28 replies to this topic

[Alistair Steiner]

When I first heard of MWO, I was ecstatic. I'd thought the project of 2009 was gone forever, but here they were, with another game in the works, and a date already set: 365 days to launch (give or take). I deleted almost everything from Twitter so I could better follow the development, as well as finding all the necessary pages for FB and Youtube.

Then a little melancholy set in. It was Free-to-Play, no campaign, no single-player... I was worried that the amazing game that I'd seen previewed back in '09 was but a dream. This game would be good, sure, but it would just be the slugfest that MWLL is. That's great, don't get me wrong, but I crave a good story, and MechWarrior has an incredible story, it just needs to be told.

After that, my feelings were mostly positive, though I still had a little reservation. I'm one to always expect the worst, so that I could still be pleasantly surprised. But tonight, I got to thinking. Looking back at their plans, they're working to move each day as a day in the Inner Sphere. That was huge. In a regular game, you suit up, play Action Hero A, and move the storyline from point B to C, while killing bad guys D, E, and F, only to find out G is the real big bad, and you have to storm off to destroy them.

But not this. Here, you only have a starting point. We begin in 3049 (hopefully August, maybe earlier), and move forward 24 hours as we experience 24 hours. We progress the Battletech storyline, with no real end in sight. The Great Houses war. The Clans invade. We have specific points of interest in time, but no "final showdown," no "end game," as it were. But we're not just fighting each other for the sake of winning a match, then moving on like it didn't matter. We're moving the universe, we're on the planets and we're vying for control. Plus, we're probably starting out with a relatively limited choice of 'Mechs. That will surely grow as the game progresses. Not something you got in the MW games, unless you bought an expansion.

Added to that, we're not paying $60 upfront for the game I mentioned. We're going in for nothing, and paying as we see fit. As many patriotic pilots have said, we'd pay just to support the guys. The way I see it, we're just going to donate, and we'll get a little "thank-you" from the devs in a manner of our choosing.

This is going to be the greatest MechWarrior game in the history of the series, and we, the dedicated fans, will help steer these brave men and women who are creating it, because they listen to us. I have seen so many great threads and think "Wow, if only the devs would see this." Halfway down the page (or on the next page) is a comment from the staff, even Bryan himself, supporting the idea or feeling from the OP. That is huge.

Join with me, brothers and sisters, Clan and Inner Sphere, as we move in this journey towards greatness, so in years hence, we can look back and say, "Yeah. I was there from the beginning. I was there when this was still a dream."

[benefedaykin]

Lol

There is something definitely Dr. Who-ish about this whole moving in synch with the Battletech history day-by-day. We'll have certain fixed points in time but everything around them will be in a state of constant flux.

It will be interesting to see how it all turns out.

I hope somebody has the sense to record what the universe map looks like at the end of every day, so that a decade from now I can watch the timelapse video of planetary conquests

[Cake Bandit]

I for one support the F2P move, and applaud the amount of dialogue the devs have been having with us plebes. Raise your glasses high to Piranha Games!

[Odin]

Seconded!




Great post Mr. Steiner.
For me, its just the same. Initially I was absolute excited, waiting since the trailer.
Then came discussion about simulations, what's_what, pilot skill vs simulated skill on Bryan's page -
Thank you Bryan for asking, so early on!
That guy cared about our opinions, wanted to know it, had a plan.

After the announcement and lots of talk and chatter, questioning started, doubts turned up:
it'll be F2P - fail, it'll be too much simulation - fail, it'll be arcade - fail, it'll be P2W - fail, no single player? - fail.
Well, I had my doubts too, started marveling about it all, if thats all gonna be true?, can it be done?,
rereading the plan over and again.

Bryan kept to the plan, no totter, its still grant in scale and bold in what Piranha wants to accomplish!


MECHWARRIOR is an iconic game.


For many of us.
The way Bryan Ekman characterized the future gameplay is courageous, no mainstreaming, or dumping down,
an adventure for a game that needs lots of new, unprepared players to keep the boat afloat.
They don't shy away from simulating the Mech experience, thoroughly as a whole, keeping the tricky parts,
previous Mech games lost on the way into the game stores, stripped of the essentials.

I couldn't ask for more,
Hats up for this!

