Main Arena Trending Down?

[Skyyr]

Many take the game way too serious imo

That is why any pilot worth a crap should not be in late war planes in ma

Should be embarrassing for them to have to feed their egos at the expense of the newbie that needs to be in a spit16 or d9..

The game could be so much better if egos were left outside it..

Eagler

If you don't need a late war plane, you aren't challenging yourself enough.

A D9 vs 5 opponents is harder than a midwar 1v1.

My 600 kills in a A5 were easier than 100 kills in a K4.

If you think someone flying a late war plane is because they "need" one, then you likely aren't experienced enough to have an opinion on said matter. I don't fly late war planes because I "need" one, I fly them to run down runners and prevent ganging.

At the moment, I have more kills in midwar planes than any other squad has in their entirety in all planes, so my comment is coming purely from experience.

[Lusche]

As others have already noted, the seasonal downswing was to be expected and, as far as I can see, is not really much different from the years before. What's ridiculous is the thought that two or three guys just naming a different game on the forums (which most AH players hardly ever look at) has caused all that player loss. As if the downward trend doesn't go on since 2009. If anything, all that pilot drama here and on CH200 has probably a bigger impact, though it's certainly not "that one factor" that 'ruined' AH.


Now something I found interesting. Last week I was tracking arena numbers for the MA (which I had not done in a loong time):



Note that this is my local time zone, central european summer time, 19:00 to 24:00 would kinda be my prime time, though I used to play basically all over daytime as my schedule permitted. But I digress.


Now I felt like the increase during Euro primetime used to be much bigger, so I tried to find some old data for comparison:


(We still had LWB and LWO in 2010, graph shows both arenas combined)

And now both curves set to 100% at 13:00 hours for better comparison of relative growth:




Now, if this ain't just a singular oddity (which it doesn't seem to me), one would wonder why the Euro primetime boost of the past isn't there anymore. Did AH lose Euro players at a much bigger rate? Or does arena attendance generally shifts more towards concentration at US prime even among US players, as the numbers at non-peak times are percieved as "too low to have fun?"
At this point, I can just speculate...

[Eagler]

If you don't need a late war plane, you aren't challenging yourself enough.

A D9 vs 5 opponents is harder than a midwar 1v1.

My 600 kills in a A5 were easier than 100 kills in a K4.

If you think someone flying a ...blah blah I am the best ever blah blah

At your skill level you are limited to a spit1

Thanks for playing

Eagler

[thndregg]

While I’m not a fighter pilot by any stretch of the imagination, this game based on many comments, is the best overall Air Combat Sim around. I am confused.

Reading up on some of the Combat reports from WW2, Korea, and Vietnam, it appears that in real life, when the opponent has lost the advantage, retreat is SOP. That being the case, why is everyone getting so bent out of shape when an opponent runs? I mean generally speaking, running to stay alive seems logical.

This of course ignores the "smack talk" side of the issue.

I agree to a point, and that point is that it is a game that was intended to cater to all sorts of furballs, duels, defensive and offensive tactics oriented players, which does include retreat if necessary. I grow weary of the "You should play the game my way or you suck.." crowd. My gosh.. the day these players pay ME real money to play their way is when I might start caring about a decades-old cartoon world. 

The way I've played my $15 for years is pretty much tactical offense and retreat (if necessary) as a long-time B17 nut myself. Even what little I do in fighters is tactical engagement, but I've sucked at it as of late. It takes a talent that, as I've gotten older over the past 20 years, and have long periods of being away from the game, I've kind of lost it.

I try my best to get my bombers or the mission to target. My two main goals are to reach the target AND/OR keep my flight or the group mission as intact as possible throughout. Oh, yes, I/we have been shredded to pieces a lot by the opposition.

Along with it comes the fight to get there, and the fight to get out of there. Lots of memorable battles, as bomber/escort missions have many times been a magnet for fighter on bomber, and fighter on fighter action.

Anyway, just wanted to dump my two heavily taxed cents.

EGG

[Dadtallica]

As others have already noted, the seasonal downswing was to be expected and, as far as I can see, is not really much different from the years before. What's ridiculous is the thought that two or three guys just naming a different game on the forums (which most AH players hardly ever look at) has caused all that player loss. As if the downward trend doesn't go on since 2009. If anything, all that pilot drama here and on CH200 has probably a bigger impact, though it's certainly not "that one factor" that 'ruined' AH.


Now something I found interesting. Last week I was tracking arena numbers for the MA (which I had not done in a loong time):

(Image removed from quote.)

Note that this is my local time zone, central european summer time, 19:00 to 24:00 would kinda be my prime time, though I used to play basically all over daytime as my schedule permitted. But I digress.


