Automatic Routes

[Unknown98]

There's been some discussion recently of changing the routes system so that you don't have to click "fly route" each time your route ends in order to fly it again. Instead, the flights would schedule themselves automatically every day according to the routes you have enabled. Sort of like a "set and forget" type thing, but not really as you'd still have to pay attention to ticket prices, competition, demand fluctuations, gate leases and so on and so forth. 

Essentially the "fly route" button would be changed to "enable route" and the route would then schedule itself every day, until you disable it.

My question is would you be in favor of this change? I can look into making the necessary changes to the system in order to make this work but before I even get into it I want to make sure it's something that is favored by most people. The route scheduling code is the most complicated part of the entire game and I don't want to start messing with it too much if I don't have to, lol.

[Carde]

I am strongly in favour because of how complex the routes will get with larger fleets and how it would be impossible to always be around to have them take off on time cause thinks like, work, school and sleep get in the way

In return we can have events take place that could require daily input if that is desired by people, but to me the whole idea is that I am managing an airline and that means I tell stuff to happen and not that I need to green light every flight.

[Ryan97]

For me the I like the current system as it means i have to log on daily in order for my airline to grow. Otherwise you could have players setting up airlines and leaving routes running for who knows how long!

I would favour automatic routes, but only if there were in game factors that made it necessary to log on every day or even every few days. I'm not sure what these factors could be though. Maybe random delays/in game weather system, based either on real life or fictional weather. Still im not sure how this would work.

Like I say i feel that there would need to be some factors that make it necessary to log on regularly.

[Zortan]

I really support the automatic routes - this would be So great! While you could become MIA if you wanted to - those people I guess just don't want to play the game as much. You always can have planes on order, or something if you want to log in every now and then.

[Marb1]

Support 100%. Many players have no time to play 6 times a day or even once a day.

[Zortan]

Support 100%. Many players have no time to play 6 times a day or even once a day.

OMG you're on this game too? You're the same one from AE right?

[Unknown98]

Okay, I pretty much agree with all the comments here. When I created the routes system I didn't think it would be much of an issue, but it's true that once your airline grows and especially if you have international routes it can be difficult to keep up with everything. But hey that's why we beta test.

Delays are something that I intend to add eventually. Also once we get more players, things like competition and price wars could come into effect. Even if routes are automatic there is still some management required to keep your airline operating smoothly and efficiently. That will only be increased as more features are added to the game.

I'll see if I can get the system changed to automatically fly routes. The way I'm thinking of doing this is checking every 30 minutes for routes that can be flown. Essentially it'd be like someone is attempting to push the "fly route" button every 30 minutes. I might need to change a few things though. For example what if two routes are assigned to the same aircraft, and the first route ends at 14:00 and the second route starts at 14:20? The second route will never fly. Issues like that are what I need to iron out. (edit - although that could be fixed by allowing multiple routes to be assigned at once... probably need to do that first)

[Marb1]

I think it's good, but what about an ability to schedule route for 4 days, 7 days, until I disable the route, on Mondays, on weekends...
I mean a custom way of doing it.

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Support 100%. Many players have no time to play 6 times a day or even once a day.

Yes

[Unknown98]

I think it's good, but what about an ability to schedule route for 4 days, 7 days, until I disable the route, on Mondays, on weekends...
I mean a custom way of doing it.

Hmm... I might be able to add the ability to select the days on which to fly the route. That actually might not be too difficult. But selecting a length of time to fly the route is just too difficult so that part won't be possible.

[Zortan]

I think it's good, but what about an ability to schedule route for 4 days, 7 days, until I disable the route, on Mondays, on weekends...
I mean a custom way of doing it.

Hmm... I might be able to add the ability to select the days on which to fly the route. That actually might not be too difficult. But selecting a length of time to fly the route is just too difficult so that part won't be possible.

Personally, I really don't mind - this feature just to start would be really great!