, Kuban and Moscow.  All three combined was cheaper than one at the normal price.  But if you just wanted to give it a try you can get one for $12 and some change.  Can't comment on whether I like it or not since I have only installed them.  Till I have the time to sit down and get into it it is just easier to jump into AH when I get a small window to actually play a game.   Just figured I would mention it.

[Chris79]

In case you didn't know now would be the time to give it a try.  They are currently having their holiday sale that lasts until tomorrow.  I picked up Battle of Stalingrad, Kuban and Moscow.  All three combined was cheaper than one at the normal price.  But if you just wanted to give it a try you can get one for $12 and some change.  Can't comment on whether I like it or not since I have only installed them.  Till I have the time to sit down and get into it it is just easier to jump into AH when I get a small window to actually play a game.   Just figured I would mention it.

Thank you

[ccvi]

Can't comment on whether I like it or not since I have only installed them.  Till I have the time to sit down and get into it it is just easier to jump into AH when I get a small window to actually play a game.   Just figured I would mention it.

This probably goes both ways. I guess there is people who are actively playing WT or IL2, and have downloaded and installed AH, but cannot find the time to configure and/or try.

The difference to your case is, that if they find the time (or free up their time for that, having "no time" but playing is just making up excuses) to try AH they are looking $15/month compared to $0 currently. In your case, you already paid, and it doesn't matter for them if you try it or not. But even with a potential reduction of monthly cost you choose to not free up sufficient time to even try.

There's quite some inertia. Seems like peoples comfort zones is with exactly the configuration and flight-models they are used to. Any change would mean an immediate reduction of skill level, with new learning required. Probably one of the reasons why there's still as many players as there are.

Understanding why there's still players left might help to understand how have we lost so many people to this wonderful game (hey, that's right there in the subject) and then maybe why there are no new ones.

• no motivation to re-learn flying (see above): prevents new players from other sims
• want to complete the collect-25k-perks achievement: not interesting for someone who never played here (I guess no-one ever said "ok, let's start playing word of warcraft to complete all achievements", that works by becoming addicted first and then choosing the most time-consuming goal available)
• married to the community: prevents new players (married to their current communities)
• scenarios / special events: not really motivating much for new players, because not much can be experienced during the two free weeks; also, aren't their kind of game rounds in the other games, which are basically little scenarios, minus human interaction and flying around for an hour to maybe end up in a fight?)
• prefer the open-world war aspect of the main arena: the only thing where AH is really different?

Anything missing?

[gatt]

I do prefer the "AvA" setup of WT's Realistic Battles as well, I don't know why that mode was never as popular in AH. Although per usual, the PTO is underrepresented in terms of maps.

What is interesting about historical matches is that the two sides adopt different tactics. Some axis players climb hard to intercept allied bombers while other go to stop allied fighter/bombers at medium low altitude. The allied side seems much more intersted to ground pounding than to fighter vs fighter. However, sometimes you find escorted bombers and then it is very difficult to get to the bombers. Something I dont remember at all in AH (scenarios apart, of course).

Well WT is arcade in many ways but sometimes it gets pretty close to what I'd like to have in a combat sim.

[Saxman]

In case you didn't know now would be the time to give it a try.  They are currently having their holiday sale that lasts until tomorrow.  I picked up Battle of Stalingrad, Kuban and Moscow.  All three combined was cheaper than one at the normal price.  But if you just wanted to give it a try you can get one for $12 and some change.  Can't comment on whether I like it or not since I have only installed them.  Till I have the time to sit down and get into it it is just easier to jump into AH when I get a small window to actually play a game.   Just figured I would mention it.

The problem with the Il-2 Battle Of Series is I'm STILL waiting for the @#$%ing PTO. Those are the planes I'm interested in flying. I've been over the ETO since Aces Over Europe, and never cared at all about the Eastern Front. The only reason I even picked up the full version of Il-2: 1946 and all its expansions is because they half-assed Pacific Fighters as a standalone game, and the only way to fix it was to get the full suite.

[Oldman731]

I do prefer the "AvA" setup of WT's Realistic Battles as well, I don't know why that mode was never as popular in AH.

Couple of reasons.  Probably the more important is that people want to fly their favorite plane.  As well, there is a very small time frame when the AvA PTO and ETO plane sets are competitive, mostly in late 1943 for the ETO (although the Spit 9 throws everything off), and 1945 for PTO.  Availability of the La5FN gives the Russian front a longer competitive period, but see Reason One for why it isn't popular.  If you just throw "all Allied v all Axis" planes together, the plane sets heavily favor the Allies.

Still, I'm with you.  It was usually a challenge to fly with the crippled side, but I enjoyed working to become competent in those planes.

- oldman (who is still working at it, with questionable success)

[Saxman]

Well WT is arcade in many ways but sometimes it gets pretty close to what I'd like to have in a combat sim.

I've made my list of what I thought WT did well that Aces High ought to consider, and got screamed down the second I even HINTED at Complex Engine Management being implemented the same way turning off Stall Limiter and Engine Governor already is for my trouble.

[Mongoose]

My earlier post above turned out to be largely incorrect. I forgot that with Bowlma, AH still has at least one 20x20 terrain up.
I just thought of the similar huge maps like Ozkansas, TAGMA, Trinity and Compello.
Though Bowlma is somewhat more 'focused' than those.

  The map that is up now, Riftval, is 9 1/2 sectors across.  That come out to about 237 miles across.  Most maps now days will be about 225 to 250 miles across.