Game called due to lack of interest

[Mayhem]

HTC is a small indy development company and as far as we know it's Just HiTech and a few Volunteers maintaining the game. Hitech is older than me and he has kids that should be around highschool age. He's going to start looking at things like Putting his kids through college, Grandkids, and Retirement. Not mention the whole crappy mortality thing.

He's done a Hell of a lot better with Aces High than Kesmia did with Air Warrior even with it's Gamestorm service or Imagic with Warbirds.

Unless Hitech has Aces high IV on a workbench I think this is going to be it for Aces High. Again I think Hitech will keep the game going for as long as he can pay the bills and have a little side scratch for a good bottle of scotch.

I'm worried about what will happen when he does pull the plug. Will the game fly west or will he sell the IP to another developer (That didn't go so well for Air Warrior). The Aces High Name alone itself should be worth some money. I personally don't think any one is worthy of the IP and will just pull an EA. So I'm personally praying HiTech does something to preserve his game and legacy for as long as possible.

One idea would be to tell Valve to take their 33% and shove it. Retool the Client and Server software (Maybe even get them to run on Linux) and sell them on GOG as is. $29.99 for game client and $99.99 for the server software with a non-profit clause. This would allow the game to live on and provide his kids with some beer money for college. IF we can get them to run on Linux the game would probably outlive the youngest of us. He should consider selling an Annual subscription to the forums at that point as well for like say a token payment for $10 a year.

I would like to see the game live on even if its on a dozen or so squad servers. Our server host something like 11 DCS servers a few minecraft servers and some other stuff. I think we can handle a 200 man arena.

I personally don't know jack about Hitech's sever .... What OS does it run on? Is it cooked into it's own linux distro? ... So I'm not even sure this is possible but if it is I hope he gives it some thought.

[hazmatt]

I would like to see the game live on even if its on a dozen or so squad servers. Our server host something like 11 DCS servers a few minecraft servers and some other stuff. I think we can handle a 200 man arena.

What is your server? Is it cloud or do you have or own box at a colo or something?

[Mayhem]

What is your server? Is it cloud or do you have or own box at a colo or something?

Damned Gh0st has it in his Network Rack at home.
It's a 32c/64t AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX w/ 2TB RAM
5Gbps Up/Down internet + backup ISP

[mERv]

We have entered a period where the likelyhood of filling up the MA +100 is now a rareity. We coming up on a month now where most nights see less than 80 players. Very sad but what can we do? Fortunately the MA is setup in away it operates just fine with low numbers but for those of us looking for action and the war its really starting to pinch interest in most.

[hazmatt]

Damned Gh0st has it in his Network Rack at home.
It's a 32c/64t AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX w/ 2TB RAM
5Gbps Up/Down internet + backup ISP

Nice! Glad you guys got that ram before RAMaghedion. Everyone is cranking up their prices, Intel an Meta too. I won't be buying anything new for a while for sure.

5Gbps Internet too. Wow! I think someone decided that those speeds aren't safe out here were me and the cows are.

[Eagler]

We have entered a period where the likelyhood of filling up the MA +100 is now a rareity. We coming up on a month now where most nights see less than 80 players. Very sad but what can we do? Fortunately the MA is setup in away it operates just fine with low numbers but for those of us looking for action and the war its really starting to pinch interest in most.

Over 100 at 9:25pm est when I logged last night..

The map was great with fantastic fights on fronts for all 3 countries 

Thanks for the map edit JimmyD3 

 

Eagler

[JimmyD3]

It is good to see the eagerness in supporting the game from the majority of the players, and the ideas/suggestions keep coming. This to me indicates there is always Hope for the game. I turn 75 this year, and as silly as it may sound, I am hoping this game stays around till the Lord calls me home.

While Hitech is the lone "Company Employee", there is always the possibility of improvements, updates and general support of the game. On my frequent visit with him, when I ask a question or make a suggestion, he is quick to get to the computer. There he shows how something is done, makes a change in the code to allow/restrict some function or idea. His knowledge of the games inner workings and his ability to get to the point/code never ceases to amaze me.

BTW Kong has also created a number of very well designed maps, and has several new ones waiting to be put in rotation. 

[LilMak]

Remove the spit5, 109F, and the Sea Hurricane and thats a pretty good list. Those planes would encourage too many free riders IMO.

