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As used by PGI:
Closed Beta: Current Status.
Open Beta: Goal: 8 Mechs, 4 maps, basic features. "Minimum Viable Product" (MVP).
Release/Launch: Community Warfare has been released.
Opinion:
The goals of Open Beta have been met. Actually, they have been exceeded in some areas (we have 9 Mechs with 2 to 4 variants as an example). I play probably 15 to 30 hours per week and enjoy it immensely. It is easily the best Mechwarrior title as is without the bells/whistles/icing that are still planned. It is easily "MVP".
Common statements which cause confusion:
"It needs Community Warfare for launch!" I agree, and it is stated to be so. It will not be in for Open Beta.
"In a F2P title, Open Beta is Launch!" Maybe traditionally, but not here. Some will argue this point. IMO they can argue the ocean should be purple too..it does not match the facts of this reality.
Current Status:
What are the main Pillars of this game and Where do we stand as compared to the Dev Blogs?
1) Role Warfare - Mostly complete except for modules. There are only 2 modules currently. Not only are there different roles, but depending on it's loadout, one mech can be used for multiple roles.
http://mwomercs.com/...3-role-warfare/
http://mwomercs.com/...e-warfare-cont/
2) Information Warfare - About 1/2 implemented. We have maps, orders, etc. We do not have Magnetometer, Sattelite, or any Disruption/Spoofing.
http://mwomercs.com/...mation-warfare/
3) Community Warfare - Yet to be implemented. What we have now is the "Lone Wolf" experience. I.e. This is what someone w8ill experience who was not part of a House (Davion, Liao, Kurita, etc.) or a Mercenary Group. They will essentially jump into battle to assist a House or Merc Group.
http://mwomercs.com/...munity-warfare/
4) Mech Lab - Implemented, but scheduled for a revision with the implementation of Double Heat Sinks, Ferro-Fibrous Armor, Endo Steel Internal Structure, ECM, etc. Also no skins/color schemes, etc.
http://mwomercs.com/...blog-6-mechlab/
5) Mech Warfare - Happy to say this is a home run. Does it still need tweaks, minor balancing, etc? Sure and it will be continually refined as new features are implemented. But as is, it is not only playable but very well done IMO.
http://mwomercs.com/...warfare-part-i/
Overall:
So far it is amazing...what is yet to come will be even more amazing based on what has been done so far.
Important point to make clear:
Closed Beta = Possible Resets even though at this point in Closed Beta, they are trying for no more resets (Except ONCE at the START of OPEN BETA)
Open Beta = One Final Reset. Anything bought with real $$ such as Founder's Perks and MC are for keeps once Open Beta starts. Any Premium Time bought with $$ or given as part of Founder's Perks starts ticking for real once Open Beta begins.
Launch = No More Resets
(Thanks to Kell Draygo)
Latest "official" status:
Russ Bullock, on 24 August 2012 - 06:36 PM, said:
Hey MechWarrior Fans,
I know recently there has been a huge amount of conversation and speculation on where the product currently stands. Including speculation on certain features, certain mech's, when were going open beta and are we going to be ready.
Let's start with where we are today- we're in closed beta. This means only the founders are playing along with an increasing amount of random closed beta applicants. It was recently explained exactly what closed beta means and I think everyone is very understanding and having a great time playing.
I think where things get a little contested is in trying to understand what the game will have at Open Beta or at launch. A recent interview I gave mentioned their being 4 maps and 8 mechs at Open Beta. None of this was really brand new information but it may have caught people off guard. These things also change rapidly, in fact as you know we already have 8 mechs along with their variants and were not in Open Beta yet, in fact Mechs 9 and 10 are both getting very close to game shape and will certainly be in before Open Beta. The next maps are already started which will likely make me a liar on the map count as well. In short Mech's and maps are going to flow at a very constant rate.
When is Open Beta- honestly we're always working towards a date and we have one in mind right now. Does it have us keeping our summer 2012 promise? Frankly no, it would slip into October. With that in mind ,chew on this thought. We brought our first beta testers into Friends and Family just about exactly 4 months ago. Ask those players if they think the game has changed a little bit in those 4 months and I think they would tell you that it is shocking how much it has progressed. So in another couple of months it can certainly improve a significant amount more. But ultimately even this Open Beta date is not set in stone, if it needs a little more time then we will make the best decision for the product, everyone at Piranha and IGP is committed to that.
So what is the basic roadmap? Here is the best I can do for you currently.
