Is Tanki Becoming Pay-To-Play?

[KrystenHunt16 128]

Tanki Online is a free-to-play MMO tank shooter game. The game revolves around fast-paced gameplay, critical thinking and decision making, and lots of teamwork. The game supports an open-chatting system that is patrolled 24/7 by trained and expert moderators. Tons of new content is rolled out constantly that makes the game dynamic and fun to play.

 

...At least it was, from what I take it. Yes, I have only been playing for a few short months (like nine or ten actually), but I've already started to notice a downward trend that I'm sure a lot of people have noticed. But I want to address the topic head-on:

 

Is a game like Tanki, a game which states itself that it is a free-to-play game, purposely putting down free-to-play tankers in favor of those who pay?

 

Let's look at some of the changes that have happened recently:

 

- Change in balance to make the non-popular turrets popular (which means more players spending money to get the good turrets, and the players spending no money get the crappy turrets.

 

- Change to PRO passes and private battles to make players pay more money for battles that don't include drugs (yes, you have to pay crystals to play in a battle without drugs).

 

- Removal of crystal drop boxes in matches to force players to finish a battle to (maybe) collect the crystals at the end of a battle.

 

- Removal of Daily Rewards to make players perform Daily Missions to earn tons of drugs and unfair advantages. The players who don't play Daily Missions ended up buying more crystals to get the drugs that they would have had if Daily Rewards hadn't been removed.

 

- Newly-announced Premium Accounts that give players unfair advantages. (And no matter what you say, you'll never convince me that a 20% DEF boost against ALL turrets and mines is not unfair).

 

- Players didn't like some of the updates and started downvoting them, so Tanki removed the downvote button! (it's not like they listen to the forum posts anyway).

 

But the FINAL STRAW for me was reading a comment by one of the Tanki mods. I'm not going to name him as I don't want to be disrespectful, but you know who you are (and if you want to admit it, go for it):

 

"Ok, so make everyone pay $10 USD a month to play tanki and do away with drugs, and mu's, and paints, and anything else that gives players an advantage... and all the players who have never paid anything to tanki but who love to whine a lot...

 

-or-

 

Nobody pays anything and the game closes

 

-or-

 

Keep the game like it is. It is doing fine.

 

Mind you, this is a post from a businessman, not a player! And I realize that your rank might be all that high sir, but how often do you actually play? If your answer is 'often', I'd ask, how often do you play without drugging every second? And if your answer is 'yes', then I'd ask you if you think the game is still doing fine. I doubt your answer would be anything but negative.

 

Also notice what he said about free-to-play tankers? He speaks as though we've done nothing -- that we're a nuisance. We haven't payed anything, but we sure love to whine a lot! That makes us sound like immature brats and free riders who don't appreciate their work. And yet they never listen to WHY we're upset -- because the game is unfair to those who don't pay money. Skill is no longer needed, just shill out a few hundred bucks and become Godmode_ON!

 

As for the second-most-important part of that comment (the part so tastily colored in violet)... let me just say this. When I first started playing Tanki, it was uncommon for there to be any fewer than 200,000 players online at one time. Now I often see it dip down below 10,000. Is the game really doing well, or are all the free-to-play tankers leaving? If the latter is correct, there must be a reason, and the reason is that the pay-to-play tankers are dominating the free-to-play. Not only that, but the moderators and admins are ACTIVELY insulting the free-to-play tankers. Do you think that makes me want to play?

 

Here's my solution: Either change the battle to support free-to-play tankers, or drop free-to-play altogether. The game as it is is broken, and it desperately needs one of two fixes. (If you couldn't tell by how I highlighted them, I prefer the former)

 

You could:

 

- Nerf the effects of drugs (just look anywhere in the Ideas and Suggestions section and you'll find plenty of great suggestions for this)

 

- Nerf Premium Accounts (seriously, 20% defense to ALL, plus +50% XP, and +50% crystals? That's just cruel)

 

- Bring back Daily Rewards (and possibly keep Daily Missions as well for those players who want to go 'above and beyond')

 

- Make non-drug battles free (playing in battles without players with unfair advantages should be the norm, not a privilege)

 

- Bring back the down-vote button, and ACTUALLY LISTEN TO US!

