Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Wishlist => Topic started by: Cramby on September 26, 2022, 06:20:57 PM
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I believe the subscription is outdated so Here's an ideal. Allow new players to fly low tier planes for free, but if they want to fly all the planes have them subscribe then. I dont know if you guys still care or not. Its just a thought.
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It's been suggested before. One of the problems is that some players would unsubscribe and just fly the free planes all the time.
I think the idea has merit. Pick a small number of planes, and also limit the playing time per month or per week. Just enough to get people hooked.
Suggested plane set:
P-40E
Spitfire or Hurricane Mk I
A6M
Some are going to argue my plane choices, but I think a limited set should be enough to get some folks into the game. Of course, Hitech has much more experience in this area, and would have a much better idea of how this would work, or even IF it would work.
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Wouldnt work. They would be eaten alive. Because they are new, they would be eaten alive in a Tempest..
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I believe the subscription is outdated so Here's an ideal. Allow new players to fly low tier planes for free, but if they want to fly all the planes have them subscribe then. I dont know if you guys still care or not. Its just a thought.
If what you suggest was the case ,I think that I would see a lot of people fly free for 2 weeks and then not subscribe. That is not the case.
HiTech
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Good to see you, Hitech. Serious question: What are you seeing when new players try the game? Some time ago you told us that potential players log in, get stuck on the runway, then quit (if I remember the sequence correctly). Are you still seeing that?
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The game is probably too difficult for all but the most serious flight sim enthusiasts to figure out from scratch..
I know it was a huge change from fighter ace to ah back around 2000 even after years in fa
Planes smaller, icons different, so many players handing me my rear end everytime I took off...
Don't think most kids have the patience needed nowadays..
They have a tik tok video to make or watch...record adhd these days for good reason.
Eagler
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I believe the subscription is outdated so Here's an ideal. Allow new players to fly low tier planes for free, but if they want to fly all the planes have them subscribe then. I dont know if you guys still care or not. Its just a thought.
And from 1 year of experience in the arena, all the old-timers would chew them up.
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If what you suggest was the case ,I think that I would see a lot of people fly free for 2 weeks and then not subscribe. That is not the case.
HiTech
I dont know, that 2 week thing might be the reason the dont bother finishing it out. After 15 minutes or more the new guys figure out how hard it is to play the game. Looking at ONLY 2 weeks to get "good" at it Im sure is very discouraging and so they say "why bother" and log out never to return. I know I've done that on a game or two.
Giving the MA 5 free "junk" planes could help them stick around because they now have unlimited time to figure out hoe to play and maybe for some of the bold one ask for help. I dont think giving away a P40, A6M2, 109E4, TBM, and a Yak7 and maybe a G4M1 for a buff would get too many subscribers to stop subscribing to fly only those planes.
Sure they are going to die A LOT! in those planes, but they are going to die a lot in any plane they fly for the first 6 months to a year anyway. The important thing will e that they have unlimited time to try and learn. Those that stick it out will no doubt end up subscribing to get the rest of the planes. And those that dont, well we will have better numbers in the arena which helps bring in more players too.
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I agree with Fugi. And if anyone gets pretty good in the 'junk planes' then heaven help us when the upgrade. :cool:
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I dont know, that 2 week thing might be the reason the dont bother finishing it out. After 15 minutes or more the new guys figure out how hard it is to play the game. Looking at ONLY 2 weeks to get "good" at it Im sure is very discouraging and so they say "why bother" and log out never to return. I know I've done that on a game or two.
Giving the MA 5 free "junk" planes could help them stick around because they now have unlimited time to figure out hoe to play and maybe for some of the bold one ask for help. I dont think giving away a P40, A6M2, 109E4, TBM, and a Yak7 and maybe a G4M1 for a buff would get too many subscribers to stop subscribing to fly only those planes.
Sure they are going to die A LOT! in those planes, but they are going to die a lot in any plane they fly for the first 6 months to a year anyway. The important thing will e that they have unlimited time to try and learn. Those that stick it out will no doubt end up subscribing to get the rest of the planes. And those that dont, well we will have better numbers in the arena which helps bring in more players too.
I have been playing a little bit of World War II Online and they allow free to play access with one free to play unit in each class of unit. I would love to be able to still play this when I don't necessarily have the spare funds to play this.
