Aces High Bulletin Board
Help and Support Forums => Help and Training => Topic started by: flygreen on April 25, 2008, 07:10:32 PM
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Please take this as honest, constructive criticism.
I'm on google trends, and I see flyaceshigh.com, so I run to the site, see it's an online multiplayer flying sim, and I think "Wow neat" and I see a free trial period and think "oh cool. I'll download this".
So I download this game, install it, load it up. Register inside the game and can jump right in. So far everything's working out great. Then I get inside the game ........
I think I'm a decently smart guy, and I've played a good variety of games in my life. Every game I've played I pretty much can jump into and at least do basic stuff. A game either has intuitive controls or has those "Welcome to the game. Press 'X' button to start moving forward' screens when I get inside.
Well I get into this game and I'm sitting on a field. Hmmm now what? I press W for forward, then try Up arrow. Nothing happens. I start randomly pressing keys to see if anything will happen, and nothing happens. I think I found a button to shoot bullets though. So I figure it's inside the options menus somewhere. I click through the options menus, find a controls part, and it's got like 6 radio buttons and so I try the flight one and it's got like 30 or so options... hmmmm don't see anything about how to get in the air there. But I see an option for controllers, so I think I'll plug in my LogiTech Rumblepad and maybe the controls will be more intuitive. Close game. Plug in controller. Restart game. Load back in. Press a few buttons. Still can't get off the ground. I think I found a button that does chat '/', so I press it and ask a few questions. Don't get any help.... hmmmm oh someone says something about training.hitechsomething.com. So I close the game, load up that website and it starts talking about rudders and some other stuff. I know what that is in real life, but what does that mean inside the game? Read around some more. Finally get back into the game. Press some more buttons on my controller, and after almost half an hour give up.
I leave the game, never to return. I don't believe I am alone in this experience, and feel that what could be an otherwise great game is loosing customers because of bad first impressions.
This is a type of game that, if done well, I would realistically pay money to play or at least recommend to friends so they can pay money to play it. Unfortunately I can't do that because I can't figure out how to get off the ground. I almost didn't post, but thought it would be good to convey my experience as what I hope is constructive criticism. While I was inside the game, each time I saw people "How do I get off the ground" so I at least know I'm not alone. I truly wish this game the best, and only post this in hopes they can somehow do more to make a better first impression on future players.
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Unfortunately this is a SIM, not a "press button to fly" game.
Setting up your controls and getting a bit of very basic knowledge about them is necessary.
When read "how to fly" I always tell them to read the telling "Getting Started". It actually IS the easiest and fastest way to get in the air, even if many newcomers do refuse to believe me.
Talking a new player through set up of his controllers and getting airborne is more time consuming than reading that short section, which takes no more than 10-15mins.
Many of us have no problem anwering simple questions, but a detailed instructions are not always possible while flying & and fighting ourself.
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I leave the game, never to return. I don't believe I am alone in this experience, and feel that what could be an otherwise great game is loosing customers because of bad first impressions.
As already mentioned this isnt a "game". The problem lies not in your experience but in your expectations. You expected "easy" and you got a does of reality. I'm not aware of any online "game" that has a full time training arena, exceptionally capable training cadre and a relatively supportive general community...and still takes at least 18 months do become reasonably proficient at.
It sounds like your used to (or want) either a 1st person shooter or MMOG with pixie dust and magic wands....
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this SIM is a hard one to learn. as been mentioned, it takes time and just reading things is easiest. i been playing almost 2 years (will be in August) and i never went to the Training Arena so i been self taught this hole time, and find it harder to fly than normal. You did the right thing in going to the Training Arena first, but you should have kept with it. another 30 minutes or so, maybe a little more and you would have been flying around shooting bullets at people. I say give it another chance, try it again, Private Message one of the many trainers (BadBoy, Murdr, Hammer, Sptaula, Rolex to name a few) even 15 minutes with them and you'll think the game is funner than what your first impression is.
Hope you'll give the game another chance.
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I too felt the same way when I first started. I logged on couldn't get off the ground and said to myself this is the dumbest game I've ever played. I cancelled my account but eventually came back. You gotta give it time. I've been playing a little over a year and I'm just starting to feel somewhat comfortable. (Still getting my prettythang kicked, but I'm having fun) Get with a trainer and have him show you the basics.
I did it the hard and learned by trial and error. Now finally a year later I'm working with a trainer.
Best of luck :aok
Thing
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For those who have been in the game awhile it does seem easy to get started. I had your experience as well when I found it last November. I would have thought a "getting started" button with the game commands and stuff would be prominantly displayed on the web site and not hidden in drop down menus that can be confusing for the new person.
I persevered and someone mentioned netaces.org in the Training Arena and once I found the quick reference guide I was off and running. It is a difficult game to master, but you can be up and flying/getting shot down within short order. I do think a large "Getting Started" button on the main page would not hurt anything. I don't like to be a pest when getting started and having to ask a lot of questions I know can get annoying for the older players.
