Does HiTech really want more user accounts?

[The Fugitive]

I am all in favor for it to go back to $30 a month myself

but at least keep it where it's at and forget about that F2P / pay money for upgrade BS........

if you don't like how HTC works their subscription for Aces High then seek elsewhere


just a personal opinion


TC

As Air Warrior was being killed I was looking around for the game I'd move to. I checked out a few but liked AH the best. Only problem was it was $30 a month. I decided, from what I'd seen of the game that it was worth it and I'd rearrange my budget to cover the extra cost. Well once AWIII was dead and buried, HTC had dropped their price to $15, and I've been here ever since.... thats 120 months in a row.

When they dropped the price, I heard a lot of chatter about "letting in the rif-raf" by dropping the price" Being one of the "rif-raf" I think I can comment. With the price at $30 like it use to be you'd keep only the hard core players. A lot of kids might not be able to talk Mommy and Daddy into doubling their play money. WOuld this be good for the game?

More people is great, and I'm sure Hitech wouldn't complain about the extra cash to throw at that new girl of his, but if we get a bunch of people who do nothing but horde and run bases to "win da Waz!" is that good for the game?

[TequilaChaser]

When they dropped the price, I heard a lot of chatter about "letting in the rif-raf" by dropping the price" Being one of the "rif-raf" I think I can comment. With the price at $30 like it use to be you'd keep only the hard core players. A lot of kids might not be able to talk Mommy and Daddy into doubling their play money. WOuld this be good for the game?

the bold above is my reason for adding the second line in my post above




TC

[BaldEagl]

Personally I don't think it's too bad an idea.  Wetting peoples appitites might make them long time subscribers but I'd probably do something more like this:

Cheap:  WWI arena only.
Low moderate:  WWI and EW
High moderate:  WWI, EW and MW
Full price:  Full access

Those who are truly interested will up their subs, those who don't provide additional income and the current "dead" arenas get new life breathed into them.

I'd think everyone wins with a scenario something like that.

[Wiley]

I could live with BaldEagl's suggestion, because I'd never see them.

Wiley.

[mensa180]

I think it would introduce class warfare.

[SmokinLoon]

I think it would introduce class warfare.

We already have that.  As long as there is money, there will be class welfare... er... warfare.

I say keep it like it is: $15 a month for all access.  K.I.S.S.

[mensa180]

I'm just saying 'Yeah well you're only a ___ level member!' is a card I don't want to see pulled.

[EskimoJoe]

Personally I don't think it's too bad an idea.  Wetting peoples appitites might make them long time subscribers but I'd probably do something more like this:

Cheap:  WWI arena only.
Low moderate:  WWI and EW
High moderate:  WWI, EW and MW
Full price:  Full access

Those who are truly interested will up their subs, those who don't provide additional income and the current "dead" arenas get new life breathed into them.

I'd think everyone wins with a scenario something like that.

Would they not feel cheated when the arenas they are paying for are constantly empty?
Sure, there would be a couple of guys in each, but it's not like we have a sudden influx of
several hundred players inbound any time soon.

It might work when we have a World of Tanks style/number community, but not currently.

[zack1234]

I think business plans are best left to those who have been involved in development and running of products entertaiment business.

I think in the current financial downturn it becomes increasing harder to gain increased business.

AH is unique as it has a small specialised cliental who enjoy flight sims and monthly bill is pennies a day.

[dirtdart]

I think business plans are best left to those who have been involved in development and running of products entertaiment business.

I think in the current financial downturn it becomes increasing harder to gain increased business.

AH is unique as it has a small specialised cliental who enjoy flight sims and monthly bill is pennies a day.

^^^^--- This.  Maintaining a business these days, and having the burden of being a small business owner, and employer, cannot be easy.  I am now spending more a month feeding my family than I ever have, due to the drastic devaluation of the dollar and the high cost of groceries (simplification).  I have been amazed that the price of this game has not increased. 

