Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: oboe on February 02, 2018, 07:45:25 AM
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thundregg's recent farewell post sortof turned into a discussion about what people perceive as being wrong with the game, and I think more than once ganging/hording/rolling bases was referred to. I also happened to see a AH Facebook post complaining about the same thing, with a screenshot of the map & numbers to illustrate. HTC responded to that post basically saying they could address the imbalance by forcing people to the low-numbered side when they login, but players wouldn't like that, and the player could solve his own problem by switching sides.
I'm wondering if anyone has ever suggested using a small perk point offer when a player logs in as incentive to be switched automatically to the low-numbered country. Something along the lines of:
"Rooks have the lowest population. Switch to Rooks and receive xx perk points (Y/N)?" If the player responds "Y" the game would switch them automatically to Rooks and the points are added to the player's perk balance. The number of perks could be variable and correspond to the degree of population imbalance - the greater a country is out-numbered, the greater number of perk points would be offered.
The ability to disable these offers could be in Preferences, so people who don't want to be bothered with it can opt out.
A change like this could also go hand-in-hand with a little restructuring to the perk system, i.e. an expansion of the number of lightly perked planes and vehicles, the ability to spend perk points to fly planes that are ENY restricted, etc.
Anyway, just a thought to try to use a carrot rather than a stick to encourage players to help solve the country imbalance problem.
<S>
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One problem with the side balancing is that people play with squads, and switching sides will have you locked for what, 6 hours? Sometimes I'll switch sides to try to get to know the other players or just for a change of pace, but I'm met with "Hey guys, dont say anything, a Knight is with us right now", or we failed to capture this base because Gloom is on our team right now, he must be a spy. People don't believe that others have integrity to just play the game without giving up information, why switch teams if you are going to be met with distrust and left to die by people you normally shoot down.
I'd be happy with a 2 hour cooldown on side switching. I'm in Europe at the moment so often when I get on, none of my squad mates are on. I could use that time to even the sides, then when my friends are online I can switch back. But currently if I switch sides to help even the teams, I'm stuck on that side for the whole night.
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One problem with the side balancing is that people play with squads, and switching sides will have you locked for what, 6 hours? Sometimes I'll switch sides to try to get to know the other players or just for a change of pace, but I'm met with "Hey guys, dont say anything, a Knight is with us right now", or we failed to capture this base because Gloom is on our team right now, he must be a spy. People don't believe that others have integrity to just play the game without giving up information, why switch teams if you are going to be met with distrust and left to die by people you normally shoot down.
I'd be happy with a 2 hour cooldown on side switching. I'm in Europe at the moment so often when I get on, none of my squad mates are on. I could use that time to even the sides, then when my friends are online I can switch back. But currently if I switch sides to help even the teams, I'm stuck on that side for the whole night.
I've noticed that too, Haggerty - I used to switch sides occasionally to find better fights or just to play alongside some different players for a change, and the last time I did that someone suggested I may be a spy. <shrug> Perhaps if more people switched sides more often it wouldn't be looked at with suspicion.
Maybe they could reduce the time limit for people who have switched sides and received the perk reward. Or remove the time limit altogether, but tie the number of perk points to how long you spend on the low numbered side or how many sorties you've flown for that country, and award them as you log off or switch back to your original country. Starting to sound like being a mercenary, doesn't it?
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Many of us don't care about perks.
You're missing the forest for the trees, folks.
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You already get more perks for everything you do when you're on the low numbered side. Clearly it's not enough of a motivator to get people to switch countries.
Wiley.
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What is the carrot that attracts people to hoard? Why do players given a two sided arena like the WW1 arena choose to hop onto the side with the most numbers and not move given the freedom to choose? Why don't groups(or\squads) of players choose to address side imbalances in one go in the MA every day given the side switch timer is now 6 hours?
The answers to these questions everyone knows and no one wants to admit to. While you are winning and kicking the other guy in the ribs, it feels too good to stop. Basic human nature.
One of the things three countries does is gives the hoarded country a way to avoid that hoard and do it to the other country until things calm down. And is why you see a country ignoring a front that has a hoard on it. Three sides is not perfect especially when two countries decide at the same time to run hoards at the third country. Not much different than a two country arena with 80% in one country hoarding and chasing out of the game for the night or forever, 20% in the other country. With three sides the chasing out is more likely a country jump than canceling a subscription.
Groups of friends(or\squads) tend to become territorial(tribal) and resist change(country jumping). If the side switch time was reduced to an equivalent of at will or several times a session, being on the winning side(hoard) will alleviate the factors that cause (tribalism) to resist change. That is the magic carrot.
Stop trying to appeal to peoples better lights and admit they play shootemup games for very base and selfish reasons. Then address those reasons, you will get better results.
