Posted 13 June 2012 - 12:50 AM
I am about to trade TWO of my RL friends, both of whom received beta keys this week. I might normally be happy for them, but I am a true BattleTech fanatic, and have been for many years. I was a tabletop player in the early 90's, painted my own pieces, made custom 3D topographic maps and was GM for many epic Mechwarrior PnP games, in addition to buying or playing almost every BT-themed video game. Crescent Hawk's Inception through MW4:Mercenaries and Virtual Worlds tournaments. I watched the cartoons, I bought a case of the trading cards, I even tablet-drew a CG Mech (a Thor if you must know) freehand and mostly from memory for my computer art class final project (got an A). I can easily say that I have spent more money and time on BattleTech games, merchandise, software and simulations than any other gaming IP. Oh, I have also beta tested over 30 games over the years, on multiple platforms (PS2, PC, Mac, Android), and am fully familiar with reporting and repeating bugs.
What sticks in my craw is that I evangelized, and told BOTH my friends about MWO and hounded them to register to save their handles months ago. What REALLY sticks in my craw is that neither one is a BT junkie, and both put together have less beta testing experience than I do. One likes swords and orcs more than PPC's and Clanners. He is sitting on his key for now (hasn't even DL'ed client) because, well, he is in the middle of a Nightmare Diablo3 run and can't be bothered to break his stride at the moment. The other doesn't have as much time to test MWO as he would like because running his EVE:Online corporation is a lot of work, and his GF is already pitching a fit over his gaming time.
Meanwhile, I have lots of free time ATM (work cut back hours), and am wearing out F5, wondering why I am not worthy.
/scream
/rant off