 

or, you could:

 

Drop the free-to-play aspect altogether, lose tons of players (which, may I remind you, also means a lot of free advertising), and make winning a battle based off of who spent more money on the game. If you do choose this, then that's fine, but I for one won't be around afterwards.

 

But you can't leave the game as it is. Tanki is made of mostly players who play freely, and if you're getting a lot of flak for the updates, maybe you should listen to them, instead of listening to those who pay money.

 

(And just for the record, I work for a living and I crave every dollar that I make... I'm not compelled to spend money on a video game that's going downhill)

 

As for the tankers, pay-to-players and free-to-players, what do you think? Do you have any suggestions that could help better this game, or at least tip the scales to be somewhat even again? Feel free to leave a comment or two below -- the admin might not listen, but I assure you that if nobody else does, I will.

Edited October 13, 2015 by KrystenHunt16

[Ordinary_Blood 66]

TO has always been pay to win but I disagree with drugs nerf. No way.

[The.Legendary.Spoon 28]

I dont agree my friend. They are trying to fix every thing they can. Try looking at it from the devs p-o-v.

[MandolinMarc 874]

Wow, what a post! I would bring up a couple of points. First, just a factual thing -- it's been officially announced on the forum that the protection of Premium paint has been changed to 15% against all turrets and mines, instead of 20%, based on player feedback.

 

Second, you draw a sharp distinction between "free-to-play tankers" and "buyers,' which I find a bit odd. You say that the game's decline in players is due to "free to play tankers leaving," which doesn't make much sense. Just because you've yet to purchase crystals doesn't mean that you never can. You seem to take a harsh tone towards "buyers", as if they're responsible for all the flawed bits of Tanki. It only makes sense that those who financially support Tanki Online should be rewarded, which inevitably involves gaining some sort of advantage over other players.

 

Third, you keep saying the developers don't listen to players, as if the players are all united behind one opinion. 

 

Fourth, you have to realize that forum mods, and all mods for that matter, are just players like me and you who have volunteered to help the community in one of many ways. He just got flustered and over-reacted to some negative comments. So what?

 

And fifth, you say that the aspect of drugs in Tanki gives some players unfair advantages, as if only a select few players are allowed to use drugs. Drugs are a part of the game, and they aren't unfair to anyone -- anyone can use them, and anyone can buy them with crystals. Yes, they can be frustrating, but they can also make gameplay more interesting.

[KrystenHunt16 128]

While you've all brought up very good points that seem to (at this point) not be very supportive of my opinion, I'd like to remind you that this is just that -- my opinion. Yes, perhaps I was a bit heated in my writing, but I'm trying to bring up a point to the devs that they either don't seem to see or are overlooking.

 

Thanks all for your input.

[Mickey_Nickz 589]

it always has been a pay to win game, TBH i don't really care about this game now. when i get my new pc i will quit playing this game and play something better than this.

[doka-vlad 6]

TO staff doesn't put adds into the game. it's completely add free, so the non paying people don't contribute anything. Devs simply don't need us, because we don't give them anything besides a good name (which they already have and don't need anymore... yet) and server loads. but all their profit comes from the paying users which means that even if we all leave and the paying users will stay, devs won't care because we don't contribute anything. their profits won't dwindle. so they don't listen to us. we will leave because we've nothing to loose but paying players will stay because they've already paid and they will keep paying. the only way devs will change things is out of pure pity and not because they will gain something. on the other hand they will loose profit because to attract f2p players they will have to get rid of some premium features. but i actually like the mission update and the end battle reward system because you will get crystals and supplies based on your skill and not how lucky you are. because back then it was all based on chance and now they've solidified it

[doka-vlad 6]

Wow, what a post! I would bring up a couple of points. First, just a factual thing -- it's been officially announced on the forum that the protection of Premium paint has been changed to 15% against all turrets and mines, instead of 20%, based on player feedback.

