Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: Letalis on June 20, 2013, 09:47:42 PM
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$15 a month is definitely worth it for this game, maybe even a steal...if you fly. It is unfortunate when you see people leaving the game because they can't justify $180/yr for a game. $15/mo is not a horrific total by any means, but it adds up. Every time a long business trip/family illness/busy project at work/deployment comes along, I'm fairly sure a lot of people start thinking "geez, maybe I should cancel and stop throwing money away" (been there). If someone knows they'll be away from the game they won't simply cancel and have to revisit the "subscription decision barrier" all over again much less remember the 5k perks they threw away (been there). The dropping numbers is worrying me and affecting gameplay. http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/05/09/as-world-of-warcraft-bleeds-subscribers-free-to-play-is-already-winning-the-future/
Given current numbers and the fact HT doesn't seem to want AH to go mainstream, I am not advocating a F2P model. (Though I do like the idea of people paying for their dweeby 262s :devil) Instead, what if it were $1 per flight hour up to a max of $15 with anything over 15hrs being free? Yes, a large numbers of players likely don't put in 15hrs/mo., but those are also the guys that are probably going to cancel and never come back. Players have an incentive to get into the free hours and no reason to cancel when they want to take a couple months off. I don't have HT's financials data, but such a model might help player retention/numbers/morale and the bottom line to boot.
:salute
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I was thinking about this as well. Currently, I am on summer vacation from college so I have unlimited time to play each day. I'm worried that when I go back to college in August I won't get my $15 worth out of AH each month and I'll have to cancel to save some money. I'd like to see something like this mainly for the players that go to school or do not have a set work schedule every week/month.
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I don't think people leave because they can't particularly afford the monthly subscription (if you take the 50cent a day thing to heart) , its more the time itself it takes from their lives that could of been spent on better things.
When times get harder people are needed to be more available to deal with situations/opportunities when they arise, around the house, community and work place.
Times like that, an "instant action" button goes a very long way.
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$15 a month is definitely worth it for this game, maybe even a steal...if you fly. It is unfortunate when you see people leaving the game because they can't justify $180/yr for a game. $15/mo is not a horrific total by any means, but it adds up. Every time a long business trip/family illness/busy project at work/deployment comes along, I'm fairly sure a lot of people start thinking "geez, maybe I should cancel and stop throwing money away" (been there). If someone knows they'll be away from the game they won't simply cancel and have to revisit the "subscription decision barrier" all over again much less remember the 5k perks they threw away (been there). The dropping numbers is worrying me and affecting gameplay. http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/05/09/as-world-of-warcraft-bleeds-subscribers-free-to-play-is-already-winning-the-future/
Given current numbers and the fact HT doesn't seem to want AH to go mainstream, I am not advocating a F2P model. (Though I do like the idea of people paying for their dweeby 262s :devil) Instead, what if it were $1 per flight hour up to a max of $15 with anything over 15hrs being free? Yes, a large numbers of players likely don't put in 15hrs/mo., but those are also the guys that are probably going to cancel and never come back. Players have an incentive to get into the free hours and no reason to cancel when they want to take a couple months off. I don't have HT's financials data, but such a model might help player retention/numbers/morale and the bottom line to boot.
:salute
I see where this saves less active players money (I'm in that category). What I'm not seeing is where this is a healthier business plan for HTC, therefore not forcing them to raise their rates.
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that article doesn't give a complete picture. world of warcraft player attrition numbers are a reflection of the pc gaming market in general, not to mention the lack of fresh content. wow and games like it, has a double whammy, you have to pay for the base game, and the expansions, then pay a subscription fee. the article doesn't even look at the decreasing average age of online gamers. the free to play/microtransaction market has become more and more popular due in large part to the economy, new mmo games being released and the number of younger players who can't afford to pay monthly subscription fees. as long as the developers keep the content fresh and maintain minimal maintenance down times, they will keep a large part of their player base. if they let a game get stale and don't improve it, they won't last long. most of the f2p mmo games are generally considered "pay to win" games and in the case of swtor (as well as other similar games), if it's a point and click grinder, a subscription model isn't going to work well for long. the gaming market in general, especially the mmo genre is constantly fluctuating with players grinding through the games and jumping from one to the other.
