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World of Tanks' 8.5 patch expands armor roster, adds premium features for free players
World of Tanks' 8.5 update is here, and it's brought a bunch of updates with it. Chief among them are expanded tank rosters for both Germany and the USSR as well as the introduction of premium feature options for free players. Previously, premium consumables were only purchasable with gold, the in-game currency purchased with real-world money," Wargaming.net's press release explains. "In addition, all players, both paying and non-paying, will be able to create 3-member platoons and companies." Finally, the patch features the new Pearl River battle arena and visual revamps to Siegfried Line, South Coast, and Malinovka. The 8.5 patch releases on April 24th in Europe and April 25th in the U.S. You can view the 8.5 teaser video after the break. [Source: Wargaming.net press release]
World of Tanks' account security compromised
If you have a World of Tanks account, you will want to change your password. Developers report that "some personal information may have been compromised due to a security incident." Time to change the locks on your tanks, folks. Thankfully, you gain more than just personal peace of mind by taking the time to change your account security information. Wargaming.net is rewarding each customer with 300 gold when his or her password is successfully updated. Changing your password is simple: Just log into your account management page and fill in the appropriate blanks. Wargaming suggests that your new password consist of capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers. The devs also say that the longer your password is, the better your protection becomes. This a very important tip considering your Wargaming ID carries across all current and future Wargaming.net games, like the upcoming World of Warplanes.
Celebrate World of Tanks' second anniversary with livestream event, prizes, and discounts
Today marks the second anniversary of World of Tanks in the US, and Wargaming is inviting players to join the festivities. To celebrate, the studio is hosting a 12-hour livestreaming marathon from 10:00 a.m. EDT through 10:00 p.m. EDT today, April 12th. Throughout the livestream, various prizes will be awarded to viewers, from WoT apparel to GUNNER eye-wear to assorted Logitech, NVIDIA, and Mad Catz gaming paraphernalia. Check out the official stream schedule for a look at what's happening which hour. The birthday bash also includes an extravaganza of special deals. Throughout the weekend, players will enjoy 50% discounts, five times the XP earned on every first victory of the day in each vehicle, and various credit increases. But those who want to take advantage of these anniversary deals will need to be quick -- they end at 7:00 a.m. EDT on April 15th. [Source: Wargaming press release]
World of Tanks vs. Project Tank: Is there IP infringement?
Browser-based Project Tank from Gamebox is under fire this week from the makers of World of Tanks for alleged copyright infringement. Beginning with a report to Facebook regarding the Project Tank FB page (which is where the game is playable), Wargaming is also looking to shut down the game itself, citing intellectual property violations. Gamebox is currently looking to reinstate its Facebook page while fighting the accusations. In an official statement released by Gamebox, the studio claims that, while they are fans of World of Tanks, no ill intention is there. "We sincerely hope Wargaming not to continuously consider us as a 'threat' to its user group, since PT and WOT are different in many ways and don't compete with each other at any platform," the statement says. We've included gameplay videos from both games just after the cut below so you can judge for yourself if you think this IP dispute is warranted or not. [Source: Gamebox press release and several tipsters]
World of Tanks 8.5 adds new stuff, offers premium features to free players
Not surprisingly, updates in World of Tanks usually feature a tank or two to bolster the already impressive roster of available war machines. With new Soviet and German vehicles, update 8.5 is no different. The unexpected, however, comes in the form of changes to premium services: As of 8.5, non-paying players will be able to access some of the premium features previously only available to those who paid. In addition to three new Soviet light tanks (the small-sized T-60, T-70 and the T-80), a new line of German medium tanks (headed by Tier X Leopard 1), and a fast-firing American SPG joining the battlefield, free players will be able to create three-member platoons and companies as well as purchase all premium consumables with silver credits. On top of these changes, players will also see revamped visuals for the Siegfried Line, South Coast and Malinovka maps as well as a brand new map called Pear River. [Source: Wargaming.net press release]
World of Tanks Blitz mobile game to 'rival anything on a console'
Want to play World of Tanks on your tablet? You'll soon be able to do something similar thanks to World of Tanks Blitz, an Android and iOS title announced today by Wargaming.net. The game will feature 7-on-7 PvP matches "inspired by" World of Tanks, and it will allow players to lead American, Russian, and German tanks into battle. "With World of Tanks Blitz we're doing our best to give players a gaming experience that would rival anything they could find on a console," says Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi via press release. "We've always been committed to bringing World of Tanks to new platforms and we're excited to give players a chance to experience the game in a whole new way." The firm has yet to announce a release date.
