Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: Midway on November 04, 2011, 02:40:15 PM
-
I wish for ideas that would make AH more fun for the masses including new arenas for the masses to play in. :) :airplane: :joystick:
Perhaps even arenas that are locked out until you achieve certain skill levels. :headscratch:
Custom arenas are interesting but they are only temporary (disappear after a few hours of non-use). I wish for them to stay for a week, at least, so people can grow into using them. Although, I do worry that the owner of a custom arena can manipulate the environment and confuse people. Perhaps, they should not be changeable once set up. :headscratch:
Three wishes in one post. I hope that's ok. :uhoh
The more paying players, perhaps, the more HTC can upgrade and expand the excitement of AH. :aok
:noid
-
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c41/a_million_underscores/Macros/Do-not-feed-the-troll-1.jpg)
wrongway
-
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a360/cjcorrea/Funny%20Pics/zero.jpg)
-
What exactly do you want to limit until you reach a certain skill levels?
-
What exactly do you want to limit until you reach a certain skill levels?
I was thinking maybe a beginner, intermediate, & advanced arena... admission based on some metrics like k/d or rank... something like that. The point being that a lot of new people could be in one arena playing without being treated as "baby seals". I remember the frustration of constantly being shot down and suspect that many other players felt the same and they ended up losing interest due to seeming inability to learn quickly (or to be able to spend the time to learn quickly) and not be able to get their own share of victories. It can be quite frustrating.
I don't have a strong opinion about a specific solution. I was just thinking there are milliions of people playing online games (and many not yet playing), and AH is really really neat but not too many know about it or if they do, end up quiting due to seeming inability to get up the learning curve.
If they fought more at their level before the next level opens up based on their stats, perhaps it would be more fun for them -- it would have been for me (a somewhat goal oriented person). They can still go to the TA or DA to learn and fight really good people if they so choose.
Anyway.... the point being that if thousands of people were attracted to play online at any given time, HTC might have enough revenue (10x or more) for more resources to enhance the envirnoment further and faster. I suspect that would mean AH would need 100,000+ subscribers to have several thousand on at any given time. I'm pretty sure that out of the tens (or hundreds) of millions of people that enjoy online games, there would be 1% or 2% that would enjoy flying and fighting in AH on a regular basis.
I don't know what the solution is so I started this thread just to see if any ideas were out there. The internet, as you know, is far reaching and AH is played worldwide. Seems a shame to only have a few hundred in the world on at any given time. There must be tens of thousands more that would find it fun.
:headscratch: :old: :airplane: :joystick: :banana:
Again, I'm thinking more players leads to more revenues leads to more resources to improve the game further and faster.
:)
-
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a360/cjcorrea/Funny%20Pics/zero.jpg)
I think I know that guy!
-
Midway,
What metrics would be used to determine which arena was appropriate? What would be done to prevent gaming the system? What would be done to ensure that the 'Rookie' arena had people in it to answer the questions of new players?
How would dividing up the player base help the game?
-
(http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp20/skbluestem/facepalm-homer-simpson-facepalm-demotivational-posters-1311101093.jpg)
-
If we divide arenas by skill than the noobs will never learn and the expect will leave because they will be bored having less than 10 people in one arena.
-
7 billion games in the world and midway ends up here. what are the odds of that, did we win the spam lottery? we need to start sacrificing sheep again so the ah gods dont punish us anymore.
semp
-
:rofl
-
7 billion games in the world and midway ends up here. what are the odds of that, did we win the spam lottery? we need to start sacrificing sheep again so the ah gods dont punish us anymore.
semp
(http://images.starcraftmazter.net/4chan/for_forums/brilliant.jpg)
-
7 billion games in the world and midway ends up here. what are the odds of that, did we win the spam lottery? we need to start sacrificing sheep again so the ah gods dont punish us anymore.
semp
:aok
-
lower the cost to 9.95 a month that will generate a lot more players i can barely
afford this myself the way the economy is. :bhead
-
lower the cost to 9.95 a month that will generate a lot more players i can barely
afford this myself the way the economy is. :bhead
Even though I cancelled my subscription earlier this year, I think $15 a month is fine. (I do plan to be back & pay up for a year.)
