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World of Warplanes debuting at Gamescom
If you're curious about Wargaming.net's upcoming World of Warplanes MMO, Gamescom 2011 is the place to be. The World War II-based flight simulator's gameplay will be shown for the first time at the convention in Cologne, Germany from August 17th to August 21st. World of Warplanes was initially announced during this year's E3, but no media, gameplay footage, or web presence has been forthcoming as of yet. Wargaming.net will also be holding an open World of Tanks tournament at Gamescom, and the company has plans to announce its newest development project, according to a press release issued this morning.
Wargaming.net opens European office
Wargaming.net is expanding, and the company behind World of Tanks and the upcoming World of Warplanes has issued a press release detailing its growth and plans for the future. In short, a new European branch is opening, and the facility will boast "more than 40 professionals" who will handle Wargaming.net's PR, marketing, community, and support logistics. The company, which originally formed in Belarus, has tapped Frederic Menou to oversee its new European office which is located in Paris, France. Menou was formerly the managing director at Blizzard Entertainment Europe. "We are not a small company, we are becoming a global player," Menou says. "There's nothing that can hinder us from becoming the best company in the industry."
World of Tanks 6.5 patch debuts June 30th
A new retail box isn't the only thing in store for fans of World of Tanks in the near future. Wargaming.net has just issued a press blurb confirming the action MMO's latest patch release for June 30th. Update 6.5 brings two new maps to the battlefront. Redshire takes it inspiration from traditional British settlements, while Arctic Region is the game's first pure winter locale. In addition to the maps, 6.5 also features a new lineup of American destroyer tanks including the famous T95 "super-heavy monster." The patch also introduces two premium light tanks (the American M22 Locust and the Russian T-127) as well as the M46 Patton, which is slated to replace the M26 Pershing. Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi says this tweak is the first step toward a global tech tree revision. "We constantly keep polishing the game balance, and updating World of Tanks to 6.5 is yet another important step in this direction."
World of Tanks rolling toward retail
The retail box hasn't quite succumbed to the digital download onslaught, at least if World of Tanks and Wargaming.net have anything to say in the matter. Yes, fans of clutter and old-school box collecting rejoice, as WoT is on its way to a game store near you thanks to a new partnership with Interactive Gaming Software. The World War II-based tank MMO will be available at retail for $19.99, and Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi hopes that the new deal will result in increased exposure around the globe. "We're extremely proud to say that our headliner will finally appear in stores," Kislyi said via press release. "[We] hope that [IGS'] tremendous expertise in distributing retail production will help in bringing the popularity of World of Tanks to a completely new level." World of Tanks is a free-to-play action MMO that launched last April. The game features squad-based tank combat, traditional MMO progression, and a strategic territorial meta-game based on a large-scale map of World War II-era Europe.
The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release
The Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history has become a popular backdrop for MMOs of late (not surprising, considering the growth of the Chinese MMO market). Snail Games' The Chosen is the most recent entry in the particular sub-genre, with the game having just begun its closed beta process. The beta promises to be a fairly short one, however -- the game is due for an official launch on July 5th, allowing everyone to explore the game's open skill system and factional warfare. To help kick off the beta, the team behind the game has released both a brand-new trailer for prospective players and a series of screenshots and concept art. While the historical period has become a popular setting, The Chosen is taking a looser approach to the setting and mixing in a greater dose of mythology, which might be just the thing to hook certain players. %Gallery-126949%
Gaijin announces World of Planes MMO
Is the World War II aviation-based MMO market big enough to support multiple titles? We'll soon find out, as Gaijin Entertainment has just announced its upcoming World of Planes MMO (not to be confused with Wargaming.net's World of Warplanes title, which took a bow earlier this month). Gaijin's press release calls World of Planes a "flying simulation game," and the company will be drawing on its previous genre experience thanks to titles like Wings of Prey and Wings of Luftwaffe. According to the new World of Planes website, the game will feature "hundreds of historically accurate planes" and "flying skills that can be honed and improved with each mission." The site also hints at ground- and sea-based combat along with co-op missions, solo play, and a realistic damage model. The game will operate under a free-to-play business model, and you'll want to check out our screenshot gallery below before heading to the official World of Planes website to sign up for beta. %Gallery-126603%
Wargaming.net announces new World of Warplanes MMO
Since 1998, Belarus-based Wargaming.net has developed and shipped 13 games including the Massive Assault series, Order of War, and most recently, World of Tanks. According to a new press release, the dev team is aiming to replicate WoT's success with a new free-to-play title called World of Warplanes. Aviation is the big draw, of course, and Wargaming.net indicates that the title will feature aircraft and scenarios dating from the 1930s through the 1950s (a watershed period in aviation history that saw rapid technological advances spurred on by World War II and the Korean conflict). Details on the game are a bit light at this point, but we're expecting (and hoping for) something similar to World of Tanks in terms of a balance between simulation and traditional MMO gameplay. We'll be bringing you more on World of Warplanes throughout its development process.