it wouldn't be real difficult to track a players online time in aces high but, imagine the angst that would be caused by getting disconnected when the player surpasses the time they have paid for. especially if they are using a perk plane/gv at the time it happens. then to add to the frustration they have to go dig out a credit card, try to figure out how much time they want to pay for, and get back in the game. the entire structure of ah doesn't lend itself to a microtransaction system very well. if it were more like the latest entries in the war game mmo's, (warthunder, world of tanks, world of planes, etc...) with limited player options from the start and fast limited action options, then a microtranaction system would work. then again, would the game be as good and how many existing long time dedicated players would be lost?
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man think of all the money I would save by not paying for the midway account and still keep it. I could up 1 time a month and save 14 bucks a month. heck I would use my laptop and vulch it to death so i can get more starz, after all what is a buck. heck I would switch my main account just in case I play less than 15 hours a month and pay less.
semp
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Its a shame we cant just literally pay .50 cent a day, every time we log in, per day.
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Its a shame we cant just literally pay .50 cent a day, every time we log in, per day.
because it wouldnt be 50 cents a day. prices would have to go up to make up for lost revenue.
semp
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Understood, there are also transaction costs as well, which could be a problem, unless the provider specifically has a case for small payments.
The concept is fine though; paying daily. I wonder if this has been tried in the mainstream MMO game yet?
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Understood, there are also transaction costs as well, which could be a problem, unless the provider specifically has a case for small payments.
The concept is fine though; paying daily. I wonder if this has been tried in the mainstream MMO game yet?
ok let me put it this way. most players would just switch to the .50 cents a day. as I only play 3 or 4 times a week, if that. now that few bucks that I dont play the game ht needs to make up that money some how. and the only way would be for everybody's fee to go up. so you wont be paying .50 cents a day anyway, it would be many times that to make up for the lost revenue.
imagine if at work they would only pay you for the time you actually work. and not the time you are just daydreaming or "taking a break" or bs with friends, or stretching, or sending those pesky chain e-mails...
you would have to make up the lost income somehow and that would be by getting a second job.
semp
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Understood, there are also transaction costs as well, which could be a problem, unless the provider specifically has a case for small payments.
The concept is fine though; paying daily. I wonder if this has been tried in the mainstream MMO game yet?
The concept is not 'fine' for AHII which is a small company game with a dedicated clientele.
I understand your strong desire to somehow make an impact and name for yourself in this
community. Might I recommend getting to know both the community and nature of the game
first.
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The concept is fine though; paying daily. I wonder if this has been tried in the mainstream MMO game yet?
not that i've been able to find, but they make up for it with micro transactions..."pay to win".
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$15 a month is definitely worth it for this game, maybe even a steal...if you fly. It is unfortunate when you see people leaving the game because they can't justify $180/yr for a game. $15/mo is not a horrific total by any means, but it adds up. Every time a long business trip/family illness/busy project at work/deployment comes along, I'm fairly sure a lot of people start thinking "geez, maybe I should cancel and stop throwing money away" (been there). If someone knows they'll be away from the game they won't simply cancel and have to revisit the "subscription decision barrier" all over again much less remember the 5k perks they threw away (been there). The dropping numbers is worrying me and affecting gameplay. http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/05/09/as-world-of-warcraft-bleeds-subscribers-free-to-play-is-already-winning-the-future/
Given current numbers and the fact HT doesn't seem to want AH to go mainstream, I am not advocating a F2P model. (Though I do like the idea of people paying for their dweeby 262s :devil) Instead, what if it were $1 per flight hour up to a max of $15 with anything over 15hrs being free? Yes, a large numbers of players likely don't put in 15hrs/mo., but those are also the guys that are probably going to cancel and never come back. Players have an incentive to get into the free hours and no reason to cancel when they want to take a couple months off. I don't have HT's financials data, but such a model might help player retention/numbers/morale and the bottom line to boot.
