WarGaming.Net opens new studio - press release

[Press Release]

Wargaming Continues Global Expansion with Tokyo, Japan Publishing Office 15th global office to open during company's 15 year anniversary

29th May, 2013 - Wargaming, the leading free-to-play massively multiplayer online developer and publisher, today announced its further global expansion with the opening of its newest publishing office in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo office marks the company's 15th office around the world, made even more special by the fact that this year the company is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

The newly opened office will focus on publishing duties, including marketing, public relations, customer service, and customer support for World of Tanks as that title rolls out in Japan.

"As Wargaming continues its global expansion, there's no possible way we can ignore the importance of the Japanese market," said Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming. "Besides being one of the major video games markets in the world, it's also a place where free-to-play gaming is growing by leaps and bounds."
"We'll be staffing our new Tokyo office with the best and brightest from the country, all with the goal of providing our players there with an incomparable customer experience," added Kislyi.

"Being part of the Wargaming family, as they continue their dominance of the free-to-play market, is truly exciting," said Yasuhiro Kawashima, General Manager of Wargaming Japan. "We look forward to helping expand Wargaming's presence in Japan now and in the future."

In the wake of today's announcement, Wargaming Japan is welcoming skilled professionals from around the globe to join its team.

Warframe update 8 - Rise of the Warlords

[Press release]

The fastest growing F2P co-op action game just keeps getting better! In less than 8 weeks into Open Beta, Warframe has quickly surpassed 2 million users!

We’re keeping the momentum going with our most significant update yet -- Update 8.  Loaded with new content-- including the highly anticipated introduction of the Clan Dojo--Update 8 lays the foundation for a whole new aspect of Warframe.  If you haven’t tried Warframe yet, now’s the time. Be sure to bring your friends – there’s more reason than ever to play together...

THE DOJO: After months of wandering, you deserve a place to hang your helmet.  Welcome home, Tenno. There’s strength in numbers – unite with your Clan under one roof. Build, research and train in the sanctity of your Clan’s custom Dojo.

• BUILD [Alpha]: User-created level building begins! In the first iteration of this feature, Clan members contribute resources and aid in the construction of their Clan’s Dojo. Architects have total control of the layout – selecting hallways, junctions and special rooms to build. Clan members ‘vote with their resources’, funding construction to completion. Future updates will expand these construction features and customizations.
• RESEARCH [Alpha]:  Build Dojo rooms to open up technology research options providing your Clan exclusive access to an array of deadly new weapons. Clan members collect research samples and pool resources to fund advanced new weaponry projects. The results?  Access to Blueprints that builds never-before-seen weaponry in the Foundry!
• DUELING [Alpha]: Build special dueling rooms in your Dojo and challenge members of your Clan to friendly 1v1 Dueling.  Clan members can watch the action, set up match rules through discussion in Global chat and referee from the sidelines. Coming Soon – Dueling Leaderboards.

NEW LOCATION SETS:

• GRINEER GALLEON: At last we reveal the Grineer ships – Explore the vast, rusted space-submarine like chambers that exude the gritty bulk of the Grineer army. Beware Tenno, new vicious enemies are onboard and hell-bent on dismembering any Tenno they find.
• OROKIN VOID: Hidden within a dimensional fold are the fortresses of the Ancient Orokin race. Buy, build or loot Void Keys to open up exciting loot runs in the Ancient Orokin Towers. Stay alert Tenno: the Void is a dangerous place, fraught with traps and guarded by the corrupted remains of past raiders!

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

• 22 NEW WEAPONS including energy weapons, biological toxins, high-impact explosives and more!
• 9 NEW MODS including 3 mods (Sanctuary, Reach, Master Thief) designed collectively by the Warframe community through our exclusive Design Council.
• NEW WARFRAME – a trapper Warframe, the highly tactical VAUBAN uses his powers to create deadly traps that can zap, imprison and dimensionally crush enemies!
• Plus, loads of fixes based on feedback from our incredible community!

Wargaming Presents Weekend at War

[Edit May 24]
The_Challenger - Military Specialist EU server:

The "Weekend At War" is going to offer a ticket discount for WoT players, the details/amount are yet to be finalized

Source: WOT EU forums



[Press release]

Four days of back-to-back screenings of classic WWII films at the Stratford Cinema London – 4th until 7th July 2013

http://weekend-at-war.com/

Wargaming, 21st May, 2013 – London, UK,   Wargaming.net, the award-winning publisher and developer, is pleased to announce that they are sponsoring a four day film extravaganza, entitled “Weekend at War” A programme of 10 of the greatest films made about World War II has been put together for an exclusive weekend-long presentation at Stratford Picturehouse.

