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Tank! Tank! Tank!

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 10 min

Short description: 2009 video game


Tank! Tank! Tank!
Sales flyer
Developer(s)Namco Bandai Games
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai Games[lower-alpha 1]
Producer(s)Makoto Ishii
Composer(s)Hiroki Hashimoto
Platform(s)Arcade, Wii U
ReleaseArcade
Wii U
  • NA: November 18, 2012
  • PAL: November 30, 2012
  • JP: December 26, 2012
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 2009 third-person shooter arcade game developed and published by Namco Bandai Games. It was ported to the Wii U in 2012, where it was a system launch title in North America. Players control their respective tanks and must destroy opponents and mechanical kaiju with a variety of weapons, such as machine guns and rocket launchers. Its gameplay has been compared to titles such as the Earth Defense Force series, through its usage of B-movie tropes and parodying.

Designed by producer Makoto Ishii, Tank! Tank! Tank! is a spiritual successor to Tokyo Wars (1996), an older Namco arcade game that shared many of the same mechanics and ideas. Ishii wanted to create an arcade game that allowed players to express themselves through its fast-paced gameplay and visuals. He designed it around a vertical-oriented monitor, a concept borrowed from the popularity of Japanese mobile games. As these were often played with a vertical screen, Ishii believed it would automatically make players familiar with the gameplay of Tank! Tank! Tank!. The game underwent a reportedly troubled development cycle.

The arcade version of Tank! Tank! Tank! was well-received, with critics applauding its exhilarating gameplay and wide array of weapons. By comparison, the Wii U version received largely negative reviews, being criticized for its lackluster gamemodes, shallow content, and difficult controls. Several believed that the Wii U port was evident that the game should have been exclusive to arcades. However, it was praised for its concept and graphical style, and was a moderate commercial success in Japan.

Gameplay

The player fighting a swarm of enemy bees in the Wii U version.

The player controls a tank and shoots monsters with ammunition. A player's photo is taken with a nearby camera (dubbed the NamCam) and is used as an avatar to identify each player's tank. Each level contains destructible elements and weapons range from a plasma bolt to a machine gun. Accessories can be added to the avatars, such as military helmets and wrestling masks. Collateral damage against the city background is encouraged in addition to dealing damage to the monsters that inhabit the game. Players can either divide themselves into two rival teams, team up to fight the monsters in a cooperative manner, or fight against each other.

Development and release

Tank! Tank! Tank! was produced by Makoto Ishii, an employee of Namco Bandai Games. Ishii wanted to create an arcade game that allowed players to express themselves through its fast-paced gameplay and visuals.[1] He designed the game around a vertical-oriented monitor, a concept he borrowed from cell phones. As mobile users were familiar with playing games with a vertical screen, Ishii believed that a vertical monitor would automatically make its players familiar with how the game is played.[1] Ishii also felt that the vertical screen tapped into his goal of allowing players to "express" themselves, with its enemies and level geometry being designed to provide a sense of "overwhelming power" for its players.[1] Publications believe that the Earth Defense Force series, published by Namco Bandai subsidiary D3 Publisher, also served as inspiration for the game.[2][3] The soundtrack was composed by Hiroki Hashimoto, who went on to compose the music for Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions (2011) and several tracks for Super Smash Bros. for 3DS (2014).[4] Tank! Tank! Tank! is a spiritual successor to Tokyo Wars (1996), an older Namco arcade game that also involved tanks shooting enemies.[5] It was programmed for the Namco System ES1, a Linux-powered arcade system board.[6] According to Radio Nikkei, the game underwent a troubled development cycle.[7]