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Player retention. Player retention. Player retention.
Solve this and the rest solves itself.
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Hordey! Good Lordy! PewPewPewPewPewPewPewPewPewPe wPewPewPewPewPewPewPewPewPewP ewPewPew.....
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If the side switch time was reduced to an equivalent of at will or several times a session, being on the winning side(hoard) will alleviate the factors that cause (tribalism) to resist change. That is the magic carrot.
Not sure what you are suggesting -- everyone switch to join the horde so they can be on the winning side? At least the early war planes would get some use. :D
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So many facts not in evidence here.
Is hording correlated with side imbalance? ----->No
Is base rolling correlated with side imbalance ---->No
why do people equate them?
I've found that side imbalance has very little impact on game play. It matters "who" is playing [I.E. certain squads and groups of players like rolling bases.] When they are on they roll bases even if they have fewer people on their side.
:salute
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Popeye,
The only thing that over comes the bonds of tribalism in this game is winning. If side switching was the equivalent of at will in some variation, squads and groups would hop to the winning side to be able to stick it to the looser's and feel good. One of the fundamental problems with side balancing in two sided arenas like the AvA and WW1.
You want to balance sides, stop approaching the solutions by thinking everyone is a reasonable and good person like they are forced to be in the real world. They play this game to stick it to someone for what happens to them in the real world. Look at the root reasons they don't switch sides and why they hoard. Then pull a carrot out of that ground to entice them with because that is the real reward they feed themselves.
What are all the accusations thrown at the hoarders?
Cowards
Sissies
Face Shooters
Pickers
Gang and Pickers
All human nature and how most will operate in an open environment if they are not forced to act otherwise like FSO. It will be easier to come up with a solution if you admit this is how the game is played in an open environment with no structured rules of conduct to violate. Otherwise, this wish will end up as usual asking Hitech to force his customers to act like something they are not playing this game to be. Choir boys and saints.
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So many facts not in evidence here.
Is hording correlated with side imbalance? ----->No
Is base rolling correlated with side imbalance ---->No
why do people equate them?
I've found that side imbalance has very little impact on game play. It matters "who" is playing [I.E. certain squads and groups of players like rolling bases.] When they are on they roll bases even if they have fewer people on their side.
:salute
Base rolling and hording happen as a result of side imbalance, generally. It is, indeed, correlated. How can it not be?
Give instance of an outnumbered horde.
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Base rolling and hording happen as a result of side imbalance, generally. It is, indeed, correlated. How can it not be?
Give instance of an outnumbered horde.
He's not wrong. Every once in a while you'll see one side with the higher total numbers and a horde, sometimes one from both of the opposing countries rolling that country that has the high numbers.
It doesn't take superior total country numbers to get a horde going, it takes critical mass of enough players that get headed in a single direction to make a horde.
Wiley.
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Stop running away from the root of the problem or you will never reach any kind of a solution like you have all done with this question every time it has popped up for the last 15 years with out exception.
Why won't players in the AvA or WW1 arenas even the sides when one side with more numbers is stomping the other side unmercifully?
You want side balancing, either Hitech "forces" everyone against their will or, you work from this question to give them a carrot that is juicer than the one that has them kicking the other guys into the ground while enjoying their safe superior numbers.
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You want side balancing, either Hitech "forces" everyone against their will or, you work from this question to give them a carrot that is juicer than the one that has them kicking the other guys into the ground while enjoying their safe superior numbers.
^This. :cheers:
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5 component and organized sticks can thwart 10 or so unorganized sticks just about any day of the week.
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5 competent and organized sticks can thwart 10 or so unorganized sticks just about any day of the week.
FIFY. :salute
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That avoids answering the question at the root of what inspired the OP to post this wish. For 15 years this has been how posts like this dissolve by deflecting from the question I posed. Right now how Hitech has setup side balancing is directly from experience with this aspect of human nature in game design. It accepts people will act this way when given the choice and no rules or force to interfere. It's not who can beat who or how, it's why do players create mobs for safety in an open world no restrictions combat game. Then proceed to act with a mob mentality down to the last enemy player when they can altruistically change sides knowing that will balance the engagement for both sides.
Why do members of the mob refuse to give up mobbing inferior and loosing numbers against the altruism of joining the enemy numbers to promote a fair fight? It does not win the war if your hoard of 20 wipes out 2 uppers 50 times in a row. And everyone on a map at the time that it's the last field being hoarded for the capture accepts that is how you get the last field to win the map. It's an obvious you are winning the war finally. Otherwise, those last 5 nights of aimless furballing and other activities were just a mob enjoying winning something in the moment by not being the guys hammered by a mob.