[Aris Sung]

I'm as old school as they get. I've read all but 4 of the novels, dark age included. I even liked Far Country and I know that sets me apart. When I heard that it was f2p I was more than fine with that. I hardly play the campaigns anymore before running off to the online play, like with Front Mission Evolved; good enough story, but I'd rather be fighting with others live.

I wish they started even further back, at least a few years before the looming invasion we all know is coming. My girlfriend and I still break out the tabletop game several times a year and mostly opt for pre-clan fights, either straight 3025 or post gray death memory core upgrades.

My biggest beef with the BT/MW community is the obsession with unseen mechs. Y'know what? I love those mechs too, but in Robotech or Macross or Dougram or Crusher Joe where they belong. The first true Battlemech designs are kick f****ng a$$. Javelin, Centurion, Jagermech, Crockett, to name a very few, THESE are Battlemechs, not f****ng Destroids. They are solid designs, and have a unique BT flair.

Jordan Weissman is a brilliant businessman, and using those designs when the opportunity was there to get BT off the ground was shrewd and wise. I just feel that BT/MW is so strong on it's own, iconic even, that it doesn't need those unseen mechs. I would take a Grasshopper over a Warhammer any day (unless I'm fighting Zentraedi). If you insist on 70 tons and 2 PPCs, grab a buddy and jump into a couple of Panthers.

[Jaroth Corbett]

I agree Steiner. I always wanted a "living" game. I wake up & invade a territory. I go to work. I log back in & the people of the invaded territory have launched a counter-attack while I was away. I now jump into the fray, mid-battle & detemine whether I hold the ground I have, expand further & wipe out the upstarts who dare challenge me or withdraw & regroup my forces. It will be interesting for sure.

[wpmaura]

Jaroth Winson, on 10 November 2011 - 03:40 AM, said:

I agree Steiner. I always wanted a "living" game. I wake up & invade a territory. I go to work. I log back in & the people of the invaded territory have launched a counter-attack while I was away. I now jump into the fray, mid-battle & detemine whether I hold the ground I have, expand further & wipe out the upstarts who dare challenge me or withdraw & regroup my forces. It will be interesting for sure.

EVE online, has had this type for years.

But as much as I hope and pray for this game, I just know its going to be a pure pay 2 w game, where you will need to spend much more then $15 a month to be competitive. Time will tell and I hope I am wrong.

[Habokku]

<S>

I raise a glass to you, Alistair.

Well said and well written. Kudos to you sir.

I've been waiting on this game for many a year now, and will stay the course.

I trust the developers to put out a quality, fun product. I know they want to, and that the people behind the game care and do sincerely desire this to be more than just a game, or pass-time.

To all the nay-sayers: Have some faith, and a shot of whatever your preferred drink is. Take a breath, and enjoy the ride.

<S>

-Havoc
A.K.A. Habokku

[metro]

MWO has saved gaming for me!

[Frantic Pryde]

Well said Steiner!

I was just talking to a friend about this very thing.

I suspect once we get to peak behind the curtain, no one will want or care about a single player campaign anymore. This is just on a whole other level.

Have I mentioned I'm excited yet?

[Havoc2]

Habokku, on 10 November 2011 - 06:57 AM, said:

<S>

I raise a glass to you, Alistair.

Well said and well written. Kudos to you sir.

I've been waiting on this game for many a year now, and will stay the course.

I trust the developers to put out a quality, fun product. I know they want to, and that the people behind the game care and do sincerely desire this to be more than just a game, or pass-time.

To all the nay-sayers: Have some faith, and a shot of whatever your preferred drink is. Take a breath, and enjoy the ride.

<S>

-Havoc
A.K.A. Habokku

Same callsign and a quote from 1 of my favorite series of all time. Do I have a twin down south I'm unaware of?

I also agree wholeheartedly. My and my group have been waiting around for almost a decade for the next MW/BT installment that would bring our group together again as we all splintered off into the realms of DAOC, SWTOR, Rift and whatever games were out there that could hold our attention for a few months and then onto the next one.

[AdamBaines]

I'm super pumped and could not agree more Alistair. There is so much that will be going on at the same time. FedCom Civil War, Soon to come Clan invasion, constant tension on Fed Com Kurita /Liao borders, the powder keg know as the Chaos March, constant Pirate incursions, Merc on Merc tensions and of course the united but divided everyday world of the FWL and the Periphery.

