No Icons

[Apache]

First, this is not my idea. I (borrowed) the basis from another player on a UBB from another sim.
It is my understanding that HTC produces Aces High as a game first, a sim second. I agree with this business model. Based on that theory, could HTC institute a no icons format in the MA without contradicting their own model?
The idea is this. Instead of icons, assign colors to the teams. Example: Knights Gold, Rooks Red and Bishops Green. Paint these colors on all a/c...nose, wing tips, horizontal stabilizer, etc. You obviously would need to get close to id an enemy, but who shoot's far away anyway  
A problem I see already is identifying the ground vehicles. Or is it a problem?

Thoughts?

------------------
Apache
Renegade Nation
"Abandon All Hope"

[Saintaw]

'scuse me !!!!!!!!

I am part of the 17% of men who are Colourblind........I guess I would NOT like that & Neither would my team mates...

I'd be ok with it if different countries would have to fly different planes.....

------------------
Saw/Saintaw
=XO=II/JG2~Richthofen~
GMT T.O.D. SITE
 
JG2 "Richthofen"
Don't shoot ! I am only an observer......

[This message has been edited by Saintaw (edited 04-27-2000).]

[Apache]

Duh! Didn't think of that. And my son is color blind! Oops.

However, I do like the different plane idea.

------------------
Apache
Renegade Nation
"Abandon All Hope"

[Pavel]

I too once thought about the concept of different colored teams, but confess I didn't consider the colorblind aspect either.  I rather thought that flying around in a completely yellow aircraft would lose some of the immersion value, not that F4Us attacking B17s escorted by 109s doesn't do a bit o' that already... but that's a different issue.  Even if sides were restricted to flying selected aircraft, screen resolution (my screen at least) isn't quite adequate to ID aircraft based on shape at reasonable ranges.  Unfortunately, I can't think of anything better than the icon system given the current state of technology and the game's format.

[Downtown]

How about NO ENEMY ICONS!

------------------
 
"Downtown" Lincoln Brown.
     lkbrown1@tir.com      
 http://www.tir.com/~lkbrown1
Wrecking Crews "Drag and Die Guy"
Hals und beinbruch!

[This message has been edited by Downtown (edited 04-27-2000).]

[JoeMud]

Damn straght downtown!

------------------
XO Armor Dickweed Heavy Bomber group
---Joemud

[hitech]

A few minor things you gents havn't considered.

Have you ever followed a plane at 500 yeards and watched him blend into the terrain?

Icons alow us not to have to match terrain colors to all the air craft but lets us use exact colors of the real planes.

Plane identification. For a test turn off your icons and try fly for a few fights.

See how well you can identify planes out side of 1500 yards and judge closure rates.

Detriment to the community aspects of the game.

Eleminating icon's would imply that you have to spend much more of your time looking around. This give you much less time for chatting on line, and hence removes some of the community aspects of the online world.

HiTech

[Ram1]

Hitech:

Are there any plans for a separate limited ICON arena with historical plane matchups?

Ram1

[Apache]

Excellent response Lord HiTech. I will shut up now  
Although short, it was an interesting discussion. (For me anyway)

BTW Saw, by team mates, I assume you mean JG2? If you meant country, I am one of your team mates.

------------------
Apache
Renegade Nation
"Abandon All Hope"

[-ammo-]

Good question Ram1

 

[Westy]

 ok. Try this. The next time you're on line for a decent amount of time (over a couple of hours) shut off icons by hitting [ctrl] twice  as your'e taking off . Fly like that all night (or day) and then post a synopsis of your experience in here please.  Then we can discuss this factually and on the basis of an actual experience, in Aces High, of an iconless environment  

  -Westy

(i see I should have read the whole thread before posting but I'll leave this anyway)

[This message has been edited by Westy (edited 04-27-2000).]

[Sharky]

HT,

How about no range info?  I've never had a problem with icons other than they provide to much info.  One of the major causes of the 1000 yds shooting is because we know range down to the yard.  So how about the icons as they currently are just delete the range info.

Sharky

[hitech]

I would be more inclined to change range info in close than at a distance. A lot of plane aspect that you could see at a distance is givin by the range info. Once your close enof to see the plane some of this information is not needed. For fiendly's I would keep the range info just because the since of closure is not there for formation flying.

As to long range shooting im not sure changing the range marker would change anything for the experianced pilot. If we would just set up a ringed gun sight to estimate ranges, an experianced pilot would be able to estimate the range on a rear shot very acuratly. And hence the long range shooting would still be there. BTW In my view the only resone people can hit at longer ranges is do to the amout of practice they have at it.

HiTech

There is also new flyier learning curves to think about. Teaching new players what gun ranges to shoot at is also a consern.

[Heater]

 

Originally posted by Apache:
Excellent response Lord HiTech.

SH*T, now he's going to have a real Big Head,
Damm programers think they are good wingman.  


------------------
!!! Heater !!!
 
Shit Happens All The Time

"If you have any trouble sounding condescending, find a Unix user to show you how it's done."

[This message has been edited by Heater (edited 04-27-2000).]

[hblair]

Thanks for dropping in on this thread hitech. Ram asked about an historical arena. For myself, I think the extra challenge of not knowing what the other plane is until he's right on ya adds to the game. I used to REALLY enjoy flying in Warbirds Historical arena for this reason. Although not for newbies, I think limited icon, 2 sided, historical plane matchup arena's are where I'd probably spend my time. Unlike warbirds, I wouldn't be billed for my time hunting the other guy and therefore I think an HA would be more popular here than in Warbirds.

Are there any plans for a future Historical Arena? I'd really enjoy an HA.

Your thoughts on this Hitech?