Hybrid Purchase\Subscription Model

[CptTrips]

Im not a fan of subscriptions. They limit player base, they keep younger kids out. You may like that, but it doesn't build up next gen players. Everything just nickle and dime you every single month and you never actually "pay it off". This is a rental approach and it's just endless cash being thrown out month after month. Like for AH, I love the game. But, all those $15 add up to like 2k over time and I still wouldn't be able to play next month if I didn't want to pay.

I think you miss an important point. 

I agree about subs myself.  I prefer purchase, but others feel different.
The beautify of this approach is that each chooses the model they prefer.
If you and I prefer the purchase model, we purchase.
If someone else, for what ever their reasons prefer a subscription approach, then they subscribe.

If it can expand the reach and lower the resistance to entry, then what is the downside?
No one is forced into either model. 

Just more way for the customer to choose how they want to give you their money. 

[hazmatt]

Demographics plays a part too. Young people don't want to spend time with old farts.

Not sure about that. I think it's the environment overall.

It seems like the younger players in WT find it fascinating when age comes up and I tell them my age. They act like they saw a dinosaur or something. lolz

That said I think the WT progression thing is very helpful in getting new players up to speed. You start with biplanes and progress from there. I've found that the skills needed for jets are different then the ones needed for the planes I'm used to. It lets you build skills over time and doesn't drop you into the most complex planes to start with.

The funny thing is you can buy the top of the line jets but the people who bought them are obvious because they don't have a clue how to use them and can quickly earn the "cannon fodder" title.

[Lazerr]

Log in and check out the gameplay sometime.  I think you'd be hard pressed to find people that would want to play this for free, let alone $14.95.  Most hours of they day are absolutely terrible.  So yeah, $14.95 is a little steep for a 3 hour window of MAYBE finding some action, depending on the map, what country you are on, and what herd of dweeb are flying 8 deep in a herd of perk planes at 15-20k.  Then you add the factor of having to learn a new game?  In 2 weeks, with limited playing time assuming they are employed or in school?

Anyone that thinks this going to rebound without major changes to game mechanics and subscription model is delusional.  I'm not talking new planes, or fancy graphics either.

I grew up playing this, and still currently subscribe, though rarely log in.  This isn't a post to trash this game, sadly it's about the people playing it. 

[hazmatt]

Log in and check out the gameplay sometime.  I think you'd be hard pressed to find people that would want to play this for free, let alone $14.95.  Most hours of they day are absolutely terrible.  So yeah, $14.95 is a little steep for a 3 hour window of MAYBE finding some action, depending on the map, what country you are on, and what herd of dweeb are flying 8 deep in a herd of perk planes at 15-20k.  Then you add the factor of having to learn a new game?  In 2 weeks, with limited playing time assuming they are employed or in school?

Anyone that thinks this going to rebound without major changes to game mechanics and subscription model is delusional.  I'm not talking new planes, or fancy graphics either.

I grew up playing this, and still currently subscribe, though rarely log in.  This isn't a post to trash this game, sadly it's about the people playing it.

I agree with everything you said. It seems that the two countries with larger populations ganging the smaller country has gotten worse since I left and that can't be good.

I really think the thing about graphics is not a big deal. I think there are lots of people who would play a game that was fun even if the graphics aren't cutting edge.If you look at the top GPUs on steam they are not exactly the powerhouses needed to run max graphic settings in VR.
I don't think people that play these other games are running that at max graphic detail anyways.

Here are some of the top GPUS on steam as of April:
1:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
2: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
3: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
4: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
5: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
6: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
7: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
8: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

[Eagler]

AH graphics are fine .. I only see the planes skin when I am in the middle of a2a and very close up..I don't play the game to fly around and sightsee..

As it provides the same basic sim experience with much less expensive hardware it could be marketed that way ..

At least we all can get an a2a kill in a tour..not so much in dcs it sounds like..

I doubt that they have anything like MNM either!

Eagler

[CptTrips]

AH graphics are fine ..

The graphics are fine to an old foggy who has seen a lot worse over 30 years.


Do you think the current market of players looking at this game as potential customers feel the same as you?

[DmonSlyr]

I think you miss an important point. 

I agree about subs myself.  I prefer purchase, but others feel different.
The beautify of this approach is that each chooses the model they prefer.
If you and I prefer the purchase model, we purchase.
If someone else, for what ever their reasons prefer a subscription approach, then they subscribe.

If it can expand the reach and lower the resistance to entry, then what is the downside?
No one is forced into either model. 

Just more way for the customer to choose how they want to give you their money.

I dont see an issue of being able to pay it monthly over time until you pay total price. I understand $60 may be tough for some. but $12 for 5 months to play ain't bad. And if you dont pay, you dont play the next month. That is the better approach. Being able to own the game and play the game whenever is what I truely desire since I dont get to play often.

The #1 problem with AH is that, if you want to come back and try the game after months of not playing, you still have to pay $15 for it and most just aren't gonna risk that to play once or twice that month.

[CptTrips]

I dont see an issue of being able to pay it monthly over time until you pay total price. I understand $60 may be tough for some. but $12 for 5 months to play ain't bad. And if you dont pay, you dont play the next month. That is the better approach. Being able to own the game and play the game whenever is what I truely desire since I dont get to play often.