:salute
:airplane: I guess by your post, you don't understand much about business! If AH did what you want, they would be out of business in less than a year! (Guess). AH has to make a profit for research and development costs, maintaince cost on net work equipment, not to mention having to update servers from time to time. Then you throw in the salary costs of about 15 employees and a merger profit margin, I would submit that $15.00 a month is a bargain and if someone can't afford that, then go to the local Walmart store, buy you the cheapest rod and reel you can find, dig you up some worms in your backyard and then you have a way to control your cost of entertainment! The less you fish, the less the cost, the more you fish, the more your expense! (However, wetting a line from time to time aren't no bad thing). LOL
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The concept is not 'fine' for AHII which is a small company game with a dedicated clientele.
I understand your strong desire to somehow make an impact and name for yourself in this
community. Might I recommend getting to know both the community and nature of the game
first.
The concept is 'fine' as it was for arcades back when video game culture was being formed in the social sense. I did not specially say it would fit for HTC, but the idea is intruiging non-the-less and I would of liked to seen it atleast tried by someone to see of its effectiveness: If the old arcade, pay for session, mentality still is valid.
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It has been tried by someone else since the 16th amendment was ratified, Franklin Roosevelt, and Linden Banes Johnson were presidents.
Personal Income Tax
Social Security
Welfare
As more players choose no pay freebies or low pay basic toys accounts. The full account players monthly subscription fee has to be increased to support those who don't want to pay the full monti but, still want as many goodies as they can get while playing along side the full monti account payers.
Social Justice at first is great for those who don't pay into the support side of the equation. Eventually the money that really supports everything runs out because those who pay full share no longer can meet the cost and switch sides or quit because they get tired of the involuntary servitude to those who want freebies without contributing.
Allow HTC to solve this. Too many of the current generation will vote for a free ride on the backs of others. Then when the game croaks it's last death rattle, move on like locusts to suck the life out of the next virtual environment.
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The concept is 'fine' as it was for arcades back when video game culture was being formed in the social sense. I did not specially say it would fit for HTC, but the idea is intruiging non-the-less and I would of liked to seen it atleast tried by someone to see of its effectiveness: If the old arcade, pay for session, mentality still is valid.
Not sure what arcades you frequented that went free after 15.00 in quarters was spent. Even then, you're comparing apples to alligator boots.
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-No, the Forbes article does not cover it all, but it does highlight a change in culture.
-The shrink in the player base could be entirely to the ADHD generation.
-Speaking of ADHD, don't you just love butylated hydroxytoluene, polysorbate 80, red no.5, thimerosal, fluoride and...SQUIRREL!!
-I did not advocate moving to a F2P model, please keep the McCarthyism to a minimum :mad:
-Right now it is 2030EST on a Friday and there are 293 peeps in the MA...
-At some point on the current trajectory, people will log on, see small numbers even in prime time and say "screw it." (Reference forums)
-I don't know if general "screw it" happens when prime time peaks at 200 or even 150, but that will mean the implosion of a good game - something I don't want to see.
-The primary intent of the thought was player retention (ie Pannano). I'm trained to present a solution when presenting a problem.
-Doesn't matter if you make 18k or 100k a year, the idea of flushing money should be distasteful.
-Resubscribing is a pain.
-If people don't unsubscribe, they are more likely to be retained - so don't give them a reason to unsubscribe.
-Semp does bring up a good point about facilitating shades, but there are ways to deny such scummery.
:salute
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-The shrink in the player base could be entirely to the ADHD generation.
ADHD or ADD are no general obstacles in playing this game. ;)
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I think free access to jeeps, M3's, C47's and Storch's would carry some long term increased revenue potential.
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I think free access to jeeps, M3's, C47's and Storch's would carry some long term increased revenue potential.
