Bravetree dropped the ball on TT, imo.
by Tank Dork · in ThinkTanks · 03/07/2008 (2:11 pm) · 11 replies
We have come along way since the release of Think Tanks, I think now is a good time to look back and make observations.
This is my opinion, so feel free to add your own below.
Think Tanks is one of those gems that rarely come along anymore in the computer gaming world. It has tremendous draw and replayability. It is extremely fun and also well balanced. Very few games as cheap to produce as TT can brag about the longevity TT has enjoyed. Even us old timers keep it installed on our PC so we can get a "fix" when the craving hits, no other game I own has stayed installed as long (and I own several thousands dollars worth). The servers stay full, to this day, and new players continually find it via word of mouth and GG.
All this begs the following questions: Why did Bravetree bail out on TT? Did they not see its potential, are the stars they were looking for so far away from where it is? Being an indie game programmer/designer myself I would die to have a product with such a powerfull fan base and longevity. I would revamp it occassionally to stay with the times and would market it as hard as I could afford to. I would have definately added league options and league play, a better game launcher with chat, player PC side stats (goals, kills, etc), and a leaderboard for both BM and Scrum.
It may just be me, but seems like TT had the potential to be 3+ times as big as it ever got. I for one regret this.
Tank Dork
This is my opinion, so feel free to add your own below.
Think Tanks is one of those gems that rarely come along anymore in the computer gaming world. It has tremendous draw and replayability. It is extremely fun and also well balanced. Very few games as cheap to produce as TT can brag about the longevity TT has enjoyed. Even us old timers keep it installed on our PC so we can get a "fix" when the craving hits, no other game I own has stayed installed as long (and I own several thousands dollars worth). The servers stay full, to this day, and new players continually find it via word of mouth and GG.
All this begs the following questions: Why did Bravetree bail out on TT? Did they not see its potential, are the stars they were looking for so far away from where it is? Being an indie game programmer/designer myself I would die to have a product with such a powerfull fan base and longevity. I would revamp it occassionally to stay with the times and would market it as hard as I could afford to. I would have definately added league options and league play, a better game launcher with chat, player PC side stats (goals, kills, etc), and a leaderboard for both BM and Scrum.
It may just be me, but seems like TT had the potential to be 3+ times as big as it ever got. I for one regret this.
Tank Dork
About the author
#2
Are there any plans to update the original, or is it just going to die away once instant action takes over?
Edit: updated my opinion after playing IA a bit.
03/26/2008 (5:21 pm)
Ok, I stand corrected a little. I just got through playing TT on InstantAction and I must say.. wow it has good graphics, Thats about it. Are there any plans to update the original, or is it just going to die away once instant action takes over?
Edit: updated my opinion after playing IA a bit.
#3
03/26/2008 (6:02 pm)
Would be awesome to see the instantaction release ported to PC (Win, Linux) and Macs. The ultimate would be if the ported version and the browser could actually play on the same servers. Talk about cross selling.
#4
the instant action platform is going to allow us to do all the stuff we wanted to do (ladders, clans, etc..). At BT, we were always limited by the amount of resources we could throw at the back end stuff. As part of instant action, we can get all that, and much much more.
how much remains to be seen. We will follow the communities that grow. If ThinkTanks is big on instant action, it will get more attention, more features, and more ongoing support.. if it is limp.. well, then we won't be putting a lot of energy into it.
so, let everyone over at planetthinktanks2 to come over and sign up for instant action, play thinktanks, and get the user base involved and growing. the more action thinktanks sees, the more likely it will get ongoing attention (ideally, a team devoted to upgrading and maintianing it).. but, again, that is all gated on how well it does.