Namco Bandai Games demonstrated Tank! Tank! Tank! at the 2009 Japan Amusement Machine Show exposition in Tokyo, presented alongside the lightgun shooter Deadstorm Pirates.[8][9][10] It was released in Japan in October 2009,[11] and in North America and Europe later that year; all three releases were published under the original Namco label.[12][13] In September 2012, a port of Tank! Tank! Tank! was announced for the Wii U as a launch title for the system in North America, which was released on November 18, 2012.[14] It was later released in Europe on November 30 and in Japan on December 26.[15] The Japanese version was originally released as a downloadable free-to-play game on the Nintendo eShop, where the player was able to play through the single-player campaign for free and could buy the other game modes as downloadable content.[15] A physical retail version was later released on February 21, 2013.[15] In Europe and North America, the game became free-to-play on February 14, 2013 and May 2, 2013 respectively.[16][17]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic45/100[18]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer5/10[2]
Famitsu28/40[19]
Game Informer4.5/10[20]
GameSpot4/10[21]
GamesRadar+StarStarHalf star[22]
GameTrailers3.6/10[23]
Hardcore Gamer3/5[24]
IGN5.8/10[3]
JoystiqStarStarHalf star[25]
Nintendo LifeStarStarStarStarStar[26]
Nintendo Power3.5/10[27]
Nintendo World Report4/10[28]
Polygon3.5/10[29]
The EscapistStarStar[30]
Metro3/10[31]

The arcade version of Tank! Tank! Tank! was well-received. 1Up.com writer Justin Epperson enjoyed its general absurdity and its gameplay for being fun and full of frantic, fast-paced action.[8] Staff from Radio Nikkei showed their enthusiasm towards the game's selection of powerful weapons and exhilarating action, writing that it would definitely keep players coming back for more.[32] Game Watch's Toyotomi Kazutaka was particularly fond of the arcade cabinet and its vibrating seats, and liked the gameplay for its exhilarating feel and arsenal of weapons.[9]

