I'm noticing a lot of people getting excited--myself included!--by the kinds of things that could be brought to AH. Realistic cockpit art, engines that would overheat, guns that would jam, etc. In other words, all those things that would make this the more total simulation experience that so many of us crave.
However, this is still a game for which people are going to be asked to pay, and out of which HTC is trying to make money. Not to put too fine a point on it, at what point do all the potential enhancements to AH2 become too realistic to allow new players to participate in this kind of experience? For example, team flying tactics are probably going to be critical for mission success. How does someone who has a real interest in this kind of simulation, and whose interest we would want to encourage, but whose ACM sucks and whose SA is almost nonexistent (wait, I could be describing myself here!) participate in this kind of environment?
While I certainly don't want this kind of game overrun with people asking "how do I take off?" at the same time, the long-term viability of this project is going to depend on bringing new people in. It would be terrible if this fantastic idea became simply the playground of an elite few with everyone else condemned to a life of MAdom!
I'm sure many of you have been thinking about this: any thoughts?
