Interview with Dimitryi “Overlord” Yudo

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Source: http://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=114265&site=wot

Thanks to Chiobits for this one.

Hello everyone,

recently, there was an article on one Korean website (link above) with the interview with Dmitryi “Overlord” Yudo about WoT Blitz. For those who do not remember, Overlord was a World of Tanks developer in the EU office (real developer, not the PR clowns that sit there today), who ran a QA thread on EU forums the way the Russians had it (it is not an overstatement to say that he is one of the top three people who ever influenced the creation and attitude of FTR, in a good way that is). In mid 2012 or so, he left WoT to work on WoT Blitz, where he works until today.

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Anyway, to the interview. Since I can’t speak Korean, I got only an excerpt at my disposal, which I can’t verify, but I think it’s interesting nonetheless.

- development of WoT Blitz started as early as 2012
- the team started with 30 people, it grew to 60
- WoT Blitz started with the acquisition of the team Dava, who then developed a native engine for WoTB
- e-sports for WoTB will not be added for now, it’s too early
- android version: “as soon as possible” (to launch in 2014)
- new patch every one to two months
- new nations will be added
- clans and crew skills until the end of the year
- no arty in WOT Blitz
- the game is popular in the USA, USA makes 20 percent of the game downloads
- the positive reaction in Asia surprised Wargaming
- iOS and Android will use the same server, both platforms can play together

36 thoughts on “Interview with Dimitryi “Overlord” Yudo”

      • Look again SS, its certainly not a visual bug.

        Those panels on the frontal side? They are not part of the damage model for Soviet tanks.
        The side armor of 113 is based of the WZ-111, which in turn copies the diamon shape of the IS-3 and IS-8.

        In game it is flat armor, not diamond shaped SS. That is an error. The frontal side panels should be SPACED armor, not normal armor too…

          • How can it be a visual bug, if the entire side armor is CERTAINLY messed up.
            The 113 is DIAMOND shaped side hull, like the WZ-111, like the IS-3, like the IS-8.

            You see, those fronts are not hit zones on Soviet tanks.
            The 113 is based of a changed (strenghtened) WZ-111 chassis. The WZ-111 uses diamond shaped side armor like the IS-3 and IS-8.
            In game, the model (when destroyed) clearly shows that the 113 uses a spaced plate and a diamond shaped back panel (actual hull) like the IS-8 and IS-3. Yet the hitzone model actually does not have it modeled as a diamon, rather a flat plate.
            This is the difference between 500mm effective armor or bouncing/absorbing shots when shot there AND being able to side scrape… and being ALWAYS penetrated there from 120 pen tanks. The IS-3 and IS-8 and WZ-111 ignore such petty pen tanks.

            The frontal armor’s bug is that the extension of those side plates (30mm thick in sidem maybe 120 in front?) are counted as a hit zone and when penetrated lose HP to the tank… yet they should clearly be spaced armor or at least not damage the tank.
            It is so on Object 704, IS-8, IS-3, Is-7 etc.

            It is not a visual bug when it affects the tank’s performance.

            • Dude, even if it is a problem with the tank’s armor model, there are some things you have to consider:
              1. Looking at the visual model, the “diamond” corners you’re talking about are about 30% as angled as those on the IS-7, which you compare it to.
              2. You can’t even compare the IS-7 to the 113 in this way… the 133 was a Chinese departure from Soviet variants, not being based on Soviet tanks, unlike the WZ 111 Model 1-4. This is also the case for the 121.
              3. Effective armor value increases exponentially, and those plates are not sloped enough relative to the UFP to even make a difference in the tier 10 arena.
              4. Because the 113 does not have a piked nose like the IS family’s later tanks, the effective frontal hull armor is most advantageous when the hull is angled, a maneuver which would weaken the later IS pikes.
              5. Similar to the way the IS pike fronts are weakened when the hull is angled, if the proposed changes you’re incessantly b*tching about (yes, I’ve seen your complaints before, everywhere) WERE implemented, those angled plates would function like the pike, and be facing towards oncoming tanks in the angled position. (The Fedinand, Tiger P, and to a lesser extent, the GW Tiger P suffer from this also, with their Octagonal fronts providing a well-known weakspot if they ever were to angle.)

