"Fictional" tanks or alternative history?

85
The plot in online games is a very strange subject. On the one hand, the gameplay, tied to the interaction of real players, PvP battles and joint raids does not require such a large-scale plot strapping as in single-player games. After all, the emphasis is not at all on stories. But on the other hand, monotonous quests, boring descriptions of game items or uninteresting in-game events can discourage the desire to play even with the most talented game design.

A particularly vivid example of how difficult storytelling can be is - historical Online Games. How to reveal an interesting plot, if the whole gameplay is movement from one isolated battle to another, and the development of the player is firmly connected with the real historical chronology?



World of Tanks is one of the most popular games in Russia, based on the history of armored vehicles. More than 600 tanksrepresenting a wide variety of engineering schools are the protagonists of the game. There is no plot in the classical sense in World of Tanks, but this does not prevent hundreds of thousands of “tankers” from fighting with enthusiasm on the battlefields in the game for more than ten years.

We spoke with copywriter Vitaly Bugorkov and 3D artist Maxim Bondarik from Wargaming and asked how stories are told in World of Tanks and what developers come up with to fill the game with new meanings.

Please tell us if there is a storyline in World of Tanks that you can follow as you level up?

Vitaly Bugorkov:

- World of Tanks is a historical game where the main plot is based on the development of armored vehicles. In games such as tanks, plot elements are not revealed as in singleplayer games, because when the basis of the gameplay is a separate tank battle, then the story cannot be told in the same way as in open world games or in linear story-driven adventures. But it would be wrong to do without plot elements altogether. Therefore, World of Tanks uses other means to tell interesting stories. First of all, these are special game events - from the recent ones you can recall the Halloween horror "Peace-13" and the unique mode with asymmetric gameplay "The Last Waffentrager".

Stories can also be told through styles and descriptions. The idea to add "diary clippings" to style descriptions, or rather to present this description entirely in the form of a clipping, came almost immediately with the start of the development of three-dimensional styles. Before that, as a rule, text was used containing dry information like "the style is based on a camouflage scheme used in tropical areas by the troops of the 3rd separate armored corps blah blah blah ...". This is certainly very interesting, but at that moment it seemed to me that completely new and unusual "skins" should be unusual in everything. The creative director got his approval for "delightful stories", and from that moment on, the tradition of writing in the first person went.

"Granite"



Attempt at writing. The very first careful description of the style in the new format. With each subsequent description, they delved deeper and deeper into the artistry.

“This is the crown of the armored industry of the post-war USSR, an armor-piercing fist capable of breaking through the strongest defenses and designed for the most effective actions against ground and air threats in any weather conditions, as well as in conditions of chemical, biological and nuclear pollution. That's what my commander says. And the commander is always right. "

This task was somewhat complicated by the fact that it was necessary to remain within the specified period, or nation, or type of technology, or God knows what else. The description-story was supposed to be an addition to the appearance of the car, not to be alien, not to stick out on its background, the car. And the main thing is not to repeat yourself. When there are a dozen styles, it is quite easy to achieve dissimilarity. But when there are already 50+ of them, you need to double-check everything three times to avoid self-copying.

Sometimes it dawns on, they say, “Oh, what a cool idea! Now I'll wrap it up in a style description ... although wait, that was already in% tankName%. " And all over again.

Maxim Bondarik:

- As already mentioned, in recent years we have been developing not only historical tanks that are familiar to us, but also many non-standard vehicles that appear in various special in-game events. For example, tanks for the "Steel Hunter". This is a mode in the spirit of a battle royale, in which each player fights for himself and can improve his car right during the battle. From a visual point of view, the tanks had to show their technical characteristics by their appearance - the more armored ones had large protective screens, and the faster ones had a lightweight layout. One combat vehicle could consist of elements of several tanks at once. For example, the Soviet model could have a KV-4 turret and an IS-M hull.


Do you come up with a story first, and then create a style, or vice versa?

Maxim Bondarik:

- For each in-game event, tanks are developed according to the internal storyline and gameplay features. For example, we designed the tanks for the Big Races event to look super fast, which is unusual for a regular tank on the battlefield. It was imperative to make a special engine for each car, its own for each nation. For example, a Soviet tank needed a Soviet-made unit, not an engine from Bugatti or Ferrari. We also had to book the stern of the tank, because in accordance with the game design of tank races, we could not damage the enemy's engine or knock down his caterpillar. Therefore, the task was to visually emphasize this. In addition, on "racing" tanks, a pronounced, powerful exhaust system was needed to add a more "racing" feel. In the future, cool visual effects were added to it.

"Fictional" tanks or alternative history?

Vitaly Bugorkov:

- Another option is when we start from the appearance and create a plot based on it. A non-standard approach helps a lot. As an example, we can cite the style called "Fluffy", which was an experiment and, as expected, became the subject of discussion and criticism, which has not stopped until now. The bottom line is that the description of the style is based on a letter from a little girl to her father, who is bored and sends her dad her favorite teddy bear - Fuzzy. This entire letter is replete with deliberately made mistakes, conveying the imperfection of children's spelling. The idea of ​​such a non-standard description arose just when examining the concept for the Object 277 tank. We noticed a teddy bear in a string bag on the tower. So the idea arose to make a start from this particular element of appearance.

"Pushystik"



“... and yesterday I got an A again! I retell your letter that my mother read to me. You wrote in it about the places where the kamandir sent you, I listened and remembered. And then she told about it in the lesson and the teacher said that I was great! The whole class listened attentively, everyone was interested. Mom and I and little Andryusha miss me very much, we are waiting for you sooner home. Especially mom, she sometimes cries at night. She says it’s very dangerous there, so I’m sending you Fuzzy. He will protect you and your friends. And when you return, we will listen together how he saved you. We love you very much, daddy! Come home quickly! Your daughter Masha. "
But the trouble is that many players do not read the descriptions, but they always see the names, which is why an avalanche of criticism fell in us, they say, whoever hired you at all. Those who read the description and understood everything, began to explain the meaning, and a long-playing discussion emerged.

