This Game Dies Because

[Ciaphas]

If there was more noob friendly nights and coaching and such, that'd be cool.

But the  TRAINERZ!!!

In all honesty. training is something that is needed on a steady basis in this game. I feel that if the "NEWB" participated in a mandatory hands on "Here's the stuff you need to know" type of mission prior to being released to the servers, especially the MA, it would go a long way with retention. 

Anyways, Oh Man I havent posted on a old school forum for a while.

She's old school but she works, she could use a bit of a make-over.

[redcatcherb412]

I'm pretty sure that a lot of those reviews are from previous players that have either been banned from AHIII or butthurt for some reason.

Coogan

Or gotten in a tiff with a former administrator and just said not worth it and the heck with it. It happens 
Definitely a lot of ex subscribers in the steam reviews, more than new folks trying it out it appears, but a lot
of the reviews seem to be newcomers without the patience to learn a few basics. Those I bet have probably
tried a lot of games and given up after just a few tries. There are other games out there with a much longer
and more difficult learning curve than this one that cost just as much or more to play.

[TheBug]

There are other games out there with a much longer and more difficult learning curve than this one that cost just as much or more to play.

I'm just curious, like which ones?

[CptTrips]

People keep making that assertion, but I have never seen any compelling evidence. 

Millions of copies of IL2 BoX get sold every release. 
COD: WWII sold something like 20 million copies.
Battlefield 5 was eagerly anticipated and even with it's technical and design problems sold 7 million copies in the first month after release.

I see no evidence that well made and smartly marketed WWII themed products have any particular hurdle with today's market.  I doubt it ever will.  It is an ideal combat genre that uses reasonably modern weapons without crossing over to the complexities of radar/lasers/electronics.

Yet another new WWII game that is having no problem finding popularity:




BTW, I think this what a base capture should look like in Aces High.   

[morfiend]

But the  TRAINERZ!!!

In all honesty. training is something that is needed on a steady basis in this game. I feel that if the "NEWB" participated in a mandatory hands on "Here's the stuff you need to know" type of mission prior to being released to the servers, especially the MA, it would go a long way with retention. 

She's old school but she works, she could use a bit of a make-over.

  You can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink!


  For years I spent most nights in the TA during primetime and I would say I was lucky if once a week someone would come in and ask for help.Mostly it was Morf's social club meetings,last year around this time I had some RL issues come up and had to step away.

  I've checked into the TA a few times this past month or so and well it's usually MT so I just log off. I've flown a few nights in the MA and done a few FSO's lately trying to get back into the swing of things but it seems to me like there just isnt that much demand for training.

 I'm sure there's plenty who need some kind of help,whether it's just simple setup and getting started or actual BFM stuff. I'm not sure what the answers are for this,although I think a more modern interface might help.

  If a player wants help all they need do is ask.

   

PS: Maybe if the trainers could message across all the arenas like the CM's can that might help,at least they could announce they were available and in the TA.

[svaalbar]

  You can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink!


  For years I spent most nights in the TA during primetime and I would say I was lucky if once a week someone would come in and ask for help.Mostly it was Morf's social club meetings,last year around this time I had some RL issues come up and had to step away.

  I've checked into the TA a few times this past month or so and well it's usually MT so I just log off. I've flown a few nights in the MA and done a few FSO's lately trying to get back into the swing of things but it seems to me like there just isnt that much demand for training.

 I'm sure there's plenty who need some kind of help,whether it's just simple setup and getting started or actual BFM stuff. I'm not sure what the answers are for this,although I think a more modern interface might help.

  If a player wants help all they need do is ask.

   

PS: Maybe if the trainers could message across all the arenas like the CM's can that might help,at least they could announce they were available and in the TA.

Problem is I think a lot of people just want instant-ish action, without a long-ish (hour long+) tutorial. I was thinking of making some new longer tutorial videos around 5min or so. HiTechs videos on the main site are good, but too brief I think, around the 2min mark just chalk full of info.

I was thinking of making some videos like:

How to play (join arena, select base/team, and select a beginner plane - spit 14/16, mustang, etc)

Then maybe more videos like "how to find a fight. How to defend. How to join in an offense." etc.

Also maybe a basic map reading video. Then maybe another vid of "basic maneuvers in fights" - split S, immelmen, chandelles, etc.

heres an example video of mine, for a totally different game on how to mod it for example. its pretty short tho. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGXskcB8Li4

[CAV]

I'm just curious, like which ones?

https://www.iracing.com/

[Ciaphas]

https://www.iracing.com/

haha, so iracing is sponsored by a dozen or more huge corporations... .

