| Tanki Online | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developers | АlternativaPlatform |
| Publishers | AlternativaPlatform |
| Engine | Alternativa3D 7 |
| Platforms | Adobe Flash |
| Release dates | 2008 |
| Genres | Massively multiplayer online game, Third-person shooter |
| Modes | Multiplayer |
| Distribution | Web interface Adobe Flash |
Gameplay
Gameplay is organized into matches (battles), in which players each command their tank to accomplish a set goal. The game features four game modes: Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the flag, and Control Points.
Players may enter or leave a battle at any time, via the main lobby.
However, entering a battle late usually results in a lower score and
fewer crystals rewarded. Battles begin immediately when they are
created, regardless of whether the teams are balanced and/or the battle
has the maximum allocation of players (however, the countdown in a timed
match does not begin until at least one tank joins the battle). The
battle ends when the timer reaches zero. A new update in the game adapts
the timer in battles with obvious outcomes, causing the battle to end
earlier.
Battles take place across a variety of "maps",
most of which are player-contributed while some of them are designed by
professional in-game map-designers. Each map is distinct and creates a
different style of gameplay. Different maps also favor different weapons
e.g. the smaller maps favoring the close-range weapons, and vice versa.
Most maps come in both a "summer" and a "winter" mode, each mode using
different buildings and landscapes; "night" and "day" modes also exist.
In addition to selecting the map and mode, battles, which are
user-created, have another setting called "PRO." This setting lets
players turn on and off such settings as "friendly-fire" and
"auto-balance". There are also drop boxes that fall from the sky and
contain certain boosts when collected. Some of these boosts speed up the
player's tank, some make the player's turret do double damage, some
make the player's hull have double armor, and some heal the player's
tank. All boosts eventually wear off.
Garage and currency
In battles, players can buy upgrades and bonuses in the "Garage"
(supplies & pass), with an in-game currency called crystals.
Crystals used to be earned by collecting boxes that were periodically
dropped onto the map with parachutes, now they only can be earned by
finishing a battle and gaining splits from the "Battle Fund".
Battle Fund is gained by kills, controlling points, and flag
capturing. The overall battle fund is located in the Bottom right corner
of the game, and will be split accordingly based on the scores of a
player
One particular and rare type of crystal boxes is the gold box, worth
1,000 crystals. A gold box is triggered by the battle fund, and has a
1/7000 chance per battle fund of dropping. When a gold box is about to
drop, an area on the map lights up with the gold box symbol. That is
where the gold box will be dropped. A notification sign also appears on
the screen of the player that says "Gold Box will be Dropped Soon".
In the Garage, players can buy turrets, hulls, and paints as well as
upgrade them. Five types of supplies, Armors, Damages, Nitros, and
Repair Packs can also be purchased.
Communication
The game has a number of ways in which players can communicate with
each other in the game. Each battle has a built-in game chat, as well as
there being a general chat for the whole of each server for every
player in that server not in a battle to communicate.
The game also has an official forum, which includes clans,
accessible once a certain rank is reached, feature where players can
interact and organize times to play battles together with members of
their own clan.
Contests
Periodically, the administrators of Tanki Online create official
contests and competitions, where players have the ability to participate
in battles, create videos, or produce fan art, all for internal prizes
for the first, second, third, and sometimes fourth and fifth places.
Development
Tanki Online was created in mid-2008 by AlternativaPlatform, located in Perm, Russia.
The game was used to showcase Alternativa's Flash 3D engine for the
web, which was considered cutting-edge technology at the time.
The continuing development of Tanki Online has caught the attention of Adobe Systems, and the companies have jointly used the game to promote the 3D capabilities of Flash.
The developers of Tanki Online announced that they would be moving the game to the Unity
engine in order to enhance the gaming experience and facilitate the
development of Tanki Online for mobile devices and consoles. The
developers had considered the move during early development stages, but
due to the fact that not many computers had Unity installed, they
discarded the idea for the time being. However, seeing as how Unity has
grown, they decided to begin the move this year.
