18 replies to this topic

[Undercover Brother]

I think its time for the staff at PGI/IGP to sit down and really ask themselves where they are going with MWO... The game, and the community, are broken right now. Is MWO a FPS, or a simulation? Is it going to be (un)balanced, or is it going to stick to the subject material? Are you going to continue listening to trolls that whine like children, or are you going to listen to the MW/BT fanbase, that have been, and would like to continue to, pay for your time and effort?

I propose five game/community fixes that can revitalize MWO:


1. Go back to calling this a BETA test. To call MWO "Live" is almost comical. A "Live" game requires new "fluff" content maybe once a month (paint schemes/cockpit items), new "real" content every three months (new chassis/new maps), and maybe a few bug fixes associated with said added content. A "BETA" is when you make HUGE changes to gameplay. Once you have 20+ maps, another 10 chassis, and fully implemented Community Warfare (and you're done NERFing the hell out of everything), THEN, and only then, call MWO a "Live" game.


2. Stay the hell out of the forums. Honestly. I'm not saying that you shouldn't post updates, but for God's sake, STOP READING! You've gotten to the point where everything you guys do directly correlates to the FTP whiners who don't pay your salaries. Since the very first round of NERFs, you've destroyed "role warfare", which is the exact same reason why we only have Heavies and Assaults in the queue.


3. Jump the timeline, and reverse EVERY NERF you've put in. Advancing the timeline by 15 years (to 3065) would allow I.S. chassis (and even upgraded pre-existing chassis) that were created as counters to Clan tech to be used. This would bring online I.S. ER-tech, different munitions for I.S. launchers (Thunder LRMs, Streak 4s & 6s, and Inferno SRM rounds), and the Light Engine, which matches the Clan XL in almost every way.


4. Get rid of "broad-use" Modules - Make modules a real specialty (Make Role Warfare a Real Thing). ANY perk should be permanently attached to a specific Mech CHASSIS. This would also help to get "role warfare" back online. Different Mech manufacturers made competing chassis (often at the same time), and certain pilots/units would choose one or the other based on certain "quirks" that chassis had. Ex: Your "Awesome" cooling fix, where the stock PPC build isn't as castrated as my dog. THAT was a good call. Now, the Jagermech is mainly a ballistics carrier, so drop UAC jamming chances by 25%, but increase the reload times for missile and energy weapons. Do you see how that would make a Jagermech a specific feel? As a commander on an assault mission, attacking a static enemy at medium range, I'd want a few Jagermechs, if I feel we can move fast enough that they won't run out of ammo before the mission was over. If the ranges were longer, the map was cooler, but the mission was likely to be longer, I'd get rid of my Jagermechs, and try to shoehorn some Awesomes into my drop weight limit. Jumping mechs The added bonus to getting rid of performance modules is that you can (finally) drop the required "3 of 1 chassis" to "level up" mechs. Getting rid of performance modules would give you and us access to mechs that otherwise couldn't be implemented BECAUSE of the "3 variant rule". Now, modules as thy exist can still be used, but they need to be tailored to the specific chassis.

Every mech only has TWO universal modle slots.
Jumping mechs can add the "Shock Absorbing" module.
Mechs specialized in Long Range combat can use "Advanced Targeting Decay"
Only Lights, (as recon units) should be able to use Air Strike and Artillery Strike.
Brawling specialists can use "360 Targeting"
Cool Shot can be used by any mech.
Zoom Module can be used on ay mech.
Seismic can be used on any mech.


5. STOP the FTP... The ones who WANT to play, will find a way to pay. Honestly. Go back to BETA, correct all your past mistakes, and make the game you PROMISED us. WE WILL PAY YOU to make MWO a truly immersive MechWarrior/Battletech experience, with REAL Community Warfare, REAL units/guilds, and a REAL story. We will even pay to keep the 1:1 timeline true to the Lore. Anyone who can afford a P.C. that can handle Crysis, high speed internet, and VOIP outside of the game itself, can afford a monthly fee. I pay for SWTOR, Xbox Live, and NETFLIX already... Another $19.99 per month isn't a stretch. FTP games attract 1 thing, and 1 thing ONLY, and that is critics. Critics that you spend too much time listening to.
You don't have to abandon the FTP crowd altogether though. I'd propose limited game experience to FTP players. Give them everything we have now, starting with 1 I.S. mech of their choice, and 5 million C-bills. They can earn C-bills through matches like we have now. They can earn C-bills and build their Mechbay just by playing. Once they're hooked, and their friends start to join the paying crowd, THEN they can join the pre-existing fan base that's busy fighting over the destiny of the Inner Sphere. They can have new maps and mechs and such (with a delayed release schedule, or as a pay-as-you-go option), while paying players get a new base mech chassis every 1 to 2 months (with an option to buy other variants with more real money, or with C-bills). Hell, another option is to have levels of subscriptions... FTP, Base, Mid-Range, and Premium subscriptions:

Free=> The "pay as you go" option. Basically a massive, free, DEMO, that is essentially the game we have now, but without unit creation options. EVERY game is a PUG match. This is the way you get new players, and "hook" them into upgrading their subscription.

