Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Tyrannis on December 15, 2010, 03:01:55 AM

Title: dear HTC.
Post by: Tyrannis on December 15, 2010, 03:01:55 AM
i was flying in this amazing game last night, and as i was viewing my plane, and having epic battles, i started to wonder...what was the inspiration for mr hitech and his crew of brilliance to create such a fun game? and what sparked there curiosity for ww2 and air combat?

i hope its ok for me to ask, i allways find it fun to find out what inspires ppl to do something great <S>  :salute


p.s, sorry if this has been asked before, i tryed using the search engine, but couldnt find anything.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: uptown on December 15, 2010, 07:12:30 AM
I've often wondered the same thing. That and what kind of schooling it takes. Just the research involved in getting the planes modeled correctly is mind boggling to me.
I'm amazed at what folks can do on computers these days.  :salute
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Dogtown on December 15, 2010, 07:19:42 AM
Did they have something to do with the History Channel 's Dogfighting show?
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Dichotomy on December 15, 2010, 07:25:28 AM
I don't think so. 

I'll bet a bunch of the old Warbirds guys have a knowledge of the history behind the game.  I've read some brief discussions but I've never heard from the man himself.  Should have asked at the Con. 
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Max on December 15, 2010, 07:39:28 AM
The story goes that Hitech and Pyro were introduced to sheep & dweebs back in the early days of Air Warrior. I believe Dale wrote the code for the original AW film viewer. Rumor has it that Dale coaded a few other goodies back in the day but those shall remain locked in the vault :)

Not sure how Dale & Doug teamed up to produce Warbirds. Might be an interesting story.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: CAP1 on December 15, 2010, 07:51:33 AM
Did they have something to do with the History Channel 's Dogfighting show?

doubtful. if they did, everything about the game would be much much less accurate.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: ImADot on December 15, 2010, 08:46:22 AM
doubtful. if they did, everything about the game would be much much less accurate.

 :rofl
 :aok
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Yeager on December 15, 2010, 09:29:33 AM
$$$$
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: shppr01 on December 15, 2010, 10:13:25 AM
I was told that HITECH waqs an engineer or programer for a differentg web game and started thinking he could do better .
That is Aces High now . At least thats what i was told. Don't put too much into it though , its just hearsay .
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Slate on December 15, 2010, 10:18:40 AM
  Who could watch Baa Baa Black Sheep and not want to fly a Corsair?

  (http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt59/69FordFairlane/babablacksheep.gif)

(http://i736.photobucket.com/albums/xx7/pthrtyeghtpic/214rooster.gif)
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: 321BAR on December 15, 2010, 11:05:51 AM
I was told that HITECH waqs an engineer or programer for a differentg web game and started thinking he could do better .
That is Aces High now . At least thats what i was told. Don't put too much into it though , its just hearsay .

you mean warbirds? iirc Dale created that game also but left because of how downhill it was going and created AH instead.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: hitech on December 15, 2010, 11:58:10 AM
Short version.

1. 1974 coded my first game on a  dec , I believe PDP 4. 4k machine attached to a teletype.
2. 1982  Degree in Comp Sci and Math.
3. Became an EE designing electrical control systems for automation/robots/ conveyors/ any automated machine.
4. Started playing Air War some where around 1990.
5. Wrote some utilities for AW in way of an art editor and terrain editor.
6. Started playing with flight sim programing wrote a simulator for windows 3.1 that could be networked with modems to multiple people.
7. In 1994 ,partnered with two other players of AW, they supplied money, I supplied the coding to create Warbirds I was ceo of ICI.
8. 4 years later we merged ICI with Wild Bill's company IEN. At this time I lost control of WB and I was in charge of all online games.
9. 1 year later Wild Bill was doing many things that I knew would be the ultimite be the death of WB  and the company so I bailed.
    Pyro bailed the same day. After about 3 days of not working, became board and started on the clip board interface, an idea I wanted to try as a user interface.
10. Pyro and I started talking and decided to start a new company and create Aces High.
11. I hide in my apartment and write Aces High over the next 5 months.
12. For many years I compete with my previous self (felt like I had lost a child) to create a better game.
13. Tyrannis  asked this question of how AH came to be.

HiTech

 


Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: beau32 on December 15, 2010, 12:02:23 PM
awsome summary Hitech.

What kind of program do you use to make aces high, or is it one you developed yourself?
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: ROC on December 15, 2010, 12:04:00 PM
Long version would require a bribe in a liquid form  :D
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Dragon on December 15, 2010, 12:06:26 PM

TY hitech.


