Crowd sourcing the funds to buy the game as an investment

[CptTrips]

Ads?  Hmmm.  Lets game it out.  I shall consult the Oracle:

You said:

Good evening Giptpy.  If I am considering an single evening test ad buy on national media platform during US prime-time. Let’s say The History Channel.

Given current media rate and assuming:

1% conversion rate.
Each acquired customer will produce a 6 month subscription at $15 a month gross revenue.

Is there any reasonable possibility of a positive ROI there?



ChatGPT said:
Good evening. Let’s run the numbers carefully to assess whether a single evening national ad buy during U.S. prime time on The History Channel could potentially result in a positive ROI, using your assumptions:

Your Assumptions:
Platform: National TV (e.g., History Channel, U.S. prime time)

Conversion Rate: 1%

Customer Value: $15/month × 6 months = $90 gross revenue per conversion

Ad Buy Type: Likely a 15 or 30 second commercial, national reach

Goal: Profit or at least a break-even ROI

Typical Cost of Prime-Time National Ads (Estimate):
On networks like The History Channel, prime-time national ad costs typically range:

15-second ad: $5,000–$15,000

30-second ad: $10,000–$30,000

For simplicity, let’s model this across the range.

ROI Breakdown Example:
Let’s estimate performance at three ad spend levels with 1% conversion rate:

Case 1: $10,000 Ad Buy
Reach estimate: 500,000 viewers (very rough average for niche cable prime-time)

1% conversion = 5,000 customers × $90 = $450,000 gross revenue

ROI = ($450,000 - $10,000) / $10,000 = 4,400% return

✅ Massively profitable — but only if 1% of viewers convert.

The Real Question: Will You Really Get a 1% Conversion Rate From Cold National TV?
In reality:

TV cold ad conversion rates are usually far lower: 0.01% to 0.1% is more typical.

A 1% conversion rate is exceptionally high for a cold national TV spot unless:

The product is hyper-targeted and compelling to that audience

The call to action is strong and frictionless (e.g., QR code or SMS)

It’s part of a larger campaign, not just a one-off

Let’s Try a More Realistic Conversion Rate: 0.05%
Case 2: $10,000 Ad Buy
500,000 viewers × 0.05% = 250 conversions

Revenue: 250 × $90 = $22,500

ROI = ($22,500 - $10,000) / $10,000 = 125% return

⚠️ Still profitable, but requires VERY efficient execution

Summary:
Conversion Rate   Revenue (500k reach)   ROI on $10k ad
1.0%   $450,000   +4,400%
0.1%   $45,000   +350%
0.05%   $22,500   +125%
0.01%   $4,500   –55% loss

✅ Conclusion:
YES, a positive ROI is possible under your assumptions, but only if you can achieve a conversion rate of 0.05% or better.

A 1% conversion rate is extremely optimistic for a cold national TV spot unless you have a proven offer, landing page, and call-to-action funnel already optimized.

Would you like help modeling the breakeven point or evaluating which networks/media platforms are best aligned with your target audience?

You said:
No thank you.  Not at the moment.


ChatGPT said:
You're welcome! If you ever want to revisit it or test other platforms or formats (like YouTube, OTT, or podcast ads), feel free to reach out. Have a great evening.

Shrug.  I'd expect the last case to probably be the most likely base case.  Maybe if you are very lucky, break-even.  My bet would be some species of loss.


If the OP has money burning a hole in their pocket,  let them volunteer to buy a weeks worth of media ads as a donation to The Cause.

[Yarbles]

Is the starting point asking HT how much he would sell for ?

I would imagine several years profit from a diminishing asset.

I would suggest there might be a collapse point. Say peak below 60 then it essentially disappears or are we close already?

We need someone who has a son/daughter or grandson/daughter who has just graduated from business school and knows at what point these things cease to be viable.

That might be an opportunity 

There must be 10's of thousands of past subscribers. What is needed is someone young with energy and vision to take it on.  When you start a business as a young fella you wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night thinking about how to make it work. I suspect High Tech spends maybe 30 minutes a day thinking about AH and all of that is maintenance.

