15 replies to this topic

[RockmachinE]

I'm not sure where to post this so I'll just do it here.

I don't have much MW experience outside of the games and have not spent a lot of time researching MW lore. I do read it occasionally for fun, but there is one issue that has always bothered me and I can't seem to find an answer for.

I don't know if this is ever explained, but I simply can't get over this.

In the same universe we have:

• neural interface helmets
  
• space travel
  
• huge machines that can run around at 100 km/h

and yet

• several ton targeting computers
  
• several ton communication suites

Either I am being ignorant to a part of MW lore here, or this doesn't make sense and the people who came up with this made a huge oversight. How can we have all this super high tech stuff and yet a simple targeting or communication computer weighs tons? Help me understand this aspect of MW lore. I mean even 80s computers could easily handle targeting calculations, let alone modern machines. What's up with this?

Edited by Louis Brofist, 30 September 2014 - 07:04 PM.

[SaltBeef]

Because the game came out in the 80 and most supercomputers were the size of a tractor trailer. I would not get to stuck on lore as this game breaks the rules a lot in the Name of Balance , ( protecting the IS Mechs from the mean and nasty clans ) and Longevity although I still say that is questionable.

[RockmachinE]

I wasn't trying to suggest or point out how we should change any game mechanics in MWO based on this. Just that this aspect of lore made no sense. I figured it could have been because of this, but a 80286 would be powerful enough to be used as a targeting computer. It came out in '82....

http://en.wikipedia....iki/Intel_80286

[SaltBeef]

We cannot say as and effective Ground based radar system ( not looking at the sky but focusing on the ground able to discern enemies from terrain ) mounted on Ground assets has not been implemented.

[RockmachinE]

A radar system would be a completely different thing then a targeting computer. But I understand now, it basically seems to be an oversight of the people who wrote the lore.

Edited by Louis Brofist, 30 September 2014 - 07:37 PM.

[FupDup]

Basically, Space Magic™ and LosTech™.

Battletech didn't even make much military sense back when it was born, and as our modern military improves it makes even less sense every day. It's always been an IP about the "rule of cool" rather than being realistic.

[Lynx7725]

Louis Brofist, on 30 September 2014 - 07:27 PM, said:

I wasn't trying to suggest or point out how we should change any game mechanics in MWO based on this. Just that this aspect of lore made no sense. I figured it could have been because of this, but a 80286 would be powerful enough to be used as a targeting computer. It came out in '82....
http://en.wikipedia....iki/Intel_80286

Actually you'd be surprised. Modern military doesn't actually take SOTA electronics; their requirements for weather proofing, reliability, etc. meant that they tend to work with some very old technologies that aren't very powerful at all. I recall some US fighters in previous years having problems because they are using microchips so old the manufacturers have phased them out of production already (due to lack of commercial demand as technology progresses).

In the Battletech universe, not only are we looking at such military requirements for rugged systems, but we are also looking at a technological loss over nearly a century or so. At one point in the story, the Inner Sphere didn't know how to actually build mechs fully, relying on old automated factories for some of the components. Jumpships were considered sacrosanct because there were so few worlds capable of producing new Jumpships, etc. So the bulkiness and weight of such items are not without some merit.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

Although it's called a Targeting Computer it has more than just a computer.

I gotta see if I can find a better description of the TC

Found this:

Spoiler

Edited by Praetor Knight, 30 September 2014 - 07:51 PM.

[Zordicron]

1980's. Besides, it IS a game about 40 foot robots shooting giant lasers at each other. It also had just enough "sciency sort of factual" crap written in to make it just believable enough to insight nerd goggles.

in short, it is like that, because it is. It will change in the future, but not until enough of us old guys are gone that nobody is around to protest changes because of nostalgia.

[Lynx7725]

Praetor Knight, on 30 September 2014 - 07:43 PM, said:

Although it's called a Targeting Computer it has more than just a computer.

I gotta see if I can find a better description of the TC

"A system to interface with the existing targeting systems, some new hardware to do fancy calculations, bunch of servos for all the weapons so that the aim can be fine tuned, etc. etc."

[Asmudius Heng]

SPACE MAGIC!!!

[RockmachinE]

"Recoil compensators and gyroscopic stabilizers are used to prevent normal weapon drift from factors such as recoil and movement"

Ah I see now, so all of the mechanical systems would also count with this, this makes more sense. Thanks guys, interesting to find out more about MW!

[Kain Demos]

The targeting computer isn't just a CPU it is an entire system integrated into the 'mech to make it perform better.

Flame away but one of the reasons I was so instantly drawn to the BT universe was that to me it was a bit more realistic than other sci-fi franchises.

100 years into the future we didn't magically achieve utopia under one world government and eliminate the "evil" of money and possessions. No instead we factionilzed and fought with each other and ushered in a new dark age which to me is much more likely because it is in our nature to do so.

[Brody319]

80s mechs is probably the only explanation for everything in this game. mechs created now are basically just walking metal soldiers with bigger guns. Basically just a more maneuverable tank. I do like the diversity in this game when it comes to mech designs, but the inner workings of the mechs just comes off as silly.

War is the mother of invention, in fact I'm sure our first easily produced fusion generators will probably be used to power war machines. likely ships and submarines. So why these factions have forced themselves into a "dark age" through war where they have little to no ability to produce more mechs and improve their technology is baffling. These factions are fighting over a galaxy right? how has no one said "hey, I don't wanna be a miner, I'm gonna fix these damn engines and make them weight less" is beyond me.

Basically most of the problems with these mechs is pretty much summed up entirely as "80s as f*ck"

Edited by Brody319, 30 September 2014 - 10:49 PM.

[9erRed]

Greetings all,

Most of the systems that we have in these Mech designs are built to extreme environment and survivability requirements.

- Some of the designs are centuries old and the systems needed to be robust enough to operate and survive that long.

Here's a link to an excellent essay about all things Mech, defiantly worth the read.
- http://www.sarna.net...Tracking_system

The majority of components may not be large or sophisticated, but they all needed protection from heat, radiation, atmosphere or lack thereof, and armoured to continue to function if struck by weapons fire. The largest percentage of most items on or in the Mech was protective linings or casings, and most of it's weight.

9erRed

[MeiSooHaityu]

In the Battletech universe, mankind put way more effort into localized ammo teleportation technology (allowing ammo in legs to magically get past the hip joints to their weapons) and less research on shrinking the size of targeting computers.

In all seriousness though, anything science fiction becomes dated with time. We have things now that they dont even have in Star Trek. It's hard to predict the future. In the 1980s, large targeting systems made sense. Military ground tracking stations were the size of bunkers, FASA just assumed that power could be shrunk down to 1 ton and plopped into a mech. Seems reasonable.