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Great idea Fungi!
Very good free planeset too imo
I'd think getting killed by the pay to play planeset would inspire many to go with a subscription to try that planeset themselves for a bit at least..
I don't think there are many new +20 year subscribers out there like many of us dinosaurs
Eagler
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I remember when AH went to Steam, and thousands of new players werer trying out the game. IIRC, Hitech said most of the new subscriptions logged out in under 30 minutes never to log in again, so something like that. Anyway, they didn't even finish their two week trial - and that makes me think its something other than cost that is causing new players not to continue.
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I remember when AH went to Steam, and thousands of new players werer trying out the game. IIRC, Hitech said most of the new subscriptions logged out in under 30 minutes never to log in again, so something like that. Anyway, they didn't even finish their two week trial - and that makes me think its something other than cost that is causing new players not to continue.
Simulator junkies versus x-boxers.
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I remember when AH went to Steam, and thousands of new players werer trying out the game. IIRC, Hitech said most of the new subscriptions logged out in under 30 minutes never to log in again, so something like that. Anyway, they didn't even finish their two week trial - and that makes me think its something other than cost that is causing new players not to continue.
There were a few problems with the steam release. VR wasnt up to what we have now. Once players came in and found out the "Free to Play!" was for only 2 weeks it chased away most of them. I think had HTC had players standing by to help these newbs coming in from steam they could have saved some of them. On top of that, like I said above knowing how much you have to learn to get going and knowing you had only 2 weeks to get to there to even see if you could enjoy the game is enough to chase away people. As I said, there are some games Ive tried and after an hour or 2 I decided I just dont have the time/will to learn all the crap I need to just to get around in the game never mind get good enough to have fun with it.
This game takes a lot of time to even become average. TIG is an excellent example. Hes been playing for just over 3 months and has gone from 1/2 K/d to a just over 1/1 kd. His hit % is just above average even tho his K/s is still well under 1. But the important thing is hes having fun and learning every sorty. He is well on his way to becoming a "killer" in the game. Give him another 6 months and he will be above average in most stats, a year and he will be one of the sharks. THis is a guy who is into the game big time. Now look at a guy with out his confidence just starting out. He is going to be a bit over whelmed and intimidated by the game. give him unlimited time to learn with out worrying about whether he/her is wasting their money and they may stick around a bit longer. Given the time they may find and use the resources that are available in the BBS, Trainers, and numerous helping websites and videos.
I think a rebranding/reissue on steam would help a lot too. Call it AH4, introducing a free plane set for the MA, fully integrated VR support (except for the tiffy :cool:) and available help in the arenas to get going and see where it goes.
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As I said, there are some games Ive tried and after an hour or 2 I decided I just dont have the time/will to learn all the crap I need to just to get around in the game never mind get good enough to have fun with it.
This.
I've seen lots of newbs appear, crash on takeoff a few times, then disappear forever. I often noted their playerid then checked stats. It didn't take them an hour or two to decide that the game was too complicated -- maybe 15 minutes.
One thing that might help would be a check ride to get controls worked out and at least fly around a bit. A new player could spawn into an AT-6 with an AI "instructor" to go through the basics. The AT-6 would be free to fly forever, and couldn't be shot down. So, a new player could fly around, practice maneuvering, get a sense of the maps and game structure, and watch the subscribers having fun with it. Of course, this would require some development that might not be worthwhile at this stage in the game.
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If what you suggest was the case ,I think that I would see a lot of people fly free for 2 weeks and then not subscribe. That is not the case.
HiTech
Hi HiTech
I think what Fugitive stated is the root cause...they figure out in 2 days that they will not be good enough in this harder than average simulation in two weeks to bother with even trying..so they bail
But if they knew they could fly the free planeset while they got better at it, I do think more would stick around with more of those becoming paying subscribers
This would make your existing paying subscribers happy as it would give us more ppl in MA
What is your opinion?
Would that be anything you could or would like to try?
Thanks for the feedback!
<S>
Eagler
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WB has 2 free fighters (Bf109E-3 & Spit IIa) and 3 bombers (Ju52, Do17Z-2 & Wellington 1C) to use even if not paid subscription. Well, lately it's been really quiet there and very little new players but that's for some other reasons, I believe.