World of Tanks coming to real-world Tankfest event
It's not often that an MMO intersects with history, and it's even rarer when it does so with enough authenticity to merit inclusion in real-world historical celebrations. World of Tanks has done just that, and thanks to a new press release from Wargaming.net, we've got word that the dev team will be participating in Tankfest 2011, an annual military history event. Tankfest takes place at the Bovington Tank Museum in Britain on June 25th and 26th, and Wargaming.net will be on hand to demonstrate "one of the largest virtual examples of WWII-era steel armor." World of Tanks officially launched on April 12th after an extensive beta period, and the game recently released new maps and the meta Ultimate Conquest mode.
World of Tanks releases Ultimate Conquest mode
Wargaming.net is finally taking the wraps off its much-anticipated World of Tanks clan wars mechanics, and hundreds of clans are gearing up to wage war across the title's expansive map. Ultimate Conquest is now live and features its own web destination complete with clan rankings, a world map, and a handy guide. The clan wars map currently encompasses Northern and Mediterranean Europe and will eventually include Asia, Africa, and North America. "We've been working on this for so long, and now we are proud to say that the Ultimate Conquest has begun. This mode is a huge leap for the whole project, as it will add an important strategic element everyone has been so passionately waiting for," says clan wars coordinator Kirill Mal. You can learn more about the World of Tanks metagame at the official North American or European portals, and you also check out our clan wars-focused GDC interview with Victor Kislyi. And we've got a new clan wars tutorial video for you just after the cut.
World of Tanks gearing up for 0.6.4 patch
World of Tanks is prepping for its latest patch, and the 0.6.4 upgrade is scheduled to go live on May 17th. Balance changes for vehicles, combat, and non-combat mechanics are on the menu, as are overhauls to the garage and battle UIs as well as a few graphical and performance tweaks. New vehicles include the premium heavy Lowe, KV-5, KV-13, and Pz38NA in addition to the Object 261, GW-E, and T-92. Wargaming.net has also improved World of Tanks' vehicle movement system, which has resulted in the elimination of the sticking bug that rendered vertical surfaces and map borders problematic. The 0.6.4 patch also includes two new maps, and you can check out a nifty video of the Mountain Pass and Prairie regions courtesy of our earlier coverage. Make tracks to the official World of Tanks website for the full patch notes. And when you're done reading up, head over to celebrate on WoT's Facebook page, where the team has recently announced a new concurrency record of 155,000 players!