It is worth adding that the alternative to "Pushystic" was a style for another tank, and this style should not have been lost against the background of the story about the bear cub. The idea came to turn everything upside down - and a description was born, the basis for which was the song "Yak-fighter" by Vladimir Vysotsky. At the moment, "Sentry" is the only style in the game, the description of which comes from the perspective of the tank itself, not its crew.

"Hourly"



“Again they slam the hatches like at home. How can you explain to them that this is impossible with technology? There is a limit to everything! The heart is already coughing with oil splashes, unable to chew gasoline in half with the ground anymore. But for now, I hold on and drag my crew to the next point on the map, where at the cost of my resource people decided to defend their mercantile interests. It's hard to say what I want less - to turn into a dying skeleton here, in impassable forests, or to sleep peacefully under a centimeter layer of dust in one of the technical museums. Both outcomes are equally disgusting, but everything depends on the crew. I still can't live without him. As well as him without me - there are no spare parts for the guys inside. "

In addition, I note that finding a "support" for the description is already half the battle. For example, the "Last Dragon" style on the Chinese WZ 111 model 5A is based on the famous vineyard scene from the Soviet film "Father of a Soldier".



"The Last Dragon"




“Why were you demoted to platoon leader? Didn't follow the order. I didn’t do it - and I don’t regret it. They plotted the route so that I would have to walk in full column through the rice fields. By the roads, past the laid communications. Straight through the fields. And how should I react? As far as I can remember, my family has been growing rice, feeding itself and the country. Work began even before dawn and ended deep after midnight. This is infinitely hard work, and our management should have worked in the field at least once to understand this. I did not go into the army in order to crush the work of my own people with caterpillars, on whose money this tank was formally built. Respect for your neighbor is easy. If the price is my shoulder straps, so be it. A clear conscience is still dearer to me ”.

In World of Tanks, there are a lot of "museum" tanks - historically accurately reproduced vehicles, the characteristics of which are copied from real equipment. Are there any deviations from historicity in the game?

Vitaly Bugorkov:

- There are cases when in the descriptions of some styles we make historical assumptions based, nevertheless, on real events and models of technology. For example, the style on the Soviet tank Object 430U "attributed" this vehicle to the Israeli army, placing the tank during the Six Day War. This is exactly an alternative history, since such a tank did not exist in metal. But why not? Why not assume that it was in a single copy taken for a run-in by the Israelis and thrown from the training ground into real combat conditions? So they gave him their own name - "Kelevra" ("Bad dog" in Hebrew. And yes, hello, Slevin!). The description of the style itself comes from the perspective of Israeli tankers.

"Kelevra"




“Well, that's all, you can exhale. Although I and my guys have aged a couple of years this week, that's for sure. What will happen next - let them decide at the top, while we will put in order the materiel and get a good night's sleep. Oh, yes, you still need to really study this car - no one has seen anything like it. It's a miracle that they managed to capture it almost without a fight. Judging by the looks and this formidable cannon, we could get a lot of trouble. We must wait for the commission; maybe they will shed light on what has fallen into our hands. If this is a fundamentally new tank, what is it like in battle? Where did the Egyptians get it from? How many more of these machines are there on the other side? I would not like to meet them in a direct collision. Anyway ... I don’t want any more collisions ”.

The same goes for the style on the IS-3 called "Montu". Only in this case, the events described are quite historical, the tank really fought in the Middle East under the flags of the Egyptians, and the style is named after the Egyptian god of war. He was paired with "Sekhmet" - the goddess who gave the name to the style for the Object 140 tank, which also entered the service of the Egyptians (but in this case, allegedly entered), but the crew remained in it Soviet - the tank is new, let's try it ourselves, and then, if everything goes well, we will give it to you. Thus, the text of the description comes from the perspective of the Soviet crew.

Sekhmet




“Again this sand, everywhere endless sand, and on the armor - even fry an egg. I'm no longer afraid of ambushes and minefields, but this damned sun - it’s more likely to finish me off. Ahmad, our guide, says, they say, we were still lucky with the weather. And "no luck" then - how is it? Fortunately, the technology still suffers, it starts up properly and does not boil, although we probably change the air filters more often than we fill in the fuel. Yes, this beast only looks like filters and works. Well, at least it was possible to profitably throw ATGMs at a seemingly high-quality woven carpet and a couple of barrels of drinking water, all the same they are of no use here. Okay, let's get together! It's time to get to work. Galanin, start the engine. Let's try to relive one more day in this 'wonderland' ”.

By the way, an easter egg got into the style - a mechanic named Galanin. A reference to the leader of the group "SerGa", and the "wonderland" in the final phrase is the famous anti-war song of this group.

Descriptions are generally fertile ground for all sorts of Easter eggs, the main thing is not to beat on the forehead and not overdo it. "Little Bart", the style of the SPG with the largest caliber, is a reference to the German "Big Bertha". Anything can be sewn into the names, from the words identifying the belonging (the same Montu and Sekhmet), to the humor “not for everyone”. For example, we have a festive New Years XNUMXD style with a strange name "G, Fis, E, D, C, H, A, G". It depicts the Nutcracker, and the player familiar with the musical notation will realize that the name of the style contains a piece of the famous theme from the ballet by P.I.Tchaikovsky.

And when the style completely drops out of the concept of "historical", then I want to emphasize this with a description. For example, the style reserved for a special game event for the Swedish UDES 15/16 was generally described in verse:

"Real Steel"




I'll fill in refractory tungsten,
Titanium with cobalt additives,
Mercury sulphide,
Copper and sulfur
More zinc
Chrome in moderation.
Let the steel merge with my will, master,
And turn to ice and fire
Into blade and shield
Feather and stone.
In the maelstrom of elements, waiting for the right moment,
Knowing that rage and strength are in her,
A river will pour out of the furnace.
Casting and forging - crucible, hammer,
Hardening after - in heat and cold.
To a chorus of occult spells
To the chilling roar of lamentation
To the clank of chains and the roar of the motor
The staples fit quickly, quickly.
And seam by seam, stitching sheets together
The armor is born alive.
And now the beast is ready to march
Into the sand and snow
Into fire and water.
Isn't it too early to celebrate the victory?
Run.
He follows the trail.


