Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: deadstikmac on August 28, 2013, 11:40:49 AM
-
I am going too take a stab at trying too add things such as NEW screenshots and a few videos... The reasoning behind this is:
I had a friend over last night and showed him the game. He was instantly hooked. So as a small test I got him to the main page and asked him to go through the whole process of account creation without my help. I just wanted to watch what and how he used the website. The very first thing he clicked on was the movies and screenshots and said: "if I was a new player this would make me not even look any further into the game"
Got me thinking.... New players in the first week want to be self sufficient or as much as they can be. He did not even think to ask me about the forums as a source of information as he tried to find the information on the help page of the website. Which eventuly brought him to ahwiki and even then he was lost.
We keep suggesting to new players how and where they can find information... After they have figured out some things on their own. After being the key word. I am going to personally take time once a week and contribute to the Front Page of the website and less to the forums.... What say you?
-
When I first look into a game, the first thing I do is look at gameplay footage on YouTube. Pretty screenshots and cinematic videos are nice and all, but you don't really get a feel for how the game really looks and feels. That was one of the major reasons I started putting gameplay footage up on YouTube. If someone new wants to see how this game plays I think the first thing they do is go to YouTube and search for "Aces High 2 Gameplay". I think Vudu has the same idea with his gameplay footage he posts.
What if HTC put a video right up front and center on the homepage showcasing actual in-game footage? We, the players, could even do all the work for them. We can cut out a small clip of our favorite moments (a real nice crossing shot kill, huge buff raid, squad chatter on climbout while flying in formation, etc) and make a really nice 2-3 minute video. When we get a graphics update then we can do it all over again. :D
-
They could have a front page video contest once a month where the winner gets his video on the front page.
-
I only joined the game because old squadies from the 327th told me about it. so I downloaded the game, about a year later I found out there was a bb. 3 years later I found out there was a wiki. imagine what I can find out about the game tomorrow.
semp
-
One of the reasons it took me so long to finally try out Aces High (other than forgetting that I had bookmarked it for later look-see) was the lack of screenshots. Specifically, screenshots of what planes/gvs/boats are available. I like to see multiple screenshots (at least 3) of each plane/gv/boat, not just the single you see in the Wiki. Some planes listed in the wiki don't have an in-game shot at all. And a lot of the ones that are in there are a bit small, far too small in my opinion.
When I finally decided to look in detail and try it out, it wasn't a, "Ooooo... I've gotta try this out.". It was more like a, "Let's take a jump into the unknown and hope for the best.". Primary reason being the lack of screenshots.
As for in-game footage, plain and simple is best way to go. Not only of you getting kills and bombing stuff, but of you being shotdown and getting bombed as well. Show BOTH sides of the coin. And you can't just show fighters, fighters, fighters; with a hint of bombers and a drop of gv's. Got to cover more Bombers and gvs on the films. Not everyone joins because of fighters after all.
I made "the jump" because I was curious about the strategic aspect of Aces High. The thought of flying bombers to hit strategic targets is very appealing to me (hell, I'm getting the urge to login right now to do just that because I'm talking about it :D). The lack of screenshots of this type of action, yeah...
-
What if HTC put a video right up front and center on the homepage showcasing actual in-game footage?
This one is on the front page at the moment and it is definitely my favorite video done so far.
Just something about it that makes me want to play.. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLvWpIEOXFM
-
I am going too take a stab at trying too add things such as NEW screenshots and a few videos... The reasoning behind this is:
I had a friend over last night and showed him the game. He was instantly hooked. So as a small test I got him to the main page and asked him to go through the whole process of account creation without my help. I just wanted to watch what and how he used the website. The very first thing he clicked on was the movies and screenshots and said: "if I was a new player this would make me not even look any further into the game"
Got me thinking.... New players in the first week want to be self sufficient or as much as they can be. He did not even think to ask me about the forums as a source of information as he tried to find the information on the help page of the website. Which eventuly brought him to ahwiki and even then he was lost.
We keep suggesting to new players how and where they can find information... After they have figured out some things on their own. After being the key word. I am going to personally take time once a week and contribute to the Front Page of the website and less to the forums.... What say you?
