Too bad the Dev's of Tanki Don't have this Attitude

[Dliver 436]

I love online gaming and Tanki was one of my favorites. Unfortunately over the years the Dev's have refused to listen to the community and we have seen a constant decline in the number of players. Over and over again the players warned that certain changes would be harmful for the game but Pony Tail Boy and the Dev's refused to listen. It is refreshing to see that this isn't always the case with other Developers. Notice this quote that was just posted in another very popular and successful game that I play (Golf Clash). They were set to have a big roll out of a much vaunted change to the game but the community voiced a negative opinion to it and this was Golf Clash's Devs reaction :

 

The reaction

It’s 24 hours since we announced the feature, and to our dismay, the reaction has been overwhelmingly negative. We know change is hard in online games, and we know sometimes it takes time to get used to new systems, but we didn’t see this response coming. We didn’t plan it, didn’t expect it, and were certainly surprised by it, but we have empathy with the feedback and can understand why so many players feel the way they do.

 

We still firmly believe that the changes we have designed and proposed are the right thing to do for the best mix of strategy, progress and competitive play for Golf Clash. But on the other hand, we respect you, the players so much that we would never blindly release updates to the game that you are so united in your opposition to, even if it’s something we have worked hard on for months. One of Playdemic’s motto’s is ‘Put the player experience above all other considerations’, and this motto feels very appropriate at this time.

 

For this reason, we have therefore decided to not release our update at this time, including both the ‘max curl’ and ‘club bag perk’ solutions. We are instead going to be re-evaluating this feature in the new year to find a solution that works for all our players whilst still helping to achieve our goal of improving the competitiveness of Golf Clash.

 

How refreshing it is to play a game where the Dev's respect their community enough to hold back an update that they have worked hard on and spent tons of time on. And I highlight that they RESPECTED THEIR PLAYERS. That's why they did it. Too bad Pony Tail Boy and the Dev's didn't have the same attitude. Maybe Tanki would still be a great game instead of a wannabe one now.

 

While it is true that they may decide to release this update later. They are , however, listening too and are concerned about how their players and customers feel. As they said, they are not going to blindly release it even though they feel it would be good for the game because of that RESPECT. Pony Tail Boy and the Dev's could learn something from this HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL group of Devs.

[Viking4s 10,791]

Interesting. The only problem is that the game designer do not own the game and do not make decision on what it should be like. If he does it it with the approval of the TO owner. So you can critics them on the bugs and other miss-app but not on the feature itself.

  

Also asking for respect when yourself use a trivial name to describes the game designer is an interesting concept.

As for Golf Clash, it's a golf game, how can they come up with something wrong? lol.

[Dliver 436]

Interesting. The only problem is that the game designer do not own the game and do not make decision on what it should be like. If he does it it with the approval of the TO owner. So you can critics them on the bugs and other miss-app but not on the feature itself.

 

Also asking for respect when yourself use a trivial name to describes the game designer is an interesting concept.

 

As for Golf Clash, it's a golf game, how can they come up with something wrong? lol.

You know I've heard this very same argument before to avoid the issue. To blame someone else and hopefully sweep the problem under the rug. So Ok, I'll lump the owners right in there too. Now let's carry the argument forward. What that means is that the owners of Golf Clash respect their community and the owners of Tanki don't.

 

As for respecting Pony Tail Boy, he hasn't earned any. He has shown nothing but contempt for the Tanki community and in his own words he has made it plain that he holds us with nothing but disdain. So I wasn't asking for personal respect but respect for the whole community. Which Pony Tail Boy and the Devs don't show.

 

Lastly a Tank game is pretty straight forward too and should be real hard to screw up but Pony Tail Boy and the Dev's have managed it.

Edited December 2, 2018 by Dliver

[Pyre 3,485]

 in his own words he has made it plain that he holds us with nothing but disdain.

 

When did this happen?

[Guest]

If I was made the Dev of TO, TO would actually be playable. 

[Guest]

Interesting. The only problem is that the game designer do not own the game and do not make decision on what it should be like. If he does it it with the approval of the TO owner.

