Hello everyone,
if you are following the various World of Tanks events and news, you already know that in September, we (EU), ASIA and Russian server (and of course presumably the US server as well, although that was not confirmed yet) will get a chance to recieve the KV-220 and Type 62 tanks “for free” – well, not exactly for free of course – in order to get it, you will have to perform series of gruelling missions, that – unless you are a very good player – do require you to play for some time.
And that’s fine. You invest either money or time, that’s how it works and it gives a chance for players without money to get either of these tanks. Or both, if you apart from money lack also any social life. It’s a good thing (of course, considering it most likely originated on Russian server – it’s not like our own WG EU “specialists” would invent such a thing).
In any case, there is one aspect that bothers me a bit about the entire event: the presence of the KV-220. Let me explain.
As of now, the KV-220 is not an uncommon vehicle – not much played though, because it’s not very “noob friendly” – it’s a juggernaut when played right thanks to its massive hull armor, but the turret isn’t that good, the gun sucks and the mobility is poor, it’s generally not a very newbie-friendly tanks and many people (like me) are driven off by its sluggishness. In any case, there was however a time (last year) when there was no KV-220 on EU (or US) server, it was originally a RU server exclusive tank (there was some moaning on RU server connected to the fact the tank is given out to other servers, just like the EU/US moaned that the Russians can buy Panzer IV/V, beta Sherman or the M6A2E1 “Alien” in their shop – or at least they could until not so long ago).
KV-220 was first introduced to US and EU server in late November 2013 (the post got amended on 3.12.2013, hence the later date), when an event called “Collector’s Edition” was announced – the event itself ran from 29.11. to 6.12. During this event, the players could buy the KV-220 as a part of “Collector’s Delight” for 49.99 Euro (it came with additional stuff you had to buy if you wanted it). The vehicle came introduced with following words:
The list opens with an offer you simply cannot miss – the Collector’s Delight package! Why is it so special? Because this package contains a unique Premium tank which is rarely (if ever) seen on the EU battlefields – the Tier V Soviet heavy tank, KV-220! Originating as a gift tank on the RU server, the KV-220 made almost no appearances on other servers, which naturally makes it a very rare and valuable addition to anyone’s tank collection! If you go for this package, then besides this heavy metal gem you will also get a garage slot, a month of premium account and an impressive 10,500 Gold! Grab it while it lasts!
As you can see, there is not a single word on exclusivity or that the vehicle is a one-time only offer (and yes, I checked, they didn’t backedit it). However, the tone of the text clearly implies this vehicle is indeed a “collector” special offer and I am sure that those, who spent 50 Euro for this “unique” tier 5 tank did not expect that a few months later, every Dick and Harry would have one. That’s how Wargaming justified the (steep) price anyway, rarity and all that.
Anyway, months passed and we got the tank same tank in the shop again during the Wargaming Anniversary. This time, for practically half the price (29.99 Euro). Again, with some sort of “ballast” in the package, gold and whatnot. Players mumbled about the alleged exclusivity but okay, 30 Euro for a tier 5 tank is still pretty steep. At this point, the tank was relatively common.
And now, only a month later, we are given the option to get this vehicle a free. I wonder how many people bought it for 30 Euro a month ago and are sorry they did that. Please note however that Wargaming never said (at least not to my knowledge) that this would be one-time offer. It was just…. implied that this tank would be very rare due to its steep price. The reality, as usual, turned out to be quite different however. The same story went for all the “unique” lowtier gift tanks (Christmas gifts for example), that got sold some time later or given out for free repeatedly.
So, what is the moral of this story?
Never, ever buy an overpriced bundle just because it offers an allegedly “exclusive” tank. You’ll get your chance to get it later for less or no money at all.
To be honest, i’m glad I have it for 30euro’s and dont have to do that insane mission. That wouldnt be possible anyway for me. I dont have so much spare time.
Ow, and beside its half slugishness/gun, its an epic tank!