If the MA was changed overnight to a two country conflict, with it mandatory(forced) side balancing or the switching time would have to be increased to try and stabilize everyone wanting to be on the winning side or the side perceived to have the best players. Why in the AvA do players choose to fly the good ride side even while watching their side's numbers grow out of balance? The CM's try to arena announce that players need to change sides, that is not always enough. I have never seen them use force to side balance in the AvA and people just go back to the MA as the side imbalance and all the garbage that goes with it gets out of hand.
So what is the carrot to hold out to a mob that is more enticing than being with that mob winning at whatever they are mobbing to get mob members to switch countries? You have to over come tribalism and fear of not having a mob to hide in when they show up in the new country.
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Well considering that this is a war sim, you either adapt as a team or you lose. It’s as simple as that. There is no magic carrot to dangle, it’s not something that they should try to fix. If you spend you entire time developing to please everyone you WILL kill your own product. Simply put, you cannot make everyone happy and shouldn’t strive to.
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even with side balancing you still get the double team on one country, which happens most evenings and weekends.
the other night when i was on the teams were almost exact in numbers yet the country being hoarded had double dar bars on both front while the other countries had a mere 1 base flashing on there whole front. i have seen many maps where one country has lost 30% of there bases to another country and they still continue to beat on the country that owns less than 10% of there base while the country with the a fore mentioned 30% is going for the win. it becomes to easy to stay on the winning fight roll when you have 2 to 1 on your opponent and the kills are racking up.
on the country switching for the last couple of weeks i have tried to move around to help with numbers in the am but again you are meet with ridicule and "you just here to spy?". also for me i didnt seem to get very much help from the teams i swapped to. the bish was going for a win and needed one base to capture for that win. we had a boat near a base and i porked it and white flagged the town from the ship and after 5 calls for help 1 person came. and they were not all busy at the base being captured there was 2 people there. so after spending 2 hrs defending why i switched to a country that had 7 players when i logged on versus the country i was on with 17 and the total lack of help that was produced by that team while i was there do you think next time i will want to switch? 20 eny dont seem that bad at that point.
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this is a war sim
Is it? Reasonable minds have differed.
For decades.
- oldman
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They can differ all they want, at its core that’s exactly what this game is.
Call it for what it is.
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They can differ all they want, at its core that’s exactly what this game is.
Call it for what it is.
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It may be called a combat sim. It may be called a flight sim. Events may be called a war sim. The MA is a three-sided WWII toy chaos sim with an element of capture the flag.
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Still a war sim anyway you dice it up
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Still a war sim anyway you dice it up
Perspective ..... not 'given.' ;)
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No, it’s pretty straight forward. Stop looking for something that isn’t there.
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Everyone is missing the point...
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No, it’s pretty straight forward. Stop looking for something that isn’t there.
Could be said, verbatim, to you. :D
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The point hasn’t been lost. For some the nostalgia of the game was lost between AH2 and AH3.
Some people complain because other players don’t play the game in the manner that they think it should be played.
A few think that because they pay a sub that HiTech should change the game in a direction that fits there personal gaming style.
This is a WW2 combat sim. There are hundreds of different personalities, opinions.
At its core the game objective is to win the “war”. Everything after that is there to add flavor to the game.
The devs can’t make everyone happy with their decisions and they shouldn’t try to. They have a vision for this game and a means to see that vision to an end.
While some will leave, most will stay. As for Egg leaving and his reasons, well, they are his and to say he is right or wrong is not our job. If as a player you decide that the game is shifting in a direction that removes the fun factor for you by all means go and find what you need to have fun.
At the end of the day this is just a game, one that many of us have played for years. For me, there is nothing that has been implemented that breaks that fun factor, sure I take breaks from this game and those breaks usually last a year or so at a time but I always come back. I enjoy the fact that I can up a crate and do what I want when I want.
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At its core the game objective is to win the “war”. Everything after that is there to add flavor to the game.
Some may counter that at its core the game is about dog-fighting and that everything added to that either enhances or ruins that aspect.
P.S. I essentially support and applaud your post, though. :)
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Good god
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Yes the point has been lost, Ciaphas.
None of this matters if you don’t retain noobs. Period. Call it anything you want. A war. A game. A knitting circle. You’re pushing rope uphill until you solve the main issue.
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Nah man, the point is still there. These are just some of the symptoms.
This isn’t a one shoe fits all kind of issue. There are many small issues that feed in to it.
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This isn’t a one shoe fits all kind of issue. There are many small issues that feed in to it.
Players with issues, more like. Like I said, I think your post was rather spot on. :cheers:
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You guys won't, or cannot answer the real question that creates these issues. Hitech's solution is a compromise that dosen't require "forcing" players to do what a small group of our self appointed betters just know will make everything work while it won't cost them a dime.
