[ALL] Make Yourself Heard!

I will be heading for GDC 2013 to San Francisco later this week and prior to the event I will be talking to our EU and NA offices regarding (in)formal community relations, blogs, information policy and relevant stuff. I would appreciate any feedback from your side regarding the mentioned stuff, namely: your attitude to this blog, official forums, customer relations of WG in general.
What are the most glorious win and epic fail?

[WoT] End Game

Do you get a feeling of completing the entire game after you have grinded a particular tank line up to tier 10? What's your personal end-game at this stage in World of Tanks and what kind of content would you like to see in game that would keep old and experienced players even more addicted?

Any examples count, including successful ones from other games.

[WoT] SPGs FTW!

Pondering over the recent balancing adjustments and the way we've screwed up SPGs so badly, I have come to the idea why not enable TD sniper more for SPGs.

Indeed, many of the SPGs in real life had optics that allowed to fire directly. And after the MM change with a semi-hard cap for SPGs TD mode has become even more difficult to use.

In the light of upcoming expansion of SPG lines up to tier 10, this might be a nice change making the game a little less arcadish (if you get what I mean :)). Imagine multiple SPGs driving here and there in TD mode.

So, what do you think?

[WoT] How Good 0.8.4 Is

The 0.8.4 update went live. And this is the feedback topic. Let's discuss the pros and ... merits of the latest major patch.

Regarding the most recent poll: What form of eSports are you interested in??

• None of the above  - 752 (53%) - Totally explainable. 
• Participating -  308 (21%) - Not bad at all.
• Watching videos and live games - 255 (18%)
• Reading news and other -  91 (6%) - this and the group above have a good chance to ultimately join those who actually participate once the necessary support is provide and eSports is more accessible in WoT

 As always the new poll is up. 

[MISC] Wargaming Seattle

Gas Powered Games (Wargaming Seattle)

Everyone's wondering about Gas Powered Games, our recent acquisition earlier this year. For Chris Taylor, this was a happy surprise - in 2012, the studio was facing an uncertain future with only a now-defunct Kickstarter project keeping it afloat. Being a part of the Wargaming team has given the studio new life; the feeling of excitement in the offices is evident, from the fresh, new ideas coming out of the development team to the eagerness with which they accept opportunities within Wargaming's structure.

Office decorations in Seattle - they already fit right in!

Last week, I got to visit the offices of the new Wargaming Seattle studio and meet with Chris and his design and development leads to talk about the direction the studio is moving, plans for new game development, and just get to know the team and let them know what Wargaming is all about - bringing the fun to free games. Our shared vision turned out to be even more powerful than anything we would have come up with alone.

Their vision is like our vision - a perfect match!

Gas Powered Games and Chris Taylor are already well known for a number of famous products, including Total Annihilation, Supreme Commander, Supreme Commander 2, Dungeon Siege, Space Siege, Age of Empires Online, and Demigod. The studio happens to be the same age as Wargaming - 15 years - so it's no wonder they have developed so many cool games.

Chris Taylor, CEO and Founder, Gas Powered Games

Chris Taylor is the fire under this studio that keeps things hot, in spite of the cold, rainy weather Seattle is famous for. I was extremely impressed with his enthusiasm and desire to take on new projects and become part of the Wargaming team. As he told me over dinner, it's going to be great for him to let someone else focus on administration, so he can go back to enjoying making great games.

Game memorabilia from the past 15 years

The Gas Powered Games offices are located just outside of Seattle, near Nintendo's US headquarters. They're very postmodern, with a lot of glass and steel, and too large for the number of people working there right now, which means they are going to have to start recruiting to get those desks filled. That way they can get to work on The Next Big Game®.

Chris Taylor's desk - clearly a sign of a creative mind!

There is one desk that is already full to capacity - Chris Taylor's! It looks like he's kept every game he's ever played, every magazine and book he's ever read, and enough office furniture to pile all of them on! Fortunately, we all know that chaos is a sign that creative juices are constantly flowing. Another way Gas Powered Games fits right in with Wargaming!  :-)

by ChrisK

[WoT] Digging Through Archives: Ferdi's Performance

It's been quite a while since I posted a Digging Through Archives thing. Making up for it.

Taken from communication between Heinz Guderian, General of Arnoured troops, and Adolf Hitler dated 1943 (excerpts):

After 2000km of traveled distance the condition of Ferdinand tanks in such that 4 vehicles ignited spontaneously while marching and became completely worthless.

Repairs are extremely hard and continuous for both unit (Heavy Anti-tank Regiment 656) and army group and can't be performed at this time.

The success Ferdinand tanks have had so far, e.g. 8 Ferdinand tanks destroyed 54 enemy tanks on November 25, indicates that the unit should be brought for reinforcement to ensure its full fighting efficiency.

Central Archive of the Russian Ministry of Defence, fund 500, inventory 12462, case N93, page 115

Actually not bad performance of debut batch of Ferdi's, especially taken into account overloaded chassis.

[WoT] Moar Tanks!

Regarding the most recent poll: What new tanks do you expect most?

• Expansion for current trees  - 815 (40%) - I believe to high extent this is because of yet incomplete British tree. Anyway it coincides with the current content plans. 
• Mixed EU tree (all in one) -  492 (24%) - Combined with 4th option, EU tree in any form is a runner-up. It's not in plans for 2013.
• Japanese tree - 338 (16%) - getting some solid 16%, Japanese tree is going to be the next to arrive. 
• Separate EU tree (any country) -  252 (12%)
• Smth else (specify in comments!) -  120 (5%)

 As always the new poll is up. 

[WoT] New Mod Policy

We are currently updating our mod (user-created extensions) policy for World of Tanks.

How it looks like so far:

• Disable everything that gives any kind of advantage in direct form: laser-like pointer, transparent tree crowns, hit-box like skins in-game, etc
• Also there is an intention to disable mods that are using modified client scripts (automated fire extinguisher, automated repair kit, auto-shooting etc)
• Mods that are not related to scripts and only modifies visual side of UI will still be tolerable (WR efficiency mods, XVM, etc)
• Some mods can be integrated into the game client (which ones - under discussion).

What do you think?

PS: also there is an idea to appoint a person who will be dedicated to mod-related  activities, including relations with mod creators and possible subsequent integration of most successful works into the game or other kind of promotion. 

[WoWP] Big Hit

I know it's a bit late, but still. WoWP 4.0 or 0.4.0 or whatever has been released for NA, EU, and RU cbt servers. It is a major update the team has been working on for a couple of months. The quintessence of the update are, for sure, new controls (new WoT-like mouse with assault mode), improved render, and updated HUD (effective performance modes and more).

So if you have been away for some time, I advise you to download the update (provided that you have got the beta access ofc) and check out the new stuff.

In case you have already had an opportunity to get acquainted with the update, feel free to come up with some feedback on forums or here (minding the NDA :)).

[WoT] 8.4 Test - Impressions Post

Your impressions of 8.4 public test, if any? Issues, bugs, feedback, etc.

How do you like the tutorial-thing?

And the poll: So polls ...

1. Totally love them - 1193 (70%)
2. Don't care - 388 (22%)
3. Hate! They are useless - 123 (7%) btw, initially was going to add "I don't participate in polls" option but dumped the idea. Regret it.

As always the new poll is up.