Another ding to squads.

[Ghosth]

Well just walked downstairs for a smoke and one other thing hit me.

Back in the 90's the internet was a new thing. Those who ended up getting online and flying a Sim tended to be mature adults. And we behaved accordingly. The young people who did get online were trying so hard to fit in that they copied the way we behaved.

Nowdays any 12 yr old can get online, he doesn't care what anyone else thinks.
He doesn't care how anyone else acts. He wants what he wants and screw anyone else.

This has changed the face of all online gaming, and will continue to do so.
All you have to do is go to the TA and listen to the tone of the new people coming in.
Granted you get some older people who will try hard to fit in.

But 2 out of 3 are under 21 and really don't care what anyone else thinks.

Granted change has happened slower at AH than elsewhere.
But it is a fact that we have to deal with.

[skernsk]

AH wasn't like that either.
In fact I can tell you exactly when our community here started slipping.
It was the same month that AW shut down and we had a mass exodus of ex AW flyers learning A

I have to agree with this Schatzi.  And I don't want to step on toes or offend anyone but that very month the BBS changed and the game changed.  It was a twofold problem.  I've never played AW but the community doubled in size that month and quite frankly certain members started to spar on the BBS.  Things like Wild Wednesday turned into KOTH.  The demand for change got louder, players wanted a forcefield on the front of their planes to end HOing like AW had.  And HTC listened to much of the demands.  Guys like me didn't speak up then when it might have mattered.

I would say that 90% of the AW crowd was a welcome addition.  The other 10% was a LOUD obnoxious bunch.  That 10% added to the 10% of existing AH obnoxious players doubled the negativity.

AH has not been able to find a good balance since.  And frankly I have been unable to saw AW without a bad tasted in my mouth. 

The other thing that Ghosth mentioned is spot on.  Easy access for kids to get online and act like fools is also a contributing factor.  If you look at the BBS there are many on there who spew forth drivel.... and are not even paying members.  They have moved on long ago.  HTC should only open the BBS for those who subscribe to the game.  Then at least those on there have a right to post about the game.  The rest can go find another chat room.

[Dichodog]

"If you look at the BBS there are many on there who spew forth drivel.... and are not even paying members.  They have moved on long ago.  HTC should only open the BBS for those who subscribe to the game.  Then at least those on there have a right to post about the game.  The rest can go find another chat room."

Agreed but there should be some areas open to interested noobs.  I wasn't a paying member when I first started poking around and asking questions.

[daddog]

You all covered a lot of ground. I will absorb this over the next few days. Sure do appreciate the feed back and ideas. I will address the common themes when I talk to HTC about all this and try to hit home on a couple points.

Schatzi you are welcome to put in your two cents any time. No worries here about getting slammed. No one is hesitant to put in their two cents, but we try not to dump on anyone.

According to the movie Top Gun, in order to bond as wingmen you have to drink heavily together, hit on women in the most cheesy fashion possible, and then make up overly macho yet vaguely gay callsigns for each other.

ROFL dogma!

[Simaril]

.... No worries here about getting slammed. No one is hesitant to put in their two cents, but we try not to dump on anyone.

Well, at least as long as you're not Canadian.....


 

[Sour]

Who's this Schatzi guy?  j/k

I am guessing that not much has changed in the way of game play improvement.
With little improvement the game became tiresome. The only thing that kept me
going was you squaddies - now it looks like they are screwing this up!

So, DD ya gonna fess up on the testing? Are we ever gonna see this thing out?

I am starting to get the itch to fly a P47 again....

<S>
Sour

[skernsk]

Well, at least as long as you're not Canadian.....
 

ROFL!  Yer just jealous of our cool money!

[Dichodog]

actually it's your beer and the seemingly endless supply of attractive women

[skernsk]

actually it's your beer and the seemingly endless supply of attractive women

Our Beer is tops.  The swill you have would make me want to invade Canada.  As for the ladies, I married one of them atractive Canadian women, so feel free to help yourself to the rest of them.   

[Dichodog]

I don't think the She Devil would like that very much but when I was adminning that dating site it seemed like every girl from Canada was NIIICE so maybe yall don't let the ugly ones have computers or at least webcams

and that's a GOOD thing... nothing quite like approving profile pics and running across a 300 lb behemoth in their undies smiling through her tooth

[daddog]

SOUR! Miss ya buddy!  Did you get to fly the P-47N before you left?

Testing? Who said I was testing?

I just posted this in that endless thread in the general forum.

I have lost some members too due (in part) to the changes going on. Hope I don’t lose any more.

Still in the wait and see mode. I trust the HTC staff will weigh quite carefully anything that would improve game play, but subtract from squad play. I think they understand quite well how important squads are to many of us, even if many in the community don’t.

I also understand what is best for the player, may not be what is best for the squad. And that HTC will ultimately do what is best for his business, which may not be dependent on what is best for players or squads.

Only time will tell.

[Dichodog]

Just a question I'd like to throw out there.. what can WE as a squad do to improve gameplay.  This squad has a good reputation and a lot of our leaders are looked up to.  Just an idea here how about a challenge to other squads.  'hey we'll be in (select arena here) on (night) flying (chess piece) want to get your members together and see what happens? Is one idea.. EW is DEAD almost every night.. or AVA might make a good arena.. kind of a rhash of other ideas but a thought.