Jedi Spotlight: Spider Tanks

Intro

Prepare for an electrifying Yoda Labs Spotlight!

Today, we're thrilled to welcome Levi/ChairBandit, Product Lead of Spider Tanks. We'll start with a deep dive into the game's introduction before jumping into an exclusive interview with ChairBandit himself.

Join us as we uncover the excitement of Spider Tanks! - Play it here

Introducing Spider Tanks

Spiders Tanks, developed by GAMEDIA and published by Gala Games, is a thrilling PvP game that brings intense tank battles to the blockchain gaming world. As one of the largest blockchain game platforms, Gala Games offers players the opportunity to fully customize their tanks, form teams with fellow players, and engage in epic battles.Let’s take a look at the Spider Tanks stats since the game launch in October 2022

You don't need to purchase an NFT to dive into the action. Spider Tanks can be enjoyed for free, allowing players to experience the excitement without any financial commitments. Even better, players can choose to rent tanks from other users, known as 'captains', to enhance their gameplay experience.

The process of renting a tank is incredibly convenient. There's no need to go through the hassle of finding a captain yourself. By simply heading to the garage and accessing the pilot menu, players can customize their tanks and effortlessly borrow a randomly registered tank from the Drop Pod. This unique rental feature allows players to enjoy Spider Tanks as a pilot, without the need for long-term tank ownership.

Get ready to command your own customized tank, team up with allies, and engage in explosive battles in Spider Tanks. Experience the adrenaline rush of PvP combat, explore various strategies, and revel in the fast-paced action that GAMEDIA has meticulously crafted. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a newcomer to the blockchain gaming world, Spider Tanks promises a thrilling gaming experience that will leave you wanting more.

Interview

Yoda: We’re joined today by Levi, the product lead for Spider Tanks. Most in the Spider Tanks community know him by his arena name, ChairBandit.

Greetings, Levi! We're stoked to have you here.

Introducing Spider Tanks to our readers who haven't seen it yet is a priority for us.

So, what inspired Gala Games to bring Spider Tanks as a PvP game in the blockchain gaming world?

Spider Tanks: Well, when Spider Tanks was first being conceptualized, web3 gaming didn’t really offer much… fun. There were some successful games and promising projects, but we wanted to see a fun-first web3 gaming experience that could stand toe to toe with the best traditional titles out there.

Add in that web3 esports was basically non-existent – even though the nature of blockchain works really well with esports – and we knew what type of game the web3 world really needed.

Yoda: This is amazing! How does the rental system work in Spider Tanks and what advantages does it offer to players? Also Can you tell us more about the customization options available for tanks in Spider Tanks and how they impact gameplay?

Spider Tanks: We call the rental system The Pilot Program, and it’s one of the strongest features of Spider Tanks. Tank owners can pop their extra combos into the Drop Pod, then anytime a player enters a match as a Pilot, they have a chance to get that tank. Captains (what we call tank owners) can specify rank requirements, or even send their tank to a specific player.

After a Pilot wins, they’ll split the Victory Points with the owner of the tank. It’s a 50/50 split by default, but Captains can always up the Pilot’s share a little.

As far as customization, every Tank is at its core a weapon and a body. Each of these can be upgraded from level 0 to 30, and they’ll really determine your stats and playstyle. After that, you can slap a skin on there for some extra battlefield bling and a stat boost, then players can also use one accessory that we call a “prop” to get another stat boost, further rounding out their custom build.

Yoda: Great answer! Can you explain the rewarding mechanism in Spider Tanks? For instance, do you have any average play hour - reward ratio you could present to our readers so they can get an idea?

Spider Tanks: That actually depends on a lot of factors. We didn’t ever want Spider Tanks to just be another Defi game, so SILK is intrinsically tied into the game loop itself of upgrading your tank combos over time. In general and all other things being equal, more powerful tanks net more SILK each day. This means as you play more and more, your rewards continue to grow as does the cost to improve. This kind of mechanic is a really traditional path for most games to create fun progression over time, but was oddly missing amongst web3 titles… many of which felt like a money printer with a game attached.

In terms of SILK rewards, those are sent out once per day at midnight GMT. Every win from the previous day you accrue Victory Points. Each win with a tank part in a day will get you a little less than it did the previous win. When the distribution for SILK runs, the total player pool will be distributed evenly throughout all VP from the previous day. When the next day starts, the diminishing returns on each tank part are reset.

How many Victory Points you get per win is a little complex. Primarily, the base amount comes from the level and rarity of your tank. This base amount is then modified based on your rank amongst all players and the “quality” of all upgrades on your tank. That last part is tricky for some people, but basically when you upgrade a tank part, there’s a pretty wide range of power for each upgrade. Then you decide if you’re going to pay components to reroll the upgrade, or take what you’ve got. Perfect tanks take a long time, but it may be worth it for some people to rush up parts that are acceptable, but not great.

