21 replies to this topic

[TexAce]

It's time to get serious folks. No more beta excuses. No more "soon" excuses*. The steam crowd will come and it will either love it or rip it in shreds and that will be the last day of MWO.

So here are the top things to do before steam in my opinion.

I always loved this game and excused a lot of stuff but now its really time to get serious so here we go in random order:

- Add Quick Commands / Command Rose

- Buff c-bill earnings. Seriously, PGI, start a fresh account and play this game and try to master 3 heavy mechs. You won't. You will have quit way before. Thats how bad c-bill earnings are, especially for new players. KEEP THOSE NEW PLAYER AT ALL COST!

-Update the skill tree. Seriously, the pin point perk is STILL THERE. ARGH.

- Remove Ghost Heat or explain the hell out of it so everyone gets it and can look up the tables easily in the game and understand it. If this is not possible IT HAS TO GO. Add a convergence/CoF penalty for boating and alphaing and call it "Target Computer Overload" and be done with it once and for all. Let missile boats lose lock when firing too many missiles at once (limit set per chassis, taken from stock mech layout).

- Remove weapon quirks, add defensive quirks for the mechs that need it badly . Make quirks an exception. This will lengthen TTK.

- Put in a Decals system so people want to customize their mechs more -> more $$$ for PGI

- Fix IS SRM hitreg for godsake. Buff them to 2.5 or even 2.8-3.0 per missile. Same for Streaks.

- Add in heat effects like blurry vision, engine hickups, speed reduction, CoF for riding the heat bar.

- Implement most of the changes in the PTS, do not touch optimal laser range. Or if you really want to touch it, make the 60% the dafault, but - here is the catch - on ALL weapons when not using the targeting computer (also called the "R" button). This will help not to confuse people when the range is shown at 100% when aiming a wall but 60% when aiming at a mech, which makes no sense.

- Get the lore and story finally into this game. Explain the factions, explain what the clans are, explain what the fuss is all about. No one from only playing the game could know anything about it. Story is completely missing. People need a story/lore to get hooked up to it. None of them will try to find time to search it in the internet.

- Add custom geometry options on certain mechs for MC --> more $$$ for PGI

- Call the "R" button the "Targeting Computer".

- Why the hell is the global chat turned off by default?

- Hire an DirectX guru and let him optimize this game please, its still far away from optimized. This way the potato steamers will have a way to play this game. On the other side add better graphic effects and textured for the hardcore high settings and let us select them. This game could look much better, see closed beta.

- fix longstanding UI and graphics bugs which pull you back into beta mood as soon as you see them. There are TONS.

- Give us ladders, like I said, people like to compete. Give them something to do that and let em fight for the top spot. Even add a 1vs1 if needed.

- Explain CW better and give people incentives to play it and hold planets.

That's for now, will add more soon.

*No more islands. Fire Paul.

EDIT: Dec 7th

Edited by TexAce, 08 December 2015 - 03:14 AM.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

But... uh... Soon^TM?

Oh fine... constructive comment.

MWO gives the visable cursor bug when using the browser in the steam overlay. That's gotta get fixed or the rage will be endless.

As for earnings 80% of the people I introduce to the game leave because they can't get the mech they want quickly. That and playing with friends means group queue gang ****. Both of these things need to be dealt with before steam release IMO.

[Mothykins]

Earnings. Earnings is a big one. To master a clan heavy is 30+ hours of play, just for the cbills.

That's just the stock mechs.

No scrub wants to sit around for what amounts to around ten days of 3 hour sessions grinding for a single mech variant. Super boring.

[Johnny Z]

I always forget about that comm wheel/rose or what ever it is called. It would be an amazing addition to Mechwarrior Online I think. This with a screen in corner like the tutorial of the pilot communicating would add alot to the game. Maybe this could have a settings option to turn off if it annoys some?

That Dreadnaught game has this for crew communication and its maybe one of the coolest things about that game. It was an idea for Mechwarrior first I think and could be a welcome addition.

Top of this list would be for new players getting a mech based on faction choice and other character creation aspects that are good if possible though, since the tutorial is already in.

Edited by Johnny Z, 19 October 2015 - 09:54 AM.

[TexAce]

Johnny Z, on 19 October 2015 - 09:49 AM, said:

Top of this list would be for new players getting a mech based on faction choice and other character creation aspects that are good if possible though, since the tutorial is already in.

True, that's one point I totally forgot but is very important too: Lore!
There is not enough lore IN the game. No explaination what faction does what, what clans are. None.
Story needs to be brought into this game, so the new user understands what the hell is going on in this universe.

This game is catering too much onto the battletech whales and will never get out of this shadow if it doesn't finally do something to bring NEW people to this game.

My first MW game was MechWarrior 4. Its the first time I came in contact with the BT franchise and actually the only one since I started to play MWO. I believe there are more people out there than just me who can get hooked up to the lore without playing any BT at all. But PGI doesnt do anything to approach them.