Maxim Bondarik:

- When creating unhistorical machines, we are guided primarily by banal common sense and logic. If, according to the plot, the tank is electric, then somewhere there must be generators that generate current, somewhere special wires are held. If this is a racing tank, which I talked about earlier, then the engine should look powerful so that the player can immediately understand that it is not ordinary, but modified specifically for high-speed driving.


We look for all these elements from photographs and agree with historical consultants - could such an element exist in the era to which the event belongs, could it perform the function we need. We also consult with game designers to make sure that the tank clearly gives players an understanding of its main gameplay features and functions.

The Montu style mentioned above suggests that the tank changed its owner several times, passing from Egyptians to Israelis and back. And always with a fight.


Since the car is real, we completely followed the real shots. Traces of old Egyptian paint and emblems can be seen on the tank, over which Israeli paint and emblems have been applied, as well as traces of more recent Egyptian paint and emblems on top of Israeli ones, as the tank was recaptured according to legend. Only a few elements of the body kit, such as the water cans and the mattress, were our additions to keep the style readable.


We've dealt with individual styles. Are there any big storylines in World of Tanks that the developers have "sewn" into the style descriptions?

Vitaly Bugorkov:

- Yes, sometimes a simple "single" description is not enough. If the styles are similar and come in a set, then they can generally get a single end-to-end plot, the pieces of which are served one after another. In this regard, I will tell you a little more about an alternative history: we have such a visual theme as Panzerwaffe'46. It includes German technology, which existed either in single copies, or in models, or generally only in drawings. We, within the framework of the “What if…” assumption, send her into battle in the last days of World War II, which, let's say, was going on for another year or two, and we weight it with the most modern equipment at that time. But in this alternative reality, the war is also actually lost by the Germans, even if the last shot has not yet sounded. The crews of these vehicles, on whose behalf the story is told, understand this very well, as they understand the primary problems and needs of the army: fuel, food, medicines. Here a character is born who, in three successive styles, appears as "the old fool Becker". This is a kind of collective image of a high staff officer who has become detached from reality, who rather satisfies some of his ambitious wishes, instead of providing real assistance to the troops entrusted to him.

Clarer Himmel




“... This old fool Becker knows nothing about the craft of war. He's a railroad man, who let him get to our tanks? And now an order came from him with "urgent recommendations" to install an anti-aircraft gun to provide air defense and cover the infantry. Seriously? In a city battle, only a madman will stand up for this gun - this is the fastest way to say goodbye to life. Does he offer to shoot down planes out of it? Yes, Schwarzer Tod will not even take our main weapon, as it sometimes seems to me. The best cure for air raids is to run. Run as hard as you can. But once we had air supremacy - and where is our aviation? People like Becker buried her. Until the last plane. We asked for fuel and artillery tractors, but he doesn't care - he's there, in a warm office. And here we go deeper and deeper into hell "

Landkreuzer




"That's it. Schenker, Haas, Kaufman ... So you got your crosses, but not at all the ones that old fool Becker promised you. We never found Whitmeier, and Lang is unlikely to last until evening. And these five brave guys, who went through all the hell on earth with me, were replaced by youngsters who are less than I wear this uniform. Yes, we have a severe staff shortage, but did these guys deserve such a fate? Even they already understand everything, do not laugh and do not flaunt the power of our once great army. I know that the red stars are clanging their caterpillars just around the corner. But they don't need Berlin - they follow me. They are going to pay back for the four years that I played with fire. Correctly all the same they say, they say, to each according to his deeds. And I have already done my business. Schenker, Haas, Kaufman, my friends, forgive us that we had to part like that. We will meet very soon "

"Namenlos"




“The day started with two good News, if in the current situation at least some news can be considered good. Firstly, the fuel trucks that arrived at the unit the day before did not suffer much after the night attack by attack aircraft, and we will not have to hang around in this hole for another week. Secondly, Becker was finally removed from office. Oh, how I was waiting for this event. I was ready to give half of my awards for the opportunity to personally shove this old fool into an anti-aircraft gunner's chair with one of those useless toys that he so eagerly screws onto our tanks. I even thought that now there were literate people at the headquarters who understood the absurdity of his undertakings. Well, let him return to the railway with his anti-aircraft guns, that's where the guys will rejoice. And it’s time for us to take off and move to the aid of the 101st corps. If there is still someone left to help ... "

Thus, the styles on E 100, Maus and VK 72.01 K are not only visually executed in one key, but also contain a single consistent history. Perhaps when a fourth car is added to them, we will learn new details about the old fool Becker.

It can also be noted that all the styles for the "Battle Pass", starting from the second season, are story-driven. Their description complements the story that unfolds as the player progresses through the Battle Pass stages. As a rule, styles are tied to those characters who have become the main characters of a particular season. The same goes for Halloween styles. As an example Leopard 1:

Blitzlicht




“Am I afraid of the dark? Let's be honest, I went to the army for adventure. For the thrill. When I was still a child, I sometimes fantasized about how I would be sent on a particularly important special assignment, and I heroically carry it out. And then - awards, honor and respect, glory. And don't believe in fate after that. I wanted a thrill - get it in full. Get what will make you jump up screaming in the middle of the night even years later. Get what will generously add gray to the hair of a thirty-year-old guy. Get something from which you will avoid every rustle, buzz of electricity and shadows dancing from the fire. A special assignment that ordinary purposeful people went to, but returned ... Let's go without details. Am I afraid of the dark? You have no idea how much "

The last question on our topic: will there be a story campaign in World of Tanks?

