An Ideal to attract new players

[Cramby]

I believe the subscription is outdated so Here's an ideal. Allow new players to fly low tier planes for free, but if they want to fly all the planes have them subscribe then. I dont know if you guys still care or not. Its just a thought.

[Mongoose]

It's been suggested before.  One of the problems is that some players would unsubscribe and just fly the free planes all the time.

I think the idea has merit. Pick a small number of planes, and also limit the playing time per month or per week.  Just enough to get people hooked.

Suggested plane set:
P-40E
Spitfire or Hurricane Mk I
A6M

Some are going to argue my plane choices, but I think a limited set should be enough to get some folks into the game.  Of course, Hitech has much more experience in this area, and would have a much better idea of how this would work, or even IF it would work.

[nopoop]

Wouldnt work. They would be eaten alive. Because they are new, they would be eaten alive in a Tempest..

[hitech]

I believe the subscription is outdated so Here's an ideal. Allow new players to fly low tier planes for free, but if they want to fly all the planes have them subscribe then. I dont know if you guys still care or not. Its just a thought.

If what you suggest was the case ,I  think that I would see a lot of people fly free for 2 weeks and then not subscribe. That is not the case.

HiTech

[Mongoose]

Good to see you, Hitech.  Serious question:  What are you seeing when new players try the game?  Some time ago you told us that potential players log in, get stuck on the runway, then quit (if I remember the sequence correctly).  Are you still seeing that?

[Eagler]

The game is probably too difficult for all but the most serious flight sim enthusiasts to figure out from scratch..

I know it was a huge change from fighter ace to ah back around 2000 even after years in fa

Planes smaller, icons different,  so many players handing me my rear end everytime I took off...

Don't think most kids have the patience needed nowadays..

They have a tik tok video to make or watch...record adhd these days for good reason.

Eagler

[Kini]

I believe the subscription is outdated so Here's an ideal. Allow new players to fly low tier planes for free, but if they want to fly all the planes have them subscribe then. I dont know if you guys still care or not. Its just a thought.

And from 1 year of experience in the arena, all the old-timers would chew them up.

[The Fugitive]

If what you suggest was the case ,I  think that I would see a lot of people fly free for 2 weeks and then not subscribe. That is not the case.

HiTech

I dont know, that 2 week thing might be the reason the dont bother finishing it out. After 15 minutes or more the new guys figure out how hard it is to play the game. Looking at ONLY 2 weeks to get "good" at it Im sure is very discouraging and so they say "why bother" and log out never to return. I know I've done that on a game or two.

Giving the MA 5 free "junk" planes could help them stick around because they now have unlimited time to figure out hoe to play and maybe for some of the bold one ask for help. I dont think giving away a P40, A6M2, 109E4, TBM, and a Yak7 and maybe a G4M1 for a buff would get too many subscribers to stop subscribing to fly only those planes.

Sure they are going to die A LOT! in those planes, but they are going to die a lot in any plane they fly for the first 6 months to a year anyway. The important thing will e that they have unlimited time to try and learn. Those that stick it out will no doubt end up subscribing to get the rest of the planes. And those that dont, well we will have better numbers in the arena which helps bring in more players too.

[Arlo]

I agree with Fugi. And if anyone gets pretty good in the 'junk planes' then heaven help us when the upgrade. 

[Tracerfi]

I dont know, that 2 week thing might be the reason the dont bother finishing it out. After 15 minutes or more the new guys figure out how hard it is to play the game. Looking at ONLY 2 weeks to get "good" at it Im sure is very discouraging and so they say "why bother" and log out never to return. I know I've done that on a game or two.

Giving the MA 5 free "junk" planes could help them stick around because they now have unlimited time to figure out hoe to play and maybe for some of the bold one ask for help. I dont think giving away a P40, A6M2, 109E4, TBM, and a Yak7 and maybe a G4M1 for a buff would get too many subscribers to stop subscribing to fly only those planes.

