S3 Series

Hello,

Years ago I was totally in to Air Warriors until it finally disappeared. Having the time an ability to return to air combat sims, I was happy to find WarBirds. Surprised to discover how low the participation is. Last night I saw a high of I think 30 members flying in the main arena, highest I've seen.

I can think of a number of reasons people are drawn elsewhere especially with the "Hot & Now" generation. I am interested in hearing others thoughts about this and possibly find avenues for recruiting more folks. If the consensus feels recruiting more is truly viable where to start and what to do? I will devote time and effort if it seems possible. A shame if it keeps up this way after all the development has gone in to it. I recall nights in AWs when we would have 900+ flying total.

Maybe I've got the wrong picture here and don't see things as they are!

Taps66

It is a good idea Taps. More recruits would be good.

There are quite a few players that only play in the Squad Select Series (S3). I rarely play in the Main, except for 45-30 minutes before a frame starts to remember how a particular aircraft flies. They have been upgrading the flight models, so I am often on on Sunday nights around 8:00 pm. That is when you will see the largest number of players as many hone their skills just before the frame starts at 8:30 pm EDT.

There are many factors argued over and over why Warbirds has a fledgling population. A lot of it I think falls of iEN. What they promote and what is offered is different. Up until recently, it was not an accurate sim, quoting reviews decades old. The competition has caught up, surpassed, and looks a lot sexier than Warbirds. None of them have the arena structure (login and play on a large scale quickly) that Warbirds offers, but the competition hones in on quality control that iEN lets get away from them. I have witnessed my own work not come out the way I sent it in. Part of the reason I started getting more and more involved in the whole art development process. Unfortunately time has taken that away from me again. A lot has been done to improve, but a lot more lies ahead to make Warbirds self sustaining. Getting people in the door at once so that they can see Warbirds' greatest potential strength is the challenge. Currently they filter in, get bored, and leave. Though I have seen more new names stick around.

The other issue is cost. No one really pays a monthly fee, let alone $20 a month for a game anymore. That said, iEN could use marketing skills to show that, on average, modern gamers pay $60 per new title, maybe 4-5 new titles a year ( would have to look up those averages). For Warbirds $240 a year someone could spend less on 24/7 entertainment over 3 hour flash in the pans.

I'm playing again after being away for more than a decade. It used to be a lot busier, that's for sure. I seem to recall a normal night was more than 100 online.

The issue might be there are a lot of sims out there. Aces High, Cliffs of Dover, IL2, and WarThunder all split the community up, but the competition is good for everyone. But to be honest, I don't know what Warbirds needs to succeed. I think a better graphics engine would be a great start.

Engaging, easy to find action.

Warbirds needs to focus on air combat and craft gameplay that promotes and encourages air combat.

While I agree that the pricing model is a huge obstacle and graphics are dated, it has to be easy to find a aerial fight. It isnt easy to find and there are too many ways to avoid aerial combat.

I am traveling in Europe at the moment and have seen a large amount of automobile art proclaiming allegiance to various online WWII games, most of them flying games. The audience is still out there.

I have begun flying the S3 and it offers an exciting way to fly. Recreations of WWII Battles is a lot of fun. That being said, there isn't much interest shown considering the low turn-out. In my squad from a potential 18 pilots, 6 showed up. Warbirds will be dead in a year at this rate. From what I see WB management is solely focused on this new mobile app and letting the condition of the WBs game slide. Not sure why but really what's the point in creating the mobile app to draw new Warbird pilots if when they arrive the game is still antiquated compared to all others online? Seems counter productive to me.

Give that man a beer!

WARNING: random thoughts surfacing in my head....

Why I fly S3: intense action, organization & camaraderie. reward of sense of accomplishment.

Why I don't fly in the Main: vague objectives... large area action is spread out thin. My squad has dwindled
and they rarely fly the main. action seems pointless.

Why I do fly in the Main: Practice... I see some friends in there, and join them... Investigate flight models & research for S3


Notes:

I don't use my phone for mobile app. So current focus of Game development has nothing to do with my interests other than numbers.
Suggest having existing missions that you can affect the results of, either bombing targets that are being targeted or intercepting existing attackers to prevent their success. smaller map with more concentrated action. AI targets & missions that players can effect.
perhaps some sort of mission goals & rewards... as the current ranking system seems like a mountain in front of me that I don't care to think about.

no rants .... just expressing thoughts.
my demographic group is 50 years old, flying on the desktop with joystick/throttle/pedals. Been playing since before version 1.11