Present Terrain Notification

[nrshida]

Especially for the off-peak hours players, could the present MA terrain be displayed on the AH homepage? FesterMA is up right now which is brilliant for even small numbers of players. Other maps one may as well not log on. It would be great to know and be able to check even from a mobile phone.

[FESS67]

You seriously think the Fester map is good for smaller groups of players?

When I try to play there are maybe 45 to 60 people on.  The map has probably 200 fields!!  Even if you scour the front lines you are lucky to find a fight and it soon dries up.

I support the intention, I just don't think the current map is any good for off peak time players.  ~S~

[nrshida]

I do. When I play there are maybe 15-20 enemy in the air. I find those chains of bases funnel fights. I really like the way the dogfighters and base takes converge instead of diverge.

 

[Wiley]

While I'm not on in the real middle of the night North American time, at the lower number times I do fly, like weekend mornings and after about midnight Eastern, I find Fester is excellent at funneling the fights compared to most others.  I think his intentions with this map were largely successful.

Wiley.

[Chilli]

Back to the OP's wish for terrain notification.  I had asked for a similar addition to the splash screen when all of the arenas are shown.  I thought this might help to familiarize the players with the different maps and names.  If the names of the maps appeared next to ping (for example), players could readily identify which map is in rotation.  In the case of special events or custom arenas this information may indeed help in a faster dl from home page rather than servers.

Having all of the splash screen information available on the homepage, could go either way.  It could encourage players to join in, and it could also influence players not to bother, if current numbers or map are not "fluffy" enough to draw them into the game.

[APDrone]

Sounds like a good excuse for a smartphone app.

Sends out announcements when maps change, displaying current maps on home screen, special events, race results..

 

[Chilli]

Sounds like a good excuse for a smartphone app.

Sends out announcements when maps change, displaying current maps on home screen, special events, race results..

 

Sounds nice, but until numbers are solid, it could go horribly in the wrong direction if folks have any negative perception about maps (and we have a BBS forum full of complaints in that area).  This is why I feel the splash screen would be the right place for it.  If you get as far as the splash screen you will most likely join in on one arena or the other.

However, an app that broadcasts kill messages or landed messages would be more of a marketing tool.  If you see a player that you like to play with landing name in lights, you are more likely to want to come and join him/her.

 

The idea is a good one, just the timing is not right just yet with low numbers being a concern.