Kv-3 hull and kv-1 stock turet seems legit :D
To be precise it has weaker KV-3 hull.
if i say it’s a kv-3 hull it is a kv-3 hull lel ;)
Yeah, a ‘weaker’ KV3 hull on lvl 5 and 6 only, I like that! And im used playing the churchill III so weakspots are not exactly hard to find.
It’s the same design as the KV-3 hull(longer with an extra road wheel), but the armor values are different. KV-3 is 120/90/90 mm while the KV-220 is 100/100/80 mm.
Same here. It was worth the 30 euro’s anyway, it’s a ridiculous tank. Also it means I wont be breaking my balls to get both and can focus on the easier Type 62 mission this month.
Agreed. The price of the 30€ bundle was fine. If one takes into account the value of the gold and premium time that was included in the bundle, then the tank did cost about 5€, which is the normal price for a 1500 gold tier 5 premium tank.
And boy, it was worth it. It’s surprisingly fast for a KV (good acceleration and ground resistance), and thanks to the decent aim time it is easily possible to snipe weak spots. I have absolutely no trouble with penetrating enemy KVs at their hatches.
Currently it’s my favourite tank for solopubbing. Due to the prevalence of tier 5 players the 5-6 matchmaking also seems to have far more tier 5 games than tier 6 ones.
I think people like you should still try to go for it anyways. Just to get the gold equivalence.
And again SS when will the mission for a free type 59 than come? lel
Haha, oh I wish.. :P
“Never, ever buy an overpriced bundle, just because it offers an allegedly “exclusive” tank. You’ll get your chance to get it later for less or no money at all.”
Ha.
This remind me to that small debacle on ASIA, when after offering M4A2E4 with ‘premium’ price, they also offer it in more economical price one month later. Of course i buy the cheapest one, yay for patience.
I don’t see M4A2E4 except on one occasion before that, but they a little bit more common on ASIA now.
It should be noted as well that that initial bundle was was something like $120AUD, and the later bundle was about $25AUD. Dishonest marketing much?
Yup, I fell for that exactly. $120 for an E4 as was told it’s “limited edition” – then it comes out in a pack with all other American Premiums for like $50. Then it was on it’s own for like $15.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, you actually paid money for the M4A2E4? Silly person, much better getting it for free as a closed beta tester on the NA server then transferring to SEA….which was a big mistake…transferring..
SEATards and all that…
True story, I bought it for 50€ and those faggots are giving it for sale almost every 3 months. It was on sale like week or two ago, and now they put it up as a mission reward… they truly know how to piss off their customers.
For those who already have KV220 is the mission worthless, month of hardwork for 1500golds… hell no!
+1
This is a crazy, crazy mission. Look out for bot-spam month.
This is going to be the third time theyve given away the KV-220 on the ASIA server, and theyre still using the same guff about it being rare. Considering that its been a prize a few times, was the beta tank for the server, and I believe has also appeared as part of various packages, its probably time to acknowledge that our server at least isnt really that short staffed on KV-220s.
Though you don’t see it too often on pub game, strangely.
At least KV-220 Beta test still exclusive to beta-tester.
I would be pissed off if I had one, only difference is the freaking T…if they at least gave it better cr/exp gain.
there is a wierd KV220 T aswell . killed one :D
Thats the beta tank version. Same thing, T stuck on the side of the turret. They were common in the early days of ASIA
I agree, it was offered as a special rare tank.
I bought the bundle as it offered Gold and a few other things I needed at the time, and it was a nice tank for grinding credits and new heavy crews.
The issue is that it was alluded too as being special, a tank rarely available and that the tank is (in the right hands) seriously OP, you are going to have now lots of these roaming the server and it will make life hell for tier 3-4 tanks.
As a rare tank it’s numbers were so low you only meet one once or twice a night. Imagine new players in Tier 3-4 tanks meeting them every battle?
The tier 3-4 crowd would also get to worry about the B2. That used to be very rare as well, but given its appearance in bundles has shown up fairly commonly.
As for value for money I spent £30 to get the KV-5/KV-220/Tetrarch/T1E6/B2/M3 LL. Honestly would have been happy spending £30 on the KV-5 and KV-220. Everything more is a bonus (i.e. free gold for whichever I already had.
