I programmed computers with cassette tapes and troubleshot them with switches and LEDs in the 70's. I was in awe of that technology. A couple of decades later when a multiplayer WWII air combat simulator (Air Warrior) became available I knew technology had arrived. Simulations becoming ever closer to reality was always the highest goal of technology imo. Real simulated systems. Real simulated physics. Real simulated visuals. That's what's important. Not "pretty".
I understand that the human brain has an incredible ability to fill-in missing detail and suspend disbelief even with limited graphics. We’ve all been experience that for decades.
But two equally well done sims in all factors but graphics, if one has marginal graphics and the other fantastic graphics, that is going to tip the balance. There still has to be a great sim underneath, but graphics are not irrelevant.
If you took the current AH and removed all texturing and reduced poly count to AW level and made it just green wire frame rendering on black background, are you telling me that would not lose you any customers? Prove it. I dare you.
There still has to be a great sim underneath, but graphics do matter. They are increase the player enjoyment and increase their level of immersion. Anyone who won’t admit that is either delusional, or disingenuous.
I’ll tell you where they really matter, that is being able to attract new players. Graphics, will be a new users very first impression of your product through ads or videos. Like it or not, the visual impression is really going to tilt the sales potential in your favor or against it. It’s going to tilt the sale to pedaling up hill vs downhill. If your graphics don’t stack up to the competition, your sales job is going to be that much harder. It is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition. You still have to have a great game underneath, but if the graphics do not provide “Curb Appeal”, then often the potential customer will not bother looking further. Throw in a subscription model that is out of date with the market...
Now you can take the approach, then so what? Who care about these kiddies nowadays? We don’t need any new players! OK, then the current base will continue to age out and not be replaced, and numbers will dwindle until you reach colony-collapse trigger thresholds. Bon appetit.
Graphics aren’t AH’s only challenge, but anyone who won’t admit that it is an important factor in new player acquisition is either delusional, or disingenuous.
AH’s graphics aren’t terrible. But they don’t compete with IL2 GB and certainly not DCS. They compare well to the fully patched IL2 1946, that sells for $4.99 on Steam.
That is an honest assessment. I'm not trying to be a d*ck.