Sure they are going to die A LOT! in those planes, but they are going to die a lot in any plane they fly for the first 6 months to a year anyway. The important thing will e that they have unlimited time to try and learn. Those that stick it out will no doubt end up subscribing to get the rest of the planes. And those that dont, well we will have better numbers in the arena which helps bring in more players too.

I have been playing a little bit of World War II Online and they allow free to play access with one free to play unit in each class of unit. I would love to be able to still play this when I don't necessarily have the spare funds to play this.

[Eagler]

Great idea Fungi!

Very good free planeset too imo

I'd think getting killed by the pay to play planeset would inspire many to go with a subscription to try that planeset themselves for a bit at least..

I don't think there are many new +20 year subscribers out there like many of us dinosaurs

Eagler

[oboe]

I remember when AH went to Steam, and thousands of new players werer trying out the game.   IIRC, Hitech said most of the new subscriptions logged out in under 30 minutes never to log in again, so something like that.  Anyway, they didn't even finish their two week trial - and that makes me think its something other than cost that is causing new players not to continue.

[Arlo]

I remember when AH went to Steam, and thousands of new players werer trying out the game.   IIRC, Hitech said most of the new subscriptions logged out in under 30 minutes never to log in again, so something like that.  Anyway, they didn't even finish their two week trial - and that makes me think its something other than cost that is causing new players not to continue.

Simulator junkies versus x-boxers.

[The Fugitive]

I remember when AH went to Steam, and thousands of new players werer trying out the game.   IIRC, Hitech said most of the new subscriptions logged out in under 30 minutes never to log in again, so something like that.  Anyway, they didn't even finish their two week trial - and that makes me think its something other than cost that is causing new players not to continue.

There were a few problems with the steam release. VR wasnt up to what we have now. Once players came in and found out the "Free to Play!" was for only 2 weeks it chased away most of them. I think had HTC had players standing by to help these newbs coming in from steam they could have saved some of them. On top of that, like I said above knowing how much you have to learn to get going and knowing you had only 2 weeks to get to there to even see if you could enjoy the game is enough to chase away people. As I said, there are some games Ive tried and after an hour or 2 I decided I just dont have the time/will to learn all the crap I need to just to get around in the game never mind get good enough to have fun with it.

This game takes a lot of time to even become average. TIG is an excellent example. Hes been playing for just over 3 months and has gone from 1/2 K/d to a just over 1/1 kd. His hit % is just above average even tho his K/s is still well under 1. But the important thing is hes having fun and learning every sorty. He is well on his way to becoming a "killer" in the game. Give him another 6 months and he will be above average in most stats, a year and he will be one of the sharks. THis is a guy who is into the game big time. Now look at a guy with out his confidence just starting out. He is going to be a bit over whelmed and intimidated by the game. give him unlimited time to learn with out worrying about whether he/her is wasting their money and they may stick around a bit longer. Given the time they may find and use the resources that are available in the BBS, Trainers, and numerous helping websites and videos.

I think a rebranding/reissue on steam would help a lot too. Call it AH4, introducing a free plane set for the MA, fully integrated VR support (except for the tiffy ) and available help in the arenas to get going and see where it goes.

[popeye]

As I said, there are some games Ive tried and after an hour or 2 I decided I just dont have the time/will to learn all the crap I need to just to get around in the game never mind get good enough to have fun with it.

This.

I've seen lots of newbs appear, crash on takeoff a few times, then disappear forever.  I often noted their playerid then checked stats.  It didn't take them an hour or two to decide that the game was too complicated -- maybe 15 minutes.

One thing that might help would be a check ride to get controls worked out and at least fly around a bit.  A new player could spawn into an AT-6 with an AI "instructor" to go through the basics.  The AT-6 would be free to fly forever, and couldn't be shot down.  So, a new player could fly around, practice maneuvering, get a sense of the maps and game structure, and watch the subscribers having fun with it.  Of course, this would require some development that might not be worthwhile at this stage in the game.