Coinciding with US Independence Day, the first screening features the mesmerising Steve McQueen in THE GREAT ESCAPE on Thursday July 4th 2013.

This micro-season has been devised in collaboration with Wargaming, the publisher of  World of Tanks, the ground breaking WWII computer game. The line-up surveys the full range of post-war films from the patriotic, emotion-stirring Bridge over the River Kwai and Dam Busters from the mid-fifties, to the more questioning movies of the seventies, such as Kelly’s Heroes.

Frazer Nash, UK PR Manager for Wargaming said:

Wargaming is pleased to bring back these classical Hollywood blockbusters on big screen. The young generations will be able to watch them in the same way their parents or grand-parents did.  These War films with classic heroes overcoming adversity at times of War have universal appeal

Full programme:

·         THE GREAT ESCAPE
(1963, Dir: John Sturges, 172mins)
The brilliant POW escape movie starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough

·         THE DIRTY DOZEN
(1967, Dir: Robert Aldrich, 150mins)
A group of convicted murders trained for a mass assassination mission, starring Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson and Donald Sutherland

·         KELLY'S HEROES
(1970, Dir: Brian G. Hutton, 144mins)
US soldiers cross enemy lines in search of a secret stash of Nazi treasure. Starring Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas and Don Rickles.

·         THE DESERT FOX: The Story of Rommel
(1951, Dir: Henry Hathaway, 88mins)
Biopic featuring The Afrika Korps and the attempted assassination of Hitler, starring James Mason and Cedric Hardwicke

·         THE GUNS OF NAVARONE
(1961, Dir: J. Lee Thompson, 158mins)
A British squad sent to destroy a massive Nazi gun emplacement starring Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn.

·         ICE COLD IN ALEX
(1958, Dir: J. Lee Thompson, 129mins)
A small band of army personnel in a desperate attempt to get across the deserts of North Africa, starring John Mills, Anthony Quayle and Sylvia Syms.

·         TORA! TORA! TORA!
(1970, Dir: Richard Fleischer, 137mins)
The tale of what happened at Pearl Harbour starring Martin Balsam, Joseph Cotten and So Yamamura.

·         BATTLE OF BRITAIN
(1969, Dir: Guy Hamilton, 132mins)
The Royal Air Force battle the Nazis in this amazing film, starring Michael Caine, Trevor Howard and Kenneth Moore

·         THE BRIDGE OVER RIVER KWAI
(1957, Dir: David Lean, 161mins)
The POWs forced to build the bridge are unaware of the allies plans to destroy it, starring Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins and William Holden

·         THE DAM BUSTERS
(1955, Dir: Michael Anderson, 105mins)
Based on a true story of the bouncing bomb starring Michael Redgrave and Ursula Jeans.

Tickets are available from May 31st at the Stratford Picturehouse http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/stratford or 0871 902 5740

For more information contact:

Frazer@wargaming.net or Louis@workserver.co.uk

Tel: 01296 712522                Tel:  07588681566

Wargaming to offer financial support to open-source

[Press release]

Wargaming to Offer Financial Support to Open-Source Development Foundations

Three Foundations to Benefit Including Linux, Django and Wikimedia

23rd May, 2013 - Wargaming, the leading free-to-play developer and publisher, today announced that the company will be financially supporting three key open-source development foundations, including the Linux Software Foundation, the Django Software Foundation and the Wikimedia Foundation.

While primarily known as a video game publisher and developer, Wargaming utilizes a wide array of open-source technologies to power their successful gaming titles. Corporately, Wargaming strives to support those technologies that the company regularly leverages, not only to support existing development, but also to help grow and evolve those technologies for future use.

Maksim Melnikau, Solution Architect at Wargaming said:

Wargaming relies heavily on a number of different open-source technologies to help us create our legendary MMO universe, whether it's using Linux to power our servers, Django to build our web project frameworks or Wikimedia to help us in our research effortsAs a company, we'd like to say thank you to all the developers, testers and users who've helped create these awesome tools and that we're extremely honored to hopefully help them continue their great work moving into the future.

WoT update 0.8.6 - press release and pictures

[Editor's note - 22 May 2013]
Since Frank Davis, a.k.a. Silent Stalker, decided to use the pictures I uploaded on his blog without the courtesy of linking the original source or asking me directly, I decided to remove the said pictures. I got a new set of pics without WoT logo on top left corner. I marked them, bottom right corner, with the link to this blog.
The whole process will take me some time, so .. if you see missing pictures, please check back later.
Work complete. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this incident might've caused.



[Press release]

Artillery Revamped For World of Tanks Update 0.8.6

New Game Balances And SPGs Coming Soon
May 21, 2013 — Wargaming, the leading free-to-play MMO developer and publisher, today announced details for Update 0.8.6 for World of Tanks. The new update will bring further changes and balance to the in-game economy, as well add new SPGs to push that armor line to tier X.

