Just got a press release. Thought y'all might be interested.
QuoteWargaming, one of the leading free-to-play MMO developers and publishers, today announced its acquisition of Chicago-based Day 1 Studios for USD 20 million. Following the acquisition, the newly formed studio will focus exclusively on the development of an unannounced console title.
The acquisition sets a key landmark in Wargaming's strategy of delivering compelling and console-focused gaming experiences, and further reinforces the company's steps toward multiplatform game development. Wargaming previously announced the acquisition of Australia-based Big World Pty Ltd, which provided the company with streamlined development and server middleware tools.
"The move into console game development is a huge step for Wargaming, as we begin to expand our presence into new platforms," said Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming. "We are looking forward to sharing the fruits of our labor soon."
"Wargaming is a clear leader in the free-to-play space and helps set the standard on which all other games in the genre strive for," said Denny Thorley, new Head of Wargaming's Chicago-based studio. "Our team is extremely excited to start the first console project for Wargaming."
In the wake of today's announcement, the newly opened studio welcomes skilled professionals from around the globe to join its development ranks.
Wow looks like they lots of money earned from the F2P WoT model to be able to buy out a studio.
Agreed. $20 mil isn't chump change.
According to this article, from last March, they are doing quite well.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-03-19-world-of-tanks-monthly-profits-hitting-double-digit-millions (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-03-19-world-of-tanks-monthly-profits-hitting-double-digit-millions)
WoT's controls are pretty simple, so I think it would translate well to a console, if that is their plan.
Day 1 Studios has become Wargaming West (http://wargamingwest.com/).
Was wondering who in their right mind would want to pay for WoT goodies. :)
Ive almost put real money into it but didnt. I can see where the typical 20 something warcraft player would though. free tanks, premium tanks, camo that has real game benefits, gold ammo and clan wars. pay $15 or $20 buck for 1 month of premium membership and you high teir tank grinds get cut in half.
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 30, 2013, 12:32:14 AM
Ive almost put real money into it but didnt. I can see where the typical 20 something warcraft player would though. free tanks, premium tanks, camo that has real game benefits, gold ammo and clan wars. pay $15 or $20 buck for 1 month of premium membership and you high teir tank grinds get cut in half.
A lot of players have purchased the Löwe (http://wiki.worldoftanks.com/L%C3%B6we) as well as the Type 59 (http://wiki.worldoftanks.com/Type_59). Plus gold rounds for them. That on top of a Premium account makes for a lot of extra credits and crew experience. I think those players deserve the term "Wallet Warriors" as they've purchased the means to gain unfair advantages over other players who either can't afford those items or who prefer not to use them.
In defense of "wallet warriors"...
World of Tanks is a free game. If people didn't buy some of these upgrades, no one would be playing it because the devs would go out of business.
I never bought anything because I could cheat. I played my Kobayashi Maru card and asked them for a press account. Presto! I was given an account stuffed with hundreds of thousands of gold and XP to spend as I pleased.
Quote from: Greybriar on January 30, 2013, 01:46:24 AM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 30, 2013, 12:32:14 AM
Ive almost put real money into it but didnt. I can see where the typical 20 something warcraft player would though. free tanks, premium tanks, camo that has real game benefits, gold ammo and clan wars. pay $15 or $20 buck for 1 month of premium membership and you high teir tank grinds get cut in half.
A lot of players have purchased the Löwe (http://wiki.worldoftanks.com/L%C3%B6we) as well as the Type 59 (http://wiki.worldoftanks.com/Type_59). Plus gold rounds for them. That on top of a Premium account makes for a lot of extra credits and crew experience. I think those players deserve the term "Wallet Warriors" as they've purchased the means to gain unfair advantages over other players who either can't afford those items or who prefer not to use them.
In order to play tier Xs in Clan Wars you have to have a premium account and at least one premium vehicle to afford playing. Just they way it is. Im not exactly sure how this gives me an advantage over people who dont pay anything, especially at tier VIII and below.
To be honest Clanwars is where the meat of the game is. Playing in pub matches is nothing like playing in a good clan wars battle. Huge difference playing with 15 adult players who are very good at the game, compared to pub matches which everyone is just out for themselves.
Quote from: LongBlade on January 30, 2013, 09:27:16 AM
In defense of "wallet warriors"...
World of Tanks is a free game. If people didn't buy some of these upgrades, no one would be playing it because the devs would go out of business.
I never bought anything because I could cheat. I played my Kobayashi Maru card and asked them for a press account. Presto! I was given an account stuffed with hundreds of thousands of gold and XP to spend as I pleased.