-
lower the cost to 9.95 a month that will generate a lot more players i can barely
afford this myself the way the economy is. :bhead
I think $15/month is fine. It used to be $30/month a few years back.
-
Oh wait I have a better idea, let them charge by the day, 50 cents. Crap forgot to start sarcasm font.
Semp
-
lower the cost to 9.95 a month that will generate a lot more players i can barely
afford this myself the way the economy is. :bhead
Or make it free, we will have LOTS more players then! :banana: :lol
-
Anyway.... the point being that if thousands of people were attracted to play online at any given time, HTC might have enough revenue (10x or more) for more resources to enhance the envirnoment further and faster.
Again, I'm thinking more players leads to more revenues leads to more resources to improve the game further and faster.
Hard to get substantial more revenue if it's free. :frown:
-
Hard to get substantial more revenue if it's free. :frown:
(http://i39.tinypic.com/8vvp76.png)
your just trying to troll now aint you.
-
(http://i39.tinypic.com/8vvp76.png)
your just trying to troll now aint you.
It may appear that way, but -------> NO <-------- :)
:uhoh
-
The main problem Midway, is most players don't want to take the time to learn, especially younger players. Trainers in this game are often under utilized, as our a lot of the vetts in this game that are willing to teach. Being good at this game requires quite a commitment, Flying in the MA's isn't going to teach it. Flying consistently against better pilots and working with trainers is what gets you there the quickest.
:salute
BigRat
-
The main problem Midway, is most players don't want to take the time to learn, especially younger players. Trainers in this game are often under utilized, as our a lot of the vetts in this game that are willing to teach. Being good at this game requires quite a commitment, Flying in the MA's isn't going to teach it. Flying consistently against better pilots and working with trainers is what gets you there the quickest.
:salute
BigRat
Out of ten times that I go into the TA, I'll be lucky to find a trainer once.... and he is usually busy. Maybe if we had some way to jump to the TA faster or advertise that trainers are now available (on 200 maybe or using that system font/color) it will get people to TA. I would spend more time with trainers, but it gets to be a pain to quit MA, go to the TA, check the roster, no trainers, quit TA, got back to MA, wait for the roster to load, go back to the field you came from, and get back to the fight. When you do that a bunch of times with little success, you stop trying. :frown:
-
This is a ww2 flight game, how many peeps are even interested in ww2 planes, not many.
The games and internet can only handle so many peeps in a game, at a time. MMORPG games are written with specific criteria, some go for players over graphics, others go for better grahpics but have to limit players.
ie IL-2 has better graphics and effects, but servers only handle 30 - 50 players. AH went for players and not graphics, hence they have arenas that can have 400 -600 players.
If there was a real market for our type of game, new ones would be written to work with the modern hardware innovations. Just not enough demand, AH code was written a long time ago and is updated keeping older hardware considerations in mind, adapting to the current player base.
The late war arena usually has 350+ in it, what more do you want? You cannot fight more than 1 at a time.......................
-
Out of ten times that I go into the TA, I'll be lucky to find a trainer once.... and he is usually busy. Maybe if we had some way to jump to the TA faster or advertise that trainers are now available (on 200 maybe or using that system font/color) it will get people to TA. I would spend more time with trainers, but it gets to be a pain to quit MA, go to to TA, check the roster, no trainers, quit TA, got back to MA, wait for the roster to load, go back to the field you came from, and get back to the fight. When you do that a bunch of times with little success, you stop trying. :frown:
Did you ever try to setup a time with a trainer in the help and training forums ahead of time? That's why when you find us, we are normally busy with appointments. At least you were looking though, most never even look for help.
:salute
BigRat
-
The late war arena usually has 350+ in it, what more do you want?
I wish this was true ;)
But for the biggest part of the day it is much less.
You cannot fight more than 1 at a time.....................
In the DA this would make sense, in the MA not to the same extent. But most of us (myself included) do go not into the MA to fight a series of duels.