First beer is on me. :cheers: (Thank you)
-
There are a dozen videos on the web page as well as a screen shot windows that puts up a random screen shot from a pool each time you refresh the page.
I agree that the website doesn't do a very good job at "selling" the game. It looks to have been designed as an information site more than a "LOOK AT ME !!!!" type site. Checking out the competitions sites shows they are all about the pizzazz trying to lure new customers in with their excitement!
-
The "windowshopping" issues though can best be resolved by someone donating some time like Mac. IE: the old videos randomly sampled on the frontpage with the newer or "better" screnshots (and videos), can be easily resolved if the random sampling is limited to only a select list of "premier" pictures and videos. Now, who has time in the next couple of days to sit down and review screenshots and videos and compile this list?... I don't, but if that is what Mac is offering, then power to him. I hope he shares/emails that list to HTCs and they can find the time to impliment it.
Same with compiling some fluffier-n-puffier "inventory" of the game's available planes and GVs (and boats). If I understand what Mac's windowshopping friend was trying to do: The Wiki is lacking in some areas or is very dense with information in others, thus having some trim-downed list with more shine (IE: a flash ap) of what this game has to offer with a purty picture or two and just abbreviated stats I think is what is lacking there.
-
This one is on the front page at the moment and it is definitely my favorite video done so far.
Just something about it that makes me want to play.. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLvWpIEOXFM
Nice. Facebook sharing worthy. (Look, I'm advertising.) :D
-
A small "tune up" if you will just to make finding information a one click adventure and not a scavenger hunt. :x
The way he described it too me was:
"The front page made me want to see screenshots and videos of shyt going boom." (he then clicked on the top left corner) "uh... Wtf is this? I thought there were videos here. How do I find, never mind where is the list of planes I can fly?" (random clicking on main page content not even noticing the bar at the top with the drop downs) "dewd wtf is this... They need to make it obvious on what to click for retards like me"
Which is where the light bulb came on for me and this idea was recognized as something I or we collectively can or should do. :cheers:
Edit:
Makes me nervous when I see Arlo posting :rofl :x
-
First beer is on me. :cheers: (Thank you)
:salute
-
And just strictly as an example!
Embedded YouTube videos of players that can be clicked and played like found on my site about Ripleys Pawns & Ponys. Www.flightlinepodcast.com
-
A small "tune up" if you will just to make finding information a one click adventure and not a scavenger hunt. :x
The way he described it too me was:
"The front page made me want to see screenshots and videos of shyt going boom." (he then clicked on the top left corner) "uh... Wtf is this? I thought there were videos here. How do I find, never mind where is the list of planes I can fly?" (random clicking on main page content not even noticing the bar at the top with the drop downs) "dewd wtf is this... They need to make it obvious on what to click for retards like me"
Which is where the light bulb came on for me and this idea was recognized as something I or we collectively can or should do. :cheers:
Edit:
Makes me nervous when I see Arlo posting :rofl :x
I'm sorry but if your friend doesn't know about top and/or side menu bars on web sites (every site has them) then he's a hopeless case.
-
I'm sorry but if your friend doesn't know about top and/or side menu bars on web sites (every site has them) then he's a hopeless case.
It was more about videos, screenshots, more visibility for the Trainers Website, just a bunch of small things which might make a difference to those not in the know whom are looking at the front page for the first time. :salute
Edit:
He is not the brightest crayon in the box at times :lol
-
More video type options if your friend based everything off the front page videos. How to do x, y, x videos. We don't read anymore as much as we watch and listen to video. Your friend keyed off the large "video by players" block because that's how he is oriented instead of valuing the top menu to find anything. So on the left use the "video by" concept to put in a stack of video options for help, training, etc. The top menu is relevant to the Internet generation from before You Tube and WEB Casts.
Many things like key mapping, controller and button mapping, scaling. Sound and VOX setup. The hanger options, load outs, convergence, gunsights and on and on.
