Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: AKLdButt on October 03, 2011, 08:49:16 PM
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Not a flame question but a lot has change since the old Alpha Cd's when this game started and On-line game models have started to change some.
I don't mind the monthly fee for game play, I'm happy paying the amount but I play a few other games and I'm a big fan of Gamebreaker TV.
One of the items that came up on one of the TWIMMO shows on Gamebreaker was fee modeling.
One of the interesting things they talked about was how limiting game option on some on-line games are being setup as free-to play services with options for game play upgrades. They noted that this type of modeling was very big with the new age gamers while the old school gamers generally really like the fix fee modeling.
When I thought about it I wonder if a mix of both free to play and fix pricing wouldn't be good for HiTech?
F2P would be for say 1 or 2 fighters, 1 bomber and a tank. F2P accounts would gain perks points as part of the F2P model but couldn't use them on planes as the account would be limited on planes models.
F2P model would then have the options like say"
1) small one time (that month) upgrade to upgrade the account for full scope of the game. Would allow an ave. to burn those perks. Would also reset at the end of the month BACK to a F2P account locking all perks again and back to the limited planes allowed.
2) Allow a one time discount rate on the standard month to month fee.
Then I started thinking about it more and is HiTech happy with the modeling size of the AH community? Do they have the size they can manage and are just happy with the footprint they have in the market?
Thoughts?
Just thinking out loud....
L8er
LeadButt
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No, Never ever, There are enough free to play game's out there, AH can stay the way it is, I don't mind paying my $15buck's, If i wanted to pay to win i would go to WoT or other free mmo that allows this.
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IMO, thats a somewhat good idea, but i think the 14.95 a month is a bit much. i'd say 10.50 a month is better, but thats not up to me on how much they charge. i'd much rather take the WW-1 arena F2P and make the TA F2P aswell, but the discount thing, its gotta go. maybe if you accumulate enough time while subscribed (lets say a total of 1 year playing time) you get a month free as a rewards program? heck, who knows, maybe that will just get people to stick around longer.
:noid
but if they really want new/old guys to come back (like me) maybe they'll add the StuG III Ausf G. or the P47D22... :noid
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I'm curious what planes you would suggest be free? I can see a Spitfire scourge... Or more picking Ponies then ever...
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Best way to drive away customers.
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but if they really want new/old guys to come back (like me) maybe they'll add the StuG III Ausf G. or the P47D22... :noid
Have you ever had an active subscription?
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I'm curious what planes you would suggest be free? I can see a Spitfire scourge... Or more picking Ponies then ever...
P-39/P-40 series? maybe the Yaks, but thats kind of a stretch. as far as GV's go i'd say maybe the M3, M8 and the Jeep. just my thoughts.
Have you ever had an active subscription?
yes...for 8 months in a row...
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IMO, thats a somewhat good idea, but i think the 14.95 a month is a bit much. i'd say 10.50 a month is better, but thats not up to me on how much they charge. i'd much rather take the WW-1 arena F2P and make the TA F2P aswell, but the discount thing, its gotta go. maybe if you accumulate enough time while subscribed (lets say a total of 1 year playing time) you get a month free as a rewards program? heck, who knows, maybe that will just get people to stick around longer.
:noid
but if they really want new/old guys to come back (like me) maybe they'll add the StuG III Ausf G. or the P47D22... :noid
Considering the monthly fee used to be $30, $15 is perfectly reasonable. However, I think if done properly they could do something like this. Free team switching is bad. The problem isn't the 12 hour timer or arena sizes or the number of arenas. It's the gameplay mechanics that create an arena without fights. Everything else is just a symptom of that. First and foremost the game needs to go free to play, You then need to totally revamp the account managment system(have to DELETE YOUR ACCOUNT TO CANCEL? Seriously?) That's just an absolute requirement to get people into the game at this point
Then you need to totally revamp the perk system. Basically all of the MA kings need to be perked, then the new non-perked top class planes should generate next to no perks, and the bad ma planes should be the way to earn them. To make money HTC sells perks instead of subscriptions. That starts with dealing with the gamer crew, low player numbers, and they can start working on actual gameplay issues.
I've thought about 30k airstairs and rolling bomber waves
I think that would be a good way to boost fights, reduce lame moves like chasing someone 30miles back to base, and create a fun and less retarded gameplay. But, even if they dont go with that idea there's a ton of ideas that can be used to mold gameplay away from its current staleness.