Aluminum ($9.99) => Full access to new maps and Community Warfare. Every time a new chassis is released, the player has an option to purchase immediately with cash, or for (a LOT of) C-bills.

Steel ($19.99)=> Aluminum Package, but with 8 "Tokens" to purchase new chassis' for FREE, EVERY MONTH. The Tokens can be saved if the player wants to wait to make purchases. 8 Tokens for an Assault Mech, 6 Tokens for a Heavy, 4 Tokens for a Medium, and 2 Tokens for a Light.

Titanium ($29.99)=> The Crème-de-la-crème. Everything the Steel package has, but with HUGE discounts on new chassis'. 8 Tokens per month. 1 Token for a Light, 2 Tokens for a Medium, 3 Tokens for a Heavy, and 4 Tokens for an Assault, and a "buy 2, get one free" setup so that if a player buys two variants of 1 chassis, they can get a third one for free.


I BEG you, developers, to see reason.

[El Bandito]

T Decker, on 06 September 2014 - 07:21 PM, said:

5. STOP the FTP... The ones who WANT to play, will find a way to pay. Honestly. Go back to BETA, correct all your past mistakes, and make the game you PROMISED us. WE WILL PAY YOU to make MWO a truly immersive MechWarrior/Battletech experience, with REAL Community Warfare, REAL units/guilds, and a REAL story. We will even pay to keep the 1:1 timeline true to the Lore. Anyone who can afford a P.C. that can handle Crysis, high speed internet, and VOIP outside of the game itself, can afford a monthly fee. I pay for SWTOR, Xbox Live, and NETFLIX already... Another $19.99 per month isn't a stretch.

Oh **** no. I already spent $110 (twice as much as an AAA title) for a game that is not even complete. If it becomes subscription based, then I am out of here.

Throwing more money is not going to do ****. PGI is not a company that can actually bring a good game--as evidenced by their decisions on ECM, GH, 3PV and many more. They are now even trying to make another game while this one is not even complete!

T Decker, on 06 September 2014 - 07:21 PM, said:

2. Stay the hell out of the forums. Honestly. I'm not saying that you shouldn't post updates, but for God's sake, STOP READING! You've gotten to the point where everything you guys do directly correlates to the FTP whiners who don't pay your salaries. Since the very first round of NERFs, you've destroyed "role warfare", which is the exact same reason why we only have Heavies and Assaults in the queue.

If you think PGI actually care about the forums, then you are more deluded than I thought. Almost all of the bad decisions PGI made, was due to their own fault.

The forums told PGI GH was going to be a bad idea, told PGI that 3PV was going to be a bad idea--and guess what PGI did? Ignored the forums and lost over a thousand Phoenix pack purchasers. That's a thousand highly potential revenue generating customers, gone.

Matter of fact, I am still pissed at PGI for intentionally sitting on their asses for two years and not doing anything in regards to CW, while waiting on license extension. Unforgivable.

Edited by El Bandito, 06 September 2014 - 07:50 PM.

[TLBFestus]

El Bandito, on 06 September 2014 - 07:42 PM, said:

The forums told PGI GH was going to be a bad idea, told PGI that 3PV was going to be a bad idea--and guess what PGI did? Ignored the forums and lost over a thousand Phoenix pack purchasers. That's a thousand highly potential revenue generating customers, gone.

Where do you get this statistic? Is it accurate or just a "gut impression" because as one of the Founders who then got a refund on a Phoenix Pack, I actually really want to know those numbers.

[GRiPSViGiL]

There is no Praying in MWO...it is secular. Thank goodness for that.

[Johnny Z]

DERP

Edited by Johnny Z, 06 September 2014 - 08:40 PM.

[Tezcatli]

Listen to us. Don't listen to us. This is exactly why they prefer to do certain things on reddit or NGNG's forums.

And they already know what they want to do with the game. They aren't exactly capable when it comes to promising a long list of things. They already have quite a list to live up to as it is. But currently it's balance IS and Clans. And most importantly get CW into working order.

[patataman]

No.

Many people paid a lot of money for the founders, phoenix and clan packages, hero mechs, cammos, colours, etc... and the game is still in a beta state, long promised features never came (role warfare, comunity warfare...) other have been missing for quite a while (R&R, Knockdowns...), the map production is stopped since December 2013 (Remember when they said they were going to release a map every 2 months?)... Aparently the only things working are new mc mechs production and excel nerfs.

PGI already got the money, its time they deliver the product they promised. But hey! shiny new mechs! and shiny new game!

Edited by patataman, 13 September 2014 - 04:21 PM.

[Mycrus]

Gg yawn... Take a chill pill and play lego wii for a few days...

