[WoT] Dusty Shelves: How Tanks Were Born

Below is the ICQ log dating back to December 2008, featuring the conversation between Slava Makarov (currently lead producer of Wargaming.net), Peter Bityukov (hisrorical consultant),  before their meeting with well-known Victor Kislyi (CEO) - "fathers of tanks". That's probably the moment when WoT has been born. :)

So let's get to it. :) My comments are in italics.


Slava Makarov (15:48:37 10/12/2008)
Let's suggest WG to make a mech game on their engine :)
Gigantic androids! that will guard the borders of Russian Federation :)

Peter Bityukov (15:49:16 10/12/2008)
:) btw, have you seen their engine? I mean Bagration (also Order of War - Overlord)

Slava (15:50:39 10/12/2008)
Not yet. I have seen only Inhabited island (another WG's old game, see - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners_of_Power - Overlord)

Petr (16:07:51 10/12/2008)
The current engine is much better. It does look modern. http://www.bagration-game.ru/ You can check the screenshots here (unfortunately, not anymore :( - Overlord ).

Slava (16:08:23 10/12/2008)
Found it, yup, looks good.

Petr (16:08:33 10/12/2008)
plus it's not the only their engine :) they have got a few more :)

Slava (16:08:51 10/12/2008)
O, yeah! About mechs, huuge, human-like, steam! In the setting of the 30ies!
The Whites (see Civil War in Russia, eg here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_movement - Overlord) won and began to produce motorcuirasses instead of tanks!!!

Petr (16:09:36 10/12/2008)
will try to talk to him now

Petr (16:11:14 10/12/2008)
they have got a few ideas on the new project, Victor said we would discuss it in person. Personally I'm thinking of high-quality navy (Navy Field like game - Overlord), but there is a problem because of NF2.

Slava (16:12:46 10/12/2008)
will have to do it about WWI

Petr (16:14:15 10/12/2008)
NF2's timeline is rumoured to begin since the early XX.  :(
Already thought of that.

Slava (16:14:29 10/12/2008)
one more option is navyfield about tanks

Petr (16:14:44 10/12/2008)
squadron battles would be even more realistic there
I suggested navyfield with tanks to them like one year ago :)
MMO based on Order of War engine
with progression and upgrades
well, we can discuss it during the meeting anyway :)

Slava (16:16:55 10/12/2008)
it sounds nice - we have already got the models
progression scheme would be - lights-meds-heavies

Petr (16:17:14 10/12/2008)
i like it too

Petr (16:17:16 10/12/2008)
yup, plus we can make some lines / branches

Slava (16:17:27 10/12/2008)
yes, side lines like - spgs and rocket launchers

Petr (16:17:33 10/12/2008)
tank destroyers or even infantry

Slava (16:17:46 10/12/2008)
nope, infantry would only complicate things. totally different setting

Petr (16:17:59 10/12/2008)
full of heavy armament

Slava (16:18:21 10/12/2008)
APCs as aircraft carrier? :))) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armoured_personnel_carrier - Overlord)

Petr (16:18:43 10/12/2008)
:)

Petr (16:20:05 10/12/2008)
some more to the tank idea - additional armour plates, engine upgrades, guns
what's your opinion on navyfield with sailing vessels? does it make any sense?

Slava (16:26:10 10/12/2008)
won't work out because of the wind

Petr (16:26:11 10/12/2008)
with winds and currents
too much for players?

Slava (16:28:32 10/12/2008)
yup, plus we will have to compete with corsairs (series of naval games for PC, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Pirates:_Caribbean_Tales as expample - Overlord)
tanks sound more promising
plus we have got a set of models

Petr (16:39:02 10/12/2008)
I like the tank concept as well

Slava (16:49:10 10/12/2008)
SuperHeavyTank - Maus, IS-7, Conqueror, M103

Petr (16:49:50 10/12/2008)
:-)
aye! and Т-27 too;) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-27 - Overlord)

Slava (16:51:28 10/12/2008)
no, Renault FT
everyone used it
and it was a piece of crap

Petr (16:52:44 10/12/2008)
:-D

Slava (16:53:38 10/12/2008)
don't like the idea of APCs as aircraft carrier since if scouting depended on such small fry, navy would be totally different, but interesting

Petr (16:54:12 10/12/2008)
artillery as aircraft carrier

Slava (16:54:24 10/12/2008)
this is!

Petr (16:54:26 10/12/2008)
probably even heavy self-propelled guns

Slava (16:54:35 10/12/2008)
different self-propelled vehicles and rocket launchers

Petr (16:55:39 10/12/2008)
Priest, Hummel
as for the Soviets
SU-122, SU-152 and ISU-152
could fire being in defilade position
but had little ammo and excess armour
though it might even work well as a unique feature of the faction

Petr (21:00:26 10/12/2008)
Victor will be in Moscow on Friday

Slava (21:00:35 10/12/2008)
niiice

And that was only the beginning. :)