State of Sim'ing 2024 Survey

[CptTrips]

State of sim'ing 2024: 

I think these results are probably DCS skewed. 

Yes, he started out in IL2 and regularly covers many sims, and can't really be described as a mindless DCS Fanboi (often the opposite), he really got famous from his DCS coverage, so I expect his audience is heavily DCS weighted.

So, with a grain of salt...

[fudgums]

Lame.

[DmonSlyr]

Why does no one ever talk about AH in these? I swear it's like this game doesn't exist...

[Shane]

Why does no one ever talk about AH in these? I swear it's like this game doesn't exist...

I guess the good ole capt'n here never gives AH a mention at those other places he's begging us to check out.

[CptTrips]

I guess the good ole capt'n here never gives AH a mention at those other places he's begging us to check out.

Well, genius, I talked extensively about AH to both Enigma (trying to get him to do an interview, and or a review of AH as one of the Golden Age sims still in production the way he has IL2.) and to players in the IL2_1946 channel there.

I had one former player say he was going to re-download and try it again as he never heard it had added VR.
Another 1946 influencer said he would give the trial a go at some point on my recommendation, because I think the current 1946 fan base and the AH fan base should have a lot of cross pollination.  1946 patched, ends up being very similar to AH.  It think both would transition easily and 1946 would be useful for AH players who'd like some similar SP, and AH would be a better environment to the 1946 crowd for MP.

The problem is I have to admit that I myself don't currently keep an active account so that weakens my pitch.

The chest-thumpers around here  should get out of their echo chamber and go out on Hoggit and Discord and make their case.  Most prefer to stay in their little safe-space here and snipe.  I've only seen Dadtallica and Scott ever grow enough of a pair to go evangelize outside of this choir.

[CptTrips]

Why does no one ever talk about AH in these? I swear it's like this game doesn't exist...

Enigma knows about AH.  I think he has even tried it a long time ago but didn’t spend much time in it.
He was an avid WWIIOL player and still plays IL2 regularly.

I imagine it was left out for the same reason you don’t see WWIIOL on there even though being technically still alive.  And Enigma LIKED WWIIOL, it just doesn’t rate as viable anymore.  He has fond memories, it just isn't a market player anymore.  I imagine his views on AH and WWIIOL are probably a lot like what he said about Cliffs of Dover in that vid.

The average age of a DCS player is probably in the range of 30 yo.
The average age of a AH player is probably in the range of 60 yo.  (just guessing)

In the end though, that list was driven by the player comments.  Probably a largely IL2\DSC skewed sampling pool.  With that younger cohort, AH is just a forgotten ruin in the jungle, or at best something they remember their granddads talk about playing. 

Even the former player that said would give the VR a try said he though AH had gone out of business a decade ago.

[Lusche]

Why does no one ever talk about AH in these? I swear it's like this game doesn't exist...

Because it has a very small player base compared to that other sims mentioned. It's simply flying under the radar of most people. And not having seen any notable development for like a decade certainly doesn't help. The very few guys I ever encountered knowing about were like "wow, that game still exists? I used to play it as a kid!"

[DmonSlyr]

Because it has a very small player base compared to that other sims mentioned. It's simply flying under the radar of most people. And not having seen any notable development for like a decade certainly doesn't help. The very few guys I ever encountered knowing about were like "wow, that game still exists? I used to play it as a kid!"

Yeah it's outdated and player base slipped, but it's still a simulator. Does that many more players really play Il2 than this? That being said said, I can understand why AH may not suite all types of sim gamers. The MA is a very unfair and challenging place. It costs $15 a month. AH lacks server based arenas for some stupid reason which are free to make and play in. To me, I enjoy it more than the other current ww2 flight sims. DCS needs more planes. Plus do those games even have special event war simulations based on real battles of WW2 with 40 players on each side? I don't think so. To me that's the most underrated part of AH that NO ONE talks about in their reviews. That in itself is a "simulation" of war strategy, not just flight simulation. AH also has been getting new maps. No marketing for those... thats not considered an update?  Why no announcement of the North America map on the front page or something? DCS announces new maps...these are EASY things to draw in players.

