Request Elimination of Sideswitch Time Limit in Off-Peak

[Tinkles]

Thw 12 hour limit has nothing to do with people canceling. The numbers were being lost long before the 12 hour limit was instituted.

Basically the 12 hour limit is being opposed by the many who dont like being punished by the actions of the few. The cheaters! It was very common to see players leave channel, or change countries, after a mission was posted and like clock work you'd see the same few guys in their 4 Hispano Typhie right on schedule, in the middle of nowhere, a quiet sector, to intercept a mission they had dishonestly changed countries to intercept. I actually stopped flying missions and even left the game in disgust.

However......

I believe it sad the many were punished due to the very few. Perhaps if the many would have acknowledged the obvious more vocally it could have been averted. But players, most of all the honest ones, put blinders on when these accusations happen and refuse to see the big picture. I myself dont agree with the 12 hour rule cause its to stringent but I understand the reasoning behind it.

The game lost players cause it failed to evolve and improve its graphics. The maps grew stale and now the big maps, most of all during off times, are driving even more players away. It has survived on the strength of its flight model and loyalty of a core group of older guys. By current standards the game just doesnt look good, certainly not $180 a year good. Thats why. The 12 hour rule has nothing to do with it.

I think there are some who are leaving for the 12 hour rule, because they believe that each time they switch sides they will find a fight somewhere. Especially if they are on the side that outnumbers everyone else, they want to switch to fight the higher numbers. Whether or not their success or chances of finding a fight is increased by switching sides is based on perspective and ultimately individual beliefs.   I do agree that it isn't the sole reason, but I would say its a factor - no matter if minor or not -, and there have been acceptable compromises given on these boards to address the issue. I think they should at least be looked at instead of being deemed "unnecessary".

I agree on the graphics part, that is why HTC is addressing the issue.  The problem is, will the portion of the player-base looking for more eye-candy and 'realism' be patient enough for HTC to finish their product? Or will they want HTC to rush it out the door bugs in tow? Or will it simply be too late by the time it is released?  HTC has shown that they listen to the customers and want to make the game more appealing. So they are doing everything they can on it. Some of the 'retired' members of Aces High seen that the graphics are being updated, seen the videos and some said they would be rejoining when the graphics have been updated.

I think HTC is on the right track.   

[Gemini]

Thw 12 hour limit has nothing to do with people canceling. The numbers were being lost long before the 12 hour limit was instituted.

Basically the 12 hour limit is being opposed by the many who dont like being punished by the actions of the few. The cheaters! It was very common to see players leave channel, or change countries, after a mission was posted and like clock work you'd see the same few guys in their 4 Hispano Typhie right on schedule, in the middle of nowhere, a quiet sector, to intercept a mission they had dishonestly changed countries to intercept. I actually stopped flying missions and even left the game in disgust.

There are plenty of ways to spy on and hunt down missions without needing to change sides.

I agree that the numbers were being lost long before the 12 hour side switch. That's why even more people started leaving when they couldn't change sides to find a fight due to the already diminishing numbers!

[guncrasher]

I would be prepared to bet that the 12 hour side switch limitation (combined with the declining player numbers) is the #1 or #2 reason for people cancelling their subscription to Aces High

(The other top reason being real life)

how many players do we have now as compared to last year?


semp

[Rich46yo]

how many players do we have now as compared to last year?


semp

The only way I know of to gauge that is thru LWA plane K/Ds. Last year for Feb. we had a combined "approx" 770,000 and this year Feb. we had 612,000. Four years ago Feb we had about 1,1000,000. Five years ago about 1,263,000. In 2008 LWA Feb totals were over 1.5 million. So its apparent the game has lost more then 1/2 its player base since its height and has continued its downward slide. Keep in mind this isnt counting the loss of sorties/players in the other two arenas "I wont even consider WW1". In 2008 MWA and EWA accounted for well over 100,000 K/Ds while Feb. 2014 those two totaled about 6,000 or 7,000 combined.

None of this is scientific but I'd guess at least a 60% Loss with the trend continuing.

[Lusche]

The only way I know of to gauge that is thru LWA plane K/Ds.

Just take the score of any random LW player in any tour and look at the rank for "field captures in attack mode". It doesn't give you the exact number of players, but you see the general trend when comparing tours over the years.

[Lusche]

I would be prepared to bet that the 12 hour side switch limitation (combined with the declining player numbers) is the #1 or #2 reason for people cancelling their subscription to Aces High

The overwhelming majority of AH players is not affected by the 12 hour rule at all. Even at 1h, they were very country loyal and at most switching (along with their whole squad!) maybe once every few tours. It's a very small, yet quite active subset of the AH population that would make use of a shorter time limit.