Long version would require a bribe in a liquid form  :D

And the shear volume of grammatical errors would be awe inspiring.   :neener:
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Ping on December 15, 2010, 12:45:58 PM
Thank you HT for the reply and I must say that the lengthy Open Beta of Warbirds
was incredibly fun.
Thank you for Creating AH and you are doing a great (other than the Beaufighter) job :)
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Tyrannis on December 15, 2010, 12:50:14 PM
yes ty for the responce  :aok


but im also curious, what got you into the ww2 aspect of flight simulators?

was it working on warbirds or did you like world war two birds as a kid?
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: 007Rusty on December 15, 2010, 02:03:23 PM
                                   :aok                        :D                    :joystick:
                                    :salute                                            :cheers:
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: hitech on December 15, 2010, 02:48:11 PM
yes ty for the responce  :aok


but im also curious, what got you into the ww2 aspect of flight simulators?

was it working on warbirds or did you like world war two birds as a kid?

Ba Ba Blacksheep, Dad's a wwii submariner, RC flying since I was 10.

HiTech
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Torcher on December 15, 2010, 02:53:51 PM
14. Coad choreographed, lit up sheep to populate the hillsides below shore batts.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,302204.0.html
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: 007Rusty on December 15, 2010, 02:55:37 PM
            +1   :aok
14. Coad choreographed, lit up sheep to populate the hillsides below shore batts.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Lepape2 on December 15, 2010, 03:34:58 PM
Dang... 5 months you weren't kidding!
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: MarineUS on December 15, 2010, 03:52:30 PM
 :salute Hitech
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: The Fugitive on December 15, 2010, 03:54:24 PM
he's my hero !!!
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: bj229r on December 15, 2010, 04:59:41 PM
i was flying in this amazing game last night, and as i was viewing my plane, and having epic battles, i started to wonder...what was the inspiration for mr hitech and his crew of brilliance to create such a fun game? and what sparked there curiosity for ww2 and air combat?

i hope its ok for me to ask, i allways find it fun to find out what inspires ppl to do something great <S>  :salute


p.s, sorry if this has been asked before, i tryed using the search engine, but couldnt find anything.
I think if Hitech stopped walking abruptly, they'd need pliers to pry Tyrannis out of...... :D
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Tyrannis on December 15, 2010, 05:01:30 PM
I think if Hitech stopped walking abruptly, they'd need pliers to pry Tyrannis out of...... :D

i show admiration for something, and your gonna be like that?.

no, just gtfo the topic now.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Vudak on December 15, 2010, 05:03:04 PM
i show admiration for something, and your gonna be like that?.

no, just gtfo the topic now.

He's just kidding, hence the "  :D  "

Thanks for asking.  I was curious too.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Mongoose on December 15, 2010, 05:16:26 PM
Thank you for the history lesson. This explains a lot.  And thank you for the wonderful experience that is Aces High.

 :salute :salute
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Ardy123 on December 15, 2010, 05:31:59 PM
Short version.

1. 1974 coded my first game on a  dec , I believe PDP 4. 4k machine attached to a teletype.
2. 1982  Degree in Comp Sci and Math.
3. Became an EE designing electrical control systems for automation/robots/ conveyors/ any automated machine.
4. Started playing Air War some where around 1990.
5. Wrote some utilities for AW in way of an art editor and terrain editor.
6. Started playing with flight sim programing wrote a simulator for windows 3.1 that could be networked with modems to multiple people.
7. In 1994 ,partnered with two other players of AW, they supplied money, I supplied the coding to create Warbirds I was ceo of ICI.
8. 4 years later we merged ICI with Wild Bill's company IEN. At this time I lost control of WB and I was in charge of all online games.
9. 1 year later Wild Bill was doing many things that I knew would be the ultimite be the death of WB  and the company so I bailed.
    Pyro bailed the same day. After about 3 days of not working, became board and started on the clip board interface, an idea I wanted to try as a user interface.
10. Pyro and I started talking and decided to start a new company and create Aces High.

11. I hide in my apartment and write Aces High over the next 5 months.
12. For many years I compete with my previous self (felt like I had lost a child) to create a better game.
13. Tyrannis  asked this question of how AH came to be.

HiTech

The key thing that is implied but not stated is HiTech had a PASSION for this, beyond what most people have, that drove him to create AH. Most people would have taken the money from the sale, and retired, traveled, whatever....

Its not the schooling, or anything else, sure, it helped a lot, but its the passion that fueled his drive and ultimately the games success.

now how/where did a 13~15 year old get access to a PDP?
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: killrDan on December 15, 2010, 05:54:36 PM
+1 Ardy ...you have to have the passion to excel.  That my friend, is what separates success from mediocrity. Very nice story Hitech.  You should write your memoirs someday.  It would be a good read for someone getting started in life. 