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You guys won't, or cannot answer the real question that creates these issues. Hitech's solution is a compromise that dosen't require "forcing" players to do what a small group of our self appointed betters just know will make everything work while it won't cost them a dime.
^Again .... this. :cheers:
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I play to win the "war".
I am lousy enough in a fighter that if this was all about dog fighting and nothing else, I would be gone. :airplane:
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I play to win the "war".
I am lousy enough in a fighter that if this was all about dog fighting and nothing else, I would be gone. :airplane:
AH is not about dog-fighting and nothing else. It may be to some players but the game has so many more aspects than that. What I'm suggesting is that the MA does not truly mimic an historical* war game. It may have many of the same elements of combat that a war has (including capture of territory) but it doesn't quite have enough elements to truly suspend disbelief when it comes to pretending to fight WWII (the obvious time-frame per the parameters of what may be modeled in non-WWI AH). Squadrons of Allied aircraft fighting squadrons of Allied aircraft or New Jersey class battleships sinking Essex class aircraft carriers on a map that represents anything but planet Earth just kinda swamps that kind of immersion.
*My personal limitation on what is a true war game.
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Nah man, the point is still there. These are just some of the symptoms.
This isn’t a one shoe fits all kind of issue. There are many small issues that feed in to it.
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How do we retain new players? How do you set the hook?
Focus on this.
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Vriacu,
You are doing exactly what everyone has done for the last 15 years to avoid answering the real question that creates the perception side balancing is needed at more of alevel than Hitech has been willing to provied. Start a post about setting the hook to retain new players. Stop trying to slip under the rule#'s to see what you can get away with. It just makes you look like a lame and cheezy greifer.
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Vriacu,
You are doing exactly what everyone has done for the last 15 years to avoid answering the real question that creates the perception side balancing is needed at more of alevel than Hitech has been willing to provied. Start a post about setting the hook to retain new players. Stop trying to slip under the rule#'s to see what you can get away with. It just makes you look like a lame and cheezy greifer.
It has nothing to do with that. I'm telling you guys what the boss himself has said more than once. (See Rule #5. Ahem.)
We are spinning our wheels here and not solving the primary issue that matters.
(I never squeak about side balancing. It is what it is. When I'm outnumbered I have more bad guys to shoot down.)
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Well, I'd make a specific suggestion to bring in more bodies but AH is supposed to be a family friendly game. :D
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e1/5b/cf/e15bcf0a69b55feef5834dcf952eb50a.jpg)
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Never get tired of that pic, Arlo. :cheers:
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I play to win the "war".
I am lousy enough in a fighter that if this was all about dog fighting and nothing else, I would be gone.
And from the other side: I play for dogfighting. Even though I am not particularly accomplished at that skill set. If this were just a win the war game, where individual merit was subsumed in the group effort, I would find it terribly boring. Don't know if I'd bail or not, happily we aren't there, but it would be a thought.
- oldman
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You guys won't, or cannot answer the real question that creates these issues. Hitech's solution is a compromise that dosen't require "forcing" players to do what a small group of our self appointed betters just know will make everything work while it won't cost them a dime.
... and yet the game continues to lose players day after day. Maybe its time HTC tries a different solution.
HTC has done a great job keeping the game going but what worked before just isn't working now. Players are different, looking for different things. To give them that ability to do those "different things" yet still maintain the the core idea of the game.... to be able to have combat with WWII type toys.... changes will have to be made.
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Players are different, looking for different things. To give them that ability to do those "different things" yet still maintain the the core idea of the game.... to be able to have combat with WWII type toys.... changes will have to be made.
What different things do you suggest?
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What different things do you suggest?
Many things HAVE been suggested, and yet we continue down the same path.
Has anyone else noticed that if you bring up the scores for a player and they are tied for last place by not making any runs in a bomber or vehicle it no longer shows you the rank for that group? You can still find them on "Squad" numbers but I could swear that you could see them on individual players stats before. Its only important as many use these numbers/ranking as a gauge to the number of subscribers. While not a "guarantee" of the true numbers it was a sounding gauge many used. Why hide them?
<EDIT> There looks to be some issue with the scoring page. It says my squad didnt fly 6 months ago and I know it did. This problem may be why the ranks are "0" on the individual players pages.
The only problems this game has now are,
1. Players, the shift AWAY from combat of any kind.
2. Adding new players.
3. Retaining new players long enough for them to be hooked.
The game it self is awesome! Even after playing it for a dozen years I still find fun every time I play, but it is getting harder and harder to find. HTC has built a great looking, playing game. Unfortunately I think most players ignore most of it to cut corners to play a bastardized version of the game. New players come in and see this bastardized version of play, the hard learning cuve and say "screw this! Im not paying $15 a month to be fodder for the sharks" and move on.
I hope we see changes.