I think that takes things too far in the wrong direction. They have to be able to compete at some regular level or it’ll be just as bad as not welcoming them at all. I think you’re applying your personal skill level which is much higher than a typical player’s. A scourge of 109Fs or Spit5s would not be a game breaker. To be clear, there will be players that never subscribe and that will be fine. The point would be to get them here, provide additional players, and hope it results in them realizing that AH is as good of a monthly entertainment dollar as a streaming service. I would add the P-38G to his list. But I really like the idea of limiting players to the German half track. It would get the job done but be frustrating to watch M3s blow past you. Which is exactly the kind of level of frustration we need to encourage them to pony up.

The equipment selection needs to be competitive enough to make play fun but frustrating enough to make them want to go the extra mile.

[DmonSlyr]

I think that takes things too far in the wrong direction. They have to be able to compete at some regular level or it’ll be just as bad as not welcoming them at all. I think you’re applying your personal skill level which is much higher than a typical player’s. A scourge of 109Fs or Spit5s would not be a game breaker. To be clear, there will be players that never subscribe and that will be fine. The point would be to get them here, provide additional players, and hope it results in them realizing that AH is as good of a monthly entertainment dollar as a streaming service. I would add the P-38G to his list. But I really like the idea of limiting players to the German half track. It would get the job done but be frustrating to watch M3s blow past you. Which is exactly the kind of level of frustration we need to encourage them to pony up.

The equipment selection needs to be competitive enough to make play fun but frustrating enough to make them want to go the extra mile.

Maybe, idk, I do feel maybe most players wouldnt have a chance in those planes, however my fear is that you get a squad of old vets or something swarming around in spitVs every month, it could cause some havoc since they are great tuners and still have 2 20mms, a 109f is an amazing plane, just slow, so a squad of them at once may be tough too, idk. I dont want to rub paying customers the wrong way either. I think them having a chance just to see the MA and stay longer than 2 weeks is good enough and they can be fodder for us if they want to play for free.

I also do think the radar needs an adjustment so that planes outside of dar rings dont show in proximity. There should be no dot dar outside of radar rings. If we could just start with a small change and see how it goes.

[hazmatt]

What do you guys think about a different rotation for FTP that would give players a chance to try what each county has o offer?

I was thinking all the planes for the Brits one tour, all he planes for the Japs the next tour followed by all the US planes for the 3rd tour etc.. This would exclude all the perk planes and maybe planes under 10 ENY or something?

Something like this would allow new players a bigger taste of all the planes but might motivate them to subscribe if they know their favorite plane might not be available again for a few tours due to the rotation. If the rotation when through US, Brit, German, Russian, Jap, and Italian and my favorite plane was US, I would realize that I would have to wait 5 months until it came up on FTP again and might sub just to fly my plane of choice.

I also thing a "lite" sub might be helpful. I know what WWII online had a model where they had a builder, a  normal sub, a light sub and a free to play that seemed to work well. Just spitballing here but it could look like:
$25 a month and unlimited perks
$15 current sub
$5 full plane set, no perks
FTP lots of options for this one

Just throwing out some ideas that I don't think I've heard anybody mention previously.

A point that I've mentioned before that I think bears repeating. You guys mention that the sub itself at $15 a month is not much and this is true. However, if you have 3 kids like I do and you want to play together with them a few times a month that subscription quickly goes to $60 a month which is over $700 a year. When we can play other games for FTP or for a one time fee of $19 each, that quickly makes it slide out of the top choice since we don't need integrated comms when we're all at the same location.

Just my 1cent (adjusted for purchasing powe due to inflation)

[LilMak]

Maybe, idk, I do feel maybe most players wouldnt have a chance in those planes, however my fear is that you get a squad of old vets or something swarming around in spitVs every month, it could cause some havoc since they are great tuners and still have 2 20mms, a 109f is an amazing plane, just slow, so a squad of them at once may be tough too, idk. I dont want to rub paying customers the wrong way either. I think them having a chance just to see the MA and stay longer than 2 weeks is good enough and they can be fodder for us if they want to play for free.

I also do think the radar needs an adjustment so that planes outside of dar rings dont show in proximity. There should be no dot dar outside of radar rings. If we could just start with a small change and see how it goes.

Absolutely. Proximity radar needs to go away whether FTP happens or not. Adding returning players or newbies is going to be a blood bath anyway. Proximity radar would make it way too easy to exploit the advantages of the superior planes way past the degree that it’s already happening. The fog of war needs to come back to give any hope to this idea.

I personally would love to see a squad of old killers show up in planes that break the pick and run tactics currently pervasive in the MA with AWACS. I would also love to see those guys show up in events as well. I think it could, at least, extend the life of the game generating income for HT longer. Even if it doesn’t generate more immediate revenue.