World of Tanks sets world record for most players concurrently online on a single server
Wargaming has made its mark in gaming history. World of Tanks has staked out a place as the Guinness World Record holder for most players logged onto an MMO server, with 190,541 players simultaneously logged in on one of the game's Russian servers. This blasts the game's previous record of 91,311 players to smithereens. Andrei Yarantsau, VP of Global Operations at Wargaming, calls this "an important and exciting milestone for the company," adding that, "if World of Tanks keeps growing at the rate it is, the game will soon top the current total and secure another world record." [Source: Wargaming press release]
Wargaming.net goes on a road trip
The laptop-clad Hummer is fueled up and Wargaming.net is ready to roll out for its first road tour. The studio behind the "World of Deadly Historical Battle Vehicles" franchise is drumming up publicity for its titles by staging the least gas efficient Russian invasion ever. The Wargaming Road Tour's first stop is at the SXSW Interactive Gaming Expo this weekend. If you're attending and spot the hummer, swing by to get a first look at World of Warplanes and grab some nifty swag. Following the Austin expo, the Wargaming hummer will travel across the United States to spend time in major cities. You can stay abreast of the promotional trip on the official road tour website.
Kislyi calls for 'second F2P revolution' in DICE speech
Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi took the stage at last week's DICE Summit to talk about the ongoing evolution of free-to-play. He's what you might call an expert on the subject given that the company he founded features 1.2 million peak concurrent users as well as 1,400 employees and 12 offices world-wide. Kislyi's 40-minute speech featured World of Tanks, but it also made mention of the firm's recent acquisition of Day 1 Studios. The move was made with an eye towards cornering the console F2P market, something Kislyi says that traditional console makers would be wise to do as well. "They keep their own prejudice and they keep to their old ways," he said. "If they keep holding to their old way, single-player box ideas they may pretty well drop." You can view Kislyi's DICE speech in its entirety after the cut.
World of Tanks' 8.4 adding new destroyers, tutorial, and more
Want a preview of World of Tanks' 8.4 patch? Good, because the game's official website has one. The title's tank roster will expand to include new destroyers for British and Soviet players, while German drivers will see some new light armor in their tech tree. The update is also bringing a "visual and rendering overhaul" to four of the game's maps. Ensk, Live Oaks, Fisherman's Bay, and Steppes will all be getting a makeover. Finally, 8.4 will feature a brand-new tutorial designed to ease the new-player transition by providing training in tank controls, shooting mechanics, and combat tactics. You can take a look at the new British tech tree after the break, then head to official WoT website for more information and a screenshot gallery. [Source: Wargaming.net press release]
The Soapbox: Joy in the little things
Some people play MMOs because they love the challenge. Some are there for the social aspects. Still others stick with their favorite titles because they're deeply in love with the content or lore. Every single gamer reading this post has a different reason for logging into their MMO of choice instead of watching television, reading a book or choosing any other type of recreation. There is no right way to enjoy a game. Despite the fact that our comments section is often filled with people letting others know what they "should" or "shouldn't" be playing based on their affinity for certain in-game functions, having fun is a very personal experience that depends entirely on your tastes and desires. If you're having a good time in a game, you're doing it right. It's all about the little things.
Wargaming.net adds Chinese armor in World of Tanks' 8.3 patch
World of Tanks' 8.3 update is now live, bringing with it 17 new Chinese war machines as well as a boatload of balance tweaks. Wargaming.net hopes to "increase the options of speedier tanks on the battlefield in higher tier matches" via the new Chinese hardware, and PCGamer reports that the new light tanks extend into tier VIII. The full patch notes for 8.3 are available on the WoT website. You can also see what we thought of the update in our recent hands-on. Finally, we've embedded the 8.3 preview trailer after the break.
