[PAX Prime 2012] Wargaming.net

Ghostbear · 09-16-2012, 07:06 PM

During PAX, I had the fortune to sit down with some of the folks from Wargaming.net. We talked about three titles; World of Warplanes, World of Tanks: Generals, and World of Tanks. What did I see? Let's find out.

First up are the changes to World of Tanks. As some of you likely know, they just added physics to the title. This changes parts of the game fundamentally. No more getting stuck on bridges behind dead allies, or live ones for that matter! This also makes ramming a much more interesting attack than it once was. The bigger and heavier a tank, the more likely you are knock your opponents out of the way, even pushing them off bridges and cliffs. Emblem customization has been implemented as well, allowing more personalization of your tanks.

The next thing I got to see was World of Tanks: Generals. This is the browser based CCG that is set in the universe of WoT. Your objective is to destroy your enemy's base. All of the vehicles you are used to seeing in WoT are represented in card form here. So a light tank card can move across the grid faster, but can take far less damage than it's bigger brethren. In addition to having vehicle cards, you have Orders, these can cause damage, heal your tanks or even move your vehicles around the battlefield; completing some of these orders will net your side bonuses. The art for these cards is gorgeous, which is always a huge bonus for me in any CCG. Generals will use the same account as Wot, so if you have an account there, you're already set. The release date hasn't been announce, but I am ready to play this as soon as I can.

The last thing I got to see was World of Warplanes, and this takes me back to games like Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe and Aces of the Pacific. These were two of my favorite games growing up and it's good to see something similar return. Like WoT, the aircraft are based on their real world counterparts, with plenty of experimental and production aircraft on display. Unlike some other flight sims, a joystick isn't required. The mouse/keyboard controls were intuitive and felt good. You can even play with just the mouse if you're so inclined. For my own part though, I'll be rocking a joystick, if only because that's how I prefer to control my planes in games. You really can't go wrong with any control scheme.

In WoT, you can win by either destroying the entire enemy team or capturing their base. You can imagine that capturing a base with aircraft is... problematic. Instead, you'll need to attack ground targets, once these are destroyed you win. It's not always going to be a stationary building waiting for you to blow it up. I saw targets that were on the move, making a victory by this method a bit more difficult.

Everything I saw looked great and I can't wait to dive into Generals and Warplanes when they release later this year.

Lekon · 09-16-2012, 07:36 PM

As a follow up, I was able to swing by Wargaming.net's place after GB. The Physics patch also stops people from hanging off the ledge/hanging on the side of a steep cliff and sniping, as now... they'll just fall off of it and land in a flaming wreck of mangled hopes and dreams.

World of Warplanes was up for play at the show, and I had a chance to give it a shot. I admit, I'm not the best at flying games, but there was just something awesome about buzzing around and the ratata noises that the guns made. Early state or not, World of Warplanes was a mess of fun, chaotic, hectic, much more fast paced than WoT, and a great addition to Wargaming's library.

I too am super eager for the new physics patch and card game.

Vandabo · 09-17-2012, 01:24 PM

All this looks sweet. I've been playing World of Tanks on and off since it was in beta. I'll have to try it out again to see the new physics in play.

Warplanes looks pretty awesome too. Most of the first computer games I played as a kid were flight sims like Aces of the Pacific and Red Baron; that genre is still one of my favorites and I always like to see new entries.

Ghostbear · 09-17-2012, 01:28 PM

I think you're in for a treat then. This very much had an Aces of the Pacific feel to it.

Wasson_ · 09-19-2012, 01:24 PM

awesome stuff ghost! WoT with physics looks awesome in action.

CES · 09-20-2012, 03:24 AM

I've been in the test program for WoWP for a few months now and it's really coming together nicely. The three main control schemes (controller, joystick and mouse/KB) all work really well now and the aircraft are great fun to throw around the sky, except for the Tier X aircraft which, being the first jet aircraft ever made are exactly how you would expect them to be: insanely fast and they turn like a bus but they're the only aircraft in the game that can escape a dogfight by pure speed.

Wasson_ · 09-21-2012, 05:43 PM

There aren't P-38s in the game? Those should have been able to outrun contemporary fighters even in a shallow climb. but I do realize the semi-sim nature of the game...

