13 replies to this topic

[aoumd]

The concept of AE v4, and indeed effective administration, programming updates, etc. to the game has been discussed for the six years I have been playing this game, with little in the way of new changes.  Now, this forum has started hosting discussions regarding the game itself losing players due, in part, to becoming stale.

 

At this time it appears that AE has very little in the way of administrative or programming resources, and even less to actually program a new AEv4.

 

AE is also free.  There are a lot of ads in this game, but those likely don't bring in much net revenue less the cost of maintaining servers.  Not enough to make it worthwhile of the time needed to program, release and administer patches to AEv3 or introduce AEv4.

 

Therefore, my proposal is this: AE remains a free game, but perhaps they can introduce an optional fundraising campaign, perhaps through a Patreon, Ko-Fi or other crowdsourced model, to raise the funds necessary to hire the programming resources necessary to finish and introduce a patch to AEv3, introduce AEv4, and make it more worthwhile for mods and administrators to keep the game going well.  I don't mind Yuxi getting paid for his time on this game.

 

I'd be happy to make a donation to any such campaign.  And while many players are not in that financial position, I'm sure some others are.

 

Thoughts?

[CitrusCritter]

I would gladly donate or even pay a modest subscription, but the spamliner exploits need to be shut down. The game is losing players from a combination of staleness and having to deal with players who are exploiting the game mechanics. Until the spamliners are eliminated, there's really not much that's going to reenergize the game.

[aoumd]

I currently have a couple spammy airlines in the game (though 90% of all airlines I’ve made since i started playing the game have been realistic not spam) yet I agree. Enhanced programming and administrative capabilities would allow there to be a better diversity of game worlds. Perhaps the “unlimited airlines per player” and “no political restrictions” worlds, along with a new “unlimited hubs/terminals per player” world, could become the “unlimited” worlds…allowing the “realistic” game worlds to enforce a new max of ten hubs/terminals per player (just a few more than the largest real world airlines have today like United and American). Perhaps realistic worlds should also have a nominal cap on aircraft or aircraft seat totals, again just a bit larger than what the largest real world airlines do today. Spamliners could play in the unlimited worlds while realistic players play in realistic worlds.

But as I note in the Spam vs Spam thread, the first step is for there to be effective enforcement of the “players with multiple airlines may not flood any one route with flights from multiple such airlines” existing game rules.

[da_Master_Airliner]

allowing the “realistic” game worlds to enforce a new max of ten hubs/terminals per player (just a few more than the largest real world airlines have today like United and American). Perhaps realistic worlds should also have a nominal cap on aircraft or aircraft seat totals, again just a bit larger than what the largest real world airlines do today. Spamliners could play in the unlimited worlds while realistic players play in realistic worlds.

I would agree on the plane cap (maybe 2,500 planes MAX) but the 10 hub limit is a little low. American Airlines for example has 11 hubs (maybe set the hub limit to 16-20) and maybe the slot purchases should be edited. Because some airlines only use like 2-3 slots (out of 50) and maybe you put in the number of slots you want that are available (ex. 21 slots for 3x daily flights) or maybe just (ex. 3 slots for long range international flights) and if you don't use the slots (unless terminal) in 3 months after buying them (if you bought them in the middle of the month they would be seized at the END of the 3rd month)

 

Also the terminal cap should be like 16-20 terminals in total (extending a terminal doesn't count) and demolishing a terminal somewhere is the only way to build another after reaching the max limit.

 

Of course these limits would be on the Realistic worlds and Sandbox worlds (except R alpha and R delta, open worlds, and special worlds) plus maybe the sandbox world for new players would stay the same. 

 

any thoughts?  or 

[aoumd]

Totally fine if they went with your limits too. My main point was more directional than precisely prescriptive.

[Zacca]

AE4?

 

[da_Master_Airliner]

AE4?

 

[kellykeli]

I would agree on the plane cap (maybe 2,500 planes MAX) but the 10 hub limit is a little low. American Airlines for example has 11 hubs (maybe set the hub limit to 16-20) and maybe the slot purchases should be edited. Because some airlines only use like 2-3 slots (out of 50) and maybe you put in the number of slots you want that are available (ex. 21 slots for 3x daily flights) or maybe just (ex. 3 slots for long range international flights) and if you don't use the slots (unless terminal) in 3 months after buying them (if you bought them in the middle of the month they would be seized at the END of the 3rd month)

 

Also the terminal cap should be like 16-20 terminals in total (extending a terminal doesn't count) and demolishing a terminal somewhere is the only way to build another after reaching the max limit.

 

Of course these limits would be on the Realistic worlds and Sandbox worlds (except R alpha and R delta, open worlds, and special worlds) plus maybe the sandbox world for new players would stay the same. 

 

any thoughts?  or 

 

Having airports be runway-limited rather than gate-limited could be interesting. Maybe multiple airlines would have to submit payments to add a new runway, i.e. 5 airlines paying 10 billion (because, honestly, airlines in this game are far more profitable than in irl) or higher terminal fees if you operate a larger terminal would be interesting.

[Maple_MK]

I agree with these suggestions.

[da_Master_Airliner]

I agree with these suggestions.

me too

[TNT88]

Let's be clear. It won't work.

[KevinAero]

Where is the optimism?

Let's be clear. It won't work.

[da_Master_Airliner]

Where is the optimism?

ok ok. I am optimistic that it won't work. 

[TNT88]

Where is the optimism?

 

It's gone when the pandemic started. Now go and be depresses like everyone else!