The Wii U version sold 40,243 units in Japan, and is one of the top 50 best-selling games for the platform in the country. However, it received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[18] Critics focused primarily on the game's limited amount of gamemodes and content. GameSpot's Britton Peele described it as being "hours of boredom spent playing a game that was never intended to be stretched out for so long."[21] Both Casey Lynch of IGN and Kevin Knezevic of GamesRadar+ disliked the repetition of missions found in the story mode,[3] with Knezevic claiming that the co-operative play only barely alleviated this.[22] Patrick Barnett of Nintendo World Report disliked the story campaign in general for its lack of replay value and variety, as did Peele.[28][21] The controls were also a source of criticism;[22][3] Barnett felt they made the game unnecessarily difficult because of the way they were designed.[28] Most publications agreed that Tank! Tank! Tank! was a shallow port of an arcade game that was simply too low on content to justify a console release.[21][3][2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Released under the Namco brand name.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "１１月１６日番組から [番組スタッフより"] (in ja). Nikkei. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930203313/http://www.radionikkei.jp/bandainamcogames/entry-176198.html. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Donlan, Christian (December 6, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! review". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140916125608/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-12-05-tank-tank-tank-review. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lynch, Casey (December 14, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! Review". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230208121020/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/12/14/tank-tank-tank-review. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  4. ↑ Devore, Jordan (August 22, 2014). "This list of Smash Bros. 3DS composers should make you happy". Gamurs. Archived from the original on February 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230204034355/https://www.destructoid.com/this-list-of-smash-bros-3ds-composers-should-make-you-happy/. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  5. ↑ Jager, Chris (June 23, 2014). "Hey, Tanky Tanky! The Top 6 Tank Games Of All Time". Allure Media. https://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/06/hey-tanky-tanky-the-top-6-tank-games-of-all-time/. 
  6. ↑ Tank! Tank! Tank! operator's manual. Namco Bandai Games. October 9, 2009. p. 68. 
  7. ↑ Seo, Akiko (November 16, 2009). "『TANK! TANK! TANK! 』の秘密。 [瀬尾ちゃん日記"] (in ja). Nikkei. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930211635/http://www.radionikkei.jp/bandainamcogames/entry-175128.html. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Epperson, Justin (September 18, 2009). "New Arcade Games Coming Soon to Japan". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603012309/http://www.1up.com/news/arcade-games-coming-japan. Retrieved September 29, 2020. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kazutaka, Toyotomi (September 18, 2009). "第47回アミューズメントマシンショー開幕 出展規模、タイトル数とも減少も、個性的タイトルが目立つ" (in ja). Impress Group. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170808035533/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/316429.html. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Seinami, Kito (September 9, 2009). "バンダイナムコ、アミューズメントマシンショーに出展 AC「TANK！TANK！TANK！」、「デッドストームパイレーツ」" (in ja). Impress Group. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170808042757/http://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/314456.html. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  11. ↑ "体感型バトルパーティゲーム アーケードゲーム機「TANK!TANK!TANK!」を発売(PDF)" (in ja). October 9, 2009. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312082753/https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/press/pdf/55-011.pdf. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  12. ↑ Tank! Tank! Tank! European promotional flyer. Namco Bandai Games Europe. 2009. https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=6214&image=1. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  13. ↑ Tank! Tank! Tank! North American promotional flyer. Namco America. 2009. https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=6412&image=1. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  14. ↑ Fletcher, JC (September 26, 2012). "Wii U launch supported by 23 day-one releases in North America". Yahoo! Inc.. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120927082654/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/wii-u-launch-supported-by-23-day-one-releases-in-north-america/. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Wii U用ソフト『TANK! TANK! TANK!』の発売日が2013年2月21日に決定！ 12月26日より無料ダウンロード版の配信も！！" (in ja). Famitsu (Kadokawa Corporation). December 25, 2012. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190515172915/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201212/25026539.html. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  16. ↑ Long, Neil (February 13, 2013). "Wii U goes free to play with Tank! Tank! Tank!". Edge (Future plc). Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130218043057/http://www.edge-online.com/news/tank-tank-tank-is-wii-us-first-free-to-play-game/. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  17. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (May 2, 2013). "Tank! Tank! Tank! for Wii U goes free-to-play on eShop". Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181126044945/https://www.polygon.com/2013/5/2/4294174/tank-tank-tank-wii-u-free-to-play-eshop. Retrieved September 30, 2020. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Tank! Tank! Tank! (Wii U)". Fandom. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240524032529/https://www.metacritic.com/game/tank-tank-tank/. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  19. ↑ "TANK TANK！ TANK！のレビュー・評価・感想" (in ja). Famitsu (Kadokawa Corporation). Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190615052402/https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/27592/reviews/. Retrieved September 29, 2020. 
  20. ↑ Reeves, Ben (December 5, 2012). "Tank Tank Tank Review". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/games/tank_tank_tank/b/wii_u/archive/2012/12/05/never-should-have-left-the-arcade.aspx. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Peele, Britton (November 27, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! Review". Fandom. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230923183957/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tank-tank-tank-review/1900-6400617/. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Knezevic, Kevin (November 21, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! review". Future plc. Archived from the original on March 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200330173943/https://www.gamesradar.com/tank-tank-tank-review/. Retrieved September 29, 2020. 
  23. ↑ "Tank! Tank! Tank!". Viacom. December 1, 2012. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130204143821/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/sn7h5l/tank--tank--tank--review. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  24. ↑ Hannley, Steve (November 24, 2012). "Review: Tank! Tank! Tank!". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220528035852/https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-tank-tank-tank/18979/. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  25. ↑ Mitchell, Richard (November 19, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! review: Tread on your head". Yahoo! Inc.. Archived from the original on November 21, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121121211713/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/19/tank-tank-tank-review/. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  26. ↑ Walker, Joe (December 4, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! Review". Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230205195419/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu/tank_tank_tank. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  27. ↑ "Tank! Tank! Tank!". Nintendo Power (Future US) 285: 82. December 2012. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Bar, Patrick (December 4, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! Review". NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230901092420/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/32693/tank-tank-tank-wii-u. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 
  29. ↑ Plante, Chris (December 18, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! review: running on empty". Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211016000029/https://www.polygon.com/2012/12/18/3780864/tank-tank-tank-review-running-on-empty. Retrieved August 22, 2024. 
  30. ↑ Boulding, Jonathan (December 6, 2012). "TANK! TANK! TANK! Review". Gamurs. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130123034453/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/reviews/10080-TANK-TANK-TANK-Review. Retrieved August 22, 2024. 
  31. ↑ Hargreaves, Roger (December 11, 2012). "Tank! Tank! Tank! review – destroy all monsters". Metro (DMG Media). Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301143442/https://metro.co.uk/2012/12/11/tank-tank-tank-review-destroy-all-monsters-3311161/. Retrieved August 22, 2024. 
  32. ↑ "１１月２日番組から [番組スタッフより"] (in ja). Nikkei. November 6, 2009. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929225014/http://www.radionikkei.jp/bandainamcogames/entry-175446.html. Retrieved September 29, 2020. 

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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