[CptTrips]

Is the starting point asking HT how much he would see for ?

I would imagine several years profit from a diminishing asset.

Challengers brother had showed interest at one time.  I wonder if he ever contacted HT directly.  Dunno.  You might reach out to him and see if he did and got a response.

[Yarbles]

I thought about it for 10 minutes  For every new subscriber the existing players introduce give them 50% of the sub to their account assuming I suspect 1 extra subscriber costs next to nothing say 25% in the second year.

There are loads of ways to market cheaply and the greatest cheep resource is the existing long term customers. Its not necessarily the answer but there are lots of options no doubt but I suspect zero effort is now going into growing the business currently.

[CptTrips]

There comes a point where the playerbase should be told if the game will never be updated, never any additions, bug fixes, or support. That it is simply just "there" until the plug is pulled. Be truthful and not gives false hopes the game will ever be anything more then a shell of what it once was.

Just to be clear, I was referring to this page:  https://www.hitechcreations.com/flight-simulators/2278-what-s-changing-with-our-combat-simulator-aces-high-in-2023

Perhaps that is open to interpretation, but I read that as, yeah, don't expect and real advance me like AH had it it's prime.  Those were heady days. 

I don't expect more of the rare French fighter plane someone begs for in the Wishlist to be added.  Or any other plane for that matter. 

I don't expect there to be any re-write of the 3 country model to support a two country Melee.

I don't expect anything to be remodeled 3-d or art wise.  In a perfect world would last time they did that upgrade they might have hopefully created a super hig hres high ploy perfect version and then decimated the poly count down to the current level so they still have the super res version sitting in the bit-safe for some future use.  IT would be nice if somewhere there was a God-Mode poly count copy of every plane and cockpit just waiting to be unleashed by Vulkan.   Same with textures.  I hope every texture and skin they have has an 8k mother version and the reduced version they are working with now.  Those aspirations are probably pipe dreams.  If they don't exist now waiting for use, then I'm not expecting to ever see them.

I think there are certain design decisions that HT has set in stone and will never flex on.  That limits the possible solution sets worth spending time to consider. 

[Leisure]

I pitched the idea several months ago to partner with a local high school.  The county school I teach at in the middle of a vastly rural area has coding classes, and our school is constantly partnering with local businesses to get the kids experience AND bring in fresh ideas.  It's a win/win.  Surely there are larger, more advanced/funded schools near him that could do that.  With HT's experience and oversight of course.  He has decades of experience that he could share.  IDK. Just an idea I've pondered on before.

Very cool and a compelling idea to me. What language(s) do high school students start out with these days? My guess is Python and maybe Java?

I learned a bit of BASIC back in high school and I wished I'd kept at it. Instead, I opted for a course called "Baseball Science" which was secretly mandatory for the baseball team and taught by our coach. I honed my Charlie Lau batting principles and learned to chew tobacco like Rod Carew and Tony Gwynn instead of learning something worthy.

Good on ya for getting the students involved with businesses allowing them to gain real life skills and experience.

[hazmatt]

Which I would expect.

I will be interested to see how the IL2 crowd handles most of the dev bandwidth leaving WWII and moving on to Korea and Beyond.

I have no intention of buying any of the Korea stuff and I've read there are a few other IL2 owners that feel the same.

[hazmatt]

Korea has always been a losing concept.

As much as I liked the F-86 in AW, that was generally a vacant arena. I've yet to see a Korea idea takeoff. Yet everyone thinks they will be the ones that pull it off. Like goldfish in a fish bowl, ya they couldn't get through the last 300 times they tried, there's a reason for that. There are very little Korea enthusiast.

This depends heavily on the number of players in the game. I see more Mig15s and F86s in my current game then you can shake a stick at any time of day I log in.

I think that the difference that many don't take into account with IL2 is it has a robust offline game where you escort bombers and shoot up enemy tanks and stuff and although it may not be our cup of tea, it makes up a good deal of IL2 customers.