Voyage Century Online naval battles detailed
With Sony Online Entertainment's Pirates of the Burning Sea down for the proverbial count, nautically inclined gamers are likely looking for smoother waters to sail. IGG's Voyage Century Online may be just what the doctor ordered, and the free-to-play publisher has just issued a new press release detailing the game's naval battle mechanics. Voyage Century features three types of naval wars: broadside battles, ramming battles, and boarding party battles. Broadsides require a certain amount of control and accuracy, whereas ramming and boarding party skirmishes are all about your sailors' equipment and your captain's fighting skills. Port towns also offer conflict opportunities for Voyage Century players, and more than 40 of the cities are constantly being attacked by players bent on conquest and resource domination. If any of that tickles your fancy, plot a course to the official Voyage Century website, where you can learn about the game as well as download it.
Microsoft reveals 48-hour 'secret access' to Age of Empires Online beta
Yearning for an early look at Age of Empires Online? If so, Microsoft Game Studios has some good news for you. Starting today, you can jump into a 48-hour secret access beta signup session simply by registering for a Windows Live ID (or logging in if you already have one). This is your last chance to get in on some Age of Empires beta action before MGS closes it to the public, so hurry and visit the signup link before Saturday, May 7th. You'll be able to download the beta client immediately and get started testing shortly thereafter. If you missed our beta key giveaway a couple of weeks ago, don't miss what could be your last opportunity to take part in the upcoming MMORTS' testing phase!
Atlantica Online entering the realm of the Three Kingdoms
If you've never read Romance of the Three Kingdoms or studied a bit of Chinese history, you're missing out on a drama full of intrigue, cleverness, and sweeping battles. Fortunately for players of Atlantica Online, you don't need to know the history to enjoy the upcoming Three Kingdoms update. Slated for release on the 26th of April, the update will contain a variety of new quests and systems along with a new mercenary hero, Guan Yu. The quests will center around the Battle of Red Cliffs, with players getting the chance to rub shoulders with well-known figures such as Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Players can also enjoy the new Expedition Team feature, which allows mercenaries to be dispatched for side objectives while the player focuses on the more pressing battles of the day. Check out some of the concept art in the gallery below, and if you're fond of Atlantica Online, make sure to check out the new update on the 26th. %Gallery-25535%
World of Tanks rolls on to release day
How's about we strap ourselves inside 60 tons of steel, form up with a company of like-minded comrades, and steam-roll those unfortunate chaps rolling along in the enemy tank brigade on the other side of the map? If you answered hooaahh, World of Tanks is probably an MMO that you'll want to check out (and even if you didn't, the game is free-to-play, so you've got nothing to lose). So grab your buddies, your extra ammo, and a cup of that engine degreaser that passes for coffee and avail yourself of video tutorials, interviews with Victor Kislyi, and clan wars discussions -- all courtesy of the best World of Tanks coverage on the web. That's right, release day for Wargaming.net's action/strategy MMO is finally here, and Massively's got your mission-critical intel briefing just after the cut.
World of Tanks beta statistics announced
The devs at Wargaming.net aren't shy about sharing player statistics, and why would they be when the studio's flagship World of Tanks title is cranking out some pretty impressive numbers. In a press release dated this morning, the company said that approximately 700,000 tank drivers took part in the year-long beta testing throughout Europe and North America, and those 700,000 players participated in 5.6 million battles. More than 115 million virtual tanks were bombed into oblivion courtesy of 1.7 billion shells, and World of Tanks surpassed 25,000 peak concurrent users. Closed beta testers (registered by 0:00 UTC 27/01/2011) with 1000 or more battles under their belt will be rewarded with an M4A2E4 tank to acknowledge their contribution to the game's development. World of Tanks is officially releasing on April 12th, and Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi is advising players to get their real-life affairs in order. "You still have a couple of days to spend with your friends and families before the war breaks out, so spend it the right way," Kislyi says.
