Game called due to lack of interest

[The Fugitive]

I get it, but if your fed up with how things are, just leave. While it would be great if the graphics.....which are not all that bad (see new video out soon on AcesHighShorts) and some new effects were updated, the core of this game beats out any other WWII game out there. Complaining isnt helping. Help get the numbers up and maybe with more money coming in HTC will start adding more of these things to the game.

Personally Id rather stay positive and push on than wallow in all this "negativity".

[AKIron]

You guys still fighting World War Eleven? It's over. Go home.

[Spikes]

(Image removed from quote.)


I get it, but if your fed up with how things are, just leave. While it would be great if the graphics.....which are not all that bad (see new video out soon on AcesHighShorts) and some new effects were updated, the core of this game beats out any other WWII game out there. Complaining isnt helping. Help get the numbers up and maybe with more money coming in HTC will start adding more of these things to the game.

Personally Id rather stay positive and push on than wallow in all this "negativity".

That's what I say too, then get jumped on by the boy who cried wolf (the mod complainer and one who's quit the forum 100 times now) that "tHatS nOt hoW yOu atTraCt nEw PlaYerS". 

[icepac]

Funny how many on this thread up buffs without enough fuel for return trip because they are simply going to bail once the enemy shows up at co-altitude.

[CptTrips]

Funny how many on this thread up buffs without enough fuel for return trip because they are simply going to bail once the enemy shows up at co-altitude.

I guess that's fair play if GV and goons can re-supply away what you a long time to bomb and they can do it before you get back to base.

[CptTrips]

That's what I say too, then get jumped on by the boy who cried wolf (the mod complainer and one who's quit the forum 100 times now) that "tHatS nOt hoW yOu atTraCt nEw PlaYerS". 

I agree it's pointless at this point, to argue about anything.  It's rigged no-win situation.  Nothing will be done to alter the trajectory.  The things the players have in their power to do (vids, skins, terrain, events, all excellent work) won't make a material difference to growing numbers.  Things that might make a difference are either in code that won't be touched, or design alternatives that HTC flat out rejects considering.  So, no-win situation.

It's software hospice.  Stop with the chemo, fluff up gramp's pillow and keep him comfortable until the end.  If it's your jam, just play it while there is still alt on the glide slope. 

On the good side, I expect he can keep it running as a boutique service for a dwindling customer base until the subscription revenue reaches the electrical and bandwidth costs.  At that point he would have to decide if he wants to eat the cost and keep it running as a charity. 

Before he would shut down, I'd hope he'd consider open-sourcing it on GitHub or maybe even form a B-Corp with NDAs to take it over and manage it.  The Team Fusion guys and CloD would be a good model.



I remember when H2H could be run locally on a player machine.  I'm not going to re-litigate that decision, but it does suggest that if HTC folds, a team of player volunteer coders could re-expose that and refactor it so the front tab is just a directory of privately run servers with their own maps and styles and gameplay like IL2 GB lobbies.  A headless matchmaking web service could handle the server listing and hand-off.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, go put your ideas in the wish-list forum.  The place where good ideas crawl off to die.   

[icepac]

New players coming in have to deal with bailclowns who insult them.   

Then the bailclowns show up here to complain.

[CptTrips]

New players coming in have to deal with bailclowns who insult them.   

Then the bailclowns show up here to complain.

And the bomber guys realize that with far longer flights than fighters, insta-resupply, and AWACS, there is no point to the gameplay other than bail and grab another bomber so you might have a chance at bombing again before insta-resupply wipes away their effort that already took a long time.


A better solution might be to remove player resupply, and have AI goons and AI GV spawn resupply operations if the bomber is killed before landing.

That disincentivizes bomber-bailing and removes the spam-resupply hack that wipe the damage before the bomber can even get turned around and head for home.

Then just get rid of the AWACs.


Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, go put your ideas in the wish-list forum.  The place where good ideas crawl off to die.   

[horble]

I think if we all have the same circular argument for the 15000th time it’s bound to make a difference

[MDStampf93]

I think if we all have the same circular argument for the 15000th time it’s bound to make a difference

 

[LilMak]

I still think a two tiered model will bring some life back. The steam release had potential but the people there were sold a bag of snake oil when AH was “free” to play because it required a subscription to get into anything that could sell them on the magic of the game (MA and Events). The learning curve is too steep for a two week trial. The problem is people are not going to pay for something that they can’t even get semi-proficient at. It’s not that they lack the fortitude to do so. If you look at other games where it is free to play, the entry is free but adding value after the start generates revenue. Looking at games like COD, you can play and grind to to get competitive or you can buy battle passes and such to get guns and skins off the jump. I’m not proposing that exact model but something similar to get players hooked.

It should go something like this…

Option one: Free to play with access to the MA and events.

A limited plane/GV set that can achieve some success in the MA. You could set all available equipment prior to a certain date (pre 1943?) or simply hand pick some to be available.

100 perks that allow players to use on later war equipment (current perk models excluded) with a perk cost of 20 regardless of model. These perks would reset every month. This would allow free players to experience late war rides in a very limited capacity.

Skins downloadable but limited to default only. (Maybe available for purchase at a buck a piece?)

Possible purchase of perks (100 for $5) basically a buck per plane.

Option two: Would be the same model we already have.



This would get the hooks into players and let them learn at their own pace without the absolute need to shell out any funds. It also gives value to the $15 model as an upgrade. I would lobby hard for the removal of AWACS. This would simultaneously help the new additions sneak a kill in every now and then while limiting the clubbing they’re going to take while learning. AH is sneaky in its ability to give dopamine to players. It’s kinda like golf where you hit the one good shot in an hundred and you’re hooked.

[Bolt]

That's a sound plan lilmak 

[Dadtallica]

When are you all going to realize it’s not what should be done it’s what can be done.

That includes the willingness to be done.

The infrastructure to create a sustainable product that would attract people like you all want is nowhere close to being cost-effective for anyone. Certainly not to the one fella that’s matters or he would stop these threads and say “whoa hang on I got a plan…”

Just let this game ride off into the sunset and enjoy it while you can. I’m not looking for new players or increased numbers. It’s peaceful in the MA leave it alone.

[LilMak]

That's a sound plan lilmak 

Glad someone thinks so. I’m sure it would be a considerable amount of work but I’m willing to bet real money that Dale could reach out to some in the community to help with the code to put it in place. Maybe re-release on steam and invite some old players back?

At this point, It could be a waste of time or a boon to generate significant revenue for some time. I don’t see how some work (months?) could hurt anything. One last hurrah to keep things going for a few more years?

[CptTrips]

Glad someone thinks so. I’m sure it would be a considerable amount of work but I’m willing to bet real money that Dale could reach out to some in the community to help with the code to put it in place. Maybe re-release on steam and invite some old players back?

At this point, It could be a waste of time or a boon to generate significant revenue for some time. I don’t see how some work (months?) could hurt anything. One last hurrah to keep things going for a few more years?

I agree with a lot of what you said.

It's just not going to happen.  If it can't be 100% implemented by the players, it won't happen.

I'm not trying to be a drag, but I'd advise you try and think of a solution you can control.  Otherwise you will just be disappointed and waste effort in directions that will not bear fruit.