I generally monitor the help channel for new guys to ask questions, the only ones who get on my nerves are the ones who continue to ask the same question after it has been answered by several people instead of asking for clarification.
The Training Arena is usually the best place to get help, I have never been turned down or ignored when asking for help. In the main arenas people are usually too busy fighting to answer, a few will if they are climbing out or taking a break though. Learn the little subculture of the game and have fun. I make a very nice candle while flying. :D
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Please take this as honest, constructive criticism.
I'm on google trends, and I see flyaceshigh.com, so I run to the site, see it's an online multiplayer flying sim, and I think "Wow neat" and I see a free trial period and think "oh cool. I'll download this".
So I download this game, install it, load it up. Register inside the game and can jump right in. So far everything's working out great. Then I get inside the game ........
I think I'm a decently smart guy, and I've played a good variety of games in my life. Every game I've played I pretty much can jump into and at least do basic stuff. A game either has intuitive controls or has those "Welcome to the game. Press 'X' button to start moving forward' screens when I get inside.
Well I get into this game and I'm sitting on a field. Hmmm now what? I press W for forward, then try Up arrow. Nothing happens. I start randomly pressing keys to see if anything will happen, and nothing happens. I think I found a button to shoot bullets though. So I figure it's inside the options menus somewhere. I click through the options menus, find a controls part, and it's got like 6 radio buttons and so I try the flight one and it's got like 30 or so options... hmmmm don't see anything about how to get in the air there. But I see an option for controllers, so I think I'll plug in my LogiTech Rumblepad and maybe the controls will be more intuitive. Close game. Plug in controller. Restart game. Load back in. Press a few buttons. Still can't get off the ground. I think I found a button that does chat '/', so I press it and ask a few questions. Don't get any help.... hmmmm oh someone says something about training.hitechsomething.com. So I close the game, load up that website and it starts talking about rudders and some other stuff. I know what that is in real life, but what does that mean inside the game? Read around some more. Finally get back into the game. Press some more buttons on my controller, and after almost half an hour give up.
I leave the game, never to return. I don't believe I am alone in this experience, and feel that what could be an otherwise great game is loosing customers because of bad first impressions.
This is a type of game that, if done well, I would realistically pay money to play or at least recommend to friends so they can pay money to play it. Unfortunately I can't do that because I can't figure out how to get off the ground. I almost didn't post, but thought it would be good to convey my experience as what I hope is constructive criticism. While I was inside the game, each time I saw people "How do I get off the ground" so I at least know I'm not alone. I truly wish this game the best, and only post this in hopes they can somehow do more to make a better first impression on future players.
before totally giving up, go to the help page from hitech's main page. there's lots of good helpful info there. you don't need a fancy joystick to get airborne....you can buy a cheapo and get started......then spend some time in the training arena...then you'll be up and dying jut like the rest of us in no time!
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Interesting idea. Maybe hitech could write some coad so new players (and small mammals) could push keys at random to get into the plane of their choice and into the air?
There is a big box on the home page that blinks Click Here! to Get Started Now.
It leads you by the hand, step-by-step, on:
- Downloading
- Installing
- Configuring your video
- Starting up
- Create your account
- Configure a joystick or mouse
- Other options
- Your first flight
Those seem like constructive steps to get started.
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I think I'm a decently smart guy, and I've played a good variety of games in my life. Every game I've played I pretty much can jump into and at least do basic stuff. A game either has intuitive controls or has those "Welcome to the game. Press 'X' button to start moving forward' screens when I get inside.
This game does have a very steep learning curve, but I'd have to agree with this. A getting started screen would be nice.
Unfortunately this is a SIM, not a "press button to fly" game.
Setting up your controls and getting a bit of very basic knowledge about them is necessary.
When read "how to fly" I always tell them to read the telling "Getting Started". It actually IS the easiest and fastest way to get in the air, even if many newcomers do refuse to believe me.
Talking a new player through set up of his controllers and getting airborne is more time consuming than reading that short section, which takes no more than 10-15mins.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is also a simulator (albeit not the best IMO), and it has a very comprehensive help and getting started section. I can't think of any reason why this game can't have a "getting started guide" integrated into it.
Well I get into this game and I'm sitting on a field. Hmmm now what? I press W for forward, then try Up arrow. ... start randomly pressing keys to see if anything will happen, and nothing happens. I think I found a button to shoot bullets though. So I figure it's inside the options menus somewhere. I click through the options menus, find a controls part, and it's got like 6 radio buttons and so I try the flight one ... hmmmm don't see anything about how to get in the air there. But I see an option for controllers, so I think I'll plug in my LogiTech Rumblepad and maybe the controls will be more intuitive. ... Press a few buttons. Still can't get off the ground. I think I found a button that does chat '/', so I press it and ask a few questions. Don't get any help.... hmmmm oh someone says something about training.hitechsomething.com. ... that website and it starts talking about rudders and some other stuff. I know what that is in real life, but what does that mean inside the game? Read around some more. Finally get back into the game. Press some more buttons on my controller, and after almost half an hour give up.