09-16-2012, 07:06 PM	#1
Ghostbear Mechwarrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Solaris VII Posts: 6,508	[PAX Prime 2012] Wargaming.net During PAX, I had the fortune to sit down with some of the folks from Wargaming.net. We talked about three titles; World of Warplanes, World of Tanks: Generals, and World of Tanks. What did I see? Let's find out. First up are the changes to World of Tanks. As some of you likely know, they just added physics to the title. This changes parts of the game fundamentally. No more getting stuck on bridges behind dead allies, or live ones for that matter! This also makes ramming a much more interesting attack than it once was. The bigger and heavier a tank, the more likely you are knock your opponents out of the way, even pushing them off bridges and cliffs. Emblem customization has been implemented as well, allowing more personalization of your tanks. The next thing I got to see was World of Tanks: Generals. This is the browser based CCG that is set in the universe of WoT. Your objective is to destroy your enemy's base. All of the vehicles you are used to seeing in WoT are represented in card form here. So a light tank card can move across the grid faster, but can take far less damage than it's bigger brethren. In addition to having vehicle cards, you have Orders, these can cause damage, heal your tanks or even move your vehicles around the battlefield; completing some of these orders will net your side bonuses. The art for these cards is gorgeous, which is always a huge bonus for me in any CCG. Generals will use the same account as Wot, so if you have an account there, you're already set. The release date hasn't been announce, but I am ready to play this as soon as I can. The last thing I got to see was World of Warplanes, and this takes me back to games like Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe and Aces of the Pacific. These were two of my favorite games growing up and it's good to see something similar return. Like WoT, the aircraft are based on their real world counterparts, with plenty of experimental and production aircraft on display. Unlike some other flight sims, a joystick isn't required. The mouse/keyboard controls were intuitive and felt good. You can even play with just the mouse if you're so inclined. For my own part though, I'll be rocking a joystick, if only because that's how I prefer to control my planes in games. You really can't go wrong with any control scheme. In WoT, you can win by either destroying the entire enemy team or capturing their base. You can imagine that capturing a base with aircraft is... problematic. Instead, you'll need to attack ground targets, once these are destroyed you win. It's not always going to be a stationary building waiting for you to blow it up. I saw targets that were on the move, making a victory by this method a bit more difficult. Everything I saw looked great and I can't wait to dive into Generals and Warplanes when they release later this year.

09-16-2012, 07:36 PM	#2
Lekon Indie Prophet Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,622	As a follow up, I was able to swing by Wargaming.net's place after GB. The Physics patch also stops people from hanging off the ledge/hanging on the side of a steep cliff and sniping, as now... they'll just fall off of it and land in a flaming wreck of mangled hopes and dreams. World of Warplanes was up for play at the show, and I had a chance to give it a shot. I admit, I'm not the best at flying games, but there was just something awesome about buzzing around and the ratata noises that the guns made. Early state or not, World of Warplanes was a mess of fun, chaotic, hectic, much more fast paced than WoT, and a great addition to Wargaming's library. I too am super eager for the new physics patch and card game. __________________ Gamertag Twitter

09-19-2012, 01:24 PM	#5
Wasson_ The Last Starfighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: AREA 88 Posts: 3,788	awesome stuff ghost! WoT with physics looks awesome in action. __________________ THE RUSSIANS SENT A TANK TO THE MOON! -O. Urungus

09-21-2012, 05:43 PM	#7
Wasson_ The Last Starfighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: AREA 88 Posts: 3,788	There aren't P-38s in the game? Those should have been able to outrun contemporary fighters even in a shallow climb. but I do realize the semi-sim nature of the game... __________________ THE RUSSIANS SENT A TANK TO THE MOON! -O. Urungus Last edited by Wasson_; 09-21-2012 at 05:47 PM.

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09-20-2012, 03:24 AM	#6
CES Colonist Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,704	I've been in the test program for WoWP for a few months now and it's really coming together nicely. The three main control schemes (controller, joystick and mouse/KB) all work really well now and the aircraft are great fun to throw around the sky, except for the Tier X aircraft which, being the first jet aircraft ever made are exactly how you would expect them to be: insanely fast and they turn like a bus but they're the only aircraft in the game that can escape a dogfight by pure speed.