The number of players has impact on the game, the battles and the gameplay options for each individual players. There is a big difference between a largely empty arena with a few isolated fights (if any) here and there, and a n arena with bristling activity, many different large and small battles giving each player a wide choice of things to do.. instead of asking himself if the single enemy con in the area will be around long enough to justify upping ;)
-
Did you ever try to setup a time with a trainer in the help and training forums ahead of time? That's why when you find us, we are normally busy with appointments. At least you were looking though, most never even look for help.
:salute
BigRat
Tried it... hard to keep appointments since other things come up. Was trying to get with BadBoy but couldn't connect. I'm sure if I put my mind to it, I could make an appointment and keep it... but the point is the TA is usually empty of available trainers and/or top pilots wanting to teach. Advertising on 200 that someone is "now" available would probably get several people into TA quickly. :headscratch: :)
-
I wish this was true ;)
But for the biggest part of the day it is much less.
In the DA this would make sense, in the MA not to the same extent. But most of us (myself included) do go not into the MA to fight a series of duels.
The number of players has impact on the game, the battles and the gameplay options for each individual players. There is a big difference between a largely empty arena with a few isolated fights (if any) here and there, and a n arena with bristling activity, many different large and small battles giving each player a wide choice of things to do.. instead of asking himself if the single enemy con in the area will be around long enough to justify upping ;)
Agreed, there is a huge difference between day and night EST. day time, often less than 100 people for many hours... night time, it kicks up to 300 or so... much more fun then. :aok
I don't believe the reasoning that there are so few people out of billiions that only a few hundred are interested enough in WWII combat to play AH. AH should be more subscribed to.... at least a few thousand should be on at any given time in several arenas combined, imho. It is an outstanding game and many that play love it, can't believe how much fun it can be, and how challanging and rewarding progress is. :aok
-
The main problem Midway, is most players don't want to take the time to learn, especially younger players. Trainers in this game are often under utilized, as our a lot of the vetts in this game that are willing to teach. Being good at this game requires quite a commitment, Flying in the MA's isn't going to teach it. Flying consistently against better pilots and working with trainers is what gets you there the quickest.
:salute
BigRat
And then there's the guy who, no matter how hard he tries, how much time and money he invests, he's always going to suck. That'd be me :)
-
And then there's the guy who, no matter how hard he tries, how much time and money he invests, he's always going to suck. That'd be me :)
:O You lie! :huh
:bolt:
-
I am grateful out of my mind that a WWII flight sim of this quality not only exists but is actively updated. :rock
Love this stuff. I am good enough to have fun and continue to get better each week learning from you guys.
Rock on! :salute
-
What exactly do you want to limit until you reach a certain skill levels?
Note that if certain arenas were locked out to all but highly skilled players... then the arenas for the masses would have less of these players (but there would still be some), so there would be less baby seal killing activity and more time for people to fight against similar level skilled people. Many of the highly skilled players would likely spend a lot of time in the advanced arena to fight with each other. I'm thinking out loud here...but if you want to flame away... go right ahead. :) :headscratch:
-
I am grateful out of my mind that a WWII flight sim of this quality not only exists but is actively updated. :rock
Love this stuff. I am good enough to have fun and continue to get better each week learning from you guys.
Rock on! :salute
Sooo... people wanna say there are only a few hundred people in a world of 7+ billion that feel this way? :huh NOT!
There must be tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands. :aok
:old: :joystick: :airplane: :banana:
-
Note that if certain arenas were locked out to all but highly skilled players... then the arenas for the masses would have less of these players (but there would still be some), so there would be less baby seal killing activity and more time for people to fight against similar level skilled people. Many of the highly skilled players would likely spend a lot of time in the advanced arena to fight with each other. I'm thinking out loud here... :headscratch:
But if there's no one better than you, you totally lose the motivation to get better and pwn those better than you. This alone keeps alot of players coming back, it keeps me coming back.
-
lower the cost to 9.95 a month that will generate a lot more players i can barely
afford this myself the way the economy is.
just saying you'll get more players if the cost was a little lower i myself
have been hurting because construction is at a all time low 'housing market"
not that the game isnt worth 14.99
-
But if there's no one better than you, you totally lose the motivation to get better and pwn those better than you. This alone keeps alot of players coming back, it keeps me coming back.