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Many things HAVE been suggested, and yet we continue down the same path.
.............
The only problems this game has now are,
.............
1. Players, the shift AWAY from combat of any kind.
2. Adding new players.
3. Retaining new players long enough for them to be hooked.
.............
The game it self is awesome!
I hope we see changes.
Your post doesn't seem to illustrate any actual suggested changes that would positively impact the only three problems you see yet you want those problems addressed. You even admit that the game is 'awesome.' I can only conclude that the game isn't the problem.
What's left?
Marketing schemes? Steam's been tried. Targeted advertisements are back out there (on the internet).
Some say change the business model to FTP (some say AH already has FTP in custom arenas).
Add more planes, vehicles and ships? That's always nice to see but you's have to add more than other games offer and types more unique that players are fascinated with. That's almost impossible, now.
Even the Spanish Civil War arena idea is probably past it's expiration date. ;)
Integrated soft port with a brothel in most towns where perks can be spent on a striptease? :t Not if you want minors in the mix. :cool:
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I think it rests on the many different personality clashes and the disdain for new players that is shown by a few very vocal individuals.
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Your post doesn't seem to illustrate any actual suggested changes that would positively impact the only three problems you see yet you want those problems addressed. You even admit that the game is 'awesome.' I can only conclude that the game isn't the problem.
What's left?
I could spend an hour and post links to a hundred suggestions, but Im not going to. If HTC IS looking at suggestions, they have seen them.
Marketing schemes? Steam's been tried. Targeted advertisements are back out there (on the internet).
Some say change the business model to FTP (some say AH already has FTP in custom arenas).
Advertising is fine, tho I think HTC has done very little. Just with social media they have fallen flat. I started a facebook page where I posted little action reports 2 nights a week and had a good following starting. I unfortunately work for a living and cant keep up with it but I thought it looked promising.
And once they get players in..... what then? The learning curve is huge and very little is done to make it easy for these new players to get started. Help pages that are almost impossible to find simple answers to basic questions. Very little welcoming new players to the game, they are just dumped into the deep end of the pool to be eaten alive.
Add more planes, vehicles and ships? That's always nice to see but you's have to add more than other games offer and types more unique that players are fascinated with. That's almost impossible, now.
Even the Spanish Civil War arena idea is probably past it's expiration date. ;)
Integrated soft port with a brothel in most towns where perks can be spent on a striptease? :t Not if you want minors in the mix. :cool:
I dont think they NEED content. As I said this game is great. Very well thought out with plenty of options. The issue is the game has been boiled down to the least common denominator and this bastardized version of the game that todays player play is a far cry from what is available IN this game.
They need to hire someone full time to hammer social media, minimum 20-30 posts a day on each outlet. Real time game info,AAR and such. Tidbits of history, upcoming scenarios. picture of things to come, debates on the message board. Stuff to embrace the community.
Changes to the game that encourage players AWAY from the lame play/short cuts they have boiled the game down to. As I said, there are hundreds of suggestions just on these boards. Pick a few and try them out, generate more action and less avoidance. The GV dar is a thorn to some, compromise, increase the size of the box giving the GV more square footage to hide in, but not total invisibility.
Staying the "same" with what has always worked isn't going to help, they have to look at the next best thing to come. Sitting on your laurels NEVER works out.
I think it rests on the many different personality clashes and the disdain for new players that is shown by a few very vocal individuals.
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On 200 last night they were chatting with a new player, been here about 5 months. When asked point blank if he had been harassed he answered no and that most players are helpful. He did say is was really hard to get up to speed as so many players are very good in the arena. Help needs to very easy to get both in documentation as well as 1 on 1.
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They need to hire someone full time to hammer social media, minimum 20-30 posts a day on each outlet. Real time game info,AAR and such. Tidbits of history, upcoming scenarios. picture of things to come, debates on the message board. Stuff to embrace the community.
^
Tens of thousands have downloaded AH when it came to steam.
Almost nobody signed up.
Which tells me that no amount of advertisement (which always costs money) will pay off for the game as is.
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There should be a full-blown instruction manual for this game on the AH3 Home Page. (Right next to the download button)
I know there are tutorial videos, but most products these days come with a manual, do they not?
Might even want to make that a downloadable PDF, so a customer may print that out or save it to their PC.
Coogan
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I think it rests on the many different personality clashes and the disdain for new players that is shown by a few very vocal individuals.
I appreciate new players, don't you? :D
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Never said I didn’t and I am not part of that very small but very vocal group.
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There should be a full-blown instruction manual for this game on the AH3 Home Page. (Right next to the download button)
I know there are tutorial videos, but most products these days come with a manual, do they not?
Might even want to make that a downloadable PDF, so a customer may print that out or save it to their PC.
