Hello all.... <S>
Our flightsimsonline eGroups business forum has recently been discussing the following material, which I haven't seen referenced anywhere on this BBS as yet, so I'll publicly ask the obvious questions on behalf of current Aces High subscribers. Apparently, there is a new HTC (public?) marketing program, which some trial members are now receiving email information on as follows:
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Subject: Aces High $19.95 Special Offer
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You have received this email from HiTech Creations because your email address is included in the Aces High registry of new accounts.
This email was intended for xxx@xxx.com
If you wish to be excluded from Aces High email correspondence, please click on the link below.
http://www.hitechcreations.com/cgi-bin/survey.pl?Email=xxx.xxx.com ******************************************
Dear John Doe:
Thank you for taking the time to fly with Aces High, the premier WWII multiplayer flight sim game online today. We enjoyed having you as a guest and are writing to you today because you have been selected to participate in a special market research project.
HiTech Creations, creator of Aces High, is conducting a survey to collect valuable information for our marketing efforts and product development. As part of this effort we have developed a limited time offer for you to join our game online. We've made arrangements for you to join the ranks of massively multiplayer flying for only $19.95 per month, unlimited months, unlimited flying until you delete this account. That means unlimited flying at a savings of $10.00 per month just for answering our survey.
Simply complete our 10 question survey and you may take advantage of the special offer. With the upcoming release of 1.05, you'll get to take part in the best naval action available online, complete with player-controlled fleets, carrier planes, shore bombardment, and PT boats.
http://www.hitechcreations.com/cgi-bin/survey.pl?LoginID=johndoe To take advantage of this limited offer simply use your LoginID:johndoe and password:freebie to activate your account for just $19.95 per month. This offer expires as of midnight on 10/30/2000 and is restricted to those individuals who were selected to participate in the survey.
Don't delay, respond today and join the ranks of some of the best pilots online!
Sincerely Yours In Flight,
DOUG 'PYRO' BALMOS
P.S. You can still help us improve Aces High by completing the survey even if you choose to not take advantage of this offer.
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IMHO as a $29.95/month full paying member, I have some real problems with this marketing move. A great idea, but badly implemented.
In essence, according to the phrase:
"We've made arrangements for you to join the ranks of massively multiplayer flying for only $19.95 per month, unlimited months, unlimited flying until you delete this account. That means unlimited flying at a savings of $10.00 per month just for answering our survey."
IMHO, HTC has just created a two tier class system of membership, penalizing current members. An unknown number of new players who have just signed up and answered a few questions get to save $120 U.S. per year as long as they're a member, while people who have supported HTC all the way throughout the beta and signed up normally, plus have contributed immensely on this BBS to assist in design ideas, identify bugs and contribute free time to help arena operations, will be continuing to pay $29.95/month to play Aces High as long as they're a member.
I have to assume that there simply has to be another unannounced dimension to this program that involves currently subscribed $29.95/month members. If there is in fact another shoe to drop for current members to get equivalent savings, or I've completely missed the point, then my apologies. If not, well, what can anyone possibly say......
The mistake? It should have been a limited 60 or 90 day lower membership fee, not a lifetime $10/month reduction for five minutes worth of work answering the following questions:
A quick paraphrase of the highly complex survey:
I play other online WWII flight simulator games Yes No
I had trouble installing Aces High Yes No
I had trouble running Aces High Yes No
I had trouble getting online Yes No
I had trouble configuring for my first flight Yes No
I had trouble with my joystick Yes No
Aces High was easy to get started flying Yes No
I currently play head-to-head (H2H) Yes No
I would tell my friends to download Aces High Yes No
My age group:
Under 20 20 - 30 30 - 40 40 - 50 50 - 60 Over 60
Sometimes you just have to stand and gaze in wonder.
HT or Pyro, if we all email you in the answers, can we all save $120 U.S. per year?
Regards,
Badger
Looking for a different kind of environment to discuss your favorite on-line flight simulator?
http://www.egroups.com/group/flightsimsonline 