Hands-on with the Chinese war machines in World of Tanks' patch 8.3
To keep a burgeoning community of 45 million registered users happy, the developers behind World of Tanks know to keep the content coming. After the overhauled graphics, physics, and sounds brought about by patch 8.0 last September, we're already on the cusp of version 8.3. It's out tomorrow, and that means 17 new tanks for the as-of-now-underserved Chinese tech tree. "The Chinese are a middle-of-the-road tree," says Paul Hobbs, content manager with Wargaming.net. "They don't excel in any one attribute. They have high firepower, a fair amount of maneuverability, and decent armor and aim speed." %Gallery-176480%
Massively Interview: Dr. Lawrence Sanders on MMO loyalty
Beyond amazing character design, compelling narratives, and the presence of dragons, there is one thing that all MMOs depend upon for success: player loyalty. Without returning subscribers, a loving community, or folks dropping a few dimes in the cash shop now and again, MMOs simply wouldn't be a feasible way for a games studio to do business. Smart development teams have player retention departments tasked specifically with tracking and analyzing the rise and fall of player allegiances and finding ways to leverage loyalty is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the creation process. Even the non-gaming world is getting in on the fray. Back in November, researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Management published a study tracing the roots of player loyalties in a variety of MMO environments. The study outlined the mentalities of MMO gamers and the things that successfully encouraged them to keep coming back for more looting, more grinding, and more /hugging. Most importantly, the study declared that an MMO that increases loyalty by just 5% can increase profits by 25-95%. We sat down with Dr. Lawrence Sanders, co-author of the study, to dive a little deeper into the researchers' methods, results, and plans for future MMO investigation.
iBook Lessons: Hardback-only Memory of Light release frustrates would-be epurchasers
iBook Lessons is a continuing series about ebook writing and publishing. I was rather surprised this morning when, upon visiting Amazon, I found myself unable to purchase Brandon Sanderson's Memory of Light from the Kindle store. A major Tor release, Memory of Light wraps up the Wheel of Time series originally penned by the late Robert Jordan. With its e-only inventory, the iTunes iBookstore leads only to a placeholder and a note about unavailable items. That's because Tor isn't planning to release the Memory of Light ebook until April 9th. (The U.K. option is, by the way, only a pre-order. Their release date is the same as in the US.) I found this a curious decision in the age of the instant purchase gratification offered by Amazon and the iBookstore. I had been ready to drop my $20 this morning and quite looking forward to the book. Instead, I suppose I'll either head off to the library today to hope I can snag one of the "New and Hot" copies that my library always keeps back from the standard holds list (it's a strategy that has occasionally worked in the past). Or, I might visit Target or Walmart to pick up a heavy and smelly dead tree version that I frankly would prefer not to buy. There's something about Tor's hardback ink and paper choices that really makes my sinuses ache. To anyone paying attention, which clearly I wasn't, this ebook release date shouldn't have been a surprise. Tor announced it in a press release almost a year ago. Like me, most purchasers haven't been keeping track of things at such fine detail and today's hardback-only release came as an unwelcome shock, as you can see from the reviews from the first hours of the book's release. A majority of reviews, including both one-star and five-star items take a stance on the ebook status. The one-starrists say they are applying pressure on Tor to rethink their stance. Several five-star reviews attempt to counterweigh the negatives. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling as to why Tor made the decision it did: specifically, whether Jordan's widow and editor forced their hands, and if the NY Times bestseller ratings could be skewed by a simultaneous ebook release that would limit the prestigious hardcover fiction numbers in favor of less desirable ebook listings. TUAW contacted Tor for a statement on this policy but did not hear back before this post went live. We're very much living in a different world than three years ago when the iBookstore debuted. We carry entire libraries around on our iPads and Kindles (or in my case, the Kindle app on my iPad, my preferred reading poison). To be guided (I'd rather not use the word "forced", as I am perfectly capable of waiting until April) to a hardback purchase is something