Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2019, 10:18:33 AM
Pay an extra amount per month (15 bucks) to have a permanent arena set up for the subscriber to manage the way they see fit. Also have the rented arena access free for non paying members to fly around in.
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Post by: CptTrips on September 09, 2019, 10:27:55 AM
The Battlefield series had the concept of rented custom servers that players or clans could setup however they wanted.
I'd say an extra $5/month for 32 player limit $10/month for 64 player limit. Extra $ for HTC.
:salute
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2019, 10:29:03 AM
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Post by: CptTrips on September 09, 2019, 10:31:25 AM
Post by: Wiley on September 09, 2019, 10:37:03 AM
Wiley.
Post by: CptTrips on September 09, 2019, 10:41:36 AM
Give them the ability to do rankings and perks and all that stuff too, and have it persist.
Wiley.
Interesting. Seems reasonable. Add value for the extra money. +1
Post by: Wiley on September 09, 2019, 11:36:35 AM
Interesting. Seems reasonable. Add value for the extra money. +1
Not crossing with the regular arena of course, but let people in Somebody's arena use their SomebodyPerks in that arena, and have it keep score in that arena.
Wiley.
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2019, 11:39:04 AM
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Post by: perdue3 on September 09, 2019, 11:49:00 AM
Post by: CptTrips on September 09, 2019, 11:53:23 AM
We already have custom arenas, why not use those?
Just to clarify, what is being discussed here are persistent arena that live even if the creator is not logged in as opposed to the current Custom Arena that shut down if you leave. :salute
Post by: CptTrips on September 09, 2019, 12:48:03 PM
WWII Eastern Front? Battle of Britain? WWII Pacific Front? Mighty Eighth? Operation Sea Lion? Invasion USA? Invasion of Japan? how cool would it be to have a custom arena running 24/7 with 400 AI planes fighting out a Battle of Britain for you to join in any time you felt like it?
I don't think you can do that current Custom Arenas. For a non-melee arena that may not often be populated, I think it is vital to use AI-augmentation so that if a single player goes in there, they can have fun doing stuff even if no one else is around. (Heck, I think the Melee could benefit from a little of that, but it would be too large a cultural leap for veteran players to accept. Not worth the shrieking you would have to put up with.)
Post by: Vraciu on September 09, 2019, 01:03:02 PM
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2019, 02:50:13 PM
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Post by: hitech on September 09, 2019, 03:43:35 PM
HiTech
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2019, 03:52:14 PM
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Post by: Shuffler on September 09, 2019, 04:33:32 PM
After seeing what can be done, this is an idea I think is ready for the prime time.
Post by: CptTrips on September 09, 2019, 04:50:21 PM
I would have to question it.... IF I had not seen how the WWI arena turned out. Each time I have been in there, even alone, I have had a pretty darn good time. You did an excellent job on that.
After seeing what can be done, this is an idea I think is ready for the prime time.
Thanks. It was an interesting adventure. I appreciate Hitech's forbearance.
Hitech had to make a few tweaks for that particular implementation, but I am amazed at how little the attention the Staged Mission AI system has gotten. It has an amazing amount of potential.
There are some sharp edges and there will always be bugs to work around until they can be fixed (we found and fixed quite a few during that effort), and every system has limitations and constraints, but the possibilities are astounding. 90% of what I did was using the tech that's just been laying around for a couple of years unused by anybody.
When I first started looking at it, I was like "Whoa! Hey, you guys! Don't you see this over here???" lol.
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2019, 07:42:43 PM
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Post by: guncrasher on September 09, 2019, 09:57:00 PM
Semp
Post by: Ciaphas on September 09, 2019, 11:31:50 PM
I thought this idea was stupid, then again this just might bring some new faces
Semp
I believe it would be used for many things to include: Squad home servers, squad vs squad battles, 24/7 action in many different flavors for those that want to go down that route. The MA would still be used just as much as it is now but adding personalized servers the player kind of has ownership over their arena. When someone has ownership or a vested interest in something they often work harder to make that something succeed or they give it hell trying.
I would like to see the size of the maps at about half of what they are now for these "rented" servers and allow Squads to get help from a map maker to create a home terrain that they call their own and when challenged, they have to defend their own on either their turf or the turf of the challenger. I would also like to see logs printed to a whole new section of the main webpage detailing true squad score and ranking and perhaps ladder tournaments to go along with it all.
