Armored Warfare Criticism / Suggestions: 2017

So it has been over 1 year that I played Armored Warfare and whilst I followed the forum more or less throughout my journey, I was quite surprised once I actually played it yesterday. So let us see what I have to tell, probably nothing new to guys who kept playing the game.

First impression

Well the new garage UI felt uncomfortable to me, like I didn't understand this move beforehand as I have never seen complaints about it, at least in the western forum. It looks like it has big empty spaces and to scroll down every little information in a small window didn't seem right to me, and the vehicle selection, is rather bad, as you either use the search system or scroll and scroll through the single index.
So in general I don't like the new UI.

I played a few games and what can I say, I didn't enjoyed one single game nor vehicle nor map. Everything felt difficult, confusing and less comfortable in the way I was used to remind myself of playing AW. The sounds are still bad, no synced to what you do nor unique.
The sound in general is not synced and often I heard smoke being launched while no one was close by nor did I use it. The shooting or aiming felt unintuitive since they changed the system, same goes for the accuracy where you had maybe slightly too much for some vehicles, but now it was like more RNG is involved than before. Probably just because I wasn't used to it, but to me it felt not enjoyable at all.

The MM and the balance or the power creep seems not being fixed or it gotten worse actually, besides the maps felt really small in that sense, that they are stacked with objects and there is no space to move nor to snipe or make use of speed and distance itself.

My first conclusion after I played like 10 to 15 games where I lost 90% which didn't bother me too much, I deleted the game actually for the first time ever since I joined the game. I simply didn't enjoyed it as much as I did in the past.

Thoughts

I think I said enough regarding the UI, didn't like it, felt unnecessary to me.

Retrofits were supposed to be different than just installing some tools to make your tank better, they reflected a part of diversity, where you could do so much more, which were all suggested. Here some basic thought about what you could have done.
Class restricted layouts for the different kind of retrofits, so you actually can't just go for damage or whatever. Role and class bonuses to certain use of retrofits. Like AFVs have a technology bonus for example, so they get more effective with using them over other type of retrofits.
I can agree that the way you unlock them could have been done differently, albeit I really liked that people who are keen or willing to adapt or be an all rounder get rewarded more for those who play just 1 class, but that is my opinion.
The effectiveness of retrofits and their price now are a huge burden and mistake. Just go with 3 stages of retrofits, the first has a minor bonus, no flaw, the second has a medium bonus and a minor flaw, and the third has a big bonus but a medium flaw besides it. You can balance the flaw and bonus together, so you have diversity and a complex part of the game.
What we have now is just a step backwards. It is just bad

Permanent camouflage for gold is unnecessary, and yes people complaint about the high price in credits for permanent camo, but hey would you rather pay money for it, or just select and grind it out ?

The ready rack or autoloader system is like I am out of Facepalms at the moment. In WoT they caused a huge mess, as they are either too powerful, aka they spit out too much damage, or they had no advantage over a single loader in that sense. Their way of balancing has only a thin line for being not too OP or UP, and with the experience of balance in AW, you better keep those out of the game or only for those vehicles who actually have something like a Drumloader.

Aiming, accuracy, ammunition and the use of autocannons seem not going in line for a good game play as far as I have seen it. Played quite a few games with AFVs and what can I say, had no joy in playing them. I actually didn't want to give myself time to get used to the ATGM spam or the autocannon mechanics, as I couldn't overcome the discomfort in this whole system and change. Accuracy like mentioned before, needed a change and probably a cap at some point, but now it felt awkward and with the ammunition changes I couldn't simply come along.
It is fairly simple I'd say, strong front for most vehicles, weaker side, and weak back. Of course you can balance it a bit left and right, but basically this works and yes most MBTs have weak sides towards the likes of some 30mm and definitely 35mm +. The pixel hunting isn't a good way to play the game, nor is it enjoyable for me if I'd play MBTs, which I did, but not on tiers where pixel hunting was necessary, nor did I play MBTs in higher tiers because of it. I enjoyed other classes more for their outplay potential which somehow feels been taken away now.
I think most of the points here are rather my low amount of patience and that I just don't felt comfortable or joy in general.

Maps are another concern and well, they are still small, and for 1 year there didn't seem to be a lot of progress in size, quality and reworks. I am fine with a low amount of maps actually, as long as each of them is good, which wasn't the case in the past and as it seems it didn't change a lot.

Economy is where I can't tell too much, didn't used insignias or crates as that update came after I left, and I didn't had premium time though and wouldn't use it anyway. I only bought the LOW package and the rest I got out of being in the Focus Group or events.

As you have seen that I wrote more off a rant for their cash grabs, as I felt, every second news is another cash grab, I actually got into trouble as I was part of the Focus Group and they didn't liked what I wrote. Nonetheless my concerns and opinion stands right there. I still think that they have way too many cash grabs and admit it or not, but folks who are still buying that stuff shouldn't even raise their voice once the game goes down or the way it was heading down south.
AW passed the point where an investment from a logical point of view is recommend, since the past changes in development and the experience with Russian games in general seem more likely that they are just milking everything out of you, or do you think that 1 cash grab per week is a good way to promote the game and the game play when there is no new content for ages, and events are still not running perfectly or that they are not learning out of their mistakes for 2 years or more by now.
I agree give them time to set up their events, tools, and storyline, but you simply can't have a million chances to do so.
Personally I got the best value out of my LOW package.

Almost forgot about the MM. +-2 spread with the current design as far as I understood the game play, well donezo, not good, doesn't work for me, trash and so on.

If you are interested in my point of view or opinion for something I missed out here, let me know.

Conclusion

I deleted AW, as I didn't found a single reason or way to enjoy the game. My friends are gone, the changes in the past for 1 year of development are not existent for the size and money they had for this game. The game play felt strange, slow with a bad focus, and made no sense to me at all. I basically played like a new player with a past experience in tank games, and I simply didn't liked the game.
Unless there are some positive changes and a big step up, there is no way that I play AW again.