Or drive-by chutings.
So, I wonder how HTC could/would code limited access to freeloads and not to payloads.
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It has been tried by someone else since the 16th amendment was ratified, Franklin Roosevelt, and Linden Banes Johnson were presidents.
Personal Income Tax
Social Security
Welfare
As more players choose no pay freebies or low pay basic toys accounts. The full account players monthly subscription fee has to be increased to support those who don't want to pay the full monti but, still want as many goodies as they can get while playing along side the full monti account payers.
Social Justice at first is great for those who don't pay into the support side of the equation. Eventually the money that really supports everything runs out because those who pay full share no longer can meet the cost and switch sides or quit because they get tired of the involuntary servitude to those who want freebies without contributing.
Allow HTC to solve this. Too many of the current generation will vote for a free ride on the backs of others. Then when the game croaks it's last death rattle, move on like locusts to suck the life out of the next virtual environment.
I always thought those things were to support people in times of trouble so that they don't starve to death due to sudden economic shifts; Why are we talking about this in a wishlist idea?
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Not sure what arcades you frequented that went free after 15.00 in quarters was spent. Even then, you're comparing apples to alligator boots.
Maybe, but the idea has struck me on occasion and could have a place among games like this in the future.
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I always thought those things were to support people in times of trouble so that they don't starve to death due to sudden economic shifts; Why are we talking about this in a wishlist idea?
ok let's see this. I pay 45 bucks a month for internet access and 15 bucks for aces high. if I am in trouble. I would get rid of both. and if I am starving to death, i would also sell my puter, joystick and desk.
semp
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I would of liked to seen it at least tried by someone to see of its effectiveness:
It has been tried by someone else since the 16th amendment was ratified, Franklin Roosevelt, and Linden Banes Johnson were presidents.
Personal Income Tax
Social Security
Welfare
Works fine until you run out of someone else's money to pay for the freebe players who won't pony up a dime if you offer them something for free. Because to them, free means free.
Guess Econ 101 and American history hasn't been taught in high schools for what?? 30 years now? Mostly from what I hear is the following sentiment. Welcome to America, the land of free stuff given to you for free, because it's your inalienable right to free stuff. Just ask Occupy Wallstreet if they didn't go out of business for lack of free stuff.......
I never hear from any of the whiz kids I talk to today what happens when they run out of other peoples "free stuff" other than:
Uh, like, I guess we'll try something different and see how that works.
They never have an answer to what happens to all the people they bankrupted using up all their "free stuff" or in the old white dead men's vernacular of 30 years ago (MONEY).
Well, like, they gave it to us for free didn't they?? You want us to do what with our own money in restitution?? That's not fair, it was free stuff!!
If you own the language you can dictate a lot of reality. Money is so white privilege, odious and even racist. Free stuff is so now and internet community friendly.
When the stinky stuff finishes running to the bottom of the hill, who has to pay for all the free stuff used at the top of the hill by the freebe kids? And what happens when the freebe kids run out of that "free stuff"? It's been proven since the buggy whip days you cannot make up in quantity what you loose by cutting your price to get eyes on your product. Shucks, every teenage boy knows if she's agreeing in the back seat, you don't need to pay the pastor and walk down the isle to get it again. Free is free.
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It has been tried by someone else since the 16th amendment was ratified, Franklin Roosevelt, and Linden Banes Johnson were presidents.
Personal Income Tax
Social Security
Welfare
Works fine until you run out of someone else's money to pay for the freebe players who won't pony up a dime if you offer them something for free. Because to them, free means free.
Bustr, keep your socio-political agenda out of discussions like this. i'm willing to bet if it weren't for the kindness of others, a generation of your ancestor's wouldn't have survived the early 20th century economic difficulties in the u.s. unless of course they were criminals taking from others.
-No, the Forbes article does not cover it all, but it does highlight a change in culture.
if that is the case, it's 3 years late in covering the news.