Notably, this is the only place the rarity of your tank comes into play. While higher rarities can potentially earn more SILK, they also cost more per upgrade and reroll. This means it’s actually pretty accessible for people to upgrade a perfect common or uncommon and have a better tank than the people with fully level legendaries. This means that there isn’t pay to win on high dollar NFTs. People can still get quite a bit of extra SILK from winning with higher rarities though if they want to put in the work.

Yoda: Great. Levi. What future updates or additions can players expect in Spider Tanks in 2023, and how will they impact the game's overall dynamics?

Spider Tanks: There’s so much coming up that’s super exciting. I don’t really know where to even start, but then again, we never want to promise too much about the future because that limits our ability to pivot to the needs of players and unforeseen challenges.

I can say that there will be a huge update coming to Drop Pods before too long, so that Captains can drop tanks in for more than a day, see more stats from their tanks, and in general have a lot more visibility and control over how their Pilots are doing.

The community has been hosting tons of tournaments since launch, but in the fairly near future we’re planning on getting in-game tourney support to make that experience a little better for everyone. More details coming on that, but this is esports! We want people to be able to create, browse, and compete in tournaments without ever leaving the game window!

Yoda: Let's gear up for some exciting gameplay. But before that, we would love to hear your final reflections. What message would you like to send to our readers?

Spider Tanks: If you haven’t tried out Spider Tanks yet, why not!?

We have a lot of fun in here, and we have a great community that’s really committed to seeing new players succeed. This is one of those 5 minutes to learn, a lifetime to master sort of games. You’ll get in and start having fun right away. It may take some grinding to build the skills compete at the top… but that’s half the fun!

GamePlay

Spider Tanks is a highly enjoyable Play to Earn game that incorporates both fun gameplay and the opportunity to earn rewards. Unlike many other Play to Earn games that focus solely on earning money, Spider Tanks prioritizes the core elements of gaming and provides a balanced experience.

The graphics in Spider Tanks are visually appealing and surpass the quality of other mass-produced Play to Earn games. The overall design is clean and charming, adding to the enjoyment of the game. Additionally, players have the option to customize their tanks' weapons and bodies, allowing for a personalized gameplay experience.

The core of Spider Tanks lies in the fun and diverse options for tank customization and game modes. Players can craft their own tanks in their garage, with the tank's performance being determined by its body, weapon, 1st skill, and 2nd skill. The body attributes, such as defense, speed, and energy recovery, influence the tank's capabilities. The variety of weapons available, ranging from flamethrowers to healing weapons, adds depth to the gameplay.

The weapon attributes further enhance the gameplay experience, with considerations such as damage type, clip size, range, and reload time. The plethora of variables to consider when customizing a tank ensures that each player can create a tank that suits their playstyle.

Skills play a significant role in supporting the tank's characteristics, providing options for offense, defense, and strategic gameplay. The customization options for both tanks and skills allow for a unique and exciting experience with each playthrough.

The gameplay in Spider Tanks is fast-paced and action-packed, with players engaging in intense 3v3 battles in various game modes. The customization options for tanks add a unique element to each battle, allowing players to tailor their playstyle to their preferences.

Choosing the right tank body is crucial, as it determines your tank's armor, speed, and energy. Whether you prefer a nimble tank that can quickly maneuver around the battlefield or a tank with high durability to withstand heavy damage, the choice is yours. The ability to buy, sell, or trade tank parts as NFT assets on the marketplace highlights the importance of digital ownership in web3 gaming.

The game offers a diverse set of modes to cater to different playstyles. If you're in the mood for a straightforward explosive brawl, Team Deathmatch is a mode that sticks to the basics of eliminating your enemies. For more strategic gameplay, modes like King of the Hill and Capture the Flag require teamwork and proper tactics to secure victory.

Check out this awesome team deathmatch video!

One unexpected but entertaining mode is Chicken Chaser, where players control their tanks as they race to collect golden chickens scattered across the arena. It's a unique twist that adds a fun and lighthearted element to the game. Additionally, each tank dropping an egg when destroyed in Kill Confirmed adds a new scoring mechanic, encouraging players to focus on collecting eggs rather than just getting raw kills. Chicken chaser video!

Although Spider Tanks excels in various aspects, it does have its drawbacks. The NFT (Non-Fungible Token) aspect of the game can be a disadvantage for players. High-grade NFT parts, such as bodies and weapons, offer significantly stronger attributes compared to free parts or rented tanks. This discrepancy can give players with high-grade NFTs an advantage, potentially leading to a pay-to-win dynamic.

Furthermore, gaining more victory points, which can be exchanged for SILK tokens, often requires owning a high-grade tank NFT. This can put players who rely on rented tanks at a disadvantage, as the earning potential is lower compared to players with their own NFTs.

Despite these drawbacks, Spider Tanks is undeniably one of the best-designed Play and Earn games available. The overall quality is exceptional, the gameplay is enjoyable, and it offers a fair free-to-play experience. Players can still have a fulfilling experience even with minimal financial investment, making it an excellent choice for Play to Earn enthusiasts.

Outro

Thanks for reading and joining us on this Yoda Labs Spotlight! We hope you enjoyed our deep dive into Spider Tanks and our exclusive interview with Levi!

 Play it here

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