This is exactly what happened to me when I first downloaded this game. I couldn't work out what to do, so I eventually got into the game, managed to select a B-17, then spent 10 minutes working out what the NW, SE, H etc buttons on the clipboard meant. From what little I'd seen of the HTC homepage, I thought it had something to do with missions I'd fly in (this was probably around a year ago). Eventually I gave up and forgot about the game.
However, about 6 months ago, I 'rediscovered' it, and had a bit more luck. I happened to have my joystick plugged in this time, and eventually got took off in a Corsair. I managed to land it successfully. :D
I leave the game, never to return. I don't believe I am alone in this experience, and feel that what could be an otherwise great game is loosing customers because of bad first impressions.
This is a type of game that, if done well, I would realistically pay money to play or at least recommend to friends so they can pay money to play it. Unfortunately I can't do that because I can't figure out how to get off the ground. I almost didn't post, but thought it would be good to convey my experience as what I hope is constructive criticism. While I was inside the game, each time I saw people "How do I get off the ground" so I at least know I'm not alone. I truly wish this game the best, and only post this in hopes they can somehow do more to make a better first impression on future players.
I fully agree with this. Aces High is an excellent game (yes, I know it may technically be a simulation, but at the end of the day it's a game, like it or not) but I'm sure most people who download this game have a similar experience.
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As already mentioned this isnt a "game". The problem lies not in your experience but in your expectations. You expected "easy" and you got a does of reality. I'm not aware of any online "game" that has a full time training arena, exceptionally capable training cadre and a relatively supportive general community...and still takes at least 18 months do become reasonably proficient at.
It sounds like your used to (or want) either a 1st person shooter or MMOG with pixie dust and magic wands....
I disagree with this post almost entirely.
a) It is a game, as I said above, but that's irrelevant here.
b) I fail to see how his expectations have anything to do with the quality (or rather existence of) an in-game help section/getting started guide.
c) I know I'm going back to point a) again, but I wouldn't call chasing pixels around on a screen realistic (yes, this is an immense, pedantic generalisation).
d) I'd agree that the TA is excellent, but there aren't always trainers (or anyone, for that matter) in there
e) It can be difficult to work out how to get online in the first place, and once you do, if you come across the wrong person, the accuracy of your statement about "a relatively supportive general community" would seem very suspect to a new player.
Sorry if this sounds harsh/aggressive, I don't actually mean for it to be.
Anyway, from the perspective of a new player, when I first downloaded this game, I assumed it was one of those old, no longer updated, primitive games. My impression of the graphics supported that opinion.
For a completely new player, even the simplest thing becomes a nightmare. The best way I can describe it is as if you were trying to use a computer, but without a mouse or a keyboard. If you click the "close" button on the clipboard, chances are you won't know how to open it again.
The simplest functions in this game are NOT obvious to a new player.
Whilst there is actually EXCELLENT help documentation, it's ridiculously well-hidden. The main website has nothing obvious on it (you need to go through a page or 2 to arrive at even a few links), and if you do track down the forum, chances are you'll be jumped on for asking a question such as "how do I get off the ground". I am STILL finding new websites with brilliant Aces High tutorials etc, and I've been playing for around 6 months now.
Interesting idea. Maybe hitech could write some coad so new players (and small mammals) could push keys at random to get into the plane of their choice and into the air?
There is a big box on the home page that blinks Click Here! to Get Started Now.
It leads you by the hand, step-by-step, on:
....
Those seem like constructive steps to get started.
This post is a typical example of what I said earlier about how "if you do track down the forum, chances are you'll be jumped on for asking a question such as "how do I get off the ground". "
In conclusion, I would like to recommend TWO things:
1. That HTC asks everyone on this forum to submit links to any help pages they know of, and that these are made into a list, and that this database is then shown on the HTC home page
2. That HTC make an IN-GAME getting started guide, that includes details about how to begin flying, that links to the list requested in (1), that tells people how to do basic, yet critical things such as how to open and close the clipboard. This should DEFINITELY be opened automatically each time a new version/patch is installed. Also, in the first screen of this, it should tell a player HOW to open/close this help window.
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Is AHII compatible with a gamepad?
IFAIK it's not, but I could be wrong :)
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Interesting idea. Maybe hitech could write some coad so new players (and small mammals) could push keys at random to get into the plane of their choice and into the air?
There is a big box on the home page that blinks Click Here! to Get Started Now.
It leads you by the hand, step-by-step, on:
- Downloading
- Installing
- Configuring your video
- Starting up
- Create your account
- Configure a joystick or mouse
- Other options
- Your first flight
Those seem like constructive steps to get started.