:salute
Post by: lunaticfringe on September 10, 2019, 01:28:09 AM
Post by: Ciaphas on September 10, 2019, 06:42:40 AM
I may not be seeing the point here-but if people don't want to pay 14.95 regular 10.03 for Texan's-subscription fee for Melee and the other stuff why would they want to pay for this that you all are talking about. I'm all for HiTech making more money to feed his real life stuff and keeping AH3 going. but am I missing something here?
If they don't want to pay for a persistent custom arena then they wouldn't be forced to do so.
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Post by: Vraciu on September 10, 2019, 07:13:43 AM
If they don't want to pay for a persistent custom arena then they wouldn't be forced to do so.
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Bingo.
Post by: AAIK on September 10, 2019, 08:14:32 AM
I've seen countless games communities split up using such schemes. It works with things like Battlefield because of the sheer number of players and it works the same on Minecraft as well for the same reason.
This really sounds just like a reimplementation of the H2H arenas.
I hope I am wrong and this thing rockets the game back up in popularity, its hard to see the big picture and cause and effect sometimes.
Post by: hitech on September 10, 2019, 10:12:57 AM
If this works it will probably kill what is left of the MA.
I've seen countless games communities split up using such schemes. It works with things like Battlefield because of the sheer number of players and it works the same on Minecraft as well for the same reason.
This really sounds just like a reimplementation of the H2H arenas.
I hope I am wrong and this thing rockets the game back up in popularity, its hard to see the big picture and cause and effect sometimes.
Your wrong H2H arenas already exist in everything but the name, there is no real difference in the current custom arenas or the old H2H arenas.
And BTW the $ charge would not really provide any real revenue , but it would act as a filter so that people would not just create an arena and leave it.
HiTech
Post by: CptTrips on September 10, 2019, 11:11:48 AM
If this works it will probably kill what is left of the MA.
You say that like it would be a bad thing. ;)
Honestly, I think you are being overly dramatic and alarmist. Most people are cattle, and cattle herd reflexively into the MA. It takes a huge effort to get them to do anything different than brain-dead clicking on the MA button like they always do. No one is going to march MA players out of the MA at bayonet point. If it did draw off any players, it would only do so if it were providing a superior experience. Are you against players being provided a superior experience? Should the MA be protected by not allowing any custom server that might be more fun? Soviet much?
My guess is that it would not affect MA population much at all. What it might do is provide more content for the AH ecosystem. More content means less boredom for existing players and more attraction for new players. I've seen a lot of current players state they got their start in the H2H servers back in the days when there were H2H servers running constantly. Some played H2H for years before getting an account. A lot were youngsters who's parents wouldn't pay for an account and had to wait until they got their first job. Maybe it would help grow a new generation of young players instead of relying totally on an aging/dying player population.
Post by: pembquist on September 10, 2019, 11:23:01 AM
On the IL2 Clod server missions would be dispatched by players to make bombing runs on targets with their targets announced. There was no radar but occasional sighting reports would be shown in text. In addition there were AI fighter planes all the time. The battle would be won and the map would change when sufficient targets were destroyed either by AI or players or in combination. Only one AI mission at a time could run due to server limitations. very different game play than AH. Now if AH had the flexibility to make this possible and not really time consuming and difficult for a player who is not a coder or masochist I think you might get some interesting and possibly popular things getting created or at least making it easier to experiment. I always found the most interesting things in this game to be the scenarios, snapshots, FSOs and AH racing. These are pretty difficult to set up and their scheduling limits who can play. I don't know that giving players the ability to create essentially different versions of the game from the MA, (easily,) would result in more game play but it might and it would be significant expansion of the potential of the imaginarium.
I still think that drones and match play have a lot of potential but I think you need to be able to have a more flexible implementation of the drones.
Post by: Ciaphas on September 10, 2019, 04:19:11 PM
Allow the renting of persistent servers would kind of elevate some but not all of those types of short falls.
This is how I imagine it will work with regards to the MA:
Player A will log in and check the MA numbers, seeing that they are low, Player A will log in to a rented server running missions and fly for a while. Player A will check the numbers in the MA from time to time and if the numbers are right, player A will switch over to the MA and when they drop Player A will log in to a rented server to continue playing.
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Post by: Shuffler on September 10, 2019, 04:37:32 PM
What this would need is instructions, less bugs and maybe a friendlier interface.
