Author Topic: What would get AH growing again  (Read 8483 times)

Offline Yarbles

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What would get AH growing again
« on: November 03, 2024, 07:26:35 PM »
I am sure HT has asked himself this question but we can talk about it.

What amazes me about AH is how many different elements it has still compared to what else is out there.

Planes, GV'S, Ships, ground guns etc and they are still making films about WW2 so there is an interest.

What do people think might make it grow again in player numbers?

Positive suggestions please  :D   
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Offline Yarbles

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #1 on: November 03, 2024, 07:29:16 PM »
My opinion. 1) Icons are a bit old hat. Maybe we should switch them off and see what happens  :bolt:

                  2) Make it AvA

                  3) Real Maps like Europe and the far east etc.

Basically fight the war and have the whole thing moving on a clock from 1939 to 1945 so we have changing scenarios over time. Europe, Africa, Russia, Eventually Japan and then start again. 

The plane and vehicle set is already there for anywhere.

Allies will have the best bombers axis the best GV'S. There would have to be substitutes like C47 for tri motor and Japanese Carriers use US landing craft but most stuff seems to be there.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2024, 07:38:43 PM by Yarbles »
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Offline SuperDud

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #2 on: November 03, 2024, 07:44:57 PM »
You'd have to update graphics and lose the monthly subscription for starters. There's a game our there already that you can play for free that looks better and now is the premier sim.

I know a lot of the older folks might want to argue this, but this is the simple, non emotional truth.
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Offline Yarbles

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2024, 08:02:45 PM »
You'd have to update graphics and lose the monthly subscription for starters. There's a game our there already that you can play for free that looks better and now is the premier sim.

I know a lot of the older folks might want to argue this, but this is the simple, non emotional truth.

Given the huge plane and vehicle set and the effort that has gone into the modelling the Sub seems to me like excellent value. I think it is how they are used that is the issue. Be less of a game more of a re enactment of history might be a draw.

Prior to pearl harbor a bit light on the allied side for the Battle of France but we do have some early stuff like Hurri 1 early M4 and P40 even B25 are not that advanced V Early Panzer, Stuka, Heinkel, 109 and 110 etc  Share C47. Wirble v M3 QUAD 50, M80 as a light tank on either side. Brewster for the allies.   The Axis would at this stage have an advantage in kit of course.   

B of B and Axis could invade the uk.  North Africa and Barbarossa we have allot of Aircraft and Vehicles and then Pearl Harbour we are talking invasion of Hawaii potentially. And so on  :D

Fight the war  :rock

History and re imagined history  :aok
« Last Edit: November 03, 2024, 08:35:44 PM by Yarbles »
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Offline Animl-AW

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #4 on: November 03, 2024, 09:39:28 PM »
Lack of advertising
Get the word outside the bubble.
Numbers breed numbers.
Especially before scenarios.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2024, 09:41:03 PM by Animl-AW »

Offline LNG15

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #5 on: November 03, 2024, 09:41:55 PM »
You'd have to update graphics and lose the monthly subscription for starters. There's a game our there already that you can play for free that looks better and now is the premier sim.

I know a lot of the older folks might want to argue this, but this is the simple, non emotional truth.

War Thunder is ALL about the modern fighters today mostly SuperDud. Plus most of the matches you get in like Realistic have time limits to complete the mission. I rather take as much time as I can without being limited to a time limit. What if I want to fly a Heavy Bomber like a B-17? You get slaughtered by ME-262s HO-229s and most of the early jets that have heavy cannon. Alongside that you can't even have a formation of 3 and you can only bomb the bases and there isn't even a realistic battle setup where the city or a strategic target can be bombed by the bombers. I quit playing WT due to players never helping and some of the premium vehicles they have which just slaughter your teammates and ruins the experience.
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Offline SmokinLoon

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2024, 11:35:17 PM »
Word of mouth, person to person recruiting is about it.

Sure, Hitech could spend lots of money on advertising but in the end games like War Thunder and IL-2 with the massive teams of developers and the newest and latest cutting edge graphics are going to win out.

AH is not a "flash-bang" game, it isn't a here today gone tomorrow game. It is still here (Jan 2008), and guys like me/us appreciate the complexity of the flight models and the different things that can be done.

I wish the certain aircraft and tanks would get a "check", the T34/85 is as buggy as they come and the 190 seems to stall out way too easy and violently (and the 190A-8 is about 500-600lbs too heavy depending on which source you're reading). The perk values need a serious adjustment (T34/85 needs a major hike!, the Firefly a reduction for being slow and wimpy. It makes no sense the T34/85 is less than half of the Firefly!), and it'd be nice to implement a "haze" in the optics of varying degrees on every tank but the German tanks to simulate their superior optics (Soviets were the worst). Etc. etc. Adjust the hardness factors so the small bombs are worth taking up.

I went off course a bit... sorry, but at the end of the day AH just ins't going to bring in the "flash-bang" crowd that wants graphics over modeling. They want their P51D to turn tight with Spitfires and Zekes, their P80's and Meteor Mk III's shooting down Me262's, and they want to be able to "buy" and add that flamethrower to their Sherman and take down buildings with it.     
 
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Offline AAIK

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2024, 07:06:57 AM »
You wanna know what will help AH grow?

Aces High IV

Then you can implement "seasons" which are themed events that run for a couple months.


Offline potsNpans

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #8 on: November 04, 2024, 07:20:32 AM »
Flourishing economies, player's who do continue through the learning curve.
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Offline icepac

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #9 on: November 04, 2024, 07:30:42 AM »

It would be cool if 20 year players first communications with new players weren't talking smack.

