General observations over the years.

[Beginagain2 7]

I feel compelled to offer some opinions on how Tanki Online has developed over a few years. I don't expect anything to come of this and expect it to be purged quickly.

 

I started playing Tanki on November 3^rd, 2013 with my original account, Sarge5020. I used the railgun which at the time was a very powerful gun. Since that time the admins decided to weaken the gun considerably. Given the time it takes to reload, having a powerful gun was an agreeable trade off.

 

I started over because I started to notice a large gap in ranks and corresponding capabilities of guns. So I chose the Magnum when it became available, again, marketed as the most powerful gun in the game and once again the admins chose to weaken it. Now it takes two, three and sometimes four hits to destroy an enemy tank.

 

The decision to take away the option of players to chose the battles that they want to engage in was, in my opinion, a mistake. Players like choice of battlefields and the ability to create battles in regular play, not just with premium accounts. Some of the improved battlefields are good.

 

The now heavy use of drugs in battles is another counter productive move. I get it that players like having super firepower and almost indestructible tanks. Why not just leave things alone and keep a level playing field where players can work on their skills. I get it too that the admins make more money selling drugs to players and therefore encourage their use. I guess players like the ego boost of being indestructible and wiping out enemy tanks without working on their skills. Going to suck when they leave their parents' basements and go out into the real world.

 

It also seems there is a bias in the game. It seems that teams with predominately Russian players have an edge over other players. They destroy enemy tanks with one shot, takes several hits before getting destroyed. In games where people are assigned a team instead of allowing us to chose, there seems to be a less then honest assignment of players to teams.

 

I get it, it's your game to do with as you chose. It seems to me that there are a lot fewer players these days then there used to be. Maybe I'm not the only one that thinks this way. There are quiet a few tank battle games out there now, maybe you guys should listen to your loyal players. Or not. Your game, your rules.

 

 

[Potdindy 866]

In regards to russians taking over battles, I have been able to go toe-to-toe with them this week. I have also lost most of my games...probly 2/3s because in every game I have players insisting on not using supplies and we get wrecked. Rather than blame the players for one-shotting others and taking extra hits, blame the ones who are not using the supplies they have thousands of.

 

An hour later edit: I have played against Russian players and english players today: The Russian players were mostly a lot tough, and one said that he wanted to cut my kidney out...which is a thing...I guess. The english players were talking about the weather...enough said. Two ppl made friends in the battle

Edited December 16, 2018 by Potdindy

[Guest]

Don't agree with the Magnum part. It wrecked game balance for a while until the modules revamp and it's well-deserved nerf. Now, it's a balanced turret with some OP alts, like Railgun. Other than that though. you just said a good chunk of the community's thoughts right there.

[DieselPlatinum 5,121]

You can still choose maps in pro battles.

 

So you think that people who use supplies don't have skills?

[wolverine848 13,097]

You can still choose maps in pro battles.

 

So you think that people who use supplies don't have skills?

Can't complete missions in Pro-Battles though.

 

Mind you, with the nerf casual players have received with this new mission update, leaving MM for pro-battles is not quite the hardship it would have been, crystal-wise.

[AbsoluteZero 3,729]

It also seems there is a bias in the game. It seems that teams with predominately Russian players have an edge over other players. They destroy enemy tanks with one shot, takes several hits before getting destroyed.

Having an m4 garage at my disposal for a few years now, I know what damage I'm capable of inflicting and what damage I'm capable of recieving and there is a definite mismatch. I'm no slouch when it comes to playing this game. I've said for a long time now, a disparity exists and some players do have an element of god-mode about them. I've not said anything about this in the forum myself but I've wanted to.

 

It's hard to pinpoint where the bias exists because lag will always be blamed for many things.

 

Things like acceleration, impact force, weight, range, the ability to recover from being flipped etc, are just some examples of where advantage could be easily given to certain players and taken away for others. The random nature of damage and the lack of tranparancy in terms of numbers doesn't help. I'm not suggesting there is a conspiracy but the number of encounters where I come off worse when I shouldn't does seem to disproportionately high. This is even more so of late to the point now where I am no longer confident of winning a 1 on 1 encounter with anybody.