Perhaps you misunderstood, Sir, I am not a proponent of "writing more coad" or doing anything other than making the link to the training section more visible. I did-done all that stuff when I first signed up, I did not have a problem with the game, just finding the key command list, (perhaps if a small mammal had been around it may have pointed it out for me so I need not have had to ask so many questions of busy trainers). :D When new it is easy to be overwhelmed with getting started. A user manual is not an unusal expectation for a game or an aircraft, the material is here, I just could not easily find it, I tended to overlook it in all the drop down menus. So, the sarcasm aside, I hope I have now expressed my suggestion clearer.
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As mentioned above the Home page ALREADY has a "get started now" link, and As for an in-game "getting started", it ALREADY has that too, its called the "TRAINING ARENA".
The problem with the game/sim is not the learning curve, or lack of info or anything like it. Its the expectations of some people coming into the game. To a history buff/ flight sim type most know, or hope that this game is more sim and therefore a bit more technical. Those that come in looking for afirst person/ shoot'um up expect easy controls and to beable to jump right in.
If the game was easy, it wouldn't be fun. You want easy, go play WoW or some other first person shooter game. Doesn't take time or SKILL to point and blast your enemies. If you want a challange, sign on here, spend a month of so in the training arena, then jump in the MAs and get your butt handed to you for another 6 months. After that you will become "average" and can start to work on getting good.
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As mentioned above the Home page ALREADY has a "get started now" link, and As for an in-game "getting started", it ALREADY has that too, its called the "TRAINING ARENA".
The problem with the game/sim is not the learning curve, or lack of info or anything like it. Its the expectations of some people coming into the game. To a history buff/ flight sim type most know, or hope that this game is more sim and therefore a bit more technical. Those that come in looking for afirst person/ shoot'um up expect easy controls and to beable to jump right in.
If the game was easy, it wouldn't be fun. You want easy, go play WoW or some other first person shooter game. Doesn't take time or SKILL to point and blast your enemies. If you want a challange, sign on here, spend a month of so in the training arena, then jump in the MAs and get your butt handed to you for another 6 months. After that you will become "average" and can start to work on getting good.
For the first time I am going to argue a point on the boards. I am not a proponent of this, I try to be civil. Honestly I have to disagree with you. I believe all these "Vets" have forgotten what being new is and what a getting started button is or has to be. Perhaps it is me, but I have not heard anyone saying make the game easier, just getting the information easier.
The information that is already present is not prominantly displayed. I was on three days before I was able to locate it so I guess I do have the intelligence of a small mammal. When you know where to look it is easy. How many pilots do you know who begin training without a manual in their hands? Do you expect this to be different just to make you seem brighter and allow you an easy flame victim? What is so hard about adding a link to a web page? I am not that savvy, but even I can do that. I am honestly shocked by Rolex's reply, the others, not so much, they tend to answer most posts in this manner. This is one of the downsides of the game, but the upsides far outweigh it.
Don't be run off by poor site navagation setup or snide/sarcastic comments from players. It is fun, it is difficult, and it is rewarding. If you like aviation, WWII, and social interaction, this is the game for you.
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Woah... I wasn't replying to you, Halo46.
It is important to note that the original poster was unwilling to spend a few minutes reading or following any of the instructions he found. If he had questions, he would have gotten many helpful replies to any questions posted here or online.
It's hard to take someone seriously if they think hitting random keys without reading anything is a good first approach to any game.
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Woah... I wasn't replying to you, Halo46.
It is important to note that the original poster was unwilling to spend a few minutes reading or following any of the instructions he found. If he had questions, he would have gotten many helpful replies to any questions posted here or online.
It's hard to take someone seriously if they think hitting random keys without reading anything is a good first approach to any game.
My bad Rolex, it appeared that way to me, sorry for the confusuion. But, I did the same thing, not because I did not want to read, I did want to read everything first, I just couldn't find it. :salute
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Below is the picture on the main page.
(http://www1.hitechcreations.com/images/getstarted4.gif) (http://www1.hitechcreations.com/gs/index.html)
The flashing "Click Here" should help people find their way.
The information is easily available, to those who really want it. For those who are looking for the "quick way", sorry, even the most helpful of gamers are a bit too busy trying to survive or fly to be as accommodating as some might like.
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As many have stated, this is a sim (yes, it is a type of game, but it is a bit different fromt he average game) and if someone is interested in playing an online combat flightsim, they should at least know how to setup controls, fly a plane, and read. While this may seem harsh, its not that much. I learned how to fly on "Aces Over Europe" when i was 5. the game crashed constantly, and i could never land decently, but i learned the basics. No help File, nobody sitting over my shoulder, just sat down, took off, and shot at stuff. I do believe that the help file is good to have, and is more than visible enough. However, there should be a notice on the download page that this is NOT a push button to fly game and that little gamer kids should go play halo, not AH2.