 

Second, you draw a sharp distinction between "free-to-play tankers" and "buyers,' which I find a bit odd. You say that the game's decline in players is due to "free to play tankers leaving," which doesn't make much sense. Just because you've yet to purchase crystals doesn't mean that you never can. You seem to take a harsh tone towards "buyers", as if they're responsible for all the flawed bits of Tanki. It only makes sense that those who financially support Tanki Online should be rewarded, which inevitably involves gaining some sort of advantage over other players.

 

Third, you keep saying the developers don't listen to players, as if the players are all united behind one opinion. 

 

Fourth, you have to realize that forum mods, and all mods for that matter, are just players like me and you who have volunteered to help the community in one of many ways. He just got flustered and over-reacted to some negative comments. So what?

 

And fifth, you say that the aspect of drugs in Tanki gives some players unfair advantages, as if only a select few players are allowed to use drugs. Drugs are a part of the game, and they aren't unfair to anyone -- anyone can use them, and anyone can buy them with crystals. Yes, they can be frustrating, but they can also make gameplay more interesting.

I think that f2players leave because of premium users makes sense because they stand at an advantage and the game becomes too difficult to the f2players so they leave because they don't stand a chance. i think that more fair step but less profitable one would be to introduce a donation system where you can support the devs but don't get anything in return thus keeping the game running and prevent havoc between players. it is also fair in a sense that some players can't simply afford to go premium so it's unfair for them to be at a disadvantage. and just if you're wondering, yes people will donate. look at twitch it works. if people love it and if they can support it they will even if they don't get anything in return. 

 

Drugs are part of the game and yes everyone can use them, but being a f2player you can't use them as often as a payed user and you know this. f2players just don't get them as much.

 

I also think that the game would brake in the instant the moment they introduce the 15% damage reduction into the game because before, you had to work soooo damn hard for that 20% defence against all paint that is only awarded tot he top 8 clans and now pretty much 1/3 of players will have it, it will loose it's practical value and status value 

[Lagnadium 54]

It mildly annoys me how TO always shows Tanks in the M3 versions, but I guess that can in someways determine some to reach that state. I do think that Daily Rewards should be given back, though - because this would somewhat tip the scales for the people who are playing every single day, (or trying to), against the people who pay for enjoyment of the game.

[r_Soldier280 478]

You Should be thankful about the buyers... They Keep the Game/Business Alive.

I know that there is many Updates that Ruined the Game Balance. And its all because of keeping the game alive.

[AnduinFX 8]

Well...Um...neutral.

 

First, F2P doesn't mean you don't need to pay. It just means that the entry fee is $0. Because of this peculiar trait, such F2P games have to find a way to scrap together some money. TO does it by putting various perks on sale for hard currency. If you think TO is simply broken, you're free to quit and find something else to play, although I have yet to find some large-scale productions that don't feature P2W of any sort. Excluding MC servers, that is.

 

Crystal boxes were removed because we players, both frugal and affluent, had enough of "crystal hunters": people that do nothing other than  grabbing crystal boxes. I wasn't involved in the decision (or the protest; I'm relatively new), but from what I've heard, the situation was terrible.

 

However, 20% protection from all weapon and mine damage is definitely overpowered. Thank God they toned that down to 15%.

 

The protection levels on the exclusive paint is broken early-game, but when you get to the point where paints provide 30%(or more) damage reduction from this and that, you'll realize that you're looking at two different styles of protection: one with a broad, but shallow spectrum; another with a narrower, but more specialized one.

 

Besides that, we're lucky that TO is relatively free-rider friendly. We have access to most features (exclusive paints, spectator mode, ban commands, et.c.) without paying, and that includes drugs. You make it sound as if drugs were bought with hard cash, which is not the case. While the game is indeed unfair to those that don't pay, it's because TO needs to give reasons for people to pay and keep it running, and those people are the ones you are condemning for causing this fiasco.