Who best to help out HT with such a project than the long time players of the game that post on this forum? Shall we start a thread entitled "AH player's manual" and start the rough draft? It wouldn't take long to put it on a link that we could ask Skuzzy to sticky or ask HT to feature on the main website page. It could even be regularly revised. Hell, as long as it doesn't negatively impact my studies, I'd be thrilled to help write and edit it and host it on a WIX site.
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Who best to help out HT with such a project than the long time players of the game that post on this forum? Shall we start a thread entitled "AH player's manual" and start the rough draft? It wouldn't take long to put it on a link that we could ask Skuzzy to sticky or ask HT to feature on the main website page. It could even be regularly revised. Hell, as long as it doesn't negatively impact my studies, I'd be thrilled to help write and edit it and host it on a WIX site.
That would be pretty cool, a couple of months ago I think this was brought up but for some reason it was shot down by the some of the players.
I know it would help people out a bunch. It would also be awesome if there were advanced write-ups for those who want to learn more advanced stuff. I know I could use the help haha
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Who best to help out HT with such a project than the long time players of the game that post on this forum? Shall we start a thread entitled "AH player's manual" and start the rough draft? It wouldn't take long to put it on a link that we could ask Skuzzy to sticky or ask HT to feature on the main website page. It could even be regularly revised. Hell, as long as it doesn't negatively impact my studies, I'd be thrilled to help write and edit it and host it on a WIX site.
Not a bad idea.
Maybe it will give folks something better to do than bicker back & forth.
Coogan
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Not a bad idea.
Maybe it will give folks something better to do than bicker back & forth.
Maybe. :cheers:
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^
Tens of thousands have downloaded AH when it came to steam.
Almost nobody signed up.
Which tells me that no amount of advertisement (which always costs money) will pay off for the game as is.
The steam bubble has burst, they need to look forward to bring in more new players.
Again, once they have them coming in they have to make changes to make it easier for these new players to get up and running.
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The steam bubble has burst, they need to look forward to bring in more new players.
Again, once they have them coming in they have to make changes to make it easier for these new players to get up and running.
Yeah, its unfortunate the game wasnt ready for the new players. There are so many negative reviews on steam that could be addressed with ease.
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The steam bubble has burst, they need to look forward to bring in more new players.
Again, once they have them coming in they have to make changes to make it easier for these new players to get up and running.
The number of people trying the game is extremely high. The issue is a high percentage don't stay longer than twenty minutes. We need to figure out why. This game would have the arenas maxed out in no time if that riddle was solved.
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Yeah, its unfortunate the game wasnt ready for the new players. There are so many negative reviews on steam that could be addressed with ease.
Care to list a few
Just curious.
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Care to list a few
Just curious.
poor support, can't fly with vr controls, 15 bucks is too much or antiquated , too hard to figure out.
Sign up for Steam and you can read them all.
As to why they leave, gamers are use to having everything handed to them. They don't want to have to go through the trouble of finding out how to setup controls, get off the ground, or even the most basic things of the game.
Clue that and the difficult way the help page are set up and the huge learning curve of the game and I can see why they leave and never come back.
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poor support, can't fly with vr controls, 15 bucks is too much or antiquated , too hard to figure out.
Sign up for Steam and you can read them all.
As to why they leave, gamers are use to having everything handed to them. They don't want to have to go through the trouble of finding out how to setup controls, get off the ground, or even the most basic things of the game.
Clue that and the difficult way the help page are set up and the huge learning curve of the game and I can see why they leave and never come back.
Well, a virtual or downloadable manual may help with part of that. I'm not sure about the effort it takes to set up controls and such. Guess it's generational when it comes to things or experiences worth having taking effort on one's part (though I never thought the technical aspect of playing AH was all that difficult). I don't see AH hiring a 'Geek Squad' (so to speak) to go to their house and do it for them. Skuzzy (and most of the players on this forum) could explain it to them and even the laziest players usually see links to forums on the respective game websites (then we go back to a horse vs. water thing).
I'd still like to think we're on the verge of a potential epiphany but that may be my optimism talking.
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Somehow I think they will not be reading any manuals. Too much work.
You need to lead them by the hand with a voice-over instructor and arrows pointing to everything step by step.
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Well, a virtual or downloadable manual may help with part of that. I'm not sure about the effort it takes to set up controls and such. Guess it's generational when it comes to things or experiences worth having taking effort on one's part (though I never thought the technical aspect of playing AH was all that difficult). I don't see AH hiring a 'Geek Squad' (so to speak) to go to their house and do it for them. Skuzzy (and most of the players on this forum) could explain it to them and even the laziest players usually see links to forums on the respective game websites (then we go back to a horse vs. water thing).
I'd still like to think we're on the verge of a potential epiphany but that may be my optimism talking.
