Host Change Thurs 10/19

[aztec]

Originally posted by Eagler
it must be me
but I find it only takes about 5 sticks per side with bases not too far apart for all the AH fun I need for an hour or two distraction from the daily grind ...

For the most part I agree Eagler. Last night was a good example and thx for the fun btw !

[Eagler]

ty sir

[Spatula]

Hi, im going to wade in to this. When HT made the first changes i was dissapointed that it lead to a diluting of numbers during non-peak hours. We used to have over 100 in the Arena (a good number by all definitions) on average when i normally fly. Since the split it seems that most people just gravitated back towards the LWMA, so we had a very similar setup, with only perhaps a dozen or so in each the MW and EW arenas. So that left the LWMA with 80 or on average during my flying times - again not bad, and i dont have problems finding fights etc etc. Inspite of my initial concerns it has found a natural equalibrium and the sky didnt fall.
I understand what HTC is doing, and i understand and support why they're doing it. But the problems they're trying to solve dont exist when i fly, they exist when the vast majority of HTCs customer's fly. So i can live with that as im def in the minority as long as it doesnt destroy the reasons why i choose the pay and fly here. And so far it hasn't.
The latest move is really a continuation or refinement of the original splitting move. So i understand and support the principles behind it. HOWEVER, WHY oh WHY do we need two LWMAs during the off-peak periods?? It further dilutes the already low (and recently lowered) player base per arena again to a point where its getting borderline (say 60 on average in the MA) And now divide that amongst three countries, it starts getting harder to find fights and have fun. In fact people swap sides so they can win the reset, so you end up   with hoarde mentality with one country being abondoned (with only a dozen or less defenders) while the rest gang up on it to get the reset perks - which is too easy with only 12 or less defenders... So im wondering that diluting the player base too much MAY be having the opposite effect of your intentions during off-peak time zones. Food for thought.

So HT - some serious questions:
1. Can we only have one LWMA during off peak times? say at a certain time stop allowing people to join one of the two LWMAs and close it when it numbers 1. This would go some way to redress the diluting of numbers during off-peak times. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE...

2. When i used to play Warbirds, they used to have a 'relaxed FM' arena. A more acardish flight model for people who want air-quake(tm). Have you considered something similar here? Still have the realistic arenas in the EW, MW, LW etc format as per usual. This would help newbies to the game stay longer and then graduate to the realistic arenas. Too many people give up cause the learning curve is too steep for most people. This could help. I know this suggestion seems contrary to my worries about diluting the player base during off-peak times (adding yet another arena), so maybe have less arenas available or turn easy-mode arena off during low-peak times?? I dunno, im sure you've already considered this option, i just thought i'd through it out there.

[Oldman731]

Originally posted by Eagler
it must be me
but I find it only takes about 5 sticks per side with bases not too far apart for all the AH fun I need for an hour or two distraction from the daily grind ...

Yus, I think it's just you, Eagler.  Obviously you have no sense of how to win the war.

- oldman

[rpm]

I gotta give HTC a hand. They keep finding new ways to suck the fun out of this game on a weekly basis. I agree with Overlag's view of current gameplay. I can't fly with my friends and arenas are still lopsided. You want to stop a horde? Pork their troops and ord, don't constantly tweak the arena.

This new setup may be great for the nubies because they don't know how much fun it used to be to fly AH. For some of us that have been loyal, steady paying customers for years it's a slap in the nads.

HT, I've read your reasons for doing this, nowhere that I can find does it say it will be more fun for the customer. Will you please stop and listen to your customers reactions for a minute instead of shoving new and improved down our throat?

[BlauK]

Originally posted by hitech
Understand our goal is simply to have 2 arenas running with critical mass.
The other goals are, always be able to get in each arena, so you can always fly with your squad, or any one else you wish.

But the need to establish critical mass in a 2nd arena of the same type is realy not debateable, the only things debateable are at what point, and how to establish that critical mass.

HiTech

IMHO, making people choose between two LW arenas with "more people" or "less people" is not a real choise. Why would people want to choose the latter? I would suggest an approach with some trade-offs, with something that could make even the smaller arena more desirable.

Obviously there are people who prefer the EW and MW planes, some even prefer them in tiny aenas. I assume that there are several people playing at current LW arenas who also prefer EW or MW planes, but they prefer MORE to play with several people.

In regard of player numbers at any arena, there must be some number or range of player numbers which is enough... and which would then start bringing more people in. But what is it?..  60? 100? I suppose it varies a lot for different people.

Back to initial topic of trade-offs.
EW and MW are pretty useless as they are now... at least in off-peek hours. Combining them as one arena might produce a number of players which could cross teh required limit and start bringing inmore players.. those who like EW/MW planes, but prefer the numbers more.

Choosing between EW/MW with 80 players and LW with 160 players would already be a real choice.

----

However, this does not offer solution to choosing between 2 identical LW arenas. What could be incorporated to the smaller LW arena as positive and desirable? .. no perk limits? ... cheeper rides? ... more points?

If you want to make 2 similar arenas grow almost identically, the smaller one has to be the more tempting... not the larger one

[doc1kelley]

Originally posted by lazs2


falconwing actually said it best... or, addmited it..  take your pick.   he said that the newbies instinct was to furball...  the implication being that if he didn't mold the fuzz cheeked squeaky voices into a ridgid hero worshipping toolsheed and whorde.... they would fall prey to their baser instincts and.....

fite!
lazs
Public Relations Officer for the BK's

Laz, you just have this frigging hardon for Falc and our squads don't ya?  You know absolutely nothing about us or you would know that the "fuzz cheeked squeaky voices" are at max two players out of our whole organization.  We (get this so you can piss and moan about another rule of ours), do NOT accept members who are not adults.  Yep, another restrictive rule to add to your constant moanings about us BOPS.  I've searched Falconwing's responses and fail to see where he said anything about molding anyone into a "rigid hero worshipping toolsheader and potatod".  You are still trying to put words into his mouth.  Give it a rest. Why not just take about 4 valiums and post back to us in the morning.

All The Best...
Jay
awDoc1

[doc1kelley]

Originally posted by Overlag
hitech, please come into EW, MW, or LW and see what it looks like then. Offpeak there is no game anymore, PLEASE look into it.


(im currently in MW fighting 2 bish and 4 rooks)

edit: then you will see why people keep posting things like that.

Overlag old bud .  I have seen HT in the MW arena and he was testing AI fighters.  I get the feeling that this isn't good for those who want to fight people.  I'm not saying it's not just him testing stuff for TOD or whatever it's called.  Sometimes lately I get the feeling the Electronic Arts may have bought a controlling interest in HTC.  GAWD I hope not!

All the Best...
Jay
awDoc1

ps... Overlag, I feel your pain but you need to get more of a grip on how you are presenting your displeasure.  There are more constructive ways to present your arguement to HT than trying to ram it down his throat.

All the Best...
Jay
awDoc1

[whels]

Originally posted by kamilyun
1. HT/Pyro has clearly stated that by HTC's proprietary metrics, customers were either not signing up after 2 weeks, or were canceling subscriptions

2.  They attributed this to stagnant gameplay in the MA and the attitude or "feeling" a new player gets in HUGE arenas.

3.  They decided to change this...which means...less people per arena.  Period.

you wana unstagnate game play change 3 things (NOT split arenas).

1.   reduce HO shot leath/accuracy

2.  stop the suicide divebombing buffs

3.  make it way harder to deack a field so that vulching isnt so
easy. right now its so retardedly easy to deack n vulch.  and guess who
gets vulched more ......... newbie cause they will up up and up.

[KTM520guy]

1. Guns shoot how they shoot and only where you point them. Nothing can be changed here. Besides HO is a valid tactic.

2. Yes, couldn't agree more.

3. Yes, need more/stronger manable ack on all bases.

[ET]

Imagining that the owner and creator of this game is trying to destroy
it and take all the fun out of it is totally riduculous, Why would any one destroy their bread and butter ?. Posting those thoughts here is even worse. Some of you should take a deep breath, sit back and study the explanations that were given for the change. When you finally realize why the changes had to be you might also realize you owe a few apologys.
Yes, some problems have to be dealt with yet but I'm confident they will be worked out.

[Overlag]

Originally posted by doc1kelley


ps... Overlag, I feel your pain but you need to get more of a grip on how you are presenting your displeasure.  There are more constructive ways to present your arguement to HT than trying to ram it down his throat.

All the Best...
Jay
awDoc1

yes, totally agree.

I posted a honest thread asking that the LW cap needed to be increased, and instead the oposite happend. I got very angery because the drug i call AH was now taken away from me. I could play EW against 2 people, MW against 4 people, or H2H (for free.....) against 8. Smart move, hence i got SO pissed off. Mean while LW1 was full at 120, and LW2 had i think it was 8 people in.


Hitech admitted there was a problem with european (hell any non-american) player base, as there wasnt enough... and then added a SECOND change to make it even worse. (well it wasnt aimed at doing that, but BOTH changes have done that, even if it is a by product of making prime better.....)

all these changes have improved primetime game play alot... and i see why its happening, however its hurting offpeak so much that now i just:

1: up a bomber, AFK
2: go clean my car (or play on PS2)
3: bomb target, AFK
4: have a shower (or play on PS2)
5: land
6: goto 1 (but add other chores at 2,4)

theres virtually no risk of dying during offpeak hours, unless i get disco'ed or my joystick spikes and turns my autopilot off....

However right now, it will be fun (its 12:23) and i will be able to have fun till i decide to goto bed around 4 or 5am.

[Overlag]

Originally posted by whels
you wana unstagnate game play change 3 things (NOT split arenas).

1.   reduce HO shot leath/accuracy

2.  stop the suicide divebombing buffs

3.  make it way harder to deack a field so that vulching isnt so
easy. right now its so retardedly easy to deack n vulch.  and guess who
gets vulched more ......... newbie cause they will up up and up.

1. I dunno, how would Hitech program for this? and how do you know if its a HO, and not a lucky hit on the nose? The real problem is the "training" from the beginning. People dont know how to do the different styles of fighting, so just HO... And i think this is what the smaller arenas long term goals are for... helping new people learn.

2: totaly agree, again, this is probably because new people dont know how to bomb properly. proper level bombing takes time, practice (help) and did i mention time? Most people cant be botherd wasting time to climb to alt... These people shouldnt be in bombers to start with. Bombing from only the bombsight would be the only way to fix this (except Ju88, A20, b26)

I also hate it when you see bombers drop there eggs, then bail out, or alt f4 or whatever, so they can get back in the buffs straight away..

3: I dunno, the  land grab part of this game means that planes or GV's upping needs to be stopped, to be able to take the base. This means people need to vulch, or take out hangers... then you get the moans about these people taking undefend bases, when less than 15miles away is another base that could quiet happly defend the attacked base, but this rarely happens. I for one "love" trying to defend the base, then if successful, using the force that came to the base to defend, to now attack... The fight can rage for hours this way, one minute over your base, the next minute over theres.

The main issue i think your talking about, is runway "bashers"? or whatever its called... The pilots that instead of fighting the planes that are there fighting, come in and vulch people trying to land, or reup... when theres plenty of planes in the air that need to be delt with first? This is where ack needs to be stronger. But i think the main issue is that we fight over BASES, not over land. Its mostly over there base, or over our base. This is one of the reasons i like CV battles, because the ack there is very strong.

[Simaril]

Originally posted by rpm
....

HT, I've read your reasons for doing this, nowhere that I can find does it say it will be more fun for the customer. Will you please stop and listen to your customers reactions for a minute instead of shoving new and improved down our throat?

Then you havent read enough of them. I'm not going to do the search for you, but at some point when HT was questioned about whether "having fun" was even important anymore, or whether all he cared about was getting the money, he responded:

"Well, Duh. The business does best when the MAXIMUM NUMBER of people is having the MOST FUN"

If you arent having fun, and numbers are higher than ever (as HT said above), then YOU are in the minority.

You can leave, or you can adapt. The best bet is clearly to find a way to have fun in the new environment -- and you CAN -- or else you'll become like the grumpy old geezers on the nursing home porch, complaining about how much better soda tasted from a glass bottle vending machine.

[loser]

Uhm... soda from glass bottles DID taste better.