              So if you want your frontal armor nerfed, keep up with this pointless crusade.

              Also, this has nothing to do with WoT Blitz. What the hell is this kind of BS even doing in these comments?

              • Is it a mistake? Yes. Does it impact the already sub par 113? Yes.
                Therefor, fix it. Fix it before you fix small errors on almost perfect models.

                1. So? Same as WZ-111, ergo they can still bounce.
                2. What does this have to do with what I am saying? No, really mate :P.
                3. Actually, they do. Get a WZ-111 (where it seems to be correct) and try it out.
                4. So?
                5. I dont think you understand game mechanics here…
                Changing armor to spaced armor is a buff. It lower possible frontal penetration spots and DOES NOT negatively impact sloping… hell it probably will help it.
                What you are saying makes no sense… its BS.

                These fixes will improve 113 armor, frontal and side armor. And the Tier 10 tank needs it.

                WoT Blitz will have Chinese tech tree. Here is what it has to do with it.

                • You’re missing the point. This IS a small error on an already perfect model.
                  In addition, your rebuttal to my fifth point is ridiculous. If the corners of the frontal armor were angled away, it does adversely affect angling. The armor from directly in front would get better, but that corner closest to the enemy is LESS ANGLED than the rest of the UFP, creating a weakspot that did not previously exist. And to the effect of the spaced armor, those areas on “correct” vehicles are (not including the spaced armor) are significantly weaker, and if you include the spaced armor it gets worse! The spaced armor will be about 30mm like on the WZ-111 (assuming of course, you’re right in the first place) which is so weak, the only real mechanics it will affect is HE/HESH impacts and shell normalization.
                  And that’s the kicker. I don’t know if you’re aware, but the WoT shell mechanics normalize incoming AP and APCR shell trajectories by 2 degrees for each plate of armor they pass through. Adding this useless spaced armor will provide minimal buffing to HE resistance, but also provide an additional 2 degree buffer for incoming AP and APCR shells.

                  Additionally, WG has already stated that WoT blitz will gain one new tech tree each 6 months, and if I remember correctly, apart from Japan, the Chinese tree was the most recent. There’s already the USSR, USA, and German trees. In 6 months, we’ll see the French tree. In a year, the British. You’re talking about the mechanics of a useless 1-square meter area on a lackluster tank that won’t even exist for 18 months… in a game where nobody aims anyway (they don’t WoT Blitz might as well be called WoT Point-and-shoot……. and you’re fanatical about it. I see your stupid raging posts everywhere on this site and rife within the comments you make on other WoT related things.

                  IF IT WERE IMPORTANT, WG WOULD AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

                  You’re giving yourself gray hair over this crap.
                  Let it go, man. It’s not worth it.

                • After a cursory swipe over your Google+ (I clicked on your name here, inb4 “you crazy stalker”)

                  Alexander Yordanov commented on a video on YouTube.
                  Foch! What do you think of these bugs in 113 armor:
                  http://forum.worldoftanks.eu/index.php?/topic/378946-113-and-112-armor-bug/

                  Alexander Yordanov commented on a video on YouTube.
                  113 is a decent tank :)
                  WG must fix the frontal plates side part though

                  Alexander Yordanov commented on a video on YouTube.
                  You should do the 121 and 113. They need a buff.

                  Alexander Yordanov commented on a channel on YouTube.
                  Foch can you tell me where you get the armor model pictures from? Like for an example the 113 review.

                  Alexander Yordanov commented on a video on YouTube.
                  Not to be a spoil sport Jingles :P , but it is the same thing as when you looked at the 113 in the Test Server. I suggest you use WoT Tank Viewer for Armour :) .

                  And this doesn’t include the rants on this page, which don’t have a convenient way to search for your comments. Some of these date back over a year. If this doesn’t remind anyone of a Jehovah’s Witness going door to door looking for support, I don’t know what does.

                • Listen mate, it DOES matter and I am 100% certain that when the 113 goes HD it will be fixed.
                  Because it does affect performance.