As much as I like the idea of a user-manual created by the community, I see this not happening. (see how your post is getting pushed down?)
This is something HTC should have done IMO.
I won't get into skinning and maps...
Coogan
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Well, a virtual or downloadable manual may help with part of that. I'm not sure about the effort it takes to set up controls and such. Guess it's generational when it comes to things or experiences worth having taking effort on one's part (though I never thought the technical aspect of playing AH was all that difficult). I don't see AH hiring a 'Geek Squad' (so to speak) to go to their house and do it for them. Skuzzy (and most of the players on this forum) could explain it to them and even the laziest players usually see links to forums on the respective game websites (then we go back to a horse vs. water thing).
I'd still like to think we're on the verge of a potential epiphany but that may be my optimism talking.
No. It needs to be ingame. If people aren't led by the hand in the game, they're not going to bother looking elsewhere. A very small percentage of people ever visit the forum. If google were to turn up something totally perfect, maybe, but even then that's likely too much to ask. If people haven't got it right in front of them when they start the game they aren't going to go hunt it down.
https://youtu.be/W1ZtBCpo0eU?t=57 (https://youtu.be/W1ZtBCpo0eU?t=57)
We may laugh, but it's what people expect and it's all they have patience for.
Wiley.
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I see the thread was successfully hijacked. :frown:
hoarding is a local phenomena not a macro one. Lusche could probably provide side population deltas by time. I don;t see big differences during peak hours. When numbers are very low IE wee hour of the day, they can be lopside by percentage but what difference on a huge map is a significant one?
I believe side balancing is a non-issue.
And to address the hijackers of the thread..
Side balancing has nothing to do with player retention.
Biggest issue in player retention is...
1) Lack of peripherals required to play (fly) properly.
2) The game is too difficult to play (fly) without the proper peripherals.
3) the game is very difficult and requires a large time commitment to acquire the skills to be effective.
You have to come into this game with a strong desire to become a good pilot, and be willing to invest the money on the proper controls, and time to learn how to use them, and the game. If you just stop by to check it out because you came across it, you quickly learn you are in over your head and will leave in frustration for something easier.
I like this game because it is hard.
that may be the very reason the younger generation is not flocking to it.
...but it ain't side balance. :) :salute
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I see the thread was successfully hijacked. :frown:
I blame Vracui...
Can't take him anywhere.
Coogan :furious
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I blame Vracui...
Can't take him anywhere.
Coogan :furious
Har!
:D :ahand
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No. It needs to be ingame. If people aren't led by the hand in the game, they're not going to bother looking elsewhere. A very small percentage of people ever visit the forum. If google were to turn up something totally perfect, maybe, but even then that's likely too much to ask. If people haven't got it right in front of them when they start the game they aren't going to go hunt it down.
https://youtu.be/W1ZtBCpo0eU?t=57 (https://youtu.be/W1ZtBCpo0eU?t=57)
We may laugh, but it's what people expect and it's all they have patience for.
Wiley.
+100
Somehow I think they will not be reading any manuals. Too much work.
You need to lead them by the hand with a voice-over instructor and arrows pointing to everything step by step.
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I like this game because it is hard.
that may be the very reason the younger generation is not flocking to it.
I echo your sentiments.
- oldman
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<EDIT> There looks to be some issue with the scoring page. It says my squad didnt fly 6 months ago and I know it did. This problem may be why the ranks are "0" on the individual players pages.
No issue with the scoring page if you’re using the CO’s name to dig up the stats. Squad changed hands if you remember.
Don’t know what the cure is for the side imbalance. A couple personal observations. I’m attracted to the fight. I go where the red is. Given the smaller numbers. Finding the red gets difficult. It used to be that I could single handedly stir a fight up. Which would often start a whole second front. Now it takes a pretty good sized group to have a chance to get anything going. If you bring too many, there is little to no defense. If you bring too few, you have the same problem. No one bothers to defend.
I believe a lot of the tools and incentives were built around a much larger and diverse population. Over time, tools were developed to fight the horde. These tools are still in place but the truly large hordes are gone. You almost need a horde to get things done now. I honestly believe making captures easier would go a long way to making fights quicker to develop everywhere. Could be wrong. Not scared to experiment though.
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No issue with the scoring page if you’re using the CO’s name to dig up the stats. Squad changed hands if you remember.
<snip>
I dont think that is it, I check a couple other squads and theirs are the same. It shows all other numbers, but just no rankings with the 0 flights.
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Incentive to defend. There may be a key in this.
A perk per minute if you are part of an active defense of a field (in flight or in a vehicle only)? :blank:
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You need to make perks valuable for something like this to have any effect. As it is, you dont need to worry about perk points after your first day of playing, they are just too easy to come by and maintain. Perhaps what is really needed is a 50-100% bump in perk costs for current perk rides, and adding perk requirements to most of the planeset.
