F8F-1 Standard Characteristics... A genuine monster

[WWhiskey]

Philosophical question: If a fighter didn't see combat during WWII .... was that fighter a 'WWII fighter?'

simple answer is yes,, if it was built to fight ww2, during or before ww2, it was a ww2 fighter, it did or didn't fly in combat, irrelevant , it did or didn't fly in squadron strength ,irrelevant  it is what it was built to be, circumstances may have kept it from completing its role, but it is what it was built to be!

I'd like to fly the bear,  in our out of late war,, wouldn't matter,, we have a boatload of arenas we don't use now, I'd bet they'd see use with the bear waiting to be flown, but if it flew in squadron strength during the war,( before Japan surrendered) it meets that criteria weather it shot anyone down or not!
I agree with Morfiend tho,, I've never seen anything that said it has to be this or it has to be that, setting a mark to meet is fine,but I have t seen it yet!

[Arlo]

I am not calling that service in the war at all. I am pointing out the the Me-163 DID see service in the war, and that it is a frikkin' rocket plane that makes the F8F's performance look a little insipid by comparison. Yet, its presence in the MA does not bring on some doom scenario for those who like to fly the various prop planes because its effect on the MA is strictly controlled, as presumably the presence of the F8F would be.

Scholz has it right, in an arena which already contains so many a-historical elements, complaining about the a-historical nature of the F8F just doesn't make sense.

It's a game that uses WWI and WWII equipment. If it was about performance it would probably feature drones, as well.

[Arlo]

it did or didn't fly in combat, erelevant,

Not irrelevant at all.

[Widewing]

Nothing arbitrary about it. A WWII fighter plane is a fighter plane that fought in WWII.

F8F is cool. It's a monster. But you said it yourself - " ... just days from flight ops." Like some planes were just weeks. Some just months. But ... it either fought in WWII or it didn't. Almost doesn't count. A flyover when the papers were signed doesn't count. Being the second plane flown by the Blue Angels doesn't count (even if I think it was the coolest).

If not getting the F8F seems like grounds for cancelling your sub, i got nothing to say about that since it seems more arbitrary than anything discussed in this thread to date.

Wait, I do have something to say. I like you. I'd miss you being in the game even though neither of us fly a whole helluva lot, lately. I relate to you even out of game. I don't understand why you'd use that as an excuse to quit.

P.S. Blame the A bomb. I'm pretty sure the Japanese didn't surrender just to keep the F8F out of AH, though. (J/K) 

So, how is an aircraft in active service in significant numbers for up to 6 months before the war ends, not a WWII aircraft? Of course it is!  

Understand, I'm not threatening to quit because the F8F may not be added... That's a ridiculous stretch.

I'm considering unsubscribing because I'm bored chitless with the game as it exists now. Game play is stagnant, nothing changing in a very long time. The only interesting fighter aircraft added in recent times was the Yak-3. What people are crying for is,"fill the gaps in the planeset!" With what? More boring subtypes that offer almost no difference from what was already in the game? Wasting resources "filling gaps" that very few give a damn about is contributing to the exodus. I have no doubts that the events players can't sustain this business with their meager numbers.

A new graphics engine will help, but if the game play and selection of aircraft remains as it is, the improved graphics won't accomplish much. The market is evolving and Aces High has to evolve with it.

[DaveBB]

I loved the Rolling Plane Set of Warbirds.  Planes get added to the game over a 30 day period like they were in the war.  Then it all starts over again. 

[WWhiskey]

Not irrelevant at all.

well at least you can spell!   Lol.  My bad
Now,, I was answering your question about if it was built as a fighter, was it a fighter? Yes,, fighter jets are fighter jets if they saw combat or not.
 why wouldn't a ww2 fighter not be a ww2 fighter?  No combat needed for a plane to be what it was meant to be.

[Zoney]

-1

Come on already, putting this in will just open the door to everything else that almost flew and almost scored a victory.  This isn't a fantasy game, it is about actual planes that saw actual combat.  That involves fighting, not just flying the airplane just before the war ended.  We don't need it, you guys just want it.  You say you are bored with the plane set, then in a couple of months you will be bored again and asking for another "almost saw combat" aircraft to be added.  We going to set up fantasy scenarios too so you can fly this and other "almost" aircraft?