 

I'm not sure that's strictly true. What would Tanki's owner (AlternatviaPlatform) understand about the game's direction at this point?

 

I think they'd just let the developer team get on with the perfection of the game and trust them to make the right decisions, coupled with decisions from the other areas like marketing for example.

[Guest]

As much as I agree, the devs of Golf Clash literally just copied Clash Royale and made it golf.

[Viking4s 10,791]

If I was made the Dev of TO, TO would actually be playable. 

lol, with If you can be an astronaut and go to the moon too. If you have nothing useful to say, please spam in the off-topic. TY.

 

I'm not sure that's strictly true. What would Tanki's owner (AlternatviaPlatform) understand about the game's direction at this point?

 

I think they'd just let the developer team get on with the perfection of the game and trust them to make the right decisions, coupled with decisions from the other areas like marketing for example.

The Tanki owners has been managing the game for nearly 14 years now (since 2006) - it employs 50 plus people. Imagine how many other games have been created and are not here anymore since then. If you let your employee take the decision on their own your are not the owner, leave the decision to the player is even worse. TO looks at he feedback and look at the stats, and then make a decision. Of course they can make mistake like any other business, but players too (they don't bare the responsibility if something goes wrong).

They employ people that they trust will do what they have been paid for.

[Guest]

I almost agree with you, but one tiny issue. We chased Hazel out of the forum because we were so toxic. Now, we're getting screwed for it.

 

 

EDIT: Kinda unrelated, but a very interesting post by Hazel. http://en.tankiforum.com/index.php?showtopic=333412&p=5731470

Edited December 3, 2018 by Guest

[Amagi 1,728]

While I do agree that players should have some say on the updates (we're already mass testers at this point), I feel like a good balance must be struck. The only things worse than the devs doing bad updates, is us being part of the problem. After all, its the devs who know their game best(?).

[u812ic 1,629]

How much does AP block implementations to the game? Are the Devs hands tied to the point they have to find "work arounds" for some updates? Does everything that happens to the game have to be passed by AP first?

[Pythor 1,354]

Interesting. The only problem is that the game designer do not own the game and do not make decision on what it should be like. If he does it it with the approval of the TO owner. So you can critics them on the bugs and other miss-app but not on the feature itself.

  

Also asking for respect when yourself use a trivial name to describes the game designer is an interesting concept.

 

As for Golf Clash, it's a golf game, how can they come up with something wrong? lol.

Who is the official TO owner?... Do we even know...

[Dliver 436]

While I do agree that players should have some say on the updates (we're already mass testers at this point), I feel like a good balance must be struck. The only things worse than the devs doing bad updates, is us being part of the problem. After all, its the devs who know their game best(?).

I agree with you on this point. The problem is that the Devs don't listen and in the interviews that Pony Tail Boy has done he has made it plain the he feels that we are clueless and only he has the right vision for the game. So as of now there is no balance. And that is where the problem lies. When we as players point out that certain so called improvements to the game would actually harm the game they don't listen. Even after a change is introduced and it is widely proven by the community to be a bad update they still don't listen. When we point out needed improvements they ignore us and put out another gimmick. That is the main reason you have seen such a decline in the number of players over the years and a lack of attracting new players. They have no respect for the community and have a take it or leave it attitude, and when you have that kind of mind set it's hard to retain players or attract new ones.

[Dliver 436]

I almost agree with you, but one tiny issue. We chased Hazel out of the forum because we were so toxic. Now, we're getting screwed for it.

