We know where the keys to the tank are: how was the Tanker's Day in Minsk

A tent for 120 computers, a virtual tank and computer game developers as "headliners". This is not a festival for geeks and not a Russian kind of "comic con".

(13 photos in total)

On September 9 and 10, Minsk celebrated the Tanker's Day, which this year coincided with the 950th anniversary of the city. One of the main organizers was Wargaming, the developer of the computer game World of Tanks. Together with the Minsk City Executive Council, Wargaming organized a large-scale celebration for the residents of the city in Victory Park.

Front Album

45 entertainment zones were organized for the festival visitors. The most important platform of the holiday was the stand of the interactive project "Front Album". Here they collected the stories of loved ones who contributed to the common Victory in May 1945. More than a thousand personal stories were collected by the organizers even before the event.

Virtual Tank

The visitors of the festival had the opportunity to be inside a real tank. Back in 2015, together with the largest tank museum in Bovington (UK), Wargaming presented a virtual tank "Sturmtigr". It can be seen using virtual HoloLens glasses and a tablet based on Google Tango technology. The exhibit is not static — it drives, shoots, visitors can approach it and see what's inside, where the ammunition is, how the driver's seat is located. 

In 1943, Germany created 18 such monster machines armed with naval jet bombs. But only two tanks survived until the end of World War II — one is located in the German Munster, the other in Kubinka near Moscow. Thanks to AR technology and the developers of World of Tanks, every self-respecting tank museum can get a truly unique exhibit in its exposition. On the Day of the Wargaming City, a virtual copy was presented to the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War.

Game is never over

It would be strange if the chief tank specialist, who organizes a large-scale city holiday, would not make a "curtsy" to his real fans and would not give them the opportunity to recoup right during the event. For these purposes, the organizers have built a huge tent for 120 computers.

And esports professionals had "their own rock and roll." The final of the All-Belarusian tournament "Time of Tanks: Battle of Platoons" was held on the main stage. The winners will go to the final of the tournament, which will be held in November in Yekaterinburg.

Everyone got it

Despite the fact that the developers of a popular computer game have been the main organizer of the holiday for the eighth year in a row, the Tanker Day in Minsk remains a very cozy and family event. This year was no exception. Children's relay races, master classes in yoga, Pilates, and dance were held on the territory of the park. There you could also find a TRP zone, a children's maze from the constructor, a whole trampoline park and a huge number of food courts.

By the evening, the developers were replaced by musicians: the bands 5'NIZZA, "Without a Ticket" and "Underwood" performed on stage. Together with them, the grown-up generation of the 2000s was pleased with Nike Borzov.

Finally, it seems very important to us to say that this is really cool. When the Tanker's Day is a holiday for everyone, when gamers arrange not only esports championships, but also festivals even for those who have nothing to do with virtual reality. When the sky above the head is illuminated only by volleys of festive fireworks.