Vitaly Bugorkov:

- We try to reveal stories in small parts of the game, without combining it all into one storyline. Of course, we have already revealed larger-scale stories similar to traditional campaigns from single-player games - for the 75th anniversary of the Victory, for example, there were historical PvE battles with a certain scenario under the general name "The Road to Berlin". Before that, we made a big historical event in the Battle of the Kursk Bulge.
As I said before, there were also less historical (to put it mildly) modes - "Mirny-13", "The Last Waffentrager", "Steel Hunter", races, etc. That is, two directions are combined here - historical / near-historical events and their reproduction in the game and fantastic stories created especially for our players.

Below is an example of a piece of the plot of the event "Peace-13", which was presented fragmentarily and at random, so that by the end of the event the player could collect a complete picture of what happened. There were 27 such certificates.


Players love cool, lightweight plots - we will continue to experiment with this direction. The same "Battle Pass" is such an activity in which we tell the stories of the characters and even show a mini-series based on the season.

The main plot in World of Tanks is presented in fragments and is tied, as a rule, to some specific events, modes or styles. The very world history of tank building is our main plot.
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85 comments
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  1. +21
    18 May 2021 11: 47
    The game moves further and further away from reality.
    1. +7
      18 May 2021 13: 22
      Realities sell worse.
    2. +3
      18 May 2021 14: 39
      Quote: tech3030
      The game moves further and further away from reality.

      I stopped playing 5 years ago. Moved to ships.
      1. +4
        18 May 2021 15: 43
        Quote: Normal ok
        Moved to ships.

        about the same.
      2. +2
        18 May 2021 18: 09
        Quote: Normal ok
        I stopped playing 5 years ago. Moved to ships.

        There is the same problem: the further you go, the more paper and less steel.
        Well, okay, the Soviet branch - otherwise it would not be enough to pull the required number of ships (otherwise it would have Sverdlov and Oktyabrina in the tops). But the paper confidently fills even the Japanese and American branches.
    3. +2
      18 May 2021 20: 57
      But what does this have to do with reality? Fuck, we’ll be discussing games at the military battle. Come on, at least chess or, at worst, checkers. Here, they seem to talk and discuss strategic weapons, including those that will leave nothing from your tanks in the game (and not in the game), and from you as well. Damn, is this degradation?
      1. -1
        19 May 2021 01: 31
        Quote: Sergey Averchenkov
        But what does reality have to do with it? Fuck, we’ll be discussing games at the military battle. Come on, at least chess or the shudoy end of the checker. Here, they seem to talk and discuss strategic weapons, including those that will not leave anything from your tanks in the game (and not in the game), and from you as well. Damn, is this degradation?

        I agree completely! Discuss some kind of games with drawn tanks ... And live in a tank and go into the attack? I agree ... degradation. I will add that the victims of the exam!
      2. 0
        19 May 2021 14: 34
        And the fact is that the game is played by different ages. If the elders remember something and can tell others, including in terms of patriotism (for example, my grandfather fought on this tank), then the young are already presented with some kind of nonsense, in every sense. The gaming industry brings money no less than the sale of weapons and affects the minds no less ...
    4. +1
      19 May 2021 08: 44
      And what does it have to do with tanks, if this game is purely about bushes? drinks
  2. +24
    18 May 2021 11: 52
    I felt sad ... It was hard on my soul from this article ... it reminded me of my late brother ... I do not play computer games; but my brother was playing! And the "game of tanks" was one of his favorites ...! He would have lived and lived; but a fatal illness did not allow ... Now I am looking through the article and "I see" my brother sitting at the computer and playing this game ... I am again experiencing the death of my brother ... I can see it will be with me until the end of my life ...
    1. +8
      18 May 2021 12: 46
      My condolences, dear Vladimir!
      1. +6
        18 May 2021 13: 44
        Thank you ! .................................................. ................................
        1. +2
          18 May 2021 18: 25
          He knew about his illness and this was his last outlet?
          Accept condolences.
          1. +5
            19 May 2021 02: 21
            I am grateful to you for your sympathy! Yes, computer games were his outlet ...
    2. 0
      19 May 2021 09: 13
      I sincerely sympathize with you, Vladimir, I myself know what it means to lose loved ones.
      1. +2
        19 May 2021 13: 38
        Thank you, Kostya, for your understanding! And forgive me all for the weakness ... somehow it happened ... I began to read the article ... the games in tanks ... and I remembered everything ... and it became so hard on my soul!
        1. 0
          23 May 2021 13: 48
          What was that? what My granddaughter drew a crocodile with a mustache (long with small paws and green with a comb and stripes), I asked why the crocodile is on the windowsill? She - and this is not a crocodile ... This is a cat ...
  3. +21
    18 May 2021 12: 39
    Vitaly Bugorkov:
    - World of Tanks is a historical game where the main plot is based on the development of armored vehicles.
    Are they serious, or is he a bummer in his normal state at the interview? This misunderstanding, which for some reason they call a game, used to be an interesting game on expectations, a project based on realism 12+, and now, thanks to the "gifted" poor, this is a stupid occupation for knocking out the dough from the crazy zombie underdeveloped 5+. What did he hesitate to tell about "gingerbread and mattress" styles, about nonsense with barrels and bicycles, drums and other garbage, with flowers and dolls, with carriages of animals and cartoons, it's so historical, about his "roulette" boxes and containers , extorting money, although gambling is prohibited here. There is an obvious crisis of creativity and the degradation of the project, they corny do not know how to further develop the project, which has already become impossibly poor, and most importantly, how to fix all kinds of bugs that already have a catastrophic effect on the gameplay, and the shooting process seems to be the main occupation in the game, except for the negative causes nothing, art with its delusional camp, land mines, movement (the so-called physics), which has no armor, a random of 50%, etc. etc., and most importantly where absolutely everything, every pebble and every action is soaked and yells, "drive the loot", all this knocks off any desire to get into this trash can, after which you want to wash. The game, in my opinion, is a developmental activity that gives positive emotions and satisfaction in the results achieved. And this is an occupation that cultivates negativity, psychosis, where nothing depends on the player, where money is extorted and the child's growing body is blackmailed for days, months to sit at the computer, depriving him of normal physical activity, forcing him to skip classes and studies, creating a mentally unbalanced personality, such an activity somehow does not fit into the concept of a game.
    1. +14
      18 May 2021 12: 49
      It's the same with Word of Wireships. From a quite decent arcade game with elements of historicity, the game has turned into an MMO grindilka, in which elves and gnomes, by mistake, have the appearance of warships.
      1. 0
        18 May 2021 13: 27
        Oh, don't say it.
        But the wings of the ships were clipped on takeoff. This is a separate project altogether.
        And there still 30-50% are now some bots with online in 10-15t. (from the old 40+ t.)
    2. +3
      18 May 2021 13: 24
      A manager whose wages depend on the company's profits and will attach a muzzle to the Zaporozhets, only so that the babosiks drip, and what could not be so and cannot be justified after the pier comes in and puffs.
    3. +1
      18 May 2021 14: 00
      I agree. It is necessary to divide the game into a historical one - for fans of history, where to develop realism, and a fantastic one - with invented cars, styles and Cheburashkas.
      1. +3
        18 May 2021 15: 46
        Quote: Tavrik
        It is necessary to divide the game into historical

