Aces High $19.95 Special Offer

[Soda]

I feel your pain Pyro... I have the same dilema every day in what I do.  I constantly have to decide whether the market will support higher prices to maximize my revenue or whether it's better to get more users at a lower price.  An interesting tactic you took to find out but I can appreciate that it will probably give you the best "actual" feel for where the numbers work the best.

Here's crossing my fingers that in 2 weeks everyone playing AH is up for a $10/month price reduction because that's where the numbers point.

Soda

[Fariz]

 

Originally posted by Renfield:
Yep. I signed up at $29.95 and helped support the development of the sim - along with the rest of your current customers. To learn that you guys are giving people who didn't support your company a 33% discount is, well, a slap in the face.
.

Some beta testers are even beeing paid to play games, do you consider it as a slap also? Marketing is good, because sometime it leads to drop of prices for end users, like you and me, and longer life cycle for a product.

Fariz

[This message has been edited by Fariz (edited 10-25-2000).]

[Nemo]

Maverick is a smart guy...what can I add to that?  Just to say that I think he's right.
Whatever HTC was "exploring" they've already
made a staggered rate by making this offer with no expiration.  The only way to not have staggered rates is to give everyone the $19.95 rate.  This is too simple to argue.  I want this rate.  Can HTC give me a good reason not to give me this rate when they offer it to someone else?  I don't think so.

Bad move HTC, but you don't need me to tell you the obvious.  I'll be waiting for my notice of the new lowered price.  Or even better, how about $14.95 then you can make the guys paying $19.95 feel cheated also.
(before you reply to this, I know that HTC didn't do this to make us feel cheated, but com'on, this sucks )

Nemo (just "nobody")

[Dogger]

Well I am one of the "test" subjects who got the $19.95 e-mail.

I tried the "free trial" offer about a month ago (never have had a AH account before) and really was only able to fly about four hours or so (to much going on in the real world at that time) I have been a WB customer for about two years and have a squad over there.

I must say I was suprized by the "unlimited" time offer for the $19.95...in todays market that's damn good for a Full Realism Sim.

I'm still looking at it not sure what I'm going to do.....just wanted to let those of you who think it's a Troll or an offer for old account holders know...it's not  

------------------
CMDR Dogger
C.O.VF-24 THE RENEGADES
1st Combined Air Group

[This message has been edited by Dogger (edited 10-25-2000).]

[ygsmilo]

Who said life is fair?

To me it is the cheapest form of entertainment available that I have.

If you don't like the price don't play.

They have GIVEN you the ability to play H2H for free.

Your Business thought for the Day,

"Rome was not built by people who had meetings all the time, Rome was built by people who destroyed their foes"

------------------
Milo
3./JG2
"Horrido"

[Minotaur]

Well if nothing, else this topic sure has drawn a crowd.

For myself, I am not going to get my undies wrapped up around my ankles and take a nose dive into a muck pool.  We are talking about $10 here, not some one forcing me to donate one of a kidneys to a violent criminal against my wishes.

However; what I perceive that is really bugging many players is a "Perceived Slight".  Some how knowing that some one else pays less than they do, insults them.

So be it.  Most of them whine about a lot of other things anyway.  Why do they whine?  It is because they love the game.  You don't complain about something if you don't care about it.

For myself, $20 per month sounds better than $30 per month.  There is always the competition.  This is not a monopoly.

Good Luck HTC, I root for $19.95!  

------------------
Mino
The Wrecking Crew

"Hind tit suckin whiners. Begone with yah!"
Hangtime

[Flathat]

I'm for HTC doing whatever is necessary to survive as a going concern until I finish MBA school in 2002 and can make a decision on what sim to play based on actually having a little free time.

I thought $29.95 was not unreasonable, considering that cable to keep my wife sane is about $42 these days, but I also knew that I wasn't going to be able to get enough stick time with school and a baby to justify the outlay. So I kept my iEN Silver account because I can fly DoA (real men fly SPADS muhuhahahahaha!!!  ) as much or as little as I want and it's no big deal.