[dilsharox 2,395]

True

[KrystenHunt16 128]

Just thought I'd mention -- there's also the matter of XT items. Those items used to be extremely rare (I've actually never seen any Gissmo with them. But from what I take it, it's very hard to earn them. Now that Premium Accounts are a thing, the XT items aren't going to be as rare anymore, and in fact are probably going to change the tide of events such as Esports (as a clan with XT items could probably dominate a clan without them).

[hansn12 371]

Its Business .... Man... they will do everything to seek more buyers , more buyers = more profit and more development in business and in business community not (En) 

Edited October 13, 2015 by hansn12

[KrystenHunt16 128]

Its Business .... Man... they will do everything to seek more buyers , more buyers = more profit and more development in business and in business community not (En) 

Maybe so, but a lot of the recent updates (as I pointed out) only serve to cater to those buyers, whilst making it hard for those who don't pay to play. And like I also stated, when the updates came out, it received so much negativity that they removed the down-vote button entirely!

[ZRichard123 28]

i agree with you, tanki is free to play, but...

 

PAY-TO-WIN

[fordmustang12345 3,910]

I agree that the premium accounts are unfair but supplys are part of the game and anyone can buy them/earn them and use them. But I really don't like the current missions its not fair that they decreased them 50% cause they weren't getting the same amount of money

[FX011 1]

Considering the game is headed in this direction i'm assuming the changes were made to help complete and support TO unity, i can imagine unity  using more resources + license for PC,smartphone and possibly consoles compared to flash so do you all still oppose the changes? I'm no dev but iv got some experience in marketing, it's certainly going to cost more keeping both TO Flash and Unity up for the player base.

[projectkronos 24]

Basically you're not willing to pay any money and you're real mad about that. The game is not pay-to-win. There is a difference between "pay to get some minor advantage" and "battle is decided entirely by how much money you spend. Buying more crystals won't unlock your new gun any faster, and +50% crystals and XP just means you'll progress 1.5 times as fast.

 

 

But the FINAL STRAW for me was reading a comment by one of the Tanki mods. I'm not going to name him as I don't want to be disrespectful, but you know who you are (and if you want to admit it, go for it):

 

"Ok, so make everyone pay $10 USD a month to play tanki and do away with drugs, and mu's, and paints, and anything else that gives players an advantage... and all the players who have never paid anything to tanki but who love to whine a lot...

 

-or-

 

Nobody pays anything and the game closes

 

-or-

 

Keep the game like it is. It is doing fine.

 

Mind you, this is a post from a businessman, not a player!

This part is funny. You get mad that a Tanki mod tells it to you like how it is. Either a game charges an entry fee, or it has microtransactions, (or it annoys the crap out of you with ads), or it goes bankrupt. You can't get something for nothing. Well, in this case you actually are since buyers are so nice as to pay your share of the game.

 

The only real legitimate gripe you have is the one about the paint, but tbh I wouldn't be too mad if that was Generalissimo only, that seems pretty balanced up there but would be a little bit pay to win in really low ranks.

[Maf 32,300]

OK, let me break this down for you...

 

Let's look at some of the changes that have happened recently:

 

1- Change in balance to make the non-popular turrets popular (which means more players spending money to get the good turrets, and the players spending no money get the crappy turrets.

 

2- Change to PRO passes and private battles to make players pay more money for battles that don't include drugs (yes, you have to pay crystals to play in a battle without drugs).

 

3- Removal of crystal drop boxes in matches to force players to finish a battle to (maybe) collect the crystals at the end of a battle.

 

4- Removal of Daily Rewards to make players perform Daily Missions to earn tons of drugs and unfair advantages. The players who don't play Daily Missions ended up buying more crystals to get the drugs that they would have had if Daily Rewards hadn't been removed.

 

5- Newly-announced Premium Accounts that give players unfair advantages. (And no matter what you say, you'll never convince me that a 20% DEF boost against ALL turrets and mines is not unfair).