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I should have noted, I'm not a big fan of F2P games. I've always been a fee type guy. But I did find the talk on Gamebreaker was interesting as I'm a really big fan of more people in the arena's.
:)
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Considering the monthly fee used to be $30, $15 is perfectly reasonable. However, I think if done properly they could do something like this. Free team switching is bad. The problem isn't the 12 hour timer or arena sizes or the number of arenas. It's the gameplay mechanics that create an arena without fights. Everything else is just a symptom of that. First and foremost the game needs to go free to play, You then need to totally revamp the account managment system(have to DELETE YOUR ACCOUNT TO CANCEL? Seriously?) That's just an absolute requirement to get people into the game at this point
Then you need to totally revamp the perk system. Basically all of the MA kings need to be perked, then the new non-perked top class planes should generate next to no perks, and the bad ma planes should be the way to earn them. To make money HTC sells perks instead of subscriptions. That starts with dealing with the gamer crew, low player numbers, and they can start working on actual gameplay issues.
I've thought about 30k airstairs and rolling bomber waves
I think that would be a good way to boost fights, reduce lame moves like chasing someone 30miles back to base, and create a fun and less retarded gameplay. But, even if they dont go with that idea there's a ton of ideas that can be used to mold gameplay away from its current staleness.
i agree with all of that except the fact that you want them to sell perks, its just like WoT, your going to have wallet warriors and the guys who actually WORKED for the perks. next thing you know there selling planes instead of perks and all the wallet warriors take over.
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I am all in favor for it to go back to $30 a month myself
but at least keep it where it's at and forget about that F2P / pay money for upgrade BS........
if you don't like how HTC works their subscription for Aces High then seek elsewhere
just a personal opinion
TC
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Personally I think its fine the way it is.
But if they were to go to some sort of combo deal. The only items that should be free are the lowliest of the low and the weakest of the weak,Early P40's. Jeeps, etc.
That would be just to get you into the game beyond your 2 weeks.
Then if you want anything better you gotta full subscrip up.
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Somewhere it is on official record saying that Hitech/HTC intends to keep itself a smaller company. Perhaps on the home page somewhere??? *off to go look*
-found it- in the "About Us" section on the front page:
"HiTech Creations was founded with a simple philosophy by Dale "HiTech" Addink in 1999. It's not to create a large corporation, a vast gaming network, or a line of online games. It's just to create one game, but one that is better than any other like it. Contrary to most companies, our goal is to keep the company small. We know that with a singular focus and an experienced cohesive team that enjoys its work, the production, service, support, and overall level of satisfaction will be unmatched."
So... as long as HTC can keep enough accounts to pay all their bills, keep HTC healthy, and keep on enjoying what they do then the number of accounts is only relative to that monetary figure. Lets hope that HTC does not sell out any time soon, and lets hope if they do sell out it isnt to a "flash-bang" company.
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TC, It's not really a question of fee cost.
As i noted I don't mind the fee. It's more a question of modeling vs. the new age consumers.
F2P is a newer style modeling that a number of games have tweaked to a new level.
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I'd rather it stick to paying customers only, unless a lot more moderators were brought on board. Even with our current customer base swearing, claims of cheating and political chatter run rampant on channel 2 and 200.
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I am all in favor for it to go back to $30 a month myself
but at least keep it where it's at and forget about that F2P / pay money for upgrade BS........
if you don't like how HTC works their subscription for Aces High then seek elsewhere
just a personal opinion
TC
As Air Warrior was being killed I was looking around for the game I'd move to. I checked out a few but liked AH the best. Only problem was it was $30 a month. I decided, from what I'd seen of the game that it was worth it and I'd rearrange my budget to cover the extra cost. Well once AWIII was dead and buried, HTC had dropped their price to $15, and I've been here ever since.... thats 120 months in a row.
When they dropped the price, I heard a lot of chatter about "letting in the rif-raf" by dropping the price" Being one of the "rif-raf" I think I can comment. With the price at $30 like it use to be you'd keep only the hard core players. A lot of kids might not be able to talk Mommy and Daddy into doubling their play money. WOuld this be good for the game?
More people is great, and I'm sure Hitech wouldn't complain about the extra cash to throw at that new girl of his, but if we get a bunch of people who do nothing but horde and run bases to "win da Waz!" is that good for the game?
