Some small thoughts of how to get some more players.

[=LD=4brkfast]

First and foremost to those that might read this and I have previously met, salute and hello! I've been away from flying for some time but, speaking very honestly, it's in my blood and I can't stay away for very long.

 

I return to the virtual cockpit and am impressed with the progress this rendition of IL-2 has made. Every single airplane, although I would argue in some cases are over performing, fly exceptionally well, are a joy and most importantly closely resemble their historical counter parts. The airplanes fly awesome, to put it simply. I've enjoyed everything so far, including the hulk of a HE-111 that seemed to float on air when you want it to.

 

And yet when I bring up the Multiplayer list, the numbers there do not reflect the modern marvel of a simulator game that has been created and is still being created. Unless memory does not serve, I also remember reading or hearing that the CEO of the company that created this beautiful game had hoped to break even. Just as I had then, I sit here writing this shaking my head.

 

It doesn't have to be this way.

 

I'm a younger pilot compared to some, probably younger than the average age that play this game. I've only been at this for ten years and I come from a different game. I'm a noob in the IL-2 arena. But I would like to think I can at least offer a perspective about air combat and the sim world.

 

In my experience among all the possible prop-noses about ten percent of them will choose to play with a pure 'no icon' system. On a good day. It's usually about 5% in the past, I would know because my squad CO would post special historical events on Sundays and did his best to push a shorter range or no icon type of gameplay and typically we had to loosen some things up to get pilots to join.

 

So, that means, among the sim crowd the 'no icon' guys are a niche within an already very small, although very loyal niche.

 

I'm aware there are icons in the game. And I'm going to be honest here, not to ridicule, but to try to press home how I feel about them.

 

They stink! They offer exact distances. The exact plane type from a long distance and closer, exactly who I'm fighting. I hate all of that. Me and everybody else from, for example, Aces High 2(which, by the way, for about 15 years never broke even. Their CEO owns an actual P51). And I know they have tanks... though, not really tank battles... more like spawn battles. Fun but not really what tanking is. And they have ways to capture bases, but even that is simplistic and archaic at best.

 

Where Aces High 2 really, really excelled is in 'playability'. Playing with friends. Playing for the pure ACM, the pure teamwork and fun. Their icon system wasn't the best either. But it worked, gave people with even lesser computers the ability to fly, fight and play with the best of them.

 

There are others that share this sentiment. 'The game is great, the fm's are great... but...' he can't see the airplane and make out what it is from distance, like a person could in real life. Why? We're flying with one eye, until everybody has VR, which until the tech gets better I have no interest in wearing that thing on my face, but that's me personally. TrackIR should be enough.

 

I suggested this before. And I was told 'serious consideration' was taking place. And.... nothing changed. Nothing was added. No further options are provided for the server admins to make the game play in a way he or she would like to have it.

 

Why. 1C and 777 doesn't have to only break even. I'm suggesting this because I want to see more players here. And more places to play. It's a simple matter of game options, not content at this point and it's leaving on the table a lot of potential players. Neglecting a large percentage of those whom have already proven for years on end their loyalty to a good ww2 air combat sim. AH2 is about dead. There's nowhere to fly.

 

And, btw, in no way am I saying anything should be changed. I don't want to take anything away from the game currently, keep everything, just add additional options. Different icons. Different types. Add something please. Because me, like probably the rest of my squad, probably won't be flying here exclusively for this very simple and very fixable problem.

 

The saving grace will probably be when this game allows the community to mod it. Then it will be resolved, so hopefully this happens sooner than later. Until then? Empty servers. 7 servers with players in them, most of which are the pure niche within the niche crowd. Leaving out 90% of the rest, being generous. It's probably more like 96-97%. New players need helpers. And some of us don't want to look for pixels and lose our teammates because we can't tell planes apart until we're very close.