Oh I see what you're saying.

Instead of subscription, it is purchase on installment plan. 

Interesting.  I hadn't thought of that.  I think it has merit. Maybe that is a third choice.  If compatible, I'm all about more choices.  I may not have the same feelings about one mode or another than someone else, but as long as we each have a path we are comfortable with and it all works together, then I see more choices as better.

That is the approach I've seen Combat Pilot want to look for.  Try and find multiple pathways for various customer preferences to be accommodated. 

Always look for ways of taking the away the excuse for a potential customer to say no. 

"No, I don't like subscription plans!"
"OK, you can purchase or purchase on installment (plus finiance fee)."

"No, I don't want to pay $70 for a single plane!"
"OK, you can go by subscription and get everything for one low monthly rate."

"I already own 6 planes but I want to just subscribe for all the new stuff and not purchase outright!"
"OK, No problem.  We support the hybrid model.  You own the modules you own and your subscription gets you temporary access to everything else."

"I want to fly the F-15 and I want to own it but I'm in school and just don't have that kind of cash up front."
"OK, No problem.  We support installment plans.  Buy now, pay later.  When it's paid off, the license converts to permanent.  Until its paid off if is a subscription that can be turned off but the fee is applied to the purchase."

Don't leave them an open pathway to the word no.

[DmonSlyr]

Oh I see what you're saying.

Instead of subscription, it is purchase on installment plan. 

Interesting.  I hadn't thought of that.  I think it has merit. Maybe that is a third choice.  If compatible, I'm all about more choices.  I may not have the same feelings about one mode or another than someone else, but as long as we each have a path we are comfortable with and it all works together, then I see more choices as better.

That is the approach I've seen Combat Pilot want to look for.  Try and find multiple pathways for various customer preferences to be accommodated. 

Always look for ways of taking the away the excuse for a potential customer to say no. 

"No, I don't like subscription plans!"
"OK, you can purchase or purchase on installment (plus finiance fee)."

"No, I don't want to pay $70 for a single plane!"
"OK, you can go by subscription and get everything for one low monthly rate."

"I already own 6 planes but I want to just subscribe for all the new stuff and not purchase outright!"
"OK, No problem.  We support the hybrid model.  You own the modules you own and your subscription gets you temproary access to everything esle."

Yeah many options is fine. I agree. As long as players get the same or relative experience for the value paid. Its not too complicated, and people dont feel overwhelmed with purchases, I think multiple options can work.

[Shane]

Not sure why the younger generation have an issue with subscription as it seems their entire financial system is based off it today..

Eagler

Because the entertainment market has been so fractured to capture every bit of disposble income.  Remember when cable used to include movie channels and stuff in the subscription, now it's a basic assess subscription and each service that was formerly included are now monthly extras.

Amazon Prime is an example of this as well as usual cable providers like Spectrum.

I can see why younger players might not view the HTC $$ point as an attractive option. This has been discussed fairly well, covering many points.

One other factor not many have touched on but is as important as $$/entertainment value is the personal sense of validation value.  AH is a persistent world, where improving skills in whatever, and cooperating to achieve ethereal victories like a base take or winning the war are longer term senses of achievement. The other games being discussed are basically set pieces or very discrete mission/career ladder and you get immediate feedback/validation on what just occurred. It's the quicker sense of closure and improvement that keeps people attached to those games and how they get sucked into the transactional model.

[Dadtallica]

Another factor I feel is going to be an evergreen growing problem is that fact that we are now almost 100 years removed from WWII. It does not get the attention in schools that it did when most of us were in grade school.

It will just continue to become more difficult to get people excited about the genre. Unless it’s an FPS style game. Which AH is sort of.

[Eagler]

Obviously a generational issue so..New pricing structure based off age..

Age..........Monthly  $$
0 to 18  ..  $1.95
19 to 30 .. $3.95
31 to 45 ..  $7.95
46 to 60 ..  $9.95
60+      $14.95

Everyone's happy! Lol

Eagler

[hazmatt]

Another factor I feel is going to be an evergreen growing problem is that fact that we are now almost 100 years removed from WWII. It does not get the attention in schools that it did when most of us were in grade school.

It will just continue to become more difficult to get people excited about the genre. Unless it’s an FPS style game. Which AH is sort of.

If this is true how is it that WT has hundreds of thousands of players when the planes you start in there are prior to WWII? I mean you really get some crop dusters to start off with in that game lolz.

Personally I think the WT advertisements have a lot to do with the interest and numbers as well as the free to play aspect. I was able to pick up where I left off on accounts that I had created more then 10 years ago and had not paid a cent to keep them alive.

[hazmatt]

Obviously a generational issue so..New pricing structure based off age..

Age..........Monthly  $$
0 to 18  ..  $1.95
19 to 30 .. $3.95
31 to 45 ..  $7.95
46 to 60 ..  $9.95
60+      $14.95

Everyone's happy! Lol

Eagler

You could take it a step farther and have something like WWII online "builder" accounts where you can pay more and get some in game perks like a big hammer over your name lolz

[Meatwad]

The builder accounts in WW2OL  are monetary support in order for them to add new things into the game. But since there is no longer any development in this game.....