[hazmatt]

I think the coding should stay locked up like the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. Just change newer graphics to draw new players.
 >IMO<

I don't know why this keeps coming up. I have read many of the reviews on AH on steam and other places and very few complaints are about the graphics. Many complaints are about the subscription that you guys will defend until the death. I find it interesting that I get attacked personally ever time I bring up this data that is plain to see IF you want to see it.

[Animl-AW]

I don't know why this keeps coming up. I have read many of the reviews on AH on steam and other places and very few complaints are about the graphics. Many complaints are about the subscription that you guys will defend until the death. I find it interesting that I get attacked personally ever time I bring up this data that is plain to see IF you want to see it.

My friend,
I’m nit sure why the reasoning is not sinking in, like the 2 country stuff. Its repeats of repeats.

Retain and recall

In a single game company on a single set of servers, where dies the money come to afford system maintenance, connection fees, labor for updates, the list continues. Is Dale suppose to just pay out of his pocket for our enjoyment while his family starves? Because he’d gave to get a job and not have time for everything we beg for. It would shut down the next day. Because that’s what I would do. Sorry, no offense, but its an absurd request.

It’s like asking a restaurant to make food and service free.

Thats not a biz, its a charity. But hey, enjoy that 10 min Starbucks every day, or those 2-3 other games.

An arcade game cost .50 for 5 min.

Sorry, but bad rapping .50 per 24 hrs doesn’t even register in my head. - retiree on fixed income.

Now that we explained this again we’ll flip back to the Mod thing as the reason, of course keeping the game in a negative light seems to be the true drive.

Kinda like a junky who’s not addicted to the drug, but the needle.

Aren’t these two repeat subjects just reason to hold a negative light. We will repeat this as if it was the first time spoken.

In the entertainment world, I’ve seen every dbl talk, embellishment, con and lie ever invented.

Come on now, the subject is just a vehicle.

AW the sim king, going free did not save it. It didn’t even move the needle

[The Fugitive]

I don't know why this keeps coming up. I have read many of the reviews on AH on steam and other places and very few complaints are about the graphics. Many complaints are about the subscription that you guys will defend until the death. I find it interesting that I get attacked personally ever time I bring up this data that is plain to see IF you want to see it.

EVE Online
Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Strategy video game, Action ...

Ultima Online
Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

Dragon Quest X
Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Adventure game, Action game ...

EverQuest
Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Free-to-play, Adventure game ...

Final Fantasy XI

Minecraft
Genres: Survival game, Action-adventure game, Nonlinear gameplay

Overwatch
Genres: First-person shooter, Fighting game

PUBG
Genres: Battle royale game, Shooter game, Massively multiplayer online game, Action ...

RuneScape
Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Entertainment, Speculative ...

Second Life
Genres: Virtual world, Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

Star Wars: The Old Republic
Genres: Massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Adventure game, Free To Play ...

All subscription based games. Some pretty big players there too. Subscription based games are not done, it is alive and well in the gaming industry.

What Ive found in my meager attempts to get the "Aces High" name out there many have either never heard of it, or didnt think it was still around, after all 20+ years is a heck of a run for a game.  I think what is needed is just to get the word out there. I love when a commercial pops up on FB for "War Thunder". They leave the posting option on so I post  I post how AH is so much better with 24/7 continuing battles going on and for a monthly fee you get ALL the planes and vehicles. I know a few players have come over from those posts. The same goes for reddit. Most of those guys that were interested didnt know about or think AH was still available. I havn't posted there in a while due to a rule about having to post in other threads to earn the right to open new threads. EVERYONE needs to get the word out there.

Now, could HTC run a "sale"? It would have to be tied in with one of those gamers influencers. Get them to run a video about AH and with a coad get the first 3 months at $9.95 a month like most TV subscriptions, everyone has a crap load of them    Maybe do something similar on Steam.

