Wargaming.net records

Collection — Container: digital collection

Identifier: 118.2333

Staff Only

The Wargaming.net records contain digital files created by Wargaming.net, a developer of military strategy games. Company history materials include staff member biographies, photographs, project information, and product photographs. Within the marketing and public relations files are press releases, media coverage and awards tracking, project information, and videos. Also included in this collection are photos and videos from conventions, award shows, and events, as well as video interviews with staff members. The bulk of the materials are dated between 2012 and 2018. Additional scope and content information can be found in the Contents List section of this finding aid.

The Wargaming.net records have been arranged into six series, one of which has been further divided into subseries. This digital collection can be accessed on-site at The Strong.

Dates

2009 - 2018

Language

This collection is mainly in English and Russian, with some instances of Japanese, French, German, and other Eastern European languages. These are indicated in the Contents List section of this finding aid.

Conditions Governing Access

At this time, digital videos in this collection are limited to on-site researchers only. It is possible that certain formats may be inaccessible or restricted. Please see The Strong’s Digital Games Files Access Policy.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is open for research use by staff of The Strong and by users of its library and archives. Though the donor has not transferred intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to any copyright, trademark, and associated rights therein) to The Strong, they have given permission for The Strong to make copies in all media for museum, educational, and research purposes.

Extent

815 Gigabytes (Digital collection) : Accessible on-site at The Strong.

Additional Description

Abstract

The Wargaming.net records are a compilation of photos, videos, graphics, presentations, and text documents created by staff at Wargaming.net. Materials include product photos, convention photos, staff information, studio documentation, promotional videos, press releases, and more. The bulk of the materials are dated between 2012-2018.

Historical Note

Wargaming.net (also called Wargaming Group Limited or Wargaming) is a multinational video game company headquartered in Nicosia, Cyprus. They are best known for their award-winning online game World of Tanks.

Victor Kislyi founded game company Wargaming in Minsk, Belarus in 1998. For more than a decade, Wargaming produced turn-based strategy games DBA Online and Massive Assault, later shifting to real-time strategy games such as Order of War. In 2010, Wargaming released its first online title World of Tanks, a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game showcasing mid-20th century combat vehicles; this historical war game is free to play, with users opting in to pay a fee for use of premium game features. World of Tanks benefited from conventional war gamers’ enthusiasm for customizing miniatures and model vehicles. In the game, players selected a nation; outfitted a tank, tank destroyer, or self-propelled gun; and waged war in massive multiplayer battles. Players personalized their own vehicles with camouflage schemes or enhanced weaponry purchased with in-game credits.

The company then capitalized on its gamification of military tanks, developing World of Warplanes and World of Warships. During the 2010s, Wargaming acquired several game studios across the globe (including Lesta Studio in St. Petersburg, Russia; Persha Studio in Kiev, Ukraine; and Edge Case Games in Guildford, England) while establishing new offices in Berlin, Helsinki, Moscow, and the United States.

Wargaming operated its own esports league, the Wargaming.net League, from 2013-2017. The league began with games in the European Union, later expanding to North America and Asia. Seasons culminated in the Grand Finals, with the winning teams earning a significant cash prize.

As of 2019, Wargaming continues to produce gaming experiences and services for players across PC, console, and mobile platforms.

System of Arrangement

Series I: Company history, 2012-2018

Series II: Marketing and public relations, 2009-2018

Subseries A: Marketing projects

Subseries B: Press releases

Subseries C: Media coverage

Subseries D: Awards

Subseries E: Videos

Series III: Conventions and award shows, 2009-2017

Series IV: Events, 2012-2018

Series V: Staff interviews, 2012-2016

Series VI: Player-generated content, 2017-2018

Custodial History

The Wargaming.net collection was donated to The Strong in April 2018 as a gift from Wargaming Group Ltd. The digital files were accessioned by The Strong under Object ID 118.2333 and were received from Tracy Spaight.

Related Materials

The Strong also houses various promotional items for World of Tanks (including Matryoshka dolls, a canteen, and fan-created sculptures) as well as ephemera from company projects. The online exhibit World of War Games: A History of Wargaming was produced by The Strong in 2018.