Are you saying my face ain't friendly?
Post by: hitech on September 10, 2019, 07:08:36 PM
The different event times do present a bit of an issue for a lot of us who cannot attend because of real life schedules.
Allow the renting of persistent servers would kind of elevate some but not all of those types of short falls.
This is how I imagine it will work with regards to the MA:
Player A will log in and check the MA numbers, seeing that they are low, Player A will log in to a rented server running missions and fly for a while. Player A will check the numbers in the MA from time to time and if the numbers are right, player A will switch over to the MA and when they drop Player A will log in to a rented server to continue playing.
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You can already do what you describe.
HiTech
Post by: Ciaphas on September 10, 2019, 07:12:50 PM
I feel that it would be a "value added" option for your game.
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Post by: Vraciu on September 11, 2019, 08:56:34 AM
You can already do what you describe.
HiTech
But the arena is not persistent.
So that is one difference.
Post by: CptTrips on September 14, 2019, 09:53:51 AM
:D
Post by: Ciaphas on September 14, 2019, 07:42:43 PM
And a paid Custom Arena Owner ought to be able to upload a splash screen image for their arena (subject to HTC approval).
:D
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Post by: bustr on September 16, 2019, 04:30:03 PM
I think there was a reason the custom arena system was constructed the way it is today.
Post by: CptTrips on September 16, 2019, 05:03:15 PM
And the final result will be telling your three fans, Oh, don't worry about Hitech Creations, I'm paying them extra to host "My Game", just ignore those fools. Ultimately that's how all the little Napoleons who had persistent HtH arenas treated Hitech Creations way back when. Still, back then they weren't paying Hitech anything but, once you are paying for something, Hitech is just the property manager you have to pony up rent to while your apartment is your personal universe until you get evicted.
I think there was a reason the custom arena system was constructed the way it is today.
Drinking this early?
All we are really talking about is a Custom Arena that persists after the admin logs out. The rental fee is just to filter out kiddies from wasting the bandwidth pointlessly.
Obviously, you didn't read the thread.
Warming up to this idea.
HiTech
Post by: Easyscor on September 16, 2019, 05:46:33 PM
And BTW the $ charge would not really provide any real revenue , but it would act as a filter so that people would not just create an arena and leave it.
HiTech
Sounded to me like he's against unattended player arenas.
The terrain I uploaded today for this type of thing will need an update later in the week. The ack at the north field can reach the combat area and catch players by surprise. Not good, but it's running in the AvA tonight.
:cheers:
Post by: CptTrips on September 16, 2019, 06:04:25 PM
Sounded to me like he's against unattended player arenas.
I believe what he meant is that he doesn't want Custom Arena just staying up by default, so that people don't needlessly take up resources because they didn't know how, or forgot to shut it down. He just doesn't want every little kid who starts one to play around leaving it up forever because Power Rangers came on TV and he closed the client without hitting shut down arena button.
Charging a nominal fee that you would specifically have to sign up for would keep the Custom Arena working as-is for the vast majority of players. You would have to intentionally sign up ahead of time for the extra surcharge to have the capability to persist a Custom Arena. 99.99% of the players wouldn't choose that added charge. Kids wouldn't accidentally leave them on when they leave. They would automatically shut down as they do now.
Someone who has added the persistent Custom Arena account add-on is specifically choosing to do this. It wouldn't just be by accident. And they would be limited to one persistent arena, or perhaps additional charge per arena they want to persist. It is the best of both worlds. It allows the user to feel a little cost for persisting an arena to prevent it being done frivolously, but allowing it for user who have a true use.
Hence why he was warming to the idea, because it allowed the capability, with a self-enforcing limiter for waste.
$0.02.
Post by: FLOOB on September 17, 2019, 04:27:05 PM
Post by: CptTrips on September 17, 2019, 05:15:16 PM
I like this idea. Like the aw full realism arena. I’d be willing to pay extra for that.
Well, I don't think the intent was that you as a player would have to pay anything to fly in these persistent Custom Arena. Only a squad or player that wanted to run a persistent server would be paying extra.
If they don't password lock it, you get to just visit and fly in there for free. More variety to sample and to enjoy.
:salute
Post by: Easyscor on September 17, 2019, 05:46:08 PM
I believe what he meant is that he doesn't want Custom Arena just staying up by default, so that people don't needlessly take up resources because they didn't know how, or forgot to shut it down. ...