Those are not the type players I was referring to. The ones I am referring to are the type who brag about the number of kills they get in random matches and who like to rag on other players whose win ratio is less than 50%.
Quote from: bboyer66 on January 30, 2013, 09:40:54 AM
In order to play tier Xs in Clan Wars you have to have a premium account and at least one premium vehicle to afford playing. Just they way it is. Im not exactly sure how this gives me an advantage over people who dont pay anything, especially at tier VIII and below.
To be honest Clanwars is where the meat of the game is. Playing in pub matches is nothing like playing in a good clan wars battle. Huge difference playing with 15 adult players who are very good at the game, compared to pub matches which everyone is just out for themselves.
Clanwars may be where the meat is, but I was referring to the random matches. Sorry for not making myself clear, but from reading your post I think you knew where I was coming from. A Premium tank may be required in order to play Clan Wars, but a Premium tank is definitely
not required to play in random matches. They only exist there for the reasons I mentioned above.
I spent $49.95 and pre-ordered the WoT medium package. I had a lot of fun playing for about 3-4 months and then grew tired of the grind. No different to me than buying a regular game. Guess I'm just a sucker and believe in paying my fair share.
You can now buy WOT "gold rounds" using credits or gold at the cost of a few thousand credits per premium shell.
Quote from: Greybriar on January 30, 2013, 05:43:00 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on January 30, 2013, 09:27:16 AM
In defense of "wallet warriors"...
World of Tanks is a free game. If people didn't buy some of these upgrades, no one would be playing it because the devs would go out of business.
I never bought anything because I could cheat. I played my Kobayashi Maru card and asked them for a press account. Presto! I was given an account stuffed with hundreds of thousands of gold and XP to spend as I pleased.
Those are not the type players I was referring to. The ones I am referring to are the type who brag about the number of kills they get in random matches and who like to rag on other players whose win ratio is less than 50%.
Quote from: bboyer66 on January 30, 2013, 09:40:54 AM
In order to play tier Xs in Clan Wars you have to have a premium account and at least one premium vehicle to afford playing. Just they way it is. Im not exactly sure how this gives me an advantage over people who dont pay anything, especially at tier VIII and below.
To be honest Clanwars is where the meat of the game is. Playing in pub matches is nothing like playing in a good clan wars battle. Huge difference playing with 15 adult players who are very good at the game, compared to pub matches which everyone is just out for themselves.
Clanwars may be where the meat is, but I was referring to the random matches. Sorry for not making myself clear, but from reading your post I think you knew where I was coming from. A Premium tank may be required in order to play Clan Wars, but a Premium tank is definitely not required to play in random matches. They only exist there for the reasons I mentioned above.
But Greybriar the premium tanks are not that good for their tier. For example I have a T-34 and a Lowe, both Tier VIII premium heavies. Both are not nearly as capable as the regular heavy tanks of their class such as the IS-3. The only reason I play them is to get the extra credits so I can afford to play Tier X vehicles in clan wars, in which you lose credits unless you have a very good match.
Quote from: bboyer66 on January 30, 2013, 08:55:00 PM
But Greybriar the premium tanks are not that good for their tier. For example I have a T-34 and a Lowe, both Tier VIII premium heavies. Both are not nearly as capable as the regular heavy tanks of their class such as the IS-3. The only reason I play them is to get the extra credits so I can afford to play Tier X vehicles in clan wars, in which you lose credits unless you have a very good match.
I haven't been playing much for several months. Has the Löwe been nerfed? I remember it laying waste to nearly everything in its tier and below. I have read that a fully upgraded tank of the same tier is supposedly better than a Löwe, although from past experience it sure didn't appear that way.
But I still believe that many players with the money will buy Premium tanks and Gold rounds and have a Premium Account to maximize their kills, credits, and experience in random matches.
Super Brawl Weekend (http://"http://worldoftanks.com/news/1988-super-brawl-weekend/") starts tomorrow morning (February 1, 2013) at 03:30 PST (14:30 UTC) and will last until 03:00 PST (14:00 UTC) on February 4, 2013.
So don't do your dailies until it begins or you will miss out on some extra credits and crew experience.
There are a number of specials running due to the event including but not limited to: 50% Credit Discount on Equipment, 50% Gold Discount on Garage Slots, 50% Gold Discount on Crew Training/Retraining, x3 Increase in Crew Experience, and three days of Premium Account Time for 300 gold.
I spend $49.99 every couple of months to keep a premium account going, which leaves me some gold to cash in for credits if things get tight. I never use premium ammo, though.
The Lowe is still a credit making machine. I bought one for my son for Christmas, and I've seen him earn upwards of 70,000 credits per match.