[Vraciu]

The overwhelming majority of AH players is not affected by the 12 hour rule at all. Even at 1h, they were very country loyal and at most switching (along with their whole squad!) maybe once every few tours. It's a very small, yet quite active subset of the AH population that would make use of a shorter time limit.

And it can be done to accommodate those players.   The primary need for it is in off peak when getting stuck on the high side causes numbers to crash as people log in frustration.


And if people think the 12-hour rule isn't a factor in driving down subscriptions I have a unicorn for sale....

[Megalodon]

The overwhelming majority of AH players is not affected by the 12 hour rule at all. Even at 1h, they were very country loyal and at most switching (along with their whole squad!) maybe once every few tours.

It's a very very small, yet quite active minority subset of the AH Grieffer population that would make use of a shorter time limit.

 Fixed

[Lusche]

And if people think the 12-hour rule isn't a factor in driving down subscriptions I have a unicorn for sale....

We had 12h rule for many many years with player numbers going up steadily...
Of course there's the odd player cancelling the sub "because of the 12h limit", but the true reasons are often going further than that, and things are most often more complex than this.


There's a general tendendcy to blame one's own pet peeve for a general decline in numebrs, gameplay or whatever. Arena split, arena de-split, GV control change, perk system, icon settings...
Most of these claims are based on nothing more that just a personal issue with a particular setting/change, which is then overly generalised projected upon the whole population.

[Megalodon]

And if people think the 12-hour rule isn't a factor in driving down subscriptions I have a unicorn for sale....

Sideswitchaaaa unicorns making a run for the border


The subtleties of being a unicorn Sideswitchaaaa
Rook

Knit

Bish (Inks favorite)



Unicorns are really wolfs in Sideswitchaaaa clothing


We sideswitchaaaa Unicorns must unite!!!


I dub thee Pink... King Unicorn of the Sideswitchaaa's


Lets go they don't want us here




 

[ink]

 

so mega........why dont you like those that switch?


tired of being hunted after you run your mouth?


or just think you have the right to dictate others game play?




personally I dont care that you run around in the green gang flying your lame arse p39 thinking you are hot crap talk smack but wont back it up....

why should you care that I like to stay out of the green gang and actually like to fight red guys for my kills?

[Megalodon]

so mega........why dont you like those that switch?


tired of being hunted after you run your mouth?


or just think you have the right to dictate others game play?




personally I dont care that you run around in the green gang flying your lame arse p39 thinking you are hot crap talk smack but wont back it up....

why should you care that I like to stay out of the green gang and actually like to fight red guys for my kills?

If you dont care ...why are you on my ankle again....

Maybe you could put this on my ankle in your spot....that way when your off space penning your new game  ..... I will have something to remember you by? You will have to make it pink with a pearl necklace tho.

 

[Gemini]

so mega........why dont you like those that switch?


tired of being hunted after you run your mouth?


or just think you have the right to dictate others game play?




personally I dont care that you run around in the green gang flying your lame arse p39 thinking you are hot crap talk smack but wont back it up....

Yeah, it really sounds like you don't care 

[Rich46yo]

The problem is, will the portion of the player-base looking for more eye-candy and 'realism' be patient enough for HTC to finish their product? Or will they want HTC to rush it out the door bugs in tow? Or will it simply be too late by the time it is released?

I have never seen them "rush" anything. Compared to other games their updates have always been well written and any problems fixed promptly. The game itself is probably the smoothest running game software Ive ever seen. Got a problem with it? Pick up a phone or have a question answered promptly here, usually in a matter of minutes. You cant imagine how hard that is to find in the gaming environment nowadays.

Honestly i cant predict what will happen but I think the graphics update is a very good thing. I come and go, what brings me back is the flight model and the competition. Also its an older crowd and old guys like me like a slower paced game. Oh there is fast intense action in AH, at least during prime times, but frankly I kinda like relaxing as my bombers climb after a long day at work.

[Zoney]

I have never seen them "rush" anything. Compared to other games their updates have always been well written and any problems fixed promptly. The game itself is probably the smoothest running game software Ive ever seen. Got a problem with it? Pick up a phone or have a question answered promptly here, usually in a matter of minutes. You cant imagine how hard that is to find in the gaming environment nowadays.

Honestly i cant predict what will happen but I think the graphics update is a very good thing. I come and go, what brings me back is the flight model and the competition. Also its an older crowd and old guys like me like a slower paced game. Oh there is fast intense action in AH, at least during prime times, but frankly I kinda like relaxing as my bombers climb after a long day at work.

This ^^^^

Pick up the phone, call any other game and ask to speak to the owner, or the programmer and see what ya get.