Cancelled my account, deleted AH

[AGJV44_Rot 1]

Apar I tried to come back after almost 2 months off, funny but I left and trinity was last map, I came back for 2 weeks and I have been on Trinity 95% of the time I flew.  Talk about messed up.  Deleted my account and I am as well gone for good.

[Raubvogel]

Originally posted by AGJV44_Rot 1
[B Deleted my account and I am as well gone for good. [/B]

Deja Vu!

[beet1e]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Yeager,

I understand your frustration, but keep this in mind:  There are finite resources at HTC.  

I work for a software company, and we're in a constant struggle between spending time on our older products and the next version that's coming out.  The graphics in the current engine are showing their age, and Hitech probably figures that the new game and engine is the key to maintaining healthy growth and staying relevant.

Every man-week that he spends on the old Aces High is at least another week that the new system will be delayed.  If the momentum for this game falters before the new stuff is up, the same thing will happen here that happened to Warbirds.  WBIII took too long to release because so much time was spent supporting 2.7x releases.

To me, the gameplay in AH is good.  If Hitech hadn't announced that he was working on AH2, I imagine there would be less discontent here, but then people would wonder if they had been abandoned.

Let 'em do AH2, and have some patience.  This team has already been more active then any other game development company I've ever seen in implementing user suggestions and adding vehicles/planes that were requested.

Chairboy - an excellent, excellent post - worthy of being in a thread of its own. I was going to post something like this, speaking as a former mainframe applications developer and DB administrator (IBM's IMS and DB2).

People outside of the business don't realise how complex a task software development can be. Just recently in the H&S forum, I asked if anyone knew of an inexpensive FTP program. I got deluged with replies for lots of different products! Software is so... available, it would seem. But developments of even small programs can take weeks, or maybe months if there's no code around to clone. I wrote a VFR flight planning system in Visual Basic - took me 3 months to get to the first cut release. (I'll let you have the source if you would like)

Anyway, I'll hold off posting - don't want to take the credit for something you said first.

Apar!  Please reconsider. At least come back for AH2.

[Apar]

beetle,

I fully understand the amount of work and time involved in software development, although not for the gaming industry but for another software industry.

There is still something like customer relations, which can be used to help the community understand what the status of development of AH2 is, and to keep the community invloved and informed. I don´t see that happen much lately. Which really surprises me, because HT used to do this for other AH1 upgrades. Is that so much to ask for?

The funny thing is that with software development for the industry the developer is contractually obligated to keep the customer informed about the delivery date. In the gaming industry they can do it as they see fit. There are no contractual obligations to us. That alone makes it even more important to keep us informed and involved to prevent the gaming customers from getting impatient and leaving. The fact that AH2 development takes up all the AH1 maintenance time makes it very important (IMHO) to stay in close contact with the community. (If only, throw some more bones for AH2). I miss that since 2-3 months. It's almost like HT is on Holiday. Sure I know they're not, but what do you expect plp to feel?

Ofcourse this is not the main reason I´m leaving. (I´m merely replying to the above mentioned). I think I became saturated of playing this game since 1.02. That, and the Map roulation system where Trinity is running 95% of the time. Personally I think it should not be such a big effort to at least change the map roulation system (HT correct me if I'm wrong). Reading the BBS, you'll find enough AH customers requesting this. If it is not possible, at least explain why not. I think many players can prolly have peace with it then.

Apar

[Maniac]

The funny thing is that with software development for the industry the developer is contractually obligated to keep the customer informed about the delivery date. In the gaming industry they can do it as they see fit. There are no contractual obligations to us.

Eh? in the software development for the "industry" its essential to keep the customers updated becase it may be critical to the customers software infrastructure... And its BIG BIG $$$ involved..

In the gaming world... Well its an FREAKING GAME!!!! for christ sake!!!

If you dont like the feedback/support/news you get from your software developer then djust wote with your $$$.

The ridiculous thing about players thinking HTC or other gaming companys ows them information is ridicoulus, i see the symptom of players who have stuck with HTC for all the years (and ICI) and djust because of that they think they are personal friends of HT and crew.

Face it we are djust $$$ to HTC, they do wath they like when they like.

[Wilbus]

Cu again friend! Will miss flying and winging with you, I hope we will see eachother soon again, in AH2 or something else!

Be sure to keep my mail please, rasmus@avita.se.

Take care

[Swoop]

Originally posted by Apar
Swoop and Bug, maybe "een bietje op een terrasje in Amsterdam op een mooie zomerdag? "

 

Nah, Amstel sucks.  Meet ya in the Grasshopper though..... ?  

[Apar]

Maniac,

In the gaming world... Well its an FREAKING GAME!!!! for christ sake!!!

Ever calculated how much money you put into this game over the years?



And I do agree that they can do (and they do) what they want. It is just my feeling that  HT would benifit from more feedback to the community about the AH2 development. Take it as you want.

[hazed-]

Originally posted by Maniac
Eh? in the software development for the "industry" its essential to keep the customers updated becase it may be critical to the customers software infrastructure... And its BIG BIG $$$ involved..

In the gaming world... Well its an FREAKING GAME!!!! for christ sake!!!

er yes its a game and WE are paying for it by the MONTH at roughly the cost of a boxed game every 2 months.