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Has anyone thought about increasing the monthly subscription to $99.99? Make it appear that the 'elite' play this game and you have to pay to get in and not miss out. It's just not a game, but a high society club.
We give the impression that we all play on our 100 foot yachts in the Med.
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We give the impression that we all play on our 100 foot yachts in the Med.
Mine is at Black Sea, does that count?
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Hi HiTech
I think what Fugitive stated is the root cause...they figure out in 2 days that they will not be good enough in this harder than average simulation in two weeks to bother with even trying..so they bail
I do not think anyone who has tried AH ever had such a thought. It's not a mater of "Will I be good enough in 2 free weeks" the free time is simply to get them to try it. It is a question of "am I having fun."
HiTech
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Thanks HT!
Do you think a free planeset would provide that fun for some?
Do you think that some of those that enjoy the free planes would pay $15 for the largest planeset and their skins available in any flight sim today?
I think more than one of us here do
Eagler
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Do you think a free planeset would provide that fun for some?
No
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Thanks for the feedback!
Eagler
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I do not think anyone who has tried AH ever had such a thought. It's not a mater of "Will I be good enough in 2 free weeks" the free time is simply to get them to try it. It is a question of "am I having fun."
HiTech
Do you think the complete lack of development while still requiring a subscription is a big issue? I know of no other game that does this. Maybe a one time purchase price would be a better model to use with the current state of the game instead of a 2-week trial then requiring a subscription.
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Do you think the complete lack of development while still requiring a subscription is a big issue? I know of no other game that does this. Maybe a one time purchase price would be a better model to use with the current state of the game instead of a 2-week trial then requiring a subscription.
I'd be amazed if he could keep the servers online without the subscription income. Even with how few players there are, the amount of revenue from all their monthly subscriptions are incredible.
Could he do a one time price thing? Probably, but to keep the bills paid it would have to cost so much.
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Mine is at Black Sea, does that count?
Special underwater operation?
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Do you think the complete lack of development while still requiring a subscription is a big issue? I know of no other game that does this. Maybe a one time purchase price would be a better model to use with the current state of the game instead of a 2-week trial then requiring a subscription.
I can’t imagine that would be viable. I thinks it’s pretty simple, if the game is still worth 15 bucks a month for you, keep your sub. I’d love some kind of free to play planeset but It could be an avenue for mass cheating.
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I can’t imagine that would be viable. I thinks it’s pretty simple, if the game is still worth 15 bucks a month for you, keep your sub. I’d love some kind of free to play planeset but It could be an avenue for mass cheating.
I didn't mention any free to play. No 2-week free trial. You pay, let's say $79.99, and the game is yours for as long as the servers are up. Even if you get 25% of the people that try the 2 week trial and don't sign up to "buy" the game it would be like they are subscribing for 5 months.
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I'd be amazed if he could keep the servers online without the subscription income. Even with how few players there are, the amount of revenue from all their monthly subscriptions are incredible.
Could he do a one time price thing? Probably, but to keep the bills paid it would have to cost so much.
Why how much does the server he runs in his own home cost. You seem to have the data so please share.
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I'd be amazed if he could keep the servers online without the subscription income. Even with how few players there are, the amount of revenue from all their monthly subscriptions are incredible.
Could he do a one time price thing? Probably, but to keep the bills paid it would have to cost so much.
Agreed.
- oldman
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Why how much does the server he runs in his own home cost. You seem to have the data so please share.
Nope, just adding up max # of MA players and multiplying by $15 a month. Enough money to live on, even now. Pretty sure the server banks do not reside at his home last I checked, don't really know, either way he wouldn't want to tell anyone. :noid
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Nope, just adding up max # of MA players and multiplying by $15 a month. Enough money to live on, even now. Pretty sure the server banks do not reside at his home last I checked, don't really know, either way he wouldn't want to tell anyone. :noid
I think he does keep the servers at his home. I'm sure the overhead is still significant.
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I think he does keep the servers at his home. I'm sure the overhead is still significant.
With that kind of data throughput I'd expect he had to upgrade his internet connection considerably. :bolt:
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With that kind of data throughput I'd expect he had to upgrade his internet connection considerably. :bolt:
through put isnt that big, check out his post on the move here
https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,397716.0.html
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Do you think the complete lack of development while still requiring a subscription is a big issue?