 

Then there are some players who just will not die no matter what. They can plough through half a dozen mines, cruise in to the flag and waltz out with it despite many attempts from several players around them whereas I hit one mine and I perform a backwards flip that would get a 10.0 score from any olympic judge.

 

One thing I'd like to do is join a group of players who can record their battles, we could then organise and have a split or quad screen of angles of certain events to see what is going on. I'd also like more transparancy from the devs. A number on my health bar wouldn't go amiss.

 

As always, things like this will get dismissed from some forum goers and mods but some things are definitely off in this game and confidence in it for many players is diminishing and we know what that leads to.

[Hancho 3,902]

The Russian players were mostly a lot tough, and one said that he wanted to cut my kidney out...which is a thing...I guess. 

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  that actually made me laugh

[wolverine848 13,097]

People who have 1000's of mines and won't use them. If everyone would drop mines around the frag every time they spawn it would make winning a lot easier.

 

There is a name for that: it is called cheating. Like when a Russian gang member come to the flag, runs through 4 mines, is getting constantly shot by 4 people guarding the flag, and then simply drives off with your flag and caps it.

 

Cheating is the name of that.

I find this usually to be a Hunter-Twins ... somehow survives the fire of 4 defenders.  It's mind-boggling.

[splitterpoint 10,986]

Mr.Zero is right, there might be more hackers among us than we know of. Now with so much parameters, it's possible to do some sneaky hacks here and there. Just about enough to get an advantage; most of it hidden by lags.  

 

it's a constant fight between the developers and the hackers. A 100% hacker proof game code does not excist. 

Sure invincibility and speed hacks are too obvious and a thing from the past. Even if they were to crack a piece of game code, players would find out and record their encounter... But 100% hacker free? I don't know man.. 

[Daxx20 0]

I agree with the initial opinion and a lot of the meanings in the further posts, but I disagree with teh interest of the developer to stop hacker. The interest of the Developer is just optimizing the money flow only, if Hacker can increase the use of druggs and subsequent the investment of money to buy more, then why should they have to stop them?

Because of this possible intention,  in my eyes,  they downgraded the game play, the fun into the game, the corporation of the players among each other step by step with every "update".

I agree to zero, weaken the existing and prefered weapon let they player move over to aanother turret which promise better hitrates with less effort. But how do you get the chrystals for that? Possibly by investing money for it instead. All the promises to balance the weapons is just the desired attempt to optimize the money flow into the game.

 

The players running away, the non-existing fun any longer makes it easy to quit the game for everything except some minutes of testing in between if the prior feelings and fun might be back.... but so far... Computer says no....

[splitterpoint 10,986]

I agree with the initial opinion and a lot of the meanings in the further posts, but I disagree with teh interest of the developer to stop hacker. The interest of the Developer is just optimizing the money flow only, if Hacker can increase the use of druggs and subsequent the investment of money to buy more, then why should they have to stop them?

 

Because hackers make for a bad game experience. If they weren't constantly optimizing the game code, this place would be full of hackers and a lot of people would leave, there's no money to earn when your entire player base is gone. 

[Dliver 436]

Because hackers make for a bad game experience. If they weren't constantly optimizing the game code, this place would be full of hackers and a lot of people would leave, there's no money to earn when your entire player base is gone. 

Seems that you just made a very good argument for one reason why many players have left and are continuing to leave. One huge problem is the proliferation of hackers and cheats which Pony Tail Boy and the Devs choose to ignore.

Edited December 21, 2018 by Dliver

[Daxx20 0]

Because hackers make for a bad game experience. If they weren't constantly optimizing the game code, this place would be full of hackers and a lot of people would leave, there's no money to earn when your entire player base is gone. 

 

Hmm, who is optimizing the game code for what? and sorry to say they are not interested into the Player base, when they are not paying!!

