Source: http://world-of-ru.livejournal.com/3396963.html

Hello everyone,

recently, there was yet another stream with Aleksei “Inaki” Ilyin, the chief Russian community manager (his answers are not as reliable as Storm’s of course, but reliable enough). As usual, Maiorboltach from the world-of-ru community was kind enough to provide a transcription. Here’s what Inaki said.

- according to Inaki, the fact that developers are not playing their game is a lie, the map makers and other developers are constantly playing
- according to Inaki, Twitch is slowly dying. This is caused by a range of issues (he explains at length how the quality of some stream channels dropped to the point of being unwatchable, causing the streamers to move to other platforms, such as cybergame, causing the total amount of Twitch viewers to drop). Inaki also adds that there are games now that allow the “streaming” to happen within the game (for example Dota), mainstream games are starting to organize streaming themselves (Dota TI2014)
- the way World of Tanks handles streams will be changed, (on RU server) the streams will appear in the launcher as “stream of the day”, there will also be a special ASAP magazine about streaming
- developers already tested the ingame stream function, it works according to all expectations, it is very simple to use (“press one button to stream”). Near Autumn, there will be a WoT patch, that will allow the players to set their scenes etc., the ingame streaming will be very simple to understand for anyone who wants to stream
- the chance of roaming ever being implemented is low
- in 9.3, new premium tanks will come

Continue reading →

So, hmmm, well, FTR now has a Vkontakte page. In Russian. I do not run it and I have no influence on its content, it’s a couple of guys from Russia or Ukraine who do that. Not sure what good will it do as FTR is aimed specifically on EU, US and ASIA server audience, but… good luck I guess.

Anyway, because there are never enough answers of the game development…

- Storm states that unfortunately, the developers didn’t manage to make the HD camouflage cover the wheels
- according to Storm, in order to be implemented, roaming needs “various things – no comment”
- World of Tanks art is actively outsourced
- the combat gameplay as a whole will definitely not be completely reworked, as it is one of the pillars of the game
- the problem of T-44-85 is that WG needs a tier 8 premium tank, not tier 7
- the T-54 Model 1945 (Soviet prem MT8) will not “be a 100 percent Super Pershing copy”
- Object 906 is too modern for World of Tanks, “it’s not worth it torturing ourselves with nerfing it to WoT levels”
- the skill of players who play the vehicle in question is taken into account when looking at the balancing of the said vehicle

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Source: http://world-of-kwg.livejournal.com/299850.html

Just like the good old days – Storm created a thread where he answers player’s questions about World of Tanks. Here’s what he wrote.

- Storm confirms the WT E-100 reload time nerf from 52 secs to 58 secs (for the 128mm)
- developers will think about removing Prokhorovka completely and reworking it, leaving the Fire Salient for now (SS: noticed how the map got renamed from Fiery Arc in test 1? Someone used google translator with that “arc”)
- roaming was delayed because it has low priority, it was moved to the back of the development queue
- roaming was delayed because “everything changes, current situation does not require roaming”
- roughly 70 people are working on WoT currently (Storm adds that they would hire more specialists, but they aren’t any available in their country and it’s not possible to hire westerners, when all the documentation is in Russian)
- WG on hiring mod makers: “there are few smart ones and those don’t want to be hired”
- M46 Patton will get improved torsion bars equipment in 9.3 (SS: this is the third time in last days I see this question for some reason)
- the bug where you can’t see your friends as online in the friend list will be fixed, “when it’s done it’s done”

Continue reading →

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.

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

- regarding the fact that on some sites (wot-news, vbaddict) some vehicles appear as underperforming and need buff – “we do not balance the tanks according to 3rd party sites”
- IS-7, IS-4 and Maus guns to be buffed? “If we buff their guns, we’ll have to nerf other parameters”
- Indienpanzer is not “suffering” apparently either (SS: as in, it is not underpowered)
- the “rule of 10 calibers” applies only when main armor is penetrated (eg. when dealing damage), not after the penetration of spaced armor
- for the purpose of the spotting mechanism change (second part), bushes will count as obstacles, so if you got spotted while standing behind the bush, you will disappear when the camo penalty for shooting ends
- basically, regarding the point above, Storm confirms that a tank, that gets spotted on the open field will never disappear, unless it drives behind an obstacle (a bush) or out of view range

Continue reading →

Hello everyone,

this is the second part, because one Q&A per day is not enough! News from Lithuania – a player who didn’t write his name or nickname participated in the meeting with WG staff and following things were said during the meeting:

- T57 Heavy will get a nerf
- accuracy formula is scheduled for a change, German tanks are going to “feel their accuracy” again
- the only thing left from the original BigWorld engine is server support
- there will be no more free premium tanks (SS: nope, no free FV4202)
- WG have plans to create a branch in Lithuania (Vilnius) or Latvia (Riga)

And back to Storm:

- Object 430 will be buffed a little
- according to preliminary tests of the new spotting system, 3-4 maps do have issues
- regarding the new spotting system (see previous posts today), camo net will not cancel the way reworked spotting system of moving/shooting tanks works (SS: as in, regarding the changes that will cancel the effect of tanks disappearing in the middle of the field, camo net will not change it)
- according to Storm, it is not yet confirmed that the new Prokhorovka has bad feedback, so he cannot say what will happen with it
- Storm states that it’s pointless to discuss Stronkhold with random players (specifically on Livejournal), there is a discussion with big clan members on feedback

- apparently, M46 Patton will have “improved torsion bars” (increased the load capacity, good for stock tracks) equipment available in 9.3
- Q: “Why was FV215b 183 nerfed when Veider said 7 months ago in an interview that it won’t be nerfed?” A: “Situation changed.”
- IS-7, IS-4 and Maus are doing fine statistically
- “it’s possible” that the developers overestimated the importance of Object 430 armor
- tank names on minimap are planned, no ETA yet (“when it’s done it’s done”)
- water render was not changed after 8.11
- Veider: developers are working on reworking camo and viewrange system
- developers are considering camouflage rework (nerf), when a player asked whether RhB camo will be nerfed, Veider stated: “We are considering it. But we will not nerf RhB specifically, we will implement something systemic.”

Veider next made a few veiled remarks about upcoming changes, Storm showed up and unveiled the planned spotting changes.

Continue reading →

Source: http://world-of-kwg.livejournal.com/299430.html

Hello everyone,

in a recent comment, Storm explains upcoming plans and changes in visibility/spotting system

The following lines require at least general knowledge of how the spotting check system works – if you don’t know that, please read it on WoTwiki (it’s quite complicated).

- the most important thing is that the developers are reworking the Bigworld spotting check rays tracing system on the server, the plan is that this will increase the performance of the system a lot, which will in turn allow the server to make the visibility checks every “tick” (cycle) at all distances and it will allow the developers to increase the amount of spotting check points on a tank (SS: this means that tanks at longer distances will no longer have the “between spotting checks” advantage, it means spotting at longer distances will become easier)

- the “tanks disappearing in the middle of a field” effect will be removed. The increased camouflage coefficients after stopping shooting and stopping the vehicle (SS: as in, the tank is harder to spot when it doesn’t shoot or when it stops) will be removed in cases where the tank is in your view range and is not covered by obstacles (SS: as in, when you get spotted while driving in the open field and stop the vehicle, the reduced camouflage factor (moving reduces your camo) changes to “camo when standing” (unreduced) and the tank can “disappear” if it stops in the zone where the moving camo allows it to be spotted but the standing camo doesn’t – this will not happen anymore)

- a spotting check point for spots after shooting will be made at the end of the gun barrel, which means that you will have to hide barrels that are sticking out of the bushes when firing

- draw distance will be changed from 1000*1000 square to a 565 meter radius circle

The ETA on these changes is, as usual, “when it’s done it’s done”, Storm adds that the circle viewrange is the closest of all these changes.

Hello everyone,

definitely check out Chieftain’s article on the movie Fury, well worth reading. Also, you can check out Listy’s article on 3.7in British tank mortar.

- the T-62A SPORT experience, after the football mode ends, will be transferred to MS-1
- US premium TD M56 Scorpion is planned for this year
- no new info whether the Aufklärungspanzer Panther is going to be replaced by something else
- FV215b and FV4202 to be replaced? Tanitha: “The FV215b and FV4202 are up for work late in 2014 or early 2015. It really is too early for any information though.” (SS: my guess – FV4202 -> Vickers MBT, FV215b -> Chieftain P6)
- regarding ASIA to US account transfers and roaming: “No not at this stage, bulk transfers are unlikely. Server roaming is still a feature that may be available at a later stage but not in the short future. The most likely feature to help out here is a paid transfer service, there is no schedule for its development though, but its still the most likely feature possible for you in the future.”

Continue reading →

Source: http://world-of-kwg.livejournal.com/299430.html

Hello everyone,

Storm is asking for 9.2 feedback. And as always, he answered some questions in the discussion. Here’s what he said:

- the BL-10 gun will not be rebalanced (nerfed)
- according to patchnotes, the VK4502P Ausf.B should have thicker roof (60mm instead of 40mm) in 9.2, but on the test it doesn’t, this will be fixed
- why was the 183mm HESH ammo nerfed to 230mm pen: “230mm doesn’t penetrate frontal armor of 120mm with 60 degree slope, which is one of the most common armors used”
- vehicles (including FV215b 183) are balanced around their credit ammo
- football mode will not be left in the game permanently apparently
- there are no historical data for the VK4502 Ausf.B, only historical proposals (SS: including the characteristics of the German “paper” guns, so it’s pointless to complain that they are “not historical”)
- the Umbra 3 technology middleware is not yet implemented, the devs are still in the process of implementing it
- the “confrontation” mode is apparently still scheduled for return “after we fix the matchmaking”, this fix will include hardcaps on one type of tank per team (SS: as in, it won’t be possible to have for example 15 WT E-100, but only – just an example – three at max)

And what is your take on patch 9.2?