[Steel Spectre]

Cheers, man. I'm SO F**KING EXCITED to jump into a mech cockpit again. And as much as I loved the single-player games, the idea of lancing up with my buddies in our own merc outfit to defend the Inner Sphere as the war unfolds in real-time! ... this is such an incredibly cool prospect that I'm almost more excited by the MMO idea than I would have been for an SP game.

The involvement of one of the MW creators and the enthusiasm of the development team, along with the fact that it is very different from almost anything else out there (save WoT, which doesn't have nearly the panache or the lore that MW does) gives me great hope that this game will be one for the ages. I don't care if it's an MMO or if it is F2P, this game is going to be EPIC.

[Russ Bullock]

Some great thoughts in here.

Seems many of you went through the same mental process that took place at Piranha. We all wanted to make the SP game as well but eventually as things evolved we became very excited and even had a feeling that we wished we had come to this point much sooner as it is such a perfect fit for MechWarrior.

I still hope for a SP product in the near future, but for now we are laser focused on making sure MWO is a big success and that right there is our greatest hope for further products including SP.

[Omega59er]

Russ Bullock, on 10 November 2011 - 12:32 PM, said:

Some great thoughts in here.

Seems many of you went through the same mental process that took place at Piranha. We all wanted to make the SP game as well but eventually as things evolved we became very excited and even had a feeling that we wished we had come to this point much sooner as it is such a perfect fit for MechWarrior.

I still hope for a SP product in the near future, but for now we are laser focused on making sure MWO is a big success and that right there is our greatest hope for further products including SP.

I'm very happy to see you say that. On both the SinglePlayer and the main focus of the game, Multiplayer. Do what you people believe is right, and we'll support you.

[Alistair Steiner]

omega5-9er, on 10 November 2011 - 12:35 PM, said:

I'm very happy to see you say that. On both the SinglePlayer and the main focus of the game, Multiplayer. Do what you people believe is right, and we'll support you.

Wow, thanks for the responses, guys, and a special thanks to Russ for popping in. And I too am happy to see such a response. Let's get MWO running like a well-oiled invasion force, and take the internet (and indeed, the entire gaming community) by storm.

[TheForce]

Great post!

I have honestly never been much of a single player fan for MW. I've probably spent a total of a few days playing single player, and more time that I'd like to admit with my involvement with online games with teams and leagues

The one thing we didn't have back then was coop, and I've always wanted to experience this with the guys I used to play TT battletech with. Once MWO was announced, I figured the devs would start small with the basics, and depending on how the game was received, eventually develop some coop action. Looks like it's still a possibility:

Russ Bullock, on 10 November 2011 - 12:32 PM, said:

I still hope for a SP product in the near future, but for now we are laser focused on making sure MWO is a big success and that right there is our greatest hope for further products including SP.

I also mentioned this before but worthwhile to do it again...with Russ and Bryan being fans of the franchise, their involvement in the community (listening to feedback etc.), I'm sure the game will be a success.

I can't wait to spend some money on this game!!

Edited by TheForce, 10 November 2011 - 04:30 PM.

[Hangfire]

Even the IDEA that this game was in the works put a big grin on my face,

[Habokku]

}{avoc, on 10 November 2011 - 09:41 AM, said:

Same callsign and a quote from 1 of my favorite series of all time. Do I have a twin down south I'm unaware of?

I also agree wholeheartedly. My and my group have been waiting around for almost a decade for the next MW/BT installment that would bring our group together again as we all splintered off into the realms of DAOC, SWTOR, Rift and whatever games were out there that could hold our attention for a few months and then onto the next one.

Perhaps my good man, perhaps.

Good to know there's a Havoc stomping around up in the great white North. You keep the riff-raff in check there and I'll handle things down South.

<S> May your AC's never jam and your ammo feeds always function smoothly sir!

-Havoc
A.K.A. Habokku

[madman]

I too, will chime in with my appreciation of this idea. It was a game I didn't know I wanted, but now I'm greatly anticipating. I can't wait to see what the fine folks at Piranha cook up.