If they would, then we have  the features available already in 2015 with some new stuff. But most of the things beyond 2015 is degrading the gameplay,  forcing the Players  to invest cash/crystals into Features which were already available before for free or they add a new step of Feature never available before which let you pay again.  They optimized the "Balance" so existing weapons were degraded to force the Player to buy other turrets, which had surprisingly now advantages from one day to another compared to the earlier dominant weapon :-)

 

Think of the available maps and where the others former cool maps are now? The time where you could choose the Server, the free choice of what game you want to enter, dozend repeating games with the same Group of Players with nice Chats in between aso. No longer possible except you pay for that.

 

Free Features before, where shifted into the "you have to pay for that" section. Additional "updates" appear which let you pay again, otherwise you were beyond others, who were willing to pay for that...

I am not willing to pay, but others invest unbelivable amount of Money for this stupid game,  but they can't win, because they will never be at the end, because they have to pay infinite for the next new things and if they don't do that , others will do so!!

 

So in sum when you add everything together, the game idea was nice, years the gameplay was nice as well, but in the Moment they decided to  prey the Players, it is better to remember the good times and leave your wallet closed.

 

RIP

 

[splitterpoint 10,986]

Seems that you just made a very good argument for one reason why many players have left and are continuing to leave. One huge problem is the proliferation of hackers and cheats which Pony Tail Boy and the Devs choose to ignore.

A huge problem?

 

Ignoring is no option.. no online game survives without constant tweaking of the anti-cheat system.

 

Hmm, who is optimizing the game code for what? and sorry to say they are not interested into the Player base, when they are not paying!!

That is not true and you know it.

 

If they would, then we have  the features available already in 2015 with some new stuff. But most of the things beyond 2015 is degrading the gameplay,  forcing the Players  to invest cash/crystals into Features which were already available before for free or they add a new step of Feature never available before which let you pay again.

I agree, some of the turrets were nerfed or even parameters fully removed, unnecessary splash damage etc.. later you could fill that up with alterations, feels like you're never done upgrading.

 

And then they say 'oh yeah but look at the EULA' A cheap way out if you ask me. Like as if some stupid generic EULA rule can drastically alter your turret you've spend thousands of crystals in.

 

 

 

Think of the available maps and where the others former cool maps are now? The time where you could choose the Server, the free choice of what game you want to enter, dozend repeating games with the same Group of Players with nice Chats in between aso. No longer possible except you pay for that.

Could be me but I prefer this matchmaking system. No constant search for blowouts anymore. Agree on the maps, it gets repetitive.. they should add more maps to it. On the other hand I didn't saw much map variety in the battle list either. Players were constantly playing Serpuhov and Silence. I have no idea why.

 

 

Free Features before, where shifted into the "you have to pay for that" section. Additional "updates" appear which let you pay again, otherwise you were beyond others, who were willing to pay for that...

I am not willing to pay, but others invest unbelivable amount of Money for this stupid game,  but they can't win, because they will never be at the end, because they have to pay infinite for the next new things and if they don't do that , others will do so!!

That's a good thing right? In the end we all end up with M4's.. the only end game feature are drones and you can (still) overcome them with skill. (For whatever skill there's left in the dumb brawl fights here) Drones are for maxed out legends anyway.. way too expensive for the normal user. I don't use drones and I end up first 90% of the time.

 

Play better than others.

 

 

So in sum when you add everything together, the game idea was nice, years the gameplay was nice as well, but in the Moment they decided to  prey the Players, it is better to remember the good times and leave your wallet closed.

They don't prey anyone. They made more ways to get you on the path of spending. But leave the whole shop aside and just play. People need to step the hell up and get out of their damn victim role because there's so much possible without money. Do your missions and earn your crystals.

[wolverine848 13,097]

Could be me but I prefer this matchmaking system. No constant search for blowouts anymore. Agree on the maps, it gets repetitive.. they should add more maps to it. On the other hand I didn't saw much map variety in the battle list either. Players were constantly playing Serpuhov and Silence. I have no idea why.

You are right - you don't have to search for blow-outs.  Match-maker does this for you automatically.

 

There's nothing like being placed on the losing team in a 5-0 battle with 2 minutes left. <_<

 

Should be no problem getting 2-3 stars and finishing that top-3 winners-team mission...