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Care to list a few
Just curious.
Antiqued UI from the early 90's
VR issues
Listed as free to play, but ask to subscribe after you install
I had so many issues myself when I installed the steam client, im glad I've been playing for decades and knew how to fix it all, otherwise I probably would've uninstalled.
For a game like this, you really need a veteran to hand hold a new player and to be there to answer questions right away. I managed to snag a few into our squad channel that loved the game, but couldnt convince their friends to stay with the $15/month, they all left after their trial was over. We all know the game is fun, but the sub is scary to so many people these days. Most of my breaks from Aces High are because my friends won't pay $15 for AH but I still want to play with them, so I leave the game. A lower sub or different way of gathering revenue will not only retain me, but could bring in all my friends that are too scared of the sub, and their friends too.
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I do agree that a sub based game is scary for many.... but I ask, how much do they spend on the free games they play.... many will blow much more..
As for the two weeks free...I have always thought this is good...but also not..
.I feel that a total hours would work better... (30/50/100hrs???) of free online time.... as it is now you can blow two weeks without even getting a good feel of it unless you sit in all day everyday...these days, mind spans are short and games are plentiful so many game hop following mates from day to day...week to week....... having a hours online timer would allow new players enough time to get to grips with things in their time..for some of us older guys who play a couple of hours each time it could take a month to use up 50 hours...but when new to game...you can get caught up for hours and before you know it mums calling you for dinner...so 4-5 hours per day.. turns into 10 days.... difference is you can still follow your mates to another game for a week or two and not lose your free time thus giving time to set that hook firm
During this time you get placed on the low number side at login .... you can't join squads...(if you are thinking of joining a squad you must be about to start subbing).... so squads are for subbed players only...Buuuutttt perhaps a special squad only for the new guys to be a part of could actually be helpful ...Which in this scenario you could be a part of unsubbed...this would need to be a cross country squad ...so without sub, no private cross country communication...and obviously trust worthy co' xo of squad for any cross country communication if needed. Once subbed you can no longer be a part of the squad unless invited by the CO, XO....
Just some of my thoughts...realistic....in my head yes ( give or take a few problems that are bound to crop because of the incurrable problem of human nature )....in practice ?????
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If the following could somehow be coded for free access in the main arena:
C-47A
F4F-4
P-40B
Hurricane Mk I
Spitfire Mk I
Bf 109E-4
Fi 156
D3A1
I-16
Jeep
M-3
SdKfz 251
(9 planes and 3 vehicles ... early war or support)
Then you would indeed technically have a FTP game. It can be plainly known that with a sub you would have access to the toys that are easily destroying you on a regular basis.
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If the following could somehow be coded for free access in the main arena:
C-47A
F4F-4
P-40B
Hurricane Mk I
Spitfire Mk I
Bf 109E-4
Fi 156
D3A1
I-16
Jeep
M-3
SdKfz 251
(9 planes and 3 vehicles ... early war or support)
Then you would indeed technically have a FTP game. It can be plainly known that with a sub you would have access to the toys that are easily destroying you on a regular basis.
This I agree with. I also believe it is the cheapest option available to HTC as well. The only money needed would be to write the code to make those planes free in the MA. Other than that they have everything else needed.
I also dont think it would hurt HTC's bottom line. Any players that use the "free" planes even it that is all they ever do for months on end HTC is not losing any money. More than likely those players wouldnt subscribed any way. Letting them play with a small set of plane in the MA with EVERYONE else can only wet their appetite and more than likely would lead to more subscriptions.
Another added benefit is there would be more players playing and that can only be good for the game.
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:cheers:
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Make some planes free in the MA, i like that idea.
Make perk points more valuable. I have suggested this in the past. Make more planes worth perks, even if some planes are 7-10 perkies. Just that little bit of a perk value added to some of the better planes would make perkies more valuable as you would almost be required to use them.
That idea could be implemented regardless, but here's how I would take it a step further. Get rid of the subscription fee, and allow players to buy perkies AND plane skins that they want to use. THIS is how you get to the younger generation. Put this together with a behind-the-wheel (or.. erm... stick) tutorial, people will stay. The younger generation doesn't pay for subscriptions, they pay for useless stuff that doesn't make any difference in a game other than appearance (like a plane skin). Just look at League of Legends and Counter Strike.
People have had issues with being able to buy perkies, like somehow this would make the game pay-to-win. But of course it wouldn't do that. you're not paying to have you plane upgraded. Anyone could get that plane if they earned the perkies. This just gives it a shortcut for the younger member seeking instant gratification, which you have to assume is the norm for any younger player.
BZacc