Questions about plane additions in the future

[Wanker]

Pyro was on last night, and as usual, I started badgering him about which planes were coming down the pipeline. The only plane he would confirm as definately coming at some time was the Japanese Zero.

I'm trying to understand the logic behind bringing the Zero into a late war planeset. We old Warbirds vets know what happens when you add early-mid war planes into an arena full of late war uber planes--they end up not being used. Of course, a few Zeke die-hards will fly it regardsless of this(Ghosth  ). But wouldn't it make more sense to fill up a late war planeset(complete with F8f, Do-335, P-47D/M, P-61(your welcome, Rip), Ki-84, and then start going backwards in time and adding planes from the earlier war time.

Just so you understand where I'm coming from, I am a bonafide Zeke driver, and an early war plane lover. Nothing would tickle my fancy more than to see the Hurricane I, F4F and my beloved SBD-5 and D3a Val make an appearance into AH.

I just think it would make more sense, and we would all get better mileage, out of planes that will be competative with the current planeset. Except for a few Zeke experten like Ghosth, I can't see how an A6m-5 is going to be able to seriously compete with a P-51D, or a FW-190, or even the Typhoon. I know that if I encounter a Zeke, I'll simply extend, and come back with guns blazing.

So, help me understand why we want Natedog and Superfly to go through all the trouble of making these planes now, when perhaps the better time to introduce the Zeke would be at a later time, when it can be introduced with a whole host of early-mid war planes.

Personally, I don't believe it's a good move to jump around and add a couple of early war planes, and then a couple of late war, etc.

Unless, of course, we'll be seeing a rolling planeset or seperate arenas for the different eras in the near future.

Let's face it, everyone has their favorite plane(s), but haven't we learned something from the Warbirds experience, where some really cool planes don't get used because they are worse than dead meat on the table in a late war environment?

I'm not trying to step on any toes here, especially not Pyro or any of the HTC folks, but I am curious about the logic behind how planes are selected for addition into AH. Is there a gameplan, where every plane and vehicle coming into AH is decided upon in advance? Or does it just take a case of HiTech's favorite beer to get your plane of choice into the game?  

Inquiring minds want to know. How does HTC make it's decisions about how the vehicle/planeset is going to evolve?

Please, I ask everyone to keep this discussion civil, and not turn it into a lobbying match for your favorite plane.

This is a serious fundamental question, and while I understand that HTC may not want to say too much about this, I was hoping for someone to shed at least a little light on the subject.

Thanks in advance,

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banana
308 (Polish) Squadron RAF "City of Cracow"

[Vermillion]

I definitely have to agree banana.

The A6M5 is not going to be a viable aircraft in the arena, with the current planeset, for exactly the reasons you mentioned.

IMO the Ki-84 or the Ki-100 would be much better choices for a new japanese plane.

The only reason I can see for a A6M5 would be if it fits into some other master plan of Pyro's, like CV's.

Sorry to say this but otherwise its a waste of resources, in my opinon.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"

[gatt]

I think you are right. In another thread I've just posted the same thing.
IMHO the Zeke will be used for field defence, like in WB. The Zeke is an outstanding early-mid war fighter.

Do we want to see the RL k/d ratio of the F4U-1D here? How was it 10/1, 15/1? Or a new AH Turkeys Shot?  
 
Much more useful would be a Ki84 or one of those late war Japanese beautiful high alt fighters (dont ask me which one   )

[This message has been edited by gatt (edited 04-13-2000).]

[Westy]

"..beautiful high alt fighters (dont ask me which one."

J2M3  RAIDEN!!!!!!!    

 

-Westy

[miko2d]

 So may be they are doing the right thing and starting to introduce early/mid war planes?

[gatt]

Miko2d,

 

Personally, I don't believe it's a good move to jump around and add a couple of early war planes, and then a couple of late war, etc.

Thats what I fear. Thats why actually the C.202, the Bf109F-4 and (perhaps) the Spit MkV are no competitive. I'm an early war buff, but from what I see HTC has built a strange mix in the arena. A long time ago I asked for all late war kites and only then go back to 1943->42->41->40.

I'd like to see Blitzkrieg, then BoB, then Pacific, then North Africa plane sets, but this is what I have to deal with. What can I do? I can ask for a Ki84 Frank or a J2M3 Raiden (thanks Westy) and not for a turkey-A6M5.

[Citabria]

Ki84 with actual combat performance   (not WB performance thx  )

and RAIDEN!  

