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Being 'too cool to listen' and being unable to retort because you got pwned are two different things.
the game play being complained about is how the majority of customers choose to play the game in the MA.
Remaining customers - big difference.
For those same seventeen years a minority of players have complained to Hitech that the majority of customers playing the game not by a narrow definition based on furballing and ACM are killing the game
That's incorrect I think they were mostly saying that ACM is
also a necessary component. Big hint: balance.
and will put him out of business.
Not privy to HTC's business statistics but the revenue is largely subscription-based there has to be a minimum number of subscriptions...
Just like our own prognosticators of doom based on the persistent religious like faith they have in their crystal balls.
Prognostication would be something like: 'Arlo will now jump to your defence because he'll be triggered by his Marvel Comics Book of Ethics regarding protecting the weak & innocent from malevolent un-American elements'. Discssing why the game is in decline prompted by observably fewer players does not necessitate a crystal ball and can be similarly verified by anyone left with any objectivity at all.
Over the last seventeen years the game is still here
That could be attributable to other factors than the 'any critical comment is incorrect' that you are implying, such as holding a niche in the market, especially loyal customer base, being the only American game available etc. It's not relevant if it's still here right now, it's relevant if the exiting population is matched or exceeded by the incoming population. Process, not snapshot.
I thought the crystal ball clutchers received their rapture becasue Hitech created a second totally free game for furballing and ACM called War Online:Pacific. It has no capture the flag component, a 5mile diameter arena, and no place to hide. Seems that was what the DA was supposed to do for the crystall ball clutchers to address their dire warnings or threats of doom years ago.
From my own perspective Wo:P is exceedingly uninteresting because it's largely populated by AI and noobs, the flight model is dire and unchallenging (compared to what I've got used to), the planeset uninteresting. Further, HiTech has stated it was not pitched at existing AH players. So your implication is flawed at the core.
There could be spin off air combat-centric games that would be appealing where you could backwater the ACM-sharks and still get revenue. Weedling them out of the game also worked for those who can't stand paying $15 a month and still getting pwned. For HTC less so.
What happened, didn't heaven work out while everyone else stayed behind in the MA and played the game their way?
Referring to an earlier point: this 'everyone' you refer to are (with a decreasing number of exceptions) the remnants of the original AH population belonging to the 'Races High' faction (thanks for that Fess, I got a big laugh out of that) who demonstrably are avoidant of an equitable fight.
Hiders and runners have bored thousands of players to tears.
^ This, basically.
Yes we totally get it. Now that those who could out-fly you from disadvantage to killing you by employing witchcraft have almost been driven to extinction, your gameplay is more enjoyable than it has ever been. Bustr won't have his Spit8 out-turned by some elitist, gobby scum like nrshida flying a late-model 109 anymore. Fantastic. While you are having it all your own way, the game is now essentially functioning in a sealed and shrinking Virtual enclosure that no one else wants to join. Congratulations Bustr. You and your Harrison Bergeron utopians have won. And now, your prize...