Mike Zhivets, producer on World of Tanks:

Update 0.8.6 is a major step in game balance enhancement and is really going to make SPGs players happy
Artillery gameplay is going to feel a lot more balanced with a normal ten tier structure, making advancing through that class of armor more comfortable for players.

Current tier 8 SPGs will be promoted to tier X, while the newly introduced SPGs in Update 8.6 will take their place in the middle tiers.
The American tech tree will be bolstered with M44 and M53/55 artillery units, while the Soviet line will be filled out with SU-122A and SU-14-1.
The German tech line will be strengthened with three machines: 10.5 GW Mk.IV(e), Pz.Sfl.IVb, and G.W.Tiger (P).
Lastly, the French will receive AMX Obusier automoteur de 105 and Bat.Chatillon155 (55) artilleries.
Update 0.8.6 will introduce a new premium British medium tank, the A33 Excelsior, and will also introduce a new map based in Korea.

AMX Obusier Automoteur de 105

Bat.Chatillon155 (55)

10.5 GW Mk.IV(e)

Geschutzwagen Elefant (210mm)

Pz.SfI.IVb

M44

M53-55

SU-122A

SU-14-1

NeverWinter OnLine - rollback after exploit discovery

Yesterday, the NeverWinter forums were on fire after people discovered and reported a bug that lead to an exploit. The exploit involved the "auction house" and negative bids, people who knew about it took advantage and gained unwarranted sums of "astral diamonds".

Since then, the devs took actions by disabling completely the "Auction House" and the "Astral Diamond Exchange" while working a fix.

They fixed the bug, the damage to the economy is already done. So, Cryptic decided that a database rollback is necessary to restore the game's balance.
Cryptic also said that: "we have taken appropriate action against all players who took advantage of the bug, including but not limited to enforcing permanent bans".

What does the rollback mean?
This means that roughly seven hours of progress made between 5:20 AM and 12:20 PM Pacific Time will be lost to all players.
Also, keep in mind that after the rollback will be performed neither "Auction House" nor the "Astral Diamond Exchange" will be functional until Cryptic decides it's all clear.




FAQ - AD/AH Exploit Follow-Up
source: http://nw-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?266921-FAQ-AD-AH-Exploit-Follow-Up&p=3479161#post3479161

Q: What happened?
A: Early Sunday morning a very small group of players discovered and abused a game exploit within the Neverwinter Open Beta that affected the Auction House and Astral Diamonds.

Q: What exactly has changed?
A: We took the Neverwinter OBT down for emergency maintenance, found the bug, corrected it and tested it. In order to fix the damage this exploit caused to the in-game economy, we implemented a necessary rollback of our servers to 5:20 AM PDT (12:20PM GMT) the morning of May 19, 2013. This means that characters have been reverted to the state they were in at that time, pre-exploit damage. That includes items, level, experience, etc.
We know that character progress matters in Neverwinter, so as an apology for the lost time and as profound thanks for your continued support throughout this Beta, we are putting together a package of items to give everyone. We plan to distribute this towards the middle or end of this coming week, possibly on Friday 5/24.

Q: What about ZEN I spent/transferred after 5:20 AM PDT (12:20PM GMT)?
A: You'll have any and all ZEN that you transferred to Neverwinter -- we tracked all transfers during that time and made sure players have the ZEN they should have. If you spent ZEN on items during that time, you'll need to re-buy the items, but you'll have all of that ZEN. No one will lose any money they spent on Neverwinter because of this fix. If you have any issue, please see the customer and billing support contacts below.

Q: I leveled up after 5:20 AM PDT (12:20PM GMT) -- what happens to that progress?
A: Unfortunately, in order to properly fix this exploit, that progress has, by necessity, been lost. We know how much that progress means to all Neverwinter players, though, so we're putting together a package to thank everyone for their support. We plan to distribute this towards the middle or end of this coming week, possibly on Friday 5/24.

Q: What about the ZEN I bought/sold after 5:20 AM PDT (12:20PM GMT) in the Astral Diamond Exchange?
A: All ZEN exchanged during this period will be returned to the original owners.

Q: What about my astral diamonds?
A: Any astral diamonds claimed from your bonus balance will be returned to your bonus balance, and will be available to be claimed again.

Q: What about respec tokens, or other consumables?
A: You'll have everything you had at 5:20 AM PDT (12:20PM GMT). If you had the consumables before 5:20 AM PDT (12:20PM GMT), you'll still have them; if you bought them with ZEN or gold that you had before 5:20 AM PDT (12:20PM GMT), you'll still have that gold or ZEN.

