This game is dead unless things change

[Hoplite]

         C. It would be better if the flag stayed white regardless of resupply, ack didn't go up instantly, the field was a neutral field (ie they couldn't land on it) and this period of vulnerability lasted about 15-20 minutes.
         D. If C was implemented, I would recommend making field captures easier through a lower number of buildings needing to be destroyed. This would have the side effect of decreasing the size of missions as well.

First time I've seen suggestions like this but I think they make a lot of sense.

[moot]

OP:

Your AH experience is not 50% nor even 25% close to enough for stay/quit assessment if you
1. haven't flown with a squad
2. quit that squad (your time with random jerk players substitutes for that) for one you actually fit with (ie you chronically look forward IRL to flight and not-flight squad time) even if for you it's as for Widewing
3. done special events whether historical or pure "arcade" action like KOTH where the action/scenario isn't left up to random teeming masses of players in the MAs.

That said: if WWII warbirds and/or dogfighting and/or leading in more strategic events (MA if lucky, but most likely "special events") don't fuel your fire, then 15$/mo for AH will sooner than later not be worth it, and indeed in that case, why bother?

My 2c from something like 10 years and 2 good squads, millions of hours sitting on my cheeks yanking a stick around for admittedly diminishing returns in the later years...  But when returns there were, those make it all worth it.
Squelch ch200 and focus on what gets you off, whether it's hit sprites or top score rank or historical immersion or just a quick and dirty stick & rudder fix between IRL stuff.

---

The game will die unless things change, but not quite yet and not so soon that you can't get a whole lot of satisfaction first.  And... If you quit... The force of change is one man weaker.

[Tilt]

Summary: The players need to evolve.

Attempting to "modify" your client base to appreciate and improve your product has never been a successful marketing strategy.

[Bruv119]

only thing I would agree is dead is all arenas outside of the MA and SEA.  

the solution would be to make all those empty arenas free to play.   Yes we hate free loaders and pip squeaks but the competition is free and it is the biggest hook that I can see that would lead to the many more alleged players.    

Imagine the WW1 arena with kites all over it!   seems a shame to just be a dustbowl as is.  

[moot]

make all those empty arenas free to play.

Is it feasible for HTC budget?

[Bruv119]

Is it feasible for HTC budget?

do you think the MA crowd would all drop their subs overnight and play WW1 / DA? 

[Hoplite]

Is it feasible for HTC budget?

It might if HTC limited the number of players and plane sets in the free arena.  Use it as a marketting vehicle for getting a paid account, flying better planes and with more bad guys.  Give new people a taste....then reel them in. 

[grizz441]

It might if HTC limited the number of players and plane sets in the free arena.  Use it as a marketting vehicle for getting a paid account, flying better planes and with more bad guys.  Give new people a taste....then reel them in.  

It might work, but then again, it might have a castastrophic impact.  Say it is hugely successful and a hundred players are in the free arenas.  Suddenly, 30 MA players decide the free arena is more "fun".  Then you have a snowball/exodus effect when the MA becomes less and less fun as more players gravitate towards the more fun arena.  Then you start having guys saying, "well i never fly the "pay arena" so let me just cancel and play in the free and more fun arena!" Next thing you know you're screwed.  

Not saying it wouldn't work, but it is way too risky to start opening up free arenas.

[moot]

That or

do you think the MA crowd would all drop their subs overnight and play WW1 / DA? 

Can HTC afford the traffic?  Most of H2H was a ghetto - most H2H players stayed in H2H. 

But the Grizz scenario could probably be proofed by nerfing free arenas somehow.  Like they used to do with H2H.  Probably H2H was local host so HTC avoided traffic budget, and altogether probably *is/was* their optimal formula for new player bait.

[pervert]

only thing I would agree is dead is all arenas outside of the MA and SEA.  

the solution would be to make all those empty arenas free to play.   Yes we hate free loaders and pip squeaks but the competition is free and it is the biggest hook that I can see that would lead to the many more alleged players.    

Imagine the WW1 arena with kites all over it!   seems a shame to just be a dustbowl as is.  

+1 on the free WW1 arena, I am gonna start trying to get some time back in there now my hat is fixed.

Speaking as someone who played H2H for a long time on off, I don't really think the game in the MA appealed to me enough to sub at the start, but then when it was gone I realised I was hooked and had to cough up 

[Squire]

Have some patience and be prepared to fail. Don't worry that you can't do-it-all right away. It's not that kind of sim. Check the ego and just fly and have fun. The rest will follow.  

Regards.

[SmokinLoon]

I wonder how many new people HTC would get if they advertized a "free weekend".  Put a date on it, and actually try a draw people to a specific weekend.  Once here and looking at things the new players see and understand that they actually get two free weeks. 

I dunno... just thinkin' out loud I guess. 

[-aper-]

It might work, but then again, it might have a castastrophic impact.  Say it is hugely successful and a hundred players are in the free arenas.  Suddenly, 30 MA players decide the free arena is more "fun".  Then you have a snowball/exodus effect when the MA becomes less and less fun as more players gravitate towards the more fun arena.  Then you start having guys saying, "well i never fly the "pay arena" so let me just cancel and play in the free and more fun arena!" Next thing you know you're screwed. 

Not saying it wouldn't work, but it is way too risky to start opening up free arenas.

F2P can be implemented in MA without any risk to current base of subscribers with the following rules:

1) F2P is only available to mouse via ai controlled plane handling. (This will prevent migration to F2P from current base of subscribers)
2) F2P people play only for one country (Rooks for example) and current subscribers play for Knights or Bishops. (this will prevent cross spying and will make the game more chilly -- the war that have never been seen before )
3) F2P people can play with F3 view with gun site but can only start with early war planes and later on can get access to better planes based on gained experience or by purchasing (by cash) planes from HTC. (motivational purposes)

As soon as the rumors spread into World of Warplanes/Tanks and War Thunder communities that AH offers F2P with instant war and  hundreds of players in one arena with nicely combined air/ground war operations there will be no need to any advertisements at all and the numbers of F2P players will start to rise quickly. (Upcoming AH graphics update is a way to go of course)
HTC should be prepared to put more and more big arenas - but it is a good thing - F2P games bring top cash revenues nowdays. There will be lots of servers lots of players and and HiTech would be able to get a real P-51D into his hangar soon

[JimmyC]

I like it..(see above)

[Swoop]

I wonder how many new people HTC would get if they advertized a "free weekend". 

I wonder how many new people HTC would get if they advertized.