When I finish school, it'll be a different story. If DOA is still where it is 2 years from now, switching will start to look like a good idea. My current lack of a paid account should noit be construed as a vote against AH/HTC, it's just my circumstances at the moment. Of course, if I could get AH at $19.95 then, I'd grab it, keep my DOA account and be a happy boy.  

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Flathat
'Black Dahlia'
No10 RNAS "The Black Flight"
Angel on your wing, devil on your tail

[Beaz]

 

A secondary question that you have to wonder about, is why didn't HTC use this great idea to go offshore, to promote and build incremental revenue though a broader customer base from the EU countries, Australia or Asia, where a reduction to $19.95/month would have been of huge assistance to players where the current $29.95/month is a financial stretch?

What makes you think that they didn't?

Sorry to stir the pot but I received an offer at $14.95 per month. After thinking about it for a day I will be taking up that offer. HTC needent worry, they will be making plenty of money out of me. I can only fly for a limited time per month (less than 10 hours) because of committments to other things, namely Warbirds training. I simply couldn't justify the expenditure at $29.95 for simply not flying that much. I'll sign up simply to keep an eye on AH development while not having to pay through the nose for the priviledge. Cya soon hopefully.

Regards

Daren

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Beaz aka ==bz==
249 Squadron RAF "Gold Coast"
Command HQ
Warbirds Training Staff

Co-Founder TechPubs

[This message has been edited by Beaz (edited 10-25-2000).]

[Replicant]

Can we have the $19-95 pilots fly under a different icon?  Then we know which to kill!  

Seriously, $29-95 is a lot of money for me but I am just addicted so I'll continue to pay for it as long as it remains a flat rate.  I believe with the introduction of the Navy and other future projects AH should attract even more pilots which in theory should either make a large packet for HTC, hopefully enough to lower the price and keep/attract future newbies.

Regards

'Nexx'

[Shamus]

Hmm, very interesting (as he signs the check for the next 3 mos.). Those of you who feel that this will lead to a permanent two tier pricing system have rocks in your heads.

Shamus

[Ripsnort]

Beaz: I like the trainer set up here, first, your tour is 3 months long, but you get comped account for 6 months.  This allows one more free time to enjoy the game after their tour, prevents 'Trainer Burnout', and you continue to stay a trainer in status if you choose to do so, though you're not committed to having to train someone, except on your own free time (after your 'tour').

[sourkraut]

Just was thinking what Indian was thinking -
I am flying to San Diego this afternoon on business (from NY). The airfare is $1589.64 for coach!!!! Granted I'm not paying but some folks do and they know that others are paying $300 instead.

HTC - keep up the market research, I am sure that the price won't be any higher and, I'm guessing will be at least $5 less.  

Oh - and no perk planes, please.

Sour

[Ripsnort]

Sour, does this mean we may be able to name our own price of online sims on "Priceline.com"?
 

[AKSeaWulfe]

Okay here it goes. My best job at describing business(which many obviously do not understand...), and how money works.

Today, we have Aces High with the majority paying 29.95$. We also have those few that are paying the 19.95$, or some such amount.

Tommorrow, after much misdirected whining, everyone is paying 19.95$.

The next day, due to lack of funds, HTC is out of business.

The next day, I NEED MY F'IN ACES HIGH FIX.. DAMN IT YOU BASTID HTC, GO BACK INTO BUSINESS I'M ALL TWEAKED OUT.

Reply: Well you wanted it for cheaper today, so we gave it to you cheaper. Unfortunately the few we brought in paying the lower amount that you TWITS complained about didn't balance out. Business faultered and now I'm eating out of a garbage can, thank you very-f'in-much.

Of course HT would be more polite than I would.. but what the heck. :-)
-SW

[AKDejaVu]

Badger,

This is a classless thread started by you in an obvious attempt to promote your buisness savy ways.

You know what it would inovoke... and you are stirring the pot even more.

Once again, its pretty easy to sit back and talk like you run the buisness.  In truth, you are just a customer saying whatever you can to get cheaper prices.

Hide behind buisness logic all you want.  I still haven't seen you start up an on-line flight sim and make money at it yet.

Booo to you.

AKDejaVu