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When I first installed Aces High way back when, I already had been flying boxed sims for 6 years. I had a joystick. I read the help files, set up my stick and practiced offline for several hours until I knew the basic controls and functions.
I viewed Aces High as combat flight sim. I recognized that to have any success, even to survive, I had to be prepared.
If you jump into Aces High thinking that this is nothing more than an online video game, you will be very disappointed. This is not for the casual gamer. It doesn't support gamepads, nor even the mouse (you can use a mouse, but HTC offers no official support for it).
My regards,
Widewing
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It doesn't support gamepads, nor even the mouse (you can use a mouse, but HTC offers no official support for it).
I just had a look at the Getting Started button and the info it provides. I do have to say it will get a new player rolling in offline mode only if the new player follows the instructions provided. I'm sure that most new players will jump right into the online arenas and skip the offline mode.
A lot of good sticks do use a mouse and HTC provides a section on how to set up a mouse in the getting started section, in my experience if you provide instruction on how to use a device in game you do officially support it. If it is not supported it should be stated right up front.
Most of the information needed to fly is readily available on the trainer's page, however, I don't believe new people are specifically directed to the trainer's page nor are they advised to start in the Training Arena. Instead the jump right into the MA's as they would in any online game and ask questions there. Some will get good answers but we all know many will get the ALT-F4 answers.
IMO new players need much better direction to get information on the home page without having to hunt for it.
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A lot of good sticks do use a mouse and HTC provides a section on how to set up a mouse in the getting started section, in my experience if you provide instruction on how to use a device in game you do officially support it. If it is not supported it should be stated right up front.
The Mouse set-up instructions were provided by the Trainers. HTC specifically states: "The game is generally easier and more fun to play when a joystick is available." A mouse is the minimal requirement, a joystick is recommended.
I hope the original poster goes to his nearest Walmart or Best Buy and picks up a basic joystick. He should try setting it up on his own. If successful or not, he should then head to the Training Arena and get together with a Trainer. He can contact the Trainers via email and set up an appointment. We can get him flying in about 5 minutes. He'll be having fun within a half hour.
The good news is that flygreen made an effort to get set up. Unfortunately, he has the wrong hardware and doesn't seem to understand the complexity of Aces High. That can be corrected, if he decides to return.
You would be amazed at how many people come to the TA and ask for help flying with the keyboard. Or, how many people log in demanding a Trainer stop whatever he is doing and "teach me how to dogfight." If you are busy with someone else, they often get strident. "I need help NOW! What do they pay you for?" When asked if they went through the help files, they say "no", or "isn't that what you're for?"
If you want to learn to drive, you study the driver's manual and have some sort of instructor. If you want to learn to fly, you must attend ground school and learn under a flight instructor.
This is a complex sim, with a complex environment. It takes considerable effort to become even basically proficient at flying the aircraft.
My regards,
Widewing
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I just had a look at the Getting Started button and the info it provides. I do have to say it will get a new player rolling in offline mode only if the new player follows the instructions provided. I'm sure that most new players will jump right into the online arenas and skip the offline mode.
Hmmm, following instructions what a novel concept.
Why does everybody have to jump right in, what are the advantages too that? Other than being cannon fodder for all the experienced players in the online arenas.
Truthfully people that jump right in make the gaming experience less enjoyable for others in the game as well. They are usually the ones that are wanting to know how to take off, how to drive a tank, etc.
Taking the time to at least learn to control the vehicle that they want too operate would make the game a whole lot more enjoyable for them as well , as the more experienced player.
I also think this is a troll, it has the same tone as a post from not too long ago.
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No where in the original post did I glean where he'd even perused the manual---even printing out the basic commands and putting them next to your stick would be helpful---aside from that, one should at least try to learn basic flying skills before jumping online---at which point the 2 weeks start ticking away
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I think to some extent he has a valid point. The first time I logged on I jumped into the MA and couldn't figure out how to start my engine. I logged out, went to the TA and asked on text. No one answered and, until I went there to do a little fighting with Widewing a couple of months ago, that was the one and only time I ever set foot in th TA. I didn't really ever visit the BBs until HT split the arenas and dumped the big maps.
I remember my first few flights in AHI. I had the key commands and dot commands printed out for reference but there were too many to remember. I didn't know about auto-pilot and was trimming constantly to maintain striaght and level flight. It took months before I figured out what the NE and SW things were on the clipboard. I always took off from the hanger :)
I think that a new player, one who has never logged on before, should get some sort of prompt explaining where to find information (web-site, netaces, etc.) and that there should be a "don't show this message again" tic box.
I also think that a key command and dot command quick reference guide should be available in-game. It's pretty non-intuitive to have to open the clipboard, click preferences, map keys to find it. How to open it could be the first thing on the new player prompt screen (or in-game pop-up).
A few very basic, simple changes would go a long way and wouldn't take anything away from the game as a sim.