 :salute

Dan
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: JunkyII on December 15, 2010, 06:16:04 PM
Hitech, does the "Hey girl I have my own video game" line work at the club/bar? :D :aok
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Slade on December 15, 2010, 06:53:50 PM
HiTech thanks very much for posting your response as you did.  :)

I am a programmer too.  Nice too see someone break out of the confines of the limitations you saw and create what you did.   :salute
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: USRanger on December 15, 2010, 07:00:46 PM
Skuzzy flew a Brewster during the war.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: bj229r on December 16, 2010, 08:00:11 AM
i show admiration for something, and your gonna be like that?.

no, just gtfo the topic now.
I show admiration the old-fashioned way....I calculate I've given Mr Hitech between $1700 and $2000 over the last decade and change :aok (Can't remember when it went from $10 to $15 a month)
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: sheperd on December 16, 2010, 08:28:31 AM
Hitech, I know you have seen my simulator and many others as well. So I have to ask, do you have one of your own or ever plan on building one? I could only imagine what a phenomenal simulator you must have! :x
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: hitech on December 16, 2010, 10:10:07 AM
Hitech, I know you have seen my simulator and many others as well. So I have to ask, do you have one of your own or ever plan on building one? I could only imagine what a phenomenal simulator you must have! :x

It's a fare simulator, I call it my  RV8.

HiTech
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Shuffler on December 16, 2010, 10:31:04 AM
I remember years back reading about HiTech in Mad Magazine.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Dichotomy on December 16, 2010, 10:49:30 AM
It's a fare simulator, I call it my  RV8.

HiTech

I could have made some real money had I wagered on that being posted :D
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Superfly on December 16, 2010, 10:59:48 AM
Addendum to HT's history:

Myself (in 1997) as well as Sudz, Natedog, Yankee, and Ronni all worked on Warbirds, too.
After HT had started coding AH, he recruited us to start working for him.  HTC officially opened it's doors on April 12, 1999.

Also:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HiTech_Creations
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: bj229r on December 16, 2010, 11:10:38 AM
I'm thinkin I first tried it about then, as AW was imploding
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: sheperd on December 16, 2010, 11:26:37 AM
It's a fare simulator, I call it my  RV8.

HiTech


PIC's?
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: JunkyII on December 16, 2010, 11:34:44 AM
It's a fare simulator, I call it my  RV8.

HiTech
Is it yellow? :D
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: hitech on December 16, 2010, 12:11:42 PM

PIC's?

(http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/322/322876.jpg)
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Nr_RaVeN on December 16, 2010, 12:17:11 PM
How can you Play AH from in there without crashing? You cant even fit a monitor in that thing....Pfft
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: sheperd on December 16, 2010, 01:27:24 PM
NICE  :airplane: Unfortunately I have to stick to my cartoon planes  :cry so how about thoes "glass Gauges" we pit builders ask for?   :pray
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,284167.0.html (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,284167.0.html)......it will be as close to the real thing I will ever get
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: USRanger on December 16, 2010, 03:24:34 PM
(http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/322/322876.jpg)

Needs painted like a 190. :aok
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Heater on December 16, 2010, 03:38:24 PM
Short version.

1. 1974 coded my first game on a  dec , I believe PDP 4. 4k machine attached to a teletype.
2. 1982  Degree in Comp Sci and Math.
3. Became an EE designing electrical control systems for automation/robots/ conveyors/ any automated machine.
4. Started playing Air War some where around 1990.
5. Wrote some utilities for AW in way of an art editor and terrain editor.
6. Started playing with flight sim programing wrote a simulator for windows 3.1 that could be networked with modems to multiple people.
7. In 1994 ,partnered with two other players of AW, they supplied money, I supplied the coding to create Warbirds I was ceo of ICI.
8. 4 years later we merged ICI with Wild Bill's company IEN. At this time I lost control of WB and I was in charge of all online games.
9. 1 year later Wild Bill was doing many things that I knew would be the ultimite be the death of WB  and the company so I bailed.
    Pyro bailed the same day. After about 3 days of not working, became board and started on the clip board interface, an idea I wanted to try as a user interface.
10. Pyro and I started talking and decided to start a new company and create Aces High.
11. I hide in my apartment and write Aces High over the next 5 months.
12. For many years I compete with my previous self (felt like I had lost a child) to create a better game.
13. Tyrannis  asked this question of how AH came to be.

HiTech



You forgot the part about sitting in the hotel room in Dayton (AW Con) drinking scotch and trying to fly Chuck Yeager's combat sim....with the keyboard saying I can write this code :)
So this would be point 4.5 :)  Ya PUTZ!
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Guppy35 on December 16, 2010, 03:43:22 PM
Ba Ba Blacksheep, Dad's a wwii submariner, RC flying since I was 10.