        Historical game requires Historical Combat Mode
        that ridiculous historical battle that was in the tanks was completely unsuitable.
        Therefore, the historicity turned out to be unnecessary in fact to anyone.
        In ships, this is easier, but even there the historicity goes in favor of a fierce arcade.
        1. +1
          18 May 2021 21: 12
          Historic ships are generally bad. Shooting "for real" at 15-30 km makes the game not "watchable", which is interesting to a limited circle of fans of Silent Hunter and Destroyer Commando, where it was possible to manually calculate the "torpedo triangle", and making income questionable.
          In short, games grow dumber with the audience.
          I will go, Neroes of might and magic 3 will start ... wink
          1. +1
            19 May 2021 09: 32
            there it was necessary to focus not on the LC, but on destroyers, sea hunters and other trifles,
            here everything is more spectacular and fun.
            1. 0
              20 May 2021 12: 44
              I agree. At the level of torpedo boats and other armored boats. But once ours made a toy "Sea Hunter", but did not "take off" ...
              1. +1
                20 May 2021 12: 59
                Quote: Tavrik
                At the level of torpedo boats and other armored boats.

                I thought the level of gunboats and battleships was optimal.
                that's where the arcades are up the roof!
                LK, TC and aircraft carriers are already elements of tactics and strategy, which is completely unattainable for the majority of the audience.
                And I gave up playing the ships when in the Japanese Fuso I achieved 198 hits on opponents from the main battery (with a minimum share of ricochets) and could not at all affect the course of the battle. Lotteries are not my profile.
  4. +4
    18 May 2021 12: 49
    We try to cover stories in small parts of the game, without combining it all into one storyline.

    But the reality is not far from games.


  5. +6
    18 May 2021 13: 24
    "Invented tanks" - physics and mechanics are invented, and pictures are secondary.
    Everything revolves and rests around (and in) the programs that control the battle.
    Mythical non-penetration of the sides of LT and ST with a projectile of 150 (+) - mm or hitting the harp (even without shooting down), there would be no side left with the harp)))
    Spinning up technology (especially new), and when everyone is playing enough, they cut it down to the very best.
    The simplest "indicator" for hits is to aim the barrel at any object on the map except a tank and shoot, the projectile will definitely hit. And if you do the same for the tank ... well, you understand how God will put it)))
    In "Blitz" in general, hell is going on, "money is our everything!".
    For fantastic tanks, they would have introduced a separate regime (battles) and would not have fenced in the garden.
    Soon tanks from StarCraft and Warhammer will appear so sideways)))
    1. +3
      18 May 2021 15: 47
      Quote: BoratSagdiev
      tanks from StarCraft and Warhammer will appear

      scribbled. have already appeared.
    2. +3
      18 May 2021 22: 44
      Quote: BoratSagdiev
      And if you do the same for the tank ... well, you understand how God will put it)))

      If. And then there is a special potato distribution function with a strong dependence on the bablopian. laughing I am no longer surprised when out of 10 shots of a gold shot there is only one hit in the cardboard with a joyful non-penetration. laughing And before, I hit with direct hits on take-off.
      1. 0
        19 May 2021 13: 41
        Well, gold does not always break through for a long time.
        And I forgot about the most wonderful thing - balance, it's something with something ...
        and noticed a certain trick for a long time - sometimes it can be thrown out of the battle (under any pretext) and repeated entry will not help, apparently the "necessary players" should win, and the balance of power is not in favor of their team)))
        1. 0
          19 May 2021 13: 47
          I did not notice this. I basically had stupid misses almost point-blank with non-punched holes in the cardboard, and at the same time, from somewhere beyond the horizon, from far from the most accurate machines, I flew into the vulnerable zones of the tank.
          1. 0
            23 May 2021 09: 47
            It has been said to you: - the shells do not fall into the ground, and the advice is the most oblique and the most blind. I’m thinking, how did we manage to defeat the entire EU 2 in the 1nd MV, then, with a three-line and with a saber, something our "great" Rzeczpospolita did not quite succeed.
    3. 0
      20 May 2021 13: 01
      how divinely the French LT guns of 152+ caliber are tanked)))
  6. +14
    18 May 2021 13: 35
    Wargaming came to cry?

    Do you want to know why we no longer bring you our money?
    Because by moving away from realism, you attracted young nerds, but you lost big guys.
    These are your "styles" created by geeks and are interesting for geeks.