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I remember first starting this game. I didnt read anything i opened the control options and figured out the basic keys like E, shift +, and using a mouse to fly. But then again i didnt give up. Yes i got frustrated but i upgraded to a 20$ stick i got from walmart (i still use it and its 2 years old). This game is the best and so are the people you just need to give it a REAL chance.
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Yes, but we do need instructions in game for a new player to follow.
Even something as simple as: "Press ESCAPE to open or close the clipboard. Go HERE to read about how to get flying. Go here to find more detailed help." which pops up on screen every time a new version is installed would be a good start.
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I spent days going over all the info HTC provided. Setting up my stick, mapping all the buttons, learning the new commands available and so on. Even coming over from AWII which I had been flying for years I STILL took the time to get an idea of how things worked. Then after logging in, I made sure it was at a time I knew my friend from AWIII was on. He had been flying in the MA for a month before I got into the air, and he helped me over the rough spots as it were.
I guess you only get out what your willing to put in to it. You don't want to spend some time learning a few thing, your not going to spend any time having fun.
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It sounds like your used to (or want) either a 1st person shooter or MMOG with pixie dust and magic wands....
Ouch :rofl
You said yourself your a smart guy so read the getting started section. You say you had a "controller" is it a joystick?
In controllers you can double tap a button and it will allow you to map each one. Just make sure throttle, X and Y are set to the right places and you should be able to get her up in the air.
Once you can land and take off successfully you can start thinking about shooting something.
I will agree the controller setup is a bit daunting at a first glance but there are various documentation to give you an "idiots" guide. Now accustomed to the thing i could setup a new stick in double time....
If your into ww2 and planes, dogfights you've found the right place you just need to assume the position and ride that learning curve.
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Every day we are presented with choices and opportunities.
This is one of those...
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k45/fbplmmr/ah2help.jpg)
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I don't believe I am alone in this experience, and feel that what could be an otherwise great game is loosing customers because of bad first impressions.
If only you had read the manual or followed the advise that was offered to you over the open channel and country channel and seek the assistance of a trainer. HTC is not the one to blame for you not sticking it out.
ack-ack
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Man, the guy does HTC a favour (yes, a favour) by posting his first impressions, and gets nothing but puffy ack in response.
Yes, there's good website help. But a large percentage of new players will just jump in, because that's what a lot of people do with every new game. Of course it takes many months to play well. But the issue here is what happens in the first few minutes.
The take-home lesson is that AH needs a better in-game help / tutorial system for first-time players.
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Sounds good Wantok, who's going to provide it?
Do you have the resources to provide full time around the clock support for new players on a small budget?
I Didn't think so, what makes you think HT has?
How many proficient players do you think there are in this game? How do you think they got that way?
The existing tutorial/help system worked just fine for me and thousands of other players.
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It's interesting to me that this fellow took the time to download and try the game, and took the time to sign up for the BBS. He makes 1 post knocking HTC, then never replies to the post he started. Flygreen had 3 sorties and 3 deaths and a whopping 13 minutes and 57 seconds trying to "figure" it out. This is hardly a qualified opinion on how well HTC has set itself up for new players. New players I will tell you the road is tough, but worth the effort. As you can see by all the folks who have posted, there is a great group of folks ready and willing to supply all sorts of help to newcomers! :aok
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Man, the guy does HTC a favour (yes, a favour) by posting his first impressions, and gets nothing but puffy ack in response.
Actually, he was offerend help and advice which he completely disregarded when he first entered into the arenas after demanding people help him start his plane and tell him to take off.
ack-ack
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Right, Here goes for my first post...
First a bit about me, I'm 22, from the UK and have an interest of all aspects of WW2, found AH purely by accident.
I'm a new player and have just finished he two week trial. I am not subscribing just yet, I am working my way through HTC's website on getting started until I can get the basics sorted. I have dabbled in the MA a fair bit during the 2 weeks, but crashed and burned and been cannon fodder on too many occasions. As soon as I think I have got the basics I will try and hook up with a trainer and move into the MA for a bit of fun. When I did venture into the MA the advice I received over 'country' was valuable and supportive. I don't feel flygreen or whatever his name is has much patience and my first experience of the game/sim was completly the opposite.
Fair enough you pay your $15 bucks, you don't have to do that straight away, play off-line, take the time to READ things that might be useful.
Many Thanks, will now hide behind my chair.
Welshlad
:salute to all you out there
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My steps into the game went as follow. Note this the first SIM/online game I have ever played.
1. Visit the BBS for info and steps to getting started.
2. spent the next 2 days reading all the support sites on control setup, ACM and AC evaluation. (I have been fascinated with WWII aircraft so i knew all the basic stuff about most the AC just not the down and dirty of turn radius climb rate & etc.)
3.once i was setup I spent the next 2 weeks off line killing drones adjusting views convergence, dropping ord and getting a basic feel for a few AC i figured I'd stick too.
4. Went to the MA and was immediately turned to cannon fodder, but at least i knew what was going on and knew what the red and green bars on the map were.