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When they dropped the price, I heard a lot of chatter about "letting in the rif-raf" by dropping the price" Being one of the "rif-raf" I think I can comment. With the price at $30 like it use to be you'd keep only the hard core players. A lot of kids might not be able to talk Mommy and Daddy into doubling their play money. WOuld this be good for the game?
the bold above is my reason for adding the second line in my post above
TC
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Personally I don't think it's too bad an idea. Wetting peoples appitites might make them long time subscribers but I'd probably do something more like this:
Cheap: WWI arena only.
Low moderate: WWI and EW
High moderate: WWI, EW and MW
Full price: Full access
Those who are truly interested will up their subs, those who don't provide additional income and the current "dead" arenas get new life breathed into them.
I'd think everyone wins with a scenario something like that.
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I could live with BaldEagl's suggestion, because I'd never see them. :)
Wiley.
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I think it would introduce class warfare.
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I think it would introduce class warfare.
We already have that. As long as there is money, there will be class welfare... er... warfare.
I say keep it like it is: $15 a month for all access. K.I.S.S.
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I'm just saying 'Yeah well you're only a ___ level member!' is a card I don't want to see pulled.
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Personally I don't think it's too bad an idea. Wetting peoples appitites might make them long time subscribers but I'd probably do something more like this:
Cheap: WWI arena only.
Low moderate: WWI and EW
High moderate: WWI, EW and MW
Full price: Full access
Those who are truly interested will up their subs, those who don't provide additional income and the current "dead" arenas get new life breathed into them.
I'd think everyone wins with a scenario something like that.
Would they not feel cheated when the arenas they are paying for are constantly empty?
Sure, there would be a couple of guys in each, but it's not like we have a sudden influx of
several hundred players inbound any time soon.
It might work when we have a World of Tanks style/number community, but not currently.
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I think business plans are best left to those who have been involved in development and running of products entertaiment business.
I think in the current financial downturn it becomes increasing harder to gain increased business.
AH is unique as it has a small specialised cliental who enjoy flight sims and monthly bill is pennies a day.
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I think business plans are best left to those who have been involved in development and running of products entertaiment business.
I think in the current financial downturn it becomes increasing harder to gain increased business.
AH is unique as it has a small specialised cliental who enjoy flight sims and monthly bill is pennies a day.
^^^^--- This. Maintaining a business these days, and having the burden of being a small business owner, and employer, cannot be easy. I am now spending more a month feeding my family than I ever have, due to the drastic devaluation of the dollar and the high cost of groceries (simplification). I have been amazed that the price of this game has not increased.
I was not paying in 2000. However, the dollar today is estimated to be worth 60% (some guess) of what it was worth in 2000. I take my hat off to Dale and his team for upgrading the game, and keeping the ball rolling on my cheapest addiction all of these years. :salute
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Leave it the way it is. It matches a lot of the games out there in price point that provide roughly the same style of service. F2P games require a "leveling" system of some sort to make you want to pay. If that expansion HTC's been working on forever (Combat Tour? Theater? Whatever the last interpretation was) ever comes out, perhaps it could be done there as it's more of an RPG in the sky. For the current Main Arena system, though, I'd absolutely hate to see it. The premise of the game is that, when everybody takes their tinfoil hat off, everyone is as equal as the game can make them. Everyone's plane takes off under the same conditions with the same stats. A F2P/Pay for More game can't work under that philosophy, because the people that pay want to be able to steamroll the freebies.
As to what I'd like to see...I'd sell my firstborn to be able to keep my account whenever I need to skip a month. I've never understood why their account management is so clunky.
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I dont think the problem is getting new people to try the game its keeping them after the 2 weeks of free play. Ive been playing this game for almost 10 years now and I can tell you this, if I started today fresh and new I wouldnt pay for the game. My reason would strictly be the poor attitudes usually directed at "newbies" HTC needs to figure out a way to "force" new players into training arenas. If they spent just a few hours with someone from the training staff who not only taught them the basics of how to fly cartoon planes but also explained the complex dynamic of the MA they may stick around a little longer. The younger kids, i see my 2 teenagers do it every day on PS3 network and XBOX 360 online expect to be made fun of or berated as newbies but the older crowd, id say 25+ dont and are put off by it. Maybe form a "newbie squad" for each country thats headed by paid staff or trainers and new players are placed in it by default. HTC needs to think outside the "box" so to speak, its not the same community it was when they started.