Consider who really uses the forum and it's decade of the finest info for the game possible. You need to hook them at the door and feed them easy to get at, here is everything from a-z videos. Watching how to videos will make the game look a lot simpler than digging through text explanations with a few static pictures. Most young game players just want to look at someone doing it, then do it themselves. Gamers are visual kinesthetic learners. Let them watch it being done, then let them get their hands on it so they can own the process.
I'm meeting young people these days who don't know what RTFM means anymore. And get insulted when I explain what it means. There is a bit of an expectation now to have some kind of streaming media how to. Even Ikea has caught on.
-
See rule #4
-
Not to bash the young... Im still a baby at 34 but I ask younger adults two questions...
Do they know what the Dwey Desicmal System is for.
What was the last book they picked up... Paperback or ipad
:neener:
-
This one is on the front page at the moment and it is definitely my favorite video done so far.
Just something about it that makes me want to play.. :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLvWpIEOXFM
always liked this video, music is fantastic and the whole thing is well put together. Must have watched this 100 times :aok
-
I am thinking that if I had to be babied like this in 1990 on GEnie to play AW, that game would have
died a quick painful death. I guess the guys back then didn't feel as entitled as they do now. I do know
the general history knowledge was much more advanced.
We have gotten to the point where we don't want to even have to try even a little effort to enjoy
ourselves? How long will the babysitting need to be maintained in order to keep these guys playing?
-
Now it seems they require 'shock and awe' tactics and if they don't experience total sensory overload in the first six seconds of watching anything they are bored and move on.
-
Not to bash the young... Im still a baby at 34 but I ask younger adults two questions...
Do they know what the Dwey Desicmal System is for.
What was the last book they picked up... Paperback or ipad
:neener:
lol, first thing you should do is figure out how to spell dewey decimal...then ask your questions. :rofl :neener:
-
lol, first thing you should do is figure out how to spell dewey decimal...then ask your questions. :rofl :neener:
Typos are just as prevalent in the older gen as the younger gen (just for different reasons).
-
Typos are just as prevalent in the older gen as the younger gen (just for different reasons).
ya but if us old guys are going to expect anything from the young, we need to at least appear to know what we're saying...
-
I am thinking that if I had to be babied like this in 1990 on GEnie to play AW, that game would have
died a quick painful death. I guess the guys back then didn't feel as entitled as they do now. I do know
the general history knowledge was much more advanced.
We have gotten to the point where we don't want to even have to try even a little effort to enjoy
ourselves? How long will the babysitting need to be maintained in order to keep these guys playing?
I don't see how it's being entitled or babysitting. It's simple marketing. You don't show your worst item on the menu, you don't even show it. You mention everything that you sell in it's upmost glory, to make people want to buy it. Point of this topic is simply to refresh the home page. Add some screenshots and films on the front page to make it look nice. There are literally dozens upon dozens to choose from for screenshots or films. All they have to do is put it on their home page. Nothing entitled or babysitting required to do that, sir. :salute :cheers:
Tinkles
<<S>>
-
The last significant update of the Home page was when I released my "Dolby's Tempest" Youtube Film in Feb 2011, that's 2 and a half years ago. :old:
-
ya but if us old guys are going to expect anything from the young, we need to at least appear to know what we're saying...
I keep my expectations low. That way I can experience the delight of such being surpassed more oft.
Oh, look, Junior made a C- in history! Hey, he's wearing a belt today and his shoes are tied! He took out the trash and rinsed his plate before he loaded it in the dishwasher!
Before you know it he may work his way up to a full 30 seconds of concentration on the AHII website and true bonding may begin.
(No offense to the younger gen that actually have found, are enjoying and positively contribute to this game and community, currently. You are the individuals that keep hope alive for me.)
-
that's the kind of thinking that got us where we are now Arlo...the "smart kids" aren't any smarter than the back of the classroom dipsticks of the 70s.
(http://static.tvgcdn.net/MediaBin/Galleries/Shows/S_Z/Wa_Wh/Welcome_Back_Kotter/welcome-back-kotter1.jpg)
-
that's the kind of thinking that got us where we are now Arlo...the "smart kids" aren't any smarter than the back of the classroom dipsticks of the 70s.
