Messages

1

General Chat / Crowded airports in major cities, how to deal with?

« on: November 14, 2007, 04:14:38 pm »

I didn't say... become successful... I said.. become one of the largest.... largest and successful.... they're not the same thing. United is large, but would you consider it very successful financially?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryanair
3rd largest in Europe and profitable. No major airports. Just an example (I think flying Ryanair is one of the worst experiences personally).

2

General Chat / Re: Why did you guy want to start in the 1950s?

« on: November 14, 2007, 04:10:19 pm »

Why did you guy want to start in the 1950s? I don't think starting in the 50s is a good idea because those props sucks. Props can't fly from Far East to Western Europe, they are too small and too slow. Who voted 1950s?

I dig the fifties. I had no idea there were so many cool planes then.

3

General Chat / Crowded airports in major cities, how to deal with?

« on: November 14, 2007, 07:00:56 am »

Ryanair doesn't fly to any major public airports and it's Europe's biggest private airline, I think. Granted some of the airports it has "discovered" have become major ones, but they're sitll inconveniently located.

     we are talking about a game here, analogies are not always applicable

Ptr said he couldn't think of an airline in the real world that can become successful without deploying from a major airport: Ryanair is one such exception in the real world.

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General Chat / Price slashing...Is there really a point to it or...

« on: November 14, 2007, 06:55:28 am »

Thanks for the book, it's nice getting a good read now and then.

To touch on what others have said. Yes, undercutting, capacity dumping, and competition be it small or drastic are inevitable in this game.  Myself and stephen are dealing with the overcrowding of the world at present as fast as we can (if you were writing the code, i'm sure you'd appreciate the dramatic change it would take to rename most of the tables in the game, as this is what it takes to do it right).  I love hearing suggestions and putting them into the game when and as best i can, (well. most of them at least).  I work hard to fix bugs, dktc here is tireless in his struggles against multi's, and i know Stephen, Rick (hpscot08) and Daniel Doorgakant tend to work pretty hard to improve the game in their own ways and jobs.  We're working to make this game as fun as we can, with as much realism as is still fun.

Oh, and concerning the multiple .5's I have a solution which should drastically reduce the unrealistic .5's (it is not perfect however) present in the game.  It's simply too impractical to launch mid-age, and it's too mean at present to surprise everyone with a reset without a dramatic bug as a valid cause.

you worked on, coded? and administrated a different game?  this intrigues me.  i'd like to hear more about it, either here or probably better in pm or on gtalk.

AE is great (oh, and it's F-R-E-E!). The more I play it, the more I appreciate its logic and challenges. In my opinion there's no reason to complain about slashed prices.

5

General Chat / Re: Price slashing...Is there really a point to it or...

« on: November 14, 2007, 02:31:23 am »

...someone just can't handle a little competition.

Started playing on the first day of the new round (FW Airways).  Somewhat of a noob to the game but caught on quickly and not doing all that bad really with a DOP over 4.1 billion   But some things have came to my attention lately that kinda kill the fun in the game.  Changes to them now or even when the 60s begin would make it a lot more enjoyable for everyone I think.

Last night I was furious to see the damage caused at my Seattle base by 2 particular airlines which I wont name.  But Seattle is not the only one of my 4 bases to be hit the same way...just the first one to be hit this to this extent.  Somewhere in the range of 10-15 routes from SEA had a load of 0% when I logged on.  All were decent profit routes...lowest price on one was €175 and the highest was €600 the last I had checked them.  Now the highest price of any of them is a whopping €80-€90...2 routes I just threw in the towel and closed  Why...because these 2 airlines decided to go from 1-2 frequency routes to 5-10 frequency routes and have a price so far under everyone else its truly pointless.  Most routes were fairly heavy traffic already.  But one I had a 1 frequency price of €600...after these 2 began there little high frequency low prices rampage...the highest ticket price I could get out of it was a whopping €85 just to get ANY load which at the point it was either €85 and 100% load or €86 and 0% load

Its just downright pointless and ruins it for anyone else on those routes.  The way I feel is these people are no longer in it for the game but they are bored with it and instead of leaving they hang around to ruin it for everyone else.  Personally I would have my finger on the ban button if I had anything to do with it.  Also these people that have a frequency of 10 and a price of €1 on some routes...whats the point there besides just hogging the gates and killing the route.

Just gets annoying this far in the game to find your weeks worth of work destroyed in an hour by someone who slashes the prices to essentially kill the route off.  If they were here to play the game they would compete for high profits like everyone else...not go around setting prices €500 lower then anyone else on the route.  I know theres no limit to frequencies now just so the 0.5 rule followed.  But its to the point where they are not against themselves but bringing everyone else down with them.  Pointless waist of a gate and aircraft to put a 10 frequency route in and set the price to a €1.