that feels distinctly retro. Back in 2009, publishers began delaying ebook releases, as they noted that ebook sales cannibalized hardcover sales. Even then an Amazon spokesperson was quoted by the NYT saying, "Authors get the most publicity at launch and need to strike while the iron is hot. If readers can't get their preferred format at that moment, they may buy a different book or just not buy a book at all." Fast forward 3 years. This year, ebook sales surpassed hardcover sales for the first time, according to the Association of American Publishers. With a growing demand, lower distribution costs, and a shorter production schedule (no printing and shipping needed), you'd think that publishers would be moving towards simultaneous release if not, as my publisher Pearson does it, ebooks and then print. As for striking while the iron is hot, I know that quite a few potential purchasers of a Memory of Light were surprised this morning, and then sad. Here's hoping that Tor pushes up the ebook release date to meet customer demand. [Thanks to former TUAW editor Scott McNulty for the tip]
World of Tanks tops 10,000 concurrent users in Korea
World of Tanks is steamrolling through the Korean gaming market much as it has done in Russia, Europe, and America. Wargaming.net's uber-successful World War II actioner launched in Korea on December 27th and has already topped 10,000 concurrent users. According to ThisIsGame, Wargaming.net's next goal is to install WoT in more than 5,000 PC Bang gaming cafes across the country. So far, 150,000 unique users have registered for the Korean WoT service.
Wargaming.net video summarizes 2012
2012 is almost be over, and it has been a good year according to Wargaming.net, the studio behind the WWII-inspired MMO World of Tanks. WoT has grown to over 45 million players worldwide and garnered several awards, including best MMO of the year from Golden Joystick. But that isn't all; development continues to roll forward on the two company's two upcoming titles, World of Warplanes and World of Warships. Wishing everyone a happy holidays, the studio released a video montage highlighting the year's accomplishments as well as the developers behind the games. Interspersed throughout are clips of in-game footage from all three titles. Want to see just what kind of shenanigans go on at the Wargaming offices? Check out the video after the break.
Wargaming.net releases World of Tanks 8.2 teaser
Cue the down-tuned guitars and ready the rock-hard action movie fonts because it's time for a new World of Tanks trailer. Wargaming.net is gearing up for the title's 8.2 update, and what better way to do that than by unleashing one minute and 12 seconds of testosterone-fueled gameplay footage on the masses. Sharp-eyed tankers will spot T21s, T71s, and the T54E1 just to name a few of the machines on display. As always, head past the cut for the full clip. [Source: Wargaming.net press release]
World of Tanks producer soliciting feedback for possible clan wars changes
Wargaming.net producer Dmitry "Overlord" Yudo is fishing for player feedback on his development blog. His latest post titled [WoT] Your Global War focuses on World of Tanks' clan wars mode, which he says has been rather "slow lately." Yudo mentions several possible feature additions, including more territories, historical and non-historical events, seasons for the global map, mercenaries, clan tanks, and more. He even hints at a wipe and object construction as possibilities, so head over to his blog and make your voice heard. The news of a possible revamp comes after Wargaming.net announced that the clan wars mode will be temporarily frozen over the Christmas holidays.
My Little Pony megamod cutsifies World of Tanks
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, a relatively new TV show that's garnered a huge geek audience, is now invading the most non-pony of places: World of Tanks. Modder RelicShadow has combined several of his and others' modifications for WoT into a definitive 5GB overhaul package. The result? A ground-up transformation of World of Tanks in which ponies pervade every inch of the battlefield. "I was playing this game well before I became a fan of Friendship is Magic," RelicShadow explained. "My newfound interest lead me in search of potential mods for it. After all was said and done and I had my big pile of mods, I decided I might as well be the one to make [the megamod] happen." The conversion package includes 90 audio tracks, renamed nations, new achievements, pony tank skins, and rainbows out the wazoo. Reportedly, it is a somewhat tricky to get the mod to work correctly, and RelicShadow recommends that no other mods are installed in addition to this one. If you're interested in this powerful pony mod, you can either download it here or check out a video of the voice changes after the break.