World of Tanks launching April 12th
After nine straight months of intensive beta testing, the end (and the beginning) is finally in sight for fans of Wargaming.net's World of Tanks. The World War II-based action MMO is officially launching in both Europe and North America on April 12th, and die-hard testers "who did a long way from [closed beta] to release will get some bonuses" according to a post on the game's website. World of Tanks looks to blend the fast-action gameplay of its squad-based modes with the large-scale strategy of the clan wars mechanic to create the definitive heavy armor MMO title. The game features destructible environments and authentically rendered combat vehicles from a variety of nations, and it's all wrapped in a free-to-play package designed to allow curious gamers to try before they buy. "Our team has been working really hard to create a unique blend of action, strategy, simulation, and RPG in World of Tanks, and now the moment all fans across the globe have been waiting for is right around the corner," says Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi.
WWIIOL: Battleground Europe readying 1.33 patch, infantry upgrades
MMO shooters are a dime a dozen these days, and whether you're into sci-fi, spy-fi, modern warfare, or post-apocalyptic mayhem, massively multiplayer gun battles are pretty prevalent across the genre. Not to be outdone by the parade of young whippersnappers is World War II Online: Battleground Europe, and the granddaddy of MMOFPS titles is still going strong after nearly a decade in service. Cornered Rat's 1.33 version update is nearing the end of its open beta phase, and the new patch is bringing a bevy of changes to the game including brand-new infantry models as well as memory leak fixes, performance tweaks, and an upgrade to the core audio engine, just to name a few. Due to the extensive work required to revamp the infantry models, Cornered Rat has delayed a few of its planned features to a future patch (these include emotes, lean, and high command uniforms) but is nonetheless enthusiastic about the new models and anxious to get them in players' hands as soon as possible. You can read more about the update on the game's official website and be on the lookout for an exclusive Massively Q&A session with the developers later this week.
World of Tanks progression detailed in third video tutorial
The video tutorial series for World of Tanks is rolling right along, as Wargaming.net has just released the third installment of its ongoing series. The latest update is called Progress, and it's all about unlocking your tank's potential and acquiring bigger and badder equipment. As each World of Tanks battle comes to a close, the game presents your personal achievements in the form of tanks destroyed, vehicles damaged, and vehicles spotted. These numbers are used to calculate your experience and credit gains, which in turn go toward researching modules and upgrading armor. All tanks have five basic module slots, which are accessed when you click research and select from a list of available upgrades. Advancement takes the form of progressing through research tiers and unlocking new tiers by participating in battles. World of Tanks also features an experience curve for your NPC tank crew. Leveling your crew members up enhances their overall performance, and once they've reached 100% in their basic skills, the advanced skills of repair, firefighting, and camouflage become available. Click past the cut for more details courtesy of the new video.
AT&T opens up video archives, shares the history inside
Where can you find Orson Welles, Marconi's daughter, Alexander Graham Bell's grandaughter, and inventors of the transistor and television? You might try To Communicate is the Beginning, a 1976 educational publication tracing the history of electronic communication, which AT&T recently decided to exhume from its archives of Bell Labs material. The 30-minute video's just the first in a series, too, as AT&T's website is already playing host to films about the origins of the laser and integrated circuit too, with more on the way. Find them all at our source link -- you do want to know how your favorite technologies evolved, right?
World of Tanks launches video tutorial series
Are you a fresh-faced rookie looking to get a leg up on the competition in Wargaming.net's World of Tanks open beta? If so, you'll want to check out the game's newly launched video tutorials. The first entry in the ongoing series introduces the level system, upgrade options, crew training, and economic aspects of the armor-based action MMO, and it is aimed at newbs who might otherwise be unsure of how to proceed at the controls of a World War II-era tank. "We saw a lot of new recruits joining World of Tanks with the open beta start. These new videos are designed to make their life a little bit easier and help them adapt quicker to the harsh reality of the armored world we are creating," said Wargaming.net producer Nick Katselapov. World of Tanks features over 150 historically accurate armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union. The title boasts 15v15 PvP action, global clan wars, and a mixture of action, strategy, and simulation. Learn more about the game and the open beta at the official website, and be sure to watch the tutorial video after the jump.