Offline Eagler

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2024, 07:35:14 AM »
Any player with more than 5 years experience limited to mid war planes and below..

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Offline The Fugitive

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2024, 08:23:46 AM »
Any thoughts of making the game full time "Axis vs Allies" is the dagger that will kill this game in weeks instead of years that we all hope we still have. Any other flight sim game that tried to run a A vs A type playfield even for shot amounts of time lost all kinds of population. If it was such a good idea IL2 would have much bigger servers and much larger crowds playing it.

GRAPHICS, it seems that is always the first thing everyone complains about here..... "20 year old graphics". Are the graphics that bad? I dont think so, but some things could use a bit more? Maybe. We have had "Speed Trees" for a long time yet nothing has changed....except the complaints of too many trees :) A quick look at the site shows some amazing views....



Maybe the tree/land textures could use a bit of tweaking. Not sure how it works, but is it just the use of the program that is needed to tweak them?

Adding to the "flash-bang" aspect couldnt the explosions be beefed up, maybe add some where we dont have anything now like when a building explodes, maybe bigger hit sprites and so on. The game isnt a "flight sim" per say.. ask anyone that plays DCS.... so add a few gamyer elements for that "flash bang" crowd. In VR this game is awesome. Put a few explosions in their face and listen to them giggle!





Add a free element to the game. 10-12 free planes/vehicles in the MA all the time. A couple of buffs, a couple of tanks, a goon and M3 for supply/troops and 4-6 fighters. Sure the "new guys" will have there butts handed to them, but by playing the game and learning to work with others they will learn how deep the game is and Im sure will move to the subscription.

Volunteers, There are a number of players who are retired. Some I am sure have talents that could be used in the game. We have skinners and map makers, why not some guys to work on new explosions, trees, textures, tiles and so on. I know I would love to contribute to the game as much as I can to help it along, Im sure there are others.

Resubmit to Steam or other gamers sites. I dont know how much it costs to do so, but Im thinking its less than a TV ad and might have a much better target audience. Have some volunteers on hand for the opening to help players coming in, give them the "blue text" to stand out and help players. Every 5 minutes or so send a "how to use ingame text" message so the first thing they can do is talk, and ask questions. Do this 24 hours strait for a week just to get as many as you can into the game as easily as possible, hand feed the newbies.

It would be cool if 20 year players first communications with new players weren't talking smack.

I always thought there should be more MODs. Unfortunately we live in a world where everyone can/will take offense at the smallest thing. There is "smack talking" and then there is abuse and sometimes its a very fine line between the two. Some player seem to thrive on crossing that line and drive players away. Id rather see those players hammered with mutes and suspensions and even bans to hopefully keep from running off other players.

More MODs could also be used as a committee that could gather evidence of poor game play and drop it on Hitechs desk. This way things like the "YKW" incident dosent carry on so long again chasing players away.

Any player with more than 5 years experience limited to mid war planes and below..

Eagler

I dont like limiting players. Let them fly what ever they want, but lets say they only get credit for half a kill toward score. Those that fly the monsters to only rack up quick easy kills for score may change planes. Of course those that just want to see their name in lights will continue but it might move some out of those planes.

Adjust ENY. Some planes/vehicles are way out of wack, Yaks, T34, and so on. You could also add better earnings to some of the mid war planes for "perk farming". As it is a G2 with a kill gets you a couple perks, double it and see how many people start flying them to build perks.

Why build perks? so you can pay for your magic ride when ENY kicks in. If your team is hit with ENY, you can pay perks to get that pony you just have to have. Im not sure how long it takes, or could take with ENY/perk adjustments added do build a usable bank of perks, but once that time is known it would adjust the clearing of perks from the bank. Purge the perks so everyone starts fresh, and purge them every tour, or every other tour to keep from having the thousands of perks some players have.


I think the biggest issue is Hitech. If he is willing to jump in Im sure things would change for the better. If he just wants to maintain and provide a playground for those of us still around, not much will change. As always, the ball is in his court.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2024, 08:51:01 AM by The Fugitive »

Offline Animl-AW

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2024, 08:27:55 AM »
Graphic update, without any setting changes would set growth in motion just by word of mouth.

Not one setting bothers me. They make more sense when there’s a decent size crowd. No one setting is going to do it. Thats a pipe dream.

Graphic update alone would set things in motion. Since we don’t know what work it would entail, easier said than done. It would prolly require at least a small team, and update bug fixes from doing it. It would take 4-5 people in tune with each other. Would current skins and maps still work?

Offline Animl-AW

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #13 on: November 04, 2024, 08:40:24 AM »
I have a good software for explosions, fire and smoke that I’ve been toying with off and on. These look crazy realistic. But I don’t know what file type is required.

In some cases a model is required to have pieces of it fly off with trailing smoke. I can make buildings crumple. What I’ve seen here may look equal or better than the other sims.

Very soon I would have plenty of free time to donate to FX.

Sounds are pretty good, maybe a few touchups here and there for freshness. I can do those too.
« Last Edit: November 04, 2024, 08:43:19 AM by Animl-AW »

Offline Dadtallica

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Re: What would get AH growing again
« Reply #14 on: November 04, 2024, 08:51:16 AM »
You need about $3M and a bunch of people… just to get started. Anything else you’re asking for won’t matter until you do that.

Money to contract developers mostly, hire some kind of office staff to manage the day to day ops, no idea what kind of systems and software is not already in hand, and a newer thinking more intensive approach to marketing and social media. Oh and then you have to keep it all going by generating revenue somehow.

Basically what used to be but way bigger.
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