But again the whole thing relies on Hitech WANTING to get the game rolling again. At this point he has "Greebo" doing the skins approval process, he has "Kenai", "Kong" and others doing the maps, and the Scenario guys building and running all the events and posting the points/scores, and "Spikes" on the webpage updates. For all that stuff he is pretty much hands off until its all put together then he adds it to the game. Someone mentioned hes in his 60's and maybe he doesnt want to be bothered any more. I can understand this. I spent years repairing vending machines including pinballs and loved the challenge of it. I retired over a year ago and can say I dont miss it..... well except "testing" the pinballs  For those of us addicted to the game we hopr Hitech comes back, but in reality it most likely isnt going to happen. The best we can do is do what we can to get the word out there, hope one of us wins the lottery, and just enjoy what we have for as long as we can. I know I will continue to push for AH, I'll keep making videos, I'll keep posting help and adding to my "help" page as things come up. At 67, Im still going to do what little I can for Aces High, how about you?

[Shane]

Retain and recall

Is Dale suppose to just pay out of his pocket for our enjoyment while his family starves? Because he’d gave to get a job and not have time for everything we beg for.

It’s like asking a restaurant to make food and service free.

Thats not a biz, its a charity.

Now that we explained this again we’ll flip back to the Mod thing as the reason, of course keeping the game in a negative light seems to be the true drive.

Kinda like a junky who’s not addicted to the drug, but the needle.

ding!  I'm okay with former players keeping in touch with friends and interesting things - but keep them placed appropriately in the o'club. 

Keep the bitter trolling from ex-players about free stuff or eye candy in the appropriate forums - wishlist. 

 

[Animl-AW]

BTW i see the good cop bad cop uniform switches to maintain relevance.

[Animl-AW]

.

[hazmatt]

My friend,
I’m nit sure why the reasoning is not sinking in, like the 2 country stuff. Its repeats of repeats.

Retain and recall

In a single game company on a single set of servers, where dies the money come to afford system maintenance, connection fees, labor for updates, the list continues. Is Dale suppose to just pay out of his pocket for our enjoyment while his family starves? Because he’d gave to get a job and not have time for everything we beg for. It would shut down the next day. Because that’s what I would do. Sorry, no offense, but its an absurd request.

It’s like asking a restaurant to make food and service free.

Thats not a biz, its a charity. But hey, enjoy that 10 min Starbucks every day, or those 2-3 other games.

An arcade game cost .50 for 5 min.

Sorry, but bad rapping .50 per 24 hrs doesn’t even register in my head. - retiree on fixed income.

Now that we explained this again we’ll flip back to the Mod thing as the reason, of course keeping the game in a negative light seems to be the true drive.

Kinda like a junky who’s not addicted to the drug, but the needle.

Aren’t these two repeat subjects just reason to hold a negative light. We will repeat this as if it was the first time spoken.

In the entertainment world, I’ve seen every dbl talk, embellishment, con and lie ever invented.

Come on now, the subject is just a vehicle.

AW the sim king, going free did not save it. It didn’t even move the needle

I think you're missing my point brother. What I'm saying is that the major complaint is the sub, not the graphics and I think if there was another option that it would get around the most common complaint of the sub and bring in new players. I don't think a major upgrade in graphics will bring convince the people who are commenting about the sub.

Maybe set it up o you could buy planes with a credit card like IL2 (you could buy your favorite plane and fly it all the time) or maybe a premium account like in war thunder (premium account if you want to get perk points)
Progresion. Maybe you can buy into a line of aircraft (say British) You start with the mk I hurricane and progress to the mk II and then the spitfire mk I.

I never said the game should be completely free to play. I've been saying that if it is going to compete for players that the biggest complaint I have read was about the sub and now that I've seen what I can get out there without a sub I understand why people are saying that.

I guess the thing I don't understand is this. The current model is not bringing in new players, however people appear to want to defend the model that is not working until the death and then wonder why nothing changes.

I try to bring an outside perspective to the game. For that I get personally attacked with comments like I can't afford .50 cents a day. I can but I choose not to because of this and other factors in the game I'm pretty sure that at this point I won't come back even if the entire game became free to play. Somebody recently posted how they saved over $1,400 in subscription fees since they left.

Repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome... You guys talk about wanting to grow the game but can't seem to see the forest for the trees.

It's fine. Go ahead and attack me. You can join Shame on my ignore list. I've gotten to the point where I pretty much only log on and read stuff here when I get an email that say I have a PM anyways