Chatgpt on the games decline

[Skyguns MKII]

I agree with a slight refinement.

I believe it would take significant changes to attract any material number of new players and we all know that is not going to happen so that fantasy should just be let go.
Anything customers can do won't make any real impact on that. 

I don't expect AH to close it's doors anytime soon.  I think the current state is stable as long as HT wants to run it in his closet and population will continue to decline but only at demographic mortality rates which you can't do anything about.

I think it would be possible to pull in former players with a concerted, organized, email outreach to former account holders with maybe a 3-month welcome back free trial offer to former customers (who have been gone at least 6 months).  That wouldn't be spam because they are former customers not random internet email spamming. 

I get them all the time from WWIIOL, Netflix, NR, etc.  They always offer some special sweetener to come back.  Fair enough, but no thanks.  There is an unsubscribe link at the bottom.

But new customers?  I don't see it.  Even if there is a mutiny of WWII players annoyed at 1C moving away from WWII dev, I don't think AH would get them.

I believe it will be left up as long as long as there is profit to be made. If the game structure and payment system changed   in a drastic way i believe we could see new players. Plenty of games with lesser graphics than aces high do well because of various factors keeping the gameplay engaging and dynamic and Aces high is oozing with untapped potential in that. I as a gamer have made skins, maps ect for games and it helps. I personally wouldnt mind modeling new vehicles but I believe that means of doing so is kept to their own.

The only way i see aces high staying alive is if they either sold/gave it to some (young) ambitious game developer or make it more open community/source based where the community can model new vehicles, can share and beta test developments and changes and see what works in MA ect and see what people like.

[RichardDarkwood]

That was a short date. 

Did your little blue pill not work again?

Was Brad terribly disappointed?

I was thinking it but you said it

[horble]

I've been back a week, and my side thinks I'm a spy and I haven't switched countries once. Maybe 2 players have responded to me on vox, and chat questions go unanswered. If I were a new player, I'd of given up by now. It's pretty silly behavior from what's supposed to be grown men.

What country? Usually don’t see that crap on Knights other than the 3 geriatrics shrieking on range about how everyone that kills them is cheating.

[RichardDarkwood]

The only thing that keeps this game going is the memories of how it used to be when there was 500 to 800 people online.

Exactly

[hazmatt]

What country? Usually don’t see that crap on Knights other than the 3 geriatrics shrieking on range about how everyone that kills them is cheating.

Projection?

[horble]

Projection?

In my RL experience the guys most worried about getting cheated will be the first to cheat you so I always assume anyone who is habitually complaining about cheating are just mad that their gaming the game/exploit/whatever didn’t work. I have still yet to see something in game that I couldn’t reproduce after checking film but I dont bother with GV’s and those are the guys that some the most wound up about it.

[Mayhem]

Intentionally violating the rules like this repeatedly is grounds for being banned according to the rules. Just a friendly fyi.

I would like to point out the mods on these forums threw the rules out the window when Skuzzy left and now they just make their own crap up.

Like "Do not post PMs publicly".

(Now I just post them elsewhere were more people are likely to see them Like Facebook Instagram Discord Youtube ....)

[Shane]

When I started playing AH more than 25 years ago I enjoyed it a lot. For me it was always about having fun with friends. I never cared much about score and as Shane likes to point out my scoring was mediocre. Since I had no delusions of grandeur or imagined I was or could be somehow equivalent to the great pilots of WWII this didn't and doesn't bother me at all. I have flown several different single engine light planes and so I do know the difference between this computer game and real life. There used to be more friendly faces here. Now, not so much.

Never said anything about your score... (who even uses that as a metric?  )

I inferred your lack of abilities behind the stick of these cartoon airplanes - and a definite propensity of being involved with locked threads.

[hazmatt]

(Now I just post them elsewhere were more people are likely to see them Like Facebook Instagram Discord Youtube ....)

So if I send you a pm you will make me famous?! 

[AKIron]

Never said anything about your score... (who even uses that as a metric?  )

I inferred your lack of abilities behind the stick of these cartoon airplanes - and a definite propensity of being involved with locked threads.

How else would you know about my lack of skill? I doubt we've ever fought in any arena. Don't blame me because others refuse to observe the rules. Well, blame me if it makes you feel better. I'm okay with that.

[Mayhem]

So if I send you a pm you will make me famous?! 

Just don't send me Richard Picks!

[Lazerr]

I've been back a week, and my side thinks I'm a spy and I haven't switched countries once. Maybe 2 players have responded to me on vox, and chat questions go unanswered. If I were a new player, I'd of given up by now. It's pretty silly behavior from what's supposed to be grown men.

That's too bad.  Kind of like folks shooting themselves in the foot.

[The Fugitive]

More than 4-5 people and im not for bashing on the game in a unconstructive way but again... Why is it the customers job to keep the game alive you pay monthly for? Suggestions, wishes, options fall on deaf ears to keep this game alive. Why would a gamer want to invest in a game that doesnt invest back? Also, old graphics is just one factor nowadays if you can appeal in different ways. There are games that do well with graphics that dont come close to AH. Aces high is not being killed by its own player base, Its being left to die while the player base is trying to keep it alive. At the end of day its a business first, not some hobby/social club with its regulars as some people treat it. That business has the right to close its doors. I still think aces high has huge potential but that is what it will remain as, potential...

Its not our job, true , but a bunch of us who still enjoy the game as it is and have no issue with paying our $15 a month WANT to help. There have been a few changes made to the game recently as well as a couple fixes, not to mention the skins and maps that many keep putting their time in to HELP the game.

No, the guys that im talking about hurting the game are NOT players/subscribers, they are just here to cause trouble. Mudslingers that dont help this game/community at all, but new players that may have stumbled in here dont know that. All they see is the toxic BS they spew.

Yes, its business, Hitech seems happy to keep the power on for those of us still here and enjoying the game. Some of us go above and beyond to help out here on the boards, discord, in game with tech help, skins, maps, and even getting a few exploits fixed. I know of a number of people that have joined up due to the YouTube videos and some action on social media. However, if we bring in a few new players and a few players get chased away because of the crap we have here from these few ex players it certainly doesnt help much does it.

Sure some minor changes might bring in more players but none of us know what Hitech is up to, or what he is willing to do. He may be just keeping the lights on for us who are still here. Who knows, but what I do know is this is still a great game with a ton of depth, more so than many games. I for one will continue to help where I can and play when I can for as long as I can. It is just very discouraging that while so many of us work to keep this ship afloat, we have these 4-5 people come in here punching holes in our ship.

[Skyguns MKII]

It is just very discouraging that while so many of us work to keep this ship afloat, we have these 4-5 people come in here punching holes in our ship.

Cant speak on the 4-5 people but i think your captain is already on a lifeboat watching you sink. Nothing wrong with your passion of the game but the owners have washed their hands and its going to take more than a few patches, skins, maps and a discord to "keep your ship afloat". Major changes that will not happen will have to occur for even the slightest taste of its former success. I do respect your efforts though.

[Oldman731]

Cant speak on the 4-5 people but i think your captain is already on a lifeboat watching you sink. Nothing wrong with your passion of the game but the owners have washed their hands and its going to take more than a few patches, skins, maps and a discord to "keep your ship afloat". Major changes that will not happen will have to occur for even the slightest taste of its former success. I do respect your efforts though.

And this is what some of us see as a dog-in-the-manger sort of thing.  You suggest that only major changes will save the game, but that major changes will never happen.  So what's the point of your post?  Raining on the parade?

- oldman