Snailman's scary graph

[5PointOh]

If you look at this graph relative to the decline in AH kills, to me it does seem economy driven.  Many have mentioned the lack of "noobs', well lets think about this. If Johnny's mother and father are now paying 4.00USD for gas 5-6.00USD for a gallon of milk, taxes increased, and the unemployed percentages are still in the mid 7% range, can Johnny play his used xbox game that cost 25.00USD from Gamestop or WoT for free verse mom and dad forking out 191.40USD a year for AH. And same might go for many other adults, and young adults.

I work in the an business that deals with memberships and automobile. I can assure you HTC is not the only right now seeing a decline in memberships.  Unless you poll every single leaving player, I think its hard for any of us to accurately gauge the decline in number of accounts. Only HTC can do that, and I have faith in Hitech.

[Rich46yo]

No I believe you would see overall gaming numbers as high or higher. Just like cable TV people dont like to give up their home entertainment unless they are pushing the cat away from her bowl. Individual game populations ebb and flow all the time. COD comes out with a new FPS and BF3 servers see less usage. And on and on it goes. The only difference is AH is a monthly pay game, not a once and be done game.

Theres always something newer and shinier coming out. Thats the way it goes. If you dont keep up then you lose customers.

I dont think economics has zero impact but your graph lacks any kind of science cause you are only comparing it to one game. And an old game with an old engine at that.

[Arlo]

No I believe you would see overall gaming numbers as high or higher. Just like cable TV people dont like to give up their home entertainment unless they are pushing the cat away from her bowl. Individual game populations ebb and flow all the time. COD comes out with a new FPS and BF3 servers see less usage. And on and on it goes. The only difference is AH is a monthly pay game, not a once and be done game.

Theres always something newer and shinier coming out. Thats the way it goes. If you dont keep up then you lose customers.

I dont think economics has zero impact but your graph lacks any kind of science cause you are only comparing it to one game. And an old game with an old engine at that.

Per scope and design, AHII has no competition. Using graphics as the sole comparison it's kinda like saying one car company loses out to the other because of paint jobs.

Oh, look honey. Pretty Pinto. *kaboom*  

[Rich46yo]

Per scope and design, AHII has no competition. Using graphics as the sole comparison it's kinda like saying one car company loses out to the other because of paint jobs.

Oh, look honey. Pretty Pinto. *kaboom*  

It has a lot of competition. Its a game. But your right in that the population of those with an interest in the WW2 flight genre is also declining. Many of us learned of it on a fathers, uncles, or grandpa's knee. That or we were in the service ourselves. Its always been an older crowd in both WW2OL and AH, and both had a large foreign component. Well many of the young went to shiner games, many of us just got old, croaked, or whatever. The Euros moved on cause the crowd on their time got small. The economy is part of it , but the smallest part. Sure there are other reasons.

Were not talking about cars but about internet games. And can you show me one that hasnt seen a decline after so many years without a graphics/game play upgrade?

[BuckShot]

Bingo. Bamaconomy

[Arlo]

It has a lot of competition. Its a game. But your right in that the population of those with an interest in the WW2 flight genre is also declining. Many of us learned of it on a fathers, uncles, or grandpa's knee. That or we were in the service ourselves. Its always been an older crowd in both WW2OL and AH, and both had a large foreign component. Well many of the young went to shiner games, many of us just got old, croaked, or whatever. The Euros moved on cause the crowd on their time got small. The economy is part of it , but the smallest part. Sure there are other reasons.

Were not talking about cars but about internet games. And can you show me one that hasnt seen a decline after so many years without a graphics/game play upgrade?

AHII has had both. You know this, right?

[Mister Fork]

I've been a proponent of expanding the player base of Aces High.  Yes, flying should be our bread and butter, but we also have an excellent platform for other streams including tanks and ships.

I've seen a slow decline in Aces High but I've also seen uptakes as well. 

BUT, the bigger question and worry is that both Dale and Doug are getting older, and may want to exit and retire soon.  Conversely a lot of this is not really work for them as they are doing something they love. Will they sell out and retire?  Will the continue to develop the game for the next 10 years? Will they support the Oculus headset? Will pigs fly and sheep quack?

We really don't know but should we really care?

[Arlo]

I've been a proponent of expanding the player base of Aces High.  Yes, flying should be our bread and butter, but we also have an excellent platform for other streams including tanks and ships.

I've seen a slow decline in Aces High but I've also seen uptakes as well. 

BUT, the bigger question and worry is that both Dale and Doug are getting older, and may want to exit and retire soon.  Conversely a lot of this is not really work for them as they are doing something they love. Will they sell out and retire?  Will the continue to develop the game for the next 10 years? Will they support the Oculus headset? Will pigs fly and sheep quack?

We really don't know but should we really care?

Stop that. Those are fears I've managed to bury and ignore, thank you. 

[Tinkles]

I've been a proponent of expanding the player base of Aces High.  Yes, flying should be our bread and butter, but we also have an excellent platform for other streams including tanks and ships.

I've seen a slow decline in Aces High but I've also seen uptakes as well. 

BUT, the bigger question and worry is that both Dale and Doug are getting older, and may want to exit and retire soon.  Conversely a lot of this is not really work for them as they are doing something they love. Will they sell out and retire?  Will the continue to develop the game for the next 10 years? Will they support the Oculus headset? Will pigs fly and sheep quack?

We really don't know but should we really care?

I care   .

[Arlo]

Time to buy some more lotto tickets. 

[5PointOh]

I care as well, love this game and the diverse people with in it.  WoT bf3 and other games like that do not really have that element of the game for most players.

[Wiley]

can you show me one that hasnt seen a decline after so many years without a graphics/game play upgrade?

Can you show me one game that has been around for so many years even with a graphics/game play upgrade that has not declined in playerbase?

Wiley.

[Tank-Ace]

Honestly, its more than just a lack of marketing, graphics, etc.


First, theres a been a bit of an economic slowdown recently. Now obviously, when people are legitimately strapped for cash, AH is going to (or logically should) be among the first to go, along with Xbox live, WoW, and other non-essential recurring charges. In addition to current players leaving, this also means fewer will join up. The entire gaming industry has felt the effects as well.


Second, the target audience isn't all that big to begin with. Add in the fact that fewer people seem to care even the slightest about history, and smart phones are doing more with gaming than before, and that means that out of the target audience, fewer have sufficient interest to download the game.

[phatzo]

the decline started about when I first signed up 

[hellwolf]

Hitech should have a chat with the joystick manufactures and distributors/retailers and do a deal. Free CD of game in box, at least get the game's name infront of those who use the things.  Bright picture on the box of AH gets name in front of millions who walk past the things in stores. Should be fairly cheap targeted marketing scheme.
No one ive spoken to has ever heard of AH. A targeted give away of free cds of game or flyers with website name handed out at airshows would also hit the right market. This could be done for cheap by the (dedicated) players who attend these events.
To populate arenas in off peak hours for euro and asia pacific players then target those markets, hell, there is only probably 10 airshows in all of OZ with a current player in each state who would easly turn up to promote AH.  Warbirds over Wanaka in NZ is a good event, 4 big ww2 aircraft flying days at Temora in N.S.W. Quite a few 10's of thousands of potential customers there for not much work or investment.
These and many other ideas im sure you have will attract the "right type of gamer" those interested in aviation, and ww2, hell we could hand out stuff to anyone with greyhair at airshows and we are on a winner.
Yes we are all getting older, so this game cant last for ever. However the community of people who are interested in flight simming will only grow. With a huge increase in baby boomers due to retire over the next 10 years I think AH's immediate future is bright!