Lots of better than you pilots would go baby seal hunting in the arena for the masses, for fun. Others will want to stay in the advanced arena. So best of both worlds and it gives people a real goal to improve (via TA, DA, or MA) to get admission to the middle and advanced arenas. win-win for everyone. :aok
I can just see the text on 200 in the advanced arena now... "I'm going baby seal hunting. Anyone wanna come with me?" "Sure I will for a little while, let's see how many we can kill in an hour. lol" "Ok, let's go for it. See you back here in an hour." "Sounds good.". :devil
-
Lots of better than you pilots would go baby seal hunting in the arena for the masses, for fun. Others will want to stay in the advanced arena. So best of both worlds and it gives people a real goal to improve (via TA, DA, or MA) to get admission to the middle and advanced arenas. win-win for everyone. :aok
I can just see the text on 200 in the advanced arena now... "I'm going baby seal hunting. Anyone wanna come with me?" "Sure I will for a little while, let's see how many we can kill in an hour. lol" "Ok, let's go for it. See you back here in an hour." "Sounds good.". :devil
That's dumb, sorry.
-
That's dumb, sorry.
The baby seal hunting is dumb, I agree, but some enjoy it so let them. The idea to have seperate arenas... maybe too... don't know, but at least it's an idea. I wish for even better ideas per my original post. :aok
:old: Many dumb ideas may eventually lead to good ones. :old: One must try to succeed even if repeated failure is the price.
:)
-
If AH2 did become more like HAWK or some crappy flight based shooter style arcade game or like WOT. Then you may see a rise in player base - but at the cost of all th things that make AH2 so good. And one of those things is the great community here - which having played games that were like this then became bigger (EvE Online for example) - is not worth it.
i like AH2 the way it is, fantastic game play with lots of depth and complexity, super great community full of really knowledgeable people and a fair share of joker/trollers/blabber heads (I am looking at you Midway) and the whole assortment of recognizable people.
i love logging on, going to a field, and seeing familiar names.
-
Out of ten times that I go into the TA, I'll be lucky to find a trainer once.... and he is usually busy. Maybe if we had some way to jump to the TA faster or advertise that trainers are now available (on 200 maybe or using that system font/color) it will get people to TA. I would spend more time with trainers, but it gets to be a pain to quit MA, go to the TA, check the roster, no trainers, quit TA, got back to MA, wait for the roster to load, go back to the field you came from, and get back to the fight. When you do that a bunch of times with little success, you stop trying. :frown:
Thats rubbish Midway, 8 times outta 10 I am in TA and a trainer is on, mostly with no one to help either or someone didn't turn up.
-
Thats rubbish Midway, 8 times outta 10 I am in TA and a trainer is on, mostly with no one to help either or someone didn't turn up.
:old: Not rubbish.
Been three or four times today... no trainers. It's rare for me to find one, maybe because I don't stay in an empty TA... I just go in look and leave if no trainers available. I'd love to catch you in there so you can teach me something. Never seen you there. Seen BigRat, morfiend, a couple of others.
Just checked again right now... no trainers there. Two guys looking for a trainer, none there. :headscratch:
Look at the calendar on the trainers web site. It's empty too. Unless there is some other calender or availability list I don't know about. :headscratch:
Can trainers send a text on 200 in MA when they are available to help? Then people can jump over and know someone is there. :aok
-
Note that if certain arenas were locked out to all but highly skilled players... then the arenas for the masses would have less of these players (but there would still be some), so there would be less baby seal killing activity and more time for people to fight against similar level skilled people. Many of the highly skilled players would likely spend a lot of time in the advanced arena to fight with each other. I'm thinking out loud here...but if you want to flame away... go right ahead. :) :headscratch:
I personally found that it helped me more fighting the better skilled guys...sure when I come/came across people of my skill I lasted longer but I can say that learning to push your planes ability came from fighting people like, Grizz, Batfink,suns..etc etc we all know the guys...fighting them is where I find learning...to stick with the same skill level would/could slow down learning IMO I have people who I hate to run into in the MA purely due to the way they smack me about with ease...now, although it frustrates me, it also encourages me to seek them out and try.try and try again no so much because I want to kill them...well I do but it is more to find a way to break their hold on the fight. These people cause me to push and find new ways to use my plane and it's ability ....