Now I felt like the increase during Euro primetime used to be much bigger, so I tried to find some old data for comparison:

(Image removed from quote.)
(We still had LWB and LWO in 2010, graph shows both arenas combined)

And now both curves set to 100% at 13:00 hours for better comparison of relative growth:

(Image removed from quote.)


Now, if this ain't just a singular oddity (which it doesn't seem to me), one would wonder why the Euro primetime boost of the past isn't there anymore. Did AH lose Euro players at a much bigger rate? Or does arena attendance generally shifts more towards concentration at US prime even among US players, as the numbers at non-peak times are percieved as "too low to have fun?"
At this point, I can just speculate...

Thank you Lusche I figured you would come with the receipts. I hours irs nice to see it’s still steady but something just feels off to me. Hoping it’s just the time of year. I will be gone too for 12 days soon for a vacation.

[Eagler]

Hey sky

How about stopping the gaming the game by stop the engine kill at the top of your loops?

You still need to do that with all your greatness?

Thanks for the fights last night

How come I can't <S> you in game? How are you spelled there?

Eagler

[Bopgun]

Hey sky

How about stopping the gaming the game by stop the engine kill at the top of your loops?

You still need to do that with all your greatness?

Thanks for the fights last night

How come I can't <S> you in game? How are you spelled there?

Eagler

He’s flies with fuel injection off, Carburetor only. The engine cutout is because of the negative G’s

[The Fugitive]

Hey sky

How about stopping the gaming the game by stop the engine kill at the top of your loops?

You still need to do that with all your greatness?

Thanks for the fights last night

How come I can't <S> you in game? How are you spelled there?

Eagler

It depends on which account he is logged in on.

Skyyr
SkyyrII
SkyyrIII

[Eagler]

It depends on which account he is logged in on.

Skyyr
SkyyrII
SkyyrIII

I think he throws a period in there as when you just type it out it doesn't salute

My guess it's on purpose so he isn't obligated to salute back...we obviously aren't worth it

Eagler

[Eagler]

He’s flies with fuel injection off, Carburetor only. The engine cutout is because of the negative G’s

Lol

He should put himself in a plane that does challenge him in ma like a spit1 but his ego won't allow it

Eagler

[CptTrips]

As others have already noted, the seasonal downswing was to be expected and, as far as I can see, is not really much different from the years before. What's ridiculous is the thought that two or three guys just naming a different game on the forums (which most AH players hardly ever look at) has caused all that player loss. As if the downward trend doesn't go on since 2009. If anything, all that pilot drama here and on CH200 has probably a bigger impact, though it's certainly not "that one factor" that 'ruined' AH.

Excuse my ignorance, but isn't a lot of the Euro zone going through a steeper economic contraction now than the US?  Canary in the coal mine?  I still don't buy soft landing.  Our piper has yet to be paid.

2008 GFC definitely had an effect on US numbers.  I don't care how much people say $15\mo don't matter, but when everything in the budget is having to get trimmed it is hard having to explain to Momma why you are spending a Netflix account amount each month on a 25 year old video game.

[Banshee7]

Lol

He should put himself in a plane that does challenge him in ma like a spit1 but his ego won't allow it

Eagler

See, the problem with that is instead of challenging himself, all he would be doing is chasing other players in LW planes.  There's no challenge.  Like he already said, it's more of a challenge flying an La7 multiple v 1 (which is does a lot) than flying a Spit 1 spending all his time using defensive maneuvers and chasing down those that he reverses.  That is the major flaw in your idea with everyone flying MW or EW planes.  If you take all the LW planes out of the arena, there are still going to be players that fly the fastest, most maneuverable MW planes that consistently run away from fights.  It's just the nature of the beast and what is inherently wrong with a majority of the players left in this game.

[Eagler]

I see him in a crowd or higher than you most of the time

Seems I have become his latest shiny object..see his yt vid from last night

What's the command he types in at 12:12?

[ Invalid YouTube link ]


https://www.youtube.com/live/-hztcZN-NxY?si=W2DvoCNGW65a3Oaw

Sky..let your groupies know I  have not been in a k4 this entire month..

YT makes it sounds like the game is filled with 16 year olds...maybe it is ..such tough foul  language will capping a field is hilarious if not sad...

Eagler

[Skyyr]

Hey sky

How about stopping the gaming the game by stop the engine kill at the top of your loops?

You still need to do that with all your greatness?

Didn't you hear? Cutting your engine does nothing. Probably just a dumb placebo maneuver that does nothing. That's what everyone says. Ergo I wouldn't worry about it.

[AKIron]

A game of fun with friends can be fun for a long time. A game of I'm the best not so much.