    I haven't come in for a couple of years.
    Soon I'll stop going to ships - the same garbage, brainless development.
  7. ANB
    0
    18 May 2021 13: 35
    Gambling addiction is a disease. And it is treated almost as hard as drug addiction.
    And now all the signs are there:
    Dependence
    Breaking
    Pulls out money
    Harm to health
    Nothing else is needed but a game / dose
  8. +9
    18 May 2021 13: 37
    Players love cool, lightweight plots - we will continue to experiment with this direction. The same "Battle Pass" is such an activity in which we tell the stories of the characters and even show a mini-series based on the season.

    The main plot in World of Tanks is presented in fragments and is tied, as a rule, to some specific events, modes or styles. The very world history of tank building is our main plot.

    "I am delusional, but do not judge me harshly, I just trudge from all the chips that I make up, and I do not care about users!" - this is how you can decipher the interview of the "craftsman" from Wargaming. lol
  9. +2
    18 May 2021 14: 26
    Wargaming - while creating "game mechanics", you sometimes think that ricochet from "cardboard" is not possible.

    Previously, it was "smiling" that 406 mm in "boats", ricochets from 20 mm of boiler iron (apparently such a thing as a "break" in armor, wargaming programmers do not know - "Stability of plates and shells" - I recommend to familiarize the calculators).
    1. -1
      18 May 2021 15: 57
      There is another opinion:
      https://youtu.be/Iu3JzEcd244
      1. +1
        18 May 2021 17: 11
        Quote: Gauthallen
        https://youtu.be/Iu3JzEcd244

        But here it is completely tangential, not even a degree. It will reject the water. And the people above mean more adequate angles and still ricochets.
    2. +2
      18 May 2021 18: 36
      Quote: Dmitry Vladimirovich
      Previously, it was "smiling" that 406 mm in "boats", ricochets from 20 mm of boiler iron

      Oh yes ... ricochets of 16 BBs of Colorado GC from “Omaha” were delivered incredibly at first, but exactly until 18 BBs “Musashi” and “Conqueror” began to ricochet from “Smolensk”. smile
    3. +2
      19 May 2021 11: 24
      Yes, there is not even the main problem in ricochets. Wargames have broken the principle of "rock-paper-scissors", that is the main problem.
      There were 3 class norms - destroyers, cruisers, battleships. At the same time, it was necessary to balance the performance characteristics so that the esmas counterattacked the LC but received from the cruisers, the cruisers broke the faces of the esms, but suffered from the battleships.
      It is clear that full realism in an arcade is not appropriate, because squadron combat is a team game by definition, and there is no team in random. Therefore, it was necessary to enable the players on the cruisers to somehow resist the battleships, and on the esms - the cruisers. Otherwise, the situation is when I was left as one of the team in the LC, and the opponent had one easy RC for him, obviously losing, which is historically true, but not very interesting in the game.
      Therefore, it was necessary to balance the performance characteristics so that the same light cruiser could emerge victorious in a battle with the LC, but it was DIFFICULT, that is, with equal experience in such a duel, the battleship master had an advantage and won.
      And they broke everything, essentially turning light cruisers into battleship hunters. As a result, the LK, instead of the main striking force, turned into "glass cannons", forced to loom in the distance so as not to get hit by land mines. That is, as a result of the introduction of the "high-explosive meta" they more or less managed to balance the playable classes, but at the cost of losing the role that these classes played in the history of the fleet. The same American KRLs, with their mortar ballistics, are of little use against EM, but they work well for LK, for example.
      And then wargaming just went nowhere - instead of somehow bringing the mechanics of the game closer to the reality of battles, they are trying to stick new classes (rebalancing aviks, submarines) with completely vague roles. And they no longer pay attention to realism, but to the statistics of victories / defeats, damage, etc.
      Why the game about ships became a game ... well, I don't know about whom.
      1. +1
        19 May 2021 13: 45
        Forgot to mention the remarkable damage system - the block (compartment) when it flies out and the damage does not pass anymore, or you can stupidly turn your nose at the torpedo and voila, survive, only the nose module flies out. It looked especially epic on destroyers)))
      2. +1
        20 May 2021 09: 58
        Quote: Andrey from Chelyabinsk
        Yes, there is not even the main problem in ricochets. Wargames have broken the principle of "rock-paper-scissors", that is the main problem.
        There were 3 class norms - destroyers, cruisers, battleships. At the same time, it was necessary to balance the performance characteristics so that the esmas counterattacked the LC but received from the cruisers, the cruisers broke the faces of the esms, but suffered from the battleships.
        It is clear that full realism in an arcade is not appropriate, because squadron combat is a team game by definition, and there is no team in random. Therefore, it was necessary to enable the players on the cruisers to somehow resist the battleships, and on the esms - the cruisers. Otherwise, the situation is when I was left as one of the team in the LC, and the opponent had one easy RC for him, obviously losing, which is historically true, but not very interesting in the game.
        Therefore, it was necessary to balance the performance characteristics so that the same light cruiser could emerge victorious in a battle with the LC, but it was DIFFICULT, that is, with equal experience in such a duel, the battleship master had an advantage and won.
        And they broke everything, essentially turning light cruisers into battleship hunters. As a result, the LK, instead of the main striking force, turned into "glass cannons", forced to loom in the distance so as not to get hit by land mines. That is, as a result of the introduction of the "high-explosive meta" they more or less managed to balance the playable classes, but at the cost of losing the role that these classes played in the history of the fleet. The same American KRLs, with their mortar ballistics, are of little use against EM, but they work well for LK, for example.
        And then wargaming just went nowhere - instead of somehow bringing the mechanics of the game closer to the reality of battles, they are trying to stick new classes (rebalancing aviks, submarines) with completely vague roles. And they no longer pay attention to realism, but to the statistics of victories / defeats, damage, etc.
        Why the game about ships became a game ... well, I don't know about whom.