03/26/2008 (7:18 pm)
Hey guys, the instant action platform is going to allow us to do all the stuff we wanted to do (ladders, clans, etc..). At BT, we were always limited by the amount of resources we could throw at the back end stuff. As part of instant action, we can get all that, and much much more.
how much remains to be seen. We will follow the communities that grow. If ThinkTanks is big on instant action, it will get more attention, more features, and more ongoing support.. if it is limp.. well, then we won't be putting a lot of energy into it.
so, let everyone over at planetthinktanks2 to come over and sign up for instant action, play thinktanks, and get the user base involved and growing. the more action thinktanks sees, the more likely it will get ongoing attention (ideally, a team devoted to upgrading and maintianing it).. but, again, that is all gated on how well it does.
#5
1. Lack of scrum games on IATT, most people start one scrum then change to BM so you have to go into 100 games just to find no one is playing scrum, even though they ALL say scrum. A game leader should have to create a new game to change styles. As I am sure if stats had been kept, the reason TT still has so many players is because of scrum. BM is fun.. scrum is challenging.
2. The window is just too small. Being able to play regular TT at 1280x1024 in full screen mode allows me to overlook the eye candy I get in IATT's small window.
(Plus I like the old aiming system better than the new newby friendly one.)
03/27/2008 (7:51 am)
There are 2 reasons I will continue to play the old TT as long as possible and only occassionally play IATT. 1. Lack of scrum games on IATT, most people start one scrum then change to BM so you have to go into 100 games just to find no one is playing scrum, even though they ALL say scrum. A game leader should have to create a new game to change styles. As I am sure if stats had been kept, the reason TT still has so many players is because of scrum. BM is fun.. scrum is challenging.
2. The window is just too small. Being able to play regular TT at 1280x1024 in full screen mode allows me to overlook the eye candy I get in IATT's small window.
(Plus I like the old aiming system better than the new newby friendly one.)
#6
Are you telling the customer how they should play the game or creating a game how the customer likes to play it.
From my perspective, If I have have to use IA in the future, I will sop playing this game.
05/27/2008 (11:35 am)
I guess what you're not getting Joe is that your core group of supporters have no interest in IA. It doesn't fit how the customers like to play thidr games.Are you telling the customer how they should play the game or creating a game how the customer likes to play it.
From my perspective, If I have have to use IA in the future, I will sop playing this game.
#7
Oh well... speaking of which, I can't seem to find Regent X or Planet Think Tanks online anymore. Where do I go to download the updated Mission Files?
Deej
07/03/2008 (1:42 pm)
I just played a few rounds on InstantAction.com and I gotta say, THAT SUCKED!!! The visuals were great! Loved the graphics and all the new features... but the lag was atrocious and shooting system had no control. Didn't like it... not a fan... I prefer the original version!!! I only wish I didn't have to download new Mission Files to play every other month.Oh well... speaking of which, I can't seem to find Regent X or Planet Think Tanks online anymore. Where do I go to download the updated Mission Files?
Deej
#8
Once the eye candy shock wears off, you are left feeling very disappointed.
Edit: Added "currently"
07/05/2008 (12:29 am)
Yeah IA and TT are currently a terrible mix imho.Once the eye candy shock wears off, you are left feeling very disappointed.
Edit: Added "currently"
#9
07/05/2008 (8:16 am)
By the way, Planet Think Tanks and Reagent Xs website seems to have dissapeared from the net! where can I go to downloan the new Mission Files?
#10
As for TT on IA I think it has come a long way, but is still pretty laggy. Hopefully, they will have the ability to dedicated server soon. I did send them the information that a bunch of us figured out to help with lag for the stand alone version. Hopefully it will help.
07/05/2008 (9:52 am)
Hmmm it used to redirect to planetthintanks2.com. Just go to PTT2 and get all the maps, mods, etc. The community and information is still there.As for TT on IA I think it has come a long way, but is still pretty laggy. Hopefully, they will have the ability to dedicated server soon. I did send them the information that a bunch of us figured out to help with lag for the stand alone version. Hopefully it will help.
Associate David Montgomery-Blake
David MontgomeryBlake