Why not?

[AAIK]

Why not make events free? I doubt it would diminish the income HT gets but at the same time allows long time vets and such to pop in and relive some fun. I'd say it would be a win-win for everyone.

[Shuffler]

Events are part of the game. I do not know what kind of work you do, but would you give away one of your most popular items for free?

[xanax]

Events are part of the game. I do not know what kind of work you do, but would you give away one of your most popular items for free?

Loss-Leader concept. Works on me at Costco every week. Not arguing for or against as I'm not sure how I feel about free scenario passes given out. But there could be incentives given out something like one day "buddy passes" and the like for returning players to play a day in Melee. Hell, it even rhymes: "Come back to play for a day in Melee."Long-standing players could be given an allotment of free passes to dole out to ex-squadmates etc.

Spitballin' here.

[Lazerr]

I think there is a pretty large number of people that play for FSO and Events only.

My guess is poor business choice..

[Spikes]

Why not make events free? I doubt it would diminish the income HT gets but at the same time allows long time vets and such to pop in and relive some fun. I'd say it would be a win-win for everyone.

I wouldn't mind per se, but the two main events (FSO and Scenario) rely heavily on commitment numbers via squads (FSO) and registration (Scenario). Having these events free would allow anyone to join on any particular day. It would be a huge hassle for FSO squads to take in random people week to week, and those numbers can sway balance heavily. Ideally, they would work out evenly, but that doesn't always happen.

Scenarios are the same way - for example, our registraton numbers were ~45 v ~35 and in Frame 1 the event numbers were 65 to 50 or so. Not complaining, of course, but it was a bear to wrangle 35 walk-ons and get them squared away by launch time (which didn't happen, FWIW, we had to delay 10 mins).

In hindsight, I would not have minded trying to work with HT to have some promo weekends or something to coincide with this Scenario. 1-month trial, free SEA on Saturdays, etc. I have no idea how easy or difficult that would be, though.

[Dadtallica]

Make it like a health club membership. Any paying members can bring a friend once a month for free even if they are past the free trial.

[Eagler]

HT has already voiced his opposite to more free stuff (planes) in an attempt to lure new subscribers..

Anything involving any code change can be written off as well imo

Eagler

[Meatwad]

I still stand by the fact the game is on autopilot until lights oit

[hazmatt]

My idea was free 35-40 eny planes. Maybe it would get some of those hanger queens in the air.

I think if you let people build eny points while flying those planes that they couldn't use unless the paid would motivate them to pay.

I don't see many if any canceling their subs to fly those planes with so many pickers these days and I don't see any real difference in the new players experience because even with 5 eny planes they still gonna get ganged and picked from what I've been reading.

[DmonSlyr]

IMO, it's well worth the $15 to fly in the special events. They are probably one of the best parts or the game. Like Spikes said, you don't want to have to deal with 35 noobs who have no clue how to play. Special events aren't for new folks and you'd certainly have other things to deal with like players not respecting the goals and tactics of the operations, ect.

On the other hand, I do wish the MA had a few free early war planes so players could try the game again and atleast be cannon fodder for the rest of us, while increasing MA #s. I think many folks in today's world are skeptical about paying $15 for a game for only a month that they don't own, just to see if they still like it.

[hazmatt]

When you have games that are $4.99 that you can buy and own and play single player or online vs servers the $15 a month is a dealbreaker.

Last night on an IL2 server I was flying against a good stick from a poor south American county. I forget which one but I did look up the average annual income out of curiosity and it was less then 3k per yer. Somebody like that might be able to buy an IL2 Battle of Kuban for $12 and play on the servers for free but there is no way he could afford $15 every month.

I think the pricing model turns off some and puts it out of reach of others. That said we're all just flapping our gums as all of this stuff has been brought up before and nothing has changed and I doubt it will.

I do think that the special events should be for paying players but that's just my opinion.

[Shuffler]

Loss-Leader concept. Works on me at Costco every week. Not arguing for or against as I'm not sure how I feel about free scenario passes given out. But there could be incentives given out something like one day "buddy passes" and the like for returning players to play a day in Melee. Hell, it even rhymes: "Come back to play for a day in Melee."Long-standing players could be given an allotment of free passes to dole out to ex-squadmates etc.

Spitballin' here.

Costco allows you to buy furniture, use it for 2 years then return it when you are tired of it. ROTFLMAO

[Eagler]

Costco allows you to buy furniture, use it for 2 years then return it when you are tired of it. ROTFLMAO

I have seen half eaten loaves of bread returned at Sam's...

Not to mention televisions after the super bowl...

Theft and stealing is not a crime in the minds of many these days...obviously

Eagler

[xanax]

Costco allows you to buy furniture, use it for 2 years then return it when you are tired of it. ROTFLMAO

Yeah, that's a form of theft in my eyes and have never done anything like that. I'm reticent to return much of anything actually. I was referring to the free samples they give out and items they sell at a loss to get me to signup for the membership. The membership is where they are pulling in the money hand over fist.

[AAIK]

Well part of the reason I was thinking this might be a good idea is because I am in the EU. I am unable to enjoy the game because that means staying up to 2am (starting) each night and messing up my days as a sleep-less zombie. I would love to join the game again but like other EU players I have quit because there just isn't enough action at our time zone.

Like this, people like me can spare a night every month or so to participate without ruining our sleep patterns and energy levels.

I have been with AH since the start (beta) when HT moved from IEN and played religiously for more then a decade.