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I dont think the problem is getting new people to try the game its keeping them after the 2 weeks of free play. Ive been playing this game for almost 10 years now and I can tell you this, if I started today fresh and new I wouldnt pay for the game. My reason would strictly be the poor attitudes usually directed at "newbies" HTC needs to figure out a way to "force" new players into training arenas. If they spent just a few hours with someone from the training staff who not only taught them the basics of how to fly cartoon planes but also explained the complex dynamic of the MA they may stick around a little longer. The younger kids, i see my 2 teenagers do it every day on PS3 network and XBOX 360 online expect to be made fun of or berated as newbies but the older crowd, id say 25+ dont and are put off by it. Maybe form a "newbie squad" for each country thats headed by paid staff or trainers and new players are placed in it by default. HTC needs to think outside the "box" so to speak, its not the same community it was when they started.
Perhaps there could be a way to allow access to the TA w/o having a subscription? Once the 2 week trial is up, and it is obvious that the new player need help, they can still get in to the TA for some bottle feeding, bath time, and swaddling/cuddling? :D
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Perhaps there could be a way to allow access to the TA w/o having a subscription? Once the 2 week trial is up, and it is obvious that the new player need help, they can still get in to the TA for some bottle feeding, bath time, and swaddling/cuddling? :D
Excellent idea!
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Perhaps there could be a way to allow access to the TA w/o having a subscription? Once the 2 week trial is up, and it is obvious that the new player need help, they can still get in to the TA for some bottle feeding, bath time, and swaddling/cuddling? :D
If HTC doesn't staff the TA with a trainer 24/7, a large number of new guys will be greeted by an empty TA. Nobody there to train them. Nothing much to do, can't even shoot down an enemy airplane. How many of those guys do you think will subscribe?
No plan involving the Training Arena will work without HTC investing in paid trainers. The current volunteer staff of trainers simply can't provide the level of support required.
In my opinion.
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I'm just saying 'Yeah well you're only a ___ level member!' is a card I don't want to see pulled.
Stifle yourself College Boy. :P
:neener:
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I used to be dead against it but personally think WW1 should be a free arena to suck new players in to the game, its doing squat at the minute anyway.
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If HTC doesn't staff the TA with a trainer 24/7, a large number of new guys will be greeted by an empty TA. Nobody there to train them. Nothing much to do, can't even shoot down an enemy airplane. How many of those guys do you think will subscribe?
No plan involving the Training Arena will work without HTC investing in paid trainers. The current volunteer staff of trainers simply can't provide the level of support required.
In my opinion.
If HTC really wants more subscribers it would be worth the money invested IMHO
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I'll take "how to infest a game with unruley children for 500" Alex.
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Somewhere it is on official record saying that Hitech/HTC intends to keep itself a smaller company. Perhaps on the home page somewhere??? *off to go look*
-found it- in the "About Us" section on the front page:
"HiTech Creations was founded with a simple philosophy by Dale "HiTech" Addink in 1999. It's not to create a large corporation, a vast gaming network, or a line of online games. It's just to create one game, but one that is better than any other like it. Contrary to most companies, our goal is to keep the company small. We know that with a singular focus and an experienced cohesive team that enjoys its work, the production, service, support, and overall level of satisfaction will be unmatched."
So... as long as HTC can keep enough accounts to pay all their bills, keep HTC healthy, and keep on enjoying what they do then the number of accounts is only relative to that monetary figure. Lets hope that HTC does not sell out any time soon, and lets hope if they do sell out it isnt to a "flash-bang" company.
Do not confuse wanting to keep a company's scope small, with not wanting as many customers as possible with in that scope.
HiTech
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dollars or customers? :)
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dollars or customers? :)
Dollars of course.
HiTech
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Dollars are much better. Customers are a pain in the.... :furious
:)
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Dollars of course.
HiTech
They are one in the same, most business owners loose sight of this.
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They are one in the same, most business owners loose sight of this.
Wait... so F2P people aren't customers? Or F2P people somehow generate money?
Wiley.
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They are one in the same, most business owners loose sight of this.
I doubt they send customers to their creditors. And since F2P is only a customer with no 'Caching!', I doubt they benefit.
I'd hate to pay 30 a month here but I would. 15 is a steal. That's a whole 50 cents a day..
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They are one in the same
Not within the context of his original quote.
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Not a flame question but a lot has change since the old Alpha Cd's when this game started and On-line game models have started to change some.
I don't mind the monthly fee for game play, I'm happy paying the amount but I play a few other games and I'm a big fan of Gamebreaker TV.
One of the items that came up on one of the TWIMMO shows on Gamebreaker was fee modeling.