Nope. No reason this should be an issue. There are some people who keep crying, "We want something new. We want something new." That's not what this is about. This is about playing in this great sandbox we have. It's well worth the monthly fee.
We have made a suggestion. We have heard from the man who has far more insight on this issue than anyone else in this discussion. More questions might help shed more light on the issue, but the criticism doesn't help.
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I'd be amazed if he could keep the servers online without the subscription income. Even with how few players there are, the amount of revenue from all their monthly subscriptions are incredible.
Could he do a one time price thing? Probably, but to keep the bills paid it would have to cost so much.
Incredible?
$15 x? = Incredible?
I didn't think there 1000 of us left..even that is not Incredible by any means
Your Incredible is not mine
Eagler
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Incredible?
$15 x? = Incredible?
I didn't think there 1000 of us left..even that is not Incredible by any means
Your Incredible is not mine
Eagler
So 15x1000 comes out to $180,000, even halving that is pretty impressive. I can only assume your reply is a humble brag attempt, minus the humble part.
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So 15x1000 comes out to $180,000, even halving that is pretty impressive. I can only assume your reply is a humble brag attempt, minus the humble part.
To run a business and live slightly above comfortable?
It's not that much
No bragging..just facts
Do you think there are 1000 of us left?
Eagler
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To run a business and live slightly above comfortable?
It's not that much
No bragging..just facts
Do you think there are 1000 of us left?
Eagler
I'd guess between 600-700 still paying, and Dale seems like a smart guy. I'm thinking he manages very well with what he's done the last 20+ years and isn't living check to check. If it was a burden we wouldn't be here.
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I hope he is and keeps the game going forever
<S>
Eagler
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Incredible?
$15 x? = Incredible?
I didn't think there 1000 of us left..even that is not Incredible by any means
Your Incredible is not mine
Eagler
As far as businesses go, that's extraordinary, considering he only has to keep the servers up and the bills paid. This is way after the heyday, and a good 20 years after the game came out, without staff expenses, development or office costs. It's gone down to ~$180,000/year, and I refuse to believe it costs more than a fraction of that to keep a server bank running.
And considering he's the only one profiting off that...... :salute
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Yes he's not in a trailer park but it doesn't look like much left over for game dev imo
Eagler
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I hope he is and keeps the game going forever
+1
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they didn't even finish their two week trial - and that makes me think its something other than cost that is causing new players not to continue.
Have you looked around in the game lately????
He's charging a subscription fee for an outdated game. One step above minecraft is what this game is.
If this game was on Xbox it would have been on gamepass long ago, as gamepass is where games go to die
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Have you looked around in the game lately????
He's charging a subscription fee for an outdated game. One step above minecraft is what this game is.
If this game was on Xbox it would have been on gamepass long ago, as gamepass is where games go to die
Subscription fee doesn't come into play for the free two-week trial - you don't even have to supply credit card info to start. But most people (65%) didn't even last 10 minutes according to Hitech. I suspect the game's user interface design and graphics probably make a poor first impression on anyone who is familiar with more recently development flight sims. Could also be they have difficulty in setting up their controls, but honestly I didn't find AH any more difficult than in IL-2, War Thunder, or DCS - although their user interfaces are prettier and much more modern-looking.
It's a shame because in AH, I immediately feel more connected to the players when I log in - the voice channels and chat buffer are busy with activity, and it's easy to jump in and be a part of it. With the the real time radar on the clipboard map, you can see exactly where the action is. Heck, many times when I login I find myself in the tower of a field that is currently under attack. Now that is jumping right into it!
As an online player in IL-2 and DCS, I feel more isolated. And to get voice comms you have to DL and fiddle with 3rd party SimpleRadioSystem, and SRS buffer doesn't show up in your VR view, so you cant see what channel you are on, or the handles of who's transmitting.
AH does a lot of things right IMO, but is really past due for an overhaul and update of the UI graphics. And maybe it's time to ditch the subscription model and instead charge one time for the base game and planeset, and charge a premium for the rest as collector planes. I'd be for any changes that help AH survive and grow.
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One step above minecraft is what this game is.