HiTech

Now we know why the Corsair is so overmod.......er....nevermind:)
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: TEShaw on December 16, 2010, 03:48:44 PM
I totally admire HTC, etc.

Just brilliant coding since 'Confirmed Kill'.

He speaks this other language, which is barely related to English!

But when he types, even with 'spell-checker', it's as though he has aphasia.
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Plawranc on December 16, 2010, 03:55:00 PM
As a teenager it is normal to pay 100$ up front for a game and then get bored in two weeks. And for me being a stingy guy its even worse when I have to pay a fee to play.

BUT, Aces High has never gotten boring over 3 years and I find it WORTH WHILE to pay monthly to play. If Hitech can accomplish this with his small team. Imagine what he can achieve in the next year or two. I have a hunch that more players will come in these days.

 :salute to the guys who keep our stomachs bigger than they should be  :D
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: BulletVI on December 16, 2010, 07:13:14 PM

I just wonder if we are paying enougth tho. Think on it there has been a ression for atleast 2 years now and game prices are going up aswell as computer bits and bobs like severs an stuff. Also maintenence costs aswell.

Now for the last 6 months i have been waiting to see if HT has to raise the monthly cost to us by around $2 to keep up with rising costs. And to keep the game as brilliant as it is ( some flaws but HT will admit nothing is perfect like crashing servers :lol ). Dont get me wrong the game's great keeps me from the cells on a Friday or Saturday night.

But how long can HT keep it at $15 a month ??? Now i for one would pay an extra $5 a month just to keep playing. But hey if it comes it will come if not Keep up The GOOD WORK Aces High Team  :salute :salute
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: gpwurzel on December 16, 2010, 07:20:50 PM
Slaps Bullet (shush you  ;))

Keep up the good work HTC (ignore Bullet, he's mad as a box of badgers)  :D

Wurzel
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: uptown on December 16, 2010, 07:37:51 PM
Send my bill to Bullet if he wants to pay more.  :)
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Dichotomy on December 16, 2010, 08:25:31 PM
mine too.. with the TX taxes thrown in  :t
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: steely07 on December 16, 2010, 10:30:19 PM
I'd often wondered about this too, thanks HT!
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: BulletVI on December 17, 2010, 02:58:16 PM
Slaps Bullet (shush you  ;))

Keep up the good work HTC (ignore Bullet, he's mad as a box of badgers)  :D

Wurzel

I suppose an extra $5 is a bit much maybe $2 then :)  :D :D :lol
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Tyrannis on December 17, 2010, 04:14:38 PM
thnxs for the responces HT.


also, when you first started making the game, how did you go about choosing which planes to put in?

did you decide by your own personal favorites or things like what planes were most commonly known to the public?
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Boxboy on December 18, 2010, 03:52:57 PM
My God Dale has it been over 20 years  :O
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Becinhu on December 18, 2010, 07:20:46 PM
I call shenanigans.

With Dale's spelling there is no way he can write code for a game. Dale was actually abducted by aliens in 1999 where he received multiple "probings".  AH is being controlled from somewhere in the Crab Nebula by superior beings.  They have become confident in there design as proven by the spaceships from this years "Con Mission".  World domination will come in the near future as the "sheep" control RC space fighters to gain air superiority over this planet.  Realization will come when the mass media shows footage of Earth's air superiority fighters getting "picked" and "roped" by "overmodeled" spaceships. :airplane: :bolt: :noid
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: USRanger on December 18, 2010, 08:49:14 PM
Quote
With Dale's spelling there is no way he can write code for a game.

Why do you think we have patches? :D
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: hitech on December 19, 2010, 11:06:56 AM
A good picture of my and others Rv's. Lead plane is a swift.

(http://www.hitechcreations.com/images/stories/dales/346formation.jpg)

HiTech

Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Simaril on December 19, 2010, 11:10:02 AM
I'm jealous. Beautiful planes!
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: 5PointOh on December 19, 2010, 11:46:34 AM
HiTech, did you build your RV yourself, or purchase already done?
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Ping on December 19, 2010, 06:48:24 PM
Is that you HT on the Far Right?

Do you need certification for formation flying? Inquiring minds want to know.

Nice plane    :cheers:
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Tyrannis on December 19, 2010, 06:52:46 PM
A good picture of my and others Rv's. Lead plane is a swift.

(http://www.hitechcreations.com/images/stories/dales/346formation.jpg)

HiTech




that one with the checkered nose mustang skin is NICE.  :x
Title: Re: dear HTC.
Post by: Simaril on December 19, 2010, 07:18:04 PM
Does the rear seat control stick still have a socket problem?