Originally posted by Maniac
If you dont like the feedback/support/news you get from your software developer then djust wote with your $$$.

the idea that HTC customers should all leave rather than ask for an update or two is not only dumb its bad business.If you remember HTC promised to become more active on the BBS. I was extremely happy as a customer when i heard this.Unfortunately the hands on approach lasted about a week and now its back to the completely unsure of whats happening feeling.Combine this with a lack of any small updates or little extra plane thrown in or even any screen shots or ANYTHING and you will find people will get bored and leave.

Originally posted by Maniac
The ridiculous thing about players thinking HTC or other gaming companys ows them information is ridicoulus, i see the symptom of players who have stuck with HTC for all the years (and ICI) and djust because of that they think they are personal friends of HT and crew.

Face it we are djust $$$ to HTC, they do wath they like when they like.

And this is just the point.We are $$$ to them and THEREFORE wORTH keeping informed.Personally I think I did contribute to HTC's success by playing and paying $30 for years which i considered an extortionate price for a game, but as i loved the game and realised HTC were no huge company I wanted to support them.Maybe HTC consider the original early adopters of their game as irrelevant? well lets see how irrelevant allowing your hard core original investers in your product to leave over the simple lack of information and added game aspects.

I would assume that HTC will end up with a constantly fluctuating player base.The steady reliable income of players who have owned accounts for years will go and HTC will end up relying on those who play for a few months,2 weeks of which are unpaid, and then move on to other games.If it was my company Id be trying to keep the long term customers a little happier by SIMPLy throwing them a bit of info here and there.HTC personal friends? who the hell thinks that but people without real life friends?? sheesh anyone online is merely a virtual associate or in HTC's case a MONEY PIT waiting to be tapped.piss em all off and you will LOSE money , simple as that.

I dont want to see HTC get into financial trouble over a simple lack of info. Hype for new products is what drums up interest and customers.stagnating gameplay will only attract customers for short periods looking for a new experience.Once they get bored its good bye customer, maybe for good.BAD business practice to allow your customer group to change from a steadily payng customer base to a dynamic and fast changing reem of customers who join for 2 weeks free, pay the sub for a few months and leave.

I mean is it really so hard to take 10 minutes out to post a few tip bits for us?I think not and when i see the attitude shown toward a player like apar who i have never once disliked in all the times ive spoke to him or seen complaining unecessarily it makes me think I too may be near giving up caring what happens to HTC. I like companies who value my custom and anyone elses.
Whats funny is there willl always be enough people who are fresh to the game who happen to be enjoying it FOR NOW who will vocally challenge a customer who may well be showing them what they will feel like in a few months time.

personally i dont like seeing old names leaving.I listen to their reasons and if i feel they are reasonable i take note.Maybe HTC doesnt consider it reasonable but then we dont even know that do we? True HTC USED TO keep us informed and were extremely fast with udates and fixes and I used to post that no other company gives more.Unfortunately this is no longer the case. AH updates at about the same rate as many othe rprogrammes/games online now. A real shame really. But hey, its just 1 guy leaving right? what does it matter? we can all afford to throw money away cant we?

[oboe]

Its hard to disagree with what Hazed and Apar are saying.

   Frequent updates, frequent news = the best situation for us

   Frequent updates, little news = still good

   Slow updates, frequent news = survivable

   Really slow updates, very little news = where AH is at now

I'm sure they'll have something neat to show at the con though.

[Saintaw]

Naah Swoop, yer outta luck, been there, tried that and he kept saying "NO". Apar's a clean guy, thank cod... if it weren't for him, I'd be in little bits & pieces laying at the bottom of the Haarlingen canal

But if I have the chance, I'll go with ya

[thrila]

Bye apar been nice flying against you in your luftweenie rides.  hope you come back when AHII is released.

[Saurdaukar]

Apar, always a class act, you will be missed... although I cant say I disagree with your reasons for quitting.  Hope you'll change your mind when AH2 rears it ugly, addictive head.

[Mitsu]

Try WW2OL, Apar.

[Creamo]

Ever calculated how much money you put into this game over the years?

No, and I haven't done a spread sheet on the $39-$49 dollar games I have bought at Wal-Mart for the last 3 years with my 2 week paycheck 'funny money' game budget either. Some I play to completion in 20-30 hours, some I shelve after 15 minutes. So? The "woe is me, HTC didn't do this I quit" math don't pan out considering what AH provides. Im pry money ahead considering my gametime.

 And I do agree that they can do (and they do) what they want. It is just my feeling that HT would benefit from more feedback to the community about the AH2 development. Take it as you want.

I'd like to see more info too, even more so. I hate not getting info and updates. But what can you do? You have been here long enough to know (BBS users has claimed you a "vet", I recall your callsign but seriously don't know who you are), like RAM and one of my favorite posters here "Kieran"(even forgot the spelling), once they go, in a few weeks they are forgotten almost entirely. It's not  punishment or a statement to the 'community', it's just a piss poor exit. If you want to go, go.

Anything other than a anonymous cancellation, is just a feeble attempt to draw attention to you, or what you want, and in the end, noone really cares anyway. Further posts after you are 'done' make me believe HTC ignoring this nonesence, as you'll be back, have again, proved they not only can code a great game, they can manage it almost perfectly.

I'm in for $14.95 again, it's a steal.