Oh yes and PS....We do have a new player arena..it is called the DA...unfortunately due to same skill levels learning is quite dramatically stunted......I shouldn't be so harsh I spose, as sometimes you will find a couple of guys there who are helping people rise from the mush.....
-
Also note that of the 7+ billion you mention, how many have access to a quality internet connection and/or a computer that can handle the game, not many.
I know of another game that tried to cater to every suggestion a player came up with, it killed the game. Either you like the product or you don't. Enjoy what has been given, if it ain't broke........................ .......................AH is not broke. Like I said, gaming with WW2 aircraft has a limited number of peeps that want it, fly it, enjoy it. Familiarity breeds contempt, step away from game for a month. Bet you like it when you come back?
S
-
Also note that of the 7+ billion you mention, how many have access to a quality internet connection and/or a computer that can handle the game, not many.
I know of another game that tried to cater to every suggestion a player came up with, it killed the game. Either you like the product or you don't. Enjoy what has been given, if it ain't broke........................ .......................AH is not broke. Like I said, gaming with WW2 aircraft has a limited number of peeps that want it, fly it, enjoy it. Familiarity breeds contempt, step away from game for a month. Bet you like it when you come back?
S
Quite a few... I'd guess in the hundreds of millions....
-
First time I played, the ranks went up to 4000, now it's like mid 3k. You are asking for less people playing?
DONE
Perhaps even arenas that are locked out until you achieve certain skill levels. :headscratch:
-
First time I played, the ranks went up to 4000, now it's like mid 3k. You are asking for less people playing?
DONE
and the problem is? you dont play, you dont have an account, so it doesnt matter if it is 3 players or 3000, it wont affect you either way.
semp
-
I bet this game could be more bigger and out there. Just how many people can actually be online before the Aceshigh engine breaks?
-
I bet this game could be more bigger and out there. Just how many people can actually be online before the Aceshigh engine breaks?
They can have multiple servers with seperate arenas. :aok
I would like to also see a new AH ad at the beginning of the movie Red Tails when it comes out. :aok
-
Thats rubbish Midway, 8 times outta 10 I am in TA and a trainer is on, mostly with no one to help either or someone didn't turn up.
Checked again, TA is empty. I won't keep posting every time I check. I think the point is made. The vast majority of the time the TA does not have a trainer available. I understand I can make appointments but those are at risk of conflicts. A simple message on 200 in the HTC color stating that a trainer(s) is/are available now would certainly have me jump to TA and likely others.
:old: Again, not rubbish. :frown:
-
There would be more pilots in aces high if the arena population were a bit more hospitable.
As of now, we just have morons chasing away new players.
The players determine arena numbers more than the game itself.
-
There would be more pilots in aces high if the arena population were a bit more hospitable.
As of now, we just have morons chasing away new players.
Would you like to share some more examples? :devil
-
There would be more pilots in aces high if the arena population were a bit more hospitable.
As of now, we just have morons chasing away new players.
The players determine arena numbers more than the game itself.
Would you like to share some more examples? :devil
:old: Pilots calling other pilots "morons" is an example. Must we call names?
-
:old: Pilots calling other pilots "morons" is an example. Must we call names?
No but we all can't be arrogant loud mouths either. :devil
-
No but we all can't be arrogant loud mouths either. :devil
:uhoh :headscratch:
:bolt:
-
I think $15/month is fine. It used to be $30/month a few years back.
When ?
-
When ?
Until August 15th 2001
-
There would be more pilots in aces high if the arena population were a bit more hospitable.
I have noticed the opposite. Players going out of their way to help newbies. Answering questions etc. I have also seen them recommend the TA and web resources too naturally.
-
Thats rubbish Midway, 8 times outta 10 I am in TA and a trainer is on, mostly with no one to help either or someone didn't turn up.
