World of tanks
Genre – MMO Publisher – Wargaming.net Release date – TBC ( currently closed Beta ) Info - http://game.worldoftanks.com/about Author – Lasher
Introduction
World of Tanks is a team-based MMO shooter where up to 60 players take control of World War 2 era tanks. Currently on offer are Tanks from the German and soviet Union forces with American Tanks being released shortly.
Hows it play?
Gameplay requires teamwork and strategy. Its an odd combination of skills required as having played MMORPG's for many years this requires additional skills. Smallers fast paced battles are the norm at the present stage of beta testing although some battles have resulted in some very interesting cat and mouse battles between similarly ranked Tanks.
Lets delve more into the actual matches themselves before moving onto the other elements of the game.
WoT allows you to take control of you very own Tank, you compete in teams made up of up to thirty players a side. Goals are to destroy the opposing force or capture their flag zone. Entering the opponents flag zone begins a timer to 100, upon which victory is achieved whether the opposing force has been destroyed or not.
Beta testing is quite an interesting experience, as expected from a game in its infancy and being a MMO, your team can be made up of all sorts of personalities that may not make for a structured battle. Don’t let this put you off though. Clans are being formed on the forums as expected, friendships are being forged by like-minded players and game-play is improving all the time.
As you enter a battle you tank is matched against other similar tiered tanks automatically. Entering the randomly picked map you will see your oppositions tanks and rank, from then its a quick decision making process as the counter counts down from thirty and all hell lets loose. Well let me rephrase that... Tanks are not renowned for their quick off the mark pace, this isn’t exactly Need for speed!
Tactics
The larger your Tank the slower it will become. This is where tactics come into play, your lighter tanks screech off and go scouting, finding targets for your big guns, as changing direction in a larger tank is like waiting for pay day to come round.
The map terrain and setting plays a huge part in tactics, elevated positions provide a better view of the battlefield but also make you a prime target. Tanks can hide from others behind buildings or in forests ready for your enemies to come into view before attacking them, with I may add from my experience, varying degrees of success. Many a time I’ve been stealthy secreted away behind a building only to see a heavy tank lumber into view turret squarely aimed at me. This usually results in a one shot kill but, as historically accurate, ricochets sometimes occur and you live to turn tail and run for the hills.
As you will see from some of the screenshots, Tanks come in all different shapes,sizes. There are light,medium and heavy tanks, Artillery and Tank destroyers. All have their roles to play and used effectively your team can present a formidable threat. Used unwisely and its game over. The heavy tanks can be swarmed by lighter tanks, Artillery units have armour made from what appears to be no better than bubble wrap and light tanks require strength in numbers.
Wargaming have given us tanks historically accurate in detail and handling. Tanks may be upgraded with new parts ( modules ) and crew members as you progress through the game, earning experience and credits ( Gold )
Every element of your tank can be upgraded – Suspension, Radio, turrets, Cannons, the list goes on. For those of you familiar with world of warcraft, imagine trying to get your epic armour.
This game requires a lot of dedication as the learning curve is steep. I've been playing for some time now and still learning. Don’t mistake this for being a game requiring you to lock your self away in a darkened room for days on end to enjoy though. The ease of gameplay is such that if you fancy a quick blast you can do so.
Quick conclusion
World of Tanks does appear to have an area all of its own in the MMO market, simulation, strategy and Role playing in a subtle blend with nice rich visuals. Oh and best of all ... its going to be Free to Play. A Tank, all of your own for free!
Development and patches are plentiful at the moment so expect news almost weekly, exciting moves are afoot with Clan battles coming on-line when open beta launches, new maps and a rumour of infantry being introduced.
Servers are struggling to cope with demand at peak times with random disconnects becoming a little disconcerting, I am quietly confident this issue will pass though.
I will keep this review updated as the closed beta progress.
Uploading some gameplay videos shortly.
Any questions feel free to ask.
Genre – MMO Publisher – Wargaming.net Release date – TBC ( currently closed Beta ) Info - http://game.worldoftanks.com/about Author – Lasher
Introduction
World of Tanks is a team-based MMO shooter where up to 60 players take control of World War 2 era tanks. Currently on offer are Tanks from the German and soviet Union forces with American Tanks being released shortly.
Hows it play?
Gameplay requires teamwork and strategy. Its an odd combination of skills required as having played MMORPG's for many years this requires additional skills. Smallers fast paced battles are the norm at the present stage of beta testing although some battles have resulted in some very interesting cat and mouse battles between similarly ranked Tanks.
Lets delve more into the actual matches themselves before moving onto the other elements of the game.
WoT allows you to take control of you very own Tank, you compete in teams made up of up to thirty players a side. Goals are to destroy the opposing force or capture their flag zone. Entering the opponents flag zone begins a timer to 100, upon which victory is achieved whether the opposing force has been destroyed or not.
Beta testing is quite an interesting experience, as expected from a game in its infancy and being a MMO, your team can be made up of all sorts of personalities that may not make for a structured battle. Don’t let this put you off though. Clans are being formed on the forums as expected, friendships are being forged by like-minded players and game-play is improving all the time.
As you enter a battle you tank is matched against other similar tiered tanks automatically. Entering the randomly picked map you will see your oppositions tanks and rank, from then its a quick decision making process as the counter counts down from thirty and all hell lets loose. Well let me rephrase that... Tanks are not renowned for their quick off the mark pace, this isn’t exactly Need for speed!
Tactics
The larger your Tank the slower it will become. This is where tactics come into play, your lighter tanks screech off and go scouting, finding targets for your big guns, as changing direction in a larger tank is like waiting for pay day to come round.
The map terrain and setting plays a huge part in tactics, elevated positions provide a better view of the battlefield but also make you a prime target. Tanks can hide from others behind buildings or in forests ready for your enemies to come into view before attacking them, with I may add from my experience, varying degrees of success. Many a time I’ve been stealthy secreted away behind a building only to see a heavy tank lumber into view turret squarely aimed at me. This usually results in a one shot kill but, as historically accurate, ricochets sometimes occur and you live to turn tail and run for the hills.
As you will see from some of the screenshots, Tanks come in all different shapes,sizes. There are light,medium and heavy tanks, Artillery and Tank destroyers. All have their roles to play and used effectively your team can present a formidable threat. Used unwisely and its game over. The heavy tanks can be swarmed by lighter tanks, Artillery units have armour made from what appears to be no better than bubble wrap and light tanks require strength in numbers.
Wargaming have given us tanks historically accurate in detail and handling. Tanks may be upgraded with new parts ( modules ) and crew members as you progress through the game, earning experience and credits ( Gold )
Every element of your tank can be upgraded – Suspension, Radio, turrets, Cannons, the list goes on. For those of you familiar with world of warcraft, imagine trying to get your epic armour.
This game requires a lot of dedication as the learning curve is steep. I've been playing for some time now and still learning. Don’t mistake this for being a game requiring you to lock your self away in a darkened room for days on end to enjoy though. The ease of gameplay is such that if you fancy a quick blast you can do so.
Quick conclusion
World of Tanks does appear to have an area all of its own in the MMO market, simulation, strategy and Role playing in a subtle blend with nice rich visuals. Oh and best of all ... its going to be Free to Play. A Tank, all of your own for free!
Development and patches are plentiful at the moment so expect news almost weekly, exciting moves are afoot with Clan battles coming on-line when open beta launches, new maps and a rumour of infantry being introduced.
Servers are struggling to cope with demand at peak times with random disconnects becoming a little disconcerting, I am quietly confident this issue will pass though.
I will keep this review updated as the closed beta progress.
Uploading some gameplay videos shortly.
Any questions feel free to ask.