It has been tried by someone else since the 16th amendment was ratified, Franklin Roosevelt, and Linden Banes Johnson were presidents.
Personal Income Tax
Social Security
Welfare
Works fine until you run out of someone else's money to pay for the freebe players who won't pony up a dime if you offer them something for free. Because to them, free means free.
Bustr, please keep your socio-political agenda out of discussions like this. i'm willing to bet if it weren't for the kindness of others, a generation of your ancestor's wouldn't have survived the early 20th century economic difficulties in the u.s. unless of course they were criminals taking from others.
-No, the Forbes article does not cover it all, but it does highlight a change in culture.
if that is the case, it's 3 years late in covering the news.
-Right now it is 2030EST on a Friday and there are 293 peeps in the MA...
-At some point on the current trajectory, people will log on, see small numbers even in prime time and say "screw it." (Reference forums)
-I don't know if general "screw it" happens when prime time peaks at 200 or even 150, but that will mean the implosion of a good game - something I don't want to see.
that is the nature of video gaming. it happens in trends, especially in the niche market games. right now eye candy is a big selling point for video games (thanks to consoles), game play is secondary, historical correctness is dead last below everything else.
-Resubscribing is a pain.
-If people don't unsubscribe, they are more likely to be retained - so don't give them a reason to unsubscribe.
resubscribing to ah is nowhere near as painful as signing up for some of the current mmo's either f2p or subscription. that second point is :rofl ...duh. keep people interested and they won't be inclined to unsubscribe. unfortunately for ah, without some extensive reworking of how the game is played, the sun is setting.
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-Resubscribing is a pain.
-If people don't unsubscribe, they are more likely to be retained - so don't give them a reason to unsubscribe.
-Semp does bring up a good point about facilitating shades, but there are ways to deny such scummery.
:salute
how is it a pain? all you do is change your credit card info and that is basically it. the hardest thing is trying to remember where you left your wallet. if you forget your id/password, press one key and it is sent to you automatically.
semp
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Giving "free players" limited number of planes, or keeping them in early war rides might be a plus. I don't know how the coding for that would work. Is it worth the trouble? Would it bring more people to the "subscription" side of things? I don't know. I think HTC has to do something tho.
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you might be on to something there Fugitive. maybe open the early war arena (or one like it) as "free to play" for a while and see what happens. maybe force them to run through a tutorial before they can actually fly just to enhance their chances of doing something besides auger or bail. a lot better idea than opening the cesspool dipstick arena as f2p.
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you are still gonna have a large base of players who will question why they have to pay while some play for free. how many current subscribers will switch to free play? you may end up losing subscribers instead of adding new ones. I for one will switch my second account to the free play since I dont use it.
in addition wont adding a couple of hundred free players to ew make it work just like the lwa that everybody complains about?
semp
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Giving "free players" limited number of planes, or keeping them in early war rides might be a plus. I don't know how the coding for that would work. Is it worth the trouble? Would it bring more people to the "subscription" side of things? I don't know. I think HTC has to do something tho.
Seems to be quite easy really......every ride is enabled under arena settings anyway so a switch is added to enable it to reference the User account settings which would be re loaded to the FE every time the user logs into game.
This would be encrypted.
Then HTC could vary the ride availability for differing account types in differing arenas.
They (HTC) could then play with this commercially....they could run "promotions"............... e.g. free play days all rides (start of the school holidays?), or a free P51 promotion day (independance day?)etc etc.
Which rides they choose to make free they can vary as the model settles down........ We might all opine now about the ramifications of making certain fighter rides free I would agree with an opinion that it would cause some game play distortion if any fighter were made free in LW. However just getting folk into the arenas (via M3's, Jeeps and C47's etc) will tempt some of them to want more.
Its not important that we debate which rides would be suitable for free access if any.................. HTC can decide that and modify it over time.
Of course once you have a ride (availability) v account code system working you can have several levels of ride access such that if HTC wanted free/green/gold/platimum account structures they could do that to...if they thought it beneficial.