One of the interesting things they talked about was how limiting game option on some on-line games are being setup as free-to play services with options for game play upgrades. They noted that this type of modeling was very big with the new age gamers while the old school gamers generally really like the fix fee modeling.
When I thought about it I wonder if a mix of both free to play and fix pricing wouldn't be good for HiTech?
F2P would be for say 1 or 2 fighters, 1 bomber and a tank. F2P accounts would gain perks points as part of the F2P model but couldn't use them on planes as the account would be limited on planes models.
F2P model would then have the options like say"
1) small one time (that month) upgrade to upgrade the account for full scope of the game. Would allow an ave. to burn those perks. Would also reset at the end of the month BACK to a F2P account locking all perks again and back to the limited planes allowed.
2) Allow a one time discount rate on the standard month to month fee.
Then I started thinking about it more and is HiTech happy with the modeling size of the AH community? Do they have the size they can manage and are just happy with the footprint they have in the market?
Thoughts?
Just thinking out loud....
L8er
LeadButt
you realize how many people fly just one or two airplanes? they would all switch to a lower plane, I would, as it would be cheaper. I got plenty of perks but I hardly use them, so perks would not be a big loss. then again 14.95 is not a lot of money, well it is if you have none, but for me it is cheaper than spending every afternoon at the topless bar while my gf is gone for the next 2 months.
there has been many suggestions as to how hitech should run his business. let him run the business as he sees fit, he's not doing a bad job as we still around.
have you played world of tanks? it's a free game with option to buy upgrades. it sucks to be on the free plan as it takes you forever to upgrade. I finally got some gold for upgrades 15 bucks worth and I started killing so many people it was ridiculous. ah should not be like that game.
semp
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Not within the context of his original quote.
But it is true.
Im not saying to do a F2P setup at all, i wasnt even really commenting on that. I was strictly commenting on the customers and their direct connections with dollars.
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But it is true.
No it's not. I would rather have 100 customers paying $10 each than 1000 paying $1. More manageable which in itself may lead to better customer service, which is what I believe you were getting at.
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Personally I don't think it's too bad an idea. Wetting peoples appitites might make them long time subscribers but I'd probably do something more like this:
Cheap: WWI arena only.
Low moderate: WWI and EW
High moderate: WWI, EW and MW
Full price: Full access
Those who are truly interested will up their subs, those who don't provide additional income and the current "dead" arenas get new life breathed into them.
I'd think everyone wins with a scenario something like that.
IMO....not that I'm anybody........something like this might work.
Custom Arena (H2H) $5.00 Email all those that were hooked years ago, let them know it's back and you can still make your own maps
Combine Cheap: WWI, EW and MW for a price of $7.50 8.50. 9.50?
Full price: Full access
MW and H2H would fill up I would think.
MW would probably have lots of main arena players showing up and it would become more fun.
Possibility that late night early morning foreign players would have more reason to show as well with more people involved.
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Maybe a low price tier for the arenas that currently sit empty just to see if they get increased population.
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No it's not. I would rather have 100 customers paying $10 each than 1000 paying $1. More manageable which in itself may lead to better customer service, which is what I believe you were getting at.
LOL you so are missing the simplicity of my comment. CUSTOMERS ARE MONEY whether it be 1000 for $1 or 1 for $1000 i would rather have more customers with less per customer, ran my construction business for years this way and im sure its why I havnt gone out of business. Instead of raping my customers I gave them great value along with superb service. This led to a much larger advertising base for me, LOTS OF HAPPY customers instead of just a few. Finding that fine line is the goal.
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If HTC doesn't staff the TA with a trainer 24/7, a large number of new guys will be greeted by an empty TA. Nobody there to train them. Nothing much to do, can't even shoot down an enemy airplane. How many of those guys do you think will subscribe?
No plan involving the Training Arena will work without HTC investing in paid trainers. The current volunteer staff of trainers simply can't provide the level of support required.
In my opinion.
There doesn't need to be an "official" AH Trainer in the TA to provide help for new players. Every time I am in the TA it seems like I end up helping someone, which is good. I know players can practice off line, but as we all know it certainly is not the same thing.
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When I thought about it I wonder if a mix of both free to play and fix pricing wouldn't be good for HiTech?
F2P would be for say 1 or 2 fighters, 1 bomber and a tank. F2P accounts would gain perks points as part of the F2P model but couldn't use them on planes as the account would be limited on planes models.