(http://static.tvgcdn.net/MediaBin/Galleries/Shows/S_Z/Wa_Wh/Welcome_Back_Kotter/welcome-back-kotter1.jpg)
Sure, blame it on me. It took me a long time to realize how stubborn Junior can be. Hope he lives to the age of enlightenment (and is living on his own before then).
-
Sure, blame it on me. It took me a long time to realize how stubborn Junior can be. Hope he lives to the age of enlightenment (and is living on his own before then).
nah, i'm blaming the richie rich upper crust knob gobblers who sit around their big houses with their nannies and maids thinking up stupid ways to mess things up and then get some dipstick politician to agree with them. it will be so nice when the end comes...those knob gobblers will be among the first littering the gutters at the hands of all the low lifes they forced the rest of society to coddle.
-
nah, i'm blaming the richie rich upper crust knob gobblers who sit around their big houses with their nannies and maids thinking up stupid ways to mess things up and then get some dipstick politician to agree with them. it will be so nice when the end comes...those knob gobblers will be among the first littering the gutters at the hands of all the low lifes they forced the rest of society to coddle.
Love the optimism :lol
-
nah, i'm blaming the richie rich upper crust knob gobblers who sit around their big houses with their nannies and maids thinking up stupid ways to mess things up and then get some dipstick politician to agree with them. it will be so nice when the end comes...those knob gobblers will be among the first littering the gutters at the hands of all the low lifes they forced the rest of society to coddle.
Holy chit. That's revolutionary talk, man! :O
-
Personally, I figure if you can't spot these highlights on the main page you are most likely not going to be able to figure out how to fly either!
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii253/maddogjoe_photos/htc_zps900ebd96.jpg) (http://s266.photobucket.com/user/maddogjoe_photos/media/htc_zps900ebd96.jpg.html)
On top of that, Skuzzy takes take of the web page I think and at this time I'm sure a "rebuild" of the page isn't high on his list. Players can't edit it, and anything they submit has to be approved and THEN added by Skuzzy. Again being added to the list of things he has to do.
-
Personally, I figure if you can't spot these highlights on the main page you are most likely not going to be able to figure out how to fly either!
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii253/maddogjoe_photos/htc_zps900ebd96.jpg) (http://s266.photobucket.com/user/maddogjoe_photos/media/htc_zps900ebd96.jpg.html)
On top of that, Skuzzy takes take of the web page I think and at this time I'm sure a "rebuild" of the page isn't high on his list. Players can't edit it, and anything they submit has to be approved and THEN added by Skuzzy. Again being added to the list of things he has to do.
Rather good point.
-
My wife has worked HR Training for corporations and written online training universities and taught for them. Even she sees the lost opportunity generational wise on the front page with the 11-35 year olds. The front page is fine for an older demographic information wise like me and Fugi.
AH already has the Films and Screenshots forum. Many of those players are accomplished at game video content. As with skins and maps. Training films and the help file translated into video would only take an HTC set of standards for our forum film buffs.
A repeated story in our forum is the newbie who spent 30 minutes with a vet showing and telling. From that point on the newbie's ability to interact with the game was assured. The game is not that complicated, especially if someone shows and tells many of the simple things that make no sense from reading the help file or even the wiki in their static context. Sorry Trainers, not everyone wants to look you up. They want to piu, piu, piu. Most gamers are kinesthetic visual learners and not interested in jumping through hoops in the beginning like looking up a Trainer or a DA partner or reading the manual.
Todays streaming content is a match made in heaven for them. They don't have to make friends with anyone just to learn the basics to putter around in a game. They can rerun the How To films ad nauseam to their hearts content. But, if these films are not showcased on the front page just like access to those player films. Very few will make it into the forum and dig down to them in what ever repository Skuzzy labels "How To Films". Right there you are telling them what generation demographic you cater to and loosing many who video is de facto content to Fugi's and my generation reads text.