 

6- Players didn't like some of the updates and started downvoting them, so Tanki removed the downvote button! (it's not like they listen to the forum posts anyway).

1. This is something that is required to happen every now and then to make the game work. It's very difficult to achieve perfect balance, which is why some turrets always end up being more powerful than others, even though in theory (when balance was calculated) they all seemed equal. I doubt that balance changes are specifically biased to make players buy powerful guns every time.

 

2. This is something that exists is almost all free games and software. Playing Tanki Online for free is like using a trial version of the program, which is given for free, PRO battles are like an expansion pack, that gives you new features, variety and customisation options. Tanki is actually quite generous in that sense because those "extra features" can be bought for a fairly low price of in-game currency by free players, whereas for other programs you almost always have to pay real money to get them.

 

3. Crystal drop boxes have nothing to do with forcing players to buy. They were causing sabotage in battles and their removal helped the game become more interesting, fair and competitive.

 

4. Daily Missions are actually a benefit to players with only one account. With Daily Reawrds, players used to create many accounts and accumulate thousands of supplies by collecting the rewards every day on all accounts, but playing on just one. This resulted in a large number of "druggers", which were a problem for low ranks.

 

5. The paint is the only advantage Premium account gives. And even then, the paint is only 15%, which is rarely better than a normal paint with MUs. It's only a big advantage at low ranks, and not many low ranks will be buying Premium.

 

6. By removing the downvote button players are now forced to explain why they don't like the update in a comment. Leaving a dislike does not help the developers understand what is wrong with a new update.

[Maf 32,300]

 When I first started playing Tanki, it was uncommon for there to be any fewer than 200,000 players online at one time. Now I often see it dip down below 10,000. Is the game really doing well, or are all the free-to-play tankers leaving?

Since Unity is coming soon and this version is becoming "outdated", Tanki marketing team removed all forms of advertisement because there is no point attracting players into an old version, when you are already making a new one. This is normal and expected. In fact, the game is actually doing better than expected - the initial predictions showed that only about 30k people would be going online daily, but the number is more than double that.

 

 

You could:

 

- Nerf the effects of drugs (just look anywhere in the Ideas and Suggestions section and you'll find plenty of great suggestions for this)

 

- Nerf Premium Accounts (seriously, 20% defense to ALL, plus +50% XP, and +50% crystals? That's just cruel)

 

- Bring back Daily Rewards (and possibly keep Daily Missions as well for those players who want to go 'above and beyond')

 

- Make non-drug battles free (playing in battles without players with unfair advantages should be the norm, not a privilege)

 

- Bring back the down-vote button, and ACTUALLY LISTEN TO US!

 

1. Not going to happen. You can get enough supplies by completing daily missions, while the Smart Cooldowns update already gave supplies a big nerf. Weakening them even more will just make drugs pointless to use.

 

2. 20% is 15% and is not an advantage (see above). The bonus crystals and XP cancel each other out, so it's not an advantage over other players, but merely allows players to save time and "complete" the game faster.

 

3 and 5. Those things are in the past. They were removed for a reason and will not be brought back.

 

4. One of the reasons why non-drug battles are free is because in normal battles you enter for free, but "pay" by using supplies, while in PRO battles you pay with crystals, but save supplies. This won't change.

[ww75 45]

daily missions are waay better,i averge 2k a dayfor 30mins worth of matches

[ww75 45]

TO has always been pay to win but I disagree with drugs nerf. No way

 

if you wanted to get drugs,cry etc. they you could or pay 10 bucks now and get it instantly

[Lankbouv 6,347]

About simply the Premium account let me just say that yes it is unfair!. But it has to be unfair. If it did not give buyers a bit if an advantage they have no reason to buy it!

 

It's not too unfair I don't think. And it is limited length use.

[genak138 950]

No, Tanki is not becoming Pay-to-Play. Here I am, not spending a penny, but still having a blast. All you really need is a positive attitude and a will to have fun :)

Or at least not be so darn cynical <_<