5. Found a vet that was average but really helped me out in better understanding "E" management and and basic ACM.
After all that and this being my first "true flight sim" I'd say a year and half latter I'm at least a decent stick.
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1. Visit the BBS for info and steps to getting started.
2. spent the next 2 days reading all the support sites on control setup, ACM and AC evaluation. (I have been fascinated with WWII aircraft so i knew all the basic stuff about most the AC just not the down and dirty of turn radius climb rate & etc.)
3.once i was setup I spent the next 2 weeks off line killing drones adjusting views convergence, dropping ord and getting a basic feel for a few AC i figured I'd stick too.
4. Went to the MA and was immediately turned to cannon fodder, but at least i knew what was going on and knew what the red and green bars on the map were.
5. Found a vet that was average but really helped me out in better understanding "E" management and and basic ACM.
After all that and this being my first "true flight sim" I'd say a year and half latter I'm at least a decent stick.
Pretty much sums up the steps I took...and EVERY NEW GUY should take. I would add, however, to spend some time in the Training Arena (TA) and work with the trainers and others in there.
Trouble is though, in reality there are many people that just want to load up a program and have it do everything for them so all they have to do is point and shoot. And as we all know, AHII is NOT one of those kinds of programs. To get anything OUT of it, you need to put some effort INTO it.
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Maybe I'm a bit dense....
I'm not the smartest of folks at times....
I often have trouble in games I've never played before.
However, moving to AH from only a few scattered other flight sims, the ONLY thing I had to do was read the key mapper and control mapper.
You don't even have to read it all. Just the really basic OBVIOUS stuff.
"Oooh, right, I'll need to know the engine start key! Oh, and the gear key, and guns! Mustn't forget guns!"
I mean, hey, let's be honest, I still coulnd't FLY, but I could get in the plane, rev the engine, roll down the runway and plow into any number of game objects (including the ground).
Maybe I'm dense, but you know what? ANY game I ever get into I read the keymap first. Otherwise wtf are you doing in a game? Pressing W, uparrow (FPS commands, btw). That's not how ya fly a flight sim.
There's an argument to be made for showing folks in bold letters how to get started, but after a certain point... C'mon! Sometimes they're just not going to get it.
So sure, put the "getting started" in bold and in an obvious place, but don't have pop up windows bearing blinking red fonts on rainbow backgrounds using CAPs pointing new players how to get started.
Because if they don't bother to read the bold, they're not going to bother reading the <BLINK> tags.
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Man, the guy does HTC a favour (yes, a favour) by posting his first impressions, and gets nothing but puffy ack in response.
Yes, there's good website help. But a large percentage of new players will just jump in, because that's what a lot of people do with every new game. Of course it takes many months to play well. But the issue here is what happens in the first few minutes.
The take-home lesson is that AH needs a better in-game help / tutorial system for first-time players.
Thank you. I did try reading the website, but only after I was told about it in game and it felt confusing. My total time from first logging in to giving up was a little over half an hour, and that includes reading. I would of gladly spent hours learning about the game, but I'm just not going to spend 3-4 hours learning about a game that may be terrible. My thoughts were that I would evaluate the game, see if it is good, and if it is spend more time getting better. Because I could not evaluate the game, I had no clue how good it was and therefore wasn't ready to invest a large amount of time knowing the finer details.
People are taking my post as a personal attack, and it's not. This *seems* like a game, I mean electronic program I run on my computer for the purpose of enjoyment, I would enjoy. I just wanted to post my honest thought process while first playing the game. This post isn't a request or critique or review, it is merely a data-point.
As an aside, I once did UI research and I understand how frustrating it can be thinking "JUST CLICK THE TOP RIGHT BUTTON!!!" when looking at how people use programs. However with UI we don't expect every customer to do the optimal thing, and sometimes we had to move buttons around or change error/help messages to lead them to the correct action. Things that would seem infinitely intuitive to us from the inside other people JUST WOULDN'T GET OR DO! At times it felt frustrating, but in the end we collected mountains of data on how people used our program and with it were able to optimize first impressions and revenue.
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I hope you try it again . It's always nice to have new players to play with IMO ..
I "think" I met a bunch of them just the other day in fact . Helpfull they were to me and our squad .
cu up
spro
PS: Oh yes quite of few of the peeps replying have flown online for 10 plus years now , they will most likely enjoy
playing with you also .
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Try the training arena. Lots of help if theres a trainer in there :aok
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<SNIP>
PS: Oh yes quite of few of the peeps replying have flown online for 10 plus years now , they will most likely enjoy
playing with you also .
only 2 here :mad:
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only 2 here :mad:
I can think of two just in my squad, off the top of my head...
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I can think of two just in my squad, off the top of my head...
that only been plyin 2 years?