F2P model would then have the options like say"
1) small one time (that month) upgrade to upgrade the account for full scope of the game. Would allow an ave. to burn those perks. Would also reset at the end of the month BACK to a F2P account locking all perks again and back to the limited planes allowed.
2) Allow a one time discount rate on the standard month to month fee.
just my $0.02, but this is a horrible idea. it would be no different than WoW or games like that, the more you pay the better equipment you get. screw that noise lol. the best part of AH is the level playing field. EVeRYBODY has the same tools at their disposal, and what they do with them is up to them. i'm against anything that pushes this game in the direction of the rest of the garbage that pollutes the gaming world today.
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LOL you so are missing the simplicity of my comment. CUSTOMERS ARE MONEY whether it be 1000 for $1 or 1 for $1000 i would rather have more customers with less per customer, ran my construction business for years this way and im sure its why I havnt gone out of business. Instead of raping my customers I gave them great value along with superb service. This led to a much larger advertising base for me, LOTS OF HAPPY customers instead of just a few. Finding that fine line is the goal.
While I understand and agree with your premise,I believe you are trying to say you wish to simply maximizes profit (I.E. best balance between quantity and price).
Years ago we did test to find the best price point with our current type of pricing model.
Ideas like this.
Combine Cheap: WWI, EW and MW for a price of $7.50 8.50. 9.50?
Tend not to work very well. You end up with only a few new costumers but a substantial amount of people who would be customers anyway now giving you less.
HiTech
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yes...for 8 months in a row...
pfft. 8 months..... :rofl
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Ideas like this.
Tend not to work very well. You end up with only a few new costumers but a substantial amount of people who would be customers anyway now giving you less.
HiTech
[/quote]
Interesting,you actually did a test and ran the numbers! I pretty much assumed those results....give and inch take a mile type thing.
:salute
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While I understand and agree with your premise,I believe you are trying to say you wish to simply maximizes profit (I.E. best balance between quantity and price).
Years ago we did test to find the best price point with our current type of pricing model.
HiTech
I wasnt questioning your reasoning for your pricing. I was commenting on someone elses post but I think we see this the same way. I did the same when the economy took a dive and found I didnt have to change my pricing much at all as I was already one of the cheapest around for the quality of work I provided. You dont want to sell yourself short but dont want to take advantage either.
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Yep, you're right Grumpy. :salute
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Yep, you're right Grumpy. :salute
Wasnt trying to be right, just give my point of view. Its different for each business and owner. I just dont like putting all my eggs in one basket. :salute
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Wrong thread
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yes...for 8 months in a row...
went under 800nate right?
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I say play with some ideas for new members. Varying rates is an interesting thought. Maybe $10 get's you all but late war, which costs $15. For all of us no change what so ever. For new players, they have options. That get's them all but one of the P47s, most of the Spits, Typhoon not Tempest, etc.
I don't know that it works but maybe it is something Aces High should play with. Free get's them all early war unlimited, I like it. They get hooked on the Zero then after a while decide $15/mo isn't so bad.
Maybe Skuzzy et al can reach out to the past 2-weekers since January 2011 and throw them this bone. I am guessing the die hard Aces High officianado may not like having rif raf but strong numbers keeps our little hidden universe strong. Something to toy with.
Boo
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went under 800nate right?
you never played online right?
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AH has a select customer base "We happy bunch" adjusting pricing structure will not affect the likes of us to the game.
If you play this game for two months your usually a long term subscriber :)
My young nephew likes jeeps in game and that's it :)
Pennies a day is cheap as chips from my understanding :old:
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I say play with some ideas for new members. Varying rates is an interesting thought. Maybe $10 get's you all but late war, which costs $15. For all of us no change what so ever. For new players, they have options. That get's them all but one of the P47s, most of the Spits, Typhoon not Tempest, etc.
I don't know that it works but maybe it is something Aces High should play with. Free get's them all early war unlimited, I like it. They get hooked on the Zero then after a while decide $15/mo isn't so bad.
Maybe Skuzzy et al can reach out to the past 2-weekers since January 2011 and throw them this bone. I am guessing the die hard Aces High officianado may not like having rif raf but strong numbers keeps our little hidden universe strong. Something to toy with.
Boo
in that case have your buddies get a free account, then go kill them for easy perkies month after month. hell you can have your own account on another puter then earn lots of free perkies too.
semp
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yes...for 8 months in a row...