 

 

EDIT: Kinda unrelated, but a very interesting post by Hazel. http://en.tankiforum.com/index.php?showtopic=333412&p=5731470

The interesting thing about your point is when you go to Pony Tail Boy's post those problems he listed there are still here if not worse. The only one that has gotten somewhat better is that there seem to be (in my opinion) less mults. I attribute that to match making. So once again an admission of failure by Hazel. Back in 2016 you still had around 60000 playing during peak times. Now it's between 25000 to 30000 on average. After all the "improvements" to the game since then, (many of which were unwelcomed by most), I think it shows conclusively what happens when you ignore your player base. Edited December 3, 2018 by Dliver

[Guest]

The interesting thing about your point is when you go to Pony Tail Boy's post those problems he listed there are still here if not worse. The only one that has gotten somewhat better is that there seem to be (in my opinion) less mults. I attribute that to match making. So once again an admission of failure by Hazel. Back in 2016 you still had around 60000 playing during peak times. Now it's between 25000 to 30000 on average. After all the "improvements" to the game since then, (many of which were unwelcomed by most), I think it shows conclusively what happens when you ignore your player base.

I've never seen 60k at peak times in 2016. 

[Dliver 436]

I've never seen 60k at peak times in 2016.

 

My recollection may not be totally accurate. I may have blended 2015 and 2016 together and by the time you joined in Oct 2016 it may have dropped below that point.

[Viking4s 10,791]

Who is the official TO owner?... Do we even know...

It used to be 2 of them: Anton Volkov (wolf) and Alexander Karpovich (karp) (see https://en.tankiwiki.com/History_of_the_Game)

Now it is bit more complicated: 

 

Anton Volkov Co founder and CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is still here.

 

Aleksandr Karpovich - CEO (Chief Executive Officer) till 2016 - Has left the position and now take care of his new baby: Founder of Company BattleWind since 2016 - He is replaced by Maksim Osin - CEO since 2016 – Alternativa Games

 

And there is this guy: Fedor Evseev - CIO (Chief information Officer) since 2014, but not sure how he influence the game direction versus the CEO and CTO.

 

Have fun with the position title Definition and responsability:

CEO: Chief Executive Officer, he is the highest-ranking person in a company or other institution, ultimately responsible for taking managerial decisions.

 

CIO: Chief information Officer is an executive job title commonly given to the person at an enterprise in charge of information technology (IT) strategy and the computer systems required to support the organization's unique objectives and goals.

 

CTO: Chief Technology Officer, a senior executive with responsibility for managing the technological requirements of a company or other institution.

[WhiteAlbatross 30]

I've never seen 60k at peak times in 2016. 

From Christmas day till new year, more than 60k players at peak time.

I remember that there was 50% sale and the garage wouldn't load for hours.

 

I roughly recall striker was introduced around that time, and one of the first "kills contest" was held in those days, get xyz number of kills, and get chance to win fully MUd striker.

 

Also, i think assault mode was first introduced in those days, on yorkshire map. they have change the location of the bases now.

it was still unbalanced back then.

 

those were good days in tanki..

[Guest]

From Christmas day till new year, more than 60k players at peak time.

I remember that there was 50% sale and the garage wouldn't load for hours.

 

I roughly recall striker was introduced around that time, and one of the first "kills contest" was held in those days, get xyz number of kills, and get chance to win fully MUd striker.

 

Also, i think assault mode was first introduced in those days, on yorkshire map. they have change the location of the bases now.

it was still unbalanced back then.

 

those were good days in tanki..

Everyone using striker in the balanced version of ASL, good times.   :wub:

[AbsoluteZero 3,729]

What I imagine...

 

Owner: Revenue is falling, squeeze your players or come up with something new

 

Devs: How about x,y & z

 

Owner: Sounds good - just make sure you can micro upgrade it and ensure Russians get an edge.

 

6 months later Announcement: Thanks for all your recent purchases on soon to be redundant items. Here's some batteries (if you're lucky). Soon we're doing this....

 

1 month later: The much anticipated update you've all been waiting for will soon be in the game!

 

Players 1 month after that: RIP Tanki. Pay 2 Win again. Always shop discounts. What about players who don't spend much?

[Dliver 436]

Hmmmmmmmm, Over the last few weeks I've been watching the number of players playing and have noticed after the much vaunted update to overdrives and the roll out of Mobile TO, the numbers haven't really changed. In fact it seems that they're starting to drop again. How can that be under the leadership of Pony Tail Boy?

Edited December 12, 2018 by Dliver