Gotcha, thanks.
I hope he goes through with it. The way I remember it, the original H2H was where most new players stayed for awhile, building confidence before jumping into a paid MA subscription.
Edit: Oh, I fixed all known issues with the Combat terrain. It's total fantasy but works for very quick fights and should help build skills quickly.
Post by: Shuffler on September 17, 2019, 07:37:28 PM
Post by: Easyscor on September 17, 2019, 07:54:44 PM
Post by: Vraciu on September 17, 2019, 08:10:23 PM
I can hit a building at max G while a brew is trying to shoot me. I have that down pat.
:rofl :rofl :rofl
Post by: CptTrips on September 17, 2019, 08:21:57 PM
I hope he goes through with it. The way I remember it, the original H2H was where most new players stayed for awhile, building confidence before jumping into a paid MA subscription.
Exactly. Like a Farm League for Aces High.
I especially want to provide a place for youngsters to catch the bug early in life.
It needs to be in the F2P area so they don't have to convince Mom and Dad to fork out a monthly bill for a game, and there either needs to be a constant population, or AI-Augmented, or both, so that they always have stuff to do for a few hours after school before dinner. Telling to just wander around in empty arena, covered in dust and cobwebs, is not going to get them excited about the game.
:salute
Post by: Ciaphas on September 17, 2019, 11:55:12 PM
Exactly. Like a Farm League for Aces High.
I especially want to provide a place for youngsters to catch the bug early in life.
It needs to be in the F2P area so they don't have to convince Mom and Dad to fork out a monthly bill for a game, and there either needs to be a constant population, or AI-Augmented, or both, so that they always have stuff to do for a few hours after school before dinner. Telling to just wander around in empty arena, covered in dust and cobwebs, is not going to get them excited about the game.
:salute
Exactly
Post by: Ciaphas on September 19, 2019, 06:33:51 PM
Custom terrains void of the scrutiny of an MA terrain are allowed in custom servers, correct?
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Post by: CptTrips on September 19, 2019, 06:35:47 PM
I do have a question and I am sure of what I think is the answer is correct but:
Custom terrains void of the scrutiny of an MA terrain are allowed in custom servers, correct?
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You can upload and run any terrain you want in a Custom Arena. Custom objects and all!
Post by: Ciaphas on September 19, 2019, 06:38:54 PM
You can upload and run any terrain you want in a Custom Arena. Custom objects and all!
That's what I figured.
:salute
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Post by: CptTrips on September 19, 2019, 06:46:00 PM
That's what I figured.
:salute
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Well, you probably couldn't put Swatikas on stuff or statues of nekin chicks, but anything short of that....
Post by: Ciaphas on September 19, 2019, 06:47:41 PM
Well, you probably couldn't put Swatikas on stuff or statues of nekin chicks, but anything short of that....
Naturally, it would still have to follow HTC standards of conduct and morality.
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Post by: Vraciu on September 19, 2019, 07:48:46 PM
Naturally, it would still have to follow HTC standards of conduct and morality.
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So then strip clubs are okay? :banana:
Post by: Ciaphas on September 19, 2019, 07:49:05 PM
So then strip clubs are okay? :banana:
always
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Post by: atlau on September 20, 2019, 12:21:04 AM
Post by: Easyscor on September 20, 2019, 06:52:14 AM
Sheep?Coming to an arena near you. :D
:cheers:
Post by: Ciaphas on September 20, 2019, 06:53:18 AM
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Post by: CptTrips on September 20, 2019, 09:49:33 AM
Sheep?
With fricken lazers strapped on their heads!
Post by: Ciaphas on September 20, 2019, 05:26:21 PM
With fricken lazers strapped on their heads!
fricken lasers!
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Post by: DmonSlyr on September 21, 2019, 05:11:48 PM
The best idea was the custom arena where the Host could log off but keep the server up. I guess that's the point of paying for it.... I truly wish more people would host FFAs and Team Death matches on smaller maps with closer bases. It IS a LOT of fun.
The biggest downside to H2H was that only 8 players could fly in a arena. The guy who screwed it up for every body actually proved it when he had about 20 players in there..
If it would be so great if there was a fast action arena that was populated other than the MA.
Post by: Ciaphas on September 26, 2019, 06:59:23 PM
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