I could be wrong cause I'm using my phone but it seems as if scorpion only had an account for 4 months
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Raising the monthly subscription to $30 will be a good way to lose subscribers. I for one will not pay $30 a month for a game when I only play 5 hours per month.
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We should have a perk store where perks can be bought with $$. This would allow folks who do not fair well in the arenas to still fly perk planes some.
This store could also allow folks with perks to purchase something like.... perma squelch of differing amounts (5, 10, 15, 20, etc....).
Would add to the kitty so to speak.
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We should have a perk store where perks can be bought with $$. This would allow folks who do not fair well in the arenas to still fly perk planes some.
This store could also allow folks with perks to purchase something like.... perma squelch of differing amounts (5, 10, 15, 20, etc....).
Would add to the kitty so to speak.
As long as they didn't change how perks were earned, I'd be able to live with that. Buying permasquelch... no. You should be able to do that regardless.
Wiley.
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i have 2000 fighter perks and 1500 bomber perks you can have them for $25 :)
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I could be wrong cause I'm using my {problem #2}->phone but it seems as if{problem #1) ->scorpion only had an account for 4 months
first of all, why are you spelling the name wrong when its right in front of your face? and secondly, why are you using your phone? also, when i deleted my account the first time for about a week or so, i had to use a different name as my original one was still in use somehow...but since your already annoying me ill just add you to the ignore list. bye.
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yup 4 months tours 128-131
I was using my phone because I was at work.
spelt ur name wrong because i was using my phone
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We should have a perk store where perks can be bought with $$. This would allow folks who do not fair well in the arenas to still fly perk planes some.
Only if they fix their accounting first. :p
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Thanks for all the replies.
Interesting comments.
I play a number of games and have always enjoyed the flat fee model.
But even games like Wow, Rift, LOL make use of micro transactions. I believe perks as a micro are bad.
But very low end options to F2P the game would make it a simple thing to try the game more than the 2 weeks offers. 2 weeks is nothing and even the larger MMO's are more free time than that.
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Wouldn't it end up being like "World Of Planes"? :noid :noid :noid :noid
I'll stick with the way AH is now thanks
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F2P, sure, with the following guidelines I suggest:
Enable the T-34/76, 251, jeep, LVT, M4/75, a6m2, spit5, 109f, ju-88, and B-25c for them; plus they get to choose 5 other rides per tour of their own. They earn perks at half the subscriber rate.
Fair enough?
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F2P, sure, with the following guidelines I suggest:
Enable the T-34/76, 251, jeep, LVT, M4/75, a6m2, spit5, 109f, ju-88, and B-25c for them; plus they get to choose 5 other rides per tour of their own. They earn perks at half the subscriber rate.
Fair enough?
how many current players you think would switch to that plan and bring less revenue to ah? so the rest of us would possible see an increase in monthly rates to make up for loss of income.
semp
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how many current players you think would switch to that plan and bring less revenue to ah? so the rest of us would possible see an increase in monthly rates to make up for loss of income.
semp
none of the score-potatoes would, in fact they would pay higher rates to keep their uberness; so the rest of us could be F2P. :devil
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http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,301030.0.html (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,301030.0.html)
The WWI arena is currently almost completely un-utilized. Making it free would not realistically lose HTC revenue. (The additional server bandwidth, if any, would be about the cheapest marketing campaign HTC could buy.)
Its not HTC's core genre so it wouldn't undercut their premier arenas.
There is a higher resistance to bother downloading and configuring a 200mb client to only have it expire on you just as you get setup. It would be worth that effort to play the free arena as long as you like. However, since all the clients are combined, the free arena would be a trojan horse to get the WWII client downloaded as well. At that point they have a lowered threshold to just try a 2-week stint WWII.
The free WWI arena would be a great Marketing tool to funnel new customers into the HTC sphere of influence. That use at least would justify the effort HTC had already put in to it.
It would keep the WWI arena populated which also benefits premier customers who would occasionally like to go fly some canvas AND actually have some activity in the arena.
$0.02,
Wab
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A free wwi arena would more than likely lose more players than bring then in. All those sharks feeding on the baby seals would discourage the baby seals.
On the other hand, I think a newbie arena would be a good idea. Have it be free, with all planes and gvs available, and let it be unlimited time wise. Tie it into the score and make it so the score doesn't reset ever. This way new players play against new player giving them a chance to have some fun while they figure out the game. Once the score limit has.been reached they no longer get ammo or bombs, heck.they could even set it up so that when you try to launch all it does.is give you a pop-up window with the question " would you like to subscribe to the full game?"