If this is a biker bar just off an interstate. How To and Help File Films in big neon is how you get eyes, then feet through your doors spending money. HTC and the film content creators can influence the message of who we are visa the medium.
-
More video type options if your friend based everything off the front page videos. How to do x, y, x videos. We don't read anymore as much as we watch and listen to video. Your friend keyed off the large "video by players" block because that's how he is oriented instead of valuing the top menu to find anything. So on the left use the "video by" concept to put in a stack of video options for help, training, etc. The top menu is relevant to the Internet generation from before You Tube and WEB Casts.
Many things like key mapping, controller and button mapping, scaling. Sound and VOX setup. The hanger options, load outs, convergence, gunsights and on and on.
Consider who really uses the forum and it's decade of the finest info for the game possible. You need to hook them at the door and feed them easy to get at, here is everything from a-z videos. Watching how to videos will make the game look a lot simpler than digging through text explanations with a few static pictures. Most young game players just want to look at someone doing it, then do it themselves. Gamers are visual kinesthetic learners. Let them watch it being done, then let them get their hands on it so they can own the process.
I'm meeting young people these days who don't know what RTFM means anymore. And get insulted when I explain what it means. There is a bit of an expectation now to have some kind of streaming media how to. Even Ikea has caught on.
You have a point. Heard of that new social media site that only does 6-sec clips? Sounds silly to me, but by all accounts it's aparently working...
-
Ok I will jump back into this mess which was civil right up untill all the Nay Sayers chimed in.
How does my suggestion affect you in such a manner that you feel posting something non productive?
On top of that how can we even talk about change with open minds if this is what comes of an honest attempt to make something which is great, better?
Now what I'm typing is not directed at any one individual.
However, my friend IS a new player. Also a PERSON, meaning we do not know everything right from the start of an endeavor we are taught. I was simply suggesting what if any changes would have a proactive impact with helping those who did just like my friend with the Main Page.
Thanks for everyone's suggestions thus far. :salute
-
You have a point. Heard of that new social media site that only does 6-sec clips? Sounds silly to me, but by all accounts it's aparently working...
That is to compensate for the fact that kids today have the attention span of a gnat.
The site is definitely gear toward information and less on interactive.
-
When a newbie asks a question on range it's generally in the vein of: How do I change weapons and drop them. Everyone answers on text or in short direct verbal comments. In each case information exchanged was about 6 to 15 seconds.
Six to 15 seconds has to do with short term memory retention and direct usability. A long film that covered the Help file in total would be as bad as forcing them to read the file.
1. - A Help file film collection of very short answers to the basic technical and game setup skills. At the end of the film tag in the offer to contact the Trainers, ask in the Forum, call HTC and so forth, like all well made help videos today.
How To: Map Keys
How To: Calibrate Stick
How To: Select gunsight and set convergence.
How To: Use offline target
How To: Setup and test VOX
How To: Setup Graphics
How To:....etc, etc, etc, and so forth.
2. - A Collection of specific videos for each ride(air,ground,sea) or manned guns. Charts are nice, show and tell is better.
If you want to make revenue from a demographic. You have to show them what they expect and are comfortable with. If their common help file is a video. Give them a video and stop punishing them with reading. You are driving away potential revenue because they won't feel like you are in business for them. The majority of new players should be able to get into the air and perform the basics in the first couple of game sessions with some offline work and the Help videos. After that, it's a small pond with big hungry sharks.
-
There was talk of redoing the trainers site. The main idea was to have a bunch of videos explaining the different functions and setting of the game. Unfortunately the rebuild has been put on hold, but the ideas were there. It was just to the point of getting the lay out together and of course make the videos :D
Using FRAPS I made a quick dirty "mapping the controllers" video and it took only a few minutes to get something useable. A script and a bit of practice to get the "ummms" and such out :neener: would get a video on mapping the buttons on a controller of about 1 minute in length and take maybe 5 minutes to make. A bunch of these videos could go a long way in getting the newbies over the hump in the early stages.
-
This is the best AH video I could find on youtube. No stupid music, no external views. Just shows what the game is all about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_lpWrjql5U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_lpWrjql5U)