Q: I have another question, where can I get answers?
A: Post it in this thread! We'll dig through to find common questions, and we'll edit this post to include them.

Q: But... I won the Armored Nightmare from a lockbox! I'll never get that lucky again!
A: We know how much that would sting. We are looking into ways we can make it better, but we don’t have an exact plan yet. Stay tuned and keep checking here for updates.

Q: I was working on a Foundry missing during that time – what happened to my design work?
A: We did not revert any changes in the Foundry, so your work is still there.

WoT's matchmaker is rigged - the proof

3 years of lies only to be undone by their own hands with the patent US 8425330 B1 filled by WarGaming in 2012 and published April 23, 2013 - Dynamic battle session matchmaking in a multiplayer game

There you have it folks, in WarGaming's own words:

As the player's win/loss ratio decreases, the player becomes more likely to be placed in battles having battle levels at the lower end of the allowable range, whereas as the player's win/loss ration increases, the player becomes more likely to be placed in battles having battle levels at the upper end of the allowable range. Thus, when a player has been repeatedly put into too many difficult battles, the balancing is done in favor of easier battle sessions, thereby encouraging the player by providing an easier game environment. Similarly, when the player has been repeatedly put into too many easy battles, the balancing is done in favor of harder battle sessions, thereby keeping the player challenged instead of letting the player become bored with easy games. A first possible algorithm is to divide the permissible battle levels evenly across a range from zero (0) to two (2), and place the vehicle into the battle level corresponding to the win/loss ratio, where any ratio greater than two (2) automatically results in the vehicle being placed in the highest possible battle level. Another possible algorithm is to increase the battle level by one (within the permissible range) for a vehicle each time a player wins a battle with that vehicle, and decrease the battle level by one (within the permissible range) each time a player loses a battle with that vehicle. If the battle level is already at the upper end of the range and the player wins the battle, the battle level may remain constant. Similarly, if the battle level is already at the lower end of the range and the player loses the battle, the battle level may remain constant.

The MM is rigged to force players in the 50% win ratio.



[Edit 16.05.2013]

I read a lot of feedback on this from various sources, many still believe that this is not proof, that WG included this into the patent just because they could and not because it was (or still is) used.
Let me ask you this: why would WG include this into their patent if it isn't or wasn't used in WoT?
Problem no.2 is that info regarding rigging, or "loaded dice", surfaced ever since the game was in Closed BETA, that was in 2010! How come something believed to be true (even fantasy by WG's claims) gets described in detail in a patent filed two years later?

The rigging is quite real, only people chose not to believe it because otherwise they wouldn't be in control of their own "fate" (gameplay), and people don't like thinking they're not in control.

Some insist that since this would be true, why they have above 55-60% + win ratio. For the same reason I do, good players understand the game and how to work it in their favor, also this system can be subverted by platooning, by playing in tiered companies, by playing in CW with other good players. Teamplay trumps randomness every time.
But! a single good player pitted with morons against a good team cannot win the battle for them.

Keep in mind that the average W/L for the entire EU server is well below 50% :

http://eumireo.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/unofficial-eu-server-stastics-0-8-3-game-version/

WG also said in numerous Q&A's that the radio does not have an influence in detecting enemy ... ok, then why this:

An increased Signal Range value, in turn, may allow the vehicle to detect enemies at greater distances during game play, making the player more competitive against opponents and resulting in an enhanced gameplay experience for that player.

found in patent US 20130090161 A1 - Using and Exporting Experience Gained in a Video Game published April 11, 2013.

Another lie by WarGaming? bet your ass it is!

Funny how various aspects of the game get clearly described in patents rather than various Q&A sessions ..


[Edit 2 - 16.05.2013]

Someone asked what's my W/L ratio since I "dared" to write this article and accuse WarGaming of lying.
Here:

• my WoT official profile: http://worldoftanks.eu/community/accounts/500013338-zmeul/
• and my efficiency ratings: http://www.noobmeter.com/player/eu/zmeul

Rift going free to play

Trion Worlds announces that on June 12, alongside update 2.3 Empyreal Assault, Rift MMO will switch to a free to play business model.
The game will continue to use subscriptions. Subscribers, known as patrons, receive special bonuses to currency, mount speed, various types of experience and more:

• +15% Currency (always on)
• +10% Mount Speed (always on)
• Daily Boost Set: Each day you can activate bonuses to the Experience, Notoriety, Favor, Prestige and Tokens you earn while playing.
• Daily Summons: Instant access to your banker, guild banker, and trainer. You'll receive access to these convenience features on a set cooldown.

F2P players will have restrictions, as follows:

For more information, consult the Rift F.A.Q. - http://www.riftgame.com/en/promo/freetoplay.php#faq