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I think I started offline practice over a month ago and don't feel ready to start my free two weeks yet. I'm having too much fun trying not to ground loop Corsairs and Mosquitos. :O I hope to eventually have my controls set up in a way that keyboard use will be minimal (using a hand-me-down X35/6). I don't plan on going to the arenas until I can fly and land :eek: several planes in my sleep since I'll have to learn SA, navigation and communication while trying not to get shot down over and over again. :furious :cry ;) :rofl Until then I'll be working on barn-storming hangers and scrubbing off speed for hot landings.
The information is available but takes a little searching and printing to gather it for quick access. I just recently turned on LCS Gunsite to help practice deflection shooting.
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I think I started offline practice over a month ago and don't feel ready to start my free two weeks yet. I'm having too much fun trying not to ground loop Corsairs and Mosquitos. :O I hope to eventually have my controls set up in a way that keyboard use will be minimal (using a hand-me-down X35/6). I don't plan on going to the arenas until I can fly and land :eek: several planes in my sleep since I'll have to learn SA, navigation and communication while trying not to get shot down over and over again. :furious :cry ;) :rofl Until then I'll be working on barn-storming hangers and scrubbing off speed for hot landings.
The information is available but takes a little searching and printing to gather it for quick access. I just recently turned on LCS Gunsite to help practice deflection shooting.
I flew off line for 2 weeks still didn't feel ready but decided might as well jump in at some point.
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When I started this, I was lucky in that Bruv from The Few gave me tips and pointers to help me get underway. I've flown many a flight sim (I still cant believe it took me soo long to find this one :huh)
Welshlad, if you want some help, give Bruv119 a pm, and he'll help you out (and yes, I'm shamelessly advertising the fact we are recruiting.... :D)
The Few are a mainly euro squad, and fly to have fun, get kills, bomb things and always help the newer members (especially me..lol..)
Hoping to see you up,
Wurzel
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I think to some extent he has a valid point. The first time I logged on I jumped into the MA and couldn't figure out how to start my engine. I logged out, went to the TA and asked on text. No one answered and, until I went there to do a little fighting with Widewing a couple of months ago, that was the one and only time I ever set foot in th TA. I didn't really ever visit the BBs until HT split the arenas and dumped the big maps.
I remember my first few flights in AHI. I had the key commands and dot commands printed out for reference but there were too many to remember. I didn't know about auto-pilot and was trimming constantly to maintain striaght and level flight. It took months before I figured out what the NE and SW things were on the clipboard. I always took off from the hanger :)
I think that a new player, one who has never logged on before, should get some sort of prompt explaining where to find information (web-site, netaces, etc.) and that there should be a "don't show this message again" tic box.
I also think that a key command and dot command quick reference guide should be available in-game. It's pretty non-intuitive to have to open the clipboard, click preferences, map keys to find it. How to open it could be the first thing on the new player prompt screen (or in-game pop-up).
A few very basic, simple changes would go a long way and wouldn't take anything away from the game as a sim.
very valid point we should have a disclaimer lol
not saying anything like we need it or anything but i wasted my 2 weeks before i even found the trainers site lol
i did go to the main site and read all the information and i wasn't ever expecting this game to be easy but at least i got to fly for my two weeks free.
after that of course i spent over 8 months in HTH arenas before they were shut down permanantly. i learned enough of the basics there to help me in the ma but i was still a noob.
still am at heart.
'
really though i think that anyone who reads the info and pages about how to set it up shouldnt have much of a problem. im just very glad that i didnt have to start paying for the game until i had gained most of the basic knowledge to fly.
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Once again i'll state that they should have a mandatory 30 minutes at least in the Training Arena! You join the game for the free 2 weeks and for the first 30 minutes the only arena available to you is the Training Arena. Not sure how hard this would be for HT to program but it sure seems like it'd be an overall benefit to the new players as well as the guys with time in. Would stop a lot of the repeat questions in the Main Arena areas and get the new players up to speed a little faster. Someone stated it wasn't a "press and fly game" :lol you hit it on the head with that one. :aok 6 years of playing regular and i still learn something new every day in the game.
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Sounds good Wantok, who's going to provide it?
Do you have the resources to provide full time around the clock support for new players on a small budget?
I Didn't think so, what makes you think HT has?
How many proficient players do you think there are in this game? How do you think they got that way?
The existing tutorial/help system worked just fine for me and thousands of other players.
Heya SD67. What I said was "AH needs a better in-game help / tutorial system for first-time players". I wasn't talking about 24x7 human trainers, or any kind of live training. What I was thinking of was a few small tutorials built into the game software, specifically for first-time players. I guess that would be something like canned audio and text instructions superimposed on the actual game while you're selecting a plane, trying to take off for the first time, trying a tank for the first time, etc.
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Ahhh well then I think there is already something in the works for that.
There is a new feature on the clipboard that is yet to be enabled regarding training. Between this and the offline practice missions there should be a new and improved version of n00b in the skies in AHII, IF they take advantage of it.