        I will subscribe to your every word Andrey!

        The balance of esm KR LK from level to level is increasingly skewed and by 9-10 reaches the apotheosis of meaninglessness, the division of functions by ship classes loses its meaning and LK becomes the weakest in the game.
        When 5-6 406 land mines from a successful salvo do not shoot level 9-10 ESM into the side from 5 km - well, this is not realism.
        When the LC burns to zero like a wooden one from 125 mm "pukalki" - this is not realism, although such "incidents" have long been resolved long before the "ships" of the wargame.
        The Koreans in the Navy Field limited the burnout of ships to a maximum of 60% - but the Wargamers are not looking for beaten paths :)) By the way, the well-known Korean game also had a final BC - realistic.

        PS Smolenki, Flints and other lighters just kill the interest in the game.
        1. +1
          20 May 2021 13: 11
          Quote: Dmitry Vladimirovich
          Koreans in the Navy Field

          nostalgic for this game.
          apart from the leveling of the crew, the game was fun and balanced, especially up to 60 levels.
          however, the barely crawling boats with anti-linkor armor and the Japanese, who filled the entire map with torpedoes, were a little embarrassing. Well, learning to shoot there was not easy.
          But there was something close to balance, great customization! And the aircraft carriers were at least at low levels in the balance sheet.
          1. 0
            20 May 2021 14: 18
            Quote: yehat2
            Well, learning to shoot there was not easy.


            Exactly - I jumped off this game when, to please those who were too lazy to learn to shoot, the accuracy of automatic targeting systems (automatically taking lead and aiming) was equated to manual ones - the bastards equalized all!
            Threw everything and never came back :)
            1. +1
              20 May 2021 14: 33
              it was very difficult for me to master anti-aircraft fire
              therefore, I mainly sailed on ships that were not strong in this and on the Americans,
              where there is strong machine gun fire.
  10. +1
    18 May 2021 15: 19
    Account with fully upgraded USSR, USA and all other nations + -50% each.
    There are awards Object 289, Object 260, 907 and many others. Over a hundred tanks! Expensive! laughing
    1. 0
      19 May 2021 11: 46
      how much?)) can buy))
      1. 0
        19 May 2021 13: 33
        I will answer in a personal)
  11. +3
    18 May 2021 15: 49
    Quote: Dmitry Vladimirovich
    These are your "styles" created by geeks and are interesting for geeks.

    they are not interesting to anyone. And they still cost real money.
    If earlier in battles there were sometimes tanks with original coloring and inscriptions, now there are none at all. But you can paint the trunk or roof with plain paint.
    This is such a progress in customization.
    before I sometimes rode a kv-2 with forest camouflage, 3 stars on the barrel and the inscription "Yeisk collective farmer" and it was funny, the teammates had fun, now there is a meaningless white endless "camouflage" and there is no fun.
    And there was no historicity, except for the similarity of the outline.
    1. 0
      18 May 2021 23: 03
      Quote: yehat2
      3 stars on the barrel

      Cool. Not a single tank pulled more than 2 stars. However, I did not skate on KV 2. I prefer pt and st to my liking.
      1. +1
        19 May 2021 09: 28
        I and Oi with 65% of victories, but there could not be 3 marks.
        vk3601n, tiger131, m6, arl44 with 3 marks
        I love heavy level 6.
  12. +4
    18 May 2021 16: 00
    It's not the first time I've seen an article about this toy here. Is this paid advertising? If so, why isn't the article tagged as such?
    1. -1
      18 May 2021 17: 09
      Quote: Devyatomayets
      It's not the first time I've seen an article about this toy here. Is this paid advertising? If so, why isn't the article tagged as such?

      Well, we have the same "shvobodka" recourse although this site was positioned as a military review, but where does the computer games?
      1. 0
        18 May 2021 17: 32
        I have nothing against advertising, but when it is openly announced that we have advertising in front of us.
      2. +1
        18 May 2021 22: 34
        And on what chichi will the site owner buy a new bentley for himself if he refuses advertising? This site is not primarily for you to be interested, but for the owner to earn money.
        1. -1
          23 May 2021 15: 59
          Quote: IS-80_RVGK2
          And on what chichi will the site owner buy a new bentley for himself if he refuses advertising? This site is not primarily for you to be interested, but for the owner to earn money.

          Why is that?
          1. 0
            23 May 2021 16: 43
            Since we have capitalism.
      3. 0
        23 May 2021 15: 29
        Quote: Usher
        what does computer games have to do with it

        now 90% of training of technicians takes place on simulators.
  13. 0
    18 May 2021 16: 40
    I also like to play WoT. But I find 2 things unbearable: 1) fantasy tanks 2) it is impossible to go behind the tank in order to shoot at the engine and not destroy it
    1. +1
      18 May 2021 18: 37
      Quote: Decimalegio
      I also like to play WoT. But I find 2 things unbearable:

      Racists and blacks Players and equipment. smile
      1. 0
        21 May 2021 15: 00
        I am enraged by the frank dibilization of players.
        sometimes you look like the whole team, like a chicken farm, goes to the first place for slaughter and you just want to go out. Artoo is completely ignored. Only they swear more in the chat, but they don't want to do at least something so that they don't get hit.
        In the last battle with art I shot all the ammunition at one point. Got a master and a bunch of medals ... PPC negative
        after that, the desire to beat cretins disappeared.
  14. +1
    18 May 2021 17: 00
    They will do everything to get the money out of the players, they will invent another 600 tanks so that the flow of money does not stop, but about the "historicity" - do not tell my sneakers. That's the whole story.
  15. -1
    18 May 2021 17: 08
    How tired of this enchanting nonsense from the "developers". Admins to you that the military-industrial complex news is not enough and you advertise this feces?
  16. +1
    18 May 2021 18: 26
    LLC Wargaming no longer hesitates to pay for advertising articles on VO under the guise of ... what? Yes, simply, without steaming - under the guise of advertising articles with pictures. Why invent something. And then Bekmambetov in all seriousness claims that modern third-graders can fly better than Devyatayev.
  17. +1
    18 May 2021 19: 09
    The last adequate year in tanks was probably 2018. Frontline 19 was also playable. The game resembles something mortally ill. Don't bullet 50 kallibra blow your head. And something slow and unforgiving. Like cancer. Undermines the game. One by one, organ after organ is denied. A once good idea turns into a half-corpse, studded with needles and pipes, lying on a forgotten bed. But in 15, not only was it interesting to play. So he also told / showed a lot of things to his son in the game.
    1. 0
      21 May 2021 15: 02
      Quote: garri-lin
      The last adequate year in tanks was probably 2018.