There is a danger that some will cancel their subscription. I don’t think much of that will happen. And, even if it does, some new subscribers will show up to replace them. Worst case it’s a wash and he has about the same take home but for a longer duration. Personally, I’ve been subscribed so long I don’t even notice the hit on my CC. I will continue to do so as long as the game remains fun. And it still is (much less so with prox dar in place). I think Dale deserves it for the amount of entertainment he’s provided me for so long. So there is near zero chance I will ever cancel until the plug is pulled or the MA gets unplayable. I’m also sure I’m not the only one who feels that way. It feels like there’s a critical mass of numbers to make the game fun and playable in the current state. That number feels like it’s around 90 players logged on and active. Every time it get below that, the results are two teams beating up on one. Adding players, even if they’re here in a limited capacity, would help keep that critical number up and insure continued subscriptions.

[LilMak]

What do you guys think about a different rotation for FTP that would give players a chance to try what each county has o offer?

I was thinking all the planes for the Brits one tour, all he planes for the Japs the next tour followed by all the US planes for the 3rd tour etc.. This would exclude all the perk planes and maybe planes under 10 ENY or something?

Something like this would allow new players a bigger taste of all the planes but might motivate them to subscribe if they know their favorite plane might not be available again for a few tours due to the rotation. If the rotation when through US, Brit, German, Russian, Jap, and Italian and my favorite plane was US, I would realize that I would have to wait 5 months until it came up on FTP again and might sub just to fly my plane of choice.

I also thing a "lite" sub might be helpful. I know what WWII online had a model where they had a builder, a  normal sub, a light sub and a free to play that seemed to work well. Just spitballing here but it could look like:
$25 a month and unlimited perks
$15 current sub
$5 full plane set, no perks
FTP lots of options for this one

Just throwing out some ideas that I don't think I've heard anybody mention previously.

A point that I've mentioned before that I think bears repeating. You guys mention that the sub itself at $15 a month is not much and this is true. However, if you have 3 kids like I do and you want to play together with them a few times a month that subscription quickly goes to $60 a month which is over $700 a year. When we can play other games for FTP or for a one time fee of $19 each, that quickly makes it slide out of the top choice since we don't need integrated comms when we're all at the same location.

Just my 1cent (adjusted for purchasing powe due to inflation)

Unlimited perks seems scary. An arena full of 262s and B-29s would be horrible.

A family plan doesn’t seem like a horrible idea but I think it would need to be limited to like two or three subs per account. Like $25 for two and $30 for three? But I’m not sure how to police that or if it would have the Netflix effect.

I worry about adding any additional administrative work for HT long term. I think anything suggested should involve an outlay of work that sustains itself after it’s implemented. I wouldn’t want him to have to do more as a result of any changes. Half the players start crying now if the month doesn’t get reset or their troops look like snowmen. Simpler is better. I kind of like the idea I originally posted where you get a limited plane set with a hard limit of perks each month for free to use on any of the currently available (unperked) equipment. Adding the ability to buy perks as needed if you are FTP. Those perks might buy you a Spit16 or a P-51 but not a Tempest or a 262.

I feel like even the ability to buy FTP perks might be too much work to implement even though I think it would provide a secondary income stream from less hardcore players. 

[oTRALFZo]

Why not offer 262s for the FTP trial? I have been playing for years and still cant fly them.

[hazmatt]

Unlimited perks seems scary. An arena full of 262s and B-29s would be horrible.

A family plan doesn’t seem like a horrible idea but I think it would need to be limited to like two or three subs per account. Like $25 for two and $30 for three? But I’m not sure how to police that or if it would have the Netflix effect.

Good points. I want to address these two specifically.

A arena of 262s and B29s paying $25 a month each seems like it would be a good revenue stream.

I'm just being realistic about your family plan. I would need 4 accounts to play with my kids and $30 for 3 plus one for me would be $45 a month or close to $500 per year. I don't think many people would bite at that price when there's so many other FTP options. Even WoW has a FTP option and it was built on the subscriber model.

I think it would be very easy to police. All the accounts have to log on from the same IP. You have the master account plus the "family" Whatever IP the master account logs on from the other accounts need to log on from too. No Netfix problem with that.

[hazmatt]

Why not offer 262s for the FTP trial? I have been playing for years and still cant fly them.

That's funny. We're trying to encourage new players. Not sure trying fly a 262 and hit something with tators without compressing and lawn darting would encourage them lolz!

Although I did notice that the 262 flight model has over time become more forgiving then it once was.