Every time I checked today, TA was empty. Just checked again right now. 7:00pm EST. empty. I think it's less than 1 of 10 times that I look that a trainer is there and available. :frown:
Just saying... again... not rubbish. :salute
Still wish we had several thousand people online on a regular basis. :pray :aok
-
Just wondering why you are pointing out that there is no trainers in the TA.
They are volunteers and have lives of there own. On top of that they like to "mix it up" a bit as well and spend some of little free time in the MA killing newbs. Not everyone has 150 hours to devote to this game every month.
-
Just wondering why you are pointing out that there is no trainers in the TA.
They are volunteers and have lives of there own. On top of that they like to "mix it up" a bit as well and spend some of little free time in the MA killing newbs. Not everyone has 150 hours to devote to this game every month.
I understand. Just responding to pervert's claim that I was speaking rubbish and that 8 out of 10 times he goes to TA there is a trainer there.
My point was that a message on 200 in MA in colorful text stating that a trainer is "now" available may help people benefit more from trainers when they are available. Just a wish. :salute
-
i have never found a trainer at 3 am, but if i got in the early afternoon. more likely than not there will be a trainer there.
semp
-
The sheer fact that Trainers exist means this game is never going to be mainstream popular and totally accessible: Its a symptom of its nicheness/small size.
But on a main note, why don't we stop worrying about this and let HT handle it. At the worst, he sells the game on after its lived its life and he makes another game and we all go play that (like what happened to WB). Its not just a game we are playing, its someone's (HT's) vision of aircombat + fun and that's what people have been hooked on for more then a decade now. So lez just chill and haev some fun, eh? :joystick: :old: :airplane: :banana:
-
Back when I started playing AH in 1996 it was free on AOL and on Compuware (I think that's what it was called). I'm not sure I'd have ever started any other way. Even at that I might never have found it without reading a review on it in a PC magazine. I had my first computer and barely knew what the Internet was but I had an AOL account and AW was free in the gaming area. AOL was the biggest ISP on the planet at that time. According to rumors the AOL and Compuware people played on different servers and never saw one another but I'm not sure if that's true or not.
Lots of people played AW on and off. Many came and left. Even free on the biggest ISP there were only 5-6 arenas each limited to 50 people.
You could jump right into the relaxed or full realism arenas but there was also a beginners arena of sorts. Once you scored 10,000 (?) points you were no longer allowed to go there. Realxed realism outdrew full realism (still not as realistic as AH) by a good 10-1 or more. People generally don't want a steep learning curve. They want to play a game. The guy who lead the development of the NASCAR Racing series of games by Papyrus (Dave something) explained this in exquisite detail in an interview I once read. Simulations are, in general, a niche in the gaming world.
So, you see, many of your ideas have already been tried in this genre. I can't blame you for your enthusiasm and I do believe there's an untapped market out there but finding the right approach to it without upsetting the current subscriber base is a tricky situation and that untapped market likely isn't nearly as large as you believe.
I spent over 20 years in the music industry. We congratulated ourselves on a gold or platinum seller (500,000-1,000,000 units sold). In my opinion those weren't very impressive numbers based on world or even U.S. population. How many actual people even saw Avatar? Entertainment marketing has to take a very targeted approach to cost effectively maximize the potential audience. You're competing for liesure time with games, movies, music, sports, tv, etc., etc., etc.
On a slightly different note, when I moved from AW to AH I went to the TA to find out about a few things that weren't in the game documentation. There wasn't a trainer to be found so I left and never went back until a couple of years ago when I set up some time with MtnMan to work on my merges in preperation for the dueling tournament. I suspect I'm not alone.
Finally, I see on the BBs that Midway gets a lot of crap for spamming, etc., etc., etc. I admit I'm not around as much as I used to be but I just don't see it. I see a kid that's enthusiastic about the game we all love and think we need more like him. Keep dreaming Midway. One day you'll have a great idea that will make the game better for all of us.
-
Just wait until Red Tails comes out.
Trailer 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpA6TC0T_Lw
Trailer 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=BpA6TC0T_Lw&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_914051&v=E4QNoTOz1U8