- The next ~couple of months we stay in closed beta. We continue to update the lone wolf experience by finishing off the economy of the game by putting in the remaining play loop features like repair and rearm, pilot skills and modules. We spend some time balancing the economy while every aspect of the game including User Interface, HUD, Networking code as well as 'mech collisions are hardened, optimized, and polished. While including as many 'mechs and maps as we can manage. In summary, polish off the MVP feature set which is described as the "lone wolf" play experience.
- The product goes into Open Beta - very frequent minor updates continue along with a steady stream of 'mechs and maps. While this is going on a large portion of the team is working on the first major update for the game.
- About ~3 months after Open Beta we ship the first major update for the game which is Community Warfare or the first iteration of the overarching meta game. This of course is a huge feature which takes the fight across all the factions and the entire inner sphere.
- After community warfare is introduced into the product we will likely officially "launch" shortly after.
- A few months after launch the next major update is released which of course is all about the clan invasion.
In summary, all of the best laid plans change in game development. But the game is already extremely fun and I'm sure you are all glad to be playing now and not waiting months longer. Remember, you screamed to get in. So enjoy your time in the game and just be excited knowing that an entire development team is working on nothing but MWO to bring you weekly updates and there is no end in sight for the work or feature updates. You may need to wait a few more months for the meta game but rest assured it is coming. As well as countless other features.
See you on the battlefield.
I know recently there has been a huge amount of conversation and speculation on where the product currently stands. Including speculation on certain features, certain mech's, when were going open beta and are we going to be ready.
Let's start with where we are today- we're in closed beta. This means only the founders are playing along with an increasing amount of random closed beta applicants. It was recently explained exactly what closed beta means and I think everyone is very understanding and having a great time playing.
I think where things get a little contested is in trying to understand what the game will have at Open Beta or at launch. A recent interview I gave mentioned their being 4 maps and 8 mechs at Open Beta. None of this was really brand new information but it may have caught people off guard. These things also change rapidly, in fact as you know we already have 8 mechs along with their variants and were not in Open Beta yet, in fact Mechs 9 and 10 are both getting very close to game shape and will certainly be in before Open Beta. The next maps are already started which will likely make me a liar on the map count as well. In short Mech's and maps are going to flow at a very constant rate.
When is Open Beta- honestly we're always working towards a date and we have one in mind right now. Does it have us keeping our summer 2012 promise? Frankly no, it would slip into October. With that in mind ,chew on this thought. We brought our first beta testers into Friends and Family just about exactly 4 months ago. Ask those players if they think the game has changed a little bit in those 4 months and I think they would tell you that it is shocking how much it has progressed. So in another couple of months it can certainly improve a significant amount more. But ultimately even this Open Beta date is not set in stone, if it needs a little more time then we will make the best decision for the product, everyone at Piranha and IGP is committed to that.
So what is the basic roadmap? Here is the best I can do for you currently.
- The next ~couple of months we stay in closed beta. We continue to update the lone wolf experience by finishing off the economy of the game by putting in the remaining play loop features like repair and rearm, pilot skills and modules. We spend some time balancing the economy while every aspect of the game including User Interface, HUD, Networking code as well as 'mech collisions are hardened, optimized, and polished. While including as many 'mechs and maps as we can manage. In summary, polish off the MVP feature set which is described as the "lone wolf" play experience.
- The product goes into Open Beta - very frequent minor updates continue along with a steady stream of 'mechs and maps. While this is going on a large portion of the team is working on the first major update for the game.
- About ~3 months after Open Beta we ship the first major update for the game which is Community Warfare or the first iteration of the overarching meta game. This of course is a huge feature which takes the fight across all the factions and the entire inner sphere.
- After community warfare is introduced into the product we will likely officially "launch" shortly after.
- A few months after launch the next major update is released which of course is all about the clan invasion.
In summary, all of the best laid plans change in game development. But the game is already extremely fun and I'm sure you are all glad to be playing now and not waiting months longer. Remember, you screamed to get in. So enjoy your time in the game and just be excited knowing that an entire development team is working on nothing but MWO to bring you weekly updates and there is no end in sight for the work or feature updates. You may need to wait a few more months for the meta game but rest assured it is coming. As well as countless other features.
See you on the battlefield.
Please feel free to point out any inaccuracies, items that need clarification, or differing opinions and I will revise my post as needed.
Thank you, I hope this helped, and I look forward to seeing you all in game soon.
Edited by RumRunner151, 03 October 2012 - 01:22 PM.
" so I have about 120 hours in. I gave them $60 for the opportunity to get in back then and have enjoyed every minute of it. So you can either say I've paid them 50 cents an hour to test their product for them, or, I gotten my entertainment costs down to 50 cents an hour. 
Either way, I am a happy camper.