[El Bandito]

TLBFestus, on 06 September 2014 - 08:28 PM, said:

Where do you get this statistic? Is it accurate or just a "gut impression" because as one of the Founders who then got a refund on a Phoenix Pack, I actually really want to know those numbers.

I read it while browsing a game critic site talking about state of MWO. It was months ago though.

Also, those who got their refunds were banned permanently from the game. Talk about bad will.

Edited by El Bandito, 06 September 2014 - 08:47 PM.

[Kiiyor]

El Bandito, on 06 September 2014 - 07:42 PM, said:

The forums told PGI GH was going to be a bad idea, told PGI that 3PV was going to be a bad idea--and guess what PGI did? Ignored the forums and lost over a thousand Phoenix pack purchasers. That's a thousand highly potential revenue generating customers, gone.

I thought IGP was one of the driving forces behind a lot of those changes. I may be wrong though.

[El Bandito]

Kiiyor, on 06 September 2014 - 08:47 PM, said:

I thought IGP was one of the driving forces behind a lot of those changes. I may be wrong though.

The problem is, we can never be sure if it was IGP's decision or it is just PGI deflecting player hate. In Russ' horribly written apology letter, for example, he pretty much blamed Garth for the sudden implementation of 3PV without player consideration--never mind the poor guy is just a community manager, and cannot say anything without PGI's blessing. Consequently, Garth does not work for PGI anymore.

Edited by El Bandito, 06 September 2014 - 08:52 PM.

[Mycrus]

Kiiyor, on 06 September 2014 - 08:47 PM, said:

I thought IGP was one of the driving forces behind a lot of those changes. I may be wrong though.

PGI = IGP

[Bhael Fire]

I like this game.

I get annoyed with some of the sloppy design decisions, but overall this is a fantastic F2P game and I have faith that PGI will only make it better in the coming years.

So, OP take a freaking chill pill.

[CocoaJin]

Mycrus, on 06 September 2014 - 09:22 PM, said:

PGI = IGP

Let's not spread lies and mis-information.

[meteorol]

T Decker, on 06 September 2014 - 07:21 PM, said:

You've gotten to the point where everything you guys do directly correlates to the FTP whiners who don't pay your salaries.

What? Like half of the whine threads start with
"PGI i gave you a bazillion $ so far and if you don't change this I WILL NEVER PAY A SINGLE $ AGAIN! I'm your core audience and if you don't adjust the game to my needs i will leave which means the game will die!"

I'm rather sure the overwhelming part of F2P guys doesn't visit the forum, ever.

[TLBFestus]

El Bandito, on 06 September 2014 - 08:45 PM, said:

I read it while browsing a game critic site talking about state of MWO. It was months ago though.

Also, those who got their refunds were banned permanently from the game. Talk about bad will.

The numbers might be right, but the "banning" thing is false. I'm a Founder who got a refund on the Phoenix Pack (before it was released) and I never heard of anyone getting banned for it.

I'm pretty sure that if they perma-banned people from the game it would have been all over these forums, and this is the first I've ever heard mention of this. I'm not a PGI fan-boy either, so I'd be all over this like a fat guy on a doughnut.

[El Bandito]

TLBFestus, on 07 September 2014 - 08:26 AM, said:

The numbers might be right, but the "banning" thing is false. I'm a Founder who got a refund on the Phoenix Pack (before it was released) and I never heard of anyone getting banned for it. I'm pretty sure that if they perma-banned people from the game it would have been all over these forums, and this is the first I've ever heard mention of this. I'm not a PGI fan-boy either, so I'd be all over this like a fat guy on a doughnut.

Read this. It is mentioned on page 2. It refers to the original Founder's refund though.

http://www.gamefront...m-ragesplosion/

Edited by El Bandito, 07 September 2014 - 08:47 AM.

[TLBFestus]

El Bandito, on 07 September 2014 - 08:43 AM, said:

Read this. It is mentioned on page 2. It refers to the original Founder's refund though.

http://www.gamefront...m-ragesplosion/

This?

Quote

[A few even performed charge-backs through their bank, in which they claimed charges to their credit cards or bank accounts hadn’t been authorized. They got their money back from the original founder’s pack, at the cost of a permanent ban.

Sounds like a few who used the "chargeback" route, claiming that the charge was unauthorized go banned. I doubt that was 1000 players. Now, I hate saying that because, as I said, I'm no fan of the Dimbulb, less than honest management types at PGI, but when I criticize them I try to be accurate, and that is not accurate, at least when I run it through my gut-based calculator.

That said, IF PGI hadn't refunded my money conventionally, I would have gone that route and the perma-ban would not have bothered me one bit because I would never, ever entertained returning.

Edited by TLBFestus, 07 September 2014 - 01:20 PM.

[Mycrus]

Mycrus, on 06 September 2014 - 09:22 PM, said:

PGI = IGP

CocoaJin, on 06 September 2014 - 10:20 PM, said:

Let's not spread lies and mis-information.

How about pre-cognition?