Seattle I began wonder about the 2 airlines as I have this odd feeling of a possible multiple account going on.  They both are following the exact same pattern of putting high frequencies and dropping prices to ridiculous levels.  But last night I fought them in a little price war that really made me believe a multi account.  First route I dropped my price by €300 to get a load again...then airline A would drop it by €5 I would have just changed another route to find it had a 0% again.  But in just enough time for someone to log out and back in Airline B would drop his price to the same level as airline A.  Then it would happen on another route....after 2 I sat and watched.  Airline A would drop it 5...just enough time for a quick account switch airline B would come and set the price to the same.  This went on for 5 routes before I gave up competing and went to bed.  But it always followed that pattern of A then B and always the same route one after another.  Admin might look into it.

I could see if they were trying to drive me away...I was originally based in Fort Wayne (FWA) but then expanded to RSW and eventually SEA and PHL.  The only difference in SEA I kinda took over quickly and now hold the most flights out of there (84).  But I set my prices to be fair with everyone and have no more then a couple 2 frequency routes.  Not one 0.5 in my 279 routes.  Most of my prices were higher then the lowest one on the routes so its not like I killed it.  But now SEA is quickly getting killed by these 2 setting prices several hundred lower then anyone and making them large aircraft with high frequencies.  I really cant see the logic in this and its nothing more of an annoyance to some of us.  Another member in my alliance who's using my SEA hub was hit to and feels the same way.

I used to hate the 0.5 people...but the price slashers really ruin the game for me since they actually kill any profit to be found on the routes and not just take over everywhere..  if they are already doing this then I can only imagine what the next 8 years are going to be like

Also theres at least 2, probably more 0.5 issues in Seattle.  2 or 3 airlines not just one.   Point is its just like any other online game, theres always people who have to much free time and get joy out of ruining games for anyone playing them.

Really need to set strict rules and enforce them by either code or by the players reports as it is now.  Personally in the 60s I would do away with the whole 0.5 deal all together since theres so much abuse and its really not realistic in this setup.  See just how it works for a round.  Theres aircraft in the 60's perfectly capable of crossing the pond and back round trip.  The thing in real life is 1 aircraft doesn't operate both segments of the flight continuously.  Situation I've been in...Flight is 14.5 hours LAX-TPE and 14 hours on TPE-LAX on a 747-400.  28 hours total.  

So, in the case of a daily flight...

MH 94 takes off from TPE and lands in LAX.  You depart on MH 95 LAX-TPE a few hours later.  At some point over the Pacific you actually cross paths with another 747-400 operating flight MH 94 TPE-LAX.  

With this game thats not possible to do as one aircraft cant make a one frequency flight in 24 hours.  Therefore the game its actually an alternating pattern between days instead of a daily flight.  The problem is when people put 1 aircraft on 20 0.5 flights to different destinations.  So it just magically reappears at the hub for its next flight...I know its a game but that takes a lot of the realism out of it and leads to the high abuse rate.  Take that away and the game becomes a lot better for those who don't care if we hit the top spot but just want to play it as real as possible.  If you don't have an aircraft that can manage an even frequency then wait till theres one that can.  You may not be able to completely finish off all 24 hours of the aircrafts time but not even real life does that :!:

Sorry for the first post book :shock: ...just have a habit of wanting to improve online games like this.  I was a head admin of another small online game a year or so ago...we changed a lot of rules and codes to fix problems we found or suggestions from players...eventually it was running with a strict set of rules and the occasional person who abused them found themselves under question and usually was banned.  But eventually closed it down due to the few people who continually made a mission to ruin it all for the rest of the players and we were tired of trying to explain why they were banned.  Best thing to do is make a set of rules and set codes in such a way cheating is near impossible or at least quickly found.  As an aviation nut I would hate to see this game go the same way.  Might loose a lot of players because of new rules and codes...but the ones who remain will be the ones who enjoy it and not just getting satisfaction of cheating their way to the top.  Might even bring back players who quit because of constant flood of abuse and cheating. :wink:  Cant understand what satisfaction someone can get from being #1 if they cheated there whole way there :?

This is just one of the challenges you have to be creative about to work around. It's too easy to horde money in this game, might as well get undercut now and then. (By the way, I'm not one of the airlines out of Seattle, it's just my opinion.)

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General Chat / To player: Stealth Bomber Air

« on: November 12, 2007, 11:22:39 pm »

The whole undercutting is meant to get you demotivated to manage your route anyway

If that's true, then maybe AM isn't for me.  AM's attraction has been airline building, and the "death spiral" of prices seen in some markets is both unrealistic and unfun.  I see the downwards spiralling of prices over time as one of the game's biggest flaws.  I'm hoping over time, more true-to-life economic factors are put in to ameliorate this and make the game more complex.

it is somewhat accurate and realistic, the death spiral that is.  As i recall, i once saw a fact that a fully loaded United Airlines flight from JFK-LAX only made $1 (one USD) profit.  the spiral itself is accentuated, and somewhat sped up, in AM which is a bit of a problem but this is largely due to overcrowding of the game.  We're hoping we can alleviate some of this by getting multiple worlds out so we can spread our impressive player base (around 1960 active accounts) across more worlds.  This is also a little due to the unrealistic speed at which airlines grow, we're hoping down the line to slow the game more (we've been taking small steps as we can to slow it a bit, and some leaps between ages, but it's so far not as effective as we would like) which should slow down the spiral as well.