 

Maybe that makes me a lesser player, I don't know, but I have a pretty good idea how a game with lesser graphics(2005 graphics at best), lesser flight models, a lesser damage model by far, lesser quality in total managed to maintain and keep thousands of active players for years on end. One reason? Big numbers. I'm still convinced a super high end server could handle this game in larger numbers. Reason two? Playability, DESPITE it's awful interfacing. The icons made it very playable for new and vet players alike. It's why I'm flying today, because I was able to learn. Because their player base was so large there was a fully staffed 'training arena' with actual expert pilots of one persuasion or another.

 

Again, to press home my motivations, I am not ridiculing. These are the opinions of a prop nose who wants to see this game take off and get into the upper atmosphere. TA-152 style. It doesn't have to be this way and there are a handful of other games that offered very creative and intuitive icon designs and types that narrowed the gap between current technology and practicality.

 

To avoid feeling frustrated I'll end this rant with another respectful salute. I appreciate the hard work that goes into crafting something so complex and dynamic as an airplane. Much less, an 80 year old plane that hasn't been in production since the war. And you have all done a fantastic job, the planes really are all joys to fly. It's for this reason I remade this post, because everything has been crafted and created to such a high standard of quality and I would hope to see it's growth reflect it's quality and avidly and sincerely believe that the suggestions above would certainly encourage that.

 

S!!

[=LD=4brkfast]

To specify what about the icons I would change or offer options for. I avidly believe it would bring in a different style of simmer from the pure no icon niche in a niche crowd and undoubtedly expand the player base. Imagine 500+ players nightly instead of 100-200? Options and choices. Dozens of full servers and places to play.

 

Exact distances. An option for wider increments or to remove entirely.

Exact plane type from long distance. Options to change at what distance this information becomes evident.

Enemy pilot name. On the contrary, friendly player names would and do encourage team-play and camaraderie. But I would suggest an option to entirely remove this from the icon information.

Viewable through the airplane. <--This is especially blasphemous. ha

Icon position. It should never, ever be 'on top'(positive pitch) or 'above' the aircraft, whether you or he is inverted. The icon is not meant as a lead indicator, it is meant to help with spotting.

Icon size. A simple indicator is all that is necessary, additional information, excluding enemy pilot name, should be acquirable within a hopefully customized range.

Icon range. Offering options to change this, independently for friendly and enemy, would offer wider varieties of gameplay through the servers. My squad CO talks about hosting a server with short enemy icons and otherwise friendly icons only.

 

I don't want anything to change as to avoid stepping on others toes whom do not share this sentiment. I hope for options.

 

So, I avidly hope some additional variations and changeable parameters are offered for this issue. More customization in servers and gameplay. I truly believe this would absolutely help expand the player base.

 

Thanks for reading. S

[dd_delta7]

I agree , I believe that having icon customisation would increase server numbers.

[NO_SQDeriku777]

I agree , I believe that having icon customisation would increase server numbers.

Yup, those that are on the fence about sacrificing competiveness for going to VR would be more likely to jump in. That also means being able to cut into in WT player base that has adopted VR. This game is hands down better in so many ways.

[Ehret]

Yup, those that are on the fence about sacrificing competiveness for going to VR would be more likely to jump in. That also means being able to cut into in WT player base that has adopted VR. This game is hands down better in so many ways.

 

Please no... - don't go for that "player-base" - BoX shouldn't be trying to directly compete with WT, WoW and the like. Once one has grown up and started to expect realism and quality, one will find former without problems. The best customer is the returning one; I will buy more from BoX series as long it represents fidelity of simulation and decent challenges. I had more than enough of WT already.

[303_Bies]

Even War Thunder sim doesn't have enemy icons so...

Counter Strike had, has and will heave big community.

Il-2 had, has and will have small one. Regardless. Or we change the game so much it stop to be pleasurable to play for us at cost of attractiong big amount of new players who won't be interested in aviation and history at all. This is community of WT and i'm a bit sick of it

 

But obviously i respect you opinion, there is always a room for discussion.

Edited February 11, 2018 by Bies