Open Your Wallet For War Thunder's Ground Forces Beta

"Load the platinum cannons with the world's largest diamond!"
*Ker-chunk*
"Loaded, sir! But we don't have anything to fire it at."
"You're right, Jiggingtons! We've already blasted a hole where the Mona Lisa's smile should be, and knocked the arms off the Venus de Milo. I need to purchase more art to destroy. Gentlemen, stand down. Amuse yourselves while I'm at the super-secret auction."
"Expositionally well done, sir. Sir, can we play some War Thunder while you're gone? There are tanks in the closed beta, and all you need to do get in is buy a ..."
"Don't be bloody stupid, Jiggingtons! I'm not made of money! Now hand me my ivory backscratcher, and get the man who tells the man who tells the other man to open the door for me. I'm orf."

The previously plane-only online shooter War Thunder has launched the closed beta to the Ground Forces Expansion. There are a few ways to get into the tanks the update brings (the game held a series of daily challenges, but those are now over), and of them is to a purchase an Advanced Tank Expansion. They can be bought at the site and will guarantee you a place in the beta, but not until later in the month. And not without straining your wallet mightily: the cheapest option is $50, and for that you'll receive an exclusive tank, 2000 Eagles (Premium currency, worth about $12), and eventually closed beta access. That is a hefty whack to access something you'll eventually be able to play for free. Why so much? It could either be an attempt to ensure only die-hards get involved, or it's a company who knows they have a large audience who they can make money from.

Here's what you'll get and what you need to pay to get it, but I'd suggest you probably could play other things and wait until you can get access for free.

• M4A2 Sherman Starter Pack (49.99 USD/EUR)
o Exclusive M4A2 Sherman, captured by the German forces, that will be available only for the owners of this pack;
o 2000 Golden Eagles;
o Access to the Closed Beta later in December

• M4A2 Sherman Advanced Pack (59.99 USD/EUR)
o Exclusive M4A2 Sherman, captured by the German forces, that will be available only for the owners of this pack;
o Unique German "Panther" decal of 39th Tank Regiment, 51st Battalion;
o Unique German "Knight with spear" decal of 505th Heavy Tank Battalion, 1944;
o Unique title "Sherman Hunter";
o 3000 Golden Eagles;
o Access to the Closed Beta later in December

• T-34 Advanced Pack (49.99 USD/EUR)
o Exclusive T-34 prototype, that will be available only for the owners of this pack;
o Unique Soviet "Swift" decal of 15th Guards Mechanized Brigade, 4th Guards Mechanized Corps, 3rd Ukrainian Front, 1944;
o Unique Soviet "Circles" decal of 7th Guards Tank Corps, 1945;
o Unique title "T-34 Test Driver";
o 3000 Golden Eagles;
o Access to the Closed Beta later in December

• T-34 and M4A2 Sherman Advanced Pack (99.99 USD/EUR)
o Exclusive T-34 prototype, that will be available only for the owners of this pack;
o Exclusive M4A2 Sherman, captured by the German forces, that will be available only for the owners of this pack;
o Unique Soviet "Swift" decal of 15th Guards Mechanized Brigade, 4th Guards Mechanized Corps, 3rd Ukrainian Front, 1944;
o Unique Soviet "Circles" decal of 7th Guards Tank Corps, 1945;
o Unique German "Panther" decal of 39th Tank Regiment, 51st Battalion;
o Unique German "Knight with spear" decal of 505th Heavy Tank Battalion, 1944;
o Unique title "Sherman Hunter";
o Unique title "T-34 Test Driver"
o Unique title “Tank Pioneer”
o 6000 Golden Eagles
o Access to the Closed Beta later in December