Think about it sometime, look up prices between ORD and ATL (two of the largest airports in the US), they face high service so their prices are low, while routes with little competition and demand tend to face little service and high ticket prices.

But yes, the spiral is being looked into, however it is a fact of life.  prices will not stay high, especially when competition comes into the picture.

It's great how closely AE mimicks real life. Flying to major airports is often much cheaper than flying to the tiny ones. The "downward spiral" is inevitable. It's actually the policy of my airline to offer the passenger the lowest price possible, not to gouge them.

7

Game Updates / Rankings Update

« on: November 12, 2007, 09:33:45 pm »

As he seems to be from Sweden he may have visited the Airbus facility in Toulouse? Just a guess.

I have also seen the A380 9 months ago. Ok, not really, just the sections of some at the Airbus factory in Hamburg  :wink: Nice thing was that they have the customers logo on a sign above it. So I know who will get ser no 32...35  

I was on my way to SFO airport to fly Southwest Airlines (no-frills airline) on October 7, when out of the train's window left side I could see an A380 parked at a gate. No airline or logo, just "A380." It was great; and no one else in the train car seemed to give a damn. My girlfriend said it looked small and unimpressive. There were a lot of 747s around, and it's hard to see wingspan from an elevated train a quarter-mile away.

8

Game News / Re: AirlineMogul Reaches 2000 Airports!

« on: November 11, 2007, 09:03:56 pm »

Airline Mogul Has Reached 2,000 Airports

Thanks to everyone for submitting airports as it has helped the number grow much faster than I ever could have done alone! I am sorry I'm not always as quick as you would hope but they do get added . Thanks again!
-Rick

Do you use actual figures or potential figures?  Worcester, MA has a decent airport with absolutely lousy road access to it, resulting in low use.  However, it is located in what was (and may still be) NE's second largest city (not metro area).  I started to do the info for you guys but backed off due to it's low REAL use.

A screwed up road situation in Mass?  that never happens!

Christopher
(who, missed the 93 exit had had to go to 3 while driving on 95 this AM)

You know those wonderful rotaries?  They have them here in Germany too!!!!    :shock:

Aiiiiyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

A: Its a circle, not a rotary.   :wink:
B: we like them in the North East US, its a kind of gut-check for the tourists.

The comment was more about the state of roads in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Want an interesting read? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Dig_%28Boston%2C_Massachusetts%29




Christopher

Zombie, they're called rotaries in some other parts of the US, too. And roundabouts in other parts.

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General Chat / What are the advantages of joining an alliance?

« on: November 09, 2007, 07:31:46 pm »

Why join one?

10

Game Data / Re: Dusseldorf-Weeze and Niederrhein are the same airport

« on: November 08, 2007, 03:52:30 am »

The airports LRC and NRN are the same airport in real life, but they are listed as separate ones in AM.

Niederrhein was renamed Dusseldorf-Weeze airport to attract customers to/from the city, even though it actually takes two hours on a bus to get to Weeze from Dusseldorf.

On Wikipedia they explain the name changes at this airport more thoroughly:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airport_Weeze

In any case, one of the two airports in AE ought to be removed in future, as they are really the same.

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General Chat / So what happens in 1960?

« on: November 07, 2007, 05:35:00 am »

So all these airlines who currently have TRILLIONS of euros have started with 0 euros in October (RL)? Sheesh!

12

General Chat / Crowded airports in major cities, how to deal with?

« on: November 07, 2007, 05:30:02 am »

avoiding major airports will only get you so far... you might become a some what major player in the market, but you'll never become one of the largest. As far as I can see, I don't see a single airline in AM, or in the real world that would be considered one of the largest without deploying services to or from major airports.

Ryanair doesn't fly to any major public airports and it's Europe's biggest private airline, I think. Granted some of the airports it has "discovered" have become major ones, but they're sitll inconveniently located.

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Game Data / Dusseldorf-Weeze and Niederrhein are the same airport

« on: November 07, 2007, 04:07:59 am »

The airports LRC and NRN are the same airport in real life, but they are listed as separate ones in AM.

Niederrhein was renamed Dusseldorf-Weeze airport to attract customers to/from the city, even though it actually takes two hours on a bus to get to Weeze from Dusseldorf.

14

Bugs / [Not a bug]Mexico not in North America?

« on: November 05, 2007, 06:30:28 pm »

I love this game, by the way.

I may not be the best at airline management, but I do remember grade school geography. Mexico, Aztec Empire, Treaty of Guadalupe, desert peppers, Santa Anna, Alamo, banditos... all North America. So why aren't Mexican airports listed in North America?

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General Chat / So what happens in 1960?

« on: November 05, 2007, 06:09:06 am »

In about four months, when the game hits the end of the decade, what happens? Will all our monies reset? Will all our gates and planes be returned? With the disparity between accounts on this game, I sure hope so. Thanks for letting me know. I wasn't able to find this info in the wiki.