Some of us also won the tank as part of the WG Universe event:
http://forum.worldoftanks.eu/index.php?/topic/364251-wargaming-universe-month-final-results/
Best ever contest… tanking my KV-220 since then :P
is6 and super preshing missions were easier and at least u got a tier 8 that can farm some credits…
220 and the other are for no-lifers
At least the November 2013 package was a good deal.
You got 10500 Gold, a month premium worth 2500 gold and a garage slot worth 300 gold.
So you got the KV-220 for 1200 gold only (if compared to the 14500 gold package for 50 Euro).
Other tier 5 premium tanks always available cost 1500 gold (T-25, T14, Churchill III).
You can’t call something too expensive only because it is part of a bundle of things when the other things you get are useful (gold and premium account).
Yeah, the package was ok, so I’m not too sad I bought it, even though the rarity of the tank in it isn’t what it used to. And I admit, it was a factor for me, when I bought it. Either way, I love the tank, I can’t do this mission anyway (when I play I play a lot, but I can’t play on 25 days within one month), so I don’t mind that much – the mission is way too much for a tier 5 tank anyway.
I agree with your conclusion SS
What I am constanly saying is that WG’s entire concept is BullShit here.
Russian Server gets:
-M4A2E4 (same as our reward)
-KV-220 for sale for NORMAL people
-KV-220 Tester for its BETA testers.
What the rest get:
-M4A2E4 (non tester) as the award tank
-KV-220 as something “special”
- No KV-220 tester
*and no T-44-122
What I want to see:
Russian Server:
-M4A2E4 + KV-220 for sale.
-KV-220 Tester for Beta Testers
-A new M4A2E4 for CC or other work on their server.
EU,NA, SEA etc servers:
-M4A2E4 for sale
-M4A2E4 Tester for testers
-KV-220 for sale
-KV-220 Tester for community contributors or other such work.
There. Problems solved.
M4A2E4 – you will never take it in your hands muahahha
Moron. I have a M4A2E4.
Problem is that KV220 is from far superior to same tier premiums, which nobody will buy anymore.
If they do this, we’ll see a massive KV220 spam like with type69 on ASIA server.
Except it is not
Your average baddies, yellow and red players (most of the people on WoT) are not used to it. So they FAIL against KV-220s
In time even they learn something, so it will balance out.
It has a shit turret and a bad gun.
It took me 40 shells with my Matilda to kill a noob KV-220, who just drive straight into my direction, and i aimed at its turret weak points (wile he shooted me four times causing only track damage)
The matilda is not a tank with great firepower…
It took me 10 with my M4A2E4 to kill one :)
i bought the Kv-220 the first time round. as you say you either invest mucho time or mucho dinero.
and i’m not unhappy with my purchase. i find 95% of the premium tanks are inferior copies of better in game tanks anyway.
i fell for the time trap with the IS-6, endless grinding, pulling my hair out, and wasting my life. i for one will buy most ‘exclusive’ tanks purley because i can afford it.
the gold price of it might be worth the grind but that option isn’t for me…
i’m not even sure the mission is doable if your not an out of work insomniac.
“just like the EU/US moaned that the Russians can buy Panzer IV/V, beta Sherman or the M6A2E1 “Alien” in their shop”
I have never seen any moaning about this in the EU or US forums. If there was a moaning about it, it was because the guys on the EU/US Server could not buy it like the RU could. And not because it should be a server exclusive tank.
> I wonder how many people bought it for 30 Euro a month ago and are sorry they did that.
I did, and I’m not sorry. Free KV-220 mission involves grind I might be able to pull for a T8 premium, but not T5. Playing few hours nearly every day for a month, only with light tanks? For me, it’s no fun at all.
^this. I’m not sorry I paid the money either (and I can’t even remember how much I paid for it). I would have a crack at the Type 62 mission, but, given that I have a job, there is no way I can do 25 days out of 30. But, as a collector (rare or not, I don’t care), I can’t throw my money at WG to buy the Type 62 (or 59… so sad when I see tomatoes driving this thing).