[LLv34_Camouflage]

Brewster Buffalo model 239 please!  In Finnish Air Force colours, of course  

[Dinger]

Well, they're adding the zeke for a good reason:
People will claim the game is incomplete without one.  This game is primarily about fighters, and, for good or bad, you can't sell a sim as having some viable IJ planes without the zeke.
You can't say the same about any other IJ plane.

[Wanker]

Well, you may be correct on this one, Dinger.  If that is the reason, then I guess from a business perspective, I'd go along with it. But we shouldn't just assume that's the reason. Pyro, care to confirm Dinger's hypothosis?

Citabria and LLV34, please don't hijack this thread by plugging yer favorite plane. This discussion is at a higher level than individual plane recommendations.

Thanks,

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banana
308 (Polish) Squadron "City of Cracow" RAF

[Ghosth]

Well you all know by now that I have a different perspective on this. (Thanks banana   )

Spit V not competitive? Since when?
If memory serves me correctly I took down 3 p38's 3 spit's, a B17 last night with one.

OK I cheated, I had a buddy in a 38 keep the pesky p51's away.

Same will hold true for the A6m5 IMHO.
Field defence, it rocks plain & simple.

banana says the fast planes will just extend & come back guns blazeing. Ya know what, he's right. & all the time that they are extending I'm either chewing up someone else, or climbing. By the time that he comes back he's still got no shot.

As to the F4U, well I had a friend who liked one once upon a time. He was talking about the 10 - 1 kill ratio they had against zeke's. (Which brought my hackles up of course)

So we setup a H2H, 20k airstart cold merge.
The first 8 times he did his best to extend, keep it fast, etc.

To make a long story short I got him 9 out of 10.

Now I'm not saying I can do that in AH.
Far from it, Gunnery is different, I don't even know what the flight modeling is going to be like.

But competitive YES.

Ohhh parting shot, out of the 50 some bird available in Brand W. I have shot down at some point in open arena each & every one of them. Includeing the ME 262.

Do I want to see a KI-84, KI-61, KI-100,
along with the other late ware planes, of cousrse. Do I want the zero first YOU BET I DO!

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Maj Ghosth
XO 332nd Flying Mongrels

[Kieren]

I agree with Dinger's guess. You cannot bypass a fighter that was the most significant fighter of a country, indeed was the fighter by which a country was known.

It doesn't have to necessarily happen in the order it is, but it has to be modeled at some point.

BTW, I like the Franz, C202, and Spit V. They have their uses, and sometimes when I just want to tangle furball style.  

[Wanker]

Ghosth <S>,

So, we both agree that we want the Zero in the game. but we just differ on when.

PR notwithstanding, I still think the best way to go about it is to focus on "eras" of WW2 aircraft. Something akin to "We're going to be focusing on the late war aircraft for the next six months, so please don't beg us for the Hurricane I or Brewster Buffalo until we have met our goal for the late war planeset."

Just one Dweeb's opinion.

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banana
308 (Polish) Squadron "City of Cracow" RAF

[Nash]

Last night, someone asked Pryo about building a certain plane (I forget which). He said it will definately be built, but it won't *always* be available.

So I asked him - does this mean he was suggesting the introduction of an RPS in AH? He said no, but they are going to be introducing *some* kind of system wrt to the availablity of planes, and would fill us in on it later.

Just like everything in AH, the crew at HTC aren't just haphazardly throwing things into the game. banana, it sounds like they have already considered this.

Just for fun... Since it WON'T be an RPS, but it WILL be *something*... What kinda system do ya think they have in mind?

[Ripsnort]

Thanks banana    
Good post, but I think the question should be, where  are we  going with AH?  Is it going to have a RPS? or separate late war/early arena's?  I think its too early to tell right now, they are still drying their wings out after being hatched from the shell, but I can tell you one thing, they will do what will bring customers knocking at the door.  That's a good thing for everyone!
(banana, I knew there was a reason I liked you, Rochester, MN.  I grew  up in Coon Rapids and Forest Lake, MN, just North of you, on Hwy.61)

Now, where the HELL is my P61 !?!
     

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Ripsnort(-rip1-)
I/JG2~Richthofen~
JG2 Communications Officer
Aces High Training Corps
JG2 "Richthofen"
   
Turning Spitfires into Bud Lite cans since 1992

[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 04-13-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Ripsnort (edited 04-13-2000).]