Wargaming Prepares Kona’s Korner For Battle At PAX Prime 2012
Kona’s Korner had the chance to sit down with the good folks from Wargaming at PAX Prime to get the scoop on what’s old, what’s new, and what’s coming. Earlier this year (at PAX East) they were celebrating their one year anniversary of World of Tanks. With nearly 20 million players, they set a Guinness World Record of 500,000 peak consecutive users on at one time. Since then, the numbers have continued to grow, including their staff, which has now reached over 1100 (up from only 250) across 10 countries!
World of Warplanes
While World of Tanks is still growing leaps and bounds (I’ll get to that in a minute), PAX Prime 2012 was all about World of Warplanes. This latest and greatest addition to their arsenal of Free-To-Play titles already has nearly 800,000 beta applicants waiting to get their hands on the game. I got the chance to go behind the curtain for a sit down with Chris Cook (Sr. PR Manager) and Matt West (Director of Marketing) and discuss the details.
Screenshots
After loading me up on cookies and assorted pastries, I was shown live gameplay that left me speechless. The amount of detail that has been incorporated into this game is a must see. With a primary focus on authenticity, players can break down the level of customization on both a macro and micro level. From my point of view, this was one of the biggest pluses. Admittedly, I’m primarily a console gamer with little experience in the PC realm. Matt explained to me that it wasn’t simply a matter of creating a realistic game, but one that removed any barriers to entry for players of all skill types. In other words, “noobs” like me, could sit down and easily get into the game without being overwhelmed by things like the controls or in depth features. While it offers a unique customization process, you can choose the level of depth you want experience in World of Warplanes. If you want to jump in, pick a plane and take to the skies, you can do that. If you’re a more versed player with a better understanding of the mechanics of flying, you can tear down your aircraft and modify everything from weapons to aerodynamic features. Considering there are both air and ground objectives in these 15 vs. 15 team battles, I would imagine that even a new kid on the block like me could learn the ropes fairly quickly. Check out the trailer below!
World of Warplanes – PAX Prime 2012 Trailer
We went on to talk about some recent changes and things to come. Not long ago, Wargaming migrated all of their titles (World of Tanks, World of Warships, and World of Warplanes) to a central location. As they explained, this offers their community a “one-stop shop”, creating a unified login and allowing for shared resources. This is especially important when it comes to community feedback. Wargaming sets a shining example when it comes to input from their user base. Whether a general forum discussion or detailing an in game issue, it’s taken very seriously. The development team pays close attention to the community to ensure nothing is overlooked. With extensive outreach through a multitude of social media platforms and the forums themselves, Wargaming is committed to a positive user experience.
Wargaming Collection
As I mentioned earlier, World of Tanks continues down the path of success. Later this month (specific date not available at this time), it will be receiving title update 8.0, the largest the game has ever seen. It will include the addition of a real world physics engine that takes authenticity to an eye-popping level. From lighting effects and dynamic shadowing to weather conditions, it will add a layer of depth to the game that offers users a much richer playing environment. We’ll be sure to update you as we get more details on its release. Check out some these picture I took of their set up at PAX Prime 2012!
PAX Prime 2012 Booth Photos
I want to personally thank Wargaming’s Matt West (Director of Marketing) and Chris Cook (Sr. PR Manager) for taking the time to show us around, answer all of our questions, and of course hooking us up with some pretty kick ass swag!
Make sure you check out the official wargaming.net website!