I was not paying in 2000.  However, the dollar today is estimated to be worth 60% (some guess) of what it was worth in 2000.  I take my hat off to Dale and his team for upgrading the game, and keeping the ball rolling on my cheapest addiction all of these years.   

[OOZ662]

Leave it the way it is. It matches a lot of the games out there in price point that provide roughly the same style of service. F2P games require a "leveling" system of some sort to make you want to pay. If that expansion HTC's been working on forever (Combat Tour? Theater? Whatever the last interpretation was) ever comes out, perhaps it could be done there as it's more of an RPG in the sky. For the current Main Arena system, though, I'd absolutely hate to see it. The premise of the game is that, when everybody takes their tinfoil hat off, everyone is as equal as the game can make them. Everyone's plane takes off under the same conditions with the same stats. A F2P/Pay for More game can't work under that philosophy, because the people that pay want to be able to steamroll the freebies.

As to what I'd like to see...I'd sell my firstborn to be able to keep my account whenever I need to skip a month. I've never understood why their account management is so clunky.

[grumpy37]

I dont think the problem is getting new people to try the game its keeping them after the 2 weeks of free play.  Ive been playing this game for almost 10 years now and I can tell you this, if I started today fresh and new I wouldnt pay for the game.  My reason would strictly be the poor attitudes usually directed at "newbies"  HTC needs to figure out a way to "force" new players into training arenas.  If they spent just a few hours with someone from the training staff who not only taught them the basics of how to fly cartoon planes but also explained the complex dynamic of the MA they may stick around a little longer.  The younger kids, i see my 2 teenagers do it every day on PS3 network and XBOX 360 online expect to be made fun of or berated as newbies but the older crowd, id say 25+ dont and are put off by it.  Maybe form a "newbie squad" for each country thats headed by paid staff or trainers and new players are placed in it by default.  HTC needs to think outside the "box" so to speak, its not the same community it was when they started.

[SmokinLoon]

I dont think the problem is getting new people to try the game its keeping them after the 2 weeks of free play.  Ive been playing this game for almost 10 years now and I can tell you this, if I started today fresh and new I wouldnt pay for the game.  My reason would strictly be the poor attitudes usually directed at "newbies"  HTC needs to figure out a way to "force" new players into training arenas.  If they spent just a few hours with someone from the training staff who not only taught them the basics of how to fly cartoon planes but also explained the complex dynamic of the MA they may stick around a little longer.  The younger kids, i see my 2 teenagers do it every day on PS3 network and XBOX 360 online expect to be made fun of or berated as newbies but the older crowd, id say 25+ dont and are put off by it.  Maybe form a "newbie squad" for each country thats headed by paid staff or trainers and new players are placed in it by default.  HTC needs to think outside the "box" so to speak, its not the same community it was when they started.

Perhaps there could be a way to allow access to the TA w/o having a subscription?  Once the 2 week trial is up, and it is obvious that the new player need help, they can still get in to the TA for some bottle feeding, bath time, and swaddling/cuddling? 

[grumpy37]

Perhaps there could be a way to allow access to the TA w/o having a subscription?  Once the 2 week trial is up, and it is obvious that the new player need help, they can still get in to the TA for some bottle feeding, bath time, and swaddling/cuddling? 

Excellent idea!

[PFactorDave]

Perhaps there could be a way to allow access to the TA w/o having a subscription?  Once the 2 week trial is up, and it is obvious that the new player need help, they can still get in to the TA for some bottle feeding, bath time, and swaddling/cuddling? 

If HTC doesn't staff the TA with a trainer 24/7, a large number of new guys will be greeted by an empty TA.  Nobody there to train them.  Nothing much to do, can't even shoot down an enemy airplane.  How many of those guys do you think will subscribe?

No plan involving the Training Arena will work without HTC investing in paid trainers.  The current volunteer staff of trainers simply can't provide the level of support required.

In my opinion.