[Spleenslitta]

Johnny Z, on 19 October 2015 - 09:49 AM, said:

Top of this list would be for new players getting a mech based on faction choice and other character creation aspects that are good if possible though, since the tutorial is already in.

This part is very important. Those mechs that are in the tutorial on PTS. Let them select 1 of those mechs and they will get a single variant of it in addition to what they earn in the tutorials.
That should get them enough to master a mech.

[Mudhutwarrior]

They need to think of the new player instead of bending them over a chair as usual. I am up to 15 people I got to play and all of them left. Big issue was earnings when losing big every match.

Just try and level up and moudle equip a mech. Its insane the level of grind for someone who has been at it for years now never mind a new player who makes new player mistakes.

Next on my list would be to do something about the exploiters and farmers synch dropping into solo. Was told many moons ago its a simple algorithim to track such abuse. I literally see the same names toegther everyday including some big mouth forums experts. Want to kill it for new players stop the alts farming too. They are everywhere now.

After that put cheaters on notice that it won't be tolerated instead of burying threads complaining about it with proof like the two you disaapeared today that I saw. No one will want to play under the conditions you so tolerate and pretty much accept as bussiness as usual.

[fat4eyes]

Cavale, on 19 October 2015 - 09:31 AM, said:

Earnings. Earnings is a big one. To master a clan heavy is 30+ hours of play, just for the cbills.

That's just the stock mechs.

No scrub wants to sit around for what amounts to around ten days of 3 hour sessions grinding for a single mech variant. Super boring.

Yeah the early grind needs fixing. What's strange in MWO is that unlike most other online games, the early grind for new players (past the cadet bonus at least) is HARDER than the grind for veterans. Most other games you 'level up' (get new abilities/vehicles/etc) a lot faster when you're new than when you're a veteran. In MWO, a combination of lack of knowledge of game mechanics and the mechlab, lack of cbills for modules/good loadouts, unleveled mechs, not knowing the maps/tactics and low piloting skill make the grind particularly bad for new players. I have a tier 4 low cbill alt account and the grind there is WORSE than in my main account (when it should be the reverse). PGI really needs to find a way to ease new players into the veteran grind so they don't quit.

I'd suggest extending the cadet bonus (so new player earnings don't fall down a cliff after 25 matches) and occasional gifts to new players every few days or week they play. Throwing new guys to the sharks after 25 matches just isn't enough to hook them unless they already like Mechwarrior beforehand (and at this point, I'm guessing MWO already has already gotten all the old Mechwarrior fans they can get).

[Johnny Z]

TexAce, on 19 October 2015 - 10:32 AM, said:

True, that's one point I totally forgot but is very important too: Lore!
There is not enough lore IN the game. No explaination what faction does what, what clans are. None.
Story needs to be brought into this game, so the new user understands what the hell is going on in this universe.

This game is catering too much onto the battletech whales and will never get out of this shadow if it doesn't finally do something to bring NEW people to this game.

My first MW game was MechWarrior 4. Its the first time I came in contact with the BT franchise and actually the only one since I started to play MWO. I believe there are more people out there than just me who can get hooked up to the lore without playing any BT at all. But PGI doesnt do anything to approach them.

Idealy a player would watch a start up intro, then laod into the pilots quarters. Go to personal computer and have a fairly in depth description choice of factions or freelancer, associated with various starter mechs. Then the player can go to the mech bay in first person and check out their mech... A console in the mech bay gives access to the mechlab in game now. From there into the dropship or some kind of launch facility to play and have access to the galaxy map maybe.

Ya the one zone change from Mechlab to the launch bay isnt a big deal even if it would be so cool some would troll about it.

This is the basics that should be in game. Mechwarrior 2 had this.

Later alot can be added like better character creation or what ever.

About appreciating the Battletech universe, no doubt players would if many even knew about it. The Star Trek and Star wars universe and stories had nothing to do with board games... Battletech should be there with those two for sure along with Robotech maybe and Firefly and some others even.

If it wasnt for the intruduction of the Clans the way they were and some lore changes who knows where Battletech would be now. I always suspected this to be a Romulan plot to keep Star Trek on top.

Edited by Johnny Z, 19 October 2015 - 05:46 PM.

[C E Dwyer]

all this for steam is a total waste of time, there is going to be a new influx for about four weeks 90% won't have heard of Mechwarrior/battletech, other than bad things through friends and fan sites, decide its to hard and stop playing.

9% will maybe play it for about 3 months and then get bored for the many reasons already advanced for years, because they jump on CW for free mech bays and get asses kicked, then they try and play solaris *yawn* and get asses kicked by the people that exploited CW and survived a ban, get fed up with pug life and leave.

1% may well stay but how many of those that do stay will actually spend money, and the 1% are not going to keep this game running when the old guard get fed up stop spending and play HBS battletech, wearing coats hats and having hardware hanging from their walls feeling extra Battle techish.