Make it so the trainers can go in to train, and answer questions and such. This way the new.guys get a less stressful indoctrination of the game with out the helpful F3 comments. By the time they hit.the cap.score they should.know.their way around the game, have a good ground work of how to fly and fight, and be interested in moving forward instead feeling defeated and ready to give up. 2 weeks is not enough time to get comfortable in this game, and having you butt handed to you the whole time doesn't help either.
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First of all, I want to say thanks and congratulations to HiTech and staff for developing a superb simulation/game. It is truly a remarkable achievement.
Personally, I wouldn't blink if the price were $30 or $40 per month. I run a small business myself and stare at cashflow spreadsheets constantly. Given the revenue that I think the business is realizing, it is surprising to me that this venture can pay for the staff, TV commercials, etc. and continue to evolve. Kudos.
I would like HiTech and crew have the resources to keep developing new planes and tanks. I'd like them to have extra resources to work on extra layers of game strategy - perhaps focusing on supply/build up of resources and linking that to aircraft availability. I think the idea of rookie squads with assigned trainers is strong. Certainly, AH has a huge learning curve. It would be a good idea to make it more friendly to new customers.
All in all, though, I think this is a superb product and I've been wanting to say that for a while.
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LOL you so are missing the simplicity of my comment. CUSTOMERS ARE MONEY whether it be 1000 for $1 or 1 for $1000 i would rather have more customers with less per customer, ran my construction business for years this way and im sure its why I havnt gone out of business. Instead of raping my customers I gave them great value along with superb service. This led to a much larger advertising base for me, LOTS OF HAPPY customers instead of just a few. Finding that fine line is the goal.
Every business is different. In the software business having 1000 customers for 1$ is not preferable over having 100 for 10$ due to the hardware footprint and support personnel. You also have to take into account the following: Does HT want 20 more customers for 5$ that leave after a few months or 1 for 15$ that stays with them for 10 years?
In any case, AH is pretty cheap and I don;t think it is the price that is keeping people away. It is probably time the price went up a bit. I have never paid for anything the same price for 10 years in a row.
BTW, if you want a discount, they do give you one when you subscribe if you pay for six months or a year in advance.
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Well I can tell you one thing for sure..... I will not be here for ten ye... umm uh ok 15 years.... I just won't do it.
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Every business is different. In the software business having 1000 customers for 1$ is not preferable over having 100 for 10$ due to the hardware footprint and support personnel. You also have to take into account the following: Does HT want 20 more customers for 5$ that leave after a few months or 1 for 15$ that stays with them for 10 years?
...
You are correct that there are many factors to be considered. Many trade-offs to be balanced.
For instance to the question: is having 1000 customers for 1$ vs. 100 for 10$...
Overhead costs as you suggested are one factor.
Another might be variation sensitivity. A 10 player fluctuation in one would be a 1% drop in revenue, in the other a 10% drop. The fewer, higher paying customers, the less diversification. THe more sensitivity to small changes. I've seen small companies make a mistake of allowing too large a percentage of their revenue from too few big customers.
Another factor is critical mass. The fewer the customers, the greater the chance of dropping below critical mass. Then you enter a colony collapse cycle. Players start leaving because there aren't enough players to make it fun...which leave fewer players still.... recurse.
In regards to overhead alone, the idea scenario is 1 user paying $1000. But they will soon leave due to lack of critical mass, and then your income would go from 100% to 0% instantly because of variation sensitivity. ;)
Regards,
Wab
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HTC's overhead should be pretty well established and not really fluctuate do to more or less subscribers, unless programers are laid off because of fewer paying customers. Server is a server and unless they all the sudden have 10000000 people wanting to play at one time this server setup shouldnt be an issue.
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yes
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yes
well that answers the question.
anybody remember the kid from like 2 years ago that got together with a couple of his friends and threatened to quit unless they were allowed to pay for only the days they played. they wanted to pay something like 50 cents a day. well, he isnt around anymore, but can somebody post a link. it should be mandatory reading for anybody trying to re write hitech's fee schedule.
semp
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:)
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GC, that has very little to due with the thread if you read it all. I think most people on the thread have no major issues with fee costs.
It's more along the lines of thoughts on on-line game fee modeling and thoughts on HT's modeling vs. new trends I noted seeing on Gamebreaker TV.
It's always fun to talk about these things for ideas and input on the boards. I've seen some interesting posts :)