[BnZs]

It's a game that uses WWI and WWII equipment. If it was about performance it would probably feature drones, as well.

I don't think you comprehend what I am trying to get across. My point is that we already have at least one plane in this game that makes the F8F's performance pale by comparison. If that plane (the 163) can be controlled to the point that it doesn't unduly effect the game, so can the F8F.

[Arlo]

I don't think you comprehend what I am trying to get across. My point is that we already have at least one plane in this game that makes the F8F's performance pale by comparison. If that plane (the 163) can be controlled to the point that it doesn't unduly effect the game, so can the F8F.

We've been through this before and you seemed to understand that I'm not having a 'performance' discussion with you or anyone. 

[Zoney]

I don't think you comprehend what I am trying to get across. My point is that we already have at least one plane in this game that makes the F8F's performance pale by comparison. If that plane (the 163) can be controlled to the point that it doesn't unduly effect the game, so can the F8F.

Really?  So you want the F8 to have 6 minutes of fuel, available at only one base, unable to re-arm, and have a high perk?  Pfffffffffft

[Widewing]

-1

Come on already, putting this in will just open the door to everything else that almost flew and almost scored a victory.  This isn't a fantasy game, it is about actual planes that saw actual combat.  That involves fighting, not just flying the airplane just before the war ended.  We don't need it, you guys just want it.  You say you are bored with the plane set, then in a couple of months you will be bored again and asking for another "almost saw combat" aircraft to be added.  We going to set up fantasy scenarios too so you can fly this and other "almost" aircraft?

Oh come on, Zoney, the whole premise of the game is fantasy! Spitfires fighting P-51s and 109s intercepting Betty bombers. Less than a dozen Ta 152Hs ever flew, much less saw combat. Yet, we could find 200 of them in the MA at any point in time, if people so elected... That isn't fantasy?

I've merely suggested that "combat" is not a valid reason to exclude a common type of aircraft that saw service in the war.

A simple case: Was the aircraft in service with active combat units prior to the end of the war? If the answer is yes, how can it be excluded?

This isn't very difficult to understand, is it?

The only slippery slope is this... Any business that fails to adapt to the ever changing market, fails. Period. HTC knows this and is working hard to upgrade the graphics. A Very good thing. However, it cannot be the only change as it alone will be not be enough. Why? Because many players feel like I do, in that graphics are secondary to game play. Game play is stale. The plane set is boring.

There's many ways to consider in changing that... But,no matter what, it will require change, and the biggest resistance seems to come from those who are happy with the status quo... To quote a Greek warrior, "status quo only leads to death".

A quick edit here... Keep in mind that the graphics update is far more important for tankers than fliers. The armor aspect of Aces High is very significant to HTC's business. This part of the game seems to be healthy and growing, and HTC is going to devote whatever resources it requires to keep that success going.

[Lusche]

I've merely suggested that "combat" is not a valid reason to exclude a common type of aircraft that saw service in the war.

To me, it absolutely is.
The F8F did absolutely play no role in WW2. It would never even had come to my mind to call the Bearcat a WW2 plane, to me it's a WW2 era plane. What if planes like this would require a new arena.

And I doubt a new arena with planes like the F8F, F7F, Do335 or other stuff would actually increase player numbers in the long term. And just throwing another plane into the LW arena will be even less changing gameplay and numbers in the long run at all. Be it a hotrod or another mid war bomber.

If you really think gameplay is an issue (an assessment I actually do agree with in large parts), the basic gameplay design would have to be changed, or adjusted at least. I would like to hear if you got something specific in mind.

[WWhiskey]

Pershing!

[glzsqd]

I loved the Rolling Plane Set of Warbirds.  Planes get added to the game over a 30 day period like they were in the war.  Then it all starts over again. 

Agreed

[Oldman731]

simple answer is yes,, if it was built to fight ww2, during or before ww2, it was a ww2 fighter, it did or didn't fly in combat, irrelevant , it did or didn't fly in squadron strength ,irrelevant  it is what it was built to be, circumstances may have kept it from completing its role, but it is what it was built to be!

Then I will enjoy piloting a B-36.

Really:  Where do you draw the line?  Any line is going to be arbitrary.

- oldman