You diddlehead.
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And to get voice comms you have to DL and fiddle with 3rd party SimpleRadioSystem, and SRS buffer doesn't show up in your VR view, so you cant see what channel you are on, or the handles of who's transmitting.
left control plus left shift plus the escape key brings up the SrS box on the left side of the screen.
shows all radio channels. You control what channels your on by turning dials and flipping switches in the cockpit too tune SrS.
When your using the intercom system it sounds real as hell.
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left control plus left shift plus the escape key brings up the SrS box on the left side of the screen.
shows all radio channels. You control what channels your on by turning dials and flipping switches in the cockpit too tune SrS.
When your using the intercom system it sounds real as hell.
I love the sound of SRS - sounds very realistic. But I don't think it is compatible within VR yet. At least it wasn't last time I flew IL-2. And since its a 3rd party app, not everybody online will be using it. Probably more use Discord.
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I use SrS in VR
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I use SrS in VR
In IL-2? I will have to check that out! Its been a while since I've flown in IL-2. Thanks for the info!
EDIT: Just back from IL-2 where I tried your suggestion of LSHFT + LCTL + ESC to bring up the SRS Radio overlay within VR. Nothing happened, except that it brought up Windows Task Manager on my desktop screen. Turns out, that is a universal shortcut for Task Manager and has been since Windows 95.
I'm using SRS version 1.0.1.4; I checked and it is the latest version. I also browsed through the IL-2 SRS forum for news about SRS within VR but didn't see any announcement.
Just to be clear, are you saying you have a access to a key combination that can bring up the SRS Radio Overlay within VR?
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When I'm using SRS I have a hat switch dedicated to comms so I can switch channels easily. In SRS settings there's a box to check that will announce what channel and which radio (there are two) you're tuned to as you scroll through them. I've also overlayed the window into VR and stuck it down out of the way so I can see what I'm tuned to. That works too. SRS does not have an overlay like discord does that shows who is speaking tho which would be nice. I don't fly IL2 enough to recognize many voices.
Prior to SRS you had to use a 3rd party app which sucked as you couldn't generally communicate with a guy right next to you like you can here. Even so, with SRS you have to be tuned to a specific area channel to do it. Not tuned you're out of luck.
I do like how some servers like combat box have gone all in with it. There is air traffic control, can assign you or your flight call signs. Can assign a mission to you. Pretty cool.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
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Drano how did you overlay window into VR? I'm using a Reverb G2...
Thanks for your help guys!
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I use SrS in DCS VR not in Il2
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In WMR it's kind of a PITA compared to oculus. You have to put a shortcut to the program you want into the start folder so it'll even show up. Then from the cliff house, using the controller, it's windows button, click on apps to the right of the main menu that comes up, then classic apps, if you did the shortcut right the program should show up in that list. Scroll thru to find it I. Click on it, it should start in a window. You might have to toggle focus with windows key+y to get it to start right. Don't forget to toggle back. You can re-size that window and click on one of the icons at the top that's "follow me". It's now pinned in VR and will follow you until you shut it down.
I use an app called Chatty to put my twitch chat in VR. Have to do the win+y thing to get it to go but it works. Handy app. I get a little ding when somebody is watching or chats with me. Can't type in VR but have a button set up to talk to the stream so do it that way.
Oculus was so much easier. Just start the program and select it from a list of active programs to pin. Done.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
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In WMR it's kind of a PITA compared to oculus. You have to put a shortcut to the program you want into the start folder so it'll even show up. Then from the cliff house, using the controller, it's windows button, click on apps to the right of the main menu that comes up, then classic apps, if you did the shortcut right the program should show up in that list. Scroll thru to find it I. Click on it, it should start in a window. You might have to toggle focus with windows key+y to get it to start right. Don't forget to toggle back. You can re-size that window and click on one of the icons at the top that's "follow me". It's now pinned in VR and will follow you until you shut it down.
I use an app called Chatty to put my twitch chat in VR. Have to do the win+y thing to get it to go but it works. Handy app. I get a little ding when somebody is watching or chats with me. Can't type in VR but have a button set up to talk to the stream so do it that way.
Oculus was so much easier. Just start the program and select it from a list of active programs to pin. Done.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Whats your twitch ID so i can follow you