                  However, it does NOT negatively affect the tank.
                  Please, read the thread again.
                  It will not negatively affect the tank.

                  The changes are simple:
                  Frontal side plate is now not part of the damage model. Less are that can frontally damage the tank. It is 120mm spaced armor.
                  Side plate currently is 90mm FLAT + 30mm SPACED.
                  After change it will be 90mm Diamond shaped armor + 30mm Spaced. Result is similar side armor to IS-8.

                  And no, WG are lazy. Fact. It is just what it is.
                  Chinese tanks are low priority. Because of stupid players, but fact.
                  I am just doing what little I can. If it were a popular tank, it would have been fixed by now… And some people (like SS in this case) dont even try to understand the problem, just ask someone that probably himself does not know of it or is drunk now and makes up his mind instead of thinking.
                  Also, who the fuck are Jehova’s witnesses :O ?

          • is not visual, is on the actual model hitbox, anyone can actually check this with tank inspector or any other model viewer.

  2. “no arty in WOT Blitz” Great, now we have a place where all those whiners can go.

  4. “he left WoT to work on WoT Blitz, where he works until today.”

    Not quite. Overlord left WoT to WoWP and later from WoWP to to WoT Blitz.

  6. - no arty in WOT Blitz
    ——————–
    Woras can moove to Blitz version of WOT at least for the sake of saving space on FTR server about arty whine ;)

  8. some more translation which could be interesting.

    Q. the tanks which are introduced in PC could not be introduced in Blitz?
    A. as you know, no arty. So that no high tier light tank either. furthermore French clip tanks are hard to be introduced this moment as in balance problem. but we let the possibility for the French tanks in the future after the re-balance altogether.

    else, everything you should know is mentioned above.
    good job and thanks SS. now this is the time for me to buy a tablet.

  9. overlord? a teenager?
    lol

    what he has 2 years experience developing mobile apps and he can read & write?

  10. I wonder why he left WoT for WoTB……..personal reasons? He hates the EU devs? We now know the man we can trust for WoTB

  11. “- new patch every one to two months
    - new nations will be added”

    Is there any info about the required disk space? Or is it the way it is with WoT XBox 360, where you have to delete a DLC or two to make room for every new patch?
    Will my cellphone require an external 120GB hard drive? That’s the quiestion :)

  12. “Suprising reaction from asians”? well considering there’s aplenty of iPads round from *ahem*12yroldkids*ahem*….but the controls are more ideal for console shooters(fagets). PC-shooter-me can’t handle it too much rly. i prefer a memory overload from minecraft than any console-shooter-styled games in fact. more beneficial.

  14. Q: Difference btw WoT:Blitz and WoT PC
    A: First, We wanted to transfer existing PC version users into mobile, Second, we considered new starter who meet us from mobile. Also we are focusing to show distinctive gameplay in action than PC ver. We removed Arty so that the BLITZ(as in, pure tank battle) is focused. And we removed Barracks system in order to users can approach easily.But we also tried not to lose WOT’s characteristic detail.

    Q: As you service the game in global, do you have any play to show user’s nationality ?
    A: The idea is very interesting. We should have a meeting about it (Laugh). But as I said earlier Blitz is in refining and growing stage, that would not be a priority. The priority thing is providing easy approach to users.

    Q: Update period?
    A: We hope patchs would be comming in one or two month period. But, we can’t assure it because we have to make translations into 15 languages and we also have to wait for Appstore screening every patch.

    Q: Clan Wars in WG common account?
    A: CW for Blitz is totally different to PC ver. So they are seperated. PC ver. CW must have clan members joined simultaneously. But for mobile environment, realization that situation is not easy. So we are planning Blitz’s CW will be played solo and anytime.

    Q: Any missing tanks in WoT:Blitz which is in WOT?
    A: As you know, Arty is removed. so higher light tanks is not considered, too. Also, french autoloader heavies are considered hard to balance , so they will be missed. But after we manage to balance everything, we are opening possibilities of implement.

    Q: Any plans about easy communication like Voice chat of PC ver.?
    A: We will supplement the Quickcommand which is located in lower space of screen. And we are developing voice chatting features, also.