They do the same with the M6A2E1 2 years ago… people that buy the heavy pack in preorder complain about it and WG remove it from store… this WG movements are in a dangerous areas because people that buy it as special vehicle can simple call for a refund if WG doesnt remove it from store.
If you buy an “exclusive tank” with real money WG simple cant made it avaliable in any way.
There are a lot of tanks to gift but well, the light event in september is pure shit, a lot of hard work to have … what??? a tier 5 premium??? looks like the add the KV-220 because nobody is going to do that stupid grind to have one of the actual tier 5 prems, is much better buy them in offer maybe this is why they add KV-220.
PD: WG is doing some very stupid movements last months… i think they miss the point WOT is not more the only tank game in the town.
“They do the same with the M6A2E1 2 years ago… people that buy the heavy pack in preorder complain about it and WG remove it from store… this WG movements are in a dangerous areas because people that buy it as special vehicle can simple call for a refund if WG doesnt remove it from store.”
All three preorder tanks were only removed after players found a movie with Victor Kislyi stating (before game’s release on EU) that they will “never ever” be available again. Before that happened, the official party line was something along the lines “we’ve never said that they won’t be offered again” – since then, Victor have never repeated the same mistake again. :) Even preorder WoWP planes came with disclaimer that they won’t be offered within 12 months.
I bought the KV220 when it was for sale a few months ago (can’t remember which sale), and I don’t regret it. Yes, WG were in hindsight dishonest (or at least they’re being retrodishonest now) but on the other hand… I looked at the price, and decided it was worth my money. And it was, it’s fun. 95% of the players shoot at the hull, and it’s not *that* sluggish. If some people bought it as a collectors item, too bad for them. I have no sympathy for people who buy paintings (or guitars or cars, etc) as a pure investment either.
If other players wants to work hard and spend a lot of time on missions to get it now, good for them.
Now this thing will be common, what is the use of the T14?
It’s a very decent tank, but outmatched by this KV.. More armour, more gun, but premium tank.
Same goes for Churchill III…
I like most of your articles SS but I don’t understand why are you making so much fuzz about this event. It needs the average player to play about 3h straight, one tank class for 25 days!
I would never call this free.
3h pro 25days = 75h
30 euro / 75h = 40 cents per hour! Even worst work gives you more per hour.
That’s like slave labour.
Because of this, most of my WoT friends simply deny to do this, so I would not expect flood of KV-220. Also the Type-62 is much more worth it IMHO.
tl;dr
SS makes a mountain out of a molehill.
waiting for pz II/J event. XD
Very rare by WG … ye, “exclusive” tank on EU server …
KV-200 + ….
3.12.2013
49.99 EUR (garage slot, premium account 30 days, 10.500 gold)
2.1.2014
66.95 EUR (Lowe, Jagdtiger 8,8, 3 x garage slot)
49.99 EUR (IS6, 2 x garage slot, premium account 7 days, 2.500 gold)
10.4.2014
35.60 EUR (garage slot, premium account 30 days, 5.500 gold)
1.8.204
29.99 EUR (garage slot, premium account 30 days, 4.000 gold)
15.8.2014
29.99 EUR (garage slot (?), premium account 30 day, ? gold)
(gamescon bundle)
27.8.2014
0 EUR – “epic” mission
!type59
I kinda doubt that we’ll even see this event on the US server, so it dosn’t bother me much…besides, I already have my 220, and its one of my favorite tanks to blow off steam in!
Now if only there was a mission for a Type 59. Or even just a way to buy one.
I can still do the mission for the tanks worth in gold
I don’t lack a social life, and I will be able to get both the KV-220 and the Type 62, thank you very much.
I’m not that great a player either.
Maybe *You* would have to leave whatever social life you may have to bot your way to 2 premiums SS, I don’t know. Don’t talk shit about others.
The SU-85I is a rare tank, but they didn’t make a big deal of it… I bought it in the gift store for $13.