 

 

All joking aside there are just as many blow-outs in MM as there were with battle list.  At least with battle list those crappy battles ended early.  Not so with MM.  Instead it plays out the battle like a funeral march, and any players who refuse to be a punching bag are replaced by some more cannon-fodder with 3 minutes to go.

[splitterpoint 10,986]

All joking aside there are just as many blow-outs in MM as there were with battle list.  At least with battle list those crappy battles ended early.  Not so with MM.  Instead it plays out the battle like a funeral march, and any players who refuse to be a punching bag are replaced by some more cannon-fodder with 3 minutes to go.

But the games won't die and the fund is not as terrible as what it used to be.. there's no stopping blowouts anyway.

[DieselPlatinum 5,121]

But the games won't die and the fund is not as terrible as what it used to be.. there's no stopping blowouts anyway.

Now we just need to make juggernaut, Asl, rugby exclusive to pro battles and wait times will shorten a bit.

[GorgoBlesk 831]

Now we just need to make juggernaut, Asl, rugby exclusive to pro battles and wait times will shorten a bit.

RGB is OK, ASL and JGR are rubbish. Leave RGB in MM and put the rubbish away.

[DieselPlatinum 5,121]

RGB is OK, ASL and JGR are rubbish. Leave RGB in MM and put the rubbish away.

How is rugby ok? It's practically a reverse version of ctf, except with only one ball and it drops out of the sky.

[GorgoBlesk 831]

How is rugby ok? It's practically a reverse version of ctf, except with only one ball and it drops out of the sky.

CTF often turns into a sniping battle, RGB does not. There are usually no Shafts in RGB.

[wolverine848 13,097]

But the games won't die and the fund is not as terrible as what it used to be.. there's no stopping blowouts anyway.

When the battle is so unbalanced it does not matter if the batte-funds are being distributed better than before...

1) While getting spawn-killed you are not generating a score. No score = no payout from battle-fund

2) When battles are going very poorly - many players will just leave battle rather than stick around as a punching-bag

 

Maybe blow-outs can't be removed entirely.  But they can be reduced in frequency and early-battle termination would mean it's not 3 minutes of 8 vs 4.

 

Oh... and tighten up the rank-spreads.  That will help reduce unbalanced battles.  MM is terrible at picking teams, so - make sure players are ALL relatively close in power.

 

RGB is OK, ASL and JGR are rubbish. Leave RGB in MM and put the rubbish away.

Match-maker has players spread too thinly.  Only core modes (DM, TDM, CTF and CP) should be part of MM.

Players want to play those other off-modes?  Buy a Pro-Battle pass.

 

Having good quality MM battles far outweighs being able to choose those extra modes that many people dislike.

[DieselPlatinum 5,121]

CTF often turns into a sniping battle, RGB does not. There are usually no Shafts in RGB.

It really doesn't matter how they are spawn killing the other team, it still happens nonetheless.

[splitterpoint 10,986]

When the battle is so unbalanced it does not matter if the batte-funds are being distributed better than before...

1) While getting spawn-killed you are not generating a score. No score = no payout from battle-fund

2) When battles are going very poorly - many players will just leave battle rather than stick around as a punching-bag

 

Maybe blow-outs can't be removed entirely.  But they can be reduced in frequency and early-battle termination would mean it's not 3 minutes of 8 vs 4.

 

From personal experience, I don't really mind the blowouts as much as I used to now that they decreased the battle duration and there's less at stake. But I see what you mean; spawn killing is super annoying. There's no way to go and make score when your base is full of enemies. 

 

 

--

 

Hacks or lags?

 

[DieselPlatinum 5,121]

CP battle spawn killing happens less than all the other team battle modes. And I think it's probably because some maps there is a lot of points to capture, where as in the other modes, there is only cap flags, score goals, or just kill. Which isn't a whole lot of things to do.

[TheCongoSpider 8,957]

How is rugby ok? It's practically a reverse version of ctf, except with only one ball and it drops out of the sky.

Rugby is my favourite game mode to play. When it came out, it was the mode I would, on average, get the most score in. 

 

Plus, it is quite fun and it is very rewarding when you make great passes and plays with the ball.