[CAV]

haha, so iracing is sponsored by a dozen or more huge corporations... .

For "Joe" online player it is still a steep & difficult learning curve, it too is $15 a month plus content and equipment... I am near $300 for track & cars. Plus a $450 wheel, a $400 brake set, button boxes, stick shift & a VR headset..... I play AcesHigh for pennies a day compared to iRacing.

CAVALRY

[Vraciu]

Problem is I think a lot of people just want instant-ish action, without a long-ish (hour long+) tutorial.

Of course they do.  Can’t blame them.   After all, people don’t pay to be bored.   The problem becomes what to do with those who seek action but can’t even get the airplane off the ground.   

[morfiend]

I was thinking of making some videos like:

How to play (join arena, select base/team, and select a beginner plane - spit 14/16, mustang, etc)

Then maybe more videos like "how to find a fight. How to defend. How to join in an offense." etc.

Also maybe a basic map reading video. Then maybe another vid of "basic maneuvers in fights" - split S, immelmen, chandelles, etc.

 Videos are great for most of the things you mention but BFM vids leave a lot to be desired. You need some feedback,tips and encouragement while you attempt to fly BFM. While a vid may give you an idea how to do the maneuver and I often refer players to graphs of the flight paths,in my experience the player usually needs to be corrected.

 Just the terminology alone can be problematic,whats the difference between a pitchback and a high yoyo? or a sliceback and a low yoyo?

 Most new players have no idea about this stuff,they just try to keep fast and almost always turn nose down and find themselves on the deck at a disadvantage.

 Clinics work pretty well but I always prefer one on one for whatever reason.I used to help other trainer put on clinics,be the bad guy or the target,whatever it took to help get the point across. So if you could do a clinic mission to teach BFM that might be useful. Not sure you could make the AI planes do whats needed as thats above my pay grade but if you could and add a voice over to direct a new player through the clinic/mission them maybe it could be done in offline and be less intimidating for a new player.

  Again I dont have the answers just throwing stuff at the wall to see if it sticks.


     

[CptTrips]

I'm just curious, like which ones?

I have been playing Aces High since the first weeks of the Beta.
I have spent 15 years playing the Battlefield series.
The majority of my gaming has been those two games for the last 20 years.

In the whole, compared something like Battlefield 4, Aces High is no more complex, IMHO.  Different skills and knowledge, but I've played both, it's not more complex.

The issue is that a lot less players have played other combat flight sims, and so many more players have played one version of FPS or another.  So it is a lot easier for many to jump in BF4 and play well enough to at least have fun, than it is for many to jump into Aces High and enjoy it enough to stay past two weeks.  It's harder for many to get up on the initial curve to start see the progress it takes to motivate them.  However, to master both games and be a top competitor, takes about the same amount of skill and effort.




So that would explain why we have a hard time converting new players who come from a FPS or mouse flying background. It doesn't explain why we aren't converting the millions of IL2 players.  The learning curve must not be the fundamental issue there.

[Ciaphas]

For "Joe" online player it is still a steep & difficult learning curve, it too is $15 a month plus content and equipment... I am near $300 for track & cars. Plus a $450 wheel, a $400 brake set, button boxes, stick shift & a VR headset..... I play AcesHigh for pennies a day compared to iRacing.

CAVALRY

There is a large difference between a game that has no (correct me if I'm wrong) sponsors and a game with well known mega sponsors and a prebuilt fan base towards racing (nascar, sprint. rally etc...). racing is probably one of the most widely watched sports next to soccer and football.

WWII vehicle combat has a much smaller fan base and that fan base is divided between a couple of titles.




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[CptTrips]

There is a large difference between a game that has no (correct me if I'm wrong) sponsors and a game with well known mega sponsors and a prebuilt fan base towards racing (nascar, sprint. rally etc...). racing is probably one of the most widely watched sports next to soccer and football.

WWII vehicle combat has a much smaller fan base and that fan base is divided between a couple of titles.

Does that matter? 
The question wasn't about player base size.  The question was about whether there were other games with complexity comparable to Aces High, right?

[Vraciu]

There is a large difference between a game that has no (correct me if I'm wrong) sponsors and a game with well known mega sponsors and a prebuilt fan base towards racing (nascar, sprint. rally etc...). racing is probably one of the most widely watched sports next to soccer and football.

WWII vehicle combat has a much smaller fan base and that fan base is divided between a couple of titles.




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Yet I once read that airshows are the #1 Spectator Sport...