[CptTrips]

Yeah it's outdated and player base slipped, but it's still a simulator. Does that many more players really play Il2 than this? That being said said, I can understand why AH may not suite all types of sim gamers. The MA is a very unfair and challenging place. It costs $15 a month. AH lacks server based arenas for some stupid reason which are free to make and play in. To me, I enjoy it more than the other current ww2 flight sims. DCS needs more planes. Plus do those games even have special event war simulations based on real battles of WW2 with 40 players on each side? I don't think so. To me that's the most underrated part of AH that NO ONE talks about in their reviews. That in itself is a "simulation" of war strategy, not just flight simulation. AH also has been getting new maps. No marketing for those... thats not considered an update?  Why no announcement of the North America map on the front page or something? DCS announces new maps...these are EASY things to draw in players.

That is an impassioned argument.

Now go make it on Hoggit.  You don't need to remake the argument here to a bunch of guys who mostly already have accounts.  You want customers, go make your case to where you'll find the potential customers.  Not a MSFS reddit, but someplace they discuss air combat sims.  You'll have to go risk rejection.  Very few here are willing to go brave that risk of rejection, so they just squat here and stew.

A good model here is the BMS guys.  They are always pitching BMS over on Hoggit.  Respectfully but with passion.  They might risk a little eye-rolling but I haven't seen any of them attacked.

NO, just randomly dropping some vids into the YT void is also not going to move the needle.  You're going to have to have conversation and explain why there is more there than a visual video can convey.  You are going to have to have a dialog with potential customers outside of the safe-space echo chamber.  It's going to take direct engagement.  And you are not going to convince most.  That's just going to be the reality.

[Lusche]

Yeah it's outdated and player base slipped, but it's still a simulator. Does that many more players really play Il2 than this?

From steam charts:

AH now playing 6; 24H peak 11  (actual number: in the arena 36. I can Only guess the 24 hour peak, maybe 130?)
Il-2 now playing 431, same as 24h peak (I have no idea how many are playing non steam)
DCS now playing 1588, 24h-peak: 1600 (Many if not most are also playing the non steam version)
WWII Online: 22 in game now, 25 peak. (I have no idea how many are playing non steam)

for comparison
E:D (Thats were I'm at most of my time these days) 8794 /8794

[CptTrips]

From steam charts:

AH now playing 6; 24H peak 11  (actual number: in the arena 36. I can Only guess the 24 hour peak, maybe 130?)
Il-2 now playing 431, same as 24h peak (I have no idea how many are playing non steam)
DCS now playing 1588, 24h-peak: 1600 (Many if not most are also playing the non steam version)
WWII Online: 22 in game now, 25 peak. (I have no idea how many are playing non steam)

for comparison
E:D (Thats were I'm at most of my time these days) 8794 /8794

For DCS at least, I am pretty certain that number is skewed very low. 
For DCS, I know the VAST majority of players directly purchase through ED rather than Steam.

Through Steam, players don't get access to the perpetual two-week trial system or purchase reward miles.

[CptTrips]

opps failed edit.

[Meatwad]

I play ww2ol every now and then, not through steam. The numbers dropped there also compared what it used to be. Only reason I'm there is because it offers ftp

[CptTrips]

I play ww2ol every now and then, not through steam. The numbers dropped there also compared what it used to be. Only reason I'm there is because it offers ftp

I tried to like WWIIOL.  I loved the concept, but the implementation....ooooffff.

But it's been a while since I've last tried it and there is still some development going on there.  Hmmm but looks the same at least:

[AAIK]

Guys, pop by ww2ol some time and play the free to play planes and show these ego-ridden ww2ol pilots how its really done! They have had it too comfortable so far.