      for the fight with fast cars, the work of the grid is critical, not all of them have it fast.
      And with chariots in general game. The average player is simply powerless.
      1. 0
        21 May 2021 17: 35
        It's not about the net or the hardware of the players. The point is in the inadequate balance of the game. And the developers have no logic. Art. Wheelers. Non-penetration. Controlled precision. The difference in gameplay between the players who invest and the players who do not. Elementary reluctance to change illogical places on the maps. The same LF. Everlasting area B. It is enough to make one of the buildings destructible, the game will change. Well, prohibit changing the landing zone before taking the first line. But it doesn't reach the developers.
        1. 0
          23 May 2021 15: 20
          just the logic of the developers is iron.
          they do not have the goals that you put into your ideas.
          Well, the level of professionalism in many moments causes disgust.
          1. 0
            23 May 2021 16: 25
            Don't they want my money? I haven't invested a penny for two years now. Another 5 friends are about the same. Golda + prem + tanks + New Year's boxes. He invested a lot a year. And the sidekick is about the same. We thanked the game for a pleasant evening rest. Now shish. They walk through the forest. Belarusian.
            1. 0
              23 May 2021 22: 45
              I don't know what the WG is doing. They could develop tanks in such a way that there would be no one equal.
              And now there are several projects that are fighting on equal terms with them for the audience.
              I myself have reduced my participation in the project to 1 fight per month or even less often.
              most likely, the policy of petty management affected - they wanted to extract the cache from the project here and now and did not begin to develop it further.
              What is happening at this time is the constant changes of candy wrappers, and pepper and other dubious ingredients began to be added to the candy itself.
              1. 0
                23 May 2021 23: 37
                Pepper? I'm afraid it's not pepper. Perhaps it was once. Now there is no. It's a shame. It was a good game. We'll have to wait for the second STALKER to come out.
                1. 0
                  24 May 2021 07: 58
                  release a rover on a tank in Chernobyl)))
                  1. 0
                    24 May 2021 09: 37
                    Iododels did not do that with the first Stalker.
  18. +1
    18 May 2021 20: 45
    Why is it here?
  19. +2
    18 May 2021 22: 24
    The game became quite dull. The mechanics are disfigured with each update, so that the eye twitches from such fun. The premachines turn into pumpkins so trashy that you begin to regret that Lukashenka did not shoot them all there in his time. The impression is that there are now only gypsies in the managers. Only they can be so impudent to breed for loot. laughing Sadness. And I reached almost 52 percent of victories on a relaxed basis. But then the gypsy management apparently decided that I was completely cut off playing for 10 years for free. And it started. In general, I did not work out as an extra. laughing
    1. +1
      21 May 2021 15: 08
      Quote: IS-80_RVGK2
      in general, the extra did not work out of me.

      You can fill 60 percent playfully.
      you take something like t67 or Chi-ha and go.
      At one time, even before the apa VK3001r, I worked wonders on it, even countering a successfully uncut helcat - just a crazy machine.
      but the easiest way is probably to fill the PP on the LT with good eyesight, speed and a gun. for example, ray, superchafi or type-64.
      1. 0
        21 May 2021 17: 32
        Quote: yehat2
        You can fill 60 percent playfully.
        you take something like t67

        I will not finish. And without donation in a random house, he does not ride very well. Here, be at least a super fighter, but you won't be able to pull out the battle when half the team will merge in a couple of minutes and there will be continuous nipples and ricochet missiles. And besides, I ride what I like, and these are often not the most nagging tanks and without mods.
        1. 0
          23 May 2021 15: 26
          mods and plums strongly affect the course of the battle, but a sufficiently mobile machine, capable of shooting well from a distance and skillfully controlled, often neutralizes the problems. A typical representative of such machines is helcat, t67, t25 and others.
          There are other extremes too - very tough ones. Before the damage was cut to art, I could turn the course of the battle on it, but the damage per LT dropped 3-4 times, art ceased to be independent.
          If you like the car, you probably have something for it? I periodically gave enchanting battles on the KV-2, for example - I have on it a bun, and a radlik, and much more.
  20. +1
    19 May 2021 01: 39
    I read the article and comments. What the hell !!! Are we seriously going to discuss cartoons?
    1. 0
      20 May 2021 16: 50
      Cartoons are cartoons, but in the era of robotic complexes and other UAVs, they seem to be not cartoons, but the development of optimal interfaces for team interaction and lighting of the situation. What do we have with the Common Information Space?
      1. 0
        23 May 2021 15: 28
        Quote: Tavrik
        What do we have with the Common Information Space?

        What's the point in a single space, if on the battlefield each soldier does not give a shit about the other?
        Until there is a single desire to achieve something, all interfaces and technology are useless.
  21. 0
    24 May 2021 22: 56
    Some kind of addiction .. styles, description of styles. The developers are raving, in my opinion.
    It would be better to spend this money on the development of gameplay innovations (mixing, lighting system, bushes - it already looks ridiculous in 21), maps, and so on. The game turned into collecting candy wrappers. I won't say anything about paper tanks and gypsy branches of development, it's not even funny myself.

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