I asked Skuzzy this same question in a phone conversation about six months ago. He said it had to do with division of the map into three parts and by using real world maps there are too many problems. Cap, do you concur?
i think that if they were to change the system, and set it up like this, it would very likely overstress their systems. it would probably also overstress HTC themselves.
as for real world maps? well, in the PTO, carriers would be much more important, unless we wanted to fly 5 sectors for a fight. i think they'd have lot to change in the terrain too, to accomodate the map style.
i could be wrong on some of this though.
what it looks like to me though, is that HT took lessons learned from AW, and created AH. they've got a fairly decent mix of maps in all of the arenas, and they've split up the arenas so that those that like flying the older lower performing aircraft don't constantly get their assses kicked by picking stangs and fw's.
they've created a dedicated training arena, where we can go for practice. they've created a dueling arena for those that want to settle scores, gain bragging rights, or just go and fight each other, and be left alone in their fights.
best of all, there's the special events arena. this is the perfect place for things like the FSO's, and other historical events, or for those that want a more realistic type of battle(such as not being able to fight allied against allied aircraft).
the graphics may leave a bit to be sesired(i personally don't see any problems with them though), but they've alos kept the sim such that you dont have to have a $4,000 machine to fly here.
the flight charastics of the aircraft, although not perfect, are fairly realsitic(although they will not teach you to fl a real plane). things like departure stalls, accelerated stalls, stall/spins are modeled nicely, and at the right angles of attack.
in my opinion, for my $15 a month, this is pretty much perfect as it is.
if it ain't broke(and it's not) then don't fix it.
<<S>>