No people, preparing this game for steam is another waste of time, but i guess from a business point of view it had to be tried

Edited by Cathy, 19 October 2015 - 05:45 PM.

[Johnny Z]

Cathy, on 19 October 2015 - 05:43 PM, said:

all this for steam is a total waste of time, there is going to be a new influx for about four weeks 90% won't have heard of Mechwarrior/battletech, other than bad things through friends and fan sites, decide its to hard and stop playing.

9% will maybe play it for about 3 months and then get bored for the many reasons already advanced for years, because they jump on CW for free mech bays and get asses kicked, then they try and play solaris *yawn* and get asses kicked by the people that exploited CW and survived a ban, get fed up with pug life and leave.

1% may well stay but how many of those that do stay will actually spend money, and the 1% are not going to keep this game running when the old guard get fed up stop spending and play HBS battletech, wearing coats hats and having hardware hanging from their walls feeling extra Battle techish.

No people, preparing this game for steam is another waste of time, but i guess from a business point of view it had to be tried

This is worste case scenario. If Steam wasnt filled with very very very few good games and the rest trash its even plausible.

The big problem this game faces and basically every other game, good or bad is Fallout 4..... The market will take a hit like never before. With expansion packs and the construction kit, it will be rights and lefts well into next year.

The quality game drought is coming to an end for the next couple years anyway.

I should add Mechwarrior Online stands to be the top online game some day. Possibly.

Edited by Johnny Z, 19 October 2015 - 06:05 PM.

[TexAce]

Cathy, on 19 October 2015 - 05:43 PM, said:

all this for steam is a total waste of time, there is going to be a new influx for about four weeks 90% won't have heard of Mechwarrior/battletech, other than bad things through friends and fan sites, decide its to hard and stop playing.

9% will maybe play it for about 3 months and then get bored for the many reasons already advanced for years, because they jump on CW for free mech bays and get asses kicked, then they try and play solaris *yawn* and get asses kicked by the people that exploited CW and survived a ban, get fed up with pug life and leave.

1% may well stay but how many of those that do stay will actually spend money, and the 1% are not going to keep this game running when the old guard get fed up stop spending and play HBS battletech, wearing coats hats and having hardware hanging from their walls feeling extra Battle techish.

No people, preparing this game for steam is another waste of time, but i guess from a business point of view it had to be tried

Those 1% will probably double the userbase at the end. You need to check numbers. Even .5% would help this game a lot.

[TexAce]

Updated to include the latest patch. It was a great patch, really the last months were great, but we are quite not there. Still good progress. I hope the other stuff can be adressed soon!

[El Bandito]

You know what else PGI can do to increase TTK and and reduce the power difference between newcomers and veterans?

Remove the weapon modules and consumables. Refund the C-bills and GXP.

Edited by El Bandito, 08 December 2015 - 03:26 AM.

[Scanz]

some changes from me

-add ppc HUD effect on hit
-fix flamers
-add coleseum for 1vs1, 4vs4, 12 FFA
-fix chat system with ablity to scrolling etc.

Edited by Scanz, 08 December 2015 - 03:56 AM.

[Lily from animove]

TexAce, on 19 October 2015 - 08:56 AM, said:

EDIT: Dec 7th

R.I.P. Natasha K.

El Bandito, on 08 December 2015 - 03:25 AM, said:

You know what else PGI can do to increase TTK and and reduce the power difference between newcomers and veterans?

Remove the weapon modules and consumables. Refund the C-bills and GXP.

Either this, or change modules to have a real changign effect with a + and proper downside. so they act a bit as mech configurators instead of just upgrades.

Edited by Lily from animove, 08 December 2015 - 04:58 AM.

[TexAce]

Lily from animove, on 08 December 2015 - 04:56 AM, said:

R.I.P. Natasha K.

I don't get this, sorry. Otherwise I agree with the modules.

[Davegt27]

We going to go full Teletubbies

https://m.youtube.co...h?v=dq2BPuR1Ruc

[Sandpit]

Here's the thing

The new steam players? They aren't carrying 4 years of baggage. They're going to come in and see things like pinpoint and hear "soon" and be ok with it.

New players don't care it's sat there for 3 years.
New players don't care that something has been broken for 3 years
New players don't know about nor do they care about islands
New players don't know or care what PGI "lied" about 3 years ago.

[deathlord]

Sandpit, on 08 December 2015 - 09:57 AM, said:

Here's the thing

The new steam players? They aren't carrying 4 years of baggage. They're going to come in and see things like pinpoint and hear "soon" and be ok with it.

New players don't care it's sat there for 3 years.
New players don't care that something has been broken for 3 years
New players don't know about nor do they care about